Ruger in Your Pocket?

Ruger is a name long known and respected in the American firearms industry. Originally founded in 1949 as Sturm, Ruger & Co., the company has been manufacturing rifles and handguns for 70 years. Alexander Sturm, one of the founding partners, passed in 1951 but Ruger kept his name in the company’s name to remember him and his original contribution. Since that time, Ruger has grown and continued to thrive, introducing new models and designs as technologies advanced.

A few years ago, our Editorial Director wrote a review of the Ruger LCP – the company’s “pocket .380ACP,” and gave it high marks. The 6+1 compact pistol reportedly spent many a day in his pocket; lightweight and easily concealed, but with sufficient defensive capability, it was the perfect pocket pistol for those hot days when shorts and a t-shirt (or just shorts) was the dress attire selected. The next generation of that pistol, the LCP II, also chambered in .380ACP but with a few notable ergonomic and functional upgrades, was introduced almost immediately after that first review was written in 2014. The pistol has a wide and favorable following and can be found in many a law enforcement pocket today, on-duty as a backup gun and off-duty as a concealed carry weapon.

In the past few years (as this is written), there seem to be more and more diminutive 9mm handguns being produced, aimed at the off-duty and plainclothes segment of law enforcement. Not to be left behind, Ruger manufactured the Security 9 in a plethora of carry variants, the Model 3829 among them. This compact pistol isn’t as small as the LCP or LCP II, but it also doesn’t shoot the .380ACP. This 10+1 9mm handgun has a barrel length just under 3.5” and an overall length of approximately 6.5”. The sights are drift adjustable (the best of both worlds between fixed and adjustable) and the slide is just barely over an inch wide (1.02”). This model comes with a wrap-around Hogue grip sleeve to enhance security of grip when firing under less than optimal environmental conditions. Weighing roughly 1.3 pounds and an overall height of just 4.35”, the Model 3829 compares well to the equivalent models created by other manufacturers.

With an MSRP under $400 (but not available in California or Massachusetts – you can thank those state legal restrictions), it’s an all-too-often overlooked option for off-duty carry. It’s a compact yet full power option you should consider the next time you’re in the market for such an off-duty weapon. And while you’re there, take a look at the Model 3820 – effectively the same weapon but with an integrated Viridian E-series Red laser aiming device – or the Model 3818 – the same as the Model 3829 minus the Hogue wrap-around grip sleeve.

The basic Model 3818 is the compact version of the Ruger Security 9 Model 3810; their full size 9mm duty-oriented weapon. With its 15+1 9mm ammo capacity, a 4” barrel and an MSRP under $380, it’s also an all-too-often overlooked potential duty weapon.

Interestingly, the Security 9 weapons have a synthetic frame – like so many weapons today do to manage weight – described as “High-Performance, Glass-Filled Nylon on their website. Where so many other manufacturers just say “polymer,” it’s good to see a more specific description of materials. The smallest weapon mentioned in this piece, the Ruger LCP II, has the same material and, as small as it is, that lightweight frame combined with the rest of the weapon has it weighing in at just over ½ pound. Seven rounds of .380ACP (if you don’t use any magazine extenders) in a package weighing 10 ounces is quite comfortable and all but unnoticeable in your pocket. One word of caution and this applies to any pistol you carry in your pocket: Put it in a holster.  As integrally safe as these weapons are, you never want to have anything else in your pocket able to get inside that trigger guard and put pressure on the trigger.

For more information on these pistols from Ruger, you can check out their website which has overviews and specification sheets for all of their pistols, revolvers and rifles.