How do you carry your J Frame? I've always pocket carried but just bought a Don Hume JIT Slide to try. It hasn't arrived yet but was wondering about the pros and cons of OWB carry.

In my case I carried mine owb behind my right hip in a Fobus paddle holster. That was convenient easy on/off. OWB puts the gun in an easy to reach position but is harder to conceal. IWB is easier to conceal but requires more room in your waist band and does rub on you to some extent. Either method requires a good belt. I use one from DeSantis. I've had it 3 or 4 years and it's not given up yet. You might also want to contact Lobo Gunleather.

At present I carry every owb.

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Quando omni flunkus moritati.

IWB; disappears I'm barely aware of it.

Pocket. El Paso leather.

When I tried OWB carry with my 442 I always wished I was carrying something bigger or heavier--if I was going through the trouble of OWB carry I might as well make it worth my time and effort and get an easier to shoot gun with greater capacity.

442 is king of the pocket carry, in my opinion. Mine wears Hogue Tamers and is loaded with Gold Dot 135+P ammo. The grips add 0.41" to the bottom of the grip (roughly the width of a .38 cartridge.) but the revolver is still easily pocket carried. They also weigh only 2.0oz which is the same weight as magnas with a Tyler T grip.

Very shootable combination:

10 shots at 7 yards, standing.

I mostly carry owb on my right hip, sometimes in my pocket in one of my own handcrafted holsters.

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Keep on Chooglin'

Either this:



Or this:

Usually in a Mika pocket holster.

I carry my 642 IWB appendix in an old, worn, cheap uncle mikes holster that I removed and reattached the clip to ride perfectly for me.

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- The Federalist #46 -

my 442 rides in the galco front pocket horse hide mostly. when i carry it owb, galco combat master is my only choice. the JIT is a fine holster, but for me it doesn't conceal as well as the galco. good choice the 442, and a fine option, the JIT.

I have a Milt Sparks pocket holster on the way.only about 2 more weeks and it should be here. Can't wait to try it.

Usually one of these, either AIWB or at 4:00 depending how I'm dressed




Offset clip from Lobo Gunleather

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SWCA #2817

blade tech iwb... secures the gun with a "click," waterproof so I don't have to worry as much about sweating, and lightweight (not that any J frame holster is that heavy). With either that or a Stealthgear IWB setup, I hardly notice it's there.

Pocket carry only on a J frame, but almost never carry a J these days now that we have things like the Glock 19 (same real estate, three times the ammo capacity).

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Mika pocket holster

M38 in my pocket: NEVER use a pocket holster.

Sometimes I put a handkerchief in the pocket too.

I have a 638 and a 342PD, and prefer to carry using a very inexpensive pocket holster found at WalMart (the #3 size). It is made of polyester or something, is almost weightless, and smooths the gun's shape in the pocket. It is much lighter than a leather pocket holster, and better than a Mika pocket holster I have. The Mika will stay open and allow you to re-holster without having to remove it from your pocket.

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--Rick

I have a custom made IWB for my 442. I will occasionally ankle carry in a Remora rig. I like the idea, but find it cumbersome and uncomfortable.

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paws for friendship

I have a JIT that I have used for the last 10 years. I really like it.

The JIT works with all my J frames and Charters, including the .44 Bull dog.

I wear it at 4:00-4:30 or 7:00-7:30, as needed.

With my 642 it's pocket carry, very occasionally in a Ken Null shoulder rig. I do have a JIT for it though, nice holster, conceals well. However, if I plan on belt carry it's usually a M64 snubby also in a JIT

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Support your Police, & NRA

Me too. A Mika pocket holster works well.
-mike

I see folks take this position on CC a lot, so Shawn is only saying what many out there feel. To each his own I guess. We all know the advantages of high capacity pistols.

However for me, I worry about all of the possible negatives... an AD from an inadvertent "unlock" while pocketing, jams, cuts from incorrect firing position, failure to cock&lock when carrying, failure to readily "unlock" in an emergency situation, etc.

My position is that I carry to "avoid" a gunfight and NOT to "engage" in a gunfight. I figure my little 642CT has enough firepower to either stop a criminal assault, OR serve as enough cover fire to get my butt out of harm's way before all hell breaks loose. Nothing more, nothing less.

THAT is why I love my little OWB carry J-frame 642CT...

IWB appendix position using a clipdraw.

I don't see the point of adding a lot of weight to an Airweight revolver. I tend to avoid leather if possible. I mostly just use one of those cheap Uncle Mikes pocket holsters. They weigh next to nothing.

Uncle Mike's Inside-the-Pocket Holster Ambidextrous 5-Round Revolver

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Loyalty Above All.. but Honor

I carry my J frame OWB. With a good holster & belt, it disappears under a t-shirt. I do have a pocket holster as well(Galco) that I use occasionally.

If you choose pocket carry, ALWAYS re-holster the gun OUT of your pocket, then stuff the holstered gun back into your pocket.

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-Roger

I agree about not wanting to add weight to an airweight. My El Paso leather weighs exactly 1.5oz and is thinner than the Nemesis it replaced. My car key weighs 1.6oz by itself. Thus, my El Paso leather pocket holster weighs less than my single solitary car key. (Unfortunately I didn't have the scale when I had the nemesis so I don't have its weight.) What does an Uncle Mikes weigh?

Similar real estate, sure, but if you retook that picture with the revolver underneath the glock will appear much bigger due to perspective.

Also, try pocket carry with a Glock 19! Shape matters too!

I prefer pocket carry, and use the inexpensive Uncle Mike's or Blackhawk pocket holsters. I also carry my 642 in an IWB holster. As small and light as a snubby is, I haven't found any one IWB holster that is actually any better than another.

I equip most of my Centennial and Bodyguard J-frames with Barami Hip-Grips. This enables me to carry them in my right front Levi's pocket with no holster required. The lip of the grip goes over the edge of the pocket, exposing just the grip. The gun is always accessible, draws easily, and makes for maximum concealment with the shirttail out. The guns do not "print" when carried in this manner. Sitting down is no problem, and the gun is quite secure. Here's a photo of a 642 and a 442 so equipped. The grip adapters I use with the Hip-Grips give my hand more purchase and control. Depending on the tactical situation, it's easy to remove the gun and otherwise secrete it, with no holster as evidence on your body that you were carrying a gun.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

"Simply Rugged" makes a pocket holster for the J frame that is really nice. Thin, unadorned leather means the revolver is held securely and the outline broken up without added bulk.

I never understood why people liked padded pocket holsters that made you look like you were shoplifting a club sandwich.

Nate Squared original holster (IWB)- most comfortable holster I've used in 20+ years. I forget that I have it on! It has a soft piece of suede between you and the gun. Wear my 638 in it almost every day.

I carry my 442 in a Hume JIT. As far as I'm concerned, it's pretty close to the perfect CC holster. I literally forget that I'm carrying it.

I don't care for IWB, ankel, pocket, or under the hat carry. I like mine right there at 3:00 OWB, all the time.

My wife carries her 642 in a dedicated carry purse. We put a set of those Hogue Tamers on hers and she was shooting lights out with it the other day. She loves those grips.

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John 3:16 .

I never carried a 442, but my friend's 442 carried us during a few adventures.

In the pocket in a Nemesis, or appendix in a Galco Sto N Go.

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Mike

OWB in a leather American Pride holster (best $25 leather holster for a J-frame).

Occasionally pocket carry in a DeSantis Nemesis.

Currently I use a Mika's pocket holster. I also just bought a pancake holster from Simply Rugged for OWB carry. I'm looking forward to trying it out soon.

My 642 rides in either a Galco pocket holster or in a Snubbyfan AIWB holster.

Pocket carry every day for over sixteen years, in a DeSantis Nemesis or Uncle Mike's #3. I would never carry without a holster, even though my J-frame has an enclosed hammer. Too much risk of the gun shifting or even inverting, screwing up the draw, and collection of lint and crud. I also want the trigger covered, despite the gun being DAO. Just cautious that way.

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Oh well, what the hell.

The 442 goes on the ankle or pocket depending on dress.

The 649 goes IWB with pocket carry when needed.

20150109_153932 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

The holsters are inexpensive but work well.

The lightweight j-frame snubbies are really easy to carry in almost any configuration, as indicated by all of the responses so far. For close-in personal defense it would be hard to beat this type firearm with its 100% reliability and adequate caliber for stopping the threat. I prefer OWB with my shirt untucked, but often pocket carry as well (especially when on my motorcycle in warm weather in just a t-shirt, where the wind often blows the shirt up and would fully expose the gun with an OWB holster). And especially when wearing lightweight clothing, such as shorts and t-shirt in the summer, a lightweight pocket handgun is so easy to carry you can almost forget you have it on. You might want to consider the Remora holster which can serve as both a comfortable pocket holster and an IWB holster (despite the lack of the clip, the material of the holster keeps in securely when inserted into your waistband).

Barami hip grip gives you the ability to carry IWB without a holster, but doesn't interfere with holster carry.

It would appear that a "hip grip" makes the gun substantially thicker to grip. When gripped on a jean's pocket, is it hard to slide the gun up and off the pocket material?

I pocket carried a 442, mostly in a De Santis for a long time. Fairly comfortable, but slow as hell to draw. Have done ankle carry with a M37, which was ok, but when the holster wore out I never went back to it. A kydex OWB was comfortable, but then things were a bit bulky for the payload.

A while back, based on some incidents in the news, I decided I'd like more firepower on tap. I found that a Glock 19 in a Fobus OWB paddle holster was very comfortable, concealable, and obviously a lot more capable for the bulk. I now have 30 rounds of 9mm on board.

The 442 still has a place, but the Glock makes me feel better. It's just a tool for the strange times we live in.

Personally I'd prefer the days when cops were sufficiently well armed with a K frame sixgun, but now that seems like "another country".

The ubiquitous in Florida, fanny pack...

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NULLI SECUNDUS

Nope. It slides right out, slick as can be. As mentioned, I like to use a grip adapter so as to get more control of the gun. The hip grips are actually pretty slim, as is the tab that hangs out over the pocket to keep the gun from sliding down deeper in the pocket. Because the gun is carried high in the pocket and the barrel is short, sitting down is no problem. It's a really workable combination.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

J frames for me are strictly pocket guns. Belt gun duty is done by a full size Glock, 4"M10 or 4" GP-100 .38. A blousy polo shirt hides them nicely.

I often wear a leather vest, and OWB is a great way to conceal. Being a chubby buddy I don't care for IWB carry for THAT very reason. To each his own...

OWB pancake by bianchi. Extra cartridges in my right pocket

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Riding, Shooting, and Truth

IWB at 3-4 o'clock. forget that it's there

442 pocket holster and SW640-1 IWB leather horse hide with Leather strap and snap for belt.

Front pocket of loose fit Levis in an Uncle Mikes holster. CT 405-LG. Gold Dot 135gr.+P