WTB Pocket Carry (TCP/LCP ... maybe)

[Teamless]

Well, I have finally (I THINK) decided it is time to buy a pocket carry weapon.
I am thinking TCP or LCP and while I do not like the idea of having a .380, more so as I didn't want to deal with the extra ammo, but I haven't seen any subcompact 9mms that I can put in a shorts pocket, without a strong belt to keep my shorts from falling down, or at least leaning horribly.

So prior to going to Academy or other places to possibly buy one, I thought I would ask on here if anyone had one - Houston area (and hopefully nearer to Webster if I could dream).

If you have one that you are wanting to sell, please PM me with your weapon, and any other details (pocket holster, or ammo that may come with it) and of course, what price you want.

If you have a pocket carry weapon similar, that I didnt mention, or have suggestions for other weapons, please also let me know

Thanks

[carlson1]

Rohrbaugh makes the smallest 9mm. Here is few pictures of mine.

[Teamless]

Thanks Carlson, looks like a great weapon, the specs on their website look good, but alas, I think it is way out of my price range (I googled it and found it from about $900 - ouch!)
Thanks anyway

[The Annoyed Man]

Any particular reason you wouldn't pocket carry an alloy J-Frame in .38 Special or .357? ....or an LCR if you're a Ruger fan....

[wgoforth]

The Smith and Wesson Bodyguard .380 is another to add to your TCP/LCP collection. I have all 3. All 3 are good mouse guns, however I believe the bodyguard superior in a couple of ways: It locks back after last round (LCP does not). It has a second strike capability (neither of other two do). Has built in laser (neither other two do). Though I don't use the laser, it gives these light guns a more balanced, substantial feel, and yet is same size as other two. I paid $349.99 for it, which is ballpark of the LCP.

[Teamless]

Any particular reason you wouldn't pocket carry an alloy J-Frame in .38 Special or .357? ....or an LCR if you're a Ruger fan....

not a Ruger fan to speak of, just heard a lot of the LCP

I looked at a number of guns this weekend, and to be honest, none of the revolvers I saw (with the exception of a couple of .22lr revolvers) looked small enough that they wouldn't stand out in light shorts screaming "Look, I am a revolver!"
I didn't pick any of them up, so I really cant say how the weight would compare with the LCP/TCP.

I did like the width of the TCP/LCP and most of the revolvers I saw, seemed to be at least 1 1/2 times as wide, or 2 times as wide.

Can you school me a bit on these JFrames that you are speaking of? Weight (compared to the 11-12oz of LCP), width? Length?

And since I am not a revolver guy, what does "J Frame" mean?
Lastly, any ideas on cost?
Thanks Tam!

[Teamless]

The Smith and Wesson Bodyguard .380 i

Nice looking weapon, good features, a bit more $ than I was looking to spend, but not out of the question.
gives me more choices to think about (grrrrr LOL)

[Keith B]

The Kahr PM9 is a fantastic pocket gun in 9mm. Also, the LC9 or Taurus 709 (Slim) may be an option. They are bigger than the LCP or P3AT, but not by a lot and you get the benefit of 9mm. I carry a PM9 frequently and love it. I use CorBon Pow'rBall 9mm +P ammo and the specs on it are phenomenal; 1475 fps and 483 ft+lbs at the muzzle. Here are the specs http://www.shopcorbon.com/Glaser-PowRBa ... 00/Product" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[wgoforth]

The Smith and Wesson Bodyguard .380 i

Nice looking weapon, good features, a bit more $ than I was looking to spend, but not out of the question.
gives me more choices to think about (grrrrr LOL)

It's about same price as the LCP.... $349. The TCP though can be had around $269.

[Teamless]

t's about same price as the LCP.... $349

True, at Academy and maybe The Arms Room, but i was looking at the High Caliber Gun Show yesterday, most of the mono-tone's were about $280+tx and the TCP was about $250
I almost jumped on them, but wanted to go a bit more research and ask a few more questions, and worse case, could wait until the next gun show for that pricing, if I decided to go that route.

[wgoforth]

t's about same price as the LCP.... $349

True, at Academy and maybe The Arms Room, but i was looking at the High Caliber Gun Show yesterday, most of the mono-tone's were about $280+tx and the TCP was about $250
I almost jumped on them, but wanted to go a bit more research and ask a few more questions, and worse case, could wait until the next gun show for that pricing, if I decided to go that route.

Well you wouldn't go wrong on either... the TCP does lock back on last round. I don't want to hear "click" if I am in a fight. Trigger on the TCP is light as well, and it comes with a belt carry pouch, that looks like a cell phone.

[texanron]

I would look harder at the J frames like TAM mentioned. I've heard concerns/complaints about both the TCP & LCP. I had a TCP and couldn't wait to get rid of it. JMO.

[Scott in Houston]

I've got a TCP that I rarely carry anymore. I just can't bring myself to carry .380.

I have 800 rounds of ammo and some self defense ammo. I'm close to selling all of the above.

I'm only holding back from putting a number out there because somehow I know I'll regret selling it.

I'm thinking I could get about $580 for all of it and then get a Kahr PM9 or something instead... hmmm

Would you be interested in the whole thing? I'd only do it if I could off-load all the ammo plus the gun.
I have a pocket holster that I carry it in as well from Uncle Mikes or something... nothing special other than the holster it comes with.
Also, I have 3 magazines.

[USA1]

+1 for considering a j frame revolver. I carried a LCP for a while but had a nagging concern that a .380 was just not powerful enough to quickly bring a threat to a stop.

I eventually opted for the more substantial .38special+p and have never looked back.

Revolvers are hard to beat for reliability and still have a place in personal protection.

[The Annoyed Man]

Can you school me a bit on these JFrames that you are speaking of? Weight (compared to the 11-12oz of LCP), width? Length?

And since I am not a revolver guy, what does "J Frame" mean?
Lastly, any ideas on cost?
Thanks Tam!

Examples of the "J-Frame" would include pretty much any 5 shot snubnose .38/.357 made by S&W. They come in lots of configurations, all having either 1-7/8", 2", or 2-1/8" barrels. We have three of them in our possession.

One is a model 340M&P, which is sitting in my left front pocket right as I write this. Using a Desantis Nemesis pocket holster, it pretty much disappears. It has a Scandium frame and weighs 13.3 oz empty, has an abbreviated "boot grip" and is chambered in .357 magnum. Barrel length is 1-7/8". Pictured below, it is the black one:


These two will show you the size of the gun, compared to a large family Bible:



The Stainless gun above it in the top picture is a Model 640. It is also chambered in .357 magnum, and at 23 oz empty, it weighs quite a bit more, or about 2 oz less than an empty Kimber Ultra Carry II. The barrel is 2-1/8" long.

This next one is my wife's Model 642CT, which comes with a slightly larger grip set sporting a CT laser. It is alloy framed and weighs 15.3 oz empty. Barrel length is 1-7/8" and it is chambered in .38 Special, +P rated.


Both the 340 M&P and the 642 have stainless cylinders. There is another class of J-Frame snubbies that have titanium cylinders in scandium frames, but they are so darn light they aren't much fun to shoot. However, they are also either +P rated .38 Specials or .357 magnums. But their size is about the same as the pistols pictured above.

Also, S&W has the +P rated .38 Special Bodyguard which has a polymer sub frame and incorporates a laser.

All I'm saying is that J-Frame revolvers (or the equivalent size from other manufacturers) make ideal pocket pistols. They are more or less impervious to sweat. They are powerful. They conceal well. And, they are the original "point and click" interface. Dead nuts reliable. It's no accident that in this day and age of advanced polymers and double stack guns no bigger than your wallet that people still buy J-Frame revolvers in droves.

Here is a picture of my 340M&P in my pocket holster, to give you some size comparison. The holster and pistol will disappear into whatever pants or shorts I'm wearing at the time (athletic shorts excluded, cause..... homey don't do athletics).