Sharp as a Marble - Side by side comparison

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Side by side comparison

Guns. Lots of Guns.

My Glock 29 is considered a sub-compact pistol. It ain't tiny by any stretch of the imagination, but I've found it to be relatively easy to conceal with my CTAC holster. Of course, sometimes shorts and a t-shirt are called for in the Florida sun, so its bulk becomes easier to notice. Hence the purchase of the KelTec P3AT.

Here's a bit of comparison of them for scale (each picture allows the depression of the left most mouse button in order to facilitate image enlargement. For image enlargement lasting over 4 hours, please see your doctor).

	These are both the rigs. The Glock 29 uses the CTAC holster and for the P3AT, I picked up a Blackhawk Pocket Holster. It fits snugly in a front or back pocket and makes for simple retrieval as well as provides a bit of shape masking. It's difficult to tell what's making that shape.
	Here are the two side by side. The KelTec is tiiiiiny.
	Side by side, you can see how ridiculously thin the P3AT is. Not as thin as Obama's work experience, but still pretty damned thin. The Glock has a Crimson Trace which adds to its width. I'd like to get a Crimson Trace for the P3AT (coughemailmePatrickcough) at some point since the sights are practically non-existent on the pistol. The scary thing is the lasers are almost half the price of the pistol!
	Luckily, the store had some self-defense ammo. It's Hornady Critical Defense ammo which apparently is pretty new. The hollow points are filled with what feels like stiff Play-Doh and are supposed to keep clothing or pocket lint from jamming in the points so they'll expand. So, to keep stuff out of the points, they put stuff in them. Beats me. Hopefully they'll do the trick. The damned things were $27 for 25. Heck, the 6.8SPC ammo is cheaper per round!

Dunno when I'll be able to deliver a range report. Until I get at least 100 rounds through it, I'm not going to be comfortable carrying it, so I'll be trying my darndest to find some practice ammo so I can put her through the tests.

posted @ 4/13/2009 7:19:06 PM

Comments

Regolith says:

on 4/13/2009 9:17:04 PM

The damned things were $27 for 25.

Now you know what it's like to buy rifle ammo. That's about what I spend for decent hunting ammunition, and I only get 20 rounds.

I really need to get into reloading...

Robb Allen says:

on 4/13/2009 9:29:12 PM

Regolith, I reload my 6.8SPC for that very reason. I can reload each round for about 30¢ vs. the $1+ they cost.

Don't plan on reloading .380 because I don't plan on shooting that much of it.

Wolfwood says:

on 4/13/2009 9:43:55 PM

I don't know if this is your first .380, but I made a point of using a different brand of .380 than I used for 9mm so I could tell the difference if time were ever critical. Since I use Gold Dot for 9mm, my .380 rounds are Hydra-Shoks.

Maybe it's paranoid, but it makes me feel better.

CB says:

on 4/14/2009 10:06:41 AM

I had the same issue... traded my XD40 subcompact in for a P3AT+goodies. I can conceal my commander length 1911 in suprisingly little clothing, but the Kel-tec hides in pretty much anything (or nothing). The lasergrips are worth the $$$, just think of how much you saved on the Kel-tec over a LCP. Plus Crimsontrace ships the grips with a pretty nice pocket holster cut to fit the gun w/ the grips.

NatefromOgden says:

on 4/14/2009 10:28:17 AM

There has been a P3AT in one of my pockets for 4+ years now, it goes everywhere with me. It's not pretty but it works every time and I always have it close. I also started carrying my Kel-Tec PF-9 in a Cross Breed IWB tuckable holster that even my gun-fearing spousal unit is completely unaware of.

I do still need to upgrade the P3AT with a laser sight sometime soon.

Rivrdog says:

on 4/14/2009 8:18:05 PM

I carry a P3AT, and use a DeSantis pocket holster, very nice. Sitcky outside, so stays in pocket, slick inside (silk-like) so the gun comes out easier.

I shoot the P3AT about 3-4 times a year, several magazines each time. I've shot Golden Saber and Hydra-Shok in it, but only trust ball for the magazine (hotshot in the pipe).

If you can raise your arm and point a finger at someone a few steps away, you don't need laser grips. The P3AT is a belly gun, not meant to be used over three paces. You don't need to be able to make a 2" group, because all you are doing with a 2 1/4" barrel and .380 is make a succession of small hurts, hopefully scoring enough of them to end the threat from your target.

If belly-gunning doesn't solve your security problems, wear heavier clothing and carry a more serious sidearm, like one of the fine small 9mms by Kel-Tec. I have a PF-11 which, with 11 rds of 124gr NATO ball, will penetrate well and kill the target. In the belt-slide holster, it is covered well by any shirt outside the belt, or any jacket.

If you insist on a .40 or .45, you are either facing multiple threats or are not practicing enough with your lighter weapons.

BTW, the PF-11 DOES have nice 3-dot sights, and is quite accurate out to 30 yards.

The good thing about the Kel-Tecs is that you can have three of them for what one of the "gunfighter's" 1911-derivatives would cost you.

No offense to the spendy gunfighting schools, but the average Joe's CCW needs are filled nicely by inexpensive Kel-Tec pistols, and the more $$$ you have left over, the more you can practice.

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