My new 442 airweight

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Poodle Soup

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Always wanted a Smith and Wesson gun. And wanted a back up or something smaller for dress clothes for concealed carry, so here she is. Walked out with my wallet $400 lighter and a smile on my face.
Second one is with my fnx9 which will end up being her carry buddy :p

Anyone have any suggestions on ankle/pocket holsters and defensive rounds?
 

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Poodle Soup said:
Always wanted a Smith and Wesson gun. And wanted a back up or something smaller for dress clothes for concealed carry, so here she is. Walked out with my wallet $400 lighter and a smile on my face.
Second one is with my fnx9 which will end up being her carry buddy :p

Anyone have any suggestions on ankle/pocket holsters and defensive rounds?
Click to expand...

smith dymonwood grip and get a tyler t grip and take the rubber off. desantis superfly is nice.
 
Im guessing "get your internal lock disabled" is going to come up as well?
 
Try out pocket carry. With a quality pocket holster, like a DeSantis Nemesis, the little J-frame will just disappear into your trouser pocket, especially if you wear looser or 'relaxed' fit trousers, such as cargo pants or slacks. Another huge benefit is that you can simply slip your hand into the pocket and grasp the gun, ready for draw whenever you wish, yet not look threatening. ALSO, you don't need a cover garment which has to be cleared or have to wrestle with untucking a shirt. Just don't put ANYTHING in the holster pocket except the gun.
 
I used to pocket carry my Model 38 as a BUG in a Super Fly. However, that little jaybird slipped out of that holster at least twice while sitting in a deep, comfy couch. I get up to take carry my youngest to bed and there's my Smithy sitting nice a pretty on the cushion. Not cool.

It will ride on my hip from now on, IWB or OWB, I don't care. But, pocket carry sucks.

YMMV.
 
I carry my 642 in a Milt Sparks pocket holster--very comfortable. For ammo I use a handloaded version of the FBI load--158 gr LSWCHP, 4.7 gr Unique--815 fps out of a 2 inch barrel. Buffalo bore makes some great 158 gr loads. I like 158's as most snubbies are set to shoot to point of aim with them, and if they were good enough for the FBI... The triggers on the new Smith snubbies tend to be on the heavy/rough side. There's a youtube video... "J frame trigger job" I believe...that walks you through a process which really helps the trigger pull--brought mine down from 14 1/2 to 11 1/2 pounds and really smoothed it. I did not replace the springs as they did in the video but clipped 1 1/2 coils from the main and trigger-return springs. Worked fine. Enjoy.
 
I carry WW 158gr. LSWJHP +P in mine because they hit point of aim. The gun resides in a Robert Mika pocket holster. It disappears even in jeans.

Be aware that you will not be able to access the weapon in a sitting position.
 
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The only .38 load that is proven on the street is the Speer Gold dot short bbl load. It's +P and 135 grains. Proven in cold NY and warm LA. You can get it online at Proarms.com.
 
Hornady Critical Defense, standard pressure.
Good penetration and expansion, not as expensive as a lot of defensive rounds.
Most of the time I carry OWB in a JIT holster.
(Don Hume I think.)
 
Front pocket or back pocket....at times in appendix...easy to hide and versatile to what you wear....jacket pocket for a quick deli run...good choice..
 
I use either the DeSantis or Uncle Mike's pocket holster along with Remmington 158 +P HP (FBI load).
 
I like the Mika pocket holster as well and have mine loaded with Win PDX-1 + Ps right now. With an extra speed strip or two in another pocket, I'm good with this as a carry package.
 
I use the 5-Shot Leather ankle rig with thumb break for my 342. Top quality and very secure which I prefer since it is a backup to my primary while on-duty in plain clothes.
 
I have both the DeSantis and Uncle Mikes pocket holsters for my 340PD and like them both, but if I had to pick one it would be the Uncle Mikes. It seems to cling to the inside of your pocket a little better than the Desantis. Walmarts here carry the Uncle Mikes.
 
Poodle Soup said:
Anyone have any suggestions on ankle/pocket holsters and defensive rounds?
Click to expand...


I don't use an ankle holster much but the Renegade is a good one and the Galco too.

For pocket holsters, I recommend the Mika or Safariland. Both are excellent.

Choose ammo based on which one you and your gun shoot best. Shot placement is so much more important than the latest, greatest bullet design (that can't be shot well due to high recoil).
 
I think that a good pocket holster and an IWB or OWB for when the pocket carry is not needed will do you fine. About the 158 gr SWC HP +P, it is more than proven. I investigated a whole slew of shootings with that round(many from snubs) and for my money is one of the best. Actually I prefer the same round in SWC, no HP. It works as well, very well. Again from emperical observation.
I am not deingrating the newer rounds, particularly from Hornady, or botique makers like Buffalo Bore. But to state that the 158 gr SWC +P has not been proven is simply just not justified.
I have the exact same gun-just with an added 9mm cylinder so I can switch as needed.
Ammoman.com currently has some 158 gr standard pressure SWC at a very reasonable price. I bought a bunch and they shoot POA/POI on the dot with my 442(and most of my fixed sight S&Ws). The holes they punch are quite impressive and I have been knocking down steel plates like clockwork with them.
 
In regaurds to the question of front or back pocket carry: I was told by someone not to carry in the rear pocket because someone could sneak up behind you and get your gun out before you even see them. Makes sense to me.
 
STCM(SW) said:
I tried a ankle hoster for a time, one leg always seemed heavy plus how do you get to it?
Excuse me while I tie my shoe lace....:(

IWB is what works for me now for all CC.
Click to expand...

I also tried ankle carry. The best technique I found was to 'take a knee' rather than stoop over. As Massad Ayoob described it, you first grab some trouser material on the carry side, then simply kneel down and draw. You pull the pant leg up slightly to clear the gun, and you keep your head up and looking around. Ankle carry can also be advantageous when seated, but overall IMO, it's more suited for 'carry' than 'drawing'.
As I posted above, pocket carry works best for me.
 
My wife carries a 442, CT. When she pocket carries, she uses a Remora. Carry ammo, Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel.
 
Good info all! Just got 2 speed strips in the mail today, now just deciding on the holster. Ankle carry will be for a back up only, and pocket when its the only gun Im carrying I think... still need to get a ankle rig and try it out.
 
Shop around for ankle rigs, there is quite a variety. Many simply wrap around your lower leg; some have a support strap that fastens just below the knee. That's what I had to go with (an Uncle Mike's nylon rig), since the holster itself tended to slip down onto my foot (apparently chicken legs don't do ankle holsters well).
If you find one that you good with, another trick is to pull that foot's sock up over the holster.
 
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