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

I'm at 450 rounds on my Sig P938. Have had two "limp wrist" jams. Everything still seems nice and tight, including the grips. I live shooting it and it is very accursed.
I've heard of trigger bite but haven't experienced this phenomenon personally.
I carry it in my jeans pocket and it flat disappears.
 
Makarov, but that's probably too large.

My 38 snub and my Kel-Tec P3AT have both been utterly reliable.
 
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I'll re-phrase what I said before.

We are seeing a lot of, "Well, I own such-and-such a gun and I like it a lot and it has worked for me."

We are not seeing any sort of observations of overwhelming evidence of a particular pistol that is famous for being reliable. I threw one out: the Ruger LCP. That's the only pocket pistol I have followed enough to say conclusively that they are famous for reliability. I would like to learn about others in this class. When you get into bigger guns, there are more that are famously reliable.

I mean, c'mon. The Kimber Solo? If ever there was a gun that is controversial for reliability problems, that is it. I think they are cool little guns, and it is wonderful if you got one that works perfectly for you. But to claim it is a gun famous for reliability is not helpful.

David
 
Well... thats the thing about this place... any statement brought as fact without "evidence" will swiftly draw out those who live for such internet challenges.

For example... If I were to say that the original pocket 9mm, the Kahr PM9, designed 10+ years ago is still the best pocket 9 available (it is btw) there'd be a few folks show up to proclaim theirs was a useless steaming pile jam-o-matic, they're not willing to break in a new pistol, and the company owner is some sort of cult leader or is son of some such group (whatever).

So welcome to guns and the internet... you'll never get what you want here. :D
 
A Ruger lcr in 9mm ;) lol. My LCP never missed a beat and was a great pocket gun. I now carry a LC9 in the pocket/waistband, no issues there either.
 
I only have experience with two. Both in .380.
The Taurus TCP and the Ruger LCP.

Both are hammer strike models.
The TCP would feed every thing I put into it. But did note a few fail to fire events with my hand loads using harder primers. Had to go too 100% Federal primers for my hand loads. Plus remove the firing pin often and keep it clean clean clean. Most likely because of my choice of bullet lube with cast bullets.

Although I did not shoot gobs of Factory ammo. I never noted a failure.

Now I am carrying and shooting a LCP. Has fed fine and fired every thing I have stuck in it. I have been running cast with CCI primers no fail to fires. I have run a couple hundred factort rounds through it also. No issues.
But I noted with this one too. Its not a heavy primer strike.
Must be common with small hammer fired guns.

Any one make a striker fired pocket .380?
 
The OP writes:
I've recently had two popular brand/models fail, each below the 500 round mark.
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How did these guns fail? A stoppage (failure to feed, fire, extract or eject (and the number of stoppages you experienced))? Broken part? What?
 
I've recently had two popular brand/models fail, each below the 500 round mark.
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How did these guns fail? A stoppage (failure to feed, fire, extract or eject (and the number of stoppages you experienced))? Broken part? What?
Click to expand...

Sounds like he may be doing a little phishing. Maybe he did not want to mention the two he had a problem with because they were what he knew was going to be mentioned most. What they were, and the type of problem would possibly get him more help than keeping it a secret.
 
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For example... If I were to say that the original pocket 9mm, the Kahr PM9, designed 10+ years ago is still the best pocket 9 available (it is btw) there'd be a few folks show up to proclaim theirs was a useless steaming pile jam-o-matic, they're not willing to break in a new pistol, and the company owner is some sort of cult leader or is son of some such group (whatever).

This is so true. I own a lot of guns but I am not bragging because I really consider it a vice, but if I decided I might buy a gun and then read up about it on the internet, I would be confused and still sitting here with an empty gun safe shooting my Mathews bows.
 
"Phishing"? My original post said: "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." That's pretty plain.

The problems weren't about occasional stoppages. I already tried fixing both with posts in the appropriate gun forums.

In the first case (a pf9), the slide would friction stick to the rear - it wound up being fixed under warranty with everything but the plastic grip being replaced. The gun was assigned a new serial number.

In the second case (a Bersa 380 CC), an e-clip and washer fell off and disappeared from the disconnect mechanism, making the trigger fail to reset. It turns out, this is not all that unusual. I tried replacing the missing e-clip and washer, and the trigger still sometimes failed to reset. I sent it to service. It's still in for repair.

As I said before, this was with less than 500 rds, in both cases. I'm talked out about these two guns - I lack confidence in their reliability.
 
Beretta Nano for me. Range log says 1080 rounds. 2 fail to ejects (both with 115gr practice ammo). No issues with 124gr practice ammo. Zero with carry ammo in 124gr.
 
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The ones that I've pocket carried/shot have been: Ruger LCP, Sig P238, Kahr MK9, M&P Shield, Glock G26-27. The G27 is what I've been pocket carrying the past 5 yrs or so.

All have been carried in a kydex pocket holster. All have been 100% reliable so far.
 
As to the comment about the SOLO's problems; my understanding is that issue is old news. My research (prior to purchase) showed that Kimber addressed the problems with the early guns. They further made it emphatic that the gun is intended to use specific ammo.

I'm not a Kimber fan; my taste runs to Swiss and German SIG's, H&K's, STI and Dan Wesson 1911's, etc. I had a Kahr, it was reliable after a lengthy break in. I've also carried a Beretta 84FS, a Browning BDA and a SIG p232. None of the three is as accurate as the SOLO; they are as reliable, but have more recoil. As a result, I carry the SOLO.
 
Oh come on.......Glocks are legendary for reliability and mine has been perfect.....just like the legend.

Break down and face the truth (and buy a Glock).

:D
 
>Oh come on.......Glocks are legendary for reliability and mine has been perfect.....just like the legend.<

I know large to medium size Glocks are well known for reliability - a lot of them are used in various police and military organizations.

Which Glock pocket size pistol are you referring to as having "lengendary"
reliability?

What trigger pull pounds do their pocket pistols have?
 
Like everyone else, I only have anecdotal information. Neither my Colt Mustang .380 from the 1980s nor my Sig P238 of more recent vintage have ever failed. I only use FMJ ammo in those. Neither have a very high round count because I shoot them to test for function and then only occasionally shoot them for practice. I mostly shoot other guns at the range. I have not heard many bad reports about either pistol (basically the same design).

I also have a Kahr CM9 which I sometimes pocket carry, depending on size of pocket. After a couple of hundred rounds to break-in the gun (recommended by Kahr), mine has not had a bobble even with hollow point ammo. One does occasionally read of issues with these pistols so I'm not sure it would be on the list as "most reliable" as a class.
 
I also have a Kahr CM9 which I sometimes pocket carry, depending on size of pocket. After a couple of hundred rounds to break-in the gun (recommended by Kahr), mine has not had a bobble even with hollow point ammo
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But did it really need it? Mine was shot around that round count because that is what I do with any auto I will carry. But it was 100% reliable with anything I fed it throughout those first 200, and didn't actually need the break in to be reliable.
 
Which Glock pocket size pistol are you referring to as having "lengendary"
reliability?

What trigger pull pounds do their pocket pistols have?
Click to expand...

All Glocks have legendary reliability including my 26.

Trigger pull also is the same as most standard Glocks at about five pounds.

Get it.....you'll be happy you did.
 
Well I'll note my KelTec 380 and the 32's my family carry been reliable. My Colt Mustang has always been reliable . Except for time I installed a steel guide rod . Went out to test and pistol wouldn't make through a mag.. Re-installed the factory rod and return to being reliable.
 
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