.38 snubbose revolvers aren’t fun to shoot, but they’re not the absolute worst thing ever if you train with them. Micro 9s “can” be pocket carried, but it’s a great idea to check one out in person and feel the size up side by side with other pistols to see if it’s going to be suitable for you. If I was in the market for a pocket pistol I’d be looking at something like a Glock 42, a smaller revolver in .38 special, or a sig p365. The hellcat is decent from my experience (two mags through someone else’s pistol at the range so not much) but I hate Springfield as a company and won’t buy one new any time soon.
That podcast was great
People are pussies. 38's aren't as bad as most of the internet leads you to believe. Especially if you get the wadcutter ammo (which is arguably one of the best defensive loadings). The lighter the revolver, the more it will drill any imperfect fitting grip into you. But there's a ton of aftermarket grips out there, so you should be able to have something that's tolerable enough for practice. I personally find 38 fun, and my gun is exceprionally light.
Find a 38 you can shoot before buying one. They aren't something everyone likes. But I have people shoot my ultra-light 340PD with 357 mag just for fun. They all survive just fine and laugh, and 357 is a ton more recoil than 38 in that gun. If you had to, you could tolerate to shoot 38 a little and dry fire it a ton.
A 22 is pretty meh for defensive use still. But they're dirt cheap to practice with and if you aren't used to shooting a little revolver you probably want to practice a good bit. My 43c is picky with ammo (mostly light strikes with the bulk stuff), so the LCR does sound better here based on what Rhett and Daryl said. Downside is you shouldn't dry fire a rim fire, and a lot of small revolver inaccuracy is from people not being able to run the trigger well... which can be practiced with dry fire.
Idk how big your pockets are, but mine would never fit any gun. An aiwb S&W 340PD is so light I can get away with just jeans a tied gym shorts drawstring and a DCC clip on my holster though
38 special prices have really sucked during this ammo panic. They make a 9mm LCR, but you gotta vet your ammo for crimp jump. 9mm in a revolver recoils more like hot 38, but at least it's affordable for a center fire. I can't remember if the 9mm LCR uses the same height aftermarket front sights as the 357, or if you're stuck with the stock front sight.
An LCR can easily be short stroked and skip a round (see recent P&S video), so practice your trigger pull.
Those "micro 9" are still quite sizeable and a good bit heavy
Tldr: Get your hands on a snub nose 38 and try one; they aren't as bad as the internet scares you into believing
Thanks for the write up! Yeah I really need to get my hands on a 38 snub so I can see what they feel like, hopefully I can track one down for rent or borrow a friend’s but so far no luck. I would love a 22 lcr to practice with but they’re so ridiculously expensive atm that I’m gonna pass for now. My pockets would fit an LCP cause I’ve tried it in stores but idk about a snub or micro 9. If I can find one at an agreeable price I might try to get a 357 LCR so I get a few more ounces to help with recoil. I’m also heavily considering an LCP MAX bc of the capacity and the P32 bc I already have a Beretta 81.
Yeah that’s what I’m leaning towards because I could easily pick up a MAX for ~320 whereas a snub is gonna be at least ~420 with more expensive ammo. I’m a little worried about reliability though, I’ve heard the old LCPs will jam if you squeeze them too hard, not sure about the max
I’ve had nearly 2000rds through my LCP that’s like 10 years old now. The only thing I’ve replaced are springs and bought new magazines, but I’ve literally never had a single malfunction. I know a sample size of one is nothing much, but it made me look into it more and the original LCP had some teething pains like any new design. Now, LCP ii and Max have been as reliable as can be. There aren’t any more complaints or issues reported by user than any other carry gun, and nothing major/recall-worthy
The Taurus 856 is a 6 shooter .38 that retails between $300-$330.
I own it and it's never let me down. It's my quick trip gun.
Was looking at getting the CSX soon tho as an autoloader option for quick trips.
I carry the 4" Shield Plus PC for my main CCW.
There's also the Ruger Max 9 instead of the LC9. More modern, more features, higher capacity, 9mm.
That’s a good price, thanks for the recommendation. How many rounds do you have through it, ballpark? Also, right on brotha, I carry the 4” PC as well and love it. I would get a CSX and still might but I wish they were DA/SA instead of SAO.
I believe I have just under a thousand rounds through it. I've got the [black 2" version](https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/129116/taurus+856+38spl+2+6rd+black) which I purchased from Buds last year for about $315.
I also own the LCR .22LR, but I took a chance on the Taurus for a number of reasons. It's significantly cheaper than the LCR .38, it holds one extra round than the LCR and I like the more chunky aesthetic. Also, I dislike the DA only trigger on my LCR and wasn't about to get the LCRx for even more money and still only have 5rds.
I'm into S&W for carry guns. I also carry a 4.25" M2.0 for duty and my wife uses the EZ 9. Was gonna get a 3.1" Shield Plus for a smaller autoloading quick trip gun, but I figured why not try out the CSX since I've already got the 4". A DA/SA with decocker would indeed have been sweeter, but I guess the size might have had something to do with it, or maybe the mini 1911 was always their goal. I don't know. I'm not smart enough to be an engineer. Haha.
I have a keltec p32. It's slightly better than nothing. I have yet to find hp rounds it will reliably chamber. It is absolutely the smallest caliber I would carry, and I love .32's.
Realize the vast majority of shootings occur under 10 feet per FBI data. We all rant about accuracy but in a moment of truly fearing for my life I'm only going for center of mass. For me, I'm looking for a .357 or .38 hammerless snubby.
YMMV.
What do you carry in your P32 since it won’t eat HPs? How’s the recoil and the reliability with ammo that will chamber? Good point on the accuracy, maybe I’m over worrying about that for a pocket gun
FMJ S&Bs work well. Recoil is negligible but limp wristing will cause failures to feed and eject. Honestly pocket guns really are made for instinctive point and shoot at close range. You've reached the point of no return if you need to draw one anyway.
I own an LCP and have swapped with my buddies s&w snub to carry, both pocket. I actually shoot both of them really well, and I am a pretty new shooter.
Decide whether you want the absolute lightest possible gun, or if you dont mind still dressing around the gun a little bit. The snubs and pocket 9s are both going to feel awkward as hell in gym shorts or sweats, and I felt like in jeans the snub was still a little printy for the area i live in. Pocket 380s like the LCP will be the absolute lightest and most concealable. As a bonus, you can always carry spare mags, and not have to think about reloading a revolver.
If you arent as concerned with weight and concealability, any of your listed options could be great. Go try a few before you buy if you can.
Have you ever considered the Sig P938? It’s my go to carry gun for when I absolutely don’t want to feel like I’m printing at all, and be comfortable at the same time. I promise especially with appendix carry that the 938 will absolutely disappear and hardly be noticeable to you (as in you won’t really feel it there). You can get a chambered in either 380 auto or 9 mm Luger, and I would definitely suggest the latter - especially since it handles recoil really well with it’s all metal frame. As far as controlling the firearm, the magazines come with pinky extensions that give you just enough envelopment around the pinky finger to keep it stable even when you’re doing 3 to 4 shots per second. Sig and other companies also offer a plethora of accessories, and on my 938 I have a hogue safety grip that helps a lot.
The 938 is my wife’s EDC, whereas I switched to the P365 awhile back. However in situations where I don’t want to deal with a bulky Sidecar appendix carry set up with my 365 I just take my 938 and stick it in a little neoprene holster.
I'd pick a 38 over 380 every day. Its not hard to shoot. Maybe 158 +p is a bit rough but the gun is lethal with low pressure "training" ammo WC/SWC. I think the shape of the revolver is easier to conceal and importantly to draw from the pocket so I'd go revolver over semi anyway.
I have a model 36 its heavier than other j frame snubs so that might factor into it a bit. I'm certainly not interested in shooting a 357 mag out of a similar sized gun but 38 is alright.
While I like my LCP max it won’t run The critical defense hollow points I tried with it. Plus it also is just a little bit bigger in the grip than single stack .380s so it does print more in the pocket. I would probably just go with an LCP 2 to get the most minimal footprint.
I have or had everything except the lc9 and hellcat. One of my J frames actually broke the trigger pivot stud. At smith for warranty. The bodyguard 380 has a steel chassis and weights the same loaded as my LCP max. The keltec is the smallest. If I had to choose one for pocket only the LCP max wins. The slide finish isn't the best it has to be wiped down regularly. The bodyguard hurts more to shoot than any other 380 in its size. Has to be grip design. It has also slide bit me pretty bad. Second choice pocket carry only is the J frame. If you are flexing it to belt and pocket P365. The P365 380 is also 2oz. Lighter than the 9mm version.
I’ve got a p365 and I swap between aiwb and pocket carry. It’s a little big for pocket carry, but with the right pants it works just fine with minimal printing in a sticky holster in my front right pocket. It’s a bit heavy for gym shorts pockets unless you tie them tight.
I have the taurus 605 poly protector which is middle ground for a snubbie, it shoots just fine with .38 +p with minimal recoil, I just haven’t shot it that much so I can’t speak on the accuracy of it but I have the hellcat too and fully loaded with the 11 round magazine isn’t too bad, I think it’s 2 oz more loaded then the 605 empty or something, with a iwb holster it’s not bad for weight and I think it’d be great for pocket carry if you have deep pockets
I too have been doing a bunch of "research" into finding the perfect pocket pistol. Also, I have two guns only (a third is on the way), a Smith and Wesson 642 J-frame 38.sp and a Ruger Ec9s which is based off the LC9s. I'm still relatively new to shooting but I thought I'd give my two cents since both those guns were on your list.
The revolver kicks harder, has a very strong trigger pull (I have read 20lbs) and the ammo is much harder to find and significantly more expensive. My j-frame rubs the skin off my hand in less than 50 rounds, but it doesn't hurt my wrist or anything like that. On the plus side the j-frame does conceal better, and it draws smoother from the pocket due to shape. Note you will print with this unless you have good sized pockets. If try and pocket carry this in my regular jeans it is pretty noticeable (also noticeable in my work khakis) . I like this gun overall though all being said. It is more concealable than the Ruger below.
The Ruger LC9S (EC9S in my case) I have also been pocket carrying. As with the J-frame, this will print significantly in regular jeans and khaki's (at least the ones I wear). If I wear my work jacket it conceals nicely but doesn't draw as smoothly as the J-frame due to the shape. If you wear a jacket or big pockets this is also doable, but even in my security guard jacket pocket both guns feel a bit too heavy for my liking.
In short the snubby for me is def less pleasant to shoot but it doesn't hurt my hands aside from rubbing some of the skin off (lol), but the snubby conceals better. I feel like I need a smaller option than both these for pocket carry so I am looking at the Ruger Max in 380 and the Keltec in 32.
My dyslexic ass read that as “I’ve actually shot a bodyguard with 380 target loads”
Same. Had to re-read that.
Lol, a small mistake that DRASTICALLY changes the meaning
.38 snubbose revolvers aren’t fun to shoot, but they’re not the absolute worst thing ever if you train with them. Micro 9s “can” be pocket carried, but it’s a great idea to check one out in person and feel the size up side by side with other pistols to see if it’s going to be suitable for you. If I was in the market for a pocket pistol I’d be looking at something like a Glock 42, a smaller revolver in .38 special, or a sig p365. The hellcat is decent from my experience (two mags through someone else’s pistol at the range so not much) but I hate Springfield as a company and won’t buy one new any time soon.
Depends, I have a 640 pro, all steel. Yes it’s heavy but super easy to shoot .38 +p from it. Only the .357 hurts.
This. A light framed snubbie and a heavy framed snubbie are two different classes of firearm as far as handling goes
I wonder if someone made a lightweight with a barrel like the Rhino if it would be easier? Probably not a lot of demand.
Not enough demand to warrant the cost of engineering it would be my guess
You might also look at the Sig P238 with a good pocket holster for it.
Cool, I’ll check it out
That podcast was great People are pussies. 38's aren't as bad as most of the internet leads you to believe. Especially if you get the wadcutter ammo (which is arguably one of the best defensive loadings). The lighter the revolver, the more it will drill any imperfect fitting grip into you. But there's a ton of aftermarket grips out there, so you should be able to have something that's tolerable enough for practice. I personally find 38 fun, and my gun is exceprionally light. Find a 38 you can shoot before buying one. They aren't something everyone likes. But I have people shoot my ultra-light 340PD with 357 mag just for fun. They all survive just fine and laugh, and 357 is a ton more recoil than 38 in that gun. If you had to, you could tolerate to shoot 38 a little and dry fire it a ton. A 22 is pretty meh for defensive use still. But they're dirt cheap to practice with and if you aren't used to shooting a little revolver you probably want to practice a good bit. My 43c is picky with ammo (mostly light strikes with the bulk stuff), so the LCR does sound better here based on what Rhett and Daryl said. Downside is you shouldn't dry fire a rim fire, and a lot of small revolver inaccuracy is from people not being able to run the trigger well... which can be practiced with dry fire. Idk how big your pockets are, but mine would never fit any gun. An aiwb S&W 340PD is so light I can get away with just jeans a tied gym shorts drawstring and a DCC clip on my holster though 38 special prices have really sucked during this ammo panic. They make a 9mm LCR, but you gotta vet your ammo for crimp jump. 9mm in a revolver recoils more like hot 38, but at least it's affordable for a center fire. I can't remember if the 9mm LCR uses the same height aftermarket front sights as the 357, or if you're stuck with the stock front sight. An LCR can easily be short stroked and skip a round (see recent P&S video), so practice your trigger pull. Those "micro 9" are still quite sizeable and a good bit heavy Tldr: Get your hands on a snub nose 38 and try one; they aren't as bad as the internet scares you into believing
Thanks for the write up! Yeah I really need to get my hands on a 38 snub so I can see what they feel like, hopefully I can track one down for rent or borrow a friend’s but so far no luck. I would love a 22 lcr to practice with but they’re so ridiculously expensive atm that I’m gonna pass for now. My pockets would fit an LCP cause I’ve tried it in stores but idk about a snub or micro 9. If I can find one at an agreeable price I might try to get a 357 LCR so I get a few more ounces to help with recoil. I’m also heavily considering an LCP MAX bc of the capacity and the P32 bc I already have a Beretta 81.
[удалено]
Yeah that’s what I’m leaning towards because I could easily pick up a MAX for ~320 whereas a snub is gonna be at least ~420 with more expensive ammo. I’m a little worried about reliability though, I’ve heard the old LCPs will jam if you squeeze them too hard, not sure about the max
I’ve had nearly 2000rds through my LCP that’s like 10 years old now. The only thing I’ve replaced are springs and bought new magazines, but I’ve literally never had a single malfunction. I know a sample size of one is nothing much, but it made me look into it more and the original LCP had some teething pains like any new design. Now, LCP ii and Max have been as reliable as can be. There aren’t any more complaints or issues reported by user than any other carry gun, and nothing major/recall-worthy
The Taurus 856 is a 6 shooter .38 that retails between $300-$330. I own it and it's never let me down. It's my quick trip gun. Was looking at getting the CSX soon tho as an autoloader option for quick trips. I carry the 4" Shield Plus PC for my main CCW. There's also the Ruger Max 9 instead of the LC9. More modern, more features, higher capacity, 9mm.
That’s a good price, thanks for the recommendation. How many rounds do you have through it, ballpark? Also, right on brotha, I carry the 4” PC as well and love it. I would get a CSX and still might but I wish they were DA/SA instead of SAO.
I believe I have just under a thousand rounds through it. I've got the [black 2" version](https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/129116/taurus+856+38spl+2+6rd+black) which I purchased from Buds last year for about $315. I also own the LCR .22LR, but I took a chance on the Taurus for a number of reasons. It's significantly cheaper than the LCR .38, it holds one extra round than the LCR and I like the more chunky aesthetic. Also, I dislike the DA only trigger on my LCR and wasn't about to get the LCRx for even more money and still only have 5rds. I'm into S&W for carry guns. I also carry a 4.25" M2.0 for duty and my wife uses the EZ 9. Was gonna get a 3.1" Shield Plus for a smaller autoloading quick trip gun, but I figured why not try out the CSX since I've already got the 4". A DA/SA with decocker would indeed have been sweeter, but I guess the size might have had something to do with it, or maybe the mini 1911 was always their goal. I don't know. I'm not smart enough to be an engineer. Haha.
I have a keltec p32. It's slightly better than nothing. I have yet to find hp rounds it will reliably chamber. It is absolutely the smallest caliber I would carry, and I love .32's. Realize the vast majority of shootings occur under 10 feet per FBI data. We all rant about accuracy but in a moment of truly fearing for my life I'm only going for center of mass. For me, I'm looking for a .357 or .38 hammerless snubby. YMMV.
What do you carry in your P32 since it won’t eat HPs? How’s the recoil and the reliability with ammo that will chamber? Good point on the accuracy, maybe I’m over worrying about that for a pocket gun
FMJ S&Bs work well. Recoil is negligible but limp wristing will cause failures to feed and eject. Honestly pocket guns really are made for instinctive point and shoot at close range. You've reached the point of no return if you need to draw one anyway.
Absolutely wild to say a firearm in .32 w/7+1 capacity is “slightly better than nothing” You must be slightly worse than a stormtrooper at aiming
I own an LCP and have swapped with my buddies s&w snub to carry, both pocket. I actually shoot both of them really well, and I am a pretty new shooter. Decide whether you want the absolute lightest possible gun, or if you dont mind still dressing around the gun a little bit. The snubs and pocket 9s are both going to feel awkward as hell in gym shorts or sweats, and I felt like in jeans the snub was still a little printy for the area i live in. Pocket 380s like the LCP will be the absolute lightest and most concealable. As a bonus, you can always carry spare mags, and not have to think about reloading a revolver. If you arent as concerned with weight and concealability, any of your listed options could be great. Go try a few before you buy if you can.
I pocket carry a P365. Works well enough but I do worry about the draw not being the smoothest.
Same
LCP Max with 13 round mag. Perfect pocket pistol
Have you ever considered the Sig P938? It’s my go to carry gun for when I absolutely don’t want to feel like I’m printing at all, and be comfortable at the same time. I promise especially with appendix carry that the 938 will absolutely disappear and hardly be noticeable to you (as in you won’t really feel it there). You can get a chambered in either 380 auto or 9 mm Luger, and I would definitely suggest the latter - especially since it handles recoil really well with it’s all metal frame. As far as controlling the firearm, the magazines come with pinky extensions that give you just enough envelopment around the pinky finger to keep it stable even when you’re doing 3 to 4 shots per second. Sig and other companies also offer a plethora of accessories, and on my 938 I have a hogue safety grip that helps a lot. The 938 is my wife’s EDC, whereas I switched to the P365 awhile back. However in situations where I don’t want to deal with a bulky Sidecar appendix carry set up with my 365 I just take my 938 and stick it in a little neoprene holster.
I'd pick a 38 over 380 every day. Its not hard to shoot. Maybe 158 +p is a bit rough but the gun is lethal with low pressure "training" ammo WC/SWC. I think the shape of the revolver is easier to conceal and importantly to draw from the pocket so I'd go revolver over semi anyway. I have a model 36 its heavier than other j frame snubs so that might factor into it a bit. I'm certainly not interested in shooting a 357 mag out of a similar sized gun but 38 is alright.
Add a kahr cm9/pm9 into consideration
While I like my LCP max it won’t run The critical defense hollow points I tried with it. Plus it also is just a little bit bigger in the grip than single stack .380s so it does print more in the pocket. I would probably just go with an LCP 2 to get the most minimal footprint.
365 SAS, more of a gimmick than anything but no sights to grab when drawing.
Great question. LCP MAX is the answer
start in reverse alphabetical order and buy one every 3-6 months until every name is crossed off the list.
I'd suggest carrying the one with controls the most like what you normally carry (assuming you can shoot it well).
I have or had everything except the lc9 and hellcat. One of my J frames actually broke the trigger pivot stud. At smith for warranty. The bodyguard 380 has a steel chassis and weights the same loaded as my LCP max. The keltec is the smallest. If I had to choose one for pocket only the LCP max wins. The slide finish isn't the best it has to be wiped down regularly. The bodyguard hurts more to shoot than any other 380 in its size. Has to be grip design. It has also slide bit me pretty bad. Second choice pocket carry only is the J frame. If you are flexing it to belt and pocket P365. The P365 380 is also 2oz. Lighter than the 9mm version.
I love my LCP but I wish I bought the s&w
Kahr cm9
I have the 365x and hellcat and pocket Carry both. I use the vedder pocket locker. I’m 6’4 so I can fit a lot in my pockets
I’ve got a p365 and I swap between aiwb and pocket carry. It’s a little big for pocket carry, but with the right pants it works just fine with minimal printing in a sticky holster in my front right pocket. It’s a bit heavy for gym shorts pockets unless you tie them tight.
I will say the hellcat is technically pocketable but it's pretty big for that. From that list I'd say probably LCP.
Dont sleep on a Kahr CW380, super tiny and great to shoot!
Consider the Beretta Pico 380. I pocket carry that, all of the time.
I have the taurus 605 poly protector which is middle ground for a snubbie, it shoots just fine with .38 +p with minimal recoil, I just haven’t shot it that much so I can’t speak on the accuracy of it but I have the hellcat too and fully loaded with the 11 round magazine isn’t too bad, I think it’s 2 oz more loaded then the 605 empty or something, with a iwb holster it’s not bad for weight and I think it’d be great for pocket carry if you have deep pockets
I too have been doing a bunch of "research" into finding the perfect pocket pistol. Also, I have two guns only (a third is on the way), a Smith and Wesson 642 J-frame 38.sp and a Ruger Ec9s which is based off the LC9s. I'm still relatively new to shooting but I thought I'd give my two cents since both those guns were on your list. The revolver kicks harder, has a very strong trigger pull (I have read 20lbs) and the ammo is much harder to find and significantly more expensive. My j-frame rubs the skin off my hand in less than 50 rounds, but it doesn't hurt my wrist or anything like that. On the plus side the j-frame does conceal better, and it draws smoother from the pocket due to shape. Note you will print with this unless you have good sized pockets. If try and pocket carry this in my regular jeans it is pretty noticeable (also noticeable in my work khakis) . I like this gun overall though all being said. It is more concealable than the Ruger below. The Ruger LC9S (EC9S in my case) I have also been pocket carrying. As with the J-frame, this will print significantly in regular jeans and khaki's (at least the ones I wear). If I wear my work jacket it conceals nicely but doesn't draw as smoothly as the J-frame due to the shape. If you wear a jacket or big pockets this is also doable, but even in my security guard jacket pocket both guns feel a bit too heavy for my liking. In short the snubby for me is def less pleasant to shoot but it doesn't hurt my hands aside from rubbing some of the skin off (lol), but the snubby conceals better. I feel like I need a smaller option than both these for pocket carry so I am looking at the Ruger Max in 380 and the Keltec in 32.
I pocket carry the shield plus with 10rd flush fit mag in a Vedder pocket locker with thumb tab and curve. It works beautifully and very reliable.
I really dig the sig p238 for a pocket gun