Page 1 of 5
Your thoughts on which 380 pocket carry
Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 9:54 am
by Topdog77c
Thinking of getting a 380 to carry in the front pocket. What are your thoughts and what choices would you consider?
Re: Your thoughts on which 380 pocket carry
Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:17 am
by speedsix
...my thought is that you can buy a 9mm almost as small, suitable for pocket carry...and be much better armed...
Re: Your thoughts on which 380 pocket carry
Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:28 am
by speedsix
...I wouldn't say ANY pocket pistol's the best choice for a primary...but if we're limited to pocket pistols, the 9 is the better of the two...kinda like an election choice...you deal within the parameters you're given...and a 1911 won't fit most pockets...the small Rugers and Kahrs in 9mm will do nicely...and hit harder than the .380...
Re: Your thoughts on which 380 pocket carry
Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:30 am
by WildBill
speedsix wrote:...my thought is that you can buy a 9mm almost as small, suitable for pocket carry...and be much better armed...
Or a .38 S&W revolver.
Re: Your thoughts on which 380 pocket carry
Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:31 am
by speedsix
...agreed, though a bit thicker, the J has always been my pocket carry of choice...
Re: Your thoughts on which 380 pocket carry
Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:36 am
by frplf
I like my Ruger LCP. I carry it in a DeSantis Nemesis. It makes a nice package, fits well with jeans or slacks. You need to practice drawing from the pocket with each type of pants.
Re: Your thoughts on which 380 pocket carry
Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:36 am
by magicglock
A pocket .380 is perfect if you enjoy buyers remorse in a market full of excellent 9mm options or tried and true .38 revolvers. Save yourself the grief and do it right the first time. IMHO
Re: Your thoughts on which 380 pocket carry
Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:40 am
by USA1
Another vote for a snubby here. Much easier to carry and conceal than most people think. Plus, it's hard to beat the reliability factor.
Re: Your thoughts on which 380 pocket carry
Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 11:00 am
by atxtj
I love my Seecamp LWS380. It's absolutely tiny compared to my pm9. I find it way easier to conceal in a back pocket holster than the Kahr in a front pocket. Having said that, most of the other small .380s are big enough that concealment wise, there's not much difference between them and the smaller 9mms.
Re: Your thoughts on which 380 pocket carry
Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 11:18 am
by 2farnorth
The Kel Tec P380 or the Ruger LCP will meet your needs. Small, light, and reliable. They do take some practice drawing and shooting. The Kel Tec PF9 can technically be pocket carried, but I find it is a little bit bulky in jeans pockets. Great in a cargo pocket except it will flop against your leg a bit. The Ruger LC9 would be in the same class as the PF9. I do have an older 380 as a back up CC.
Never mind the people calling them sissy guns. Not all of us have carry conditions conducive to a 1911. This comes from one (me) that at one time carried a S&W 629 when I was younger. Carry one you can comfortably and consistently use in your situation. Remember the old adage about the .22 in a pocket is more deadly than the .45 left in the car.
edit; I see the sissy pistol reply has since been deleted. Mods if you want me to drop my reference I will edit again
Re: Your thoughts on which 380 pocket carry
Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 11:37 am
by Sputz
This is always going to be highly debated topic. I have one in my carry rotation because it is light and very concealable. However if the occasion allows me to carry my cw40 or on of my glocks I will carry those over the mouse gun. If you are going to get a mouse gun make sure you run it till its reliable. They are prone to being picky about ammo and other feed and eject issues. Personally i have 2 lcp's and I like them over other most mouse guns like the keltec or the taurus tcp. My brother has a diamondback, although nice looking it is very picky about what ammo it will use while my lcp can shoot anything I have put in it reliably. That does not mean I wouldn't buy a diamondback though because a high quality gun like a kahr can be finicky about ammo also. So if you are going to get a mouse gun educate yourself about their limitations and see if it'll affect your particular scenario. If you want to look for alternatives in 9mm but just as small look at the kahr pm9 or cm9. The lc9 is much bigger so is the keltec p11 and diamond back 9. I did not like the way these 9mm felt in my pocket and they didn't move right with my body. Wheel guns like the s&w bodyguard and the lcr are nice and reliable but they are bulkier than a semi-auto and you can and will feel the difference. They didn't feel or move right for my situation and if I could carry a wheel gun I could just as easily strap on my cw40 or one of my glocks.
Sputz
Re: Your thoughts on which 380 pocket carry
Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 11:57 am
by FishInTx
Rich? Buy a Kahr.
Poor? Buy a Keltec or Rugar.
Really poor? Buy a Taurus.
I've got a Taurus. I trust it, nice trigger/accurate, and I carry it quite a bit in the front pocket.
Been eyeing a used keltec pf 9. Might fit in the pocket of some oversized jeans or shorts.....just saying.
Re: Your thoughts on which 380 pocket carry
Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 12:08 pm
by WildBill
FishInTx wrote:Rich? Buy a Kahr.
How about a Rohrbaugh?
Re: Your thoughts on which 380 pocket carry
Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 12:17 pm
by boba
That's more nouveau riche I think.
Re: Your thoughts on which 380 pocket carry
Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 12:18 pm
by Thomas
WildBill wrote:FishInTx wrote:Rich? Buy a Kahr.
How about a Rohrbaugh?
I talked to a gun dealer in Houston about it. He says he talked with the company and it was meant for people like Ambassadors, and not to always be taken to the range. Apparently the gun is only good for a couple
hundred shots before it starts to crack.