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Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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I have owned .380 pocket pistols for about 5 years, a couple of KelTec P3AT's, a Colt Mustang, and most recently a Ruger LCP.
I just added the LaserLyte Red Dot (frame mounted, one touch steady on or pulse) and it currently "walks around" with 6+1 rounds of Hornady XTP 90 gr. Critical Defense ammo (and a second mag is usually pretty available), in either a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster or an ankle holster.
Lot's of folks want to crap on .380, but this is always ready and available. I shoot 50 rounds of WWB FMJ monthly, and I am regularly trying out new SD ammo for function and reliability. Based on Internet research and my function testing, the XTP is the current favorite.
.380x7 in the pocket beats the hell out of anything sitting in the safe at home.
Always Carry, Never Tell
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
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July 2, 2011
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Nothing wrong with a .380, it is afterall a cut down 9mm. Looks like you have the Hornady crtical defense loads in there. Good choice.
To the paranoid people who check behind shower curtains for murderers:
if you find one...what's your plan?
August 28, 2009
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Nice pocket pistol. I picked one up last year with the engraved slide and it's what I usually carry now. The next one I will be picking up soon is the S&W bodyguard w/ laser. Similar gun with an external safety.
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Dans Club
March 27, 2009
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Very nice the light weights pack a punch! May have to snag one as a back up at some point (soon).
My P64 in 9x18 goes with me most every where!
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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I looked at the Bodyguard, it was just enough bigger to make it not "pocketable" for me. This LaserLyte really adds a lot of functionality for virtually no increase in size.
If it won't fit in my pocket, it is going to be an M-59 IWB.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
November 23, 2011
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Steve I have been carrying a LCP for over a year. When I got mine the slide was slamming into the frame causing a lot of recoil. If you have a problem with the guns recoil I have a cheap fix, let me know. R S
PS. I have been hinting for a laser like the one you have for Christmas, sure hope the Wife is paying attention!
Remembering Col Jeff Cooper
December 26, 2010
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Nice pocket pieces, Steve, Rod. Nothing wrong with a 380. Thanks for the pic.
I hope to have my CCW permit in another month or so and am looking at pocket guns myself. I'm having such good experience with my SR9 that I'm really liking the LC9 and the LCP. How easy is it to control muzzle rise on your LCP? Does it get back on target quickly? Does the grip extension help. Am I correct that it is dead solid reliable? Is it ammo picky? I've heard good reports on the DeSantis pocket holster.
Rod, which holster is that? What's the second mag? Anybody ask what type of tool you carry in that Stanley? (I like it. 
)
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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Rod-looks like you're using XTP too. The LaserLyte is $99, and installs in about 5 minutes.
I think LCP can use KelTec mags, and their mag has a +1 extension that doubles as a "pinky" rest. I'm gonna give that a try, 1 more round may someday be THE DIFFERENCE.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
November 23, 2011
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Well 95X I'll try to answer your questions.
Muzzle rise in my new LCP was sharp as was recoil. I changed out the recoil spring to a Wolff Gunsprings Kel Tec P3AT 54416 at $8.99. This is a 16# spring. If you follow my suggestion on this you need to cut off two to three coils to prevent coil binding. Before making this change people would ask to shoot the LCP. After one shot they would hand it back with a look of you must be nuts to shoot that. After the spring change it is a joy to practice with. Trust me on this one, you will not believe the difference it makes.
Does it get on target quickly? I made a change here also with a set of NiteSiter night sights. These are stick on sights that when charged glow in the dark, they all so stand out in daylight. Well worth the few dollars they cost. If you go with these I will tell you a few tricks on installation.
Does the grip extension help? For me yes. I have big hands, the reason for the grip sleeve.
My LCP is dead solid reliable or I would not carry it. I have not found any ammo it would not shoot. With the shortage of 380 this has been a small sample. I really like Critical Defense by Hornady.
I have and use the Desantis pocket holster but prefer the IWB holster by Highnoon Holsters which is in the picture. I spent a lot of time seated and a pocket holster is sloooow when seated.
The second mag is a 10 round from Pro Mag. I had a small part in bringing this mag to the public. These are the first two they sold. I believe if you carry a small gun you should have a lot of ammo. With this setup I carry 33 rounds.
Anybody ask what type of tool you carry in that Stanley? No I live in red neck land. I would raise more attention if I did not carry one. This is my Sunday go to meeting rig! You want you every day Stanley holster to show a lot of wear.
So 95X was this helpful? R S
Remembering Niel Knox Hats off to his son for carrying on his dad's work.
December 26, 2010
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Thanks Rod. Definitely a help. The grip sleeve is a great idea, especially on the LCP. I've got big hands also and am concerned about keeping it on target if the pooh should hit the fan (I hope it never happens. Hopefully I can avoid or run away before I would have to draw.) The ones I've held didn't have the extension resulting in my pinky and part or all of my ring finger hanging off the grip. My SR9 jumps quite a bit but I've got no problem keeping a hold of it and getting it back on target quickly. I'm guessing that I will be able to keep a hold of a pocket gun with the extension. That said, the extra size of the LC9 is attractive to me for grip purposes, the small size of the LCP is attractive for concealment.
I like the sights of every Ruger I've laid a hand on. I've heard of NiteSiter's but haven't tried them yet. I'll keep them in mind.
Reliability is good to hear. My SR9 has been rock solid reliable. So has my 10/22 and its 25+ years old (although it is finally starting to stovepipe some; guess I'll have to get a new extractor for it 
).
I figure I'll start with a pocket holster and then try an IWB as I get more comfortable. I'm not going to outdraw anybody. I figure my best defense is to stay out of a situation and failing that to get the gun in my hand before it is really needed. I'll keep it concealed as best I can and am certainly not going to brandish but if I wait for the other guy to get his weapon out first then I may as well not carry at all.
I'll check out the ProMag's and the Stanley. My thought was I would use a cell phone case for the extra mag but that extended mag and the Stanley look real good.
Thanks for the help.
December 27, 2010
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I like my sig 238 in 380 a great pocket pistol
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January 24, 2009
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Nice choice Steve, the LCP looks like a nice little gun. One of the guys at work just bought one this week. Those little guys sure don't weigh much.
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