I currently use a Ruger SP101 for ccw. It is not a pocket pistol by no means, just to heavy. I have been looking at several options for pocket carry, but have been some what disheartened by the reviews and threads I have read on the semis such as the Kahr PM9 and been looking more closely at the 442.

If you carry a 442 could you please relate your experience with them as a pocket carry gun.

Thats my edc a 442 in a uncle mikes #3 pocket holster. Very easy to conceal. takes some practice drawing from a pocket but a little more comfortable than IWB. I switched from my glock 27 to the 442 can't conceal the 27 in a pocket.

Carry mine in a Remora and couldn't be happier. Not quite as "flat" as the Sig P238, but for a revolver......

it's in my pocket right now in an Uncle Mikes #3 sidekick. speer gdhp 135 gr +p short barrel. wood grips replaced rubber. conceals very well and easy to carry. it's what i carry most of the time.

I've owned one for 15 years and have carried it quite often in my front pants pocket. However, even though it's considered a lightweight revolver, at about 18 ounces fully loaded it's a bit heavy for me. When I say "heavy" I mean somewhat uncomfortable, as it makes my pants sag a little on the side where the gun is with jeans, and more so with dress slacks.

On the other hand, I have another J-frame (Model 317) which is an 8-shot 22 LR that weighs 9.8 ounces empty, and probably no more than 11 ounces fully loaded. Those 7 ounces between the two guns really makes a difference to me, and even though the 22 LR is not a great defense round I just find myself carrying the 317 a lot as it's just more pleasant to carry.

Keep in mind that my body frame/weight may have something to do with this, as I'm pretty thin and weigh 145 pounds. A larger/bigger person with larger and bigger pants may not be bothered as much with 18 ounces of weight in their front pocket. I've used both a leather pocket holster and a nylon Uncle Mike's and neither was much more comfortable than the other, though the leather one allowed for a quicker draw.

I'm considering getting rid of my 442 and getting one of the 10 ounce J-frames in 38 or 22 Magnum.

John Gross

The 642 (or 442 if you prefer) is the best pocket gun available in my opinion. Compared to your SP101, it will have more recoil so take that into consideration.

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Centennial Every Day

I carry mine in a Desantis Nemises? Any way, I wear alot of cargo shorts and pants and it works great, I often switch off with my 940 or 649.

I carry a 642, but went to the Hogue Monogrips that cover the backstrap. I'm curious why you went to wood, and which ones.

I carry in a PWL owb holster and find I like that best, although front pocket if I want to conceal.

Yeah. I pocket carry with dress pants on because of the deep pockets and tucked in shirt. With jeans, I just IWB with a non-tucked shirt.

I carry the 442 in a DeSantis pocket holster daily and have done so for years (I alternate w/my Colt Cobra). In reading an earlier post I am 6'2" and weigh 200 so the 442 seems pretty light (a .22/.22 mag is not enough gun for me). One thing, these little guns take lots of practice to become profecient. That said, it is the perfect pocket carry, at least IMHO.

I went with the smooth cocobolo wood grips from Esmeralda. Idea is less to snag on in the pocket.

I carried my 442 w/ LG405's in the pocket sans holster for about a year, until recently. It just broke, so now it's being replaced with a different Centennial. While I did pocket carry it though, I tried lots of different pocket holsters and ultimately came to the conclusion that it just worked best for me to carry the gun 'naked'.

I carried a model 60 in pocket for many years switched to a 442. Then I went with a Ruger LCR lightest out there, Finnaly decided i sure could use the extra pocket space, ie knifes watch, etc and ended up carring a 327 night guard inside the pants. Like Clint says it should be comforting. I do like having 8 shots instead of 5. But all in all the 442 is a good gun.

Summertime I carry a 642 in a Mika pocket holster. It works for me in jeans or shorts. With a pocket holster, pockets that are inside the pants rather than sewn over the outside like with some shorts will hide the bulge more.

Here's the combination that works for me. These are Barami Hip Grips in combination with Tyler T-Grip adapters (Today I'd go with BK grip adapters). Either gun slips easily into a Levi's pocket with no pocket holster needed. The lip of the Hip Grips keeps the grips above the pocket line. Cover with a tail-out shirt and you're good to go. Just the thing for a quick trip to the nearby stop 'n rob.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

The 642/442s with a Desantis Nemises is the best when it comes to "pocket" carry IMO.

john,

What type of belt do you use when you pocket carry?

This is just my opinion, but I think a good gun belt is important even for pocket carry. I think that an 1 1/2" belt for jeans and a 1 1/4" belt for cotton casual slacks (Dockers) is important to be able to pocket carry.

If you are wearing wook dress slacks, then I think that is just the worse thing to try to conceal carry in. I realize that it may be necessary for your job (it is for mine), but it really sucks to try and conceal carry.

While I have not tried it yet, I'm really thinking about giving this company a try:

Leather Work Belt

If you scroll down the page, you see where he's come up with an ingenious way to make a double thickness belt.

I have pocket carried my 442 for many years in an Unkle Mikes #3. My 3" SP101 is in an IWB holster.

I picked up a 442-2 last year and use Speer 135 GD short bbl. loads in it which are very accurate in that gun. I also use an Uncle Mikes #3 pocket holster. It seems to carry the gun pretty well. That Speer load will hold 1" off hand at 7 yards in slow fire, perfect for that gun!!

Thanks. It never occurred to me that the type of belt can have an effect on the ease of pocket carry.

John Gross

Mine has been an "always" gun for 15 years with a pocket holster. The finish is worn and it collects fuzz, but it works for me. It's the most quality and power you can get in a package that light and small.

Possible exception being a grenade...

I've carried mine in a Uncle Mikes without any issue, very comfortable.

Thanks for all the replies. You all are making it easier for me to make up my mind to get a 442.

I'll offer another option: Our (my wife and I) first carry guns were a 642 and a 442. I got rid of mine right away and the wife has been through several other pistols since then. My second pistol was a 649 Bodyguard (more accurate for me). Wife went through several (Colt DS, S & W model 60, some others). She now carries a 438.

I have at least a half dozen guns suitable for CCW but the Bodyguard is what I end up using 85%+ of the time.

Holster: I swear by a Mikals pocket holster!

Good luck.

ps: We use 158 gr lead swc hp by Remington.

Get one an get some grips that fit your hand..... those boot-grips are great for hiding the gun... lousy for shooting it. I've carried some model of J-frame for 30 years , the first thing I do is put Compac's on it. They fit my hand... yeah a little harder to hide but not much.If I had to carry one with the factory grips... I wouldn't... those little boogers are just too small for me. I carry a 442, and a 638, one goes in my pocket when I put my pants on an stays there until I take them off. I just don't feel dressed without one !!!

C/O,
One of the reasons I went with the Speer 135 SBHP loads, besides thier great accuracy, is that they shoot about 1" hi at 7 yards where as the 158 grain loads shoot about 6" hi and also to the right quite a bit for me. Depending on your grip and gun you might get different results. Just something you might want to check out with your gun before you buy alot of the same ammo. Good luck. Let us know how it all works out for you!

Well, I don't know a lot about the PM9 but the one I have has been flawless. It is not a cheap gun, but it does have a nice trigger, decent sights, is accurate - and I have never had the gun stop with any factory ammo I have used. I will say that I do not use +P and +P+ ammo in mine - just regular pressure Federal 124-gr Hydra-shoks. Might be no problem to use the hotter stuff, I just haven't done it.

But back to the 442, you can hardly go wrong with one. The gun is not as flat or as compact as the PM9, but it is lighter. They are the standard against which all other carry guns and hideouts are judged, and nothing yet has come along enough better that has changed that.

Well, I am just more used to revolvers anyway. I have used a model 10 at my job since I started 22 years ago and all my other handguns are revolvers at this time. So I guess I just want to stick to the same platform, besides I already have about 1000 rounds for it on hand.

I just have never owned a Airweight J frame and wanted to get some opinions.

I thank all of you who took your time to help me out.

I'll have to admit I'm a Glock-Lover and the .40 S&W Round.

Glock 22 & 23 with belt holsters.
Glock 27 (Baby Glock with 10-round mag) with the Desantis Pocket Holster.
......
But I keep going back to the Hammerless J-Frame with the Densantis Nemisis pocket holster. Something about that long deliberate trigger pull just really makes sense in a SD pocket gun.

I almost always wear Kahki pants with loose front pockets, and the J-Frame fits real well. I have a pair with pockets that are smaller, with the gun they are too tight, so I don't wear them when carrying. I always wear a belt.

And yes, I have to move my pocketknife and Streamlight Stylus Pro (2AAA) flashlight to the other front pocket.

J-FRAMES RULE !

Bud's online has the 442-1 no lock model for $361.00. Great deal. I sold two Internal Lock J's to purchase my 442 no lock. If you don't know about the lock, then do a search on this forum. I'd rather see you go for the no lock since they are available than to purchase a lock version and then regret it later.

I just seen the "NIL" 442's a couple of hours ago. I also lpoked at the M&P340 without the lock. I might go for the 340 if the price is right.

For those who have said a 442 is too heavy, I've been carrying this bobbed hammer Model 60 for years in a Uncle Mike's pocket holster.

It's a little heavy but a lot easier to shoot than an airweight. After a while you get used to the weight.

I'm a little short guy 150 lbs. Can't imagine anyone would have trouble toting a 442 or 642.

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I'm having issues shooting the 642. The damn thing always seems to pull to the left. I'm going out again soon with some other ammo, but I've tried 125gr and 158gr so far. It's not the recoil as much as the darn thing just doesn't have much to hold onto.

Try a bigger grip that covers the backstrap of the gun. I prefer the Uncle Mike's combat grip but there are many others like the Hogue or Pachmayr.

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Centennial Every Day

I have heard that before - more than once. The "dxxx thing" just sits there in your hand. It does nothing. If you watch it while dry-firing a bit, you can easily see what's happening and eventually you can correct it.

I think there is a bit of a knack to getting the right grip on these little guns and figuring a way to keep pressing that trigger straight back. I use a completely different grip (very high) on Centennials than I do the bigger guns.

Pressing that trigger straight back is not as easy as with a K-frame, but it can be done, and I don't think it is imperative to rely on larger stocks. I have long, thin hands, but over the years of shooting Centennials, I have been able to teach myself to be a fair hand with one. I use the stocks the gun comes with (the Hogue rubber stocks, in the case of my 340PD, or add a T-grip if the gun has wood stocks).

When I first started shooting these guns, dry-firing helped me more than anything. Now my big problem is seeing those tiny little sights. Give it a little extra effort and see what you can do.

This is a decent trouble-shooting reference (pun intended ) that has helped me before. Have a look.

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I carried a 442 for close to 10 years before going to a 640-1 in .357 mag that I carry now. I used a RKBA leather pocket holster with the 442, and use one now for the 640-1.

I have owned most of the j frames over the years including a 642 and I recently bought an M&P340. I decided on it because it is a little lighter than the '42's, has the excess front night sight and, if you are feeling particularly masochistic, can fire .357's.I carry it in an Uncle Mike's #4 pocket holster.

I carry a 442 in a Simply Rugged leather pocket holster. It is a rough-side out holster so it sticks in your pocket good, and the smooth-side in allows for a very fast draw. I carry it loaded with Federal 155 gr SWCHP +P or the Nyclads. I will have to try the Speer 135gr GDHP short barrel loads, though.

I also have a Kahr PM9 and a Ruger LCP. I carry both of them in the pocket as well. The LCP gets the nod when the pockets in my shorts or pants aren't deep enough to completely hide the butt of the 442.

In my opinion, you really, really can't beat a 442/642 for pocket carry. The no-lock version is available now from distributors and at great prices too!

BB45C

I have fired my friends airweight 642 several times. that double action only deal makes it hard to get a consistant group with it.that is why I chose the 638 for my airweight. so I can cock it and fire it single action.I like it alot it carries very well.I oedered the desantis summer heat holster for it.I can also carry my 36 or 49 in it also.

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God save the SOUTH

Wouldn't a grenade 'print' too much....?

Had the 442 and LCR, To me the LCR was the best conceal and lightest, but after much considerarion I found a N-frame 327 night guard alot more satisfying (for me), knowing I have 8 shots and very easy to conceal in the pants, not pocket. Both guns are very good, take your pick