What's the most reliable pocket 9mm or 380?

R

RAfiringline

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I could have titled this thread: "are there any reliable pocket 9mm's or 380's?"

I've recently had two popular brand/models fail, each below the 500 round mark. But, I don't want to focus on the guns I'm disappointed in - I want to steer this toward guns that can be expected to work.

I think the main problem is that is that if you want a reliable medium to full size gun, you can go the Beretta 92 or CZ p01 route - guns that passed rigorous acceptance tests. But pocket pistols? Who systematically tests little pocket guns, many of which are of new design, built lightly, and haven't been around for all that long?

Thanks
 
The Ruger LC9 was exceptionally reliable for me. My Boberg XR9-S is reliable IF you use ammo off of the maker's approved ammo list. Otherwise, you will be cleaning unburnt powder grains out of the inner workings of your pistol when the bullet separates from the case.
 
My Ruger LCP has been unquestionably 100% reliable. Round count is approaching 1000.
Where the round count is closer to 500, my Kahr CM9 has also been 100% reliable. Although for my use, when it is carried it is about 75% of the time carried in an IWB holster rather than in a pocket.
 
I'd go with 9mm but then the term "pocket pistol" is harder to justify. The excellent Kahr CM9 is close to "pocket" size and the also excellent Ruger LC9s Pro is just slightly bigger. The Shield is even bigger but again is excellent. Kahr recommends a 200 round break-in and that's not a bad idea on any carry gun. I think you'd find any of these three to be highly reliable. Try racking the slides a lot, those recoil springs are stout, on the CM9 especially. Each goes for about $350.

Edit:
If you are willing to drop to 380 the Kahr CW380 is tiny but very tough and well made. The price often is under $300.
 
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I doubt there was ever any actual torture test of these guns, like for military weapons. So, unfortunately, that means we have to rely on our own experiences, and word of mouth. Sometimes word of mouth reviews on a particular gun becomes almost unanimous in their conclusions, and can be trusted, IMO.

The Ruger LCP seems to be one of those guns that almost unanimously are considered to be essentially 100% reliable.

I'm sure there are others.

David
 
I have the Sig P238 & the P938. They have been 100% reliable but I ony have 320 rounds through the 238 and 400 rounds through the 938. I don't put that many rounds through my pocket pistols as I do my range pistol.
 
Part of it is luck of the draw. I have had great Chevrolets and bad ones. I have had great Taurii, and a Sig that is junk. Every manufacturer will have good ones and lemons.
 
My LCP has been 100% in 1000-1100 range, it did almost fail twice. Once on round 4, and then again around the 200 count. Both times it was a failure to feed, and by the time I tilted the pistol back to see the problem it fully chambered. But then again I know how to maintain machines...it's my job. From a 1 million buck cath lab to 75 dollar fishing reels and everything in between.

I know folks that don't do any maintenance except spraying WD40 inside and wiping a pistol with a rag and poking their finger in the chamber area.
 
Quentin2 said:
I'd go with 9mm but then the term "pocket pistol" is harder to justify. The excellent Kahr CM9 is close to "pocket" size and the also excellent Ruger LC9s Pro is just slightly bigger. The Shield is even bigger but again is excellent. Kahr recommends a 200 round break-in and that's not a bad idea on any carry gun. I think you'd find any of these three to be highly reliable. Try racking the slides a lot, those recoil springs are stout, on the CM9 especially. Each goes for about $350.

Edit:
If you are willing to drop to 380 the Kahr CW380 is tiny but very tough and well made. The price often is under $300.
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I like the Kahr CM9 as well. I have one Ive been playing with lately. It has eaten all the reloads Ive put through it without a hiccup. I even chronoed one load at 775fps and it still functioned just fine.

A friend has a Nano that can only shoot 115gr. So far the Kahr isnt picky.
 
Some of you own pistols that may have been very reliable for YOU.

I don't think the OP was asking for which particular pistol you like and have had good luck with. There are people who will claim that for virtually any pistol, which may be true for them, but does not support a wider trend.

I think that what's more important are the pistols that have an overwhelming reputation for reliability. I agree that is hard to quantify, but if you read and listen enough, trends are seen...

David
 
There's really no one that does a systematic test with a sufficient sample of guns. We can garner info from organizations that test for purchase and from the morass of reports on the Internet.

So one watches the anecdotes or what an organization purchases. Note the latter is driven by all kinds of things.
 
I think my Kahr PM9 was 100% after swapping out the 7-rounder for a 6-rounder.
(There is/was some issue with nose-diving on the 7-round mags)
It certainly was flawless from round 50 on up.
Excellent little pistol. It dealt with the recoil really well too.
 
In 9 for me it's been the Sig P938 and Rohrbaugh R9s, 380 has been the Sig p238.

The Kahr PM9 and P380 have been flawless but only after the "break-in period" (manual says 200, mine were more like 50-100).
 
I wish someone would do a torture test on say the leading 4 or 5 pocket pistols and see how long they would last until they flew apart. It wouldn't surprise me if they were all close because inside they all look so similar to me. I also wouldn't be surprised if their life was much shorter than their full size brothers made by the same manufactures. Maybe there are some tests where this has been done and I just haven't seen them. What I am really wondering is in our demand for something small that still has fire power we are asking for a pistol that just can't, because of its size, take all the punishment. I mean I bought a Shield this week and it says in the owners manual not to shoot
+ P. If that is the case maybe the regular round is too much for all these little pocket guns as well.

What really got me to thinking along these lines is this. I went inside the grocery store to pick up some things for my wife after I had bee shooting my
G17. Not wanting to leave it in the car where it might get stolen I just stuck it in my front pocket like I did my other little guns and pulled my shirt down over it and went in the store. After I got out of the store I looked down and said to myself, Yes the bulge is a little bigger than the bulge if you had your G26 or your HDS 3,3, but not that much bigger,

The thought then occurred to me that maybe instead of buying all the little guns I should have just bought a new shirt. I would have certainly saved a lot of money. Look what I give up to carry one of the little guns instead of the Glock 17. I have a PF9, A G26, a G30S, an HDS 3.3 and a Shield and on top of feeling crazy because I have bought all these guns, I still don't know which is the most reliable, Maybe I just won't ponder this any longer and just start carrying my G 17. :)
 
My only real pocket pistols are a Raven MP25 and an old twist barrel .22 derringer. The MP25 is the only one I really carry anymore, and only when I truly need a pocket pistol. I find my G30s is small enough to carry in most circumstances, though I often opt for a full size gun.
As to the OPs question about reliability testing; they probably don't apply as much rigor to the small guns as they do the full size models. My guess is the manufacturers don't expect the pocket guns to last as long as a full sized model.
 
Glock 26.

Mine has never had a single malfunction in seven years of regular practice and carry every day.

It's simply the best I've ever seen.

I suppose some may say they equal it, but none can do better than perfect.

;)
 
Using recommended ammo, my Kimber SOLO has been reliable at 250 rounds. I run a box of 25 rounds of premium 9mm HP through it at least once a month.

I carry it everywhere that's legal. It's a tiny pistol, soft recoil and highly accurate, probably because it's so heavy. Did I mention it's heavy? Because of that, it tries to pull my pants down. When I do carry it in a pocket without a problem, it's in a nylon jacket which is loose and shapeless. The night sights are great. We've been traveling; I put the SOLO under my pillow. The sights emit a green light thru several layers of pillow case and sheets; it can be distracting in the middle of the night when half asleep.

It also rides well in my man purse, which my wife says is a dispatch case.

I have a Dan Wesson Guardian 9mm on order. Certainly not a pocket pistol! However, I may try it as my carry gun, if I can come up with a good rig.
 
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