P3at Vs. J-frame

[CZSteve]

Another back and forth decision between pocket carry options.

Does anyone have a good side-by-side pic. comparison of a p3at and a 642?

 

[gbelleh]

Here are a few pics...not quite what you asked for, but very close.

A Taurus 85UL compared to a Kel-Tec P-32.

 

[Boats]

Looks like one fires a real self-defense round and the other is a .380

 

[HighVelocity]

I'd go with the Jframe. The trigger on the p3at just isn't right for me. I'm anti-PPP (plastic pocket pistol)

 

[GlenJ]

I went through this with a Taurus 605 and P32. I wanted a light weight pocket gun for the summer and went with the 605 in an Uncle Mikes number 3 pocket holster. I normally wear cargo type shorts with a belt in the summer and the 605 fits in there perfect. It doesn't drag your pocket down or make a big bulge. Plus I would rather have 5 rounds of 357 magnum than 7 or 8 rounds of .32 or .380.

 

[George Hill]

One is a pocket pistol... the other can be a .32H&R Magnum or a .357 Magnum.

Really if you have to go with very deep concealment... the P3AT is a hard choice to beat. If you are just looking for a CCW choice, the J-frame is an excellent one.

These 2 choices are so apples and oranges it's not even funny.

 

[ksnecktieman]

I think I agree with George here. This comparison should be using a Keltec P11, in 9mm. The P3AT is a deep concealment weapon, and a .38 revolver can not compete in that type of concealment.

Can anyone post comparison pictures of a keltec P11 and a revolver like this?

 

[M2 Carbine]

I dress for comfort. Lite summer coveralls that have shallow pockets.
My pocket gun has to be the Kel Tec 32 or 380 or something that's small and thin.

If I could I'd pocket carry a J Frame Smith (I have several) or probably the Kel Tec P-11.
I can carry the P-11 in a boot holster.

S&W Model 60 and P-11

 

[HighVelocity]

How much does a P11 cost? Jframes are not cheap.

 

[Kestrel]

gbellah,

What grips are on the Taurus in your picture? They look great.

Steve

 

[M2 Carbine]

I think the P-11 is selling for about $225.

I saw 4 real nice J Frames at the last gun show.

I bought a 2 inch and 3 inch for $585 OTD door. It was hard to tell they weren't brand new guns.

But mostly a fairly nice J frame does eat up $300.

 

[CZSteve]

Thanks for bouncing this around.
I'm wanting a pocket carry for when at work (dress/casual).

I think the p3at is the best choice, I don't mind the F & B to ensure reliability. I don't even like to carry a wallet in my pocket, use a money clip and just a couple/three cards.

I think I'll also look for an older Charter Arms Undercover, I enjoy cycling and currently carry my Makarov in a small pocket of my Camelback. The .38 revo would be advantageous w/ a couple chambers loaded w/ snakeshot as I tend to run across snakes now and again. I've never had a problem, but you never know.

 

[gbelleh]

SteveW13,

Thanks, I really like those grips too. They are rosewood grips from Taurus. They can be found here:

http://www.taurususa.com/products/rgrips.cfm

The small rosewood, part #4-400

 

[medic_guns]

jframe, jframe, jaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyframe. Go team!

 

[bubbygator]

I have both. When it's just a walking-out-the-door thing, I drop the KelTec in my pocket. When I'm going to a specific destination in town, I'll drop the J-frame in my pocket... unless I'm wearing a dress jacket, then it will be the KelTec. If I'm going into a known threat area, I'll carry my Colt .45 Compact.... or alternately, I simply won't go.

 

[MR.G]

The Kel-Tec P-3AT .380 is much more concealable than the J frame. It is what I carry in my front pocket when working around customers. Otherwise I carry either the Kel-Tec P-11 9MM or a S&W model 60. Prefer the 9MM P-11 with eleven rounds if I am wearing pants with big enough pockets.

 

[No Quarter]

A 642 or 649-2 in the pocket is easily concealable in the front pocket of my wrangler jeans. It has a better resale value, better reliability and has better, cheaper ammo available for range practice. There are plenty of examples of KTs being reliable, but there are also a bunch of examples of them not being so great.

While the small pocket auto has a certain allure, the tried and true J frame .38 is the standard by which all pocket guns should be compared.

NQ

 

[TxCajun]

How much does a P11 cost? Jframes are not cheap.

Texas gun show prices are approximately:

P11:
blued $220
parkerized $235
hard chrome $ 245

 

[George Hill]

You can get a used J-frame for about the same if you shop around.

 

[Newton]

I have a 642 and a P-3AT.

The 642 cost me $350 new, the P-3AT was $269.

There is no doubt that the 642 offers far more performance from each of its 5 rounds, but it looks like I have an orange in my pocket when I carry it, the P-3AT just melts away. So the P-3AT gets the nod, even though it's less powerful.

I have seen several people with ominous 642 shaped lumps in their right front pocket, they probably think they are perfectly concealed too

I also just don't have the commitment or discomfort tolerance to carry IWB, if it doesn't disappear in a pocket, I'd rather go unarmed - but that's just me.

I still wouldn't want to get shot with a .380, they'll kill you pretty quickly if you do your part, and you get 7 chances.

Good luck with your choice.


Newton

 

[mnrivrat]

P-3AT goes in my front pants pocket. Not because I think it is a better gun than a J-frame , but because it carries much better for that application.

P-11 is too large for pants pocket carry IMO , and I would carry a J-frame rather than a P-11 if that was my only choices.

 

[greyhound]

it looks like I have an orange in my pocket

I love that analogy!

Now, I have had my carry license for all of 1 week, but as I yesterday was toting my 642 around in my right front pocket, I kinda thought it looked kinda big too.

Thats why I was just wondering if anyone carries their 642 IWB. Today, I hauled around my Glock 19 IWB, and if I can make it through a day of that the 642 should be way easy.

Depends on the situation, of course, rolling to the suburban Wal Mart might be less dangerous than downtown Birmingham. Pocket carry is way useful when in the social situation casual khakis/tucked-in button down shirt!

 

[W Turner]

I have gone back and forth on using a j-frame versus a P3AT for pocket carry. Right now I carry a 642 in a pocket holster form Azrael and it works great. Main reason I carry the revolver is because my wife carries a 638 and I like the commonality of the ammo and speed loaders.

Eventually I will get another P3AT, but it will be one of the newer ones.

W

 

[Marshall]

Revolver!

 

[MICHAEL T]

J frame , plastic is for credit cards not guns.