Pocket pistols

Beretta 21a. .22. Carried for a couple years
Beretta Tomcat .32 same size as 21a occasional
Colt Pocketlite .380 slightly larger than Tomcat, carried for 20+ years
SIG P938 9mm slightly larger than Pocketlite, current carry.
All 4 excellent, dependable pocket carries.
 
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When I choose to Pocket Carry, I use my NAA Guardian 380, in a High Noon Pocket Holster. It's a bit heavy compared to an LCP, or Kel Tec, but it's as reliable as the Sun coming up every Morning.
 

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LCP Gen2 in a Nemesis. I like a heavier longer trigger pull and no manual safety in a pocket pistol.
 
I managed to acquire a Ruger LCP and a Taurus TCP (PT738) within a week... good or bad week is hard to tell... anyway... took them to the range on the same day and the LCP went back in the box and onto the shelf to wait for the next owner... the Taurus became one of my pocket carries... my only 380 one... Beretta 21a in 22lr, and FEG PA-63 in 9x18MAK... big pockets required for the PA-63... trigger on the TCP is way better than the LCP...
 
My vote is for the KelTec P32. I’ve carried one for almost 20 years with no complaints. It’s reliable, accurate and small. At 10 yards and in I have no trouble keeping all shots in a palm sized group. If I take my time I can reliably hit bowling pins at 25 yards with it. Mine has also never had a malfunction in several thousand rounds of FMJ and Silvertip. It has done everything I need it to do, and it didn’t cost very much. Dad also had one and never had a bad thing to say about it.

Prior to the development of the P32 I planned to eventually get a Seecamp. If the P32 hadn’t come along I probably would have. I’ll probably still get a Seecamp one of these days, just to have one.
 
Sistema1927 said:
I have been pocket carrying over 30 years now.

Prior to NM having CCW, it was an NAA .22 magnum. (Deep concealment, but if caught it was only a petty misdemeanor, which would be overlooked in a clean self-defense shooting.)

After CCW, I graduated to 642/442, then to Kahr PM9. Recently, the Sig P365 is the go to gun. I sometimes carry a Beretta Pico, but the Sig gets carried 90% of the time.

The gun that I carry when I can't carry a gun is a KT P32.
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I have carried just about every hand gun in 40 years w/18 as a police officer and the PM909 was my edc and now the Sig 365...why carry a 380 when a 9mm is not much bigger? JMHO
 
Another vote for the Kel-Tec. First one I saw was a P32 a friend got for concealed carry. He was giving it a good workout before committing it to service and he let me shoot it. Its accuracy and reliability impressed me, but at the time I had no need.

By the time I was in the market for a pocket pistol, the P3AT had become available. I bought one not long after and have not regretted it.
 
robvious said:
I managed to acquire a Ruger LCP and a Taurus TCP (PT738) within a week... good or bad week is hard to tell... anyway... took them to the range on the same day and the LCP went back in the box and onto the shelf to wait for the next owner... the Taurus became one of my pocket carries... my only 380 one... Beretta 21a in 22lr, and FEG PA-63 in 9x18MAK... big pockets required for the PA-63... trigger on the TCP is way better than the LCP...
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My brother and mother have owned TCP-738s and had nothing but good things to say about them.

I actually originally planned on getting a TCP myself, then later its successor the Taurus Spectrum 380, but unfortunately the Spectrum got delayed then when it was finally released it was discovered to have issues with light primer strikes. The issue has yet to be addressed and most likely won't be anytime soon with Taurus moving their factory from Florida to Georgia, so I went with the Ruger LCP. Shame too, as I really dug the retro-futuristic styling of the Spectrum 380. If they ever do manage to work out the bugs then I'll definitely be getting one.
 
robvious said:
I managed to acquire a Ruger LCP and a Taurus TCP (PT738) within a week... good or bad week is hard to tell... anyway... took them to the range on the same day and the LCP went back in the box and onto the shelf to wait for the next owner... the Taurus became one of my pocket carries... my only 380 one... Beretta 21a in 22lr, and FEG PA-63 in 9x18MAK... big pockets required for the PA-63... trigger on the TCP is way better than the LCP...
Click to expand...

I didn't want to invoke all the vitriol so often associated with the "T word", but since you brought it up, one of the previously mentioned pocket rockets I own is a TCP, and contrary to the common wisdom of the Taurus haters, it has been just as good as you have described.
 
Pocket guns let me see. Manhurin made Walther PP in 32 apc
S&W Model 36 all steel 38 special and if I'm wearing a pullover or light jacket my old Sig P6 in 9mm. or my CZ 82 in 9mm makarov holds 12 rounds.2 spare mags in pouches for the P6 and the same for the CZ82.Frank
 
Colt 1908 for sheer cool factor

Colt Pony in 380

Ok, so these are exactly readily available...

My son like his Beretta Tomcat in 32


Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
If I'm "forced" to pocket carry I have two choices

Colt Mustang Pocket lite.....380

Smith 337PD..... 38

IIRC they weigh about 11oz for the 337 and 14 oz for the Colt (but the Colt is flat).

Generally my every day carry is a Smith 3913NL in 9mm 7+1 plus in a Milt Sparks Summer Special IWB and one or two extra 8rd magazines.
 
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If sights aren't a concern, then the Seecamp is the finest 32 ever made - imho. Even without sights I can easily keep 7rds in a paper plate at 15'. Stainless steel construction, but still light enough for pocket carry and a good DAO trigger... what's not to like.
 
go handle some at a gun shop, or rent at range. whatever you like is the best for you, the pocket pistol you actually have in your pocket should the need for it arise, is the best one.
 
Probably a little too smoky in .32...

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Here's a few of the pocket guns I have owned:

Raven .25
Davis .32 acp derringer
Kel Tec .32
Kel Tec .380
Lotsa J-frames
Lotsa small 9m/ms
Taurus TCP .380
Ruger LCP .380
Ruger LCP II .380

I wear regular fit boot cut jeans and have muscular legs so J-frames and 9m/m's won't work so it's down to the pocket .380s. The Ruger LCP II seems to be best with the Taurus TCP a very close second, both guns have been extremely reliable and accurate but the Ruger has bigger sights. The old LCP is actually slimmer and rounder but kicks more which is no big deal for a typical practice session, and is also a great pocket gun and maybe a little safer with the long DA trigger.
 
I have two and both spent many days and years while working 12to 15 hour days every day. Keltec 32&380 both have thousands rounds threw
 
JayFramer said:
The Beretta 81 for .32, the Beretta 84 for .380.
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I don't know how any of the Beretta Cheetah series qualifies as a "pocket pistol" but if your pockets are big enough I guess you can get one in there. I'll have to try it with my cargo pants because I know I can get a Walther CCP 9mm in those pockets.

True pocket pistols are little guns, like Seecamp 32s, Beretta 21s and 950s, in .22 or .25 ACP, or their Tomcat in .32. Ruger LCPs. Baby Brownings and Colt Vest Pocket designs in .25 ACP, replicated by Precision Small Arms today. Naturally, S&W J-frame .38 Specials and even .357s fit the bill, too, as does the S&W Bodyguard and Shield series of guns.

Having written all of that excess, thread stealing opinion, let me answer the question:

.32 ACP in those little guns is probably far easier to shoot than .380 ACP caliber. Up close and personal it might not even matter but there are some doggone great .32 ACP cartridges out there today! I'd go with the .32 if I was looking to pocket a really small gun.
 
I don't like carrying in my pocket, I'm scared I may run into Sister Amanda:eek: somewhere in my travels.:)

As of now, I'd have to go with the Sig P238 Equinox, excellent pistol.

With extended mag I have 8 rounds in this poodle shooter.;)

 
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