Best Pocket Pistols For Personal Defense [2022]

When buying a handgun that is classified as a “pocket gun,” there is an expectation. The idea is more than 200-years old. RELATED STORY Pocket Battle – Scores and Rankings of 5 Popular.380 Pistols. Back in the day, small, single-shot flintlock pistols were easily hidden in one’s waistcoat. This was to deter highwaymen and other criminals bent on mischief. Today’s pocket pistols are not larger than they used to be. Most can hold six to ten rounds and can be concealed in a pants pocket with a proper belt holster. In the days before the flintlock or caplock pistol, calibers ranged from a small lead ball the size of a pea to a robust.454 (roughly an.45 caliber roundball). Fast forward almost 200 years, and the options are virtually the same:.25 ACP up to.45ACP. However, the means of operation and capacity of handguns have changed. A subcompact revolver/semi-auto must be less than 6.5 inches in length, have a width of 1.25 inches (or less), and have a height of under 5 inches to qualify as a 21st century pocket pistol. These dimensions are not relevant to caliber, as modern pocket pistols can range up to.45 ACP. Semi-autos have an average capacity of six to seven rounds in the magazine, one in the chamber, and five rounds in the cylinder. Revolvers are generally limited to five-round cartridges. This category also includes two-round pocket pistols in similar calibers. Many of the new pocket-sized semiautos offer the same large caliber defensive firepower that was once reserved for smaller and subcompact holster-carry models. Pocket pistols are designed for personal defense, but a handgun kept at one’s bedside can be used to deter an intruder from entering one’s home. Today’s pocket pistols are the most universal of all handguns. This is a fact that would have delighted Henry Deringer, a Philadelphia gunmaker in 19th century Philadelphia. Meet the Pocket Pistols That Make the Grade: Beretta Pisco Cartridge/Action :.380 ACP/Semi Auto Weight: 11.50 ounces Length : 5.10 inches Capacity : 6+1 The Beretta Pico’s slim profile makes it an ideal pocket gun. The Pico is less than 0.73 inches in width and draws almost flawlessly. The Pico is chambered with.380 ACP and holds 6+1 rounds of ammunition. The large three-dot sights help in quick target acquisition. Beretta designed this gun to be easy to use for pistol shooters of any skill level. It has a low recoil and minimal muzzle turn. The magazine release is ambidextrous, allowing for efficient reloading for both left- and right-handed shooters. Bond Arms Backup Cartridge/Action :.45 ACP/9mm Weigh: 19.00 ounces Length : 4.50 inches Capacity : 2 This is our take on Bond Arms backup. The Backup has a low-profile black powdercoat frame with a matte finish on the twin barrels. The Backup is your best-kept surprise due to its lightweight and compact design. The Backup can accept 20 different barrels, including the.410 gauge/.45 LC. Charter Arms Undercover Lite Cartridge/Action: .38 Spl/Rev. Weight: 12.00 ounces. Length 6.50 inches. Capacity 5 The Charter Arms Undercover Lite offers plenty of power and fortitude despite being light in weight. You get a reliable and high-functioning sidearm thanks to its robust aircraft-grade aluminum and stainless steel construction. To suit revolver lovers of both types, the Undercover Lite can be ordered with a traditional spurred or a double action-only hammer. Chiappa Rhino 200DS Cartridge/Action: 9mm/.357 Mag/.40 S&W/Rev. Weight: 21.00 ounces Length 6.50 inches Capacity 6 The Chiappa Rhino 200DS revolver is designed with a lower bore. This means that the barrel stays in line with the shooter’s hand and wrist. This design eliminates almost all muzzle rise, felt recoil. The Chiappa Rhino 200DS is a great choice for beginners who are unsure about guns or those who need a lot of power but not too much. The Diamondback DB380 Cartridge/Action is.380 ACP/Semi Auto Weight: 8.80 ounces Length : 5.26 inches Capacity : 6+1 The Diamondback DB380 is a great choice for a pocket pistol that’s lightweight and compact, but won’t break the bank. The lightweight frame measures just 5.26 inches in length, 3.75 inches high, and 0.75 inches wide. You’ll need to remind yourself that it’s right there on your person. The DB380’s weight and size are not deceiving. The slide and barrel use a Finite Element Analysis-designed slide to provide a stronger and more durable performance. Glock 42 Cartridge/Action :.380 AutoCP/SemiAuto Weight: 12.17 ounces Length : 5.94 inches Capacity : 6+1 This list would not be complete without the Glock 42. The Glock 42 was the first.380 ACP pocket pistol on the civilian market. It was a huge success due to its small size, low recoil and reliability. The Glock 42’s nearly full-sized sights allow for efficient target acquisition, while the firm grip texture is strong without feeling abrasive. Heckler & Koch P30SK Cartridge/Action 9mm/Semi Auto Weight: 23.99 ounces Length 6.42 inches Capacity 10+1. Fans of Heckler & Koch’s HK P30 duty pistol, will love its smaller sibling, the HK P30SK. This 9mm, polymer-framed, hammer-fired, double-action/single-action (also available as a DAO) pocket pistol retains all of the features that made the P30 a hit, including a fully adjustable grip with different-sized side panels and backstraps, a de-cocker mounted at the rear of the slide, an optional ambidextrous manual safety, and standard ambidextrous slide and magazine releases to accommodate left- and right-handed shooters. Picatinny rail, also known as the Picatinny, allows you to add tactical lights or lasers to your pistol. North American Arms Guardian Cartridge/Action :.380 CP/Semi Auto Weight: 20.40oz Length : 4.81 inches Capacity : 6+1 The North American Arms Guardian feels more substantial thanks to its stainless steel construction and hard rubber grips that provide a firm hold. The Guardian is small in size but has plenty of stopping power. It can be carried in a holster, or in the side pocket of a purse. Standard Guardians come with fixed sights, satin-polished flats for the slide and a matte finish at the barrel and frame. This pocket pistol is reminiscent of a vintage design, but the performance is designed to please modern shooters. Remington RM380 Cartridge/Action :.380 AutoCP/SemiAuto Weight: 12.20 ounces Length : 5.27 inches Capacity : 6+1 The Remington RM380 is a standout due to its precision-tuned performance, reliability, and size. The Remington RM380 pocket pistol is a perfect representation of the Remington brand. It delivers steadfast function with unsurpassed accuracy and control, no matter what the situation. The perfect concealed carry pistol, the RM380 pocket pistol is just 12.2 ounces in weight and just over 5 inches long. Ruger EC9s Cartridge/Action 9mm/Semi Auto Weight: 17.20 ounces Length : 6.00 inches Capacity : 7+1 Ruger’s EC9s is a tough choice for pocket pistols. It features a durable nylon frame, a polymer grip and sights embedded into the slide. Both the barrel and slide are coated in corrosion-resistant blackoxide to withstand years. SCCY CPX-2 Gen3 Cartridge/Action 9mm/Semi Auto Weight: 15.00 ounces Length : 6.00 inches Capacity : 10+1 The SCCY CPX-2 Gen3 pocket pistol is a great choice. The compact, hammer-fired DAO pistol is part the third generation CPX series. It includes Picatinny rail accessories and upgraded sights for better target acquisition. Smith & Wesson M&P bodyguard.380 Crimson Trace cartridge/Action:.380 Auto/Semi-Auto Weigh: 19.00 ounces Length : 5.30 inches Capacity : 6+1
We wouldn’t be remiss if we didn’t include a member from the M&P lineup on this list of pocket pistols. The Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard.380 Crimson Trace packs all the best M&P engineering in a concealable semiautomatic pistol. The lightweight Bodyguard is made from strong polymer frames with a matte-finished stainless steel slide and barrel. Crimson Trace laser sights allow for rapid target acquisition, even when you have only seconds to respond. Walther CCPM2+ Cartridge/Action 9mm/Semi Auto Weight: 20.00 ounces Length of 6.41 inches Capacity 8 Walther’s CCPM2+ slides are precision-machined to provide outstanding durability and performance. The precision-machined slide is compatible with all Glock 19/17 series sights. The CCP, which stands for Concealed Carry Pistol, is the first polymer pistol to be equipped with Soft-coil gas technology. This reduces recoil and makes it easier to rack the slide. The CCP M2+ conceal carry pistol is also the most ergonomic in Walther’s catalog. This makes it an ideal pocket pistol for new shooters. RELATED STORIES 25 Compact Carry Handguns for Self-Defense Beretta 92 Timeslide The Evolution of GLOCK Pstols Heckler & Koch’s Street-Ready, Street-Ready 9mm Little Big Man: Meet Remington RM380. Didn’t find the answer you were looking to? Search The post Best Pocket Pistols for Personal Defense[2022] appeared first at Personal Defense World.