I know I have a new pistol thread almost every week! but I am researching my options for pocket carry and here's my conflicts :
Shooting is expensive! I shoot my own 9mm and 38s. That has cut down costs quite a bit. Getting into another caliber would mean more dies, more casings, more time.
So I'm torn between caliber, cost, stopping power, price, size, placement in my collection, and value! Whew!
So I originally thought I'd go the cheap route with a Taurus pt738 ($250) or a Kahr cm9 ($350) but after reading bad reviews I don't think I'll go that way. For a little more money I can get a much better gun. So I WAS looking at a used sig 238 but that one got sold. Bummer. So now I've got two in my sights - the 637 Performance Center model, and the Bodyguard 380 w/laser. I've thought about the shield but this gun is going to have to fill the niche of going with me when the other guns won't. So small, light, concealable, yet with enough stopping power and wont make me broke with ammo. The 637 is $500, the BG is $400. If I got the BG I could get the 380 dies and some brass and be about even with the 637 price. BUT - I feel a little leery about carrying a 380. Do they do well with hot reloads? I reload to pretty hot standards. The BG melts away and the 637 is a little more noticeable... But I also don't want to trade caliber for comfort COMPLETELY. On the other hand from an aesthetic standpoint I prefer semi autos over revolvers. I have a 357 stainless SP101 that I consider my quintessential revolver and have never felt the need for another one. Semi autos however are an addiction for me. So there is that. But the 637 is growing on me!
What would you go with out of these two?
Note - I've looked at and handled pretty much EVERY gun in this category - Ruger, Kel tec, Kahr, Taurus, ad nauseum.
Shooting is expensive! I shoot my own 9mm and 38s. That has cut down costs quite a bit. Getting into another caliber would mean more dies, more casings, more time.
So I'm torn between caliber, cost, stopping power, price, size, placement in my collection, and value! Whew!
So I originally thought I'd go the cheap route with a Taurus pt738 ($250) or a Kahr cm9 ($350) but after reading bad reviews I don't think I'll go that way. For a little more money I can get a much better gun. So I WAS looking at a used sig 238 but that one got sold. Bummer. So now I've got two in my sights - the 637 Performance Center model, and the Bodyguard 380 w/laser. I've thought about the shield but this gun is going to have to fill the niche of going with me when the other guns won't. So small, light, concealable, yet with enough stopping power and wont make me broke with ammo. The 637 is $500, the BG is $400. If I got the BG I could get the 380 dies and some brass and be about even with the 637 price. BUT - I feel a little leery about carrying a 380. Do they do well with hot reloads? I reload to pretty hot standards. The BG melts away and the 637 is a little more noticeable... But I also don't want to trade caliber for comfort COMPLETELY. On the other hand from an aesthetic standpoint I prefer semi autos over revolvers. I have a 357 stainless SP101 that I consider my quintessential revolver and have never felt the need for another one. Semi autos however are an addiction for me. So there is that. But the 637 is growing on me!
What would you go with out of these two?
Note - I've looked at and handled pretty much EVERY gun in this category - Ruger, Kel tec, Kahr, Taurus, ad nauseum.