Centenial Weight vs Pocket Carry

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When carried in the pocket, a very light revolver isn't just more comfortable, it is also more concealable! I have Centenials that are in the (aprox) 11, 13, 15, and 23 ounce categories....and the lighter ones are indeed far easier to conceal during pocket carry.

I know, a few ounces doesn't sound like a big deal, but every ounce of extra weight makes the gun drag the pocket down just a bit lower, and that can cause it to print just a little bit more.

I don't even try to pocket carry the heavy 640 (can't remember now why I ever bought the thing), but I just picked up a 642 for my daughter (15 oz), and while it sure has a lot more attractive price than say a scandium/Ti 340PD (11.4 oz), after carrying it around for a few days, I am thinking that the extra money (2.5X more!) may have been worth 4 fewer ounces of weight for the lighter gun. Better yet, she can have my old 342, and I will get a new 340PD...
 
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I have a Nickle Colt DS that is too pretty to carry at 22oz. A model 36 at 20oz. (non +P). A 642 no lock with CT Laser and a LCR. The last two is what I carry. Great weight, manageable recoil (little stout with +P). And good concealabilty. The LCR is actually the "best" recoil with +Ps. Best.
 
I have a Nickle Colt DS that is too pretty to carry at 22oz. A model 36 at 20oz. (non +P). A 642 no lock with CT Laser and a LCR. The last two is what I carry. Great weight, manageable recoil (little stout with +P). And good concealabilty. The LCR is actually the "best" recoil with +Ps. Best.

P.S. I use DeSantis Nemisis pocket holsters which are great IMHO.
 
I've been carrying a 15 oz. 442 in a pocket holster 16/7 since 1996. That's heavy enough on a long term basis.

In a belt type holster that's nothing. But in a pocket that equates to a big bunch of keys and a lot of quarters. YMMV.
 
Weight

I am like you, I like the light- weight guns for pocket carry. I have a 340 and 442 no-locks as my primaries, one has tritium sight and the other a laser. I can tell a weight difference in them when empty, but when loaded it is not as noticeable, however they both are light in the pocket. I use Uncle Mikes grips on my 340 because they allow better grip and contro since I carry .357s in my 340. That adds a little weight but it is well worth the difference in gun control and they allow me to shoot it more.
 
Rob1109 said:
and a LCR
Click to expand...

I am actually a bit disappointed in the LCR. Trigger pull is great, and it has the best grip in the business for absorbing recoil, but the downside is that it is bulky. I have tried the boot grip several times, but find it a bit to slick to be 100% reliable to grab in an emergency. The trigger guard is unusually bulbous too. My guess is that they needed some extra material for strength, and that is where they put it. (Somebody said it was deliberate to make it workable with gloved hands, and this will now be the wave of the future. We will see.)

Guns in this class are meant to be pocket carried. All this adds up to a gun that just isn't nearly as concealable as a Centennial. Sure, it carries nice IWB, but if I am going to carry that way, I am going to carry a Glock 26 which holds twice as many rounds, a more powerful cartridge, and can be reloaded in half a second.
 
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for me...............a S&W model 649 (23 ozs) in an uncle mikes #3 pocket holster carries very well in the pants pocket.
 
CowboyKen said:
"At just 9.40 ounces (with an empty magazine), the LCP is lightweight and ideal for all-day carry."

Ruger® LCP® Centerfire Pistol

Ken
Click to expand...

In general, I find that the squared edges of an auto, make them more difficult to conceal than the much more irregular outline of a revolver in a pocket holster. But...I can't say that I have specifically checked out the LCP either. Also, not a big fan of .380. Hard to argue with 9.4 ounces, however.
 
Light weight is not a priority for me. My favorites are my Models 940 and 64, both with 2" barrels. My 940 with the 2" heavy barrel is probably the heaviest J Frame pocket gun available but it's also the easiest for me to shoot well and make the hits. And I don't trust the durability of the alloy frame guns.

Dave Sinko
 
In a pocket, I agree with the OP: I like them as light as possible and prefer the Ti J's to the Airweights in a pocket. I carry a bobbed 337PD in pocket everyday - don't even notice it's there.

However - just as DS stated above, the lighter they are the harder they are to shoot well. You must spend the time and $ to practice these little guns.
 
I have never had a problem carrying a steel j-frame in a pocket, as long as I am wearing jeans or heavier cotton shorts and using a pocket holster. With pants made of lighter materials, such as dress pants, it definitely sags in the pockets and I could definitely see having a lighter gun for that situation.
 
I love my 340sc. It makes my 442 feel like a boat anchor in my pocket. The 442 is a great gun as most of you would agree but a .357 that's even easier to carry is as comforting as it can get.
 
David Sinko said:
Light weight is not a priority for me. My favorites are my Models 940 and 64, both with 2" barrels. My 940 with the 2" heavy barrel is probably the heaviest J Frame pocket gun available but it's also the easiest for me to shoot well and make the hits. And I don't trust the durability of the alloy frame guns.

Dave Sinko
Click to expand...

My 940 is also my newest pocket gun of choice, others in my inventory include a blue steel 49 and a Model 40....steel just feels and shoots better in my hands....I wear a belt to keep my pants up
 
After having carried a gun concealed for most of my life, about 48 of 67 years, I have not found the weight or size of a revolver or automatic to really be an issue. Certainly smaller and lighter are more comfortable, no argument there. But not necessary.

Over the years I have carried everything from a 2" Chief's Special to a 5" 2nd Model 44 HE, full-size 1911 Colt, S&W "Shorty-Forty", and quite a few others. Currently my pocket gun is a 2" round-butt Model 12, alternating at times with a 2" round-butt Model 10.

I can promise you that you are overly concerned with your gun "printing". You are still too self-conscious about carrying it. The average person doesn't even consider that someone around him is carrying a gun and is observant enough to suspect that wrinkles in your clothes indicate the presence of a gun. Even police officers generally only discover that someone is carrying a gun is by a "frisk" when warranted, or by simply asking the person they have already stopped for whatever reason. Relax, get over it and wear clothing heavy enough so the gun cannot be seen through it.
 
I have both a 442 no-lock & a Colt Cobra which I pocket carry. No problem w/jeans of chinos but a problem w/dress slacks. The Ruger LCP .380 has them all beat for pocket carry when dressed up.

Just my two cents worth.
 
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