Micro Pistol or Pocket Revolver?

BabaBlueJay

BabaBlueJay

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I've owned both a P365 and Model 36. I definitely see the benefits of both platforms for deep concealment and understand almost everything has a tradeoff. I am curious to see what people here prefer for deep concealment, why, and pictures if you so choose.

I liked the SIG P365 for capacity, almost no recoil, and ergonomics. I traded it in because of the failure to lock back (this has since been fixed I'm told), the trigger, and spotty accuracy from anything other than close range. I get it was designed for close range but I like knowing my guns can perform adequately at beyond close range if needed.

I like my Model 36 for reliability, accuracy, the trigger, and simplicity. The only thing I don't like about my Model 36 is 5 shot capacity and that is a tradeoff I'm willing to live with for the positives it brings.

Curious to see what you guys think. I know the Seecamp and Ruger LCR are popular options here.

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Bodyguard 380 or a 337. Anything past 7 yards for accuracy is basically meaningless. These type of guns are meant for close in work and it you are shooting past 7 yards at a percieved threat, you'd better lawyer up before you give your side of the story. Always amazes me when people talk about 25 yard groups with this type of firearm. 25 yards and I'm shooting a shotgun or carbine. If I don't have one of these, I'm running or hiding.
 
I have carried a model 60 until I got a 365 about two years ago. I understand that all the problems with the 365 were corrected by then. I like the ten plus one capability and as the cajun lawyer above states, any pocket gun I now carry is for close range work. Anything past 7-at most 10 yards, and I am running or hiding.
 
CAJUNLAWYER said:
Bodyguard 380 or a 337. Anything past 7 yards for accuracy is basically meaningless. These type of guns are meant for close in work and it you are shooting past 7 yards at a percieved threat, you'd better lawyer up before you give your side of the story. Always amazes me when people talk about 25 yard groups with this type of firearm. 25 yards and I'm shooting a shotgun or carbine. If I don't have one of these, I'm running or hiding.
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Fair point. I guess I just like to know I can make that shot if I absolutely have to.
 
My edc was a 2” model 36 up until a yr or so ago. I got to where I couldn’t see sights very well. I know people will say you don’t need sights on an edc. I shoot what I carry. I usually finish my range session with 10 shots from 50 yds. I now shoot a P365. Simply because of the sights. I have 24x20 steel silhouettes. At 50 yds I routinely go 10 for 10. Pocket guns can be more accurate than people think.
 
Bald1 said:
My edc was a 2” model 36 up until a yr or so ago. I got to where I couldn’t see sights very well. I know people will say you don’t need sights on an edc. I shoot what I carry. I usually finish my range session with 10 shots from 50 yds. I now shoot a P365. Simply because of the sights. I have 24x20 steel silhouettes. At 50 yds I routinely go 10 for 10. Pocket guns can be more accurate than people think.
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The sights on it are fantastic I'll agree with that
 
That is a beauty BabaBlueJay! It is hard to beat a J Frame for concealed carry. The chances are pretty remote that you would need more rounds. Confidence in your sidearm is supreme. I like the J Frame with 148 gain wadcutters in the cylinder, and a speed loader with 110 grain Hornady FTX standard pressure Critical Defense. If a speed loader cannot be carried for some reason, a speed strip with the same. I cannot see the sights all that well either, but I figure that at arms length distance it won't really matter.
 
K Harris said:
That is a beauty BabaBlueJay! It is hard to beat a J Frame for concealed carry. The chances are pretty remote that you would need more rounds. Confidence in your sidearm is supreme. I like the J Frame with 148 gain wadcutters in the cylinder, and a speed loader with 110 grain Hornady FTX standard pressure Critical Defense. If a speed loader cannot be carried for some reason, a speed strip with the same. I cannot see the sights all that well either, but I figure that at arms length distance it won't really matter.
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I wholeheartedly agree, I'd rather have 5 shots I know I will hit with than more capacity in a gun I don't fully trust. For others the gun they trust may be the P365, which is a fantastic gun in it's own right. The beautiful thing is we all have so many options to pick one that we feel confident in. Having confidence and trust in your gun is priceless.
 
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when I was a kid, could hit what ever I wanted with my dad's 36.. as an adult I cannot shoot a J frame accurately at all... so it is semi's for me...
 
What Cajun Lawyer said!!!!!!!!!!

I carry a J-frame in a front pocket virtually every day. I have several micro-pistols that I never carry but I think about it frequently. I'm of the opinion that on any given day I am never going to need more than 5 shots and I practice point shooting at close range because at a distance I'm not supposed to legally be in that kind of a gunfight. I can hide easier than engage in a 30 foot duel.

But I do typically go to 9mm increased firepower when I am going somewhere that I think is a target for goblins. Some of my pants hide a 10 round 9mm in a front pocket quite easily.
 
I shoot my 365 better that my G17. Goes without saying that I shoot it better than my J frames. And mine just works. The only stoppages of any kind were caused by a single type of ammo that choked every gun I tried it in. So, I hit better with it and I'm 100% confident it will work. I wouldn't feel poorly armed with the J frame, I just feel better with the Sig. JMHO.
 
ISCS Yoda said:
What Cajun Lawyer said!!!!!!!!!!

I carry a J-frame in a front pocket virtually every day. I have several micro-pistols that I never carry but I think about it frequently. I'm of the opinion that on any given day I am never going to need more than 5 shots and I practice point shooting at close range because at a distance I'm not supposed to legally be in that kind of a gunfight. I can hide easier than engage in a 30 foot duel.

But I do typically go to 9mm increased firepower when I am going somewhere that I think is a target for goblins. Some of my pants hide a 10 round 9mm in a front pocket quite easily.
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I think everyone’s thoughts on 7 yds, and taking cover at 30’ is flawed thinking. Almost every room in my house is 7yds long. 30’ is only 10 yds. Where you hiding? I know the Indiana Mall shooting is the exception and not the rule. But it did happen. 40 yds. I think there is no magic number for distance. If you practice at 30-50 yds then 30-50 ft is easy.
 
i carried an M&P 340 in a jacket pocket or pants pocket while still workin in LE and afterwords for walks around the neighborhood or quick trips to town. Every time I carried it I wondered whether it was a good choice with only 5 rounds on tap. what about missed shots, more than one bad guy etc. I often carried my Shield instead for longer sight radius, increased firepower etc. I sold my Shield and purchased a Sig 365 X Macro. I recently purchased a 649-2 that I like more than the M&P 340. Being all steel, it's easier to shoot well. I carry both depending on where my outing takes me.
 
Bald1 said:
I think everyone’s thoughts on 7 yds, and taking cover at 30’ is flawed thinking. Almost every room in my house is 7yds long. 30’ is only 10 yds. Where you hiding? I know the Indiana Mall shooting is the exception and not the rule. But it did happen. 40 yds. I think there is no magic number for distance. If you practice at 30-50 yds then 30-50 ft is easy.
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This. IIRC, there was also a recent church shooting where the bad guy was put down at a distance over thirty feet by church 'security'.

There is no guarantee that if the worst happens, it will happen under best case circumstances.

My P365s are my go-to, but I do carry an airweight J or Bodyguard .380 on occasion when circumstances make them a more appropriate choice. I definitely understand that I am sacrificing capability when I do so.
 
Bald1 said:
I think everyone’s thoughts on 7 yds, and taking cover at 30’ is flawed thinking. Almost every room in my house is 7yds long. 30’ is only 10 yds. Where you hiding? I know the Indiana Mall shooting is the exception and not the rule. But it did happen. 40 yds. I think there is no magic number for distance. If you practice at 30-50 yds then 30-50 ft is easy.
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Thanks. You saved me from having to say it.

The problem with the “never gonna have to shoot past 7 yards” concept is that it ends up morphing into:

- “I don’t have to worry about accuracy”;
- “it’s a belly gun, it’s not supposed to be accurate; and
- “you never use the sights anyway”

All of those are flawed concepts that produce shooters who are no where close to proficient and when things go pear shaped can’t hit an assailant even at 7 yards.
 
I carried a J Frame for 40+ years - every day. I never owned a Polymer pistol either. When one of my friends brought down his P365 and I shot it - I was sold!

Not only does it have double the capacity & faster reloading, it has way better sights (night sights too) a lot less recoil with more powerful loads, it's smaller in size, has no cylinder bulge, it's 5 ounces lighter than a M60/36 AND it is damned accurate as well.

I bought mine well after they had fixed the issues with it and after 5,000 + rounds I have had no issues at all. There would be no way in hell I'd go back to a 5 shot J frame (or 6 shot K for that matter) over the Sig P365.

I love shooting my P365 and practice a lot with it. I can shoot it like a target pistol. It shoots like a bigger gun to me and the sights are very easy to use - the J frame sights are basic at best. I hated practicing with my Chief's Special after I reached 60 because of the recoil of carry loads. THe P365 is a pleasure on my hands.
 
BB57 and I often think alike. I have always shot at distance just in case I have to and I would have done what Eli Dicken did under similar circumstances rather than run and hide. I happen to have been in a long distance shooting with an active shooter a couple of years back. I kept the bad guy pinned down behind a large cottonwood tree with my AR for 48 minutes until LE arrived after he put a .44magnum through the instrument panel of my security jeep at that distance. I could have kept him pretty well entertained with my Glock 19 as well because I shoot handguns at distance and have for many years. It's much like they say about motorcycling. " Dress for the crash, not the ride". That's why I posted what I did above.
 
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