What is the best concealed carry pistol?

LCP in a wallet holster, back pocket. While I do not personaly have one. My dad and stepmom both carry thiers in wallet holsters. They do not print. The trigger pull is long and not light so if it goes off it is because you pulled the trigger.
I have fired many of the .380 mouse guns. The LCP is the best of them I have shot as far as bang for the buck.
If you can afford the price of .380 or even find it without having to show up at wally world and wait at the counter you are doing better than a lot of the people I know.
 
Seecamp looks great but is very expensive ($800 or so). Ruger LCP has rather modest looks but the price ($330 or so) is fair and if it's very reliable, I will probably lean toward LCP. How does it compare to Bersa? I think Bersa Thunder .380 may be little bit bigger than ACP.
 
I have fired a couple of different Bersa 380's they are quite accuate for me. They are quite a bit larger than the LCP. The LCP is managble for me. I fire it one handed (mousegun slides tend to bite my bear paws) It is a bit snappy, but quite managble. If I were going to cary the Bersa I would either use a Cell Pall, or a clip draw for border carry. The wallet holster for the LCP is great. I have pocketed dad's and it rode under my wallet without much of a problem. It would be easy to forget it was there.
 
Recently I have been carrying my Smith 36 in my front jean pocket. It is in a holster that was designed for inside belt or pocket carry. It has a quick release snap that does cover the hammer, so just an added safety. I have not had any snagging issues. The act of gripping the pistol opens my pocket and the hammer clears just fine. The big advantage is I can just wear a summer shirt...even a "T" shirt not tucked and it conceals great. The bulge in my pocket could be a cell phone.......or other things.:)

Many people choose to carry a revolver hammer down on an empty chamber which seems pretty safe.
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I see no reason for that. Most all modern revolvers have a hammer block. Including my S&W 36, S&W 60, and my Det. Special.....not counting my larger frame revolvers. I am not aware that anyone makes a modern DA revolver that does not have a hammer block.

Added: OK, some revolvers, like my Rugers, use a transfer bar system. Just as good or better than a hammer block system.
 
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I am not aware that anyone makes a modern DA revolver that does not have a hammer block.
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Smith & Wesson Centennial framed revolvers do not have a hammer block. However since it's impossible to drop one on the hammer, it's still rather pointless to carry with the hammer down on an empty chamber.
 
I really love my Pocket Grabber holster made by High Noon Holsters. It is a quality leather holster custom fit to the specific model of gun that you own.

Consider getting it to use with whatever handgun you buy:


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Smith & Wesson Centennial framed revolvers do not have a hammer block. However since it's impossible to drop one on the hammer, it's still rather pointless to carry with the hammer down on an empty chamber.
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I stand corrected, I forgot that one. I knew someone would find fault with my statement.:D
 
I taught CCW classes for 10 years after I retired from LE and got asked this question in virtually every class. My answer remains the same today as it was the first time I was asked.

The best CCW pistol (gun) is the one you have with you. If you won't carry it, it doesn't count...no matter the caliber, action type, number of rounds or potential accuracy.

The answer is different for a lot of people.

Dave
 
The best CCW pistol (gun) is the one you have with you.
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Agreed. I am getting ready to take my wife shopping. I will have my Smith 36 in my pocket. I have others I can use for CCW. I even carried my full size Colt 1911..about 42oz. Only trouble is I was walking with a tilt to my carry side when the day was over.:)
 
revolvers do not have any safety mechanisms and I don't want a revolver to shoot at some of my still functional body parts from my pocket.
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A good argument for carrying in a pocket holster which covers the trigger.

I know you asked about .380s. The only one I have is a Ruger LCP. I find it to be a solid, reliable, reasonably accurate little gun; super easy to carry. I don't love the trigger on it, though. I find that I have to adjust my grip from what is "normal" for me, especially when I am out shooting several guns, due to the short reach to the trigger, combined with the long pull.

I every day pocket carry a Kahr PM9. It is a little larger, a little heavier and considerably more expensive. But IMHO it does everything better. Fits my hand better, smoother, lighter trigger, surprisingly accurate for a pocket pistol, and shoots the 9X19, in which I have more confidence.

Comparison Shots: My S&W 442, LCP and PM9 (and my Seecamp .32).
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I like that feel too. I just don't like "the sucking sound" of $800 leaving my wallet.
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What's your life worth?

Seecamp is the smallest 380 - but no matter - there's a two year waiting list to get on the ordering list. After the Seecamp, look at the Kahr and the NAA. Whatever gun you choose, even a very safe revolver, you will need a holster to keep it oriented in the proper location.

Here's a chart that compares pocket mouseguns:

http://mouseguns.com/PocketAutoComparison.pdf
 
my wife is working for her permit to carry. First she tried a glock 19 (21 oz.), she didnt like it at all, ever. Hard to conceal, and had to load magazine then pull back slide, then aim. Allot to do when needing a weapon now. She picked out Smith and wesson 642 crimson trace. She loves it. Pull it out, put the red dot on the target and shoot. She says the 38 special has about the same recoil as her glock 19. It's not a fun target gun, but its a non jamming, non complicated instantly ready defensive weapon. The trigger pull is hard enough that you have to "work" the trigger.
 
When you think about all the money the goverment SUCKS OUT in taxes you deserve the BEST.:D
 
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Thanks for your input - that comparison chart was especially helpful.

The first instinctive move was to go cheap with Cobra but I quickly discovered on the internet that this is a piece of junk.
I actually like good tough metal, something I can trust, and the best quality/price/look combination that my brain pointed me to was NAA Guardian .380 ACP as also sugested above. I hope it's made in America, not in China. It's not available in CA which makes me wonder - do I have to get rid of it if I move to CA? It is rather heavy but that's inevitable if you like metal, plus I plan to put it with a holster in my tight jeans - so it will be sitting there OK.
However, if I had a James Bond job, before going downstairs to get my "shaken, not stirred" I would put a Seecamp in my pocket - there is no doubt about that.
 
One thing to consider before you jump:

.380 ammunition is in very short supply and when you find it it is frequently ridiculously marked up. If you don't believe me, try to find some online. Make sure you have a good source for ammunition before you buy the gun. I owned my LCP two weeks before I found any .380 and they only had two boxes! (Yes, I bought both :o)

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Pouch Carry

What do you guys think of pouch carry?

I have a pouch that goes on my belt....not with straps around the waist. My Smith #36 fits great. Good for summer carry. My pouch has an easy open Velcro flap, easy to get to my pistol. People can wonder what I have in the pouch....but who cares.

Anyone else pouch carry?
 
I wouldn't worry about ammunition at this point. All I would need now is 1 box and when ammo gets cheaper (and I am sure it WILL get cheaper) I will buy 1 more. This gun is just for a dire emergency only that I hope will never happen. Except for testing it the first time, I would not take it to the range and shoot it. From my experience with smaller .380 they are not pleasant to shoot, actually they hurt. My S&W Ti small revolver is especially painful when shooting +P ammo. I feel pain in my wrist for 2 days. My worst gun ever was Beretta in .380...I got rid of it. Then bought Beretta Cougar .45 ACP (pardon my deviation from the small pistols subject) - it was jumming very often. I got rid of it too and decided that if it's not Beretta 92 9mm model, I will never own another Beretta.
 
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