Big bore pocket pistols

[American1776]

I like to pocket carry my J-frame model 649 .357 magnum.

However there are times when I prefer 1) larger bore 2) greater capacity than 5

Here are my two current options that fit the above conditions and that fit inside a jeans pocket with a pocket holster just fine.

Colt Defender .45 and Beretta px4 storm subcompact. The Colt offers 8 rounds of .45, and the Beretta offers 10 rounds of .40 S&W.

Both pistols are ~24 ounces unloaded. They are both roughly the same weight when loaded as the J-frame 649 loaded with 5 158 gr. Magnums.

I still like my full size pistols, but these little pistols are very handy and convenient, while giving up nothing in terms of capacity and cartridge.

 

[TomkinsSP]

For those who really like the simplicity of the DA revolver CA has offerings in .40 S&W and .44 Spl that are harldy bigger than a J frame as well as a .45 acp that's just a smidge bigger than those.

Hint, hint S&W decision makers.

 

[mauser9]

Good choices but also consider a CS-45!

 

[richbuff]

"Big bore pocket pistols" is a very attention grabbing thread title for me.
I lull myself to sleep late night searching the internet for "Micro Forty" and "Tiny Ten" and "Officers .460 Rowland".
What I am looking for is very simple: The smallest auto pistol platform per given big bore caliber.
I am not interested in a self defense sidearm that will endure many years of heavy use at the range. I am looking for the opposite: Something that will fire just enough Underwood rounds per self defense incident without worrying too much about it shattering to pieces.
I have not found what I am looking for, so my current carry rotation includes the stainless Underwood .45+P Defender, Underwood .40 Shield & G27 and Underwood 10mm G29.

I currently prefer capacity a little bit more than 6, along with a little bit more reload speed, so for now, revolvers are out for me, but I am open to preference adjustment, because stainless S&W J and K frame .357s and L frame .44 mags with traditional wood grips are candy to my eyes.

My thinking is that cartridges that offer eh oomph were not designed with stopping power foremost in mind. Statistics show that my first shot will probably not land in a tiny critical zone of the threat. Therefore, I want a cartridge that offers plenty of power, in a platform that offers reasonable capacity and that is designed for concealability.

 

[dr. mordo]

Y'all may want to check out the Star PD, which is a very compact .45 1911ish design.

That said, all these guns are too big for my pockets. I have a J frame in there normally, and I wouldn't mind a shot 44 PL but the CA Bulldog barrel seems a bit long for pocket carry.

 

[C J]

I bought a Taurus PT-145 because of the size and because the LGS owner gave me 30 days to try it out. I knew the first day I would be keeping it barring any break downs.

It weights 22.2 ounces and is only 1.25" thick. And it holds 10+1 rounds of .45 ammo. I can cover it in the palm of my hand. It's never failed in any way. It shoots insanely accurate. And it fits my hand better than any gun I ever picked up. Plus it recoils better than any .45 I ever shot. I can do double taps that will hit an 8" target at 20 yards. In fact I emptied the entire gun into that target in 10 seconds and that included drawing it from a holster.

I carried that pistol several years. I retired my Sig P220 in favor of it. The Sig was way heavier, bigger and had less capacity plus it didn't recoil well at all IMO.

Then there's this. They have a sort of a recall (they don't call it that) because the guns can fire if dropped even if the safety is on. It dang near broke my heart to hear that. That's the best pocket pistol (yes I've carried it in a pocket) I have ever owned. Mine actually fell out of my IWB holster 2 or 3 times when I sat down. It didn't go off thank goodness. Taurus will buy the guns back but not for what I paid for it of course. I won't be sending it back to be replaced or for money. It's a great pistol IMO. I wish it didn't have that potential problem or I'd still be carrying it sometimes. Instead it is my sleeping area gun. Yes I know not to make it too easy to get to when I sleep. I also mounted a laser on it that makes it perfect for certain jobs.

There are good guns that fit in your pocket and shoot big bore cartridges.

 

[eb07]

My big bore pocket pistol:

 

[TomkinsSP]

...the CA Bulldog barrel seems a bit long for pocket carry.

Hence the "Boomer" .44 Spl. DAO 2 inch ported barrel no front blade...

 

[Irn-Bru]

Might wanna check out the Kahr PM45. I own the PM9 and it's a great little gun. Empty it weighs 17.3 ounces which is pretty light for a .45. Here's a size comparison from Goggle.

Kahr PM45 .45 ACP Big Bore Pocket Pistol

 

[ExRanger714]

I carried an original AMT 45 ACP Backup for a while with ball ammo. With trench sights it was a 10 yard pistol and ran fine with whatever brand ball. Almost exactly the same size as a 2" Model 60.

 

[TAROMAN]

About as big bore pocket as I'm able to handle:

Kahr K40 Covert

 

[jrs70]

My big bore pocket gun is a XD-S in 45ACP

 

[SquarePizza]

Both 41 Mags, and I have pocket carried them before. The pockets in a 5.11 tactical pants are large enough to swallow an N frame snubby with zero issue.

 

[RobertJ.]

"Big bore pocket pistols" is a very attention grabbing thread title for me.

No kidding! It got my attention!

This is the only thing I have that qualifies, although I have yet to carry it in a pocket:

 

[dr. mordo]

Hence the "Boomer" .44 Spl. DAO 2 inch ported barrel no front blade...

The problem with that gun is the 2" ported barrel no front blade which I find completely unappealing.

 

[steelslaver]

Here are my answers to a big bore pocket gun.
A loaded 325 with 6 extra rounds in dbl clips

and a 396 with 5 extra rounds in a stripper

 

[thomasinaz]

If I'm not pocketing my 340 PD.... The M&P Shield 45, a big bore pistol that actually fits in a pocket. 20.5 Oz empty, and holds 6+1 with the standard magazine.

 

[MCorps0311]

Big bore Karh CM 45 ACP & M&P 40 Shield.

 

[colt_saa]

Big Bore? I love Big Bore

Like SquarePizza above, I usually wear the old 5.11 Covert Khakis. I find many larger and heavier firearms are easy to carry in these pants pockets which are sewn with firearms in mind. I wish they would go back to the older style and offer more colors

So How about 41 Magnum like SquarePizza suggests? These can be had in Titanium, Scandium or the heavier ones in stainless steel, I find it hard to pick a favorite

I will admit that since the Night Guard family of revolvers has come out, I seldom carry the PDR/UDR (Personal Defense Revolver/Ultimate Defense Revolver) any longer. The Night Guards are just so easy to carry with their light weight Scandium frame


These CS10s chambered in 10MM Auto should fit the bill. While they only carry 6+1 rounds with the regular magazine pictured here, all of the 10MM Auto magazines can be used as your reload, So that gives you 6, 7, 8, 11 or 15 round magazines to choose from. OK, the 11 and 15s are probably to valuable as collector's items to use with your carry firearm

Unless you prefer your 10MM family of cartridges in revovlers?

While not "High Capacity" these revolvers in 45 Long Colt will do the job
This cartridge has been a reliable man-stopper for over 150 years.

Who wants to be looking at this?

I also like this 10 shot 357SIG if we are going auto-loaders

It is hard to knock this newcomer in the field of personal defense cartridges.

 

[LEO918]

Wilson Combat - BW Carry