Today’s micro pistols are all the rage and fill a very high-demand niche among lawful gun carriers in America. Manufacturers are coming out with new models weekly, it seems.
With that said, there’s an even more specialized niche that some people need to fill. There are those who need to carry a pistol, but who want or even need to have something so small that it will escape detection in most circumstances. Undercover law enforcement comes to mind. And citizens who might decide to carry on the job or other areas where firearms might be looked upon with disdain.
These folks need something ultra-concealable.
Mouse Guns
What is it? It’s a gun that’s fit to shoot a mouse with, but we stretch the capabilities into the self-defense realm. Sometimes, it’s quite a stretch. Why?
Because the typical calibers used truly suck at stopping bad guys. Let’s face it, even full-sized pistols in major calibers don’t have a very good track record at stopping bad guys in their tracks. And here we are, considering tiny, pipsqueak calibers to do the job of a “real” handgun.
And we do this because of the necessity for extreme concealability.
Now that we know the reason, let’s take a look at some Mouse Guns that might serve peoples’ need for extreme concealment.
Caveats
Let me be very clear: I would not prefer to carry one of these mouse guns as my primary carry, instead opting for something more substantial, both in platform and caliber. As mentioned, tiny calibers are often less than optimal for stopping people who are lit up on adrenaline.
Mouse guns are often used as backups except in cases where those carrying absolutely need to keep them concealed. They are, most definitely, a niche gun. With all of that said, let’s take a look at a few Mouse Guns!
North American Arms
NAA has a host of handguns that will serve the purposes for extreme concealed carry. Here’s a look at just a few of them.
The Guardians
NAA has two Guardian models that would be attractive for high concealment.
The first is their Guardian in .32 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) caliber, which was first introduced in 1997. Since its introduction, it has been going through refinements based on customer suggestions. NAA backs up its handguns with a lifetime warranty, and they are not a fly-by-night company.
The little .32 holds 6+1 rounds and weighs just 15.6 ounces. The barrel length is 2.19 inches, with an overall length of 4.38 inches. Height is 3.38 inches. It’s also .81 inches, so it’s very thin. That’s one small pistol!
Sights are fixed, and it’s a double action only semi-auto action. Hard rubber comprises the grip. The frame and slide are stainless steel. They fit easily into a pocket with a pocket holster (incidentally, NAA does have pocket holsters for them). There is no external hammer to snag during a draw, which is an added bonus.
MSRP on this one is $465, so it can be found slightly cheaper on gun store shelves as this is written.
NAA’s .380 ACP version of the Guardian was released in 2001. Consumers wanted something a little more powerful than the .32, and the .380 fit the bill better. This pistol will fit into a pocket with a holster very well.
Like its .32 counterpart, the .380 version has gone through some subtle changes over the years to improve the design.
Capacity is 6+1 rounds of .380, weighing 20.4 ounces. The barrel is 2.5 inches in length, with an overall length of 4.81 inches and a height of 3.69 inches.
It’s double action only, with fixed sights and rubber grips and stainless frame and slide. The fact that there’s no external hammer to snag during a draw makes this pistol even more attractive.
MSRP on this one is $520 at the time of writing.
Mini Revolvers
NAA has a host of revolvers available in a couple of calibers. They are incredibly light and concealable. Let’s take a look at a few.
Before we get started, though, know that NAA offers extras for all of their handguns, including holsters that will fit into a pocket.
Ranger II 22M-R
This little revolver is chambered in .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (WMR). Its 5-shot action has a break-open cylinder that enables faster loading and reloading. There is also a star-shaped ejector to speed up the reloading process. The barrel is 1 5/8 inches long.
Overall length is 5.1 inches and weight is 7.2 ounces. The grips are made from Rosewood and are very attractive. An added bonus is that a cylinder can be purchased for this model that turns it into a .22 Long Rifle revolver. For economy’s sake, that is spectacular.
MSRP is $535 at the time of writing.
NAA 22MS
For those wanting an even tinier, less expensive revolver, NAA offers the 22MS. This one is also in .22 WMR but is also available in .22 Long Rifle.
The barrel length is 1 1/8 inches in length. This tiny 5-shooter is single action and the cylinder has to be removed to load it, so reloading is going to be a very slow process. Make those five shots count!
Weight is a feathery 6.2 ounces. Overall length is 4.63 inches and height is 2.81 inches. It’s truly a tiny, light revolver that can be easily concealed. MSRP at the time of writing is $269, but it will be available for less in shops. That’s pretty economical.
These tiny revolvers are really great as hide-out pieces that can conceal in unexpected places. As backup for cops or undercover weapons, they really excel. And obviously, they’re very inexpensive, too.
Beretta
Beretta is a name in the industry that needs little introduction. Based in Italy, they’ve been producing high-quality firearms for a long time.
3032 Tomcat Sliver-Black Gorilla
The 3032 Tomcat has a tip-up barrel so users can place a round in the chamber without even having to rack the slide. That’s a real advantage for those who have issues racking a slide.
It’s a double-action/single-action (DA/SA) design that is extremely concealable. How concealable? The overall length is 5.4 inches, with a height of 3.7 inches. Yeah, that’s pretty small. Unfortunately, the grip is extremely wide, which can make concealment a challenge.
So how much does it weigh? A mere 14.5 ounces.
Caliber is .32 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol), fired from a barrel of 2.9 inches. The magazine capacity is seven rounds.
It’s a simple blowback design. Unfortunately, the double-action trigger pull on this pistol is fairly heavy, which might give people with weak hands an issue.
Another downside is that the magazine well is rather small, so getting a magazine in quickly is a challenge. The magazine release is at a bizarre location: toward the bottom of the grip and to the rear! Magazines don’t drop free, so the shooter will need to strip it out with the support hand. Suffice to say, this is not the ideal setup for defense.
The sights are tiny, and not the easiest to see. The safety is well-placed and easy to swipe off if you’re right-handed. It does not function as a de-cocker, so the hammer has to be manually de-cocked. Cocking the hammer can also pose a challenge because it’s very small and can easily slip out of the shooter’s grip.
This is one of the more expensive offerings, with an MSRP of $649. All in all, this is a concealable option for self-defense, despite some shortcomings. But hey…mouse guns.
Ruger
LCP II
Ruger’s LCP II is a truly tiny pistol that’s super concealable. It’s a .22 Long Rifle offering with very light weight (11.2 ounces).
The barrel length is 2.75 inches with an overall length of 5.20 inches. Height is four inches. The width is .81 inches, making this pistol very slim. Given the fact that it carries 10+1 rounds, the dimensions are nice and small, making it perfect for deep concealment while still offering a decent capacity.
A manual safety is an option, which will appeal to some shooters. The Lite Rack system makes racking the slide easy, especially for those suffering from hand-strength issues. There are also front and back slide serrations. Obviously, recoil is going to be extremely light, given that it’s a .22 Long Rifle caliber.
The price on the LCP II is $439, with the street price being well under that. Ruger’s excellent customer service and warranty are backing this little pistol up.
Kel Tec
P32
Kel Tec’s P32 is chambered in .32 ACP. It features a double-action trigger that has a pull of around five pounds. Capacity is 7+1 rounds. The safety is internal and it has integral sights.
The unloaded weight is an amazing seven ounces. The barrel length is 2.7 inches with an overall length of 5.1 inches. Height is 3.5 inches, making this one very tiny for an auto. The width is .75 inches.
At the time of writing, MSRP is $360.
Sig Sauer
P238
Sig’s P238 is an old favorite. Chambered in .380 ACP, it’s one of the larger pistols on our list here, and it’s unlikely anyone will conceal it by shoving it down into their underwear. Still, it’s a fairly compact pistol, and merits mention.
The P238 sports a capacity of 6+1 rounds of .380 ACP (higher capacity magazines are available), which is one of the more effective calibers mentioned here for defense. As a bonus, this pistol’s recoil is pleasant and it’s actually fun to shoot.
The barrel length is 2.7 inches with an overall length of 5.5 inches. Height is 3.9 inches, and width is 1.1 inches. As I said, not tiny, but not huge at all. Weight is 15.2 ounces, which is modest for a 1911-style micro-pistol.
The P238 is single action, in keeping with the 1911 platform. There is also a 1911-style safety that is outstanding. Sights are also well done and of the 3-dot variety.
The cherry on top of this sundae is that the P238 is actually very accurate, easily hitting targets at 25 yards and beyond. A pistol this small has no business being that accurate, but Sig managed to pull it off. Prices at the time of writing are roughly $650-ish, depending on the seller.
Wrap Up
As we mentioned, tiny, concealable Mouse Guns are going to obviously be a compromise. They don’t come in the greatest, most effective calibers.
We carry them out of a sense of desperation, it seems, either as backups in the event of a catastrophe (such as our primary weapon going down) or because we cannot afford to have those around us know we’re armed (such as working deep cover or for employment issues). Circumstances that suck drive us to consider these tiny handguns. But hey, they’re better than nothing.
Obviously, there are many more handguns that would fit onto the list of Mouse Guns, but space constraints being what they are, these are a few that we thought fit the bill well for the purpose.
Do any readers out there have a favorite tiny, concealable handgun of their own? Let us know in the comments section!
