Trying some pocket guns

[kalash]

Shot the Kahr PM9 and S&W Bodyguard .380 today. Not impressed.

The Kahr seems too big for pocket carry. It's roughly the size of my LCR but the brick-shaped frame make it much more noticeable in a pocket. The safety is really, really stiff, yet the trigger is too light to carry without the safety, imo. Also, the safety lever scratched the base of my thumb to the point of bleeding within one magazine. On the upside, I was really accurate with it and the controls and feel are similar to my Glock.

The Bodyguard is tiny, which is great for carrying but terrible for everything else. The slide release is too small; the safety is too small and difficult to disengage, but at least the trigger pull is so long that I wouldn't be opposed to carrying without the safety on. It doesn't lock back on empty, which I didn't like. Out of 35 or so rounds I had one FTF and one light primer strike (or dud, I suppose). The recoil is pretty light though for such a small gun.

I think I'll stick with my LCR .38 although I did also check out the Sig P238 and loved the 1911-like ergonomics and and controls, though I didn't shoot it.

 

[Chet0729]

The 238 is a great gun. I carry one and I also have a BG and have fired the Kahr. In my opinion the sig 238 is twice the gun. good trigger, easy to manipulate safety and very reliable. if you would like to shoot one and are anywhere near Worcester I will let you fire mine.

 

[kalash]

The 238 is a great gun. I carry one and I also have a BG and have fired the Kahr. In my opinion the sig 238 is twice the gun. good trigger, easy to manipulate safety and very reliable. if you would like to shoot one and are anywhere near Worcester I will let you fire mine.

Thanks. I'm actually in Worcester tonight and heading to Harvard Sportsmen's tomorrow morning.

 

[MadRussian]

Ruger LCP. Has some drawbacks, but a diecent pocket gun.

 

[xtry51]

As much as I always hate to say it, Keltec P3AT. I carried mine again today because it disappears in a pocket front or back.

It's so small there's no other gun I've come across that suits actual pocket carry better. Does it suck to shoot? Yes. Is it useful beyond 15 feet? Not really. But damn does it fit in a pocket for all day, no print carry in a simple pocket holster in any pants.

 

[oilspill]

Odd, the PM9 is less bulky than a J frame/LCR in a pocket to me. And the trigger wasn't lighter than the LCR I had if I remember right.

Shot the Kahr PM9 and S&W Bodyguard .380 today. Not impressed.

The Kahr seems too big for pocket carry. It's roughly the size of my LCR but the brick-shaped frame make it much more noticeable in a pocket. The safety is really, really stiff, yet the trigger is too light to carry without the safety, imo. Also, the safety lever scratched the base of my thumb to the point of bleeding within one magazine. On the upside, I was really accurate with it and the controls and feel are similar to my Glock.

The Bodyguard is tiny, which is great for carrying but terrible for everything else. The slide release is too small; the safety is too small and difficult to disengage, but at least the trigger pull is so long that I wouldn't be opposed to carrying without the safety on. It doesn't lock back on empty, which I didn't like. Out of 35 or so rounds I had one FTF and one light primer strike (or dud, I suppose). The recoil is pretty light though for such a small gun.

I think I'll stick with my LCR .38 although I did also check out the Sig P238 and loved the 1911-like ergonomics and and controls, though I didn't shoot it.

 

[76Too]

Yeah, but who buys a PM9 with a safety?

seriously though...try a free state version sometime. Slightly heavier trigger pull...because manipulation of a safety in an emergency situation is never easy. One can make the movement second nature, but I prefer to just worry about drawing and firing.

 

[mac1911]

Why not some of the classic small pistols..... model 9, baby browning on those lines.

 

[JackO]

Try Kahr P380 or CW380. I love both, these are my current pocket carry. I used to pocket carry Ruger LCP, which is a really small and light, but shooting it was no fun. Kahr 380, although a little heavier, is very easy to shoot.

PM me if you'd like to try free state version of Kahr PM9, CW380, and Ruger LCP.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

 

[allen-1]

If you like the Sig P238, Colt Mustang or Pocket Lite is pretty much the same gun, it's sort of a 1911 that somebody threw into the dryer and shrunk. I've got both and like them. Glock 42's a good pocket gun.

 

[50wt]

Picked up a 938 after shooting a friends 238. Light weight, checkering on the grip is perfect, and is small enough to pocket carry.

I looked at the pm9, and the grip , size , and weight felt good for a ccw . The safety, which is flush , is very tough to get a thumb on.

 

[Varmint]

Never owned a Glock but thinking of a Glock 42 for pocket or IWB carry.

Does anyone make a DA/SA no safety thats in this category? Sigs all seem too big and heavy.

 

[Alex9661]

The Kahr seems too big for pocket carry. It's roughly the size of my LCR but the brick-shaped frame make it much more noticeable in a pocket. The safety is really, really stiff, yet the trigger is too light to carry without the safety, imo.

Safety isn't an issue with PM9, leave it in the OFF position and forget about it if you have a MA version. The gun is perfectly safe to carry without safety, I tried pulling it out of my pocket with my booger hook inserted into a trigger guard and not using other fingers at all (gun unloaded of course), and it didn't go off. It all doesn't matter anyway if you carry in a pocket holster and exercise proper trigger discipline.

 

[PaulR]

Sig 238 and a Shield 9mm here. For some reason I'm much more accurate time and time again with the Sig.

 

[kalash]

The shield is definitely too big for pocket carry. The 938 might be too - its a good big longer than the 238.

 

[92G]

IMO it's Kahr CW380 or G42.

if i'm wearing the tight yoga pants my wife got me, then it's CW380.

if i'm dressing like a man then it's G42

 

[Fixxah]

Walther PPKs or Colt Mustang pocket lite.

 

[Cabin Fever]

My problem with pocket carrying the PM9 is that the sights get caught when I draw (factory night sights). Otherwise I love the gun, as it is super accurate considering it's size. I have no qualms about carrying the PM9 with the safety off, as long as you have a good holster. I use a DeSantis Nemesis.

 

[Queen Bee]

IMO it's Kahr CW380 or G42.

if i'm wearing the tight yoga pants my wife got me, then it's CW380.

if i'm dressing like a man then it's G42

I wear yoga pants and a 42, and it even hides while hiking

Did she get you lululemon pants at least?

 

[Cuz]

if i'm wearing the tight yoga pants my wife got me, then it's CW380.

That is a visual none of us needed...

 

[cthorne98]

PM9 in a blackhawk #3 and forget about it.

 

[kalash]

PM9 in a blackhawk #3 and forget about it.

Someone did not real the OP...

 

[Rate_of_Twist]

A j-frame or PM9 are my favorite pocket carry guns.

 

[Chet0729]

The shield is definitely too big for pocket carry. The 938 might be too - its a good big longer than the 238.

938 is not that much bigger than the 238. I have both. The 938 is not a lot of fun to shoot, very snappy

 

[92G]

938 is not that much bigger than the 238. I have both. The 938 is not a lot of fun to shoot, very snappy

i have found the P938 very nice to shoot. however the recoil spring only lasts ~400 rds then recoil will get sharp + extraction violent. your P938 may need a new recoil spring. this is all according to Sig themselves....i ran into these issue w my P938 at ~500 rds and was shocked to hear Sig tell me their recoil springs last such short time. it's crap but that's Sig quality in 2015.

WRT pocket carry, I have found the P938 easy to pocket w the 6rd mag except the beavertail/hammer arrangement seems to catch on pocket during draw. YMMV.

 

[MarkT]

I have a Mass PM9 and love it, but I also find it too large to pocket carry. IMO its ok to carry without the safety on, so long as it is in a sturdy kydex or leather holster, but wouldn't consider carrying it in a cheap holster, like Uncle Mikes.

The safety does need a bit of de-horning, but a few minutes with some emery cloth is all that it needs.

My wife has an LCP which is a definitely better, size-wise, for pocket carry, but I've never felt adequately protected with .380, and I prefer to carry a gun with usable sights.

 

[kalash]

938 is not that much bigger than the 238. I have both. The 938 is not a lot of fun to shoot, very snappy

Interesting. I only handled the 238 but lying in the display case next to the 938, the latter looks like it had an extra inch in the slide.

i have found the P938 very nice to shoot. however the recoil spring only lasts ~400 rds then recoil will get sharp + extraction violent. your P938 may need a new recoil spring. this is all according to Sig themselves....i ran into these issue w my P938 at ~500 rds and was shocked to hear Sig tell me their recoil springs last such short time. it's crap but that's Sig quality in 2015.

WRT pocket carry, I have found the P938 easy to pocket w the 6rd mag except the beavertail/hammer arrangement seems to catch on pocket during draw. YMMV.

Recoil spring lasts 400 rounds? That sounds pretty bad.

I have a Mass PM9 and love it, but I also find it too large to pocket carry. IMO its ok to carry without the safety on, so long as it is in a sturdy kydex or leather holster, but wouldn't consider carrying it in a cheap holster, like Uncle Mikes.

The safety does need a bit of de-horning, but a few minutes with some emery cloth is all that it needs.

My wife has an LCP which is a definitely better, size-wise, for pocket carry, but I've never felt adequately protected with .380, and I prefer to carry a gun with usable sights.

My biggest gripe with the .380 is that I don't current shoot it so I'd be adding a new caliber, and it's also expensive.

 

[MarkT]

My biggest gripe with the .380 is that I don't current shoot it so I'd be adding a new caliber, and it's also expensive.

That's true, unless you reload. We bought her gun earlier this year and it only cost me $40 to get set up to reload .380. Now I can make them at about $0.12/round.

 

[Chet0729]

i have found the P938 very nice to shoot. however the recoil spring only lasts ~400 rds then recoil will get sharp + extraction violent. your P938 may need a new recoil spring. this is all according to Sig themselves....i ran into these issue w my P938 at ~500 rds and was shocked to hear Sig tell me their recoil springs last such short time. it's crap but that's Sig quality in 2015.

WRT pocket carry, I have found the P938 easy to pocket w the 6rd mag except the beavertail/hammer arrangement seems to catch on pocket during draw. YMMV.

My 938 has been snappy since the first round.

- - - Updated - - -

Interesting. I only handled the 238 but lying in the display case next to the 938, the latter looks like it had an extra inch in the slide.



Recoil spring lasts 400 rounds? That sounds pretty bad.



My biggest gripe with the .380 is that I don't current shoot it so I'd be adding a new caliber, and it's also expensive.

if you shop around you can get 380 for about the same price as 9MM. I just bought a case of 380 for 11 a box

 

[92G]

if you shop around you can get 380 for about the same price as 9MM. I just bought a case of 380 for 11 a box

where?

i've never seen factory brass .380 for under $16 per 50rd. i usually go w steel cased tulammo .380 cheapest i can find and shoots like a champ from a G42.