Smallest/lightest pistol that’s fun to shoot

[douglasfir]

What are some recommendations for small, concealable, shootable handguns?

I’ve come to a few realizations. First, life is too short to have guns that I don’t enjoy shooting (like my horrible little keltec p32 - unusable sights and no fun at all to shoot). Second, I’m never going to be one of those guys who can conceal a Glock 19 or bigger at all times.

So I’m looking for options in the micro-compact range. Glock 42, S&W bodyguard 2.0, etc. I’m thinking to go 380 or smaller for lower recoil.

I’m also considering something like the LCR revolver in 22 LR or 22 mag. I enjoy shooting revolvers and shoot the LCR well, but it’s not much fun to shoot in 38.

 

[FrankNess14]

P365X is a really nice setup and very easy to conceal. Grip is just enough for my hands to make it pleasant and accurate. The normal grip is a little too short. The X grip is nice enough my wife stole it and put it on her EDC…

 

[FrankNess14]

Also this:

Thread 'G19 to G26 to G43 to P365 and some in between'

 

[Lawnboi]

Big fan of the bodyguard 2.0

 

[Chad_H]

I have quite a few small ones. Walter PPK in 32 ACP is like shooting a 22, Keltec P32 also in 32ACP is low recoil and fun. I shot a Colt 1903 way back when in 32 and it was fun. See a pattern?

Ruger LCP II or Walther P22 in 22 LR Rimfire is always fun, but 22 ammunition can be finicky in some pistols.

With that said, those aren't always the best practical choice for tasks outside of plinking. If I needed something small that was the lowest recoil AND needed to be an all purpose, if would be my Glock 42 in 380. Same size as a PPK, lightweight, affordable, accurate, very manageable recoil, accurate, very easy to support in parts, maintenance, and equipment like holsters, and there are self defense loads that perform. It unfortunately suffers from lower capacity 6 round magazines, but there are tradeoffs in handguns. I'll take the reliability and accuracy and support versus a cheaper one that won't last or a pricier one that is harder to support. An example is the Sig P365, nice pistol, but pricey magazines and harder to do any kind of armorer level maintenance yourself.

If I need a better caliber, I do the same but with a Glock 43 or Glock 26 in 9mm, but it comes with snappier recoil. Everyone has been comfortable shooting my G42's, not everyone has liked my G43.

 

[BLJ]

Big fan of the bodyguard 2.0

Same.

 

[Formidilosus]

What are some recommendations for small, concealable, shootable handguns?

I’ve come to a few realizations. First, life is too short to have guns that I don’t enjoy shooting (like my horrible little keltec p32 - unusable sights and no fun at all to shoot). Second, I’m never going to be one of those guys who can conceal a Glock 19 or bigger at all times.

So I’m looking for options in the micro-compact range. Glock 42, S&W bodyguard 2.0, etc. I’m thinking to go 380 or smaller for lower recoil.

I’m also considering something like the LCR revolver in 22 LR or 22 mag. I enjoy shooting revolvers and shoot the LCR well, but it’s not much fun to shoot in 38.

Small and “fun” to shoot are near mutually exclusive. The G42 is the thinnest, smallest pistol that actually can be shot well. The funnest “small” pistols are the Browning .380 1911’s- they really are small and fun to shoot.

 

[Steve300xcw]

For the mini guns, I'd only be looking at ported ones.

 

[StupidLightweight]

Bodyguard 2.0 is my suggestion. It’s an awesome design