Shooting from inside a pocket, or how likely is it that there is no time to draw?

vito

vito

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In the ongoing and never ending debate about whether a revolver or a semi-automatic is "better" for concealed carry, the advantage of the revolver being able to be fired from inside a pocket is often mentioned. I wonder just how likely it is to ever occur that a defensive shooting situation will evolve so quickly that there is not enough time to draw a weapon and shooting from in the pocket is the only option.

Despite most concealed carry folks talking about "constant situational awareness", I imagine that in the real world most of us are generally focused on other things beyond "what is the threat at this very second?" or similar security concerns. With the videos I have seen of the "pick em out, knock em out" game, where the victim literally had no clue prior to being hit, the need for instantaneous response might not be so far fetched.

So maybe the ability to fire multiple rounds while a gun is pocketed may more than offset the higher capacity of a semi which might only be able to get one round off from inside your pocket.
 
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In certain situations like walking in a dark parking lot I could see pocket carry being the right choice. I could not go through the whole day with my hand in my jacket pocket though.

I'll continue with hip carry, IWB.
 
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Maze 686 said:
In certain situations like walking in a dark parking lot I could see pocket carry being the right choice. I could not go through the whole day with my hand in my jacket pocket though.

I'll continue with hip carry, IWB.
Click to expand...

I do both. And in the parking lot it is much easier to place my hand upon the pocket holstered 38 Special. My CA 44 is normally on my hip. I avoid coats because I am afraid of leaving a gun in one, and it slows down my drawing.

But then when I get in the vehicle, it is easier to draw the
44 than the pocket holstered gun. I can't imagine a situation
of shooting through the pants pocket unless it was when seated.
At my age I forget things, and I might go off and leave my coat
so I want my guns on me, not inside a jacket.
 
I would be afraid that if I had to fire my revolver from my pocket the police would think I was lying about the confrontation because my pants would be on fire. Just a thought. That's why I always carry in a holster on the belt and practice drawing occasionally.
Peace,
Gordon
 
I guess none of my gunfight scanarios include shooting from the pocket. Maybe shooting from the hip. I get accused of that all the time anyway.
But sometimes things happen. I have a plan for dog attack, up to 2. Was attacked by 8 dogs, don't really have a plan for that.
Have been shot at and missed, have been crapped on and hit.
 
Shooting a handgun inside the pocket could be an "iffy" thing. A revolver or semi-auto with exposed hammer could catch the hammer in the pocket lining fairly easily, making the gun impossible to fire. A revolver or semi-auto without exposed hammer could easily become jammed by pocket material caught in the works.

So maybe you can get off a shot, maybe not. If so, the possibility of getting off a second shot is even less.

There are other possibilities in the event that you are actually able to get off a shot. Most fabrics (cotton, wool, synthetics) are flammable, and the muzzle blast of a handgun includes a ball of very hot expanding gases from the powder charge. Might be difficult to continue with your defense while trying to put out the fire strapped onto your body.

Many semi- autos will fail to cycle unless gripped properly (limp writing).

Lots of room for Mr. Murphy to enter the arena and impose his law (Anything that can go wrong will go wrong, and it will always happen at the worst possible time).

In a situation of severe threat I can see this as something that might be necessary. I can't see it as a viable defensive plan for regular use.
 
I seem to remember one of the gun shows shooting from a coat pocket. I believe it was the guntalk guy. Don't remember if it was a revolver, semi-auto or both.
 
HAMMERLESS SNUBBIE IN COAT POCKET

What are the odds of ever needing to draw a gun from anywhere for self defense? Pretty slim, BUT once is enough. IMO in cold climes a snubby in an overcoat pocket is a great place, your hand is already on it even if you don't have to shoot thru the coat, you have a substancial advantage.
 
I carry my 6906 in my jacket pocket when I’m out walking the dogs. I’d think twice about firing it from the pocket though if for no other reason than I can’t tell for 100% sure where I’m aiming
 
LoboGunLeather said:
Lots of room for Mr. Murphy to enter the arena and impose his law (Anything that can go wrong will go wrong, and it will always happen at the worst possible time).

In a situation of severe threat I can see this as something that might be necessary. I can't see it as a viable defensive plan for regular use.
Click to expand...

The Final Corollary of Murphy's Law: Murphy was an optimist.

It's barely conceivable I might be in a situation requiring lighting off a shot from inside a pocket, and my EDC with concealed hammer would almost certainly do the job. The possibility seems so remote that I don't worry about it. The gun is pocket carried in a holster that covers the trigger. I wouldn't carry it in a jacket pocket without the holster unless fecal impact on the fan seems really imminent. In which case I'll be busy trying to get the hell outta Dodge anyway.

It's nice knowing I could fire from a pocket, but that's as far as I take it.
 
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IIRC it was back in the late 80's a Boston Police Officer was killed in a line of duty shooting. He stopped a suspicious character in an alley. The perp got the drop on the officer by shooting him with the gun still in his jacket pocket. I believe he was later apprehended on the West coast and convicted. It is certainly possible.

Added: Found this: http://www.odmp.org/officer/12035-detective-roy-joseph-sergei
 
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While I don't recommend shooting from inside a pocket, it would certainly be feasible with a shrouded hammer revolver, however, accuracy would be questionable. I frequently pocket carry a 642 in my coat, using a DeSantis Nemesis to keep the gun oriented for quick access. If my situational awareness or "spidey sense" warns me of a threat, I can grip the 642 hidden in my coat without signalling the whole world that I have a gun. Like others have noted, I consider that to be a tactical advantage to a pocket carry.

The Nemesis does a great job of holding the handgun in place, and provides a smooth draw for the snag free 642. I wouldn't use a snubby revolver with adjustable sights or an exposed hammer for a pocket carry because of the likelihood that the sights or hammer would snag on the pocket fabric. If you have an exposed hammer handgun, or one with adjustable sights that could easily snag on fabric, get a good quality IWB or OWB holster and practice your draw wearing different types of clothing that you would normally wear throughout all four seasons.
 
I seriously doubt shooting from your pocket will cause your clothes to catch fire, I've seen numerous Youtube videos where this was done and no body was set ablaze. Just yesterday I moved my S&W Model 38 to a coat pocket (from my pants pocket), w/my hand on it, due to circumstances I was dealing w/at the time.
 
I carry in a jacket pocket and only when walking my dog. Because it is the only time I'm wearing sweat pants or house clothes. If I go anywhere else I'm putting on jeans and a holster.

So as I'm walking my dog behind the house on a jogging path I have my hand in my pocket on the model 36 snubby. It's also the only time I wear a revolver

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
 
The only time I have ever pocket carried (in a jacket of course, you can't shoot from your pants) was when I felt a little threatened and I moved it there to have my hand on it...otherwise, I never pocket carry. Always in a holster.
 
Not shooting from a pocket, but wife does have a conceal carry purse, and if no time to draw, she knows to shoot through purse. If she doesn't have time to draw, aiming won't be a problem, as it will literally be point blank.
 
43 years ago as a security guard, I had to work in a very rough part of town. I had my .357 on my hip, but my hand was on my S&W model 60 in my jacket pocket. Many time I had minorities come up running their mouth but realized something wasn't right. A few of them looked at my left hand inside my coat pocket and moved on. Yes there is a time for pocket carry.
 
Pocket carry

I have carried a model 49 since 1973....it was my "bug" for 34 years when I was on the job....back in the 70's when I was learning what I could from whom I could....I fired some rounds thru my 49 while inside an old jacket pocket....it did not set me ablaze....it did produce a smoking hole in the fabric where the muzzle made contact....this technique will work at close range...but it is not something I would recommend.....I have made a lot of traffic stops (particularly at night) with my right hand wrapped around that model 49 in my duty jacket pocket and my left hand grasping my mag light.
My primary sidearm is strong side carry, but my secondary usually rides in my jacket pocket.....I had to run some errands today and my 49 rode along in my carhartt jacket pocket.
 
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