Best pocket gun

[snowman.45]

Another vote for the MP340. I can't see carrying less than .38 Special if I don't have to. I know ammo design has come a long way, but old habits and biases die hard. Further, I just trust the J-frame more than a semi-auto in a pocket.

 

[shouldazagged]

I've carried a 1990 640 daily for seventeen years. I've considered the a Ruger LCP but can't afford one at the moment. I trust the 640 implicitly.

 

[BC38]

The only thing I have light enough for comfortable PANTS pocket carry is a Taurus TCP, and it has worked just fine for that purpose. For a coat pocket any of my snubs will work.

As a rule I usually carry something bigger IWB instead. Like a K-frame snub or my Bulldog 44 (which both fit into the same holsters BTW).

 

[raisedin99]

The 340PD, carried every day.

terry

 

[dano1200r]

Though I carry a 442 often, no one has mentioned the Sig 938. Very thin, light, and conceals easily. For a 9mm, not too shabby.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

 

[Pointblank2U]

These days it's the S&W 432PD. It's a 6-Shot in .32 H&R Magnum. I picked up two of them at Grabagun last month and they are real honeys. HKS makes speedloaders for them. I keep them stoked with .32 H&R Magnum Hornady Critical Defense. They weigh almost nothing and there is very little recoil. I am surprised these didn't take off better. They are currently out of production. I can also shoot .32 S&W Long and .32 S&W in them. I've heard .32 acp also, but haven't tried them.

 

[Mister_Smith]

A photo of a few of my pocket guns, but I have other J frame Smiths and if the hammer is bobbed, shrouded, or enclosed, you're doing well, but I tend to favor these little guns for their power. Don't let anyone fool you, .357 from a snub is still is far more potent than the .38 (but the .38 in +P is plenty potent) and it is manageable if the recoil doesn't bother you. If you intend to shoot .38 do NOT buy a .357 as you will lose velocity by shooting .38 in a .357 gun, a google search will be informative. The 442 and 642 are nearly half the price of the scandium guns, lightweight, potent, pretty much the same size, AND you can buy them from the factory with the cylinders cut for moon clips. I would be almost as happy with the 442/642 as I am with my 340's but I liked the XS tritium sight and the .357 option and I do use .357's in these guns.

IF you spend the money for Buffalo Bore, or the specialty ammo makers for THEIR +P .38 Special ammo, you will be achieving power levels approaching that of the .357, BUT if you buy other +P factory ammo from other brands, you may be getting watered down stuff. Do your research on this, my research found that many who ran factory +P ammo through their snubs were getting much lower velocities than what was advertised. With Buffalo Bore, though, people testing this through their chronos were reporting that the ammo matched factory claims of velocity. On youtube there is a fellow, tnoutdoors9, he does a test running Buffalo Bore through his Smith 438, for example, and got the factory quoted velocities.

Anyway, here are my 340 M&P's:

 

[springer99]

Either a 642 or a SIG938 for me, year round. Actually they also fit into the same pocket holster great. Don't see the need to go below a 38Spl or 9mm platform as the weight and size are almost identical.

 

[tcon]

I like that ammo case. Who made it? Does it hold speed strips or loose rounds?

Loose in pairs. That's the Galco 2x2x2 tan which is more mahogany colored and matches their "tan" color on their leather holsters.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

These days it's the S&W 432PD. It's a 6-Shot in .32 H&R Magnum. I picked up two of them at Grabagun last month and they are real honeys. HKS makes speedloaders for them. I keep them stoked with .32 H&R Magnum Hornady Critical Defense. They weigh almost nothing and there is very little recoil. I am surprised these didn't take off better. They are currently out of production. I can also shoot .32 S&W Long and .32 S&W in them. I've heard .32 acp also, but haven't tried them.

Hi Badge130:

I had heard the same thing about shooting .32ACP out of the 432PD and called the factory to ask about that. I was told that if the piece will safely chamber the .32ACP round, then you could safely shoot it. I would have doubts as to any accuracy, but this would only be in a dire situation anyway. I have a .32ACP Seecamp that I use as back-up for my 432. The 432PD was my first J-frame, and I am very happy with it. My daughter turns 21 yrs. old this August, and has expressed some interest in acquiring her CHL. If she follows through and obtains her CHL, I believe I'll pass the 432 down to her to start her J-frame addiction. By the way, your 432PD looks much better than mine. Mine gets carried a bunch.

Regards,

Dave

 

[lawandorder]

What works for me may not work for someone else..........

..................that is why the selection of a carry gun is a decision only you can make for yourself after much trial and error.

For my purposes I carry, 99% of the time, a 649 in .38 Special that has been improved by C&S. I carry, most days, in my front, strong side pocket in a Galco Horsehide pocket holster.

Have carried that combo for going on 10 years.

Shown with other occasional carry methods.

Galco Ankle Holster
Blackhawk Belt Holster
Null Inside Waistband Holster

 

[Jim1392]

I was either carrying my Beretta 21A 22 or my Beretta TomCat 32 Inox for the times I wanted to pocket carry. This was usually in my neighborhood when I was walking my dog. Outside my neighborhood either a 640 Pro or my Shield 9. But since I bought the Ruger LCP is has become my only pocket gun. The Beretta's have gone back into the safe.

 

[rock_castle]

J Frame and LCR are about as good as it gets. The small .380's conceal the best, but like a lot of people, I just don't trust that round for SD.

 

[3dots]

The best pocket gun is the one in your pocket EVERY day. Mine happens to be a BG380.

 

[M29since14]

Tcon, the ammo pouch is nice but I like the stocks and was going to ask who made them?

 

[nodpete]

I carry a KelTec P3AT .380 for a pocket gun (When I don't carry my 9mm). It holds 8 rounds with the extended mag + a 6 round mag in the DeSantis Pocket/Ammo holster. It fits in my jeans pocket or dress pants with no problem and is very comfortable. I use Precision 1, 90 gr. that has 13.8" penatration with great expansion in gel and 13.53" penatration with the same expansion through denim/gel. Not bad for a .380

 

[smoothshooter]

So what is your idea of the best pocket gun around?

I'd nominate the S&W 642 or the old bodyguards like the S&W 49.

I have a 49 that is being paroled from the 10 day jail tomorrow, and will post a picture when I get it.

I suppose there might even be some semi-autos that qualify.

Pictures welcome.

• S & W .380 Bodyguard, no laser
• Taurus PT .22 LR

If I am wearing cargo pants, I often carry a short barrelled revolver in the side pocket. Caliber immaterial, but usually a .38 Special, or .44 Bulldog.

I say " caliber immaterial " because the most important thing is TO HAVE A GUN.

I know of many instances where someone was killed, raped, or otherwise assaulted because they DIDN'T have a gun.

I have heard of very few who suffered the fates mentioned above because their gun or caliber was too small.

 

[smoothshooter]

Help me out here, unless your belt is under your armpits and your pockets are the size of bowling bags, how can you stand and fire a pistol, through your pocket, perpendicular to your body and expect to hit anything?

I think he is talking about shooting thru a coat pocket.

 

[smoothshooter]

I was in a LGS the other day looking in the consignment revolver case. The sales guy was talking to another customer looking at semis. The customer asked what was the small semi-auto at the end of the row.

The sales guy said it was a Seecamp .32 -- and told the customer he would have to be careful shooting anyone with that as it might piss him off.

Funny wise crack, but I have to believe for a non-LEO like myself who just wants a bad guy trying kill or injury me to back off -- a couple 32 acp rounds in the chest would do the job.

I was shot through the right hand with a .22 LR pocket gun a couple of years ago, and can assure you it does tend to change your priorities for the rest of the day.

 

[tcon]

Tcon, the ammo pouch is nice but I like the stocks and was going to ask who made them?

Those are made by Hogue - part# 61351 The checkering is grippy (aggressive) in the hand but not on clothing.