Mousegun
Encyclopedia
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Semi-automatic firearm
A semi-automatic, or self-loading firearm is a weapon which performs all steps necessary to prepare the weapon to fire again after firing—assuming cartridges remain in the weapon's feed device or magazine...
handgun
Handgun
A handgun is a firearm designed to be held and operated by one hand. This characteristic differentiates handguns as a general class of firearms from long guns such as rifles and shotguns ....
intended for self defense
Self-defense
Self-defense, self-defence or private defense is a countermeasure that involves defending oneself, one's property or the well-being of another from physical harm. The use of the right of self-defense as a legal justification for the use of force in times of danger is available in many...
. Typically such small pistols are of .380 ACP
.380 ACP
The .380 ACP pistol cartridge is a rimless, straight-walled pistol cartridge developed by firearms designer John Browning. The cartridge headspaces on the mouth of the case. It was introduced in 1908 by Colt, and has been a popular self-defense cartridge ever since...
(9mm Short) caliber or less, with .32 ACP
.32 ACP
.32 ACP , also known as the .32 Automatic is a pistol cartridge. It is a semi-rimmed, straight-walled cartridge developed by firearms designer John Browning, initially for use in the FN M1900 semi-automatic pistol...
and .22 Long Rifle
.22 Long Rifle
The .22 Long Rifle rimfire cartridge is a long established variety of ammunition, and in terms of units sold is still by far the most common in the world today. The cartridge is often referred to simply as .22 LR and various rifles, pistols, revolvers, and even some smoothbore shotguns have...
calibers also being common. The term is used to describe a class of small handguns. The term is also sometimes used to refer to rifles firing bullets smaller than .30 caliber, such as the .223/5.56mm.
Terminology
Among mousegun users, the term mousegun itself is not usually considered to be pejorativePejorative
Pejoratives , including name slurs, are words or grammatical forms that connote negativity and express contempt or distaste. A term can be regarded as pejorative in some social groups but not in others, e.g., hacker is a term used for computer criminals as well as quick and clever computer experts...
, but is instead affectionately used. Manufacturers of these guns however generally label them as "ultra-compact", avoiding the derogatory connotation given by users of larger-caliber, larger-size guns, and also differentiating them from "sub-compact" models such as the Glock 26 and 36, which have a similar role of deep concealment, but fire larger "defense caliber" cartridges between 9x19mm Parabellum and .45 ACP
.45 ACP
The .45 ACP , also known as the .45 Auto by C.I.P., is a cartridge designed by John Browning in 1904, for use in his prototype Colt semi-automatic .45 pistol and eventually the M1911 pistol adopted by the United States Army in 1911.-Design and history:The U.S...
and are therefore slightly larger themselves.
Those who favor larger, heavier handguns (not necessarily of larger caliber) do often use the term mousegun for any small caliber
Caliber
In guns including firearms, caliber or calibre is the approximate internal diameter of the barrel in relation to the diameter of the projectile used in it....
firearm
Firearm
A firearm is a weapon that launches one, or many, projectile at high velocity through confined burning of a propellant. This subsonic burning process is technically known as deflagration, as opposed to supersonic combustion known as a detonation. In older firearms, the propellant was typically...
in a disparaging way, generally for guns they see as intended for use in a military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
or self defense role where power should be considered more important.
Among those who prefer larger, heavier guns, the term mousegun is sometimes applied to junk guns, especially those in .22 Long Rifle
.22 Long Rifle
The .22 Long Rifle rimfire cartridge is a long established variety of ammunition, and in terms of units sold is still by far the most common in the world today. The cartridge is often referred to simply as .22 LR and various rifles, pistols, revolvers, and even some smoothbore shotguns have...
or .25 ACP
.25 ACP
The .25 ACP centerfire pistol cartridge is a semi-rimmed, straight-walled pistol cartridge introduced by John Browning in 1905 alongside the Fabrique Nationale model 1905 pistol...
.
Among those who prefer larger, heavier guns, it is noteworthy to realize that .22 caliber pistols (and even rifles) that are intended for target shooting, plinking
Plinking
Plinking refers to informal target shooting done at non-traditional targets such as tin cans, glass bottles, and balloons filled with water. The term is an onomatopoeia of the sound a bullet or other projectile makes when hitting a tin can, or other similar target, referring to the sharp, metallic...
, or small game hunting are not considered mouseguns. In this usage, there is widespread agreement, even among those who favor the use of mouseguns for use in deeply-concealed carry; full-size handguns and rifles, despite firing small caliber bullets, are not mouseguns.
Pistol mouseguns
In order to create such small pistols, engineering compromises need to be made, and many mouseguns lack features such as slide stopSlide stop
A slide stop, also referred to as a slide release, on a semi-automatic handgun is a function that visually indicates when a handgun has expended all loaded ammunition and facilitates faster re-loading by removing the step of pulling back the slide to advance the first round of a new magazine...
s and external safeties, and few function quite as reliably as refined, full-size designs such as the M1911
M1911
The M1911 is a single-action, semi-automatic, magazine-fed, and recoil-operated handgun chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge. John M. Browning designed the firearm which was the standard-issue side arm for the United States armed forces from 1911 to 1985. The M1911 is still carried by some U.S....
. The small size and mass of the pistol, and low energy of the cartridge, also can make functioning of semi-automatic
Semi-automatic firearm
A semi-automatic, or self-loading firearm is a weapon which performs all steps necessary to prepare the weapon to fire again after firing—assuming cartridges remain in the weapon's feed device or magazine...
versions less reliable. With the short sight radius, and low-profile, snag-resistant iron sights
Iron sights
Iron sights are a system of shaped alignment markers used as a sighting device to assist in the aiming of a device such as a firearm, crossbow, or telescope, and exclude the use of optics as in telescopic sights or reflector sights...
, which are required for meeting the needs for a deeply-concealed handgun, these guns are also difficult to shoot accurately over longer distances; over distances of only 3-7 yards (2.7 - 6.4 m), they can serve.
Despite the marginal power, many people carry mouseguns for defense, on the premise that a weak pistol you can easily carry/conceal is far better than a powerful gun you leave at home (because it cannot be easily carried/concealed). A mousegun is often the gun carried when one is carrying a deeply-concealed handgun, or it is the gun carried when one is ostensibly, by all appearances, not carrying. Additionally, the engineering required to build such a small handgun is admired by many, and there are thus many people who enjoy collecting and shooting mouseguns.
Examples of such mouseguns include the Seecamp
Seecamp
L. W. Seecamp Co., Inc. is a manufacturer of hand made pocket pistols located in Milford, Connecticut from 1981 to present.L. W. Seecamp Co., Inc. was started as a pistolsmithing company in 1973 specializing in double action conversions for the 1911 Colt .45...
, the North American Arms
North American Arms
North American Arms is a United States company, headquartered in Provo, Utah, that manufactures small pistols and mini-revolvers.The company was originally named Rocky Mountain Arms...
Guardian and Mini Revolvers (such as the Black Widow), the Kel-Tec
Kel-Tec
Kel-Tec CNC Industries Inc. is a United States manufacturer of firearms. Founded in 1991 and based in Cocoa, Florida, the company has manufactured firearms since 1995, starting with small, affordable semi-automatic pistols and expanding to rifles. Kel-Tec is a privately-owned Florida corporation....
P32
Kel-Tec P-32
The Kel-Tec P-32 is a compact semi-automatic pistol using the short-recoil principle of operation. Chambered in .32 ACP, it is popular for concealed carry in the United States. It was designed by George Kellgren, the Swedish firearms designer associated earlier with the Husqvarna, Intratec, and...
(.32 caliber) and P3-AT (.380 caliber), the Ruger LCP
Ruger LCP
The Ruger LCP is a subcompact, .380 ACP pocket pistol announced by Sturm, Ruger at the 2008 SHOT Show. The pistol lacks certain features required for sale in California or Massachusetts.-Overview:...
(.380 caliber), the Beretta
Beretta
Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta is an Italian firearms manufacturer. Their firearms are used worldwide for a variety of civilian, law enforcement, and military purposes. It is also known for manufacturing shooting clothes and accessories. Beretta is the oldest active firearms manufacturer in the...
Bobcat (.22 or .25 caliber), Jetfire
Beretta 950 Jetfire
The Beretta 950 Jetfire is a semi-automatic pistol designed and manufactured by Beretta since 1952. It builds on a long line of small and compact pocket pistols manufactured by Beretta for self-defense...
(.25 caliber), and Tomcat
Beretta 3032 Tomcat
The Beretta 3032 Tomcat and Beretta 3032 Tomcat Inox are semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta. They are chambered in .32 ACP and are small pistols, designed for concealed-carry and use as backup weapons.-History:...
(.32 caliber). Slightly larger 9 mm mouseguns, still under 16 ounces (450 g) in weight, and very small in size, include the Kel-Tec P11
Kel-Tec P11
The Kel-Tec P-11 is a compact, semi-automatic, short-recoil operated pistol chambered in 9 mm Luger. It has been manufactured by Kel-Tec CNC Industries of Cocoa, FL since 1995.-Design & Specifications:...
and PF-9
Kel-Tec PF-9
The Kel-Tec PF-9 is a 9 mm caliber, recoil operated, locked breech, double action only, semi-automatic pistol based on Kel-Tec’s earlier P11 and P3AT models. Kel-Tec claims the PF-9 is the flattest and lightest 9 mm pistol ever mass-produced. It was designed as a concealment and backup weapon for...
, the Smith and Wesson PC 945 Micro, Kahr Arms
Kahr Arms
Kahr Arms is an American small arms manufacturer founded by Kook Jin "Justin" Moon , who currently serves as CEO and President. It is owned by the Saeilo Corporation , a subsidiary of Tongil Group, a South Korean business group associated with the Unification Church...
PM9, and the Rohrbaugh R9
Rohrbaugh R9
The Rohrbaugh R9 is a semi-automatic pistol produced by Rohrbaugh Firearms of Long Island, New York. It is chambered in either 9x19mm Parabellum or .380 ACP, and was designed to be a lightweight, compact self-defense weapon....
. The Rohrbaugh R9 is currently the smallest 9 mm pistol on the market, replacing the Kel-Tec P11 which formerly held that distinction. All of these mouseguns conceal especially well. Mousegun-pistols using .45 exist too; examples include the Kahr PM45 and Para-Ordnance
Para-Ordnance
Para-Ordnance, is a Canadian firearms manufacturer founded in Toronto in 1985 by two childhood friends, Ted Szabo and Thanos Polyzos. Szabo was born in Hungary and his family fled the country when the Russians invaded during the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. Polyzos was born in Greece and later...
p6.45 and p10.45. When firing these weapons, one should however expect quite a kick due to their high power/weight ratio.
Law enforcement mousegun users typically choose guns in either 380 ACP or 9 mm, depending on the rules set by each department for backup guns. Often, the requirement is that the backup gun has to be in the same caliber as the main service pistol, for ammunition compatibility.
Revolver mouseguns
Smith & Wesson's "J-Frame" series of revolvers are a common choice for mouseguns. They are generally more reliable than their automatic counterparts, and offer an exceptional power-to-weight ratio, especially the lightweight AirLite and Airweight lines. On the other hand, they offer only five shots (auto mouseguns often hold more rounds), and have considerably greater recoil, especially in .357 magnum.
Historical perspective
Particularly small and high-quality examples, such as the Seecamp LWS 32 .32 ACP pistol, formerly commanded prices significantly higher than its US$600 retail. During the mid 1990s, demand so far exceeded supply that contracts for guns were sold up to two years before the guns themselves were produced, and the guns themselves were then often resold for as much as $1100 USD upon delivery.Since roughly 1995, however, there has been considerable erosion in these high mousegun prices, no doubt a result of Kel-Tec
Kel-Tec
Kel-Tec CNC Industries Inc. is a United States manufacturer of firearms. Founded in 1991 and based in Cocoa, Florida, the company has manufactured firearms since 1995, starting with small, affordable semi-automatic pistols and expanding to rifles. Kel-Tec is a privately-owned Florida corporation....
starting to produce a 9 mm mousegun, the Kel-Tec P11, then the .32 ACP
.32 ACP
.32 ACP , also known as the .32 Automatic is a pistol cartridge. It is a semi-rimmed, straight-walled cartridge developed by firearms designer John Browning, initially for use in the FN M1900 semi-automatic pistol...
P-32(~$230) and the .380 ACP P3AT(~$260), all of which were priced at roughly half the price of the Seecamp LWS, while packaged in much the same size.