Johnwill beat me to it. For a "close encounter" back-up type firearm, the
Colt Mustang - especially the Pocketlite, IMHO - is tough to beat.
I ride a cruiser-type motorcycle, and during the hot summer months I tuck the Mustang into my inside vest pocket, using a simple Uncle Mike's pocket holster. When riding, I don't even know it's there.
But--- I am a big fan of the
Makarov too. It is a little bigger and it weighs more. Where the Mustang is an SA gun, the Mak is DA/SA - depending on who is carrying, that might make a difference. Gives you 9 rounds (8+1) of 9x18 to the Mustang's 6+1 of 9x17. While the .380 is just a little less powerful than the 9x18, you can't dismiss the 2 round difference.
Also - for what a nice Mustang is going for now, you can buy 2 Maks. Best value I have seen in a gun ever, I think. Mine is 100% reliable and accurate, and it has had nothing done to it to enhance reliability. If you do buy one though, stay away from the
commercial Russian version for concealed carry duty. To meet the BATF rules, they machined away a good bit of the slide & stuck an adjustable sight there. It's sharp, doesn't add anything to the sight
picture, you cannot get replacement parts or a replacement sight for it, and there aren't any aftermarket replacements. The Bulgarian milsurps, Bulgarian commercial, and East German guns all have the small fixed sights - which are about as good
rolleyes: or as poor) as the Mustang sights. Russian
milsurps also have fixed sights - but being among the rarest of Makarovs, they command a premium which is usually 100's of $$.
Kevin