concealed carry Kel-Tec .380

[seabob4]

You guys, I'm a bit taken aback by the conceal thread here, as well as on THT.  It sounds like, to me, that there is an ever growing fear of being accosted on the street, at one's business, or at home.  Am I living in a vacumn?  I haven't seen this type of behavior, not in the Weeki Wachee neck of the woods.  Yes, we are close to St. Pete/Tampa, and all they have to offer, but really, I never feel a threat...but then we have a Panera Bread 2 miles away...not much need for a .380 or 9mm there, nor at the Bed, Bath, and Beyond...

[John Jones]

Bob,
I have been in the same place for over 9 years now and it's not exactly big city.  Used to not lock my doors or my cars.  The last two years there has been enough going on to change my ways.

[flounderpounder225]

Bob,
I have been in the same place for over 9 years now and it's not exactly big city.  Used to not lock my doors or my cars.  The last two years there has been enough going on to change my ways.

Agree, we are seeing an increasing amount of home invasions, car jacking etc.. Just this past weekend, north of Pensacola (Proper) three teenage thugs knocked on an old man's door at 9:00PM, he answered the door, they busted in and started thumping him in the head with an Aluminum baseball bat.... but what they didn't know was, he answered the door with his hand gun, in-hand, he hit the floor firing, put a few rounds in two of the punks, and refrained from the third because "he didn't want to shoot the kid in the back" later the two that took some hits, showed up in the hospital E room for gunshot wounds, and ratted out the third to the police.  I would rather be prepared, and never have to use it, than be in that circumstance that I thought would never happen to me, and not have any way to defend myself.

[wingtime]

Things here in Pinellas county are not what they used to be ten or twenty years ago.  Pinellas is the most densely populated county in the state with over 3,200 people per square mile!  I have been approached at night several times in dark parking lots in the last year by homeless people looking for a hand outs.  Each time I was with my girlfriend who has been a little freaked out by it.  She has lived here all her life and has never seen it this bad.  A friend of mine son works at a Walgreen's in north St Pete and he has been robbed several times, at knife point and gunpoint, he even had some crackhead hit him in the back of the head when he turned around trying to steal cigarettes.  Granted he is a big boy and he jumped over the counter and beat the heck out of the crack head and he also grabbed the knife from the guy trying to rob him.  So yes I would say things around here have deteriorated in the last few years.  While it is not a violent area it is not what it used to be.  I have had my vehicles broken into countless times.  My shop broken into several times and had tools and such stolen.  And the list goes on.

[gran398]

Another consideration among law-abiding citizens are the pressures present and future on our second amendment rights. Thus the explosion in firearms and ammunition purchases.

Self-defense is a real concern, IMO moreso now than ever before. I know first-hand: I was almost killed at my store fourteen years ago.

[John Jones]

We had more break-ins in my neighborhood last year than the eight previous years combined.  Still not many but noticeable difference.  Maybe 10 last year out of 500 homes in the area but 3 were on my block.  One home invasion that I know of on the far side of the subdivision.  Same as above.  They kicked in the door in broad daylight only to meet a 72 year old with a shotgun.  He cut one in half right in the doorway and the other ran off.  I have been meaning to go by there and buy him a beer or 12.

[seabob4]

We live on about a mile and a half dead end, no way out at the end of the road for a 4 wheeled vehicle.  The average property is 5 acres.  We have one of the smaller lots at an acre and a half.

I guess anyone with devious thoughts on their minds figures everyone has guns here...

[gran398]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41390615/ns ... nd_courts/

[John Jones]

Seems to me that is the biggest problem we have.  Repeat offenders back on the street.  

[flounderpounder225]

FP,

I traded a guy at Christmas for a concealable Kel-Tec 9mm with laser sights. Was real excited about it.

IMO its a POS. NO room in front of the trigger to get your index finger in. All over the target, even with the laser. I'm going to trade it for a Kahr or the new 9mm Ruger due out Feb. 11.

Glockdiver has a Kahr 9mm, he likes it.

Hopefully Glock sees this thread, and can expound, he knows a whole lot more than I.

Scott,
Good point on the trigger guard opening, I finally got a first hand look at the Kel-Tec today, you are very correct, inserting your index finger into the trigger guard and trigger is not exactly natural, with my finger in there it was touching on all sides.  The ruger LCP is not like that, I think that is the direction I am going this weekend at the gun and knife show if I can find an LCP for a good price.  
Marc

[gran398]

Marc,

Thanks. Wouldn't buy anything yet. Went by the gun shop today. Delivery of  the new-release Ruger single stack 9mm subcompact has been delayed. The dealer said he saw it at the show, ordered them...but wasn't all that impressed. Not as "small" as he expected.

I'm on hold. Got the Kel-Tec back from the gunsmith this afternoon. In for breakdown/cleaning.

Plan to take it to the indoor range Sunday before the game...and pass final judgment.  Will report.

[flounderpounder225]

Marc,

Thanks. Wouldn't buy anything yet. Went by the gun shop today. Delivery of  the new-release Ruger single stack 9mm subcompact has been delayed. The dealer said he saw it at the show, ordered them...but wasn't all that impressed. Not as "small" as he expected.

I'm on hold. Got the Kel-Tec back from the gunsmith this afternoon. In for breakdown/cleaning.

Plan to take it to the indoor range Sunday before the game...and pass final judgment.  Will report.

Scott,
Understand, but I don't want a 9mm, I have a Taurus Millenium in 9mm, it is concealable, but not a true pocket gun, frankly I don't see anyone making a 9 as small as the LCP or Kel-Tec .380?  I really like the LCP.
Marc

[John Jones]

frankly I don't see anyone making a 9 as small as the LCP or Kel-Tec .380?

 

It's all about juggling personal priorities and each of us has different priorities.  
What is better?  A not-so-perfect pistol that you will carry or the perfect pistol that stays in the sock drawer because it's too big or too heavy?  My .45, which is my favorite range gun, stays under the mattress.  My compact nine stays in the sock drawer.  My P3AT stays in my pocket.  Again, if the Ruger .380 had been available in April, 2009 when I bought the Kel-Tec it would have been my first choice.  If the Ruger LCP suits your fancy I don't think you can go wrong with it.

[gran398]

Marc, gotcha with the .380. Big difference size-wise between those and most 9's. And Ruger makes a very nice product, always have. They give great factory service too. They re-stocked a 12 ga. Red Label O/U for me a while back, good job.

And I'm with JJ. None of them are much benefit in the sock drawer. Enjoy the show this weekend. Let us know what you decided on. Thanks!

[smitty 1]

Hello Guys,

Very interesting post we have here. Maybe you might be interested in another forum I belong to: http://www.usconcealedcarry.com/members.asp

 Ruger LC9 is available: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/SearchResults.aspx    about $350.00

Very good reading on concealed carry, guns, holsters, laws, etc. There is an article on the Kel-tec, Ruger and many others.
If its used in Concealed carry, they look at it. They also have a members forum on all kinds of issues related to carry.

Smitty