Reliable, versatile pocket carry . . .

My last two gun acquisitions are an East German, and yesterday a Bulgarian Makarov.
Actual Makarovs are a bit larger and seem to be heavier than the Polish P-64. Three middle-aged friends carry the P-64 as their only 'carry gun'. One always has it in his pocket.

The point is that the vast majority of users' comments at Makarov.com describe them as among the most reliable and rugged handguns available.

These seem to be a bit too large for actual pocket carry as defined by the OP?
 
Perfection right out of the box?

Any gun model, even the most reliable, may have an occasional one that is picky about ammo.

Consider this: Take a finicky eater to a gunsmith and have the feed ramp polished, the magazine lips uniformed, recoil spring tuned for your preferred ammunition choice(s) and whatever other tuning is required to make it a good, reliable shooter.

Cost of the tuneup may well be less than what you would lose on a trade-in.

Lost Sheep.
 
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If you want a really small one, my Keltec P3AT has also never malfunctioned. It is the smallest 380 I know of. It is my most frequent carry piece.
 
My TCP has worked flawlessly and is ideal for pocket carry. I also have a Glock 42 that has never had any issues, but it may be too large for easy pocket carry (depending on your wardrobe choices). As for the Taurus reliability, the TCP has been great, but the extractor on my 709 Slim gave out after about 500 rounds. The 709 was fixed under warranty, but I am still a little leery of the model.
 
Another vote for the SIG P238, with a caveat.

My 238 has been 100% with everything I've fed it (which, of course, is less than everything out there).

Unlike most mouse guns, the 238 has a good trigger, real useable sights, and, being locked breech, hand cycles with two fingers.

The caveat is that the P238 is a single action pistol, and it should be carried only by someone who is grounded in and comfortable with the 1911 manual of arms.

I have a SIG pocket holster, and I actually have carried the 238 in a pocket. That said, I'm not a fan of pocket carry, and for those occasions when the 238 is as big as I can go, prefer a "Sneaky Pete."
 
Elsie Pea 100% reliable with any ammo I have put in it. Plenty accurate for the purpose. Very safe DAO trigger with a concealed hammer. Modern 380acp self defense ammunition is very capable of stopping a threat. Finally, the LCP is the gun you can carry when you can't carry a gun.
 
For what it worth my P238 with about 280/300 rounds through it has been 100% reliable. So has my P938 with about 650/700 rounds throuh it. I have used everything from Atomic through Zombie ammo with no failures with either Sig. But who knows about the next range trip. :)
 
You will get a lot of people saying, "Well, I had a (Brand X) and it never failed me." Or, "My (Brand Y) has been 100% reliable."

This is a totally useless survey of... 1!

Occasionally you will learn about a gun that is WIDELY accepted as near-100% reliable, with legendary ability to eat anything without a hiccup.

I think the only pocket pistol in .380 with epic reliability is the LCP. I'm not a fan-boy. I don't even own one. (I used to. Swapped it for a BG380 that I'm still trying to get working right.)

David
 
I have a Sig P238 in .380acp that I find to be an excellent small piece.

All groups shot at 8 yards different ammo.



A step up to the 9mm the S&W Shield is my choice.

20 rounds at 8 yards.



tipoc
 
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These two 9mm meet all the requirements for reliability. These are both mine, and are excellent...

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Either the Sig P238 or Ruger LCP. I have both and have never had issues with either feeding FMJ (which is all I use in .380). They also both have great reputations for reliability with other ammo, too. Most people, including myself, would shoot the Sig better because of a better trigger and the additional weight of the pistol over the LCP (dampens barrel movement some). I feel completely comfortable with pocket carry.
 
My biggest pocket-carry piece is a Manhurin PPKS in. 380. Cargo pocket carry mostly in a custom Charter Bell Oak pocket holster.

I don't care for the double-action trigger pull, and I consistently get "slide bite".....but ya know, after 20+ years of shooting.......I don't recall a single malfunction.
 
I've had two LCPs, and both were perfectly reliable, and the smallest pocket guns I've ever owned or carried.

Unfortunately for me, I have a basic lack of trust in the .380 cartridge, and as a result ended up selling both.

I've owned and shot many rounds through my PM9 over the last almost ten years, and carried it extensively.

The LCP is noticeably thinner and somewhat lighter, and I've been considering buying another. The new ones also have better sights and a better trigger.

If you are okay with a .380, the LCP gets my wholehearted endorsement.
 
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