Ben

iTrader: (33)

Looking for a small "pocket gun" type weapon for concealment and personal defense.

Which is the better weapon and why?

Keltec PF9 (parkerized)
Ruger LCP380

They're within $10 of each other, so disregard price.

Thanks

rleete

iTrader: (21)

Ruger, all the way. Much better fit and finish. Hell, Bond (James Bond) carried a .380, so it's a manly man's gun.

RotorNutFD3S

iTrader: (33)

I agree with a Ruger.
However, I just got a Taurus Millennium Pro .45, and it fits nicely in the pocket. Got great reviews which heavily influenced my decision to look into them, tried one out and immediately liked it. Whenever our turbo blankets get in, I'll let you have a look at mine if you'd like.

bryantaylor

iTrader: (5)

i love my kel-tec p3at. used to have a kel-tec p-11 (pre-PF9) too, also a great gun. i was in the same boat as you a few months ago and went with the kel-tec p3at. the p3at has good owner suport on the kel-tec forums, and its a tad smaller and lighter than the LCP. but you can't really compare a 9mm to the .380. for me, the p-11 (just a tad wider than the PF9 your looking at) was JUST too big to carry in your pocket. i used to carry inside the wasteband with the belt clip, its a tiny gun, but not really small enough to be a "pocket gun." but my p3at it just BARLEY bigger than my blackberry and you can carry in your pocket just like a cell phone. also the 9mm is a heavier round, so the gun is even heavier when loaded up. you think just a couple of ounces doesn't matter, but you can really tell when its on you.

Ben

iTrader: (33)

I can get a PT140 Millennium Pro .40 for $275, but really it's a much larger weapon than the Ruger and Keltec. Also I prefer black but the PT140 has a stainless slide. I'd still like to see yours, just cuz guns are cool, but I think it's too big.*

There are 3 things I really like about the Keltec. It's black polymer and out of the box it needs a little dremmel work. Needing work is not a good thing, but it would be an excuse to get myself a new rotary tool. My old one is really sucking. Lastly, they have an awesome inside waistband clip. It mounts to your belt, but allows you to keep the weapon tucked right at your waistband inside your pants.

bryantaylor

iTrader: (5)

actually, kel-tec will "fluff and buff" the gun for free if you send it to them.

Stein

iTrader: (46)

If you are going to get a carry piece, do it right. I personally am an STI man (I competitively shoot a STI Executive) http://www.stiguns.com/ but their carry stuff is probably out of your budget. I like the looks of this http://www.kimberamerica.com/pistols/ultracarry/ for a resonably priced piece. .45 caliber FTW.

drewbroo

iTrader: (2)

Para Carry, or walther PPS
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...s_id=411535297

Ben

iTrader: (33)

too big, too expensive, not looking for another .45

too expensive

xveganxcowboyx

iTrader: (2)

11 rounds of .45 in a carry piece FTW. It's very easy to jerk when shooting though. Accuracy is not amazing, but acceptable if you can keep your hand straight. Fits nicely in both pocket and palm.

Otherwise, I've always been a big fan of Ruger. Most of their guns are too big for carry, but the quality is good, they always seem to "feel" right and are pretty darn accurate and reliable. 380 is the weaksauce though. I like making BIG holes.

cjernigan

iTrader: (13)

Just to jack his thread.
Who knows the most affordable way to get an M16 M4?

Arkmage

iTrader: (3)

Personally I've been carrying a glock 23 and I'm 5'11 and 150 lbs.

My next one will be a P-11. I don't care for the look or feel of the ruger.

Stein

iTrader: (46)

Most affordable way? Steal it. Otherwise, you are looking at $20-25 large nowadays. I remember back in the 80's they were $1,800 new. Woulda, coulda, shoulda. Hell, MP-5's are over 10K now.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

do you want advice? or do you want someone to advise you?

KPLAFIN

iTrader: (1)

So out of those- the ruger by a long shot. But g would reccomend loking into a sub-compact springfield xd in all honesty.

sn95

iTrader: (2)

I'd take the XD Springfield over the Ruger IF I was looking for a small semi-auto. That begs the question, who much experience do you have with handguns and much time are you going to spend each month practicing?? It takes more time to attain and maintain proficiency with a semi auto (even a DAO) than a double action revolver. For the beginning handgunner, a small 5 shot DAO .38 snubby revolver (rated for +P loads) is more foolproof than a semi-auto. No safety to worry about, if it fails to go bang (yeah, it can happen on any gun) you just pull the trigger again and you have a fresh round (much faster than racking the slide to chamber a new round). If you can handle stiff recoil and want more power, you can get a .357 mag snubby in an equally small package.

Markp

I have the Taurus PT140 in .40 Cal. It's a great gun and it's SMALL!

I also have a 9mm Springfield XD which I really like, although the Glock has a better trigger the Springfield has been dead reliable out of the box and is smaller than the Glock of similar specs. The Glock with a little trigger work is a sweet *** gun. Don't skimp get a quality weapon. As noted above, the springfield is nicer than the Taurus...

Mark

Markp

Buy an AR-10, you'll be happier with a real weapon.

Mark

thirdgen

iTrader: (26)

Great subject, I can't believe I didn't see it sooner. I am very, very, into guns and I take my gun knowledge seriously. As far a self defense...it depends what the situation is and what you want to do to somebody. If you want blow-back stopping power that would cause an ambulance crew to use a defibulator...then .45, if you want someone to fall on the ground bloodied, then 9mm. BTW 9x19 is common 9mm, 9x18 is .380? So in other words a .380 is basically the same as a 9mm. I carry a Glock 19, which is a compact version of a Glock 17, it holds 10 rounds of 9mm. I have a 33 round mag for it that, for instance, can be kept in a glove compartment for when the **** hits that fan. My glock is very acurate, and you can get many upgrades / parts for them, but my gun brand new was almost 600 bucks. They make a compensated model, which is for faster follow up shots. I used to have a 1911 Colt .45 compact. It held 6 rounds of .45, but it was so inacurate, and it was heavy. If you want something light, cheap, and small...I would also recommend the Walther P22. I have one of those, and it has a laser sight on it from factory, it holds 10 rounds, comes with 2 clips, and fires .22 long rounds which are the price of dirt. It is loud too, almost as loud as my Glock. I bet if someone tried to steal your car and you pulled that on them and hit the laser button, they'd be like WTF is that! I'm out! While they ran away if you fired a round, they'd probably run faster than the speed of sound, cause they'd think you had a bigger gun. Kinda goes hand in hand with owning a Miata...beat the big scary V-8 car with the little tiny go cart!

Ben

iTrader: (33)

I have a decent amount of time with many types of guns. I used to go to the range monthly with a Sig 45 and S&W 357 revolver, but haven't been lately. If I went with ball&chain, I'd typically rent her a 9mm because she couldn't pull the slide back on the sig.



The Taurus is small, but the ruger and keltec are smaller. I am looking for ease of concealment.

I'd like to have a nice XD, but it's double what the ruger or keltec would cost. I have many projects and limited income.