I am looking for a very small carry gun. I am a large enough person at 6'3" 250lbs to hide just about anything fall through spring, but summer and it's wardrobe have me looking for something small. I'm trying to keep the width at 1.5" or less, so most double stack pistols are out. This is going to be a personal defense pistol, so .380 is an acceptable trade off in terms of recoil and performance. The three pistols I'm currently looking at are the PPK\S, SIG 232, and the CZ 83 . Are there any others I should be looking at? Thanks for any info.


Edited to add micro .45's and the compact XD as well.

have you considered a makarov?

excellent reliability, remarkably accurate due to fixed barrell design, very concealable and cheap to boot.

the caliber is 9x18 which is slightly better than a .380

I have a PPK/S & a P232.  The Sig is a simpler design, fewer samll parts & overall more reliable.
I like them both but the Sig is the choice for CCW carry.  I have no expierience with the CZ series of pistols.  They are supposed to be well made & reliable but I cant vouch for that personally.  FYI, the Beretta 380`s are very good pistols but a little thick in the butt for easy concealment.

The thought actually never occured to me. I've never fired one and am trying to keep the selection down to things I've fired so I know how the pistol performs.

Quoted: have you considered a makarov? excellent reliability, remarkably accurate due to fixed barrell design, very concealable and cheap to boot. the caliber is 9x18 which is slightly better than a .380

Some good advice on carry guns was given in the following thread:

www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=286145

The Kahr K9 is very similar in size and weight to the PPK, but in 9mm Luger.

If you want a very small, light, easy to carry, BUT effective defense gun, take a look at the polymer framed Kahr pistols.

These as as small and light as the typical .380, and smaller and lighter than many of them.

Instead of .380 rounds, these shoot full power 9mm or .40 caliber.

The Kahr is simpler and easier to operate than most .380's, has better sights, and is almost always more reliable.

Many years ago, the "Gold Standard" in personal defense guns was the Colt Detective Special, then it was the Walther PPK.
Today the Gold Standard is the Kahr Arms.  Expensive, but the best.

Why settle for a low power, complicated pistol when you can have a reliable, POWERFUL pistol.

Another vote for the Kahr's.  I have a MK9 as my primary carry gun.  Wouldn't trade it for anything else.


Paraord16

HK P7M8?  Expensive, but nice.

+1 on Kahr.  I have a p40 covert.  6+1 of 40 caliber.  Beware that the recoil is a bit severe and not very much in the way of a grip.  I have added a pachmyer sleeve and it helped a lot.

If micro-size and weight is not an issue then look at the K9.  Very sweet gun.

That was a good thread, lots of info. The S&W Model 360, "AirLite Sc" in .357 magnum is a pistol I hadn't thought about but makes alot of sence. The search continues....

Quoted: Some good advice on carry guns was given in the following thread: www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=286145