Pocket Carry

I pocket carry my 442 in a Mika holster, and have even carried my 3 inch M60 that way. My pockets are quite deep.
One problem with pocket carry, and it's not very likely to come up, is that I am unable to draw with my left hand, unless I undo my belt and drop trow, but, using only my left hand, the time to shoot might be measured in minutes, not seconds. I haven't tried this at the public range!
With my OWB belt holster, I can just manage to get my revolver into play with my clothes intact, left hand only.
Since we are encouraged to practice shooting with our weak hand, this seems like a consideration.

Best,
Rick
 
Grimjaws said:
ABPOS said:
I was pocket carrying some at church but then I started to use my tuckable holster AIWB and like it very much so I may not have to pocket carry any longer. We'll see

I'm curious what brand and model holster is your aiwb?
Click to expand...

blackhawk CQC. It's not ideal. But I'm making it work. It was cheap (I bought it on sale from Midway last year and it was not very much money. Like 10 bucks). I don't think I have a pic of it. The upside is the clip part is to the right of the holster so it stays out of the way of any buckles. But I think Galco makes some other ones that might be better and simple . We'll see. This one can sometimes slip down a bit. But it works for what it is... I'll get a pick up later but I don't think I've ever taken a pic of it.
Click to expand...
 
haywood said:
It must be wear I didn't file it. The original Boot Grips on one of them was filed before I changed them.
Click to expand...

I filed my boot grip to accept speedloaders too. But that has nothing to do with my thumb getting beat up. It doesn't happen with the boot grips on. Only the Hogue Tamers.

Your job looks much better than mine!!! LOL. Good job.

tI3YSfG.jpg
 
Bodyguard .380 without the laser in a Galco leather pocket holster or a DeSantis Nemesis holster. I have over 1000 rds through this pistol and have the utmost faith in it.Have never had a shortage of revolvers or autos but find the BG.380 fills my need the best.
 
I've got a few "pocket carry" pieces... and I would recommend them all!

I carry a Kahr CM40 90% of the time I require a pocket gun, a Model 36 snubbie sometimes, and in a back pocket in the yard or something sometimes I'll pocket my Model 296, but being an L frame it's not exactly a front pocket gun.

The Kahr CM40, IMO, is a PERFECT pocket gun. Many people don't like Kahr, but I've never had an issue out of mine and it's very easy to carry. The smallest .40 you can get as far as I know.
 
I have a 32 ACP.

You might want to consider what type of "shootout" you are planning?

My opinion; 380/.32 ACP have no poop, you might as well throw spit balls.
 
Ilike9mm said:
I have a 32 ACP.

You might want to consider what type of "shootout" you are planning?

My opinion; 380/.32 ACP have no poop, you might as well throw spit balls.
Click to expand...

LOL! R-E-A-L-L-Y?!? :D

Do you believe that strongly enough that you'll volunteer to stand down range and let someone throw a few of those .32/.380 spitballs at you? :confused:
 
Last edited:
haywood said:
32 and 380 at one time were used by police and military. They may not be popular as a main gun these days but far from spitballs.
Click to expand...
Absolutely correct.

007 carries a PPK in .32 IIRC. He said it wasn't sporting to carry a caliber larger than necessary to do the job. ;)

It's all about shot placement.

That's not to say that a compact 9mm isn't a better choice - but only IF you can shoot it accurately and make follow up shots if/when needed. Take whatever advantage you can, by shooting the largest caliber you can shoot reliably and accurately - because in a SD situation you don't get a second chance.

But 2 or 3 good hits with a .380 or .32 beat the heck out of half a dozen misses with a larger caliber. Modern SD ammo in those calibers make them reasonably effective for SD. Maybe not the BEST possible calibers, but certainly reasonable choices.

Modern .380s & .32s surely aren't spitballs :)
 
Last edited:
I think serious concerns about a gun printing are overblown unless you are carrying in skintight Spandex pants with no cover garment and no holster.

I've pocket carried an all steel J-frame or a clone thereof for twenty-one years, always in a pocket holster. For most of that time it was the simple Uncle Mike's #3, but for the last few years the gun has ridden in a DeSantis Nemesis. I've carried that way in dress slacks, twill work pants, jeans and shorts.

No one, not one single person, has run screaming "Call 911, he has a gun!" Nor has anyone ever whispered to someone else and pointed at my pocket. I think a couple of prospective bad guys may have rethought their plans when I casually slipped my hand into the pocket in question. I'm quite sure one did, and the police subsequently agreed. But average, law-abiding folks, no, I don't think any have realized I was carrying a gun, and a revolver at that.

The plain fact is that most people are not that observant. Half the time they're too preoccupied using their mobile devices to see where they are walking. A bulge in a pocket could be a balled-up handkerchief, twelve dollars in nickels, or a dead squirrel. The vast majority aren't asking themselves, "Is that guy packing heat? Or that one? Maybe that one over there--he looks kind of ordinary, but you never know, do you?"

I don't think anyone but cops and robbers, and maybe other people carrying concealed, would spot it. I don't worry about the first and third categories, and so far nobody in the second has drawn on me. It has become less of a worry now that I'm older than crude oil and look harmless, but it stopped being much of a concern about two months after I started pocket carrying.
 
Last edited:
Im looking forward to shooting the new Mossberg 9 compact

the Mrs has a G42 that she loves , however I cant shoot it w a dang - too small for me....
 
In south Texas where it's over 90°f 9 months out of the year, when I do pocket carry, it's with my Colt automatic .25 or Beretta 950BS. Usually when found these high quality little pistols aren't cheap.

I think a great economical choice is the Kel Tec P32. They can be found brand new for around $230ish.
 
Last edited:
Still don't get it.

Noted long ago that I had never heard of pocket carry in 30+ years of CCW before finding this Forum. And I was a LEO for most of those years. In fact, recall thinking folks put it in one of their BACK pants pocket. I am serious.

Got a Mika pocket holster and have tried to understand just why some folks dig it. I do not.

I have no trousers/shorts that prevent my holstered j-frame from flopping about whilst engaged in physical activities. It is hugely uncomfortable whilst sitting and quite inaccessible.

Admit I will occasionally slip a holstered j-frame in a JACKET/COAT pocket when wearing sweats and making a store run but pocket carry simply doesn't work for me.

All said, if it works for you, cool. :)

Be safe.
 
@TheBigD

I grew up walking the woods with my Dad, and he always carried his Model 15 snubbie in the back pocket of his blue jeans, so I also back pocket carry often when I'm not in public. It's not exactly ideal for carry in public, but it works great when it's a casual situation. I also feel a bit of nostalgia because I grew up watching my Dad do it, and now I'm back pocketing my own Model 36 just like he did his 15, and my little one watches me do it, and the circle of life continues.
 
The Big D said:
Noted long ago that I had never heard of pocket carry in 30+ years of CCW before finding this Forum. And I was a LEO for most of those years. In fact, recall thinking folks put it in one of their BACK pants pocket. I am serious.

Got a Mika pocket holster and have tried to understand just why some folks dig it. I do not.

I have no trousers/shorts that prevent my holstered j-frame from flopping about whilst engaged in physical activities. It is hugely uncomfortable whilst sitting and quite inaccessible.

Admit I will occasionally slip a holstered j-frame in a JACKET/COAT pocket when wearing sweats and making a store run but pocket carry simply doesn't work for me.

All said, if it works for you, cool. :)

Be safe.
Click to expand...

I don't think people on this forum invented it. Or maybe they did but I thought it was more of an LEO thing. Back up guns. I've heard many people far and wide pocket carry a J frame. Especially as a secondary. LEO, Military, and Civilian.

One of the guys I've read much of his work is Stephen Camp and he was an LEO who was a Browning HiPower advocate.

A quote from Mr. Camp:

"No longer in police service, my orbits are extremely tame and my lifestyle, low-risk. Yet, I have seen "what is out there," and insist on being armed 24/7. I've tried several handguns for this role and after several years of "experimenting," have settled on the S&W J-frame, almost always a Model 642. It is the right size and weight for pocket carry and an extra speed loader in my pocket offers a total of ten rounds and carries easier than a spare magazine for an automatic. Though I much prefer the looks of a blued revolver, the stainless steel is more practical here in Texas where we have two versions of hot weather: summer and super-summer! Five shots has nothing to spare and is less than I prefer between reloads, but it is probably sufficient for unexpected encounters of the worst kind that I'm likely to face."

From this blog:

The Enduring Snubnose
 
When I was working, I pocket-carried an M49 J-frame as backup. Now retired, I seldom pocket-carry but still carry the M49. It just disappears in any wardrobe.

Just my opinion : I have serious reservations about pocket-carrying a striker-fired pistol. Sure, must have a holster that covers the trigger guard, finger outside trigger guard while drawing, etc. BUT..... under extreme stress when it is FOR REAL, being the humans that we are, who can be sure that that finger won't find its way in without knowing?

I prefer a long, DA pull for pocket imho.
 
I've found that the perfect pocket carry pistol (for me) is the Remington RM380 in a Desantis Nemesis pocket holster. All metal frame and fits my needs perfectly. It's also the most pleasant little .380 I've ever fired. You can find them cheap and they are way more reliable than most people would believe coming from Remington. I have over 600 rounds through mine with ZERO malfunctions of any kind.

I also sometimes pocket carry a S&W 442. Just picked up a Sig P365, but haven't tried to pocket carry that one just yet. I'll have to get back to you on that. Pretty sure I'll end up carrying the Sig OWB.
 
I have carried about every small pistol and revolver you can think of. I carried a Kahr PM909 for years then went to the SIG 365 and 11500 rounds later no issues. When I would wear a suit I would carry a model .38 in each pocket...NY reload!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

RevV67
What Are Your Favorite Jeans for Pocket Carry?
2 3
Replies
43
Views
1K
Lt.Donn
Lt.Donn
C
Off the shelf pocket holster for Smith 6906?
Replies
5
Views
330
Heymatt
Heymatt
D
Looking for pocket carry gun under $500
3 4 5
Replies
97
Views
6K
otis24
O
P
In Praise Of A Glock.
4 5 6
Replies
115
Views
6K
Tony Tiger
Tony Tiger
IAM Rand
Stop blaming men for small pockets!
2
Replies
27
Views
1K
Outpost75
O

Latest posts

Back
Top