Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Pocket pistols. LCP or something else?

TheKid,

A defensive handgun, by definition, is a weapon intended to save your life, or in this case, your parents' lives. Think of a defensive handgun as a tool to escape danger, not confront it.

In my opinion, the smallest caliber I'd use to save my life is .38 Special +P. But since I don't like the idea of going with minimum for saving my life, I'd prefer either a Sig P-229 chambered for .40 S&W or a 1911A1 chambered for .45 ACP.

In my opinion, the Model 1911A1 chambered for .45 ACP sits alone at the pinnacle of self-defense handguns. However, there is tactical advantage to not having to reload. Hence, 13 180 grain .40 S&W LE rounds in a P-229 with 12 more ready to go in a couple seconds makes it close to a dead heat. A full-size Model 1911A1 and a Sig P-229 are not difficult to conceal.

The only known way of surviving a gunfight is to not get in one. If that's not possible, the next most important rule is to not get shot. A good guy would be in a gunfight because a bad guy wants him dead. And dead is as final as it gets.

Every human being is declared dead when there's lack of brain activity. That can occur via one of two modes: destruction of the brain or lack of oxygenated blood to it. In the latter case, it means reducing a bad guy's blood pressure to zero.

In a gunfight, especially at close range (<10'), if you don't get the heck outta a bad guy's sight picture, you're probably gonna take rounds. That's never a good idea. Hence, suppressive fire while running for cover is a wise tactic. That means lots of rounds.

If you're lucky enough to hit a bad guy, you have to inflict as much damage as possible, which means go big, as in caliber.

I own no defensive handgun smaller than a .38 Special. I'll never own a pocket gun. Now that's just my opinion. You do what's right for your parents and you. I don't much like the idea of having to rely upon a 5-shot .38 Special loaded with the FBI load to save my life. If I'm carrying a handgun, which I rarely do (I can legally carry anywhere the American flag flies), it's almost always my old duty weapon: my Sig P-229.

My life is damned important to me. I avoid going to places that are dangerous. I'll go to LA only if I HAVE to. But were I to go somewhere that I thought could be dangerous, I'd take my P-229. However, I'd feel just as safe with a 1911A1.

One more thing to keep in mind: bad guys rarely do bad things alone. That means that, God forbid, were your parents confronted by bangers, there are better choices than a pocket pistol.

Were I to buy another handgun for self-defense, it'd probably be a Sig P-239 in .40 S&W. Also, I like heavy for caliber bullets. I don't read ballistic tables. I want momentum. If one hole is good, two have to be twice as good. I want a lot of blood out hastening zero blood pressure. At least that's how I have it figured. Please understand that these are my opinions. What's right for me might be all wrong for another.

I wish your parents long lives and absolute safety.

Best of luck to you.

I recognize you as someone who used to have a different name here at the Fire.

I own a slew of hand guns. The LCP is the only one I have that is not fun to shoot. Reminds me of a firecracker going off in your hand. I do carry it sometimes, it is easy to conceal. Hasbeen

Haven't shot the LCP but do have a pair of LC9s pro's.

ya think?

Pretty sure my folks aren't going to ever get out of bed and strap on their full size Sigs or 1911s, hence " if it needs a holster it will get left home". I realize that a full size fighting handgun would be more effective but it just isn't going to happen for them.

I was thinking the LCP pro would be the way to go, I have a buddy with one and I consider the sights alone a huge step up from the original LCP. As Jim said, hand shape must have a lot to do with perceived recoil as I have shot the LCP quite a bit and don't find it objectionable. They certainly aren't a target pistol but I don't find them painful to shoot. Mom and Pop might but I don't, I also have long skinny hands so maybe that makes a difference.

I will check the G42 pricing from my distributors and see how close to their budget they are. I personally like the little Glocks I've shot but the trigger worries me a little for pocket carry. The LCP is much longer DA and seems harder to set off in a pocket to me.

Personally I prefer a J frame for this type of duty but I'm also willing to alter my dress habits to allow me to carry something discretely. They are not but that's okay, at least now they'll be carrying something. %99.99 chance the little guns will shoot a hell of a lot more Rattlesnakes, armadillas, and stuff like that than bad guys.

While I understand the appeal of a pocket pistol, and occasionally carry one that way, thought of fumbling in a pocket for a pistol is a bit concerning. Which is why I like an IWB holster for my LC9s pro.

None of these guns should be pocket carried without a proper pocket holster. Way too dangerous.

If you are looking at a Glock 42, just get a 43.
Minutely larger and a 9mm.

But a 26 is not as slim as a 43, and not a pocket pistol.
Unless you got big pockets

Im looking at the 42 as well for the wife and me to carry... from what ive read, felt recoil is managed well for such a small pistol...thus Im not interested in the 9mm, my wife wont shoot a small 9mm that well

i shot a ruger LCP this past weekend, that longgggg trigger pull was god awful, the worst Ive ever pulled

Im looking at the 42 as well for the wife and me to carry... from what ive read, felt recoil is managed well for such a small pistol...thus Im not interested in the 9mm, my wife wont shoot a small 9mm that well

i shot a ruger LCP this past weekend, that longgggg trigger pull was god awful, the worst Ive ever pulled

I'll have to look at the Kahr offerings, don't think I've handled anything from them in a decade and didn't even think of them.

4ager has the right idea about them, while they are shooters they aren't normally handgunners. Dad has killed a deer and a hog or two with his 4" M19 but doesn't own any pistol other than that and a Buckmark. The area they live in has never been an area where you would feel the need to carry until lately with the meth and Mexicans the county sheriff has encouraged citizens to arm themselves and they finally feel like it may not be a bad idea. Who knows after a few years getting in the habit they mey want to step up to a full size pistol but until then I'm just happy they want to carry something.

Raisuli?

SakoAv,

Just curious, what handle were you posting under prior to 7-14-16? Something just seems very odd.

airweight or scandium framed Smith J frame, in 38+p or 357.

I'll have to look at the Kahr offerings, don't think I've handled anything from them in a decade and didn't even think of them.

4ager has the right idea about them, while they are shooters they aren't normally handgunners. Dad has killed a deer and a hog or two with his 4" M19 but doesn't own any pistol other than that and a Buckmark. The area they live in has never been an area where you would feel the need to carry until lately with the meth and Mexicans the county sheriff has encouraged citizens to arm themselves and they finally feel like it may not be a bad idea. Who knows after a few years getting in the habit they mey want to step up to a full size pistol but until then I'm just happy they want to carry something.

Every gun that’s carried in a pocket needs a holster – failing to do so is the purview of a novice.