Narrowed my options for pocket carry guns

[Conceyted]

Okay,

The deal is that I originally bought the XD9 Sub Compact as a carry weapon. However I am 5'11" and about 160lbs. I have a very thin frame and my clothing choices are not ideal for carry, either. Without a large sweater (and I live in New Orleans so no one ever wears jackets or sweaters) it is very hard to conceal the XD9. Therefore, I have decided I am going to be buying a pocket gun. Not only will this solve the above situation, but also my girlfriend really would like her own gun for home protection and this way I have two guns to choose from and one can stay home with her.

I have read most of the newer pocket gun threads and a lot of people seem to have KelTec .380's or J-Frame .38's. However, I feel that if I am going to pocket carry a weapon it needs to be very effective with the few shots I have. I have decided on the following choices:
KelTec P-3AT
Ruger LCP
Bersa Thunder 380CC
S&W Snub Nose .357mag (possibly with CT grips)
Taurus Snub Nose .357mag

So, as you can see, the price range REALLY varies. My mom bought a S&W airweight .38 years ago and the times I have shot it it was nice but I want something more powerful if I only have 5 bullets. The S&W .357 mag Snub Nose's come in a few models, 327 night guard, 340, 360, 386 night guard, 640, 649. Now, many of these models only differ in SA/DA, DAO, etc. but some of them actually are MUCH more expensive for various reasons. The night guard models come with a 24/7 xs standard dot front sight which would really be ideal for a CC gun. This is obviously at the top of the price range, most of these range from $450-$900. My only concern with any of these is the overall price. The price might be too high for a small pocket gun that I could neglect and beat up a bit.

Then we move on to the Taurus Models. From what I can tell, Taurus basically makes cheaper S&W versions. Models include all versions of both the 650 and 651. ~$300-350 These Jframes are probably of lesser quality than the S&W's but they are cheaper and I would feel less uneasy about one getting beat up from being carried so often. Also, wondering how these and the S&W's would feel in a pocket holster for pocket carry.

Then we have the KelTec and Ruger LCP. Arguably the same gun with minor differences, the Ruger is a bit hard to find at the moment and a bit more expensive. Both of these are bundled together simply because they are the same size and style. If I made the choice on this size/style .380 either of these would suffice. The price $150-$350. The thing that bothers me here is the size and how it would fit in my pocket. I have something set in my mind that maybe a .357 mag Jframe would fit better in a pocket holster and in my pocket than these guns. AND the .357 would be a more powerful weapon for a defense weapon.

Lastly is the Bersa 380CC. I really have not seen too many pictures of this gun, but the pictures I have seen have me really intrigued. ~$250 It is a little less affordable than the KelTec but still really cheap for the gun you get. The overall look of this gun appeals to me but how would it carry in a pocket holster? Again, the same concerns as above regarding fit in holster and in pocket, and the same is true as above about the power behind the round.

I guess my questions are many... Does anyone have pictures of two or more of these guns together so I can compare them in size? Do you believe a .380 is even close competition to a .357mag? If you planned on pocket carry via pocket holster which gun would you chose from above? Do you believe any of these guns are better than the others? Any help is appreciated. I am not in a hurry to buy, I am simply at my researching step at the moment.

[RobFMJ]

Originally Posted by Conceyted

Do you believe a .380 is even close competition to a .357mag?

Heh.

If you want a really powerful pocket gun, its hard to beat something like an S&W 340... Thats sure what I'd get if I were in a position to pay that much for a pocket gun.

[lazycatxd]

.380 is of course no competition in terms of energy to a .357, but regardless of caliber, you have to land good hits in a self-defense situation. Lots of people have been killed by .22 LR shots which hit the right spots. I carry a Bersa .380 with Remington Gloden Saber rounds (sometimes hostered, sometimes pocketed) in arm weather, because I know that I can shoot it accurately within 10 yards. If you get a chance to handle one, you will be impressed with the single action trigger, and the double action is not bad either. I hate Kel-tec pistols, their triggers are awful and I would not be confident of hitting anything at all.

[Conceyted]

One more thing I should add is that my idea of defensive situations where using this gun would be considered would be under 7 yards range. At that distance you could pretty much argue that where you point is where the bullet is going. Have you ever set a target at somewhere under 7 yards and shot at it? You could pretty much put tight groups in paper nearly blindfolded.

Also, one other observation I just made is that the S&W J-Frame's appear to be the only guns that have the options of coming with night sights. I do not know how necessary this is due to my argument above but it would be a nice feature to have. Both Taurus and S&W J-frames have the CT Laser Grips option, though.

[KingAirDriver]

Didn't notice if you said price was an option, but have you looked at or considered the Kahr PM9? I love ours!! It's pretty small, not smaller than the KelTec, but probably smaller than the Bersa and the revolvers.

[Conceyted]

Originally Posted by KingAirDriver

Didn't notice if you said price was an option, but have you looked at or considered the Kahr PM9? I love ours!! It's pretty small, not smaller than the KelTec, but probably smaller than the Bersa and the revolvers.

I did glance at them a few times, I am just kinda feeling like they are a bit too large for what I am looking for. I was under the impression the Bersa 380CC was about the size of the KelTec/Ruger LCP. Maybe I am wrong.

[lazycatxd]

The Bersa is a tad bigger and heavier than a Kel-tec, but it can still be pocketed. A side benefit is that the Bersa is strong enough that you can run a lot of practice rounds through it without it breaking, unlike a Kel-tec.

[Conceyted]

Originally Posted by lazycatxd

The Bersa is a tad bigger and heavier than a Kel-tec, but it can still be pocketed. A side benefit is that the Bersa is strong enough that you can run a lot of practice rounds through it without it breaking, unlike a Kel-tec.

Definitely a good point! I do want something I can put some rounds through. I am a practice junkie. I 50 rds through my XD once a week and would love to have another gun to take to the range every now and then. If putting rounds through the weapon breaks it then I don't want it.

[1lowlife]

I've been researching pocket guns for about a month.
I read about all you mentioned, plus a few others.
I also went to my gun store to handle a few.
I want a pocket pistol for carry in summer with cargo shorts, taking the dog for a walk,
or when I'm in a hurry out the door for a quick trip to Wallyworld.
I also want it for a nightstand gun for the wife and I.
I decided on the S&W 642, 38sp +P.
This is my post on it;
S&W 642 / 442 / CT grip opinions
The 357mag j-frame costs too much and I know my wife wouldn't like the 357mag recoil.
She probably won't like the 38 recoil either, but I feel she will be alright with it if the need arises.
I rented a 642 this past weekend at my range.
It isn't a range gun by any means, but I shot 50 rounds of the dirty range reload ammo,
thru a dirty range rental pistol, without a problem.
I also rented a Ruger SP101 that had CT grips on it.
Less recoil than the 642 due to the heavier weight.
But the heavier weight is why I didn't chose it.
I liked the S&W trigger more than the Ruger trigger as well.
I plan on carrying the pistol a lot more than I plan to shoot it so comfort is a key issue for me.
The CT grips were nice though.
It took a little getting used to the sights of the small revolver after shooting
Glocks, Sigs, and XDs for the last 14 years, so the laser helped a bit.
I've decided that a revolver would be easier for the wife to handle.
It will also be more reliable for her, it will go bang every time she pulls the trigger (I hope).
I can get her to the range to shoot the revolver,
but there is no way she is patient enough to learn to clear semi-auto malfunctions.
Otherwise I'd leave my XD45c accessible to her.
I've always wanted a revolver anyway.
I already purchased and received the CT grips LG-405.
I'm supposed to pickup the gun today.

[TMP]

I've heard lots of good things about the Bersa 380..... I would choose that over the KelTec.... although the Kahr PM9 looks really damn sweet.

Kahr is my final answer, in 9mm or .40


Bersa 380

Kahr PM9