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It's better to have a "lesser" caliber handgun WITH you rather than a larger caliber one far away.
Editor's Review: The Ruger LCP - Pocket .380ACP
Any time a "best caliber" conversation comes up, I have a friend who will always throw out the following statement: "When you need a gun RIGHT NOW, the .25ACP in your pocket is better than the .45ACP in your glove compartment." You can substitute any caliber you want in place of the .25ACP but you get the point: while many people argue in favor of large caliber weapons - and I favor carrying a large bore pistol as well - there are times when that full size pistol may not be easy, comfortable or even possible to carry, especially concealed. In those times, it's better to have a "lesser" caliber handgun WITH you rather than a larger caliber one far enough away to do you no good. It is as a result of those situations that I've become a fan of pocket carry with a smaller handgun and the Ruger LCP has fit that bill quite well.
Chambered in .380ACP, which I consider to effectively be a down-loaded 9mm, much as the .40S&W is a down-loaded 10mm, the Ruger LCP provides a 6+1 capacity in a small package. How small? While the barrel length is 2.75" the overall length of the gun is only 5.16" (see included photo with the pistol placed on a ruler). With a 3.6" height and only 0.82" width, the Ruger LCP is a true pocket gun. It's smaller than a J-frame revolver and slimmer to boot. With an unloaded weight of 9.4 ounces, even when you add in a full load of seven rounds, it still weighs well under a pound; more than acceptable for pocket carry. The MSRP (for the 3701 model) is $379 and, in today's market, that's a good deal on a gun you can carry so easily day in and day out.
My test gun was the Ruger LCP Model 3730. It has a brushed steel slide and a blued alloy steel barrel. The synthetic grip frame is black and of sufficient grip length that I can get my middle finger and ring finger onto it. To help with...