Looking to purchase a pocket BUG...updated with pics

[NcongruNt]

I carry the NAA Guardian 380 as my every day backup and off duty gun. It is in my right hip pocket almost any time I am dressed. It has a long and hard trigger pull. It is alos very concealable. It is a belly gun but I can take 15 yard shots with it for qualification and hit the target every time.

And, I have no doubt in my mind that it will work and go bang every time I pull the trigger. I have at least 500 rounds through it with no problems. I wiould not hesitate to recommend it, as long as the person is aware of the trigger pull.

I'll second this opinion. I don't have a tiny BUG yet, but the NAA Backup .380 is a serious contender on my list. I was able to try out srothstein's gun at an Austin get-together, and was simply amazed at how very accurate it was, especially for being such a tiny little thing. It has a great feel to it, and definitely does not feel cheaply built. The long pull (like pretty much any BUG) takes a few shots to get used to for the first time, but is entirely manageable. I'd have no problems putting a box of ammo through it every time I went to the range. The only downside to this weapon is that if you have beefy hands (like me), you tend to get a bit of hammer bite.

[shootthesheet]

My opinion is that if you want one of the more expensive ones then get one now. Why? Free passes do not last forever. You can always come along later and pick up the KT and I do recommend them. For size, weight and price they are, in my opinion, the best "pocket" gun made. Mine shoots very accurately and I have had no problems at all. However, I would get one of the others first if I had the option. My P3AT isn't popular with the women I have shot with and I want to get something small with a better trigger for the wife. At least that is my justification for buying one. Get it while you can and come back later for the less expensive KT when you are able to. Just my thinking.

[NcongruNt]

Since we're on the topic of .380, what rounds do you guys recommend? I was thinking about trying the Hornady XTP. They work well in my .45's. I haven't tried them in anything else yet. I have to admit, even though I carry it every day now, sometimes the effectiveness of the .380 worries me.

I don't have a .380 to tell you about, but I'll give you my experiences with Hornady XTP.

I started out carrying an FEG PA-63. This gun is in 9x18 (aka 9mm Makarov), which is similar in size and profile to .380. It is also a blunter bullet like the .380, and 9x18 guns are largely (if not all) direct blowback operation, just like every .380 I know of. 9x18 is like a very hot .380, ballistically speaking. Anyhow, there is very little choice for HP ammo in 9x18. Almost everything available is old-style hollow points. I started out with Silver Bear hollow points, but was having some trouble with failures to feed. I found that there were 2 causes: steel cases drag more on the lips of the mag, causing the round to turn its nose down a bit as it feeds. I also found that the wide profile of the Silver Bear hollow points were catching on the front edge of the magazine, jamming the round. I went looking for more modern, brass-cased HPs, and found that the only available ammo of modern HP design is Hornady XTP. I ordered several boxes, and instantly loved them. Not only was it brass, but Hornady's brass is incredibly slick. This ammo feeds better than any other brass cased (even FMJ!) ammo I've found in 9x18. Additionally, XTP bullets have a narrower profile at the tip. This means that it is less likely to snag on the ramp or front of the magazine when feeding, and this has certainly been the case for me. I imagine that the same is true for most other handgun calibers, as the XTP bullets seem to have the same narrow tapering in all the calibers that I've seen. I would definitely recommend this as a reliable carry round.

[Skiprr]

Are you committed to .380? I carry a Beretta Tomcat (32acp) in my pocked and FWIW, it's extremely accurate for such a tiny gun and has been totally reliable. http://www.berettausa.com/product/produ ... s_main.htm

+1 IMHO, Seecamp or Beretta. Both solidly-made pistols. I bought a P3AT first, and after two trips to the manufacturer the only thing I trust it to do is sit in the safe. The Seecamp is built like a little tank; I trust it to do what it's made to do. I have no experience with the Guardian, but I'd buy the Seecamp or Beretta in a heartbeat. This kid won't be buying another Kel-Tec.

[zbordas]

+1 for the Beretta. Mine has been 100% reliable since the begining. I mostly carry a Bersa 380 just because I have more practice with that gun. Ammo price can be disappointing for the 32 ACP though

[AEA]

Taurus or Smith J-Frame in .38spl.

aaaaaaaand, I'll tell you why.

1. Ammo for 380 is retardedly expensive. how is a shorter case, with the ~same bullet going to cost more?
2. I'm sure you've shot one of your 380's before, but for me, shooting a J-frame in .38spl is waaaaaay more comfortable.
3. I believe a .380 to be underpowered. it'll gitcha just as much as a .22LR, but still. my opinion.

magazine capacity? I thik 5 is enough for a BUG. 7-or 8 really doesn't seem like a major advantage to me.

I personally have issue with many of the .380's out (bought my SO a Bersa .380, so I do have experience with them) as far as ultimate reliability (specially from limp wristing and whatnot). once again, just my undereducated opinion.

enjoy whatever you get and of course, pics!

If you carry a Semi-Auto for Primary weapon, you should ONLY consider a revolver for a BUG (my opinion). Otherwise you have a very good chance of both semi's malfunctioning and nothing but your finger to point with. Revolvers ALWAYS go BANG!

[seamusTX]

Revolvers ALWAYS go BANG!

I'm confident in the reliability of modern revolvers, but any machine can fail. All it takes is a broken firing pin or cracked frame. A double-action revolver has a whole bunch of moving parts.

- Jim

[PX]

FWIW:

I've had 'em all.. (still do for the most part..)

I would recommend the Seecamp LWS32 in a heartbeat. My wife and I both have one, and I have another LWS32 and LWS380 on order. If you order an LWS32 you can expect a 3-4 month wait, and for the LWS380, a one year wait..

General consensus on the http://www.seecamp.com forum is that there is very little advantage in the 380cal round out of such a small platform as the Seecamp (or NAA/KT/etc.) over the 32cal other than a slight increase in the actual size of the round. Most folks seem to prefer the 32cal Seecamp as it's simply easier to shoot, recoil is less, and follow up accuracy is potentially better. In fact Larry Seecamp himself carries an LWS32. (I think with Hornady's).

LWS32's list for $425.00 but you can buy them from dealers at less than that. In fact I bought my first LWS32 approximately 6 months ago for $380.00 new... If you monitor the http://www.seecamp.com forum you will find several dealers posting there who will give you a discount off retail. (theirishguard is a good one)..

Some of the seecamp forum members who are dealers already have orders in the pipeline and so it's possible you can get a pistol earlier than otherwise might be expected.

There is simply NO small firearm I've ever seen that will conceal as easily as the Seecamp. I use a R.J.Hedley rear wallet pocket holster and when I pick up my car keys that little sucker goes in my back pocket. You can cc in a rear wallet holster almost anytime, anyplace, and no "outerwear" is necessary as the pistol in the wallet holster is fully concealed in the back pocket.

I still own a KelTec P32 and NAA Guardian.. I still own several 38 cal. snubby revolvers... I think they are ALL excellent cc firearms, just not as good overall as the Seecamp.

You can buy a KelTec for around $225-250. A Guardian retails for $400 (inox 500), (don't know what you have to actually pay when you haggle), and the Beretta Tomcat, which I HAD, and was a piece of junk is $400+.. You can buy a new Seecamp for, I'm guessing for around $400-425 or so.

The Seecamp is made of the absolute finest materials.. No "MIM"s in a Seecamp. Every Seecamp is almost custom built in that they are hand finished and test fired, generally by Larry Seecamp himself. (Altho I hear someone helps him now). If you wonder how a Seecamp pistol compares as to potential "resale" value try and find a used one, and see how much you would have to pay for it.

Seecamps are no longer restricted ammowise.. The new ones (above 31,000 or so, I'm guessing at the break point) can shoot any jhp, but like any pistol might prefer one round over another. Our LWS32's function perfectly on Speer "Gold Dots".. That's all I use now.

If you want the absolute best mousegun in the world it is the Seecamp, hands down. The KT and the NAA are very good pistols, and I would recommend either of them.

Truthfully I would not, from my one terrible experience with the Tomcat (and the crappy Beretta CS/Warranty Dept) want another of those, and a snubby revolver simply cannot be carried concealed nearly as easily. And for me ease of concealment and 100% reliability are paramount in a carry weapon.







If you want a good mousegun, the KelTec P32 or the NAA Guardian will either do a great job for you.

If you want the BEST, get a Seecamp.

Just my old fart opinion, YMMV.

Best Wishes,

J.Pomeroy

[seamusTX]

Is that pistol really named Joann or did you Photoshop the serial number?

- Jim

[PX]

Is that pistol really named Joann or did you Photoshop the serial number?

- Jim

Jim:

When you place an order for a Seecamp you can get a personalized serial number for an extra $35.00. I had the standard serial numbered LWS32 and my wife (JoAnn obviously) took a liking to it, so I ordered her one for her. (1JOANN). JoAnn and I have been married almost 40 years so you know shes a "keeper", and she doesn't mind me buying "guns" so I wanted her Seecamp to be "special"..

And, for me, there's only ONE JOANN....



We are of the opinion that one of these days our Son will enjoy having "Mamas gun"... We think the personalized serial number will make it a bit more "special" when that time comes.

Thanks for asking..

Jesse

[seamusTX]

Cool. I saw that NAA has customized serial numbers, but I didn't know anyone else did it.

Congratulations on the long marriage.

- Jim

[PX]

Cool. I saw that NAA has customized serial numbers, but I didn't know anyone else did it.

Congratulations on the long marriage.

- Jim

Thanks!

This is the happy couple in the early 1970's before we became "Granpa n' Granma'"...



Best Wishes,

Jesse

[seamusTX]

Heh. I'd scan my wedding photos, but no one would believe it was the same person. My wife, OTOH, is as beautiful as she was 30 years ago, only more so.

- Jim

[PX]

Heh. I'd scan my wedding photos, but no one would believe it was the same person. My wife, OTOH, is as beautiful as she was 30 years ago, only more so.

- Jim

Well Jim,

I would say you and I have been blessed in the marriage department....

Good for both of us! Having a wonderful lifetime mate is a super thing, and sadly it seems that more and more folks simply miss out on it.... Lord willing I'm keeping mine, and I'm sure you are too..

Take Care,



Jesse

[Skiprr]

See? The moral of the story is, "Invest in things that will stand the test of time."