Pocket pistols are small, lightweight, easy-to-conceal handguns that fit in your pocket.
They are ideal for recreational shooting, as they offer a fun and challenging way to practice your marksmanship skills. However, not all pocket pistols are created equal. Some are more reliable, accurate, ergonomic, and feature-rich than others.
In this article, we will review the top 10 pocket pistols for recreational shooting based on their performance, design, caliber, and price.
Popular Pocket Pistols for Recreational Shooting
Sig Sauer P365 Micro-Compact
The Sig Sauer P365 Micro-Compact is a striker-fired 9mm pistol with a 12-round capacity, making it one of the most high-capacity pocket pistols on the market.
It also features factory night sights and an optional snag-free FT Bullseye sight that integrates a fiber-optic front sight and a tritium rear sight into a single unit.
The P365 has a polymer frame and a stainless steel slide with a nitron finish for corrosion resistance. The ergonomics are excellent, with a textured grip and a smooth trigger. The P365 is reliable, accurate, and easy to shoot, making it one of the best pocket pistols for recreational shooting.
Ruger LCP Pocket Pistol
The Ruger LCP Pocket Pistol is a striker-fired .380 ACP pistol with a 6+1 capacity, offering reasonable control but trading firepower for size.
It is one of the smallest and lightest pocket pistols on the market, weighing only 9.6 ounces and measuring only 5.16 inches long and 0.82 inches wide.
The LCP has a polymer frame and a steel slide with a blued finish. The sights are fixed and low-profile, and there are no external safeties. The LCP is simple, reliable, and affordable, making it a popular choice for recreational shooting.
Beretta Tomcat Pocket Pistol
The Beretta Tomcat Pocket Pistol is a single/double action .32 ACP pistol with a 7+1 capacity, featuring a unique tip-up barrel design allowing you to load and unload the chamber without racking the slide.
This makes operating easier for people with weak hands or limited dexterity. The Tomcat has an aluminum alloy frame and a steel slide with a matte black finish.
The sights are fixed and low-profile, and manual safety is on the frame's left side. The Tomcat is beautiful, lightweight, and easy to use but has marginal self-defense power and an awkward magazine release.
Diamondback DB9 Pocket Pistol
The Diamondback DB9 Pocket Pistol is a striker-fired 9mm pistol with a 6+1 capacity, featuring aggressive grip texturing that enhances your grip and control.
It is one of the thinnest pocket pistols on the market, measuring only 0.8 inches wide and weighing only 11 ounces. The DB9 has a polymer frame and a steel slide with a black finish.
The sights are fixed and low-profile, and there are no external safeties. The DB9 is affordable, compact, and easy to shoot, but ammo-sensitive and not rated for +P ammunition.
Glock 42 Sub-Compact
The Glock 42 Sub-Compact is a striker-fired .380 ACP pistol with a 6-round capacity featuring an adjustable rear sight, a 5.5-pound trigger, and no external safeties. Thanks to its proven Glock design and quality, it is one of the most reliable pocket pistols on the market.
The Glock 42 has a polymer frame and a steel slide with a black finish. The ergonomics are good, with a textured grip and finger grooves.
KelTec P32
The KelTec P32 is a double-action-only .32 ACP pistol with a 7+1 capacity, featuring an internal hammer block safety that prevents accidental discharge if dropped or bumped.
It is one of the lightest pocket pistols on the market, weighing only 6.6 ounces and measuring only 5 inches long and 0.75 inches wide.
The P32 has a polymer frame and a steel slide, with various color options available. The sights are fixed and low-profile, and a heel magazine release exists. The P32 is affordable, functional, compact, and easy to shoot.
Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380
The Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380 is a double-action-only .380 ACP pistol with a 6+1 capacity, featuring manual thumb safety and an integrated Crimson Trace laser sight that can be activated by a push button on the grip.
The Bodyguard 380 has a polymer frame and a steel slide with a black finish. The sights are fixed and low-profile, with a slide lock lever. The Bodyguard 380 is ergonomic, accurate, and easy to operate, with a smooth trigger pull.
Kahr CW380
The Kahr CW380 is a double-action-only .380 ACP pistol with a 6+1 capacity, featuring a textured polymer grip and a stainless steel slide. It is one of the most accurate pocket pistols on the market, thanks to its match-grade polygonal rifled barrel and smooth trigger.
The CW380 has a polymer frame and a steel slide with a matte stainless finish. The sights are drift-adjustable and low-profile, and there are no external safeties. The CW380 is sleek, reliable, and easy to conceal.
Taurus Spectrum
The Taurus Spectrum is a double-action-only .380 ACP pistol with a 6+1 or 7+1 capacity, featuring a soft-touch over-molded grip and slide inserts that provide enhanced comfort and control.
It also features an extended magazine baseplate that offers additional finger support. The Spectrum has various color options, a polymer frame, and a steel slide. The sights are integrated and low-profile, and there is no manual safety. The Spectrum is stylish, ergonomic, and easy to shoot.
Colt Mustang Pocketlite
The Colt Mustang Pocketlite is a single-action .380 ACP pistol with a 6+1 capacity featuring an aluminum alloy frame and a stainless steel slide. It is one of the most classic pocket pistols, based on the legendary Colt 1911 design.
The Mustang Pocketlite has an aluminum alloy frame and a steel slide with a matte stainless finish. The sights are fixed, low-profile, and manual thumb safety is on the frame's left side. The Mustang Pocketlite is elegant, durable, and easy to handle.
Factors to Consider for Recreational Shooting
- Size and Weight: Pocket pistols are designed to be compact and lightweight, making them easy to handle and carry during recreational shooting sessions.
- Caliber: Consider the caliber best suits your shooting preferences and recreational shooting activities. Common calibers for pocket pistols include .22 LR, .380 ACP, and 9mm.
- Ergonomics and Grip: Choose a pocket pistol that feels comfortable and offers a secure grip, as it can contribute to better control and accuracy during recreational shooting.
- Sight System: Opt for pocket pistols with reliable and easy-to-use sights that allow quick target acquisition and precise aiming.
- Magazine Capacity: Depending on the duration and nature of your recreational shooting sessions, consider the magazine capacity of the pocket pistol to ensure uninterrupted shooting enjoyment.
- Safety Features: Look for pocket pistols with essential safety features such as manual or trigger safeties to enhance safe handling during recreational shooting.
Pocket pistols are great for recreational shooting, as they offer a fun and challenging way to practice your marksmanship skills. They are also ideal for concealed carry, as they are small, lightweight, and easy to conceal.
However, not all pocket pistols are created equal. Some are more reliable, accurate, ergonomic, and feature-rich than others.
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