Concealed gun recommendation?

[LittleBigRig]

I have always liked my Colt .380 Mustang Pocketlite.
At just about 12 ounces it weighs less than my first cellphone.
Just like the 1911 I wore on my hip, only in a scaled down version.
Hasn't jammed since 1987 when I first got it.

[IA712]

I agree that you should go to a nearby range that will "rent" you guns to shoot. You can try several and pick what YOU like best.
Personally, I have a Glock 27 (.40 cal) and a S&W 342 (.38 cal). Both are highly concealable and shoot really well. The 342 is only a 5 shot, but hammerless and titanium, so it ULTRA light, it is also rated to shoot +P ammo.

[GEARJAMMER]

A lot of people on here have talked about the size and stopping power of the ammunition. I personally think you should buy a gun that you are comfortable with and one that you can shoot with. The single most important factor in self defense is round placement and not round size.

Shawn

[pabrannan]

Thanks all for all of your suggestions. Boy I think my head is spinning now.
I will try and find a range that rents and try some of the suggestions out. If and when I do purchase I will practice until I am proficient before I carry and will know the laws for its use. Keep the suggestions coming.

Thanks again,

Paul B

[IA712]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: GEARJAMMER</div><div class="ubbcode-body">A lot of people on here have talked about the size and stopping power of the ammunition. I personally think you should buy a gun that you are comfortable with and one that you can shoot with. The single most important factor in self defense is round placement and not round size.

Shawn
</div></div>
Well said. But you know what they say: Gun control is being able to hit your target!

[Seafarer12]

but you also have to take into account size, weight concelability. The best pistol I shoot would be my ruger blackhawk. Would I use it as a carry gun, no. My p32 I am doing good if I can keep all the shots on a sheet of paper at 7 yards. Thats good enough in my book for the guns intended purpose. I can carry it in my pocket or console of my car and never notice that it is there. I mean you spend more time carrying a carry gun than you do shooting it. I guess I spent too many years carrying a m9.

[Tinscout]

Take a look at the Kel Tec P-11 and see if its size fits your needs.

[DieselJambalaya]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: GEARJAMMER</div><div class="ubbcode-body">A lot of people on here have talked about the size and stopping power of the ammunition. I personally think you should buy a gun that you are comfortable with and one that you can shoot with. The single most important factor in self defense is round placement and not round size.

Shawn
</div></div>

Shawn, you state that, "The single most important factor in self defense is round placement and not round size."

Hell, in that case, let's just recommend a BB gun.

To Paul_B, just make sure that you are a good shot should you choose this route.

[duallyduty]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Seafarer12</div><div class="ubbcode-body">but you also have to take into account size, weight concelability. The best pistol I shoot would be my ruger blackhawk. Would I use it as a carry gun, no. My p32 I am doing good if I can keep all the shots on a sheet of paper at 7 yards. Thats good enough in my book for the guns intended purpose. I can carry it in my pocket or console of my car and never notice that it is there. I mean you spend more time carrying a carry gun than you do shooting it. I guess I spent too many years carrying a m9. </div></div>

7 yards is the minimum distance you want to keep from your assailant. They can attack you with a knife before you can draw and fire your weapon within that range, supposedly . I, personally, would practice for a distance of 50 feet.

[DarthSurplus]

I'm glad you like your Colt Mustang PocketLite. I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with mine; I was much better with a Walther PPK. I also found the notion of carrying ****ed & locked in my pocket to be a little disconcerting. The slide cracked in the first year, so after warranty covered that defect I sold it.

The field of choices is overwhelming. You asked about pocket pistols, and you've had several guns recommended that don't qualify, unless somebody's thinking about the front pocket on bib overalls.

The key to carrying a gun in your pocket is a good, leather pocket holster. It stabilizes and orients the gun in your pocket.

I presently have an aluminum-frame S&W .38 special 5-shot revolver, and a S&W model 640 hammerless 5-shot revolver in .357 magnum. The .357 is heavier, but more powerful. These days, I think Smith is making their 5-shot revolvers (also known as J-frame guns) out of Titanium alloy, so they can make a lightweight revolver capable of shooting .357 magnum pressure levels. Such a weapon would kick like a stung mule, but would be very efffective.

One thing to consider when selecting a defensive weapon is the likelihood that somebody else will need to be able to use it. In my instance, my wife lacks the hand strength to rack the slide on most automatics. If I'm carrying a revolver (or two), and we need to split up for some reason, I can give her my revolver and she won't be defenseless.

If I were in your shoes, I would lean strongly towards the lightweight & stainless version of the smallest Kahr 9mm, or a Titanium 5-shot .357

Good luck. Get a good holster or two. <u>Practice.</u>

[Topcop]

One thing to remember as you previously stated, the ultralight revolvers will kick the snot out of you and sting your hand. Great to carry, not to shoot. The advanatge of the kahr is it's the same size as a PPK/S with the grip configuration of the Browning Hi-Power. Recoil is straight back and there's no "torque". Someone mentioned 50 ft. as a practice distance. The vast majority of shootings occur at 7 yds. and less. Up close and personal. If an assailant is 50 feet away, in most cases you would have ample time to avoid the confrontation and leave before engaging. Engaging is a LAST resort, and only when you are in fear for your life. Otherwise you might find yourself spending considerable amounts of money on attorney's and spend some vacation time on the wrong side of the visitor's table.

[ProDriver18]

The best gun in the world isn't going to do you any good if it's buried in a fanny pack or tangled up in your pocket. If things go bad and you need your weapon, you need it right now, not a minute from now while you fumble around trying to get it out.
My carry gun is a .40 cal S&W model 410, carried in a paddle holster on my hip.
I know that carry laws vary widely but here in Indiana the law just states "on your person". You can carry concealed or in the open. I don't flaunt it, but at the same time I'm not too concerned about totally concealing it either. If I need to pull my weapon I want it out in an instant.

Oh BTW, if you have to ever fire your weapon to defend yourself, you'll never notice the recoil. Practice is the only time you will ever think about felt recoil, and you should burn up boxes and boxes of ammo practicing. Shoot as much as you can and as often as you can.

[roofeditor]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Darth_Surplus</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm glad you like your Colt Mustang PocketLite. I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with mine; I was much better with a Walther PPK. I also found the notion of carrying ****ed & locked in my pocket to be a little disconcerting. The slide cracked in the first year, so after warranty covered that defect I sold it.

The field of choices is overwhelming. You asked about pocket pistols, and you've had several guns recommended that don't qualify, unless somebody's thinking about the front pocket on bib overalls.

The key to carrying a gun in your pocket is a good, leather pocket holster. It stabilizes and orients the gun in your pocket.

I presently have an aluminum-frame S&W .38 special 5-shot revolver, and a S&W model 640 hammerless 5-shot revolver in .357 magnum. The .357 is heavier, but more powerful. These days, I think Smith is making their 5-shot revolvers (also known as J-frame guns) out of Titanium alloy, so they can make a lightweight revolver capable of shooting .357 magnum pressure levels. Such a weapon would kick like a stung mule, but would be very effective.

One thing to consider when selecting a defensive weapon is the likelihood that somebody else will need to be able to use it. In my instance, my wife lacks the hand strength to rack the slide on most automatics. If I'm carrying a revolver (or two), and we need to split up for some reason, I can give her my revolver and she won't be defenseless.

If I were in your shoes, I would lean strongly towards the lightweight & stainless version of the smallest Kahr 9mm, or a Titanium 5-shot .357

Good luck. Get a good holster or two. <u>Practice.</u> </div></div>

Actually Smith uses an element called Scandium which is lighter than titanium and I carry one every day. The .357 in CORBON in a 5 shot very lightweight gun is very very powerful and yes it has a kick reserved only for an experienced STRONG hand. This with the Crimson Trace laser is a formidable weapon.

Shooting .38 in the same gun is also an option.

While many love the lure of the high capacity automatic, I've been shooting handguns for 40 years and a big wheel gun is simple to shoot, simple to load, simple to maintain, and easier to learn with. I do own several autos and at times carry a Glock 9+P with CORBON which is more powerful than a .40 cal.

The thread was concealed carry the operative word being CONCEALED and only a small frame revolver or small auto can really be carried concealed. A full size Sig in .357 Sig is one of the hottest guns out there and you are not carrying it concealed.

As to NEEDING 10 or 14 shots, give me a brake, if you can't do it with one or 2, take a third shoot and shoot yourself.

Too much TV gun nonsense.

If I were a LEO on the job yes I'd have a full size Sig in .357 Sig with several clips for a possible shoot out, for the rest of us, poop on the "I need bigger and more!"

BTW: The Kahr is a nice piece as long as you don't subject it to heavy shooting every day, the sliders are not up to it where as the Glock is. I prefer shooting the Kahr BTW.

[roofeditor]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Topcop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">One thing to remember as you previously stated, the ultralight revolvers will kick the snot out of you and sting your hand. Great to carry, not to shoot. The advantage of the Kahr is it's the same size as a PPK/S with the grip configuration of the Browning Hi-Power. Recoil is straight back and there's no "torque". Someone mentioned 50 ft. as a practice distance. The vast majority of shootings occur at 7 yd. and less. Up close and personal. If an assailant is 50 feet away, in most cases you would have ample time to avoid the confrontation and leave before engaging. Engaging is a LAST resort, and only when you are in fear for your life. Otherwise you might find yourself spending considerable amounts of money on attorney's and spend some vacation time on the wrong side of the visitor's table. </div></div>

Hey Mike we both know that 50 foot pistol shots are mostly for the movies. I've been shooting for 40 years and a 50 foot shot with anything other than a 6 inch wheel gun or a full size auto is a tough shoot. I'm as good as it gets with a SW snubbie and while I can hit the paper at 50 feet putting a snubbie in the black at 50 feet is a hard one. With my 6 inch SW #27 or full size Glock yes I'm there.

Bigger question is "shoot or don't shoot" also "BG has Gun out and you are going to fast draw"? right more TV.

While I'm on a roll about TV, ever see some nonsense with Bruce Willis or Arnold with a MP-5 or worse yet an UZI or Mack-10 in each hand? I'm assuming you have shot all three? We both know with both hands and leaning into it after the first 5 shots you are all over the place. Uzi in one hand or one in each hand!!!!! TV land!

[Stroked & Stoked]

Hell - just watch any show/movie where they're blasting away with .45 derivative - and the barrel never jumps!