Pockets were meant for puttin' stuff in. That includes guns.
EDC/CCW vs CARRY COMFORT - MY LIFE'S EXPERIENCE
- Thread starter chief38
- Start date
I've worn Levi's (501's I think they are) for decades. Nice deep pockets. A Jframe or a Sig 938 flush magazine in a Mika holster disappears in them and can be drawn very quickly from a standing position. Even when wearing a heavy closed winter jacket your firearm is readily available. The only downside I've found is that it is difficult to draw while seated.
I was always a Fat Guy. I would generally buy shirts that were meant to wear out. Us Fat Guys think we are hiding it. Well I was hiding a gun. One in the waist and one in my off hand pocket. When I buy pants all is tried out in the dressing room. When I can't have a shirt out I'll hide things under a sport jacket. If no jacket I still carry in a pocket or use a belly band under my pants. I can wear a belly band like a smart carry and place the gun in a area that is comfortable. Usually the pocket gun is a J-Frame the second gun varies. It could be a big high cap down to a second J-Frame. I have done this since 2004. To my knowledge I haven't been made. My Wife has noticed at times and suggests adjustment is needed. The times I've been at doings that the legality of my carry was questionable, it was easy to stay undetected. The weather is no problem. I spend most of the Winter in South Florida. Most days I carry Two Guns, Pepper Gell, Knife, well, you get the picture. I live in Cargo Shorts or Pants.
My go to concealed carry for 35 years has been a S&W 3913 or 3913NL with a flush fitting 7rd mag. 7+1 +8/16 =16 or 24 total
Want a few more bullets; it's a 6906 or PC Shorty-9 12+1 +15 =28total
Both in a Milt Sparks Summer Special or Executive Companion IWB holster
Want a few more bullets; it's a 6906 or PC Shorty-9 12+1 +15 =28total
Both in a Milt Sparks Summer Special or Executive Companion IWB holster
Chief,
If I may add. As most of us know, the parameters of how, what, when, and when change with age.
Some can't tighten their belts due to back problems. Some of us get weaker and have trouble racking a slide or controlling recoil.
Aging gracefully ain't easy. But we do what we gotta do.
If I may add. As most of us know, the parameters of how, what, when, and when change with age.
Some can't tighten their belts due to back problems. Some of us get weaker and have trouble racking a slide or controlling recoil.
Aging gracefully ain't easy. But we do what we gotta do.
dsf
Member
While they may not have been thinking of guns so much as cigars and lighters, I think our friends way down south got it right with their guayabera shirts. Great for hiding a little something like a Hellcat or Kahr or J frame.
dsf Note that some carhartt force t-shirts can be bought in a Loose Fit - larger around the waist , not the shoulders and hiding a full size pistol is more about the holster and position than the handgun size . I carry a 5" m&p 2.0 pc or a older m&p core with dot optic at 3:00. Even longer a 1911 commander for 22 years in an early comp-tac neutral holster at 3:00 . I have always been heavy but over the years I lost an inch and 30 lbs so today I 5-9 205lb retired builder. I wear ether an MTAC or a Infidel Ultra Max both made by Comp-Tac . The MTAC body's come optic ready now but the kydex body on mine is 11 or 12 years old on a C-T Neutral holster I still use but for a 1911 today - off a earlier neutral holster now set up with a 1911 body. All 3 holsters are from Comp-Tac and I m&p model kydex bodys did have to cut the kydex from the front top of the kydex so the optic would fit nicely but thats 8 to 10 minute job and a razor knife . So my everyday concealed carry is nut'n special to manage .
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I pocket carry 99% of the time.When Ive got big pockets I use a J frame..usually my 642 sometimes my 649. If I feel I may need to use my weapon I can tuck my hand in and grab the firearm.From there it is a draw out which is quicker than you might think, especially if practiced. Summer with smaller pockets usually means I carry my P32.If I want to carry the big iron in a cross draw, the pocket gun still goes along for the ride.
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gwpercle
Member
My life's worth of experience ... going back to 1967 .
If it's comfortable you will carry it , all day every day .
If it is Un-comfortable ... at some point during the day , you will stop carrying it ... or worse , you will walk out the door and leave it at home .
The only place a handgun does you any good is if it is ...
on your person ...
That saying about a handgun should be comforting and not comfortable is Horse Pucky .
If it isn't comfortable it wont be on your person ... that is simply human nature .
Carry whatever you can carry comfortably and shoot well with ...
If it's a Air-Lite J-frame in 22 LR ... then so be it !
Gary
If it's comfortable you will carry it , all day every day .
If it is Un-comfortable ... at some point during the day , you will stop carrying it ... or worse , you will walk out the door and leave it at home .
The only place a handgun does you any good is if it is ...
on your person ...
That saying about a handgun should be comforting and not comfortable is Horse Pucky .
If it isn't comfortable it wont be on your person ... that is simply human nature .
Carry whatever you can carry comfortably and shoot well with ...
If it's a Air-Lite J-frame in 22 LR ... then so be it !
Gary
Mr. Vito
Member
My 642 in a Desantis holster in my right front pocket is what I carry most of the time as I leave my home. Unlike OWB or IWB, pocket carry allows you to have your hand on the gun, ready to draw if needed, without anyone around you being aware that you are carrying.
I agree with your assessment!
I have come to love and appreciate the JFrame platform. It's all I carry, 99% of the time. I am also 100% revolver guy.
I live a casual lifestyle. I am not kicking in doors and busting punks. I avoid trouble as much as possible. It's better to be armed at all times, than to have a big blaster at home. That's how I feel.
In 15+ years of CCW (since I was 18) and got my first permit (my state was 18) I've never had to use it or have a shoot out. Reality vs Fantasy is, thankfully, most of us don't have to use our guns in defense and we might as well be comfortable toting it.
Two back injuries as well from working hard, I don't need any extra unneeded weight.
The older we get, the more you realize what's important, what's not, and what you don't want. I don't want to be uncomfortable as much as possible...
I have come to love and appreciate the JFrame platform. It's all I carry, 99% of the time. I am also 100% revolver guy.
I live a casual lifestyle. I am not kicking in doors and busting punks. I avoid trouble as much as possible. It's better to be armed at all times, than to have a big blaster at home. That's how I feel.
In 15+ years of CCW (since I was 18) and got my first permit (my state was 18) I've never had to use it or have a shoot out. Reality vs Fantasy is, thankfully, most of us don't have to use our guns in defense and we might as well be comfortable toting it.
Two back injuries as well from working hard, I don't need any extra unneeded weight.
The older we get, the more you realize what's important, what's not, and what you don't want. I don't want to be uncomfortable as much as possible...
I watch guys closely that have there hand in the pocket for any length of time. When your hand is over the grip or wrapped around a grip it is noticeable to some of us at least . Don't get caught needing your pocket carry NOW when your seated . You can gather attention worming around to draw that pocket carry .
Just when you feel like your fast on the draw you see a guy like this at the range ! - He makes me feel like a turtle on a cold day .
UP CLOSE
️️️️#glock #fyp #shorts #training #thegunhuddx - YouTube
Just when you feel like your fast on the draw you see a guy like this at the range ! - He makes me feel like a turtle on a cold day .
UP CLOSE
️️️️#glock #fyp #shorts #training #thegunhuddx - YouTube
max503
Member
I'm amazed the number of people I know who have a CC permit but seldom carry.
I'm uncomfortable without it.
I'm uncomfortable without it.
hardluk1;141941384 When your hand is over the grip or wrapped around a grip it is noticeable to some of us at least . [/QUOTE said:
I pocket carry wearing commercially available carry shorts and trousers. The ambidextrous holster pockets allow carry of almost any pistol I would want. More importantly, the pocket opening has concealed snaps under the waistband which allows the pocket to be instantly opened wide during a draw from the seated position. I agree that pocket carry in traditional clothing can be dicey if seated.
This is a really good discussion. The most important point in the OP is that if it's not comfortable, how likely are you to carry every day? Remember 5 shots of .38 Special in your front pocket is infinitely superior to 15 shots of 9mm Luger some place in your house.
Practice makes perfect. There are times for me when a 642/M&P 340 is most practical. That is a difficult firearm to shoot consistently. I try to take a small J-frame with me on every range trip. Just 10 or 15 rounds down range keeps me familiar with it. Similarly, any semiauto I carry has a thumb safety that functions like a 1911. Even my Sig P365. Disengaging the safety has to be part of presenting the gun. Always. You can choose not to have a thumb safety, but don't go back & forth.
I think it's also important to think about whether or not there may be circumstances where you need to leave your pistol in your vehicle or put it somewhere close but not on your person. When I traveled all over Virginia for business by car, I sometimes had to transfer my pocket carry to my briefcase/computer bag before going into a meeting. An IWB setup just wouldn't be practical, but tucking it into an outside pocket of my bag was fine provided I never left it behind anywhere.
A last thought is what are you going to do if you must use a public restroom? That may sound like a joke but anyone who had to travel for 2 or 3 days by car on business will understand what I'm talking about. Again IWB gets clumsy there.
Change is hard. I've added too many pounds over the past 10 years and don't have much of a waist anymore. Belt & suspenders was always a joke but that's the best way to keep my pants up if I'm am carrying either pocket or on my belt.
Practice makes perfect. There are times for me when a 642/M&P 340 is most practical. That is a difficult firearm to shoot consistently. I try to take a small J-frame with me on every range trip. Just 10 or 15 rounds down range keeps me familiar with it. Similarly, any semiauto I carry has a thumb safety that functions like a 1911. Even my Sig P365. Disengaging the safety has to be part of presenting the gun. Always. You can choose not to have a thumb safety, but don't go back & forth.
I think it's also important to think about whether or not there may be circumstances where you need to leave your pistol in your vehicle or put it somewhere close but not on your person. When I traveled all over Virginia for business by car, I sometimes had to transfer my pocket carry to my briefcase/computer bag before going into a meeting. An IWB setup just wouldn't be practical, but tucking it into an outside pocket of my bag was fine provided I never left it behind anywhere.
A last thought is what are you going to do if you must use a public restroom? That may sound like a joke but anyone who had to travel for 2 or 3 days by car on business will understand what I'm talking about. Again IWB gets clumsy there.
Change is hard. I've added too many pounds over the past 10 years and don't have much of a waist anymore. Belt & suspenders was always a joke but that's the best way to keep my pants up if I'm am carrying either pocket or on my belt.
I finally decided on a Colt Pony for everyday carry. 380, double action only. I shoot it well enough to keep all shot in a 6 inch circle shooting rapidly. It rides in a DeSantis 98 IWB holster and I have driven with it holstered for as many as 12 hours.
Interestingly I read an article today written by former LEO, Gary Johnston, and found this paragraph particularly telling.
"During my 28-year career in law enforcement and during the more than 25 years thereafter, I've continued to informally study as many handgun wounds as possible. Here's the kicker: I've either witnessed or known of more people stopped or killed instantly from one hit with a .22 LR or .22 Magnum bullet than any other. Seriously.
The most graphic example was an armed robber who was shot point blank with a .22 Magnum derringer. The bullet hit the lower part of perp's clavicle, breaking it, and went straight down doing extensive damage to most of his organs, glancing off his inner pelvis and stopping in his upper right thigh, rendering him a candidate for the Vienna Boys Choir in the process. Testing bullet paths and terminal ballistics in gelatin is fine, but you'll never shoot gelatin in a gunfight."
Interestingly I read an article today written by former LEO, Gary Johnston, and found this paragraph particularly telling.
"During my 28-year career in law enforcement and during the more than 25 years thereafter, I've continued to informally study as many handgun wounds as possible. Here's the kicker: I've either witnessed or known of more people stopped or killed instantly from one hit with a .22 LR or .22 Magnum bullet than any other. Seriously.
The most graphic example was an armed robber who was shot point blank with a .22 Magnum derringer. The bullet hit the lower part of perp's clavicle, breaking it, and went straight down doing extensive damage to most of his organs, glancing off his inner pelvis and stopping in his upper right thigh, rendering him a candidate for the Vienna Boys Choir in the process. Testing bullet paths and terminal ballistics in gelatin is fine, but you'll never shoot gelatin in a gunfight."
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Late to the party but..............
First off, even Jeff Cooper owned a model 60 for suit & tie occasions. Apparently didn't have a good tailor, but let's let the fact stand.
It's true that the vast majority of defensive gun uses don't involve actually firing the gun. However, while most folks don't want to get shot, there are those who accept the possibility/fact of getting shot as the price of doing business. There are some highly motivated (or medicated) individuals out there. Also, psychopaths/sociopaths regard the rest of us as a lower life form existing to satisfy their needs.
When I first started carrying the choices were pretty much service size guns and snubbys with itty bitty grips. I mostly went for the service size and found good holsters. As Clint Smith notes, carry is supposed to be comforting, not (necessarily) comfortable.
Regardless of your personal choice, should you have to use the gun, you need to be able to hit one of the aggressors "off switches" with whatever you carry. A hit anywhere between the chin and the 'nads might work, but don't bet your life on it. The guys with the .22s in the post above knew where the "off switches" were (or got lucky) and hit them.
First off, even Jeff Cooper owned a model 60 for suit & tie occasions. Apparently didn't have a good tailor, but let's let the fact stand.
It's true that the vast majority of defensive gun uses don't involve actually firing the gun. However, while most folks don't want to get shot, there are those who accept the possibility/fact of getting shot as the price of doing business. There are some highly motivated (or medicated) individuals out there. Also, psychopaths/sociopaths regard the rest of us as a lower life form existing to satisfy their needs.
When I first started carrying the choices were pretty much service size guns and snubbys with itty bitty grips. I mostly went for the service size and found good holsters. As Clint Smith notes, carry is supposed to be comforting, not (necessarily) comfortable.
Regardless of your personal choice, should you have to use the gun, you need to be able to hit one of the aggressors "off switches" with whatever you carry. A hit anywhere between the chin and the 'nads might work, but don't bet your life on it. The guys with the .22s in the post above knew where the "off switches" were (or got lucky) and hit them.
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keith44spl
Member
I agree, folks ought to carry what they are comfortable carrying and shooting.
I too have gone to a tad bit lighter in my twilight days.
Cobbled up myself another holster to carry my lightweight
Commander 10mm on my pant belt.
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I too have gone to a tad bit lighter in my twilight days.
Cobbled up myself another holster to carry my lightweight
Commander 10mm on my pant belt.
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