looking for a sub compact pistol

[SSP REAPER]

I would love to be able to carry a pistol of that size and caliber, but that is not a "pocket" sized pistol. I don't like others to know that I have a pistol.

it wouldn't be called a "concealed carry" if anyone else knew . That XD9 sub compact is more of a jacket pocket sized pistol.

[LegumeOfTerror]

Hey bean......you still playing paintball?

rarley, but theres a field down the street from my place now so i might have the time to get back into it.

[billybob_81067]

Walther PPK......it's good enough for 007.......

I picked up a Walther P22 here a few weeks ago... It's my inside the house pocket gun for keeping the crazies at bay...

Pretty sweet little gun actually...

[Schmitti]

I'm going to chime in.. and sorry I'm 6 days late to the party.

First you may not like things I have to say... but I'm going to say them so that you don't do a couple of things...

1. Get something that you can't depend on
2. Get something that you aren't going to like
3. Get something that will be unsafe to you and others
4. Carry something in a manner that is unsafe or slow to get to.

Okay... guns I've owned and carried on me:
Springfield 1911 full size in .45 ACP
S&W 66 with 3" barrel in .357/.38
Keltec 9mm
UZI Baby Eagle Compact DAO in.40 S&W

Of the above I carried the revolver and springfield the most because I could depend on them to go bang and I could shoot them consistently with what I felt was fairly good accuracy.

A tiny gun is great.. for a tiny gun. Would I carry a .22 lr pistol... only if I could not carry something bigger. You basically want to carry the largest caliber gun that you can shoot repeatedly.... If you can do so with a .500 S&W and can conceal it on you.. good for you! For most of us mortals though it will be something in a smaller more normal caliber like a 9mm or .38/.357 or a .40 or .45. For a defense gun I (personally) would not go any smaller than those.

There are plenty of guns out there that will fit your need for a small easy to operate gun that will go bang every time you need it to. Kahr arms makes very nice compact guns in .40 S&W, they are pricey though. The S&W revolvers are great off the shelf and you can get them without hammers or the bodyguard model that has a snag free design. The S&W compact cheif's specials are also nice guns. Even Glocks if you can learn to like the trigger (it's much easier to do if you've never shot other guns).

Another thing to consider about a tiny gun.. even though it's tiny doesn't mean it's easy to shoot. I can't hold the little naa mouse guns.. they are just too small for my hands... pretty much the same goes for the beretta .22lr autos. They are cute and will go bang all day, but I wouldn't depend on them unless they were the only thing I could shoot.

I won't tell you what type of gun to get... but don't sell yourself short on a dinky gun. Try as many guns as you can and then make your decision.

If you want a "pocket" gun, then you need to consider something... if it is loose in your pocket can you repeatedly draw the gun with out snagging it and do so in the same way at the same speed every time. It's not like the movies. If the poop goes down and you need to get your gun out, you need to do it quickly. The last place I'd want my gun is loose in my pocket. I never carried a gun in a pocket. Never. It was either in a belt holster (IWB= Inside the waist band) or a shoulder rig... and at worse with the Springfield, tucked in my pants (but even that is dumb).

With the number of holster makers out there today you can find a comfortable IWB holster for just about any gun on the market... Blade-Tec makes some very nice ones out of kydex that have several methods of attachment to your belt http://www.blade-tech.com/Holsters-c-253.html I owned a couple and like them very much.

Another problem with carrying a gun in your pocket is that it could fall out... oops.. how do you explain that to the people behind the register at the gas station... or the nearby patrons at a restaurant? "No really folks I'm licensed to carry." Well you probably won't be for much longer.

Also with pocket carry there is the good chance of the gun imprinting on your pocket. If someone can see the outline of your gun then it's not concealed... and depending on your state, that's either brandishing a firearm or open carry.

So what I'm saying is pocket carry should be your last resort. Get a good holster to hold that gun safely where you can get at it very quickly.

Also, find a good gun range or club near you and see if they offer a Concealed Carry or self defense course... even if it is a classroom only non shooting course, the information you learn will be invaluable (that doesn't mean un-valuable).

Just some of my thoughts that I usually toss out every time I see some one ask about buying a gun (the holster comments are new, only because I've never seen someone ask about a pocket gun before).

Feel free to ask me any questions you might have ... but think about what I said above first. And that goes for anybody.. not just the original poster.

E

[CaliMagFan]

sub compact info vid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4CuHBro1ek&feature=channel_page

dont know if you're still in the market for a sub compact, but that link seems full of good info... that guy, nutnfancy is a top notch reviewer from what i can tell. I dont shoot a lot of guns, but think he does a nice job on all his reviews and info... though he does get a little wordy somtimes.

[Schmitti]

Great link... good info on compact/tiny guns starts around 7 mins. That sig P238 is nice... especially seeing as it is an updated copy of the old COlt pocket gun.

E

[Lohman446]

IIRC there is a current recall on some of the P238s. Which is disappointing considering they essentially copied the Mustang. That being said others have pointed out the concern of going with a SA pocket pistol, especially if your primary is an XD.

[grEnAlEins]

Mann,

Have you considered Smart Carry or Thunderwear? I hear some people really love these things, however some do not. I just thought I'd throw it out there for ya though.

-grEn

[MANN]

I'm going to chime in.. and sorry I'm 6 days late to the party.

Your not late I have yet to purchase a "everyday carrying pistol". That, and I am waiting on 380 ammo. No point in owning a gun that you have no ammo for.

For myself I am leaning toward the kel tec p3at/ruger lcp. The quality issue is the only thing that somewhat concerns me with them. The lcp is also a somewhat hard pistol to purchase (at least at our 2-3 local gun stores)

With laser sights & a pocket holster I don't think it will print anymore than a cell phone. I have not used a pocket holster yet, but by the looks of them they seem to hold the pistol in a stationary position. It may be a bit slower on drawing, but I would rather be a little slow than to not have one.

I have yet to shoot one, and don't know really how I can until I purchase one(the local gun stores will not let you "try out pistols"). I guess worse case scenario I will put it in the gun safe with some other "cool, but not practice" firearms

[MANN]

Mann,

Have you considered Smart Carry or Thunderwear? I hear some people really love these things, however some do not. I just thought I'd throw it out there for ya though.

-grEn

Thanks for the suggestion.

I like the theory.....but I tried the inside the waist holsters last week at a gun show, and was not too impressed. It was not that easy to get the pistol out. I also think that they are uncomfortable when you sit down.

on the gun show note. WOW stuff there is wayyyy over priced. I thought it was a place to get a good deal. They were selling heavily used common glocks/smiths/springfields for more than msrp.

[grEnAlEins]

on the gun show note. WOW stuff there is wayyyy over priced. I thought it was a place to get a good deal. They were selling heavily used common glocks/smiths/springfields for more than msrp.

Same with the last show I was at. There are still people with "election pricing" in the gun show crowd. I'd give it another 6 or 8 months before that subsides a bit more. It is getting better though.