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CVC · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 1056 Location: Kansas

I currently have a Berretta .380 that I carry, but find it difficult to carry due to its size and the clothes I wear.

So, I was considering getting a Kel Tec .380 that I can slip into my pocket, but I saw a Beretta .32 with laser grips that I really liked. Little bigger than the Kel Tec, but the quality is great and the size still permits pocket carry.

I was concerned that the .32 was too small of a caliber, but did some searching and found that some believe it superior to the .380. So, I thought I'd put this out for your opinions.

ADKBEAR · Joined: 16 Sep 2003 Posts: 619 Location: Central NY

To be honest I do not know much about the .32? To me the statement that it makes a better personel defence round than the .380 dosent make a lot of sence unless the bullet selection is far superior for the .32? Usually bigger is better and most articals that I have read state that the .380 is the smallest round that most "experts" recomend carrying for PD. Now it (the .380)is the smallest that I carry for defence but my wife on the other hand carries a .22 because she is comfortable with it and shoots it well.

I say if you like the .32 get the .32 and learn how to shoot it well. No sence getting a gun unless you like it!! Then hope to God you never HAVE to use it.

CVC · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 1056 Location: Kansas

True, it is counterintuitive that a smaller caliber would be better which is why I didn't accept it as Gospel. Everyone has an "expert" opinion and they love to share it so I am leary of things posted on the internet.

However, there are those on here whose opinion I do trust so I thought I'd bounce it around a little before making a decision.

I want a pocket gun and was leaning toward the Kel Tec .380 and may still go that route mostly because of the cost factor. But the Beretta is a sweet little gun and the laser grips are a nice feature.

denverd0n · Joined: 09 Nov 2005 Posts: 166 Location: Colorado

North American Arms ( http://www.naaminis.com/index02.html ) makes very small pistols in both .32 and .380 that are pretty good quality (better, I think, than Kel-Tec). You might also consider the Kahr PM9 ( http://tinyurl.com/yv4l9g ). It is a very small 9mm.

As for .32 vs .380, I don't think there's much practical difference. Neither is powerful enough to be assured of a one-shot knock-down, but both are much better than a stern "stop or I will shout 'stop' again!" I would probably give a slight edge to the .380 simply because it uses bigger, fatter bullets launched faster. For either one you want to get good quality ammo that feeds reliably through whatever firearm you use.

Good luck!

ADKBEAR · Joined: 16 Sep 2003 Posts: 619 Location: Central NY

CVC
Just bumped up the "what do you carry" thread. Some good discussion on carry guns and Mr. Fischer makes a good point on the laser sights. They (the L. Sights) do seem to be getting more popular but to be honest when it comes to gizmos I tend to "try" to stay away, one more thing to go wrong or break???

Don "stop or I will shout stop again" that's good, funny stuff. Good points made also.

denverd0n · Joined: 09 Nov 2005 Posts: 166 Location: Colorado

I'm not certain, but I think I owe the Monty Python guys credit for that one.

NH Hunter · Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Southern NH

I don't know much about the .32 other than "bad, bad Leroy Brown had a .32 gun in his pocket for fun". I have a Kel-Tec P11 9MM that shoots fine. Around 13 oz and pretty small. They have the new PF-9 9MM out now that's even thinner. It's a single stack rather than the P11 double stack magazine. Neither is in the size class of their P3AT (.380 ACP). If I carried concealed I would probably look at the P3AT. I might get one anyway. I didn't really answer your question but it might be another option.

CVC · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 1056 Location: Kansas

NH Hunter wrote: I don't know much about the .32 other than "bad, bad Leroy Brown had a .32 gun in his pocket for fun". I have a Kel-Tec P11 9MM that shoots fine. Around 13 oz and pretty small. They have the new PF-9 9MM out now that's even thinner. It's a single stack rather than the P11 double stack magazine. Neither is in the size class of their P3AT (.380 ACP). If I carried concealed I would probably look at the P3AT. I might get one anyway. I didn't really answer your question but it might be another option.

I ordered the P3AT and should get it tomorrow.

remington · Joined: 30 Nov 2005 Posts: 237 Location: Misouri

The 380 is better. That being said I have two Kel-tec 32's (this was prior to the 380s coming out). Great pocket guns so light you forget about em. I carry one as a bug gun while on duty and one for the wife. THe only issue I have had with them has been that the mag springs go bad after a few years and cause jams. Send em back and kel-tec will replace them. Serveral officers on my PD have the 380's and love em. Best of luck and have fun!

NH Hunter · Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Southern NH

Kel-Tec has excellent customer service. If your new to Kel-Tecs I might suggest signing up on KTOG, Kel-Tec Owners Group board. A lot of good information and a great bunch of guys. Very helpful to the newbie. You can search the forum and find answers to most questions you might have. :thumbsup1:

http://www.ktog.org/

CVC · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 1056 Location: Kansas

NH Hunter

Thanks for the info. I will check it out.

Don Fischer · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 2041 Location: Antelope, Ore

This is pretty old but, CVC what did you get? I don't come on the hand gun threds much because I just don't feel I know enought about them. But I do have an opinion on this. I spent most of my life as a OTR driver and a good bit driving out of Colorado to meat markets around the country. Hunts Point, little west 12th st, Harlem, Vernon, Plaski ect. The dregs of society hung in these places and cop's were a fairly uncommon site. a NYC cop once told me "if you have to shoot someone, don't call us. You do and there's to much paperwork and we'll find them anyway".

Here's what I found out about carry weapons. Get the smallest flatest weapon you can BUT in a cartridge that will do the needed job if called upon. I carried a Colt Diamondback in 38 spec and hand loaded it with 125gr JHP bullet's just as fast as I could load them without sticking the cylinder. I carried it in a high rise belt holster with a thunb break and always wore a fairly long bulky sweater to hide it; I hate sweater's! Today I use a Ruger auto in 9mm but seldom carry. I don't go to bad places anymore.

Don't sacrifice cal for concealment. You have a permit, don't worry about a bit of a bulge, worry about putting a bullet in the air that will end the confrontation. The 32 ain't it.

I have two 32's. A S&W kit gun in 32 Long and a 1917 Savage in 32 Auto. I wouldn't trust either to stop an assailent in a situtation were the drawing of a gun was warrented. Let's face it, if you need to do that, do so with enought gun, at that point concealment no longer matters. I have a brother that carried a 40 S&W in some kind of flat lightweight gun. Really nice except he couldn't shoot it. You pull one out you better be ready to shoot, capabile of shooting and have enought gun to do the job.

CVC · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 1056 Location: Kansas

Don,

I went with the Kel Tec .380. I like it because it is pretty accurate and fits in my front pocket very nice. I carry it alot, but my wife hasn't figured out I have when we're together.

If you read my post on anything goes you'll see I have a nice M&P 40 .40 caliber at home and really am glad I had it last night as I thought we had home intruders. Turned out to be a false alarm, but I like the .40 caliber loaded with 15 bullets.

Don Fischer · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 2041 Location: Antelope, Ore

That 40 is supposed to be a good cartridge. I think my brother's was just to light and to small. I had a 41 mag years ago but couldn't handle the recoil. As a result I didn't shoot it worth a darn. I loved my Diamondback. Also had a 4" Trooper in 357 that I shot heavy 38 spec's with 125gr bullet's. Really liked it but it just was a bit to hard the cover where I wasn't supposed to have it. Wearing my Diamondback in the highrise pancake holseter I was in a small store in NYC when the owner set off the alarm by accident and as I was walking out, two cop's shoved me back inside. That was a close one!

NH Hunter · Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Southern NH

Don,

You wouldn't want to get caught in NYC with a handgun. I believe that's cause for jail time. I lived in New York State for years and my handgun permit was valid for carry (concealed or otherwise) everywhere in the state except NYC. But you probably already knew that. :wink:

CVC:

Kel-Tec also made a .40 S&W out of the same frame as the P-11 9MM. Same size but a little lower max capacity. Very light (maybe too light) and small. More difficult to shoot well. They discontinued making them because of complaints of jamming. To get it to function reliably you need to really grip them. Limp wristing a Kel-Tec P-11 or P-40 will cause cycling problems due to their light weight and small size. You really need to practice with them. But....if you really want the fire power in an small size, that's what you end up with. Same frame size is also available in .357 Sig.