Hi all,

I'm considering transitioning from a striker-fired platform for all my pistol needs to a DA/SA platform. My problem is that I'm not finding any DA/SA guns that are truly pocket-size, nor many single-stacks similar in size to, say, a Glock 43 or Walther PPS. What is your choice for this need? Please don't say a S&W J-frame because my shooting ability with it is far worse than any small pistol. Thanks!

Chris

May I suggest a CZ75 pcr! Great platform and solid as a rock. If you can find one try it on for size. You could be surprised. Did I mention affordable too? Good luck with your quest.

........J-Fr.....

Honestly and this is just me, I don’t know of a small, hammer fired DA/SA or sufficient caliber that pocket carries well. Even those autos smaller then a JFrame are boxy in shape and harder for me to draw.

Problem is strikers are so much more size efficient.

Geez not sure what to suggest.
Walther PP/PPks are heavy and fairly big
Makarov is the same
SIG P230/232 same.
The Springfield XDe is flat but still kinda big

I will let others chime in because for me personally the answer is JFrame, carries like a wallet.

Then again you could be one of those folks who say they can pocket carry a P30Sk or Glock 26/27. If that’s the case, more power too ya and a P30/P2000sk

If you can pocket carry a CZ75 PCR then you sir don’t need a gun. Just use that railroad spike hammer John Henry.

S&W Chiefs Special 9mm semi auto - CS9. Small, light weight, 7+1. Fits in my pocket with a DeSantis Nemesis holster when I use a mag with a flat rounded mag baseplate from its larger cousin the 3913TSW.

Accurate and bet your life reliable. Like all my other 3rd gen guns. Hammer fired aluminum framed TDA goodness. And it has a great trigger too.

And unlike the plastic striker fired current production s&w guns, no need to rebuild it with Apex parts to give it everything the factory couldn't be bothered too. Regards 18DAI

Cz RAMI 2075

I second the Rami.

I prefer DA / SA, but when I looked for a pocket size pistol I could not find one that I liked, so I went with SA: a P938.

Too large for a pocket, imho, but it is small enough to carry easily, the Smith 3914 is my choice. Really thin and easy to carry. Accurate and reliable. Carries little and shoots big. Fits my hand as if it was made for it.

 
Definitely not pocket, but a nice compact OWB carry (or IWB) is the SIG P230/P232.

I can’t think of any small DA/SA that is truly a pocket carry. The closest might be the RAMI or the new XD-e.

I've owned a couple Rami's. Nice guns, but far too big for my pockets. A Walter ppk or ppk/s might fit the bill if you don't mind 380 acp.

Smallest DA/SA I have is the P224 and P239, they do as I haven't found anything smaller. Looking around seems there is some compromise in features/size/weight/rounds/caliber and these mostly meet what I want.

The Beretta Tomcat is DA/SA, .32 ACP and a true pocket pistol.

They don't make a pocket da/sa pistol.

I went with Kahr when I gave up waiting. I have a CM9 and P380.

Benefit is that you get the smoothest DAO known to man. Downside is the company's spotty history in the reliability department. My CM9 has never malfunctioned in maybe 1200 rounds. The 380 doesn't like steel case but seems reliable with everything else. Still too new to my collection to know for sure.

Cheating your "no j frame" requirement, I also have a Ruger SP101 that is great.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: kalford,

quote:

Originally posted by jaybirdaccountant:
I've owned a couple Rami's. Nice guns, but far too big for my pockets. A Walter ppk or ppk/s might fit the bill if you don't mind 380 acp.

I suppose a person could make that choice, but man, seems like you'd be getting the cart before the horse choosing your action first and then settling for a sub-optimal caliber so you could keep DA/SA. Wouldn't be my choice, anyway.

Which is not to say I never carry a .380; I have an LCP with a CT laser that I pocket carry when I have to wear a tucked in shirt and it's too hot for a jacket. But that's because it is the only pistol that truly fits in my pocket and doesn't look like I'm carrying a pistol in my pocket. It's a lot smaller than a PPK.

By the way, Jaybird, I realize you're not actually recommending he go this way, just offering it as a possibility if he's set on DA/SA and wants the smallest he can get.

quote:

Originally posted by kalford:
They don't make a pocket da/sa pistol.

Nonsense.

Beretta Tomcat .32
Bersa Thunder 380CC .380
Walther PPK .380

Are all pocketable DA/DA pistols

I prefer da/sa for carry, but a Glock 43 is my pocket gun for work. If I’m not at work then then it’s a p30sk or my 229.
I had a 938, couldn’t get used to the safety, plus the trigger sucked for a single action.
Kahr is where id go if I didn’t have the g43

I detest Springfield pistols, and I've been dumb enough to give them several chances over the years. BUT, I absolutely love the XD-E. It's not pocketable (IMO) but it's thin, has a nice SA/DA trigger, is inexpensive, nice sights, accurate and the Springfield incentive of 3 additional mags is a nice touch. I paid $339 with a laser and a total of 5 mags.....which I consider to be a bargain.

My Sig 290RS has been 100%. Sure it isn't the best trigger out there or the nicest handling but it works well. It has real sights, it's hefty enough that it is comfortable to shoot and unlike strikers you can actually put it in your pocket without fear of shooting your nuts off. (I don't recommend not using a pocket holster but it's still safer than a striker gun without one). Plus, since they are hated you can get them dirt cheap.