everydefense
Member
I love my Ruger LC9s Pro, unless you've already determined it's too big for your needs? I carry it in a pocket holster, and it's one of the only subcompact nines I would actually describe as being fun to shoot 
Best Semi-auto Pocket Pistol ?
- Thread starter Gun Master
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chicharrones
needs more ammo
The RM380 is plain in finish, but it's as reliable a pocket gun as I've ever used. The RM380 doesn't have as nice a trigger as the LCP, but that's due to the double strike capability of a true double action only gun that the RM380 happens to be.
Hokkmike
Member
For a pocket gun the choice of holster is almost as important as the pistol. LOVE my Alabama!
Ruger LCP 2 is a fave of mine. I’ve had it about a year. It works like a clock. I’ve put hundreds of rounds through it without a single failure of any type, so on the dependability front it beat my Glock. Great trigger, light weight and it looks cool.
redbone
Member
I don't care for the Ruger, or the p3at. The pocket pistol I actually carry is a micro desert eagle, but I only carry that when I can't fit a j-frame in, which is rare.
franco45
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My two choices in 380 are the RM380 and the Pico. I've owned several of the other 380's mentioned and a few that haven't been mentioned yet. These are the two I've settled on. Having said that, I carry my CM9 when wearing cargo pants or other loose fitting pants.
Ironicaintit
Member
The only pistol I stowed in a pocket was a Mauser HSc. It's not super small or super light, but I wear baggy clothes and am pretty big myself, so it was easy.
But I just don't like pocket carry. I want a larger pistol with a better cartridge and more of them.
And, I carry way too much crap around and need my pockets for other stuff.
But I just don't like pocket carry. I want a larger pistol with a better cartridge and more of them.
And, I carry way too much crap around and need my pockets for other stuff.
My EDC is a Sig P938 Extreme. I pocket carry using a Desantis Super Fly holster. FWIW, Kimber is now offering a Micro 9 TLE for 2018. Had it (or any Micro 9, for that matter) been available when I was researching pistols to pocket carry, it most certainly would have been on my short list.
entropy
Member
Well, I think the Colt M1908 is the ultimate pocket pistol, back in the age when pockets were bigger. The original Remington 51 would be a close second, and the Walther TP9 and Baby Browning would fill the bill as vest pocket pistols. But since we live in the modern day, I'd say the Kahrs (9 or .380) would be my first choice, followed by the S&W Bodyguard .380. I say would, because I carry a revolver when I do pocket carry, a S&W BodyGuard 38.
easyg
Member
I agree with those above who recommend the Ruger LCP or LCP 2.
This pistol has kicked quite a few pistols to the curb for me.
It's just such a nice combination of size, weight, capacity, caliber, and shootability.
This pistol has kicked quite a few pistols to the curb for me.
It's just such a nice combination of size, weight, capacity, caliber, and shootability.
My Walther PPS-M2 is the smallest 9mm I’ve found that I can shoot well. I don’t consider it a “pocket” pistol since I would never carry a firearm just so in a pocket anyway. But the DeSantis Super Fly holster does work fine with it if I’m wearing cargo pants, But this PPS-M2 also carries beautifully in every other holster I’ve tried with it
Great Scot
Member
For me, it’s either a S&W Bodyguard .380 or RM380. Both have decent sights, a proper pocket trigger, and slide easily out of the pocket.
As much as I like my CM9, I've just heard of too many problems with Kahr's .380 guns.
My RM380 runs like a champ - not a single failure to feed, eject, failure to fire or failure to go into battery.
There are so many things I don't like about the Pico, but I have to admit the guns have nice sights. If you're shooting in low-light or against a dark target, te Pico sights are a big plus.
My RM380 runs like a champ - not a single failure to feed, eject, failure to fire or failure to go into battery.
There are so many things I don't like about the Pico, but I have to admit the guns have nice sights. If you're shooting in low-light or against a dark target, te Pico sights are a big plus.
I've gone into business meetings wearing a dress suit, had the R9 in the pocket of my dress slacks and it doesn't show at all unless it ends up sitting on top of my leg when I sit down - but even then you can't tell its a gun and I'm usually careful to use my hand so that the gun ends up on the side of my leg during the sitting motion.
I wanted a DoubleTap derringer, but the 2 things that kept me from purchasing it were:
1) A design problem that allows the pistol to fire off two cartridges at once - that could result in injury to a ligament or tendon in the hand or worse, and it also results in one of the bullets shooting very very high. That's just unacceptable.
2) The extremely limited set of ammo that is approved for use in the gun.
Basically DoubleTap recommends only using 115gr standard pressure FMJ ammo from Remington, and I suppose Federal American Eagle.
Federal Champion, Hydra-Shok, Guard Dog, Hornady Critical Defense, Ruger ARX are called out by name as not working in the gun. They mention Winchester "Arsenal" ammo as an ammunition that will not work - I think they're referring to WWB and Winchester "Target" ammunition.
Its baffling. The gun doesn't have a slide to cycle but it is more ammo sensitive than a Kimber Solo
1) A design problem that allows the pistol to fire off two cartridges at once - that could result in injury to a ligament or tendon in the hand or worse, and it also results in one of the bullets shooting very very high. That's just unacceptable.
2) The extremely limited set of ammo that is approved for use in the gun.
Basically DoubleTap recommends only using 115gr standard pressure FMJ ammo from Remington, and I suppose Federal American Eagle.
Federal Champion, Hydra-Shok, Guard Dog, Hornady Critical Defense, Ruger ARX are called out by name as not working in the gun. They mention Winchester "Arsenal" ammo as an ammunition that will not work - I think they're referring to WWB and Winchester "Target" ammunition.
Its baffling. The gun doesn't have a slide to cycle but it is more ammo sensitive than a Kimber Solo
I wanted a DoubleTap derringer, but the 2 things that kept me from purchasing it were:
1) A design problem that allows the pistol to fire off two cartridges at once - that could result in injury to a ligament or tendon in the hand or worse, and it also results in one of the bullets shooting very very high. That's just unacceptable.
2) The extremely limited set of ammo that is approved for use in the gun.
Basically DoubleTap recommends only using 115gr standard pressure FMJ ammo from Remington, and I suppose Federal American Eagle.
Federal Champion, Hydra-Shok, Guard Dog, Hornady Critical Defense, Ruger ARX are called out by name as not working in the gun. They mention Winchester "Arsenal" ammo as an ammunition that will not work - I think they're referring to WWB and Winchester "Target" ammunition.
Its baffling. The gun doesn't have a slide to cycle but it is more ammo sensitive than a Kimber Solo
I have been following the Double Taps since before they were shipping and just recently started reading about the ammo issues. Since I have been seriously considering ordering one I started doing a lot more research now that they have been out for a while.
The ammo pickiness with pushing the primers out of the shell case and locking the breach closed doesn't bother me too much. To me it looks like the the rifling in the barrels are set too close to the chamber resulting in too little free bore and causing over pressure issues. I think this is half of the ammo issue in which OAL and powder burning speed causes over pressure issues. What I read is that a couple of trigger pulls will beat the spent primers back into the casing and allow the breach to open.
The video of the strike on the second primer DOES bother me and I can see how a double fire is very possible. I think this is where the even more restrictive ammo list came in, only ammo with very hard primers should be used to mitigate the possibility of a double fire.
Looking at the design of the gun I can see how there is nothing stopping the second hammer from striking the primer in the second barrel due to momentum from the heavy recoil... very unfortunate. In the video I watched the second primer strike appeared to be only when firing the bottom barrel first. I wonder if it is less likely to double fire if the top barrel is touched off first? The top hammer is longer and further away from the center of mass which I think would make it more prone to momentum firing than the lower hammer. This would also make the gun susceptible to drop firing too... not good! Too risky for me, I decided to cross it off my list too!
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If1HitU
Member
I think the two best pocket pistols to PC are my two G42 380 & S&W M&P BG.380.
The easiest answer is the gun that actually is pocket sized. That means thin and light and easy to slip into your pocket with a holster. Close to the size and weight of your cell phone is ideal. For me that really only leaves LCP sized pocket pistols.
Gun Master
Member
I'm starting to go more for the RM.380, since it has a "true" DA, that can used on a failure to fire. Both Rugers have to have the slide racked.
Anybody got info on the Taurus Spectrum? I've heard good and bad. Mostly the latter.
Anybody got info on the Taurus Spectrum? I've heard good and bad. Mostly the latter.
For me, the biggest consideration for pocket carry is overall length. My XDS in a DeSantis is perfectly comfortable in a jeans pocket; the only problem is that due to the angle of the pocket opening, the bottom of the grip sticks out about half an inch.
I've been pocketing the Bullpup9 (Bond Arms' reworked Boberg) lately, and I have to say it's just about perfect for me. Front or back pocket work equally well. I get 7+1 of 9mm+p; the barrel is the same length as the XDS but the overall length is shorter than the LCP. The trigger is a long but very smooth DA pull (I'm talking "S&W revolver with a trigger job" smooth).
It's heavy compared to other pocket pistols, the manual of arms required a small adjustment for me (no last round hold-open), and you can buy 4 LCP's for the price, so it's not ideal for every shooter or situation, but it seems to be perfect for me. Worth a look if it's in your budget...
I've been pocketing the Bullpup9 (Bond Arms' reworked Boberg) lately, and I have to say it's just about perfect for me. Front or back pocket work equally well. I get 7+1 of 9mm+p; the barrel is the same length as the XDS but the overall length is shorter than the LCP. The trigger is a long but very smooth DA pull (I'm talking "S&W revolver with a trigger job" smooth).
It's heavy compared to other pocket pistols, the manual of arms required a small adjustment for me (no last round hold-open), and you can buy 4 LCP's for the price, so it's not ideal for every shooter or situation, but it seems to be perfect for me. Worth a look if it's in your budget...
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