Friend wants a pistol that does not exist.

Lady friend showed me her pistol. A Raven 25 ACP

She had a deputy suggest that she really should have a better one.

I agree on better.

She wants lighter weight to carry in pants pocket. (Concealed IS legal in her location per deputy)

What is the lowest priced light weight reliable pistol you would suggest?

Air weight J frames are beyond her budget, and the cylinder would be too thick in her pocket.

I explained that I could not recommend any pistol that would fit her desires.

Did comment that it "might be possible" to buy a reliable revolver for $200. But, it would be heavy, well worn, and large.

I post this with regrets.

Think odds of success are about same as having a winning lottery ticket.

Bekeart

Ruger LCP should satisfy her requirements. A Kel-tec P3AT would do it for a little less.

I agree with the LCP. She should be able to get one for 200 bucks. She may be able to get 50 bucks for the Raven, too.

She’s probably not going to practice with it so she needs a “point gun, pull trigger” set up.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

And definitely carry in a good pocket holster or not carry with a round in its chamber.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

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SWCA #3713

Since the new LCP Max came out, I bet there will be several used standard LCP's hitting the market.

LCP or P3AT, or even a KT P32.

I carry a P32 when I can't carry a gun. And stoke it with European ball ammo. Hollow Points aren't going to expand in .32, or even .380 with short barrels, so go for penetration.

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Only a cold warrior

FIE Titan. Much better than a Raven . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Taurus 738... the LCP competitor. The TCP, is that what they called it?

Ruger EC9. I see them advertised at a bit over your budget of $200 at $259. Might see them for around $225. Plus she’d be stepping up power wise to 9mm.

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I told you not to use Lifebuoy

Ruger LCP is her best budget option.

A Raven .25 is at 15 ounces, so “lighter” is possible. But the tone of the message is such that the OP will have to buy and test fire the gun. I do not have a lot of hope that the .25 owner will.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I'd suggest she save up and raise her budget a little.

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Jorge

I ditto the vote for Taurus 738 TCP. 11 oz empty. Is is a semi-DAO meaning that the hammer goes to half cock after firing a round. The shooter then pulls the trigger to finalize the hammer cock and release. Safer than the idiotic striker fired with no thumb safety.

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"Don't Give Up the Ship"

Sold my LCP locally in a flash. Had back-up offers pending
Bought a LCP Max. Nice enough but not worth giving up a first generation LCP for a rock bottom price.

Original LCP.

Easy, Remington RM380. Available on the used market below $300 if you hunt.

Another vote for the Taurus TCP 738. It's discontinued but there's a lot around. Completed auctions on GB show lots selling below $200. The low was $100 with most around $150.

Ruger LCP's are dependable, lightweight, accurate and a good value. The Ruger LC9 is the same. As others have mentioned, some of both were ditched when the seller went to a Sig 365 9mm, the double stack Ruger LCP Max .380 or something similar. With a careful choice of ammo, today's .380 can be effective. I'd rather have a 9mm or some caliber beginning with a 4 but sometimes weight and size win out.

My search for the perfect pocket .380 ended 8 years ago.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

I would not trust anything smaller than a Glock 43.

If that isn’t small enough, may have to rethink how she’s gonna carry it.

$200 is tough. But I too like the Keltec P32 or P3AT if the LCP can't be found for cheap.

I also like the NAAs and Seecamps, but again that price point...

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Psalm 27:2

I’ve carried a KelTec P32 for 20 years, it’s reliable and you don’t even know it’s there. The P3AT or Ruger LCP are equally good choices, have several friends who carry them. With the arrival of the LCP Max I’ve seen a number of older LCP’s for sale.

Here in SE PA at the moment the only problem is price. I’ve seen used KelTecs and Rugers priced close to what new ones sold for a couple of years ago. Around here some places would sell the Raven for $200. No too long ago I saw an old FIE .25 pistol for $200. I thought somebody put an extra zero on by mistake.

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Wheel guns are real guns.

What's wrong with the Jennings???

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Forum consigliere

It's just a Raven in a different caliber............. The most common is a 22LR. They were part of the infamous california "ring of fire" guns. Most of those companies were started by various members of the same family and were just variations of the same basic design..I.E. Ravens.

There were larger, bigger caliber Jennings but the Zamac construction didn't scale up well and when I was an active dealer I usually avoided them as they were prone to breakage. The little 22's actually worked fairly well so long as the mag wasn't damaged but were essentially a cheap plinker. When it comes to really small pistols I would prefer the 25 ACP for reliability, neither has much power but 22 ammo is more prone to misfires and feeding issues, especially in small pocket pistols.

I didn't see anyone mention the Ruger LCP II 22LR. Load it with Federal Punch 22LR ammo which I read somewhere is more potent than 25 ACP, or CCI Stingers. Plus it's 10+1.

Some Phoenix X Cops might come on and describe the famous "Deuce Magnum", and why it was named so. If they don't show, I will try latter.

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"Don't Give Up the Ship"

The Kel-Tec P-32 seems like the obvious choice here.

Kel-Tec P-32 | Handgun Hero

since the weights and sizes are so close she could try the PC3AT and P32. some people think the .380 is a bit too "snappy" for them and back off the the .32.

As I have posted, love my Ruger LCP Max.
Liked it so much bought the LCP II 22.
Love it too.
Near perfect functioning,
But - have had some failures to Fire.
Finally got some Federal Punch.
It’s works fine, but I prefer Stingers.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

THANKS to all for the information.

I will take her on a tour of local shops so that she can SEE and HANDLE various options.

The budget may need some assistance from a FAT GUY in RED SUIT.

Bekeart

Don't be so quick to dismiss the Raven. Yeah, its cheap and ugly, but the darn things are noted for being utterly reliable. I have one and it goes bang every single time.
You gotta change tactics with a mouse gun. Forget center mass. These things are intended for bad breath distances. Instead, shove the gun right in the BGs face and pull the trigger...several times.

AMEN Brother!

Shoot to Click.

Bekeart

Outside of the budget, but worth it: Glock 42. I have one mostly so my wife has a low recoil light gun to shoot if needed; she is small and has a bad back. After my abdominal surgery in September, I did not wear trousers for about 5 weeks - track pants and sweats were the best I could do. The little G42 was all I could tolerate, and not what I would prefer ... but better than strong language. I was not even arguably able to otherwise protect myself, so choices had to be made.

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NHI, 10-8.

There’s always a Ruger LCP in my front pocket.

I would suggest that She keeps what She has, saves Her extra money and purchase a Glock Model 42 .380. This Glock Model is my "Always With Me Weapon".

KelTec P32 loaded with Fiocchi FMJ.

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Release the Kraken

Ditto...I never leave home without my LCP, unless I'm packing my Glock 43X, or SIG P 365 SAS. Otherwise, the LCP II is the go to.

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OGCA Member.

Like others are saying, direct her to get an LCP. If she absolutely cannot bear the recoil of .380 ACP, then tell her to get an LCPII Easy Rack in .22LR and call it a day.

People who are picky about guns and will sooner carry nothing than deal with even the slightest discomfort are the worst. It's as if they cannot comprehend that folks put up with the relatively minor inconvenience of carrying a firearm so that they might spare themselves the potentially greater discomfort of being attacked, injured, or possibly even killed.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

IF she can handle the 380ACP (BIG "if") I'd second the TCP.
Mine has been flawless, but small 380s can be problematic if you don't have enough wrist/hand strength to avoid "limp wristing".
If the 380ACP is too much, then the Keltec P32 is probably the next best for the size/weight/price constraints.

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

I have a lcp with over 400 rounds thru it with no issues. I carry in a pocket.

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Just hanging with my dogs