O.T. Another gun thread.

Kahr has just come out with a .45, of all the production guns I think it is about the smallest.
 
I used to carry an AMT .45 Backup model in my strong side front pocket. Used my own pocket holster made from tooling leather with the flesh side out so it would stay in the pocket when I drew. I traded the gun later though.
 
Sig just came out last year with a compact version of the 220 (called the 745 I think) that shot better from a Ransom Rest than it's full sized counterpart! Personally I would go with this, or the compact Glock, or one of the Springfield Armory compacts.

Back in the early 80's when Detonics was king they were about it as far as custom compact .45's and commanded a premium (unless you counted Safari Arms; they made some beautiful little guns) but now there are lots of choices with excellent custom features right out of the box and very high quality.

Regards,

Norm
 
Yvsa - there are advantages to a small revolver. It can be fired quickly when you grab it in a hurry, and there are fewer problems with a fumble or sloppy grab. If you have your hand on an auto and the web (between the index finger and thumb) is up too high - you can run into problems. You can easily hit the wrong control when grabbing a small auto in a hurry.
You can easily hide a 2" revolver in your front pocket in a good leather pocket holster. The holster will stay in your pocket during a draw. The whole deal is quick and secure.
If Illinois had concealed carry - a small 357 would be it.
You can carry a 158 gr. lead hollow point at 950 or a 90 gr. hollow point at 950 or so in a 380. Guess which one will penetrate more reliably and expand better?
With a 380, there just isn't that much energy to allow penetration and expansion. The 380 can do one or the other, but it struggles to do both.
If I had to carry a small auto, my picks would start with a 9mm, not a 380. I have owned a 380 and tried it for expansion and penetration in all sorts of stuff. I'd much rather have a more powerful caliber in a similar sized package.
The small Glocks are good shooters, but I think of them as feeling like single action autos with no safety. Yes - I know all about how they work. For concealment in a front pants pocket, my pockets are just not big enough.
A small revolver works great for summer pocket carry with no coat.
There are advantages to a small hammer on a revolver. You can check cylinder rotation after loading the gun - by holding the hammer part way back (with your finger off of the trigger). This lets you check for a high primer. Can't do this with a hammerless gun.
 
All true about revolvers and autos- however, you may notice all three of my suggestions are DAO pieces, so you don't really have to worry about hitting the "wrong control"...

John
 
A Colt Detective Special will give you 6 shots of .38 Special with a nice compact 2" revolver. The newer ones with the ejector shroud will handle +P.

Brian
 
Why for nobody mentioned the American Derringer Semmerling...draw backs are you gotta cycle it yourself...but it fits a pocket .45 requirement...as long as your check book can take it...

I'm looking hard at the S&W Trail Boss in .44 mag...figure to shoot some specials in it...but you gotta have a BIG DEEP pocket...should be a decent woods gun...

As for the idea of a small revolver...I have owned botrh S&W hammerless...5 shot...and COlt's detevtive special....better than nothing... but not real powerhouses...there are better packages out there...in 9MM and 40 S&W...

I really like the new S&W snubby in .45 ACP...made from that fancy alloy...weighs about at much as a mouse fart....cost as much as a 14 Khukkuris....should fit your need Yvsa...

Being a southpaw makes one really look hard at semi's...adding ambi stuff makes for mistakes in a tight situ...so I'm not much up on the new space guns...I'm a wheel gun man myself...

Me and Elmer Keith I guess...

Ok..so I got a bit preachy...

Standing down...

Shane
 
Since no one has mentioned it yet, the best of the mini 1911's is the Colt Defender. Even though it is a 3" barrel on an officer's size frame, it still is fairly big for front pocket carry.
Another gun that I have read about only is the new micro Springfield chambered in the new .45gap. I think the jury is still out on this new cartridge, but this SA micro seems to be what the cartridge was made for.
Good luck on your gun quest... let us know what you get.
 
I've had experience with most of the firearms you are considering.A Makarov is more powerful than a .380,cheaper to purchase and cheaper to feed.A 1911 was designed to function with 230gr Ball ammo in it's original 5" configuration.The shorter the barrel gets the less reliable it gets.I spent close to $800.00 for a "quality" kimber Ultra Compact 3" that was a POS.I took a bath when I traded it in on a Springfield Loaded series full size which is 100% reliable.I had a S&W 640 .357 mag 2" that was too much for me to handle.I shoot a 642 now with .38 spl. +Ps which work better for me.The 642 will fit into a front pocket,a cocked & locked 1911 of any barrel length will not be a good choice.Here's a few links to some informative gun sites that you can research and make up your own mind.tom.

http://www.thehighroad.org/

http://www.1911og.org/forum/vbindex.php

http://thefiringline.com/forums/index.php?
 
Hi Yvsa! I have a Kahr 9mm and it is a very sweet, very concealable pistol, I can only assume that their .45 model will be comparable. The only caveat I have is that Kahr grips are very small and narrow and fit tiny hands perfectly -- if you have large hands you might find them to be too small. Hope this helps. :)
 
Hi Nova! Really good too see you here and thanks for your input!!!! :D

Thanks for all the added information gang, much appreciated.
But it may all be for naught.:(

I called the OSBI, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, last week for my CCW Application and got it Thursday and been studying it over since.
They Do Ask some mighty Personal Questions now I have too say! :grumpy: :(

You have too submit a couple of passport photos, one to the sheriff and the other to OSBI so I may go to Wagoner and talk to our county sheriff before I totally decide on whether to go forward with trying to get a CCW license. When it comes to personal things and the government I prefer to be pretty much a private person, know what I mean.:rolleyes: ;)
 
The kahr .45 is significantly larger than their PM9 or PM40.

Maybe someday they will put a .45GAP into the PM frame, but until then I would probably stick to the PM40 as the ultimate in pocket carry semiauto firepower.

That .45 just looks waaay too big to me, at least as far as pocket carry goes.

-Dave
 
Heya Yvsa,
Can't blame you for the sentiment. That's also the same reason I never applied for a concealed carry permit here in Alaska- And ours is (was) alot less demanding. As I recall, you had to take a one day class, qualify, and show that you're not a felon and haven't had any restraining orders, domestic violence charges, etc. As far as what you could carry, it depended on the bore size of the weapon you qualified with. for example, if you qualified with a .32 auto, you could only carry that size or smaller, but if you qualified with a .45 acp in wheelgun, and auto configurations, you could carry anything you wanted. Of course there were other little idiosyncracies and glitches along the way, but thankfully none of them ever became a big deal in courts or anything.

But...that's all gone now, it's legal without a permit due to the fact that a couple of crafty politicians noted that a person could walk around with a .44 mag carried openly all day and be legal, but then be illegal if they put a flanel shirt on that covered it.

Kinda funny looking back at myself though. Didn't want the gummint prying into my business for the permit, even though I already had a stack of yellow sheets thicker than the NYC yellow pages.... :rolleyes:

Way I see it is an honest law abiding citizen should be able to carry whatever the heck they want when ever the heck they want without filling out umpteen pages of government required brainteasers. It's supposed to be a RIGHT, not a priviledge. :mad:

Anyhoo, best of luck to ya' whatever you decide.
 
Yvsa
My advice....don't back up on getting your permit. You NEED to carry a gun at all times. At least you will be legal.

Unless, ahem....there are a few skeletons in the old closet waiting to jump out. ;)

I had a few but the idjits never found them. :D
 
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