pocket gun choices between these three

380 Pocket gun Choices between these three only.

  • Kahr P380

    Votes: 36 17.9%

  • Micro Desert Eagle 380

    Votes: 15 7.5%

  • KelTec P3AT

    Votes: 88 43.8%

  • Neither of these for a 380 pocket pistol

    Votes: 62 30.8%
  • Total voters
    201
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LCP is the way to go

I recently bought the ruger LCP. I love it. I am a cop whose backup gun has got to be effective but concealable. It fits on my ankle and I cant tell its there. When Im off duty it fits in any pocket. I can finally wear my shirts tucked in without having my glock protruding from my waistline. I shot it and it is very accurate and due to the magazine grips make it very comfortable to fire. P.S. I bought one after the recall and have no worries about leaving one in the pipe.
 
Just how shallow are your pockets???

I normally pocket carry a Glock 26, although, I can fit a Glock 23 in, just barely!!

The G26 weighs about as much as the PPK.
The former weighs 19.75 oz and the latter weighs 20.8 oz!!!
Given the expanded on board ammunition capability, and increased stopping power of the Parabellum round the Glock is to be favored.

http://www.glock.com/english/index_pistols.htm G26

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...ted=tech&isFirearm=Y&parent_category_rn=43802 PPK

Now, as touching the concept of pocket depth, and for a lack of a better term at 1:36 AM, "lugging" the gun around, I wear standard Wrangler cargo pants purchased off the rack at my local Wallyworld. I do, however, have a decent belt. It's my contention that a decent belt covers a multitude of concealed carry sins!!!! After awhile, the weight of the Glock is unnoticeable, provided you have a decent belt holding the rig up!!

As far as a holster goes, I find that the cheap nylon pocket holster that I bought off of e-bay for $10 if memory serves me well, works perfectly!!

Glock26003-copy.jpg


The above is said holster with my G26 contained therein.

Now for my point in all this.
There is no need to carry a low power round from the nineteenth century (I can hear the howls of my detractors even now)!!

To all of them, yeah, I do own a PPK/S AND a KT P3AT.
The Kel-Tec is loaded and sitting on my bedroom dresser. I use it for slipping into the pocket of my swim trunks to go to the mailbox, or to the local stop and rob during the summer.
The PPK/S is part of my Walther collection. ;)
 
CDH, You didn't say what price a Rohrbaugh R9s Stealth pistol goes for $$? What price range are they. I have not seen those locally at any gun store here.
Click to expand...

A brand new R9s from a dealer is going to set you back a smidgeon more than a .380 Seecamp. I paid $1150 for my Stealth, and it was money very well spent.

But I've spent it and it's over. The R9s will be with me the rest of my life, so I now look at it as "free" because it's bought and paid for, it's the best you can buy at any price, and I've found nothing better for "deep conceal" carrying.

I also look at it as a self-defense "tool", and I don't mind spending money on good tools that do the job better than any other tool I could buy.

No, the Rohrbaugh isn't for everybody. But you won't find a percentage of unhappy owners anywhere near that of people who have gone a "cheaper" route.
In all fairness, I originally was going to get the .380 Seecamp (even at it's high price), but the long waiting list plus the fact that's it's "only" a .380 quickly changed my mind and had me going for the Rohrbaugh.

It's one of the "happier" gun purchases I've made in many years.
 
Since I started this thread, I guess I should post what my final decision was to the thread discussion.

I ended up ordering a Ruger LCP! I know this is not one of the choices I posted. Let me explain...

I ordered a Ruger LCP on a local gun store reccommendation, because if I don't like it, there seems to be a long line of folks willing to buy it for about what I am paying for it. So I don't have to worry too much about keeping it should I decide the LCP is not for me. I can get most of my money back and then upgrade to something else.

I almost went with the Keltec for the opinons I heard on it, but having shot one of them again yesterday, it just was not comfortable and I couldn't hit anything reliably with it because of ill fit and strong trigger pull. The fit was the biggest problem. The pistol however, never failed to cycle a round.

I really liked the Kahr, but opinions seemed to not justify the price difference.

I also really liked the Desert Micro. It also may be my final choice should the LCP not work out to my satisfaction.

I investigated Seecamp and the R9. I could not find anyone locally within 100 miles that had either for me to handle before buying. I won't buy a $1000 pistol that has not been felt up by my own hands. It's just me!

I found a NAA guardian they wanted $500 for and passed until I go through the LCP and see what it is like for a while.

Thanks to all of you who have replied. I have learned from this thread about a couple of models I didn't know about. That is what THR is all about! Learning is one of the greatest parts of any firearm hobby. Come on over to the shotgun portion of the forum. Over there we can edumacate on how the 12 ga is the best home defense tool out there. :)
 
I almost went with the Keltec for the opinons I heard on it, but having shot one of them again yesterday, it just was not comfortable and I couldn't hit anything reliably with it because of ill fit and strong trigger pull. The fit was the biggest problem.
Click to expand...

If you didn't like the trigger pull of the Keltec nor the way it handled, I'm afraid you aren't going to be happy with the LCP. I've shot them both, at different times and at the same time, and I can't discern a dime's worth of difference between the two of them in terms of the trigger pull and the general ergonomics. During long strings of fire I found the little Ruger a bit harder to hold onto due to its smoother finish and that the Keltec tended to eat into your hand a mite due to its not so smooth finish.
I think,however, given a little time behind the wheel, you'll have no trouble adapting to the Ruger. No true pocket pistol that I'm acquainted with is a pleasure to shoot; it's a nature of the beast thing.
 
Like I said... If I don't like the LCP, there seems to be a lot of folks that will be glad to buy it from me at that time. Then the search will continue. I will certainly be keeping up with this thread to remember all the good info and suggestions I saw here.
 
I own a Kahr P380

I love the size of the gun. The recoil is not a problem and the gun is very easily concealed. That said, during my initial trip to the range (fired 230 rounds) both magazines failed. The back broke out of both. Kahr was very responsive when I reported the problem and I received my new magazines this week. I have not had to opportunity to go back to the range, but intend to put another 250 rounds through the P380 this weekend. Despite the problem with the magazines, I would still purchase the Kahr. I know they are not 380's but two other guns I sugggest you consider are the Kahr PM9 and the S&W 340PD 357 mag. They are both easily concealed and offer much more punch than the 380. I actually bought the P380 for my wife, but I will likely carry in the summer months here in FL when humidity and temps are both high.
 
Ruger LCP

I think you'll like the LCP. My wife and I both carry one as do a couple of my friends. Since the recall, we've fired about 400 rds through each LCP without a hiccup.
 
Colt Mustang .380 Pocketlite.

It is the same size as a Ruger LCP (Except that it has a thumb safety and 1911 style grip plates.)

The gun fits in holsters designed for the LCP.

SAO, Thumb-Safety, and mine has been 100% reliable.
 
No true pocket pistol that I'm acquainted with is a pleasure to shoot; it's a nature of the beast thing.
Click to expand...

The above mentioned Mustang pocket lite is. I am yet to encounter a pocket pistol that I like as much. It is trult pleasant to shoot. The only draw back is the sell for around $700 now. I haven't tried the khar yet but would really like to.
 
The ONLY pocket pistol I have ever shot that was fun and very accurate with a great trigger was a Bersa thunder and Bersa thunder concealed carry. I can put 100 rounds downrange with no discomfort. Both fit easily in just about anything I wear and can be found new between $259 & $299. The keltecs and LCP i shot were not nearly as accurate or as much fun. YMMV.
 

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Milkmaster,
I would be very careful of Kahr guns. While, their K9 is one of the best short barrel (3 1/2 inches) I have ever fired, every other Kahr has been a failure in my view. I have not tried their 380 but have used a PM9 with a three inch barrel. Yes, a great pocket gun until you have to use it. After over 600 rounds, the gun could still jam. Friend has a KM9 (several $100 more but all metal) and he said it took him over 1,000 rounds before the gun was reliable but he now loves it. My 380 is a Besra which too big for a pocket gun but does work for CCW wear. At it's price point it is a really good value.
 
Of those I chose the Kahr, but I wouldn't be interested in any of them. The Bersa to me is a better and cheaper gun, and pocket carry for me starts and ends with Smith and Wesson J frame.
 
Me380

i'm completely satisfied with mine. i wanted something for a wallet/pocket holster, and i dont think any of the others would work as well. most durable finish and 100% reliable. its in my right rear pocket from 7am to 11pm. the only adjustment i've had to make is switching my wallet/checkbook to my left rear pocket. other than that, zero issues.

gunblast review
makes the LCP look like a howitzer :)
magnumresearch.gif ​

no holsters available yet, so i made one. works perfect.
heres some pics
 
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Seeing it side by side .i would go for the kahr. i looked at the 380 kahr at the shot show .i was happy .except for the price:)
 
my recommendation is the Kahr P380

I have put 230 rounds through mine and the only problem other than several FTF was magazine failure. The backs of both magazines broke away from the side plates. I received my new mags last week and will put another 200 through the gun this weekend. Great feel in my hand and very easy to conceal. My son-in-law has a Kel-Tec 380. The Kel Tec is very dependable also, but I prefer the fit, and finish of the Kahr, however, it my preference carries a hefty price ove the Kel-Tec.
 
the micro desert eagle feels great to me. Im not into ultra light pocket guns though. You might also want to consider an NAA Guardian. I hated the pocket 380 fad until I laid hands on these two guns.

Tad pricey compared to the LCP, and KelTec though.
 
i saw the P380 at the gun shop yesterday, and it looks nice. i'm happy with the ME380 though, so no temptation, especially at that price - i thought the $490 i paid for the micro was ridiculous. the gun makers are really taking us to the cleaners. funny how politics drives the firearms market (not really funny at this point :().

re the kahr: i gotta say that if i'd had several FTF and two magazine failure's, i wouldn't be a happy camper.
 
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