Battle of the Pocket Pistols: Snub vs 9mm

[snatchel]

Thought i'd take a few shots comparing the Ruger LCR and the Keltec PF9. There is very little difference in size between the two. The PF9 is actually my wife's, but it looks like it will make a great little pocket pistol when I want to carry it as well.

So which is better?

9mm:

-Thinner
-Better round (?)
-Better sights
-Subject to reliability due to lint/buildup/etc

LCR:

-.38+P nothing to be ashamed of
-Reliability
-Curves make it a tad more comfy
-Better point-N-Shoot (at least for me)

Weight in. I'd like to see what others say..

[karder]

I personally like snubbies for pocket carry. I have the LCR and it is perfect for the 5 block walk to the bakery and back. It will probably become my wife's purse gun when her license comes in. I actually enjoy breaking my guns down and cleaning them, but she is not as enthused about that as I am, so the low maintenance and reliability factors are really important for her.

[CC Italian]

If there is no bug to carry with it then 100% the revolver. If I pocket carry I still always have a bug. Ex. S&w 38 bodyguard with kel-tec p32. My father's buddy likes j frames. He carries 2. 10 rounds of of gold dot on tap should be enough. reliability of the firearm is the most important factor Imo. Especially when only carrying one.

[threoh8]

I like and have carried revolvers and autoloaders - good examples of either should work just fine.

-Subject to reliability due to lint/buildup/etc

I'm not quite convinced of that. Lint buildup shouldn't be a problem over the course of a day, and I hope you're giving any carry gun a once-over before putting it on the next day. Revolvers have more openings for foreign objects to get in and gum up the works. Each cylinder mouth, the spaces above and below the cylinder, and the spaces around the cartridge rims come to mind. As far as firing the critical first shot, the autoloader has fewer openings that could allow entry of something that could prevent firing.

One more thing: Good holsters keep most of the garbage out of whatever you carry.

[snatchel]

I'm partial to a snubby for pocket carry as well. If nothing else, it's rounded and more comfortable to carry.

The PF9 carries well enough though. The previous post mentioned once-overs. That's a no brainer, of course. Still, you can't fire an autoloader from a pocket, and I am still convinced that revolvers are overwhelmingly more reliable than semi-auto's.

I'm a big fan of Remora & Desantis sticky holsters. They are cheap, comfortable, and do a great job. I have several expensive holsters, some leather, some kydex--the Remora in particular is fantastic.

[A-R]

I personally find revolvers better for pocket carry because of the grip angle and lack of a beaver tail/tang I able to grasp the weapon in-pocket and deploy it much faster.

[Jumping Frog]

Keltec PF9 -- 9mm

LCR: -.38+P nothing to be ashamed of

I think a LCR in 9mm with moon clips would be an interesting option. Give a round about midway between a .38 SP and a .357 Mag.

Of course, the Ruger product planning team hasn't asked for my opinion lately . . .