Recommendations for pocket pistols?

[Mrmerlinn]

I like my Keltec P3AT. Doesn't pattern in a thin leather pocket holster. Front pocket.

 

[twangbangbang]

I ended up getting the P938
boy that thing is snappy but it fits well and i like the 1911-esque interface

 

[Erick]

Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless... Keep it classy

 

[Koda]

I ended up getting the P938
boy that thing is snappy but it fits well and i like the 1911-esque interface

Its an excellent choice, next get that Alabama pocket holster. A regular belt holster works well with the 938s too. Be gentle inserting the 7rd mags as the plastic baseplate is weak, the Legion series magazine works in the standard 938 and is stronger but the baseplate profile doesnt line up but the magazine works and its baseplate can take a beating.
For snappiness, avoid +p ammo, try some different weight standard loads to see what shoots the smoothest.

 

[L0C0]

Some of the .380's I usually appendix carry depending on attire. Glock 17 for size reference. Tisas Fatih 13, Ruger LCP II, Ruger LCP MAX, S&W Bodyguard 2.0. The last three being pocketable.

 

[ilikegunspdx]

Re p938 I have never had an issue with 7 round mag baseplate in 12 years of practicing with and carrying it.

Fwiw I use hornady critical defense 115 grain in it and it feels very similar to reg 115 gr practice ammo.

For snappiness any small 9mm will be snappy as it's for self defense not range toy fun. For me fwiw I practice double taps and double taps to center mass/crotch/head. I almost never practice slow fire with any defensive hand gun and the fast double shots or other draw/fast firing training builds real-world skills you would use in a self defense situation. In particular on the small guns when you imagine an attacker(s) and draw and shoot instinctively with double taps or more, recoil is not really noticeable as compared to slow fire. Slow fire exaggerates recoil and the anticipation of it. Slow fire also trains you to react in a way you would not in a real world situation. When practicing the way I mentioned (ideally practice a bit first thing every time you go to the range to shoot any other gun) the p938 becomes like an extension of your arm. You can instinctively and confidently shoot anything in any situation pretty well. Imagine possible real world situations and how you would react to them. Be as accurate and vivid as possible in your imagination. Don't practice stuff you would not do in a real world situation.

Also be aware of time dilation. It's possible things will be happening at about 1/4 speed or less (as you perceive it) in the real world situation (due to your fight flight response). In this case your instinctive shooting is a huge benefit imo. Hard to explain time dilation until you experience it. Many of us have experienced it in dreams, when you feel like you are "stuck" and can't move or whatever. That's exactly what it feels like. Knowing about it ahead of time allows you to be totally calm when it happens and it's a HUGE benefit cuz things are easy and you have tons of time (as you perceive it and to you you actually do have tons of time to remain calm and react how you want/how you have trained). Program your reaction to a life and death situation when you practice. Build a calm and confident response to multiple imaginary scenarios. Just like an airline pilot who calmly guides the plane to a landing when the worst happens cuz he's practiced it 100s of times in the simulator.

 

[Koda]

Re p938 I have never had an issue with 7 round mag baseplate in 12 years of practicing with and carrying it.

I might be using the wrong word, whatever the plastic grip extension is called. Anyways, It depends on how rough you handle them reloading (or potentially letting them hit the ground when reloading), If you don't slam your mags home reloading it probably wont ever be an issue.
I learned to "slam" magazines home in a class so I applied that to the 938 when practicing. The 7rd mag baseplate/extension is held on only by 1 small plastic tab and if it wears out the baseplate/extension will slip up the magazine preventing insertion. There is no fixing this condition and Ive never found a replacement available. The Legion series magazine baseplates screw on with two screws.
Side by side photo of my bad magazine, you can see the one small tab on the left but the plastic ring can be easily slid up the magazine body (shown on right)

 

[ilikegunspdx]

I might be using the wrong word, whatever the plastic grip extension is called. Anyways, It depends on how rough you handle them reloading (or potentially letting them hit the ground when reloading), If you don't slam your mags home reloading it probably wont ever be an issue.
I learned to "slam" magazines home in a class so I applied that to the 938 when practicing. The 7rd mag baseplate/extension is held on only by 1 small plastic tab and if it wears out the baseplate/extension will slip up the magazine preventing insertion. There is no fixing this condition and Ive never found a replacement available. The Legion series magazine baseplates screw on with two screws.
Side by side photo of my bad magazine, you can see the one small tab on the left but the plastic ring can be easily slid up the magazine body (shown on right)
View attachment 2134767

Ahh i see. Have never had that issue with mine. I did round off the end of the grip extension with a dremel so it doesn't print as much. That tip of mag is the highest point when carrying iwb. But then when I went to pocket holster for it it probably wasn't needed at all.

 

[twangbangbang]

Re p938 I have never had an issue with 7 round mag baseplate in 12 years of practicing with and carrying it.

Fwiw I use hornady critical defense 115 grain in it and it feels very similar to reg 115 gr practice ammo.

For snappiness any small 9mm will be snappy as it's for self defense not range toy fun. For me fwiw I practice double taps and double taps to center mass/crotch/head. I almost never practice slow fire with any defensive hand gun and the fast double shots or other draw/fast firing training builds real-world skills you would use in a self defense situation. In particular on the small guns when you imagine an attacker(s) and draw and shoot instinctively with double taps or more, recoil is not really noticeable as compared to slow fire. Slow fire exaggerates recoil and the anticipation of it. Slow fire also trains you to react in a way you would not in a real world situation. When practicing the way I mentioned (ideally practice a bit first thing every time you go to the range to shoot any other gun) the p938 becomes like an extension of your arm. You can instinctively and confidently shoot anything in any situation pretty well. Imagine possible real world situations and how you would react to them. Be as accurate and vivid as possible in your imagination. Don't practice stuff you would not do in a real world situation.

Also be aware of time dilation. It's possible things will be happening at about 1/4 speed or less (as you perceive it) in the real world situation (due to your fight flight response). In this case your instinctive shooting is a huge benefit imo. Hard to explain time dilation until you experience it. Many of us have experienced it in dreams, when you feel like you are "stuck" and can't move or whatever. That's exactly what it feels like. Knowing about it ahead of time allows you to be totally calm when it happens and it's a HUGE benefit cuz things are easy and you have tons of time (as you perceive it and to you you actually do have tons of time to remain calm and react how you want/how you have trained). Program your reaction to a life and death situation when you practice. Build a calm and confident response to multiple imaginary scenarios. Just like an airline pilot who calmly guides the plane to a landing when the worst happens cuz he's practiced it 100s of times in the simulator.

Thanks for the advice.

So are you saying I shouldn't practice using my sights / practice targets at 20 feet at most?

 

[Koda]

Ahh i see. Have never had that issue with mine. I did round off the end of the grip extension with a dremel so it doesn't print as much. That tip of mag is the highest point when carrying iwb. But then when I went to pocket holster for it it probably wasn't needed at all.

It should never be an issue if your not slamming the mag home but it is a weak point in the design. I often practice emergency reloads ( a good idea with low capacity guns) and was slamming the mags home, no idea how long it took but one day the plastic extension slid up over the magazine and game over. Those mags are expensive so I'm really disappointed in that design. They addressed the issue with their Legion series 938s but the Legion uses a flared magwell that doesn't profile the normal 938s. I still bought one as I can deal with the profile misalignment (it does feel weird in the hand) and to use as a backup carry mag, you can slam the Legion mags home all day long their plastic base is screwed into the magazine baseplate with two screws.

As a side note, you can still use a 7rd mag without the broken base extension but you absolutely don't want to slam those home as it will damage the mag release.

 

[Dirty Cary]

It should never be an issue if your not slamming the mag home but it is a weak point in the design. I often practice emergency reloads ( a good idea with low capacity guns) and was slamming the mags home, no idea how long it took but one day the plastic extension slid up over the magazine and game over. Those mags are expensive so I'm really disappointed in that design. They addressed the issue with their Legion series 938s but the Legion uses a flared magwell that doesn't profile the normal 938s. I still bought one as I can deal with the profile misalignment (it does feel weird in the hand) and to use as a backup carry mag, you can slam the Legion mags home all day long their plastic base is screwed into the magazine baseplate with two screws.

As a side note, you can still use a 7rd mag without the broken base extension but you absolutely don't want to slam those home as it will damage the mag release.
View attachment 2134807

You can also use Kimber micro 9 mags and they make 6rd, 7rd and 8rd magazines and they cost less.

 

[Dirty Cary]

My p938 with a Kimber 7 round mag.

 

[Dirty Cary]

I also have a Legion.

 

[ilikegunspdx]

Thanks for the advice.

So are you saying I shouldn't practice using my sights / practice targets at 20 feet at most?

7 yards and using sights is great.

 

[Koda]

You can also use Kimber micro 9 mags and they make 6rd, 7rd and 8rd magazines and they cost less.

I often wondered about using Kimber mags in the 938, good to know. I didnt know they made an 8 rounder... I'll have to check that out. Thanks for sharing this..

 

[Koda]

So are you saying I shouldn't practice using my sights / practice targets at 20 feet at most?

Lots of ways to practice that all have their merits, but IMO focus on the front sight. I practice with mine out to 20 yards but honestly those really stretch the limits of such a small short gun and the hit ratio starts dropping. Realistically for such a small gun 15 yards and under is ideal for this gun and its quite effective.

 

[titsonritz]

I ended up getting the P938
boy that thing is snappy but it fits well and i like the 1911-esque interface

I don't like the idea of pocket carry while cocked and locked and that's the only way I'll carry a SA auto.

 

[Dirty Cary]

I have carried this for over 5 years every day. Hardly notice it.

 

[thorborg]

My opine is if you can holster a 380, you would be better with a 9.
As for pocket; I've tried a few, if not an oddball mix, G43 9, sp101 357, Beretta tomcat 32, NAA 22mag,. even a colt 1903 32.
The Beretta and the NAA were the only ones that pocketed well for me but had other issues. The G43 9 & sp101 ankle holster well. and at work was how I carried them.
If I cant or dont want to holster, setting aside caliber, there is no better than a Keltec P32 for size weight and rounded edges. The Lehigh defensive rounds cycle well too and make a nasty hole as personally tested six feet away with denium laid over the neck of a hanging deer. Unless you are poured into your pants like Mick Jagger, you eventually will not be reminded its in your pocket.
As for the J22, some feel its not worth the transfer fee. I'll have to second that, though I've shot a friends, 20 or so rounds without issue.
Like all things gun related or not, you'll find those vehemently opposed to this or that, OK, whatever, but if I was you, and you are able, like others have mentioned here, I'd keep the fun Ruger plinker.
You can shoot tasty grouse, (even that I have had contentious comments about) the only game bird you can shoot, at least in Oregon, with a 22 .

 

[fredball]

Welcome Aboard
All of these are a good choice.
I have and carry a George Zimmerman special AKA keltec p3at 32acp with crimson trace.
Also have Ruger LCP II 380 auto Beretta Bobcat I like Mouse guns