My new 442 airweight

[Poodle Soup]

Always wanted a Smith and Wesson gun. And wanted a back up or something smaller for dress clothes for concealed carry, so here she is. Walked out with my wallet $400 lighter and a smile on my face.
Second one is with my fnx9 which will end up being her carry buddy

Anyone have any suggestions on ankle/pocket holsters and defensive rounds?

 

[rebelrouseri]

federal hydrashock hollow points. buy a

Always wanted a Smith and Wesson gun. And wanted a back up or something smaller for dress clothes for concealed carry, so here she is. Walked out with my wallet $400 lighter and a smile on my face.
Second one is with my fnx9 which will end up being her carry buddy

Anyone have any suggestions on ankle/pocket holsters and defensive rounds?

smith dymonwood grip and get a tyler t grip and take the rubber off. desantis superfly is nice.

 

[Poodle Soup]

Im guessing "get your internal lock disabled" is going to come up as well?

 

[federali]

Uncle Mike's makes some very comfy ankle holsters.

 

[shep854]

Try out pocket carry. With a quality pocket holster, like a DeSantis Nemesis, the little J-frame will just disappear into your trouser pocket, especially if you wear looser or 'relaxed' fit trousers, such as cargo pants or slacks. Another huge benefit is that you can simply slip your hand into the pocket and grasp the gun, ready for draw whenever you wish, yet not look threatening. ALSO, you don't need a cover garment which has to be cleared or have to wrestle with untucking a shirt. Just don't put ANYTHING in the holster pocket except the gun.

 

[Edmo]

... Just don't put ANYTHING in the holster pocket except the gun.

...and your hand.

Edmo

 

[Horace & Daniel]

I used to pocket carry my Model 38 as a BUG in a Super Fly. However, that little jaybird slipped out of that holster at least twice while sitting in a deep, comfy couch. I get up to take carry my youngest to bed and there's my Smithy sitting nice a pretty on the cushion. Not cool.

It will ride on my hip from now on, IWB or OWB, I don't care. But, pocket carry sucks.

YMMV.

 

[Ralph G. Briscoe]

I carry my 642 in a Milt Sparks pocket holster--very comfortable. For ammo I use a handloaded version of the FBI load--158 gr LSWCHP, 4.7 gr Unique--815 fps out of a 2 inch barrel. Buffalo bore makes some great 158 gr loads. I like 158's as most snubbies are set to shoot to point of aim with them, and if they were good enough for the FBI... The triggers on the new Smith snubbies tend to be on the heavy/rough side. There's a youtube video... "J frame trigger job" I believe...that walks you through a process which really helps the trigger pull--brought mine down from 14 1/2 to 11 1/2 pounds and really smoothed it. I did not replace the springs as they did in the video but clipped 1 1/2 coils from the main and trigger-return springs. Worked fine. Enjoy.

 

[MichiganScott]

I carry WW 158gr. LSWJHP +P in mine because they hit point of aim. The gun resides in a Robert Mika pocket holster. It disappears even in jeans.

Be aware that you will not be able to access the weapon in a sitting position.

 

[ladder13]

Speer Gold Dot 125gr HP for carry.

 

[Robert B]

Street record

The only .38 load that is proven on the street is the Speer Gold dot short bbl load. It's +P and 135 grains. Proven in cold NY and warm LA. You can get it online at Proarms.com.

 

[mini14jac]

Hornady Critical Defense, standard pressure.
Good penetration and expansion, not as expensive as a lot of defensive rounds.
Most of the time I carry OWB in a JIT holster.
(Don Hume I think.)

 

[Invictus357]

I used a High Noon pocket holster for a long, long time and it was superb.

Pocket Grabber

 

[hudsonvalley]

Front pocket or back pocket....at times in appendix...easy to hide and versatile to what you wear....jacket pocket for a quick deli run...good choice..

 

[Old cop]

I use either the DeSantis or Uncle Mike's pocket holster along with Remmington 158 +P HP (FBI load).

 

[f2]

Anyone have any suggestions on ankle/pocket holsters and defensive rounds?

mika pocket holster, frontiernet.net/

148 gr wadcutter loads: winchester X38SMRP or federal GM38A
speed strip reload: speer gold dot 135 gr .38 spl +P 23921

 

[druryj]

I like the Mika pocket holster as well and have mine loaded with Win PDX-1 + Ps right now. With an extra speed strip or two in another pocket, I'm good with this as a carry package.

 

[MONGO45]

I use the 5-Shot Leather ankle rig with thumb break for my 342. Top quality and very secure which I prefer since it is a backup to my primary while on-duty in plain clothes.

 

[DEG]

I have both the DeSantis and Uncle Mikes pocket holsters for my 340PD and like them both, but if I had to pick one it would be the Uncle Mikes. It seems to cling to the inside of your pocket a little better than the Desantis. Walmarts here carry the Uncle Mikes.

 

[photoman]

Anyone have any suggestions on ankle/pocket holsters and defensive rounds?

I don't use an ankle holster much but the Renegade is a good one and the Galco too.

For pocket holsters, I recommend the Mika or Safariland. Both are excellent.

Choose ammo based on which one you and your gun shoot best. Shot placement is so much more important than the latest, greatest bullet design (that can't be shot well due to high recoil).