Spyderco Forums

For those of you that have them, what is your favorite pocket gun? Is it a revolver, a pistol, a Derringer, or what? Also, what brand model?

I used to carry a KelTec P3AT (sadly no longer made) upon which I installed a silver shotgun bead front sight. I've also had a large variety of Smith & Wesson J frames. The KelTec ran flawlessly. I carried it in my pocket in a small holster and it just disappeared. It was only around 7 oz unloaded.

As far as J frames, I like the shrouded hammer versions best, such as the 49, 649, 38, 438, 638, the original Bodyguards. The ability to still cock the hammer is appealing to me and I like the looks.

If I have a gun in my pocket, it's going to be one of these. When the Seacamp came out when I was a kid, I couldn't justify the cash, and there was a long waiting list anyway. A few years ago I spotted this unfired early model. It's reliable, it's not an easy gun to shoot well, and the function is strange. For that reason I can't recommend to to just anyone. For me, it's ok. The other gun is the Kahr P380. Kahrs are not my favorite guns, but this one is both small and reliable. This is much easier to shoot well than the Seacamp, it's a more effective caliber, and it weighs about the same as the Seacamp.

I've tried but maybe have never gone down small enough in size to make it work. I really like hammerless revolvers for this sort of job because if needed they can fire while still inside a pocket (coat pocket for example).

NAA Sidewinder .22mag

A pocket gun, one powerful enough for social work, yet small enough to fit in one's pocket, can save your life. These are always there guns. I know many people who've been saved by a pocket gun (me too) where a larger gun would get left behind for some reason.

So, to me such a gun needs to be in a caliber that is effective, yet shootable: 327 Fed Mag; 32 H&R Mag; .380 ACP; .38 Spec.; 9mmx19; etc. A .357 Mag has too much recoil in a small gun for followup shots to be effective and they kick so much people tend to flinch, in my opinion. I want something that I can always have with me that will ruin the day for whatever I have to shoot.

Doc Dan wrote: ↑

Sat May 24, 2025 9:25 am

A .357 Mag has too much recoil in a small gun for followup shots to be effective and they kick so much people tend to flinch, in my opinion.

Yup. I also have an American Derringer DA38. I've never seen a better made Derringer-style pistol, and it's a hammerless double action. You'd think it would be the greatest thing since sliced bread. When I bought it, there was a long wait for the .357, so I settled for the less-powerful caliber. As much as I tried to like the gun, it is AWFUL to shoot. The .38 Special has FAR too much recoil in that tiny gun. It borders upon unshootable. Although I've never shot the .357 version, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that such a caliber in such a small gun is just stupid.

I'm newer/younger in the gun world and my only pocket gun is a Ruger LCP Max (75th anniversary edition). It's size has sidelined any other larger guns I have - pop it in the pocket and off I go, no need for belt, large holster, etc.

It is occasionally finicky with the range ammo I've had, but has no problems with defensive ammo. I may be backwards, but I think it's a fun gun to shoot.

I considered the Bodyguard 2.0 instead, but the price gulf was too large (+$150) and QC seemed sketchy at the start. I will likely pick up a snub at some point as a complement/alternative to the LCP.

My wife picked me up a Sig P365 for Father’s Day last year. 9mm with a 12 round clip.
Weight is about 1lb. Fits easily in the rear pocket of my Wranglers. I don’t use a
Pocket holster.

I think she got me the 365 so I would stop hijacking her Sig P238! Her Gun shoots a .380
Round with a 7round clip. It also weighs about 1lb. It’s just a “bit” smaller than the
P365 and is easily carried in back pocket. Both are fine pistols.

grasshopper wrote: ↑

Sat May 24, 2025 5:30 pm

I think she got me the 365 so I would stop hijacking her Sig P238!

Both are nice. Don't let her try your P365, or you might find her highjacking it. FWIW, the P365 is available in .380. You just missed Mother's Day, but it's not too late to buy her one on a Memorial Day Sale.

The P365 is what I'm usually carrying in a side-holster, whether it's IWB or OWB. I REALLY like that gun. I gave it a Wilson grip module, flat blade trigger, and Tru-Glo fiber optic sights. If you're interested, Magguts makes an aftermarket spring and follower that fit inside your existing magazine, and add +2 capacity. The Sig magazines seem 100% reliable for me, so I can't tell you that Magguts improves function. It just improves the capacity. With other gun manufacturers, the Magguts improves reliability, but that's a discussion for another time.

I remember when I was young I had to carry a steel 1911 in God's caliber, .45ACP. But, it was heavy and in the light clothes we wear in the South just wasn't always the right gun for the occasion. Then, I learned more about real world shooting results and a lot more about size and weight of guns. That changed what I carried around town or when out exercising.

One of these days I'm going to lose the fight and break down and buy a S&W 340PD. Even if I only ever carry and shoot hot .38s in it.

S&W 442 Airweight or SiG P938.

If you haven't had a chance to try a bodyguard2.0 you should. At $350 there simply isn't another pocket pistol that shoots as easily as the 2.0.

S&W really hit it out of the park with this one. A huge improvement over the 1st gen, it's not even a fair comparison.

I like the Smith shrouded-hammer revolvers in .38 Spl, the Ruger LCP .380 ACP, and the Colt Defender .45 ACP. I'd like the Defender even better in 9mm but, at the time, I chose the .45.

While I’m reluctant to embrace the concept of gentleman's knives, I’m a bit different with guns. The only sensible choice for compact carry:


My only other small handgun is a model 60:

Full disclaimer, this isn’t meant as a serious contribution to the discussion. While I’d probably look for a way to practically carry the PPK if concealed carry was a thing around here, it’s not something I can legally do.
I have the PPK and M60 for shooting competitions with stages built around a concealed carry theme or other less serious competitions

JestersHK wrote: ↑

Fri May 30, 2025 11:20 am

If you haven't had a chance to try a bodyguard2.0 you should. At $350 there simply isn't another pocket pistol that shoots as easily as the 2.0.

S&W really hit it out of the park with this one. A huge improvement over the 1st gen, it's not even a fair comparison.

Absolutely. I almost feel they should have named it something else. It's so much better than the original.

I carry mine every day. It's the first gun I've had that's both small and light enough to carry 24/7, and fun to shoot.

It's crazy good.

Doc Dan wrote: ↑

Fri May 23, 2025 11:33 pm

As far as J frames, I like the shrouded hammer versions best, such as the 49, 649, 38, 438, 638, the original Bodyguards. The ability to still cock the hammer is appealing to me and I like the looks.

Yep.

Pokey wrote: ↑

Sun May 25, 2025 10:51 am

S&W 442 Airweight or SiG P938.

The Sig P938 is a very nice “pocket gun”. My daughter let me use her’s
For about a year. I was seriously thinking about getting one. It is very
Similar to the Sig p238 that I bought for my wife. They look the same,
One in 9mm and one is in 380.

I ended up buying the now discontinued Sig p239 SAS. Great pistol but
A bit large for pocket pistol. (Mostly the weight) compares very closely
To a Glock 19 gen4

dsvirsky wrote: ↑

Sat May 24, 2025 6:09 am

NAA Sidewinder .22mag
20180525_135813.jpg

Same here. Tried a ton and this is the one. I have a Glock 42 and a Ti Jframe but both print like ****. With a NAA, I always complete rule #1 of a gunfight…have a gun