What's your favorite semi pocket pistol?

[ecd1211]

Looking for a picket pistol in a semi-automatic flavor. Some of the models I narrowed my choices down to area:

Glock 26/27 (I currently have two other Glocks)
Ruger LCP
Beretta Tomcat
Taurus Millenium Pro PT111

I just want something fairly light and compact that can be carried in a pocket or in a small IWB holster.

Any feedback on these models or suggestions on one I've overlooked.

Also, has anyone seen the Ruger LCP in a Dallas-area store -- would like to see one in real life...

[chewy555]

Looking for a picket pistol in a semi-automatic flavor. Some of the models I narrowed my choices down to area:

Glock 26/27 (I currently have two other Glocks)
Ruger LCP
Beretta Tomcat
Taurus Millenium Pro PT111

I just want something fairly light and compact that can be carried in a pocket or in a small IWB holster.

Any feedback on these models or suggestions on one I've overlooked.

Also, has anyone seen the Ruger LCP in a Dallas-area store -- would like to see one in real life...

I would go with the Glock. As you said you already have two others, this will let you carry one in the pocket and one on the hip. But that is just what I would do.

[The Annoyed Man]

It's not as nice as the ones on your list, but lots of people have had a good experience with it, and that would be the Keltec P3AT. It's basically the same thing as the Ruger LCP, but just not as nice in the fit and finish, and a much more affordable price. However, they seem to function well... ...at least mine does. It's not my favorite pocket gun. That honor would go to my 642 Airweight. But when deep concealment is the goal, the P3AT fits the bill nicely.

[Fosforos]

Here's a couple of more pocket size pistols you may want to look at:

Seecamp .32 or Seecamp .380. The .32 would be about the same price as the Glock 26. The 380 version is very expensive. They look similar to the NAA pistols.

Rohrbaugh R9. 9mm. A very nice little pistol, but also very expensive. If I pocket carried anything, this would be the one.

I have seen the LCP for sale by several vendors at the area gun shows. The Mesquite gun show is this weekend and I saw several there last month.

[KFP]

You may want to consider the Kahr PM9 or PM40, I recently picked one up and think pretty highly of it. The combination of size, weight and power is ideal in my opinion. I also have a P3AT but don't trust it 100% due to FTF issues that I've had with it.

[longhorn_92]

You may want to consider the Kahr PM9 or PM40, I recently picked one up and think pretty highly of it. The combination of size, weight and power is ideal in my opinion. I also have a P3AT but don't trust it 100% due to FTF issues that I've had with it.

I have heard of a break in period for the PM9 - what has been your experience with it?

I have also heard that it is a very good gun!

[Excaliber]

You may want to consider the Kahr PM9 or PM40, I recently picked one up and think pretty highly of it. The combination of size, weight and power is ideal in my opinion. I also have a P3AT but don't trust it 100% due to FTF issues that I've had with it.

The Kahr PM series pistols are small, flat, light and carry full fighting caliber payloads. After the factory recommended breakin period (about 250 rounds as I recall), they function very reliably and are surprisingly accurate with 9mm, .40 and .45 caliber rounds. The breakin period is not a negative - these are tight, well made guns and they take a couple of hundred rounds before the mating parts wear a bit into a perfect fit. I have broken in new Kahr PM series pistols in both .40 and .45, and consider them outstanding high quality personal defense weapons.

Smaller guns in lesser calibers, while a bit easier to carry and conceal, make major compromises in effectiveness to achieve greater concealability.

Here's my take on general buying criteria:

One needs to give considerable thought to the primary purpose of carrying the pistol - to hide it, or to have a weapon that can be used to effectively end a deadly force encounter quickly if you find yourself in that situation. Both factors need to be balanced against each other in the real world, but starting with which one is most important to you will drive the outcome in one direction or another.

If concealment is primary (if you think it's so unlikely that you'll need to use it that effectiveness is not very important), buy the tiniest, lightest pistol in the smallest caliber you can find. Just be aware that if you have to draw it in a serious social situation, you should not be surprised if the BG laughs and suggest you place it into a very uncomfortable spot in your body as he continues his attack. If you fire it, the aggressor may show no immediate reaction whatsoever to being shot repeatedly with it. It will be small comfort if slow blood loss finally causes him to collapse 20 minutes later, because the damage to you will already have been done.

If effectiveness is primary, establish the largest size weapon you are willing to dress around, and buy it in the largest caliber available.

[jimlongley]

I routinely carry a .32NAA Guardian as a pocket gun.

I wish Beretta could make a Tomcat in .32NAA.

[Emmett]

Out of the guns on your list, My primary carry gun is the PT111 Pro 9MM. I love that gun, it shoots good and accurate, and it conseals very well in a IWB holster. It is not as small as the other ones on your list, but I think it is an excellent carry pistol.
Good Luck with you choice,
Emmett

[dawgfishboy]

Also, has anyone seen the Ruger LCP in a Dallas-area store -- would like to see one in real life...

The Bullet Trap in Plano (off Ave K between Park and Parker) has two. One of which you can rent.

I rented it and the Kahr pm9 and I had better control with the Kahr. The LCP just seemed too small (for the snappiness) in my hands, so much so that I would be too hesitant to fire it in a SD situation unless it was close to point-blank range. But for deep conceal, I still think I'm going to check out the Kahr P380 (shipping soon? ). I've read that it should be slightly smaller than the LCP.
Kahr P380

[Excaliber]

But for deep conceal, I still think I'm going to check out the Kahr P380

The Kahr 380 looks like a really sweet option for a last ditch hideout weapon, or for folks whose circumstances require ultra deep concealment at all times in clothing that won't allow hiding a bigger gun.

A .380 doesn't deliver anywhere near the fight stopping power of a .45, but with careful shot placement it can get the job done, and it outperforms .22, .25, and .32 hands down.

[mr.72]

Taurus PT111 and Glock 26 are not exactly pocket pistols. If you are interested in something that big (double stack), then look into a Kel-Tec P11, S&W M&P9c, and probably whatever that subcompact Springfield XD is called and maybe even a Walther P99/SW99. There are a ton of guns in that 10-12 round double-stack 9mm 3" barrel category.

The Ruger LCP, at least around here, is not much more if any more expensive than a new P3AT. The Kahr .380 is going to be about the only other reasonable choice in that size category. I hated shooting the Ruger LCP. If you are in this size class, then maybe check out a P32 just because it is much easier to handle than an LCP or P3AT depending on your hand size etc.

In between the G26/PT111/P11 size guns and the LCP/P3AT size guns you will find things like the Kel-Tec PF9, Walther PPS and Kahr PM9. Single-stack, narrow compact pistols. The PF9 is the thinner. A Kahr CW9/P9 is just a little longer than the Kel-Tec PF9 and with about 3/8" longer grip than the PM9, but like $200 less expensive. I haven't shot a PPS but they are kinda spendy.

I guess it all depends on what the issue is with concealment and your mode of carry. I have shot most of these guns and to me, the best balance of firepower, concealment, price and ergos/handling is the Kahr CW9. The PM9 is a surprisingly easy to handle pistol for the small size and packs a wallop, so if you can't find a way to conceal the slightly larger CW9 then you may be better off with the more expensive PM9. IMHO if you are going to pocket carry, the PM9 is the class of the bunch.

Among this whole range of guns I think just about the only ones that can really be pocket carried easily will be the P3AT/LCP/P32 and the PM9. PF9 and PPS are probably just on the edge of being really pocketable and then only if you are wearing baggier pants and don't mind a fat-looking thing printing kind of like carrying a paperback book in your pocket. I think the CW9/P9 and of course G26/P111/P11 are just too big to pocket carry for most people.

Just MHO ...

BTW my next gun purchase is probably a CW9. I'm on the hunt for the right deal right now.

[Xander]

Among this whole range of guns I think just about the only ones that can really be pocket carried easily will be the P3AT/LCP/P32 and the PM9. PF9 and PPS are probably just on the edge of being really pocketable and then only if you are wearing baggier pants and don't mind a fat-looking thing printing kind of like carrying a paperback book in your pocket. I think the CW9/P9 and of course G26/P111/P11 are just too big to pocket carry for most people.

That's a pretty good assessment, from my experience. I pocket carry my S&W 340PD J-Frame almost everyday...It's invisible in my cargo pants and shorts, relaxed fit jeans, and even some of my dress slacks. When even that's too big, I have a Kel-Tec P3AT that can be carried in anything. I've tried to figure out how to pocket carry my Walther PPS (and believe me, I can figure out how to get a *lot* of stuff into my pockets) but it's just too big, bulky, and borderline too heavy. I wouldn't even consider trying to pocket carry my G27 or my S&W M&P 9 Compact, unless we're talking about pocket in a heavy coat. They're both way too big, fat, and heavy to be practical.

[dwsUSA]

I'll cast my vote for the Kel-tec P3AT. I have had zero problems with mine and it shoots pretty darn good groups considering its size and you'll be hard pressed to find anything lighter. It disappears in almost any pocket and it is light enough that you will forget it is there. For what you get for the price it is a pretty darn good deal.

[Excaliber]

I'll cast my vote for the Kel-tec P3AT. I have had zero problems with mine and it shoots pretty darn good groups considering its size and you'll be hard pressed to find anything lighter. It disappears in almost any pocket and it is light enough that you will forget it is there. For what you get for the price it is a pretty darn good deal.

I don't own one, but I've seen lots of reports that indicate quality control is not consistent. Lots of folks report intermittent failures to feed, failures to eject, and even broken parts after very small numbers of rounds fired. For me, that takes the little KelTecs out of the running for life saving equipment. The Ruger LCP and the new Kahr 380 look like much better equipment in the same size / power category.