- What to keep for all-around general purpose carry.
- What to keep for those times that only the smallest can be carried.
- What to keep for when the feces hits the fan.
- For all-around general purpose carry; the STI Rogue in 9mm and the Glock Model 36 in .45 ACP.
- For those times when only the smallest can be carried I chose two .380 ACP pistols; a vintage Walther PPK and a new SIG P238.
- For those times of feces hitting the fan I selected two more Glocks; the model 19 in 9mm and the model 38 in .45 GAP.
Walther PPK .380 ACP
Walther PPK At-A-Glance:
.380 ACP | .38 Special/9mm | .45ACP/GAP | .357 Mag/SIG | .44 Mag |
Ease of Carry/Concealment
Too Large to Conceal | Service Sized | Compact | Ultra Compact | Micro Compact | Pocket Pistol |
Accuracy Rating
Can’t Hit the Broad Side of a Barn | Acceptable | Combat | Bullseye |
SIG P238 .380 ACP (Not Yet Reviewed)
The Sig P238 is a new venture for SIG producing a .380 sized single action pistol that looks like a diminutive 1911. Colt made this version over 20 years ago as the Mustang. This reproduction is better made and has much better sights than the Colt product (nights sights at that). I kept it because it is smaller and lighter than the Walther PPK. It is as small as I am willing to go; there are other smaller .380's on the market from Keltec, Ruger, Kahr, and Taurus (although I have not come across the later two pistols). While it is smaller than the Walther it is not as accurate. I have not completed my testing of this pistol and have not yet determined the boundary of it's practical range.
SIG P238 .380 ACP At-A-Glance
Power Scale
.380 ACP | .38 Special/9mm | .45ACP/GAP | .357 Mag/SIG | .44 Mag |
Ease of Carry/Concealment
Too Large to Conceal | Service Sized | Compact | Ultra Compact | Micro Compact | Pocket Pistol |
Accuracy Rating
Can’t Hit the Broad Side of a Barn | Acceptable | Combat | Bullseye |
STI Rogue 9mm
- 14 rounds fired at 21 feet
- 14 rounds fired at 31 feet
- Head shots at 21 feet and Torso shots at 50 feet
- 75 feet
STI Rogue 9mm At-A-Glance
Power Scale
.380 ACP | .38 Special/9mm | .45ACP/GAP | .357 Mag/SIG | .44 Mag |
Ease of Carry/Concealment
Too Large to Conceal | Service Sized | Compact | Ultra Compact | Micro Compact | Pocket Pistol |
Accuracy Rating
Can’t Hit the Broad Side of a Barn | Acceptable | Combat | Bullseye |
Glock Model 19 9mm
Glock Model 19 9mm at-a-glance
Power Scale
.380 ACP | .38 Special/9mm | .45ACP/GAP | .357 Mag/SIG | .44 Mag |
Ease of Carry/Concealment
Too Large to Conceal | Service Sized | Compact | Ultra Compact | Micro Compact | Pocket Pistol |
Accuracy Rating
Can’t Hit the Broad Side of a Barn | Acceptable | Combat | Bullseye |
Glock Model 36 .45 ACP
The Glock Model 36 is a brutish quasi-bullseye pistol masquerading as an ultra compact combat handgun. This pistol looks and means all business. It is small enough to ride all day in an inside the waistband holster if your cover shirt is heavy enough to disguise the print. The Model 36 is wider than the STI Rogue so it is just a little more difficult to conceal, but it packs a .45 caliber wallop. I carry it with the Pearce plus none magazine grip extender on it with the Pearce Plus one magazine grip extender on my spare magazine. This gives me 14 rounds of .45 ACP power if needed.
The Glock model 36 also supplies the accuracy of a service sized pistol as shown by the targets below:
- 9 rounds fired at 21 feet.
- 5 rounds fired at 31 feet.
- 10 rounds fired at 50 feet.
- 10 rounds fired at 75 feet.
Glock Model 36 .45 ACP At-At-Glance
Power Scale
.380 ACP | .38 Special/9mm | .45ACP/GAP | .357 Mag/SIG | .44 Mag |
Ease of Carry/Concealment
Too Large to Conceal | Service Sized | Compact | Ultra Compact | Micro Compact | Pocket Pistol |
Accuracy Rating
Can’t Hit the Broad Side of a Barn | Acceptable | Combat | Bullseye |
Glock Model 38 .45 GAP (not yet reviewed)
The model 38 is my final "feces hits the fan" pistol. It is on the compact frame and is thinner to hold than Glock's other double stack .45 ACP pistols. This is due to Glock working with ammo manufacturers to reduce the length of the .45 ACP round so that people with smaller hands can easily handle a .45 pistol. Glock's catalogue and website will tell you that is has the same dimensions as the model 19 9mm, but don't believe it. The model 38 is just a few centimeters wider than it's 9mm cousin. Not enough that it is extremely noticeable in the hand, but it is very noticeable when you try to stuff it into a holster built for the model 19.
I have not reviewed the model 38 yet so there will be no targets shown, but trust me; you could win a bullseye competition with this beauty and she holds 8 + 1 rounds of those big .45 caliber rounds.
Glock Model 38 .45 GAP at-a-glance
Power Scale
.380 ACP | .38 Special/9mm | .45ACP/GAP | .357 Mag/SIG | .44 Mag |
Ease of Carry/Concealment
Too Large to Conceal | Service Sized | Compact | Ultra Compact | Micro Compact | Pocket Pistol |
Accuracy Rating
Can’t Hit the Broad Side of a Barn | Acceptable | Combat | Bullseye |
So there you have the pistols that I am holding onto. Now, you may look at them and say, "Hey, Joe where are the revolvers". This was a difficult decision because I have a real soft spot in my heart for the Smith & Wesson model 340 PD in .357 magnum. But it came down to size and capacity. The STI Rogue is the same length but flatter, thinner, and holds 8 rounds compared to 5. The S&W sold quickly on consignment and for a better than fair price...but I do miss her.
1 comment:
Once again you have provided insight that many of us either forgot or never knew.
I had more pistols than I almost could count. Being Polish, that number didn't have to be that high:)
I, like you kept what I felt would be reliable weapons if the need ever arose. My choices, Sig P239 9mm; Springfield MC Operator 45 acp; and a Kel Tec P11 9mm. The wife has a Glock 23.
Thanks so much for your dedication!
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