J Frame Carry-What am I missing?

[S-W4EVER]

... I suspect that a lot of the post's from guys that favor J frames or G42's & 365's have had quite their fill of lugging big guns around. When you do it for a living it gets old, fast.

Ain’t that the truth!

 

[haywood]

I’m probably the exception to the rule. I’m packing all this right now. And forgot to add the 6 round speed strip in my pocket. But I’m also 6’4” and weigh 215.

This reminds me of my younger days, working in the gun shops, carrying three guns or more. I had to take to wearing cargo jeans just to fit everything I carried.

 

[colt_saa]

I’m probably the exception to the rule. I’m packing all this right now. And forgot to add the 6 round speed strip in my pocket. But I’m also 6’4” and weigh 215.

The Good Old Days
when we carried a concealed arsenal

I am sure many of you remember this Man​

 

[John Patrick]

Ain’t that the truth!

Even carrying a heavy gun working part time in a gun shop/range gets old quick.

Since I enjoy carrying a revolver while working I’ll carry a steel K frame or Colt maybe one day a week, then it’s back to Night Guards or P365.

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

colt saa, I'm too mellow to be bothered calling B/S on carrying a glamed up G19 plus oversize mag, two J frames, two knives, flashlight, pepper spray, keys, speed strip and whatever else. But since you started...

 

[BabaBlueJay]

What many miss is that concealment is not the only consideration. I count myself among those who thought that way about J frames. I carried my 686, tried every which way to make it comfortable to carry. Now I am waiting on my S&W 43c to come in because carrying a 686 all day is uncomfortable no matter what holster you use. Weight to me, is equally important to concealment, especially since I carry it everywhere, including in the house. If someone else wants to carry a bigger, heavier gun, due to capacity, firepower or some other reason they are welcome to it. I just know for me, I want my carry gun to be as small and light as possible while still retaining the ability to get a full grip. A J Frame does all of that well, and will continue to do so.

 

[demkofour]

The Good Old Days
when we carried a concealed arsenal

I am sure many of you remember this Man​

John Bianchi!​

 

[colt_saa]

colt saa, I'm too mellow to be bothered calling B/S on carrying a glamed up G19 plus oversize mag, two J frames, two knives, flashlight, pepper spray, keys, speed strip and whatever else. But since you started...

What B/S are you talking about Sargent?

Are you too you young to recognize those photos of John Bianchi from Shooting Times magazine

OK

Some background for you . . . John Bianchi was an Army General, a police officer, avid marksman, author and then Founder/owner of Bianchi Leather . . . at least until his divorce

Later in life he was Frontier Gunleather

One of the Crown Jewels of competitive shooting is the NRA Bianchi Cup

 

[BKLooney]

Alessi ankle. This has worked very well for me for several years. Waistband carry with this little gun is silly, as something more capable is carried and conceled just as easily on the belt. Pocket carry in jeans -- which I wear most of the time -- is too tight and uncomfortable. I lke the Bianchi 9R shoulder holster, but the ankle holster is a bit more comfortable and easier on/off.

In all my years I've never tried an ankle holster, kinda always wanted too though...maybe one day before they throw dirt on me

 

[Bald1]

I’m probably the exception to the rule. I’m packing all this right now. And forgot to add the 6 round speed strip in my pocket. But I’m also 6’4” and weigh 215.

Stop it. There’s no way you carry all that daily. Or do you ?

 

[Old cop]

You wonder about J frame carry in a holster? OK here's a story. Fifty years ago I was issued a S&W model 10. 34.6 Oz. 6 158 gr. rounds plus another 12 in loops on the holster. A heavy Sam Brown belt reinforced on the gun side. Then on the belt, steel handcuffs in a case, Cocobolo wood nightstick on belt loop, Motorola radio about 10x3x1.5 inches, mace and a 3 or 4 D cell aluminum flashlight. Plus a blackjack or sap in a slim rear pocket. Brass callbox key and your personal keys, wallet, watch, pens, knife etc.

That's what you carried walking a beat. Working a car you also had a briefcase filled with reports, forms, chalk, extra shotgun ammo etc.

Now just how many years of all that **** hanging on your belt do you think is fun? The best thing in police life is getting a promotion or Detective assignment and the chance to dump all that gear dragging your butt down. First thing I did was go to a model 36 full time. Next thing I did was dump the 36 and strap on a Airweight.

That was forty years ago. Today I still carry a 442 no lock in a holster because that's what I'm used to. That's what I train with and I've been shooting DAO since 1973.

I suspect that a lot of the post's from guys that favor J frames or G42's & 365's have had quite their fill of lugging big guns around. When you do it for a living it gets old, fast.

Yup, my 30 yrs began in ‘68 & I could not have said it better myself. Shedding all that heavy gear when I made detective around ‘72 was a relief. Made sergeant in ‘78 and went back in uniform carrying all that gear until ‘82 when I was promoted to lieutenant. As a “white shirt” we were issued a Model 10 snub on our garrison belt along w/cuffs & six extra rounds. Retired as a captain w/the Glock 23, two spare mags & cuffs. In retirement it’s a light J Frame in a pocket holster, or LCP as needs dictate. Agree, lugging around a heavy, bulky gun for a living does get old fast.

 

[Rpg]

I think of J frames as pocket revolvers, not belt guns.

Sure, you can hang a J frame in a holster on your belt. Now you’re carrying a gun that’s much more difficult to shoot than a K frame, and has all the issues of a K frame in terms of printing and concealment.

 

[Jakerin]

I have three ways to carry

 

[Frailer]

A lot of guys carry the J frame as their concealed carry sidearm. And for pocket carry in a pocket holster that makes perfect sense to me; been known to do it myself. But I fail to see the appeal of a J frame once you move to a holster. Inside the waistband it would be just as easy to hide a K frame, and they are much easier to shoot. Is it because you carry outside the waistband and the J has a smaller footprint that is easier to hide? I think any cover garment for a J Frame belt holster would also cover the K. What am I missing?

I think what you’re missing lies within your assumption that what is “just as easy” for you is true for everyone else.

Please don’t take this as a personal criticism; this is something we *all* do to some extent. Furthermore, you asked your question in a very considerate manner. Too often the question is phrased along the lines of, “Why do stupid people do this stupid thing?”

For *me* the difference beteeen a K frame and a J frame is significant. While I have several of the former, I never carry them. As others have stated, the added hassle for one extra round just isn’t worth it. I also don’t find the K frame *that* much easier to shoot. Perhaps this is because I “grew up” on J-frames. Or maybe I’m just weird.

And speaking of weird, I’m also one of those people who simply can’t carry IWB behind the hip. It drives me crazy to the point where I’d rather go unarmed than carry that way.

 

[eb07]

A lot of guys carry the J frame as their concealed carry sidearm. And for pocket carry in a pocket holster that makes perfect sense to me; been known to do it myself. But I fail to see the appeal of a J frame once you move to a holster. Inside the waistband it would be just as easy to hide a K frame, and they are much easier to shoot. Is it because you carry outside the waistband and the J has a smaller footprint that is easier to hide? I think any cover garment for a J Frame belt holster would also cover the K. What am I missing?

Weight and deep concealment. My air weight disappears and I can carry in basketball shorts and board shorts and no belt with my steel clip. Not so much with my 2.5" 19 ( I appendix carry)


Rule #1 have a gun. Chances of needed said gun are small and using my brain for common sense and situational awareness are more important than size and capacity to me.


Your mileage may differ and it's all good to me. You do you.

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

What B/S are you talking about Sargent?

OK I guess my comment went over your head. I was referring to all the carry gear of Dump.

BTW, I still use a Bianchi pancake holster. But in '73 or 74 I found that the Bianchi upside down shoulder rig didn't work on the street in a foot chase when jumping off of walls chasing a burglar. Nice holster for the movies, not so much in real life.

At 74 I would say I am old enough to know Bianchi.

 

[Dump1567]

Stop it. There’s no way you carry all that daily. Or do you ?

I usually carry something similar. I'm a gun guy and like to carry different things. And always have 2 guns on me these days.

This particular load out is what I had on for the past two days on a road trip. Everything is pretty light weight, so it didn't bother me at all. But I've been carrying medium to full size guns since 1990.

And all day really isn't all day for me, as I'm retired (except the past 2 days road trip). I'll gear-up and go out for a few hours. When I get home, all that stuff comes off and it's back to the house gun I always have with me.

Obviously, this doesn't work for everyone. But I've never had a problem with it. Nor do I care if someone just has a J frame with them. Everyone has to decide what carry level they're comfortable with. 2 guns, a knife, light, pepper spray, etc. works for me.

 

[colt_saa]

OK I guess my comment went over your head. I was referring to all the carry gear of Dump.

BTW, I still use a Bianchi pancake holster. But in '73 or 74 I found that the Bianchi upside down shoulder rig didn't work on the street in a foot chase when jumping off of walls chasing a burglar. Nice holster for the movies, not so much in real life.

At 74 I would say I am old enough to know Bianchi.

Nothing went over MY Head

Why in the World would you call B/S on me if you were actually referring to Dump's post?

And then end with the line

But since you started...

What did I start?

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

J-frames are meant as pocket guns. The barrels on the popular snub noses are so short for that very reason.

I too will never understand those that want to carry them on the belt.

 

[haywood]

J-frames are meant as pocket guns. The barrels on the popular snub noses are so short for that very reason.

I too will never understand those that want to carry them on the belt.

I think some people find pocket carry uncomfortable. When I worked I was used to having tools, keys, whatever stuffed in my pockets. When it came to carrying a light weight snub, I found that easy. When I buy pants or short pants I put my J-Frame and pocket holster in the pocket when I try them on. If someone is not used to having anything in their pocket or do not ware pants that are roomy with ample pocket space, adding a 1lb gun could be a pain.