Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Pocket carry for easy coceal **** particularly the .380s

I'll buy a single stack 9mm if/when Glock produces one. Until then, this will have to do. Haven't carried my Kel-Tec since buying the G42.

I have been struggling with this as of late, many posts are made about the "unreliable" expansion of hollow points in the .380. I have seen multiple posts suggest using fmj or solids of some kind as they are reliable penetrators. There are numerous tests showing the xtp and gold dots and similar expanding and penetrating 10-14" +/-. If a JHP fails to expand, is it less dangerous than a FMJ? I see it as making a hole and performing similar to a FMJ......school me up on my error.

RickyBobby,

I spent a fair amount of time doing trial and error with a number of pocket pistols. I'll share some of my experiences, and maybe you'll find some of it useful.

1. Sig P238 (.380). I owned, shot, carried and reloaded for this gun for a year or so. It shot very well, and I especially liked the "real" rear sight. The gun shot every brand of ammo I fed it, as well as my hand loads. It was easy to disassemble, clean, and reassemble. As you probably know, Sig is VERY proud of their magazines. Factory mags used to cost $36.95 each. I haven't checked on them recently, however, you can use Colt Mustang mags and they worked perfectly for me ($20 ea at Midway). There was some controversy as to whether Mustang mags worked reliably or not, but it appears that discussion was limited to early models. I owned two or three mustang mags and never had any problems. The P238 was really nice to hold.

I ended up parting with it, because I didn't like the notion of a single action gun in my pocket in Condition 1. I'm not saying it's unsafe to carry like that; I just didn't feel comfortable. Also, at the time, I was still on the fence as to whether the .380 was "enough" for self-defense. I didn't have a Dillon 550 at the time and single stage reloading was a pain. Factory ammo for the .380 was about $18 per box when 9mm was about $11. I decided to sell it a try something else.

2. Kel Tec PF9 (9mm). I didn't care for this gun. It looked cheap. It felt cheap. The trigger pinched my finger (it did the same thing to Hickock45 when he did a video about the gun), and the trigger was heavy and gritty (I shot another PF9 and the trigger was just as bad on that one). But…it functioned well and was accurate. I shot it as well/as bad as any other gun.

3. Ruger LCR (.38 Spcl, .22lr, and .22mag). I have owned a .22 Mag and a .38 Spcl. I have shot probably 4 others, belonging to friends and students. It's another economy gun. I've known two to fail. Both were .38's and the cylinder would not rotate when you squeezed the trigger--which can be a problem in a DAO revolver. The two I owned and shot were fine. Ruger, in my limited experience, has great customer service should you need it. The sights are fairly worthless, but likely no more so than on any other J frame gun. The trigger was OK--not terrible but certainly not "great" or even "very good"--just "good." But, don't forget, it's a budget gun. I think LCRs are a very good value (as long as it doesn't break on you). My dad owns one in .22 Mag (not the one I owned previously) and I didn't try to talk him out of it when he wanted to buy it.

4. Glock 42 (.380). I didn't own it, but was considering buying it. Back before the law changed here in WA, I borrowed one to try. My wife, her friend and I shot it. I liked it--it's just a little bit big for a .380, maybe. If you're going to get a gun that takes up that much space, there are a lot of 9mm's out there. But, make no mistake, I liked it. Here is a link to a thread discussing the G42 ad nauseum (my comments are in there if you care).

5. Kahr CW9 (9mm). I've owned this gun, shot it, loved it, then decided it was too big and sold it. Then I missed owning it and bought another--loved it, shot it and decided to get something smaller. But, I still miss it. If you're going to carry in a holster, I'd say this is as good as a choice as any. Nice trigger, economical on the wallet, easy to point and shoot, reliable. I really enjoyed this gun.

6. Kahr PM9 (9mm). This is the Kahr CM9 with polygonal rifling and some other "higher quality" parts. I got a bit of a discount through Kahr's Instructor Program, so I decided to go with the PM9 over the CM9. Since buying the PM9 I've had the chance to compare it side-by-side with the CM9 and would not hesitate to recommend the less-expensive CM9 to buyers. Many people don't see polygonal rifling as an improvement and certainly wouldn't pay extra for it. Kahr trigger are long, but no longer than a Glock. I like how smooth they are. I had night sights put on my PM9 and got a few extra magazines, including an extended 7-round mag. Their extended mag does hold that extra round, but other than that, there isn't much good to say about it. The magazine does not create that feel of extending the grip of the gun; instead it's just a longer mag wrapped in plastic/rubber. I shoot fine with the extended mag, but Kahr just made zero effort to make it asthetically pleasing. That said, I love my PM9. It's currently my EDC gun. It's small, thin, accurate, and reliable. It's a 9mm, which makes factory ammo cheap and affordable--especially if you shoot remanufactured stuff bought in bulk. It's easy to care for--no special tools or special knowledge required. No external safety, but I see that as a plus. YMMV.

7. Kimber Micro (.380). Remember my dad who has the LCR .22 Mag? Well, he thought he should own an automatic. At age 75, he lacks hand strength. He could not work the slide well (if at all) on any short barreled 9mm. So we went gun shopping a few times and last weekend he bought a Kimber Micro CDP . He fiddled with a Sig P238 and the Kimber before settling on the Kimber. I don't know why, but I didn't want to like the Kimber--maybe because I was already partial to the P238. But, as I was dinking around with it at the counter, I liked it. A lot. We got some plinking ammo and some self-defense ammo and headed straight to the range. It shot 50 rounds out of the box without a bobble. It was accurate and easy to point and shoot. It has back strap checkering (made of metal, not the Kimber plastic) and front strap checkering. It's aggressive too! But it won't make you bleed. Recoil is what you'd expect. The external safety is ambi. The trigger is better than average. If you are (1) going to carry a single action with an external safety, and (2) you insist on a .380 over a 9mm, this is the one to get if you can afford it (you pay $400 for the Kimber name). Kimber mags are $20 each for 6-rounders (dad got 2 extra). I haven't seen the 7-round mag since the store didn't have any. He plans to get one, though.

8. Smith 9mm revolver. Owned one and sold it. Read my comments in THIS THREAD if you care.

I've owned a few other "smaller stuff" but not really in the league you're interested in so I won't bother with them.

Anyhoo, I hope this helps. Let us know what you get. 'cuz around here: When you get a new gun, we ALL get a new gun!! Woo Hoo!

Excellent write up that I thouroughly enjoyed! It's these kind of posts that help me make a more informed decision when spending my hard earned money. Thanks a bunch!

I had a Ruger LCP but with my big hands I had to get a mag. extension to make it fit better. I added a laser because of the lack of sights and the trigger pulled was so heavy that it only worked best when I used two fingers (trigger finger from each hand)
In short, it was a cheap piece of junk that was easy to carry and conceal.
I came across the little sister to my Sig 226, It's Sigs 232, this gun is well made, has great night sights, nice trigger pull and conceals and carries with the best of them.
It's a pleasure to shoot.

Me too. I haven't carried the PF-9 or the P-32 since I got the G-42. I do carry a G-27 or G-19 as my apparel allows but the G-42 fits most anywhere. I really wish they would make a 9 of course.

I think they'll eventually come out with a single stack 9mm, but don't think there's anyway it'll be the size of the G42. Lots of guys bad-mouthing the G42 on the 'net because it's "big" for a .380, but IMO, it's great, especially for those who have been training with and carrying Glocks for years. Glock controls, Glock reliabilty, real sights, and disappears easily.

Glock sure does have a huge following ... I need to start taking them more seriously

I went to do just that after work tonight, but the only one they had was the display and the cylinder had rotation marks bad enough from everyone handling it that it turned me away. I'm headed to the big city next week and may see what I can find. Would really like to find a 9mm.

I ain't a moon clip kinda guy.

Just picked up a Glock 42. Have been carrying a Glock 23 and the transition was simple. Yes, it is not the smallest .380 but it fits great and it's still a glock. Lots of other great .380's out there, its gotta feel right for you.

I'm old school too. Two PPK/S Walthers and a Colt .380.

glock 42 all the way. we live fairly close u can shoot one of mine if u chose

Shot the 42 for the first time today, love the little bastard. Got 500 rounds of Gold DOT coming.

I'm not sure anyone answered my question earlier in this post, but does the Kahr p380 have any kind of safety on it?

Hammer less, Double Action Only. Why would it need a safety?

Not sure really ... I guess comfort or peace of mind when carrying with a round in chamber. Educate me. Carrying is a whole new thing for me.

What sights are on your 42?

How does it shoot? Does it jam?

I have heard rumors that the 42's can be cranky about ammo. I work with some guys that swear they can make head shots at 25 yards with their 42's. I find this hard to buy since the same guys can't make head shots at 25 yards with their glock 22's.

I really want a glock single stack 9 but may have to buy one in .380.

Dink

Trijicon HD's.

Mine has been flawless with Hornady Critical Defense, Federal Low-Recoil Hydra-Shok, and UMC ball. Only ammo it didn't like is that Tula steel cased chitt from Wal-Mart.

Mine is stamped with the "1" revision frame/internals, but shipped with very first series magazines. I bought two more "02" stamped mags from Midway and haven't had any issues with either and haven't had any FTF/FTE (other than Tula) or any of the slide lock-back issues with rounds still in the mag.

I don't doubt there has been some problematic G42's, but I think a lot of it is people inadvertently hitting the slide release, limp wristing, cheap ammo, and a whole lot of re-reporting of troubled guns all across the 'net.

"My cousin's uncle's co-worker talked to his brother-in-law who is a cop and he said he was at the range and someone had a rental G42 and it malfunctioned".

As with any DAO, the long stiff trigger pull is your safety just like a hammer less revolver. Should be no worries carrying with 1 in the chamber as long as you keep your finger out of the trigger guard.