Pocket guns... Shed some light please!

KBCraig · #16

My only pocket gun is a Taurus 85 Ultra-Light, but it depends on the pocket. Some back pockets aren't deep enough with the Uncle Mike's pocket holster, and the cylinder bulge can make it too obvious in some front pockets. I plan to add a "thin and flat" backup sometime soon.

It's all about what fits you, not what fits me.

Kevin

Smokewagon · #17

Just a thought on the .22 idea. A friend of mine carries a .22 magnum. I've never seen it, but I believe it is a derringer. Not my cup of tea, but must work for him.

Rex B · #18

Don't be afraid of going Kel-Tec.
I have a P32 and a P3AT, always have one of the two in my pocket.
Have a P11 also, for that matter. All are good guns, only one FTE ever out of the 3, and that was a very dirty gun at the time.

Kel-tec has been making these guns for many years now, refining the production process. It's rare to hear about a defective new gun these days. But if it is, call Kel-Tec and ship the gun back. They will tune that thing so it runs like a sewing machine, and have it back to you in a week. They will probably pay shipping both ways if you ask, and often throw in extras for your trouble.
Even if you buy it used you get the same service.
If you buy new, and have to (unlikely) send it in twice at your expense to get it right, you are still out less than $300 for the most potent handgun per pound on the market.

packina45 · #19

Venus Pax wrote:My dad has never had any trouble from his Kel-Tec .32.

I often carry a Bersa .380. It's a good gun. I haven't met anyone that owns one that doesn't like it.

Agreed. I have a Bersa Thunder, have put several hundred rounds through it. Always goes bang, always hits where you point it.

tomneal · #20

I have a pocket pistol with me most of the time.

Here are the three I carry.

Kel-Tec P11 9mm
Para Ord Wart Hog .45 ACP
Glock 30 .45 ACP

sparx · #21

packina40 wrote:Agreed. I have a Bersa Thunder, have put several hundred rounds through it. Always goes bang, always hits where you point it.

I'll 3rd that... I personally thought the Kel-Tec .380 a little too light in weight for my wants and went with the Bersa Thunder 380CC instead. I haven't regretted it one bit for those places that restrict my carry options to something a bit more undetectable, and for the price am happy with the quality Bersa has put into it.

I haven't been able to put more than about 150-200 rounds through it yet (just got it about 6 weeks ago), and although it had two failure-to-feeds within the first 50 (WWB, which are flat-nose, so that may have contributed to it), it hasn't had a one since (and all but one box of Magtech, which are true round nose, were with the WWB but I'd like to get some more of those blunt tips through it for good measure). I haven't put enough rounds through it to get that "fuzzy" feeling about staking my life on it yet (heaven forbid), but if I have to, at least I'll have one round that's good to go if nothing else. I'm sure that will change once I get a few hundred or so more rounds in.

HankB · #22

My "always" gun is an S&W 340Sc. For summer wear, it fits in the right front pocket of my shorts with no problem, and unlike so many small autos, reliability isn't an issue.

I tried a friend's Kel-Tel P32 . . . the pistol was reliable, but with what passes for sights on that pistol I was getting patterns - I won't call them "groups" - at 25 yards that were centered a couple of feet away from point of aim.

stroo · #23

Why would you shoot any pocket gun at 25 yards? Pocket guns are meant for up close and personal encounters certainly 7 yards or less and probably more like 3 yards or less.

casselthief · #24

why not? other than the fact that many outdoor ranges (I'm thinking specifically of Quail Creek) have only 25yd targets, it's also a distance that allows you to check the extent of the accuracy.
sure, and I agree that 3-7yds is typically the maximum distance that you would want to fool with. but, hey, why not check what you can get outta the thing.

HankB · #25

stroo wrote:Why would you shoot any pocket gun at 25 yards? Pocket guns are meant for up close and personal encounters certainly 7 yards or less and probably more like 3 yards or less.

To check the accuracy and sight registration, of course . . . with a small round like the .32 ACP, accuracy is paramount, as COM hits are much less likely to dissuade a bad guy than a hit in the vicinity of the eye socket . . . and if you have to aim at the BG's opposite ear to make that shot, maybe the pistol isn't so great.

Use your imagination, and I'm sure you can come up with any of a number of plausible scenarios where accuracy at realistic pistol distances matters - a lot.

Rex B · #26

I shoot all my Kel-Tecs at 7 yds at an indoor range.

I can keep any of them in a 10" circle, emptying the magazine at about 1 shot/second. For me that's good enough to be half that accurate under duress

Mike1951 · #27

stroo wrote:Why would you shoot any pocket gun at 25 yards? Pocket guns are meant for up close and personal encounters certainly 7 yards or less and probably more like 3 yards or less.

Some, like the S&W snubs, are only hampered by the short sight radius.

They are accurate enough for long distance shooting. On a recent Shooting USA episode, Bob Munden broke a balloon at 200yds with one. (Of course, he was also shown breaking thrown clay targets with a .45 Colt derringer.)

TIN BENDER · #28

Please take a look at S & W 642 Airlite and North American Arms Guardian .380 . Both are FIRST CLASS TOOLS.

casselthief · #29

or the Taurus 85!!!

jbirds1210 · #30

Mike1951 wrote:
stroo wrote:Why would you shoot any pocket gun at 25 yards? Pocket guns are meant for up close and personal encounters certainly 7 yards or less and probably more like 3 yards or less.
Some, like the S&W snubs, are only hampered by the short sight radius.

They are accurate enough for long distance shooting. On a recent Shooting USA episode, Bob Munden broke a balloon at 200yds with one. (Of course, he was also shown breaking thrown clay targets with a .45 Colt derringer.)

Mike-
I have to agree with you.....S&W snubs are very capable of being accurate at some distance. I can regulary hit a 8"plate at around 10-12 yards with my little 642 using fairly hot defensive ammo. I am really not a great shot and have very little practice with small revolvers. I have no doubt that they will do their part if we do ours.
Jason