Among pocketable semiautomatic pistols . . .

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Naphtali

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Ruger's LCR 357 Magnum weighs about 17.5 ounces unloaded and about 22 ounces loaded with five FBI 38 Special 158-grain LSWC-HP cartridges. Among semiautomatic pistols that have been in production long enough to demonstrate they are pretty much defect free, is there a 9x19 mm or 380 ACP pistol - with second strike capability - that weigh no more when loaded that is very easily pocketable?

While my inclination is to limit semiautomatic pistols to hammer guns only, I understand that there are striker fired pistols that also have a second strike capability.
 
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I would imagine that you could look at the web sites of several manufacturers to check the weights of their pistols. Research on this will be a learning experience, and you should report back with a chart of comparison weights.

Here are some you might check (some do not have second-strike capability):

Beretta Nano 9mm
Glock 26 and 43
HK P2000SK and VP9SK
Kahr 9mm models
Kel-Tec P11 and PF9
Ruger LC9s
SIG P290
S&W M&P Compact (not M2.0)
Walther P99 Compact
 
Remington RM380. DAO with second-strike.

Remington has to be about the unluckiest gun company in modern times. After numerous mis-steps and failed attempts to design their own semiautomatic duty- and carry-size pistols, they finally go ahead and purchase Rohrbaugh in order to get at their excellent (and expensive) 9mm pocket pistol.

Then, Remington takes the Rohrbaugh, and improves it. The slide now locks back, the magazine release is American-style, and the frontstrap is checkered. It's also chambered in .380 instead of 9mm, which is frankly a bit much for a gun this light.

And now, nobody will buy it, because Remington also tried to make a gun called the R51.

End result being, you can now purchase an RM380 for under $200 after rebate. About the only negative I can come up with for the gun is that the trigger, which is otherwise exceptionally smooth, has to be pulled pretty far back to the frame. And I don't like the milled-in sights, but I don't like any milled-in sights.
 
Naphtali said:
Ruger's LCR 357 Magnum weighs about 17.5 ounces unloaded and about 22 ounces loaded with five FBI 38 Special 158-grain LSWC-HP cartridges. Among semiautomatic pistols that have been in production long enough to demonstrate they are pretty much defect free, is there a 9x19 mm or 380 ACP pistol - with second strike capability - that weigh no more when loaded that is very easily pocketable?

While my inclination is to limit semiautomatic pistols to hammer guns only, I understand that there are striker fired pistols that also have a second strike capability.
Click to expand...
Sig P290RS has restrike (that’s the RS) and comes in .380 and 9mm.
IIRC the first gen Ruger LC9 had restrike. The new models don’t.

Both are hammer fired.

“Easily pocketable” sorta depends on on your pants, your pockets, and your build. I see people say they pocket carry a Glock 26 no problem. They gotta have bigger pockets than me.
 
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About the "largest" pistol I'll pocket carry is a 10oz Kel-Tec P3AT. No revolvers make the cut..not for slip in the pants pocket and forget about it carry. If I'm wearing a coat I can move up to J frames and mid size autoloaders,but I'll still have my little Kel-Tec stashed on me..:)
 
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While my Shield 9MM fits easily into a jeans pocket it’s a bit too heavy and pulls my pants down.
 
Along with the Remington RM380, the Beretta Pico is a .380 that meets your requirements. DAO with second strike capability, and the best sights in the real-pocket-pistol class. Once you learn proper trigger management on the little pistol you will be shocked at how accurate it is.
 
I'd totally forgotten about the Pico! Which I want to hate on so badly, because it's a Beretta, but you're not kidding about the sights. The price isn't even that miserable.

Can I hate on it because it's too small? I haven't shot one, so I can't rationally rip on it, but that's really not going to stop me. :D
 
Anything heavier than 15oz is too much for me, I tried a p-232 and even with jeans on it pulled the pocket down and banged my thigh. The LCP just works for me, tried an LCR that was a bit heavier than my LCP but I see know advantage to switching.


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Wise_A said:
I'd totally forgotten about the Pico! Which I want to hate on so badly, because it's a Beretta, but you're not kidding about the sights. The price isn't even that miserable.

Can I hate on it because it's too small? I haven't shot one, so I can't rationally rip on it, but that's really not going to stop me. :D
Click to expand...

There's only one criticism of the Pico I have read that could be considered legit -- at first glance. ;-) Because of the unusual design of the magazine release, dumping a mag is pretty much a two-handed proposition. The ambidextrous release is not a pair of buttons but a pair of tiny levers that are darned near impossible to manipulate with the shooting hand thumb, as is natural for most pistol shooters. But, there are two factors which, to me, make this a thoughtful and excellent design:

1. A lightning-fast mag change is hardly a thing you're going to require very often in a defensive scenario, especially with a tiny pocket gun. With practice, a mag change can be done quite quickly, certainly at least as fast as recharging a pocket revolver with a speedloader, just not race-gun fast.

2. There is absolutely, positively no way a mag is going to get accidentally released in your pocket, something that happens quite frequently with button-type releases on many tiny guns.
 
Ziggy2525 said:
Sig P290RS has restrike (that’s the RS) and comes in .380 and 9mm.
IIRC the first gen Ruger LC9 had restrike. The new models don’t.

Both are hammer fired.
Click to expand...

I 2nd the SIG 290RS. If you like revolver platforms there's the Ruger LCR available in 9mm and the Taurus M380 in .380acp
 
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