Free Republic Gun Club – Tuesday – Pocket Pistols!!!!!!

09/02/08 | Pistolshot

[umgud]

My little ones.

[mbynack]

A Kahr PM40 in a DeSantis belly-band is just the ticket for Florida's sweltering heat, when a pair of beach shorts and a tank top is all you can bear to wear!

Have you had any problems with your PM40? I would really like to start carrying mine, but it has been totally unreliable. I've polished the feedramp and slide and installed new springs, but it still won't go into battery over half the time. Do you know something that will get it to work correctly?

[Travis McGee]

Some think that KT didn’t do a sufficient job of protecting their patents, and basically allowed Ruger to steal them blind.

[Spktyr]

Mine is on barrel number three or four. It was used, and used hard - I’m sure it saw action in Asia in at least two wars, as it is a handmedown.

[Niteranger68]

That may very well be true. There's certainly no doubt that Ruger started with the KT in their design. The slide-lock is a nice addition, but from the reviews I've read, the KT checkering has more grip than Ruger. That's pretty important in a mouser.

[LimaLimaMikeFoxtrot]

Get the right pocket holster and lint should not be a problem.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

It ain't a .380, but my PT145 has the same dimensions as a Walther PPK, and I carry it in a Ross leather pocket holster.

I would much rather have .45 than a .380 in a situation where I actually needed to use my CCW.

[Joe Brower]

Sorry to hear that your PM40 is troublesome; mine has been A-OK since day one. When it first arrived, I disassembled and cleaned it (I used Butch's Bore Shine & CLP), and then ran over 200 rounds of 180gr TMJ MiWall reloads through it as Kahr suggests. No failures to feed or stovepipes, the two most common troubles when breaking in one of these little pistols. Since then, I've run about 300+ rounds of Speer 180gr Gold Dot through it and another 500+ of the TMJ -- no troubles. One thing I note about this pistol is that it is _not_ fun to shoot, and a tight, positive grip is essential, or one will see stovepipes.

As a side note, this PM40 is the second Kahr I purchased -- my first was a PM9, which I've also treated similarly and have also had no troubles with. Have you spoken to Kahr about this? I have found their customer support to be excellent, and it sounds like you might just have a lemon, however uncommon that may be.

[5Madman2]

Please add the venerable Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless in .32, .380 and .25

While the .32/380 was more of a coat pocket pistol, it was and is a reliable,concealable shooter that has impeccable lines

One of my favorites

[antisocial]

I have a Walther PP in .32 (stainless) I love it!

[cyclotic]

I have a Jennings. Never misfired and was convenient to carry, but then the barrel cracked.

Still debating on whether to get it fixed or save it for a local gun buyback.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Let's not forget the smallest, lightest truly pocketable 9mm around: the award winning Rohrbaugh pistols. They cost over $1000 ($1200?) but are built like a custom gun, with a remarkable trigger. Speaking from experience, the grip (for my hand) is so comfortable that shooting it perfectly comfortable.

[Gritty]

I got the Kel-Tec P32 before the P3AT came out. I love mine and have never had a problem with it.

The P32 and P3AT are practically the same except the P32 has a slide lock and holds an extra round, which in my opinion is a real plus in these generally underpowered - but very mobile and concealable - pistols.

Even though these are basically point-and-shoot pistols, I also installed an ARMALASER on it. That improves the very minimal sights tremendously, especially in low light and at ranges beyond 7 yards.

One of these little concealable bugs is well worth the money. It is a "carry any time, anywhere" tool (where legal, of course).

[MtnClimber]

My usual summer carry gun, that I have in front pocket as I type this, is a Kahr MK40. It is the stainless frame model. The PM polimer frames are lighter, but the extra weight of the MK frame tames the recoil better. I currently carry in a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster. I think a pocket holster is a very important safety consideration for pocket carry. Keeping the trigger covered prevents things from snagging the trigger and a possible bad surprise!

[Pistolshot]

I carry my NAA Guardian in one of these. It works, reasonably priced too.

[mbynack]

I spoke to Kahr a couple times. They gave me instructions for polishing the ramp and slide and sent me the new, heavier springs. It didn’t change anything. About 60% of the time the slide won’t go back into battery. I’ve put about 200-300 rounds through it and the problem seems to be getting worse instead of better. I’m planning on sending it back to Kahr to see what they can do.

[Joe Brower]

"I’m planning on sending it back to Kahr to see what they can do."

That would be my next suggestion. Sounds like it's already been way too much trouble.

Good luck.

[Uri’el-2012]

I don’t own a pocket gun, mostly because I’ve always wondered if lint and other pocket debris would make it misfire or worse. Anyone have any first hand knowledge?

You always want to use a holster.

Here are some of the best.

Mika's Pocket Holsters.

[B4Ranch]

>I would really like to start carrying mine, but it has been totally unreliable.<

SELL IT! Do NOT ever carry a weapon that makes you feel uncomfortable because of it’s reliability to operate. A rock is a better choice.

[TC Rider]

Mmmm, pocket guns, my favorite carry.

My current carry is a S&W 432, a J frame hammerless in .32 H&R Magnum, it’s the 6 shot J frame!

Others in the safe, and around the home are a Taurus 85 ultralight in .38 +p, a S&W Model 60 w/3” barrel in .38, a S&W Model 32 in .32 S&W Long, the lovely Anne has a hammerless J frame in .357, and a NAA .22 mini revolver with the big folding grip.

Others in the safe, a Colt M1903 in .32, an older Beretta 7.62 (.32), a new Beretta Tomcat .32 (this one has bitten me twice).

Sorry, no pictures.