Opinions on Pocket Guns (aka fake guns...)

[gtrman66]

I was at Academy to look around a little yesterday. No Ruger LCP's, sold out. He did have the Taurus TCP. Felt good. Looked good. Only $279. He said he only had 1 box of 380 ammo and still has trouble getting it. He then showed me a Sig Sauer P250 Compact ($499)... very nice. 9mm, very comfortable, and not really a lot larger than a pocket gun. It would not fit in my pocket, but an IWB might not be too noticable.

I like the idea of a pocket pistol for my back left pocket. I'm a lefty shooter and that pocket is always empty. A holster would be very difficult to keep concealed at work. I'm overweight, so a holster would likely dig in. I wear dockers and a dress shirt. If I started wearing a jacket, it would be very out of place.

[MojoTexas]

I was at Academy to look around a little yesterday. No Ruger LCP's, sold out. He did have the Taurus TCP. Felt good. Looked good. Only $279. He said he only had 1 box of 380 ammo and still has trouble getting it. He then showed me a Sig Sauer P250 Compact ($499)... very nice. 9mm, very comfortable, and not really a lot larger than a pocket gun. It would not fit in my pocket, but an IWB might not be too noticable.

I like the idea of a pocket pistol for my back left pocket. I'm a lefty shooter and that pocket is always empty. A holster would be very difficult to keep concealed at work. I'm overweight, so a holster would likely dig in. I wear dockers and a dress shirt. If I started wearing a jacket, it would be very out of place.

I haven't fired one of the Taurus TCPs yet, but I own two Taurus pistols and I think they are great pistols for the money. Sure, you can pay more and get more, but they do get the job done.

I'm a big guy too, and I have no problems with my Crossbreed Supertuck IWB holster. There's nothing wrong with carrying a pocket pistol, but you might check out some of the other compacts like the Sig you looked at. With a quality IWB holster it's really pretty comfortable.

[stash]

I was at Academy to look around a little yesterday. No Ruger LCP's, sold out. He did have the Taurus TCP. Felt good. Looked good. Only $279. He said he only had 1 box of 380 ammo and still has trouble getting it. He then showed me a Sig Sauer P250 Compact ($499)... very nice. 9mm, very comfortable, and not really a lot larger than a pocket gun. It would not fit in my pocket, but an IWB might not be too noticable.

I like the idea of a pocket pistol for my back left pocket. I'm a lefty shooter and that pocket is always empty. A holster would be very difficult to keep concealed at work. I'm overweight, so a holster would likely dig in. I wear dockers and a dress shirt. If I started wearing a jacket, it would be very out of place.

Wow, I guess I got taken a little bit last week when I purchased the Taurus TCP at Cabela's for $339. I should have known better, but the gun was there, quality looked real good and it fit my hand perfect and I had read good things about them. I did not go there to buy one but one came home with me. Now that I have a Academy pretty close to me, I have to start going there. Cabela's does have a pretty good selection but they did not have what I wanted (G27).

[KahrGuy]

Thought I'd also post here for response on my recent consideration of Pocket Gun as well. Please view my post on Ammo For Sale board and continue on recommendations for or against such pocket carry - as compared to IWB carry of G26.

http://www.texaschlforum.com/viewtopic. ... 14#p379914

[KahrGuy]

Please ignore the link in my above posting. Original comments are no longer there - accidentally deleted.

In short, I told myself a couple weeks ago that if I could build up enough training ammo to gain confidence and have some cushion for supply issues, I'd purchase the Ruger LCP. Well, looks like I hit a semi-jackpot at 2 local Walmarts. Purchased 4 boxes of 100 count Winchester .380 ammo (95 grain). Hoping I didn't make the wrong choice - as I love my Glock 26. However, as warmer weather approaches and I have lighter cloths, the IWB carry is starting to make me a bit grumpy. Have a M-Tac that I've been using for at least 45+ days.

What y'all LCP & Pocket Pistol Owners think? Is this a good jump start for practice & training? Should .380 ammo continue to become more & more available, or will summer months be worst with supply??!!

[grumble]

I don't have a crystal ball, but I believe that .380 will become more abundant at the regular supply houses as the summer wears on.

I finally took the "brandy-new" LCP to the range today. Good news is that I put 270 rounds through it, and not a single FTF or FTE. It was flawless EVERY time. I fed it some remington FMJ and JHP - and ran 20 rounds of Speer Gold Dots as well through it just to be comfy with it. Bad news is that (as many others have said) it is *NOT* my favorite range gun - matter of fact it is my *LEAST* favorite range gun. Putting that many rounds through it was tough. It kicks harshly, difficult to sight, the slide doesn't lock back on the last shot and has a LONG throw DA trigger.

That said, I still love it. It's PERFECT for a pocket gun. The looooong DA trigger means it will fire ONLY when you MEAN to fire it. There won't be any ND's with this guy.

[Skydivesnake]

gtrman - have you handled an M&P compact ? Very concealable especially with the non-pinky mag; small and narrow. My BUG is an M&P9c in an ankle holster which is fine so I'm sure it would pocket carry well - within a holster, of course.

[CompVest]

+1 for the M&P9c

[KahrGuy]

Picked up my new Ruger LCP today and I'm just loving the size, weight, & overall ergonomics (w/out firing) thus far . Per a suggestion I've seen on here, I also ordered a pocket holster & Crimson Trace Laser from pocketholsters.com and can't wait for delivery!

Trying out the traditional magazine w/out finger extension vs. with included finger extension, I believe the extension fits perfectly for my 2nd grip finger - reminds me of my Glock 26 grip... My pinky will still rest comfortably (so it seems thus far w/out firing) underneath grip - and I'm use to & actually prefer this hold. Question for LCP owners: my factory magazine with externsion installed appears to leave a small gap between bottom of weapon grip and extension piece. The place my 2nd grip finger would rest would likely be right over the gap. Should I be worried about pinching here? Does magazine have tendency to move up/down (ever so slightly) during fire feeds - thereby potentially causing pinching of finger(s)?

So far, I'm very pleased with my decision to proceed forward with this purchase. Hopefully, the CT Laser will prove to be a valuable addition as well. Concerned with the significant kicking &/or pocket carrying throwing off the zero frequently. Also, equally concerned with whether it's truly a natural grip to activate & keep activated from start of trigger pull all the way to completion.

Range report should follow within a couple weeks. Planning to break in with Winchester 95 grain from Wal-Mart. I'm certain I will NOT fire more than 50 rounds per session though (for now).

[grumble]

Mine pinched me a couple of times today. I have the blood blisters to prove it - lol.

My only complaint is that the magazines are difficult to get past the release when inserting. I'm gonna give the LCP some good TLC (and a lube job) tomorrow and see if it goes away.

[USA1]

My only complaint is that the magazines are difficult to get past the release when inserting. I'm gonna give the LCP some good TLC (and a lube job) tomorrow and see if it goes away.

Be careful not to over lube that area.
The oil will have a tendency to work its way into the magazine which is not good.

I've always pressed that mag release button while inserting the mag
and it will go right in. I believe this will also reduce wear on the release.

[grumble]

Be careful not to over lube that area.
The oil will have a tendency to work its way into the magazine which is not good.

I've always pressed that mag release button while inserting the mag
and it will go right in. I believe this will also reduce wear on the release.

I hear ya - I know to keep the oil/grease away from the mags. I think it will change after some wear. I'd like to clear up the binding in case the a problem arises and I find myself needing to do a mag swap in a hurry.

[The Habernatho]

As far as smaller 380's are concerned the Sig P238 is IMO the best of the bunch, but you will pay for that. I personally do not like the LCP, bad sights, just an ok trigget and not really fun to shoot. I am playing with a Diamondback right now and like it, although it took 70 rounds to make it reliable the owners manual says 50 to 100 rounds, it has real sights and a much better trigger and for some reason less recoil. it also does not like to be too wet though. The 380's are trade off's due to the size, they are better than not carrying at all. My favorite "small" carry gun is a Ruger LCR with a tuckable IWB. Rated for 38+P it just worked better for me while still remaining fairly small and very easy to conceal.... You cannot go wrong by going to a range and renting any of the guns you are thinking about, that way you will actually get a feel for them and the snap that comes from them.

It's a nice IWB gun, but personally I think its too big for front pocket carry.

[gtrman66]

I wound up going slightly larger. I got a Taurus Millenium PT140, .40 S&W. I got an Uncle Mike's IWB holster and I love it.

[Trele6]

Do any of you use the outside the hip holster that comes with the TCP?