Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: BIGINNER on July 15, 2013, 05:26:35 PM

Title: pocket pistols
Post by: BIGINNER on July 15, 2013, 05:26:35 PM: I've been looking at the ruger lcp .380 and the kel tec .380 and the little Taurus .380, and can't make up my mind on witch one to get for my wife. I wanna hear from people who owned one if these guns. How is the recoil on them?
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: Austrian Hunter on July 15, 2013, 05:28:03 PM: I have the kel-tech .380 loaded it weighs 13 oz. I think..... I love this little gun!!!
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: GEARHEAD on July 15, 2013, 05:34:02 PM: I have an LCP, now 3 of my friends have one too after playing with it, they got the lasers, but for me its just one more thing, besides its a 10 yard gun. i think it may be the lightest one out there, i have 300 rounds thru it without a fail of anykind, and have never taken it apart to clean it, i have only oiled and wiped what i can reach. regarding recoil, although its only a .380, the recoil is there for sure, but if you are aware of this, its no problem to shoot at all, very concealable, since its so small.
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: superdown on July 15, 2013, 05:35:11 PM: I had the little kel-tec 32.acp and loved it surprisingly accurate sold it to an elderly gentleman at my garage sale last year. I just bought a ruger lcp a few months ago and carry it in a cheap uncle mikes iwb and when wearing basketball shorts i forget i am even carrying it. I have nothing nice to say about Taurus products so i will leave it at that.
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: Fisherdave10 on July 15, 2013, 08:29:10 PM: The LCP definitely has the best reputation of the 3, though it shares much of the Kel-Tec's design. At least one weak point in the P3AT design (extractor) is improved on in the LCP design.

Get the LCP. I love mine. If you need it, Ruger customer service can't be beat. I don't think there is a more concealable or practical .380 handgun.

If you've never shot an LCP sized .380 understand it is not pleasant to shoot. The cartridge is weak compared to 9mm, but the light weight and tiny size of the firearm (and 2-3 fingered grip) really increase the muzzle flip and felt recoil. It isn't something you'll want to put a lot of rounds through.

If this is for you wife, you may want to consider a larger framed 9mm. It is easier to manipulate, much easier to shoot, more enjoyable to shoot and felt recoil is lower in my opinion. If she is likely to mostly carry off body (as many women do) go with something larger than an LCP. I highly recommend the S&W M&P Shield 9mm or M&P 9 compact.
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: turkeyfeather on July 15, 2013, 08:34:17 PM: I have the lcp. And to be honest I'm not a fan. Terrible trigger pull, kicks pretty good for a small round and makes follow up shots more time consuming. And the laser altough is nice for aimimg (the sights on the gun suck) chews up my finger after a few shots. The only reason I keep it is cause I think its better than the other options. :twocents:
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: ICEMAN on July 15, 2013, 08:39:55 PM: I have the Keltec PF9....love it.
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: 724wd on July 15, 2013, 09:05:15 PM: a friend has an LCP with the laser. shot a couple mags through it and i wasn't a fan. too small for me. had to readjust my grip after just about every shot. i had a Diamondback .380 and liked it a lot more. some had issues with feeding, but i never experienced that. only shot premium ammo in it, though...
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: Wazukie on July 15, 2013, 09:10:49 PM: I have a Taurus TCP. It is a good little gun. fits the bill for a pocket gun. I have about 1k hand loads through it and it has never failed to fire or feed. It does have a good bite to it when you shoot it though. :tup:
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: barracuda163 on July 15, 2013, 09:32:50 PM: Not into s&w featherweight? 642 I believe is the most reliable little pocket gun made. Yes you only have 5 shots and a slow reload but simplicity is key.
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: ghosthunter on July 15, 2013, 09:36:04 PM: I carry a LCP every single day as a back up pocket pistol . Pocket pistols are good for one thing , when the chips are down and the threat is upon you.
Press to the chest and pull till its empty.

They were never designed to be target pistols. When the usual gun is too big or too heavy the pocket gun comes into play.

After a week you will forget you have it in your pocket.

Make sure your wife will use a gun. Many guys buy a gun for the wife and find she will not use it. If she hesitates things can get bad in a second .

That's my wife. She know how but most likely wouldn't .
So I also bought her a pepper blaster from Kimber. :twocents:
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: BIGINNER on July 15, 2013, 10:00:45 PM: I want something small enough that my wife will be willing to carry all the time. But the recoil can't be too sharp
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: mossy8352 on July 15, 2013, 10:20:16 PM: My wife pick the Sin P238 for her gun. One she can rack it with no issues and it is not that bad on recoil as she starts shooting and goes through 100 rounds in a hurry. Cams with a laser and she has the carry purse. Great little gun!
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: gaddy on July 15, 2013, 10:20:55 PM: what about a 25?
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: SniperDanWA on July 16, 2013, 06:16:45 AM: Look at the Beretta Nano. More punch with the 9, more ammo options, and just a skosh bit larger thn a 380. My wife never shot before and on the first two rounds at the range she was just over 75% in target location. She has done much better since then and really loves the size, weight and recoil of the gun. :twocents:
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: huntingfool7 on July 16, 2013, 06:27:18 AM: Quote from: BIGINNER on July 15, 2013, 10:00:45 PM
I want something small enough that my wife will be willing to carry all the time. But the recoil can't be too sharp
S&W Airweight .38
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: Killmore on July 16, 2013, 08:20:05 AM: Quote from: BIGINNER on July 15, 2013, 10:00:45 PM
I want something small enough that my wife will be willing to carry all the time. But the recoil can't be too sharp
Then the lcp would be perfect.
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: h20hunter on July 16, 2013, 08:22:11 AM: I have both....the .38 S&W Airweight.....kicks like a mule with +P rounds.....LCP.....light, slim, shoots much softer......
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: luvmystang67 on July 16, 2013, 08:30:34 AM: I have an LCP with the crimson trace laser (laser is a must in my opinion), but I wouldn't consider it easy to shoot or light recoil. Maybe it is just because it is too small for my hand, but it hurts like a b*stard after a few mags. The mag extensions help if you're taking it to the range. The trigger pull is so long that your finger tends to require sliding along the trigger as you pull, potentially leading to an unsmooth trigger pull and inaccuracy.

It is CERTAINLY nice for a take anywhere at any time gun, but I would have a woman try one out before you assume the recoil isn't an issue. The laser illustrates how much you shake at the end of the long trigger pull, its good from about me to this computer screen if you don't practice.
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: h20hunter on July 16, 2013, 08:31:49 AM: Sissy...

I agree with you on pretty much everthing.
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: BIGINNER on July 16, 2013, 08:48:46 AM: hm... well now i'm thinking about getting her something a bit bigger. the problem is,.. if its too big,.. she won't carry it. what other options do I have. how's the recoil on the .32?
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: LadyB on July 16, 2013, 08:54:07 AM: I have and carry the LCP, it's on me or in my purse 24/7. It's lightweight and very easy to have on person. That being said, it's not something I'm going to take to the range and put a few clips of ammo thru. It is there for one reason, to stop someone from hurting me. I have shot it and know what it feels like - it hurts! But that won't stop me from using it if the situation deems it's needed.
You have to evaluate what you want her to have the gun for - protection or target shooting. She needs to be of the mindset that if someone is going to hurt her or her loved ones, she can to pull the trigger. In that case, I would rather have the LCP .380 over my Walther .22 any day. Give me a bunch of targets in the woods and I can shoot the .22 all day long. It's knowing the difference in your needs.
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: h20hunter on July 16, 2013, 08:55:07 AM: Excellent point.
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: BIGINNER on July 16, 2013, 08:57:53 AM: Quote from: h20hunter on July 16, 2013, 08:55:07 AM
Excellent point.
:yeah:
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: Fisherdave10 on July 16, 2013, 06:00:00 PM: I would not go any smaller than .380 semi-auto or .38 revolver.

You and your wife would fondle an LCP at a local gun store. Both of you should also see how some popular compact/sub-compact 9mms feel. Guns like the Glock 26, S&W M&PC, M&P Shield, Springfield XDS (9mm), Ruger LC9. I especially like the Shield 9mm.

There is a .380 version of Ruger's LC9 that came out recently, called the LC380. The .380 caliber in the 9mm designed gun gives less recoil than the original 9mm chambering. I personally really don't want one but if your wife would actually shoot and carry it, it might be worth looking at. The LC series pistols are approximately the size of a (9mm) M&P Shield which is very easy to shoot in my opinion.
Title: pocket pistols
Post by: Gamehunter034 on July 16, 2013, 07:17:14 PM: Heres some food for thought if you do go .380, I used to have a kel-tec .380 and it shot fine..would not use it for more than 10yds as a self defense round. I now have an LC9 and love it, leave it home for my wife when I work since I work nights. Summer time when I leave the LC9 home I carry my .38 spcl.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=soNdX36P-3E&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DsoNdX36P-3E

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: hoytem on July 16, 2013, 07:27:17 PM: I have an LCP, it goes everywhere with me. It is so small I forget I'm carrying. The recoil is manageable for a female. :twocents:
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: NW-GSP on July 16, 2013, 07:35:01 PM: I have been carrying my lcp for three years now. I have three friends that have bought them after they got to handle mine. It's what I carry when I can't carry a full size pistol.
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: mountainman on July 16, 2013, 08:53:09 PM: Sig 238 Blackwood here..a little more $'s, but worth every penny. More controllable then the lighter LCR, TCP, and a better built gun by far then the keltecs
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: gallion_t on July 16, 2013, 09:08:24 PM: Another one to consider is the S&W bodyguard. That's what I have and carry all the time. I was debating between the lcp and the bodyguard. The selling factor for me was the bodyguard had an external safety on it where the lcp didn't. I guess theres two ways to look at that. In a life or death situation the safety is an extra thing you have to remember to turn off. However in a day to day carry, especially in a purse that your wife will most likely carry it, its an extra preventive measure against and accidental discharge.

I guess my best advice would be go to a range that allows you to rent guns. Put as many as you can in your wife's hands. She more likely to carry something that is comfortable to here and concealable at the same time.
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: fly-by on July 16, 2013, 09:44:43 PM: The LCP trigger is awful, but with enough rounds you can become accurate enough at the range of intended use. It's also not much fun to get in that required practice due to the recoil. However, handloading makes a big difference. Light loads for the range, heavy loads for carry.

Regarding suggestions of moving up to a 9mm... I also have a Sig P938 which is a much better gun all around in my opinion, but the LCP still sees more hours of carry due to the size and weight advantage.
Title: Re: pocket pistols
Post by: JoeE on July 17, 2013, 05:18:02 AM: I have the S&W airweight .38. It's simple and it works. I'd like to get a LCP though too.