Small handgun

RevDevil

RevDevil

Joined
Nov 9, 2009
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I have been looking around at the Gun Porn thread and decided to upgrade my handgun selection. Finances do not allow for a custom Kimber 1911, so that is out of the question. I am primarily interested in a smaller concealable pistol. I really dig some of the revolvers that I have seen in that thread. I do not have a ton of handguns, just a Ruger P94, and recently sold a .380 that was never really used or carried

I am thinking maybe .357 Mag would be a decent caliber for a smaller pistol. Budget is around $500. Doesn't hVe to be a revolver, a smaller auto would be fine too. Let's hear it.
 
How about a Ruger LCR .357 magnum. It is light weight and has a very smooth double action trigger! In a semi auto a Kahr is very nice too. Good Luck! Kevin :D
 
I have a Ruger SP101 (.357mag revolver) that is concealable and very reliable.
 
I've got a Smith and Wesson model 60 in .357 it's stainless with a 1 5/8"(?) barrel. I used to carry it in my right front pocket.
Shooting .357's flat out hurts with this gun. But it's do able for sure. .38 +p rounds are pretty manageable and are still potent.
I had a Taurus PT-145 which I liked a lot, I used to carry it in my right front pocket as well. I paid $450 for it out the door a about 4 years ago. For such a small pistol it had a good grip and good sights. The double stack 10 round magazine was nice too. The pistol that I carried the most was a Kel Tec P3AT 380. I carried it mostly out of convenience.
The model 60 I would say was the most reliable. Being a revolver, there is no doubt in my mind that it will always go bang when I squeeze the trigger. The only problem I ever had with the Taurus .45 was when shooting one handed with my off hand I had a couple of stove pipes, but that's a fault of mine and not the guns. The P3AT was reliable if I kept it clean. Sometimes after a month or so of pocket carry it would get full of pocket lint and would jam if I didn't clean it out. So I started taking it down, cleaning and oiling it every week and had no more problems.

I think if I were in the market for a pocket pistol I'd take a hard look at the new Kel Tec and Ruger 9mm pistols or maybe the Ruger LCR.

Hope that helps.
 
It is a great help, thanks. I will heading to the gun store tomorrow just to handle and price a few models. The purchase will most likely come next week. Any one else have suggestions? It is appreciated.:)
 
If you want something small and pocketable, and nobody will notice... Sig P238. Newer ones have the bugs worked out. Very nice shooter, especially if you are a 1911 man.
 
I love my little Kahr MK9. 7 shots of 9mm is enough to get you out of just about any bad situation and spare mags are easy carried with it. It's accurate and comfortable to shoot. The steel frame really absorbs the recoil making it polite in the hand with quick follow up shots. Plus it's one of the few pocket pistols that can accept night sights. Opinions vary... but IMHO I won't carry a gun that doesn't have night sights.
 
I just bought a Kahr CM9. It's a really nice and small "Pocket" 9mm. It holds 6+1 and I'm here to say, it's one of the best shooting guns I have ever owned and I've had hundreds!!!

My wife just shot it this week and she claimed it as "hers"!! Now i need to get another.

Just great and within your budget! WAAAAAY better than the Ruger LC9 and LCP's I had.... much easier to conceal than my Glocks..... just a great gun and extremely easier to shoot well than a J Frame S&W.

KahrCM9.jpg
 
Good point on the night sites, it makes perfect sense. I do work evenings on occassion. Thanks for that. :)

OOOhh, that looks just about perfect Whiskey, I am definitely leaning towards this one now.
 
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I like my Kahr fine, but I think it may be over your price limit.

My new favorite for concealed carry is a S&W 642 (I chose .38+P but I believe it's available in .357) with the integral CT laser. I think the laser makes it a much better and safer defensive gun. It can really help you develop your trigger control too- having a visual really helps.
 
A good gun that gets little love but is quite popular is the Kel-Tec 9mm. They are used as a lot of back ups and they shoot fine. Plus, they are way under your range still, enough you may be able to buy a .380 as well. Lol
 
I would 2nd the Ruger SP101, but no light weight. They weigh about 25 oz. That makes them pleasant to shoot.

Don't plan on shooting .357s in a 12 or 13 oz. revolver. You will be sorry.:eek: Even my SP101 is not fun with heavy .357 loads.

I have shot the Ruger LCR (Little Crappy Revolver) with .38 Special +P rounds and it's not too bad.

I see them on gunbroker for less then $500, but you have to figure on shipping and whatever your dealer will charge to
accept delivery.
 
You may want to check out a Sig P229 in either .357 Sig or .40 S&W. I haven't looked at revolvers lately, but .357 Mag has always been one of my favorite rounds. I do like Ruger's revolvers.
 
Sig's quality control is not what it used to be, I wouldn't buy a single gun they've made in the last 5 years or so.

Micro 1911's tend to be highly problematic, as well.

An older S&W J-frame revolver, Glock 26/27, Walther PPS, or possibly a Kahr would be good options to look at. Kahr's are either heros or zeros...I know people who've had flawless Kahrs, and others who were plagued with problems. There seems to be very little middle ground.

Stay away from .380acp unless you're looking to go REALLY small.
 
I had a Kel Tec P3AT and in terms of being pocket friendly it was great. Also had Crimson Trace grips on it and I agree you should go with either a laser or night sights. Never had a single issue with the Kel Tec, but I absolutely hated to shoot it and I'm not really sure why. I just never found my sweet spot with it.
 
A S&W 642 will do you nicely. You don't get much out of .357 vs. a .38 in a snubbie. Except for a lot of extra noise and recoil.
Smith-Wesson-642.jpg
 
Here is my Sig P229 SAS. It looks much bigger in the pic. Really heavy, though. One of the first ever photos I've posted. I'm not good at the IT stuff.
mail


Check out the Ruger LCR. I like the one in .357
 
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moonwilson said:
A S&W 642 will do you nicely. You don't get much out of .357 vs. a .38 in a snubbie. Except for a lot of extra noise and recoil.
Smith-Wesson-642.jpg
Click to expand...

I use to carry that as a backup gun on patrol..... loved how it carried in the pocket, but HATED how it shoots. I sold that and decided to use my finger nails as backup weapon instead.
 
The SP101s are good revolvers, just don't get the spurless hammer model. I think I'm good with a handgun and I couldn't hit a 55 gallon oil drum from 10 feet away with a spurless (double action only)

Smith and Wesson Model 36 are nice .38s (and cheap), about the same size as the later Colt Detective Specials.

I'm not a fan of polymer frames or 9mms, but I hear GREAT things about the Kel-Tech PF9 and they don't fit that bad in your hand.

Smith and Wesson 6906 are pretty much bomb proof, but they're 9mm.

I don't like .380s either but the Browning BDA (made by Beretta, and also the Beretta models of this too) are great, hefty things, but definitely not light weight.


Or, you could look for a used Smith and Wesson .41 magnum snubbie :D That's just me though, I like power :thumbup:
 
moonwilson said:
A S&W 642 will do you nicely. You don't get much out of .357 vs. a .38 in a snubbie. Except for a lot of extra noise and recoil.
Click to expand...

AND muzzleblast. If you might be needing this at night, I'd suggest something loaded a little less hot to keep the blast down. Now it has never been proven whether muzzleblast affects your nightvision, but I wouldn't want to find out in the middle of a life-or-death encounter.

Personally, I think a Kahr in 9mm is a really good & reliable pistol. I know your budget is $500, but take a look at the ones with built-in laser device, you may want to up your budget after handling them.
 
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