Small back up recommendations?

[govnor]

After handling both the Kel-tec and the NAA Guardian at the gun shows, the NAA seems like a much better made weapon. Does anyone know of any problems with these? I want to buy one, but haven't heard much about them.

I have a couple of NAA mini .22's. That's about as small as it gets. You can even carry one when you're working out. Yes, you have to cock it each time, but you can also hold the trigger down and fan the hammer. Mine have been very reliable, but they are revolvers.

[Moonpie]

Seecamp LWS-32 or LWS-380

[Greybeard]

"hold the trigger down and fan the hammer"



My NAA .22 "convertible" has just the 1 5/8" barrel - and is built like a swiss watch, so no thank you!

[fm2]

Yeah, its the Bob Munden special.

[govnor]

"hold the trigger down and fan the hammer"



My NAA .22 "convertible" has just the 1 5/8" barrel - and is built like a swiss watch, so no thank you!

Heh, I didn't say that I recommend doing it other than an emergency situation. It is fun though...

[NcongruNt]

Here is my "light" carry rig. It is what I wear when my clothing prohibits me from carrying my Hi-Power. So far, this means when I'm in a suit or in shorts. The pistol is an FEG PA-63, which is a clone of a Walther PPK. It's a fairly compact gun, chambered in 9mm Makarov (9x18). The Makarov round has enough to it that I don't feel like I'm wearing an tiny underpowered firearm around. Ballistically, it's somewhere between a .380 and a 9mm. The gun itself is aluminum-framed and very light at 21 ounces. It's somewhat snappy, due to its weight, but still lots of fun to shoot. Since it's a surplus gun from eastern Europe, they're pretty cheap. AIM Surplus carries them for $129.95 right now, and include 2 magazines. The downside is ammo availability. The only quality defensive ammo that seems to be available in 9x18 is Hornady XTP. Federal used to make some, but seems to have discontinued a couple of years back. The XTP is pretty widely available nowadays, and it's usually available at Cabela's when I go there. Range ammo is pretty easy to come by. Most gun shops will have some sort for FMJ in this caliber, and a place like Cabela's has S&B for a decent price. You'll find a pretty big selection online. I favor S&B because it's relatively cheap and brass-cased. The WWB in this caliber is actually manufactured for Winchester by S&B. As far as I can tell, Academy and Wal-Mart do not carry any 9x18. Here's what it looks like, along with my carry rig. I use a Bianchi Professional 100 IWB holster.





I've found that when fed brass-cased ammo, the gun is flawless in operation. I started out shooting steel-cased Silver Bear, and had feeding issues. This was mostly with the JHP ammo, as friction from the steel cases would drag the top round (with the most spring tension) on the magazine lips and turn down the tip as it was feeding, causing the hollow point tip to catch on the front of the magazine and fail to feed. I've put probably 1400 rounds through the gun now, and tested with a leftover box of the Silver Bear JHP stuff this past Saturday, and found that these rounds no longer fail to feed. It could be that the gun and magazines have polished themselves up since I started using it. Bottom line, if you feed the gun brass, it should be fine and dandy. It has established itself as reliable for me, and I trust it as my carry when needed.

(edited to clarify ammo information)

[calvinbr]

NcongruNt,

FEG PA-63, Where can I pick one of them up at?


Calvin

[NcongruNt]

FEG PA-63, Where can I pick one of them up at?

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Hung ... istol.html

That's where I got mine. They're probably available at the gun shows, as well. You may also be able to find one locally at a small gun shop.

[StingRay]

I emailed a few local gun shops for a Kel-Tec P-3AT 380 (preferably hard chrome) from work today. So far I only got one reply.

"Yes I have 3, they retail for $385.00 + tax. Cash will get you one for $359.00 tax included".

That is more than I want to pay. It looks like I will be going to the Pasadena gun show next weekend.

I was at the gun show in Fort Worth last week and almost every table had a few 3AT's. They were going for $225 to $269. Only 2 had the hard chrome. There was one table that had a parkerized model that looked cool.

[calvinbr]

NcongruNt,

Thanks for the information. We have a gun show this weekend in Pasadena. I will look there also.


Calvin

[Rex B]

I saw a few of these at the Ft Worth gun show last week.
They were all at or close to $200.
People like CDNN and Aimsurplus, others (J&T?) have them for $129 most of the time. CTD has had them for about that price too. I think that's a great deal for a lightweight carry pistol.

If I find one locally for that kind of money it will probably follow me home.

[goldshop]

Thanks for all the recommendations. I ended up with a Kel-Tec P3AT 380. I had to work today but took off at lunch and went to the Pasadena Gun Show. I found A Kel-Tec P3AT 380 for $239. I am planning to get Jack Fuselier <http://www.gunsmith.fuselier.com> to hard nickel plate it.