Concealable Pocket Pistols: How To Choose And Use Small-Caliber Handguns [Paperback]

Terence McLeod (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2001

"Pocket pistols" are small, easily concealed, inexpensive semiauto handguns in .22, .25, .32 and .380 calibers. Though often maligned as too puny for serious self-defense, millions of Americans carry these guns and have used them successfully to stop violent assaults. Why are they considered excellent self-defense weapons? Their small size and hammerless design enable them to be easily concealed and carried so they are immediately accessible in an emergency, putting firepower instantly in your hands when it's needed most. This practical book cuts right to the chase and recommends the best pistols on the market today as well as the best ammunition for them. It then gets into the real-world issues of how to carry a concealed pocket pistol, how to shoot it under stress and how to deal with malfunctions quickly and efficiently.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

For 40 years, Terence McLeod has successfully survived in some of the biggest, toughest and most dangerous American and foreign cities by his ability to defend himself with a concealed pocket pistol.

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Paladin Press (November 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581602790
• ISBN-13: 978-1581602791
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,913,527 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not so good., November 27, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Concealable Pocket Pistols: How To Choose And Use Small-Caliber Handguns (Paperback)

This book only had a little information I found useful. If the prospective reader was a complete novice with firearms, it would be much more helpful. Anyone who has done research on the subject won't find much new here.

On the positive side, it did have a nice article on carry technique for law enforcement officials and those who are legally licensed to do so. These little arms present their own challenges for safe carry. The sections on personal safety was decent though a little alarmist.

The chapter entitled "Buyer's Guide: Evaluation and Specifications of Recommended Pocket Pistols," was laughable. First, there was absolutely no "evaluation" of the performance of the arm. Only the physical specifications are given. Secondly, it only covered six manufacturers of which at least two (and possibly a third) are no longer in business. At least one of these has been out of business for a very long time; strange for a book published in 2001. There is a plethora of high-quality arms of this type that had no mention. Even though the author only limited the selection to American-made arms, I can think of half-dozen others to add. Almost all of them, frankly, are better than the ones found in this book.

This is a subject that badly needs to be covered and covered well. I'm not sure that this book quite does it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Older Pocket Pistol Guide, February 6, 2008

By 

Lance "Lance" (Chattanooga,TN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Concealable Pocket Pistols: How To Choose And Use Small-Caliber Handguns (Paperback)

This Guide is an older work that covers most of the older,low cost guns,many of which are still very popular as Pocket Pistols for everyday carry. One of the models it features is probably the most popular pocket pistol in history,"The .25 Raven."
Even though many of the newer guns are not addressed directly, the information is directly transferable. This Guide supplies information on pocket carry that is not available elsewhere.
Any critiscism of this Guide seems to center around the fact it is not as big as a dictionary and it is targeted at the somewhat experienced crowd rather than being an ABC primer for the total novice.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Practical advice for practical pocket guns, February 5, 2008

By 

L.A. Hubbard - See all my reviews

This review is from: Concealable Pocket Pistols: How To Choose And Use Small-Caliber Handguns (Paperback)

It's not easy to find postive and useful information concerning inexpensive pocket guns, even though there are millions of them in pockets and dresser drawers all across America. In fact, it is much more likely you will find these pistols derided in print with the worst form of gun snobbery imaginable, when practical and helpful information about their safe carry and use would be more prudent. In Concealable Pocket Pistols McLeod gives the pocket pistol owner something he can use--practical information. In eight succinct chapters McLeod provides valuable insight on choosing, carrying, maintaining, feeding and employing your inexpensive pocket pistol. He knows his audience, and gives them what they need and nothing more--there is none of the judgemental philosophy, snobbery, and John Wayneism found in some other books about concealed carry. He provides just practical opinion on how to get past the price tag and make your gun do what it was designed for--keep you out of harm's way. He doesn't ever claim that the guns he's writing about are top shelf combat guns; he does however, face the reality that many of us in the real world own and carry these inexpensive guns, and he seeks to make sure we do so informed.

This is not a book for gun snobs, nor is it an encyclopedia of gun knoweldge. Tactical enthusiasts will be sorely disappointed with it. It is a short, terse read about having confidence in that Raven or Jennings "mousegun" that bounces around in your pocket as you go about your buisness.