Any suggestions for a reliable 'pocket pistol'?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Any suggestions for a reliable 'pocket pistol'?

Posted: 9/24/2005 8:57:19 PM EDT

Being 5'10" and 160, I don't have much 'padding' to concel an IWB carry very well. Combine that with the fact that I live in So. Florida where we wear T-shirts 9 months out of the year (no jacket or sweater to help with concealment) concealling a carry weapon is a bit of an issue with me.

Any suggestions on a pistol small and narrow enough to carry in my jeans or cargo pants pocket? What say you pocket carriers out there?

Posted: 9/24/2005 9:00:43 PM EDT

[#1]

If you can afford it, get a Rohrbaugh R9S...otherwise, get a KelTec pocket auto.

HH

Posted: 9/24/2005 9:01:31 PM EDT

[#2]

KelTec

Posted: 9/24/2005 9:10:36 PM EDT

[#3]

The Kahr PM9 is very well made. Not as small as say a NAA Guardian or even the Kel-Tec, but it's a good shooter. The Rorbaugh is the smallest 9mm right now, but very pricey.

Posted: 9/24/2005 9:11:59 PM EDT

[#4]

No. No suggestions at all.

Posted: 9/24/2005 9:15:20 PM EDT

[#5]

KelTec 380. Good bang for the buck, compact. It will be my next purchase. :-)

Posted: 9/24/2005 9:16:16 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
No. No suggestions at all.

BTW: A truly worthwhile post.

Posted: 9/24/2005 9:17:57 PM EDT

[#7]

Sig P232

Posted: 9/24/2005 9:19:55 PM EDT

[#8]

I like "J" frame revolver in 38 Special with concealed hammer for pocket carry.
By the way, I'm 5' 10" and 180 lb. live in S. FL too and I was carrying a full size 1911 in a IWB holster wearing shorts and a Billabong tee shirt all day. I been carrying a full size 1911 pistol in a IWB holster since I was 145 lb. Its not hard to conceal a full size pistol under a tee shirt if you have a good belt and holster.

This is what I usually carry on daily basis

Posted: 9/24/2005 9:22:40 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
KelTec

+1

Posted: 9/24/2005 9:28:15 PM EDT

[#10]

Interesting.... I've been looking at the Kahr PM9 but have heard lots of good things about the Kel-Tec P3AT at half the price. My main concern about the Kel-Tec is rliability. I'd rather pay the extra bucks not to have to throw a jammed pistol at dirt-bag.

Are the Kel-Tecs dependable enough to bet your life on?

Posted: 9/24/2005 9:29:35 PM EDT

[#11]

Rohrbaugh

Posted: 9/24/2005 9:30:07 PM EDT

[#12]

For when it's Really hot...

Posted: 9/24/2005 9:36:58 PM EDT

[#13]

Khar MK9

Posted: 9/24/2005 9:46:55 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
Sig P232

Nice pistol (I love mine) but it's a bit heavy to consider a pocket pistol IMHO. I'd have to go with the Kel-Tec.

Posted: 9/24/2005 9:50:50 PM EDT

[#15]

I started out with a Beretta Tomcat and loved the look & feel of the gun and how it shot but found a crack in the frame after about 200-300 rounds.
A friend of mine then encouraged me to to purchase a Keltec P-32 which was a fantastically light and pocketable handgun that also shot very well but failed to fire after about 200 rounds.
Both companies were right there with customer service and took care of the problems quickly but when I received the replacements I dutifully sold them, bit the proverbial bullet and bought myself the much more expensive Seecamp .32 and never looked back. You usually do get what you pay for.
Get the absolute very best that you can afford.

Posted: 9/24/2005 10:05:09 PM EDT

[#16]

Had a MK 9...great gun. Heavy. Drooped in the pocket...pulled my boxers.

Now I have a SW 38 special. A lot less going on. Light. Skinnier except the cyl.

But the Kahr had a great trigger...for a D/A. But is really small in the hand.

Posted: 9/24/2005 10:12:45 PM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
Interesting.... I've been looking at the Kahr PM9 but have heard lots of good things about the Kel-Tec P3AT at half the price. My main concern about the Kel-Tec is rliability. I'd rather pay the extra bucks not to have to throw a jammed pistol at dirt-bag.

Are the Kel-Tecs dependable enough to bet your life on?

I know some guys who carry the 9mm pocket and swear by them.

Personally the smallest I've gone is a P7. I've shot KelTecs quite a bit and am impressed by their accuracy (as far as compared to other pocket autos) and never experienced a failure.

I don't own one but I probably will someday.

I'm pretty sure a Seecamp will defeat it in both accuracy and reliability if you really wanted the best.

Posted: 9/24/2005 10:13:50 PM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
I like "J" frame revolver in 38 Special with concealed hammer for pocket carry.
By the way, I'm 5' 10" and 180 lb. live in S. FL too and I was carrying a full size 1911 in a IWB holster wearing shorts and a Billabong tee shirt all day. I been carrying a full size 1911 pistol in a IWB holster since I was 145 lb. Its not hard to conceal a full size pistol under a tee shirt if you have a good belt and holster.

This is what I usually carry on daily basis

i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/rug357/Pics/5ad6d500.jpg

Yup, it is not hard to conceal a 1911 under a tshirt. My daily carry Springfield Mil-spec conceals just fine. Its all in the belt. I am 5'10" and 180 and with my wilderness CSM belt, it tucks my Springfield nice and close.

I you are set on something smaller, I really do like my KelTec P32. Very reliable and extremely concealable. I can't even tell that I am carrying it.

Posted: 9/24/2005 10:17:21 PM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Interesting.... I've been looking at the Kahr PM9 but have heard lots of good things about the Kel-Tec P3AT at half the price. My main concern about the Kel-Tec is rliability. I'd rather pay the extra bucks not to have to throw a jammed pistol at dirt-bag.

Are the Kel-Tecs dependable enough to bet your life on?

I know some guys who carry the 9mm pocket and swear by them.

Personally the smallest I've gone is a P7. I've shot KelTecs quite a bit and am impressed by their accuracy (as far as compared to other pocket autos) and never experienced a failure.

I don't own one but I probably will someday.

I'm pretty sure a Seecamp will defeat it in both accuracy and reliability if you really wanted the best.

dosent sombody make a cheaper knock of of the seecamp pistol. like charter arms i wanna say?

Posted: 9/24/2005 10:19:02 PM EDT

[#20]

J frame or Kahr?

Posted: 9/24/2005 10:31:10 PM EDT

[#21]

Ruger SP101 or keltec
I've heard bad things about rorbaugh.

Posted: 9/24/2005 10:45:10 PM EDT

[#22]

I will be selling my Kel-Tec tomorrow at the gun show if I can get a decent amount for it. It's a P-32.

I've got close to 300 rounds through it, and it hasn't failed in any way, shape, or form. It's really, really scary accurate, almost as accurate as my CZ-75 compact. I'm getting rid of mine to likely buy a Kel-Tec in 9mm. It's very flat and light weight.

I love my Kel-Tec; I just don't love the caliber (costly, rare, light-hitting).

If I don't sell this handgun tomorrow, I may IM you to see if you want it.

Posted: 9/24/2005 11:03:35 PM EDT

[#23]

Posted: 9/25/2005 6:15:16 AM EDT

[#24]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Interesting.... I've been looking at the Kahr PM9 but have heard lots of good things about the Kel-Tec P3AT at half the price. My main concern about the Kel-Tec is rliability. I'd rather pay the extra bucks not to have to throw a jammed pistol at dirt-bag.

Are the Kel-Tecs dependable enough to bet your life on?

I know some guys who carry the 9mm pocket and swear by them.

Personally the smallest I've gone is a P7. I've shot KelTecs quite a bit and am impressed by their accuracy (as far as compared to other pocket autos) and never experienced a failure.

I don't own one but I probably will someday.

I'm pretty sure a Seecamp will defeat it in both accuracy and reliability if you really wanted the best.

dosent sombody make a cheaper knock of of the seecamp pistol. like charter arms i wanna say?

North American Arms make .32 and .380 pistols that look very similar to the Seecamp in the picture. I have one and I wish I had got a Keltec. It's just too heavy.

Posted: 9/25/2005 6:32:08 AM EDT

[#25]

How about an S&W 642 in a pocket holster?

Posted: 9/25/2005 6:37:38 AM EDT

[#26]

I bought my wife a Beretta Tomcat .32 and it has been a flawless preformer. I actually carry it when I am in shorts and a T shirt sometimes. Nice little pistol.

Posted: 9/25/2005 6:42:53 AM EDT

[#27]

If it is going to be your only weapon, carry a real gun. I can conceal a GLOCK 19 under a normal fitting T-shirt with no problem. The key is using a good holster and a sturdy belt. I use the Threat Solutions UCR IWB holster and a Wilderness 3 stitch belt. I do carry a Kel-Tec P-32 as a back up gun and it has been utterly reliable and can be concealed anywhere.

Posted: 9/25/2005 6:50:11 AM EDT

[#28]

Beretta Model 21A .22. The pistol you will take with you everywhere.

Posted: 9/25/2005 6:58:52 AM EDT

[#29]

KelTec, I have a P3AT and I carry it in a flat sided pocket holster, never know its there. I also pull it out and shoot it at the range about once a month just to check and even with the hammer gap full of pocket lint it runs like a champ. NEVER had a problem running federal red ball. My particular one seems to like it vs Winchester white box.
There may be other good choices but you wont go wrong with KelTec if your comfy with a .380.

Posted: 9/25/2005 6:59:22 AM EDT

[#30]

Q// Walther PPK, more reliable than a berretta and takes a baush silencer with very little reduction in muzzle velocity//Q

Posted: 9/25/2005 7:20:33 AM EDT

[#31]

I carry the Kel-Tec P11 9mm IWB with the clip. The wife carries the P32 (she didn't like the heavy slide spring of the P3AT).

Posted: 9/25/2005 7:34:49 AM EDT

[#32]

Smith and Wesson 642

Posted: 9/25/2005 7:40:59 AM EDT

[#33]

I have a Seecamp and a Smith Airlight in .357.

I find that I carry the Smith much more often.

Posted: 9/25/2005 8:27:18 AM EDT

[#34]

There are many reliable weapons being shown here[keltec is a good one]. Most would probably work just fine with the concealability requirment you seek.My suggestion is whatever handgun you decide on don't go any smaller than a 9mm jacketed hollowpoint.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Any suggestions for a reliable 'pocket pistol'?

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