.38 or .380

[*Klutch*]

With summer rolling in im thinking of getting something small for shorts and tshirt pocket carry. I have a shield in 9mm for an EDC but for when I have to run to the store or can't carry anything bigger I'm thinking about a pocket 380. The flip side is I don't really like pocket carry even though I've done it for a few years from time to time. But because of this I'm thinking a snub 38 might be better than a 380 but how much smaller than my shield is it? Would you rather carry a pocket .380 or a snub .38?

[Remington788]

I've carried both. A j-frame .38 and a KelTec .380.
For pocket carry, I find the .380 to me much easier to conceal. Way lighter and thinner, which makes all the difference in the summer. I can hold up the .380 with the elastic band on shorts. Cannot do that with a .38, even an Airweight.

[Hodgie]

I went through the same thing last fall and discovered unless I was going S&W Airweight small in a revolver it was bulky and heavy compared to the .380 pocket pistol offerings. My BIL carries a Airweight as a back up and off duty so I have a decent amount of experience with it and it's a complete nightmare to shoot more then a cylinder or 2 of rounds trough it. Now some will say well it's not a range toy but I like to shoot all my firearms and practice with the ones that go on my person often so I decided against the Airweight and went with a pocket .380, however I rarely carry it in my pocket. Most of the time it's in a very small IWB holster that you can really forget is even there and if I carry it as a 2nd back up the ankle works great. There are a few excellent offerings in defensive .380 that will meet and exceed FBI minimum specifications so you can have a nice effective pistol in a very small package.


Precision one 90gr XTP
This is my summer/spring defensive choice.
http://www.precisiononeammunition.co...Path=1_2_37_42

Leigh defense
I will be using this from here out in the fall and winter due to heavier worn clothing.
http://www.lehighdefense.com/product...tor-ammunition

Shooting the Bull.com has excellent Youtube reviews on both of these rounds and the results are outstanding as compared to all other brands of .380.

[Remington788]

Another thing I like about my KelTec is that it is mostly plastic and aluminum so I don't worry carrying it on my boat. That is, back before my boat tragically sank with all my firearms onboard

[MARINE DIVISION TWO]

I have on occasion in hot weather ccw my S&W 637 airweight in 38 spl + p rated. MDT

[Remington788]

I have on occasion in hot weather ccw my S&W 637 airweight in 38 spl + p rated. MDT

Nice gun. Mine was a 638
Got a good price when I sold it.

Klutch, don't ignore 9mm. There are several single stack 9mm on the market now that rival the little .380 for size

[Bang]

Just weigh six .38 spec cartridges v. 6 or 7 .380s. There's one weight difference. Remove the steel cylinder of revolver, insert the cartridges and weigh that. Now add the rest of the revolver. And that's not considering the over-all sizes. There's no contest. KelTec or LCP in .380 hands down. Not for stop-the-threat effectiveness. For having a handgun under limiting conditions. Not that the .380 is a mouse cartridge.

[Hodgie]

Here is a general size comparison between the Shield and the TCP. The LCP, Kel-tec, Body Guard and the Kahr CW380 are all going to be relatively close in size to the TCP.





Sticky brand pocket holster.



Here's IWB the holster I typically carry it in.

[ForeverPA]

What about ammo price? I recall 380 to be pricier than 38.

[father-of-five]

My vote goes to the .380 for concealed pocket carry, with a few extra mags in my other pocket.