Looking for my first pocket gun.

[TripleR]

You think this is bad....try posting "What's the best motor oil to use in my ____?"

That and "split braking", man those do get rough; got the scorch marks to prove it.

I've got to disagree with the .380 comment...

I've carried .38 snubbies in my front pocket for years. Really tight jeans..well, they don't work. But normal or relaxed fit jeans work very well as do Docker style trousers (especially if they have pleated fronts).
The weight of the gun is one of my main criteria. If it's more then 13-15 ounces, it'll drag your pants down. My .38's are aluminum/titanium.
You also want a good pocket holster and a good belt (I wear a belt from Gun Belts by The Belt Man which works quite well as do belts from Tactical Belts, Duty Belt, Military Belt, Instructor Belt.

A hammerless or shrouded hammer revolver is much less likely to snag during a draw.

That's a shame about the little Kahr...but I've read several reviews and internet posts that concur with your experiences.
I had one of the early MK9's which was a very nice little all steel semi-auto and (once past the 200 round break in) was very accurate and reliable. But ****!!! was it heavy!!
Great gun, just didn't work for me...if I'm going to carry a gun that heavy (way too heavy for pocket carry), it's going to be a larger gun.

Agree completely; always interesting see people who say something can't be done when I have done it or know people who do. I mentioned in another post that I carried a variety of handguns for close to 40 years in about every different way that can be imagined looking for what worked and which didn't. I have carried everything from a Browning .25 to a .44 Magnum. I now carry a S&W 638 in my front pants pocket and the only time I wear a belt is to funerals. I no longer have the build for tight jeans, so it's not the issue for me it will be for others.

I do accept that in my experience, a semi-auto is easier to conceal. I however don't like small semi-autos having owned a bunch. A G27 is about as small as I will go.

My wife and I drove to Cabela's in St. Louis a couple of years ago to buy a Kahr 9mm for my retirement pocket gun. I had read and heard good things about them. After fighting St. Louis traffic in heavy rains and handling the Kahr, Kel-Tec/LCP and a couple more, I wound up with a gun similar to the first snubbie I ever bought 36 years ago.

I accept the Kahr, Kel-Tek etc. are just right for some, just not me. Of course just as soon as we got home, my wife snagged my old duty weapon a S&W 649.

 

[5030]

And, if that works for you...so be it!

I'm glad we are on an 'even keel' now. I'll try to be a bit less obtuse in the future....

 

[jetwoz]

Lots of good points in the thread and just wanted to add I use a S&W 380 Bodyguard Product: BODYGUARDｮ 380 with an extra magazine and a front pocket holster that stays put creating a smooth consistent draw (Desantis M44 Super Fly Pocket Holster) that can be used in the rear pocket as well without printing. The Bodyguard has 6 in the magazine plus one in the chamber, has the laser sight which is usable from either side of the receiver, can still be fired with one in chamber while loading the second magazine and of course a safety (love that safety in a front pocket gun pointing to a critical area ). Do I prefer larger caliber, darn right. When I'm wearing clothes that allow it I carry either my 357 S&W Highway Patrolman model 28 or my 9 mm S&W model 29 in addition to the 380. VN taught me you never have enough ammo or stopping power. One could the review posted by Policeone which I found very useful when picking my pocket gun, it covers a lot of good detail on various defensive CFP weapons. Firearms Review: The Smith & Wesson .380 Bodyguard Home defense weapon is the ever reliable pump action 12 gauge. As to misfires on my guns never had any except for cheap 22 rim fire ammo in my Ruger 1022.

 

[RoyJackson]

Lots of good points in the thread and just wanted to add I use a S&W 380 Bodyguard Product: BODYGUARDｮ 380

Jeez...I thought Glocks were ugly!!
That Bodyguard is probably a fine firearm, but it's one of the ugliest guns I've ever laid eyes on!

 

[JB4310]

I forgot about the Smith, that's the newest arrival to the .380 field.
The built in laser is either the greatest thing or just a bulky waste, depending on one's opinion. Not sure what mine is.

JB.

 

[5030]

Jeez...I thought Glocks were ugly!!
That Bodyguard is probably a fine firearm, but it's one of the ugliest guns I've ever laid eyes on!

Looks like a sawed off 1911 with no beavertail..... I agree, it's fugly.

 

[Willl]

but can they tell it's a gun?

On that note, he also sold me one of these.

Recluse - The Perfect Pocket Holster :: Kel-Tec & Ruger - Recluseｮ Plus in Leather

 

[RoyJackson]

On that note, he also sold me one of these.

Recluse - The Perfect Pocket Holster :: Kel-Tec & Ruger - Recluseｮ Plus in Leather

That's pretty nice...price isn't bad either.
How do you like it?

 

[bigtiller]

On that note, he also sold me one of these.

Recluse - The Perfect Pocket Holster :: Kel-Tec & Ruger - Recluseｮ Plus in Leather

I would not use that holster. It's too easy to but dial my cell phone, I shutter when I think what would happen when the exposed trigger is "dialed". I also don't like the spare magazine stored in the same location as the gun. If I need the second magazine, I have to put the gun in my weak hand to get it, something I don't want to do.

But that's just me.

 

[ragkar]

Might I suggest the Taurus TCP. .380 auto 5.19x.88x.3.47 and weighs 10.2 oz empty. At $336 MSRP it's one of the cheapest in its class.
A nice feature is the cloth belt clip enclosed belt holster that looks like it holds a cell phone. The holster is 5.3x4x1.5. I wore mine for the first time last week and it didn't cause me any concern at all.