My two favorite pocket carry guns

[Faulkner]

It is very, very seldom I don't carry when I leave home. About 90% of the time I carry a medium sized holster gun like my Glock 23 or S&W M65, and I'll go with my 1911 in jacket weather.

But with this hotter than normal summer I've been hanging out in shorts and a t-shirt a lot more often and have corrispondingly adapted my carry habits a bit s well. I have found that I've been carrying either my Colt Pocket Model "M", also knows as the M1903, or my S&W M42. I really like them both, but I've gone to carrying them in inside the waste band holsters instead of actually in my pocket because I just don't like the pocket carry thing.

 

[chief38]

I am a BIG FAN and own a bunch of the "M - Pocket Colts" in .32, .380 and .25 calibers. I LOVE those little flat guns and I love showing them off to some of the younger fella's that have rarely seen an Auto-loader not made of Plastic. They are some of the best, highest quality guns ever made!

That said, I never actually use them as carry guns for two reasons. The first is (and I am not trying to start a flame thrower match here) that I truly have little to no confidence in the .380 acp or smaller as far as "STOPPING POWER" is concerned.

The second is that even though I love these things, they are not really safe to carry cocked & locked due to the short throw and the ease of which the safety is flicked off. There is no exposed hammer to lower, and therefore in order to carry the gun in a fighting state, it must be kept cocked & locked. The gun can be carried safely if the chamber is kept empty, however then you NEED two hands to charge the chamber - which might be difficult if not impossible at the time when you most desperately need it.

So basically I use these BEAUTIFUL, high quality Colt's to plink, target shoot with (they are extremely accurate and have great triggers) and to show off to friends & collectors. They are a part of History!

The smallest caliber I will carry is a .38 Special +P 158 grain (usually a Buffalo Bore HEAVY load) and I do feel that 158 grain chunk of lead moving out of a 2" barrel at 1025 fps (verified chronograph results)will get the job done.

As usual, this is just my personal opinion and yes I know many have died from .380's.

By the way, your Colt is REALLY NICE!!!

Chief38

 

[Deltaboy]

Good looking pair of guns.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I like the grip safties! Dad has carried 1903's in 32 for over 50 years (bought his first in 1960). I know he had 3 at one point could have less or more now. It is amazing how well they point shoot.

 

[Neumann]

With so many good micro-9's on the market, even .40 or .45, why would anyone carry a .32 ACP with half the power? The Colt is a work of art, but who's going to see it?