Pocket Carry?

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jbull380

jbull380

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I see a lot of posts regarding different aspects of pocket carry.

I do not pocket carry. I do use IWB holsters and OWB holsters.

I’m on the range at a minimum of once a month and I do dry fire drills at least twice week using the holsters and clothing that I wear. This includes AR15 work as well.

My question. Those of you who pocket carry do you practice getting it out of the pocket and on to the target? Live fire? Dry fire? While sitting or other positions other than standing?

Just curious
 
mikerjf said:
Sometimes unloaded at home. Range would have a coronary if I did it there.
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This. Which would also apply if I was drawing from any holster. Also the gun is drawn at least once daily at the end of the day. A proper holster stays in the pocket. Repetition makes it smooth. Smooth makes it fast. I have to enter secure facilities off and on through the work day. In these cases I draw from sitting to secure the gun before leaving the vehicle.
 
I practice dry fire at home and live fire at my range, from the holster or pocket.

I begin with my hands in the surrender position and draw on command (I have a helper who times this). My objective is to draw and fire from the pocket in 2.5 seconds. Most times, I miss my objective by a second. This is standing.

I’m fortunate in that I can do live fire from the pocket or holster at my range.
 
I pocket carry a 642 in a DeSantis. I practice dry fire draws every other day or so, and maybe once a month live fire from a pocket draw at the range. My local range is a small family owned shop and they know I'm a safe shooter, so they don't mind.
 
My Club's numerous ranges, among others, is a "Combat Range". When you arrive at the club you must log in and say where you are going. Most ranges have a dozen or so positions. The Combat Range requires only one at a time.
 
jbull380 ... yes to all of your questions and to varying degrees and range situations and protocol.Live fire drawing usually only occurs when we're out shooting in the desert usually 3 or 4 times a year.
 
It is not my first choice, but pocket carry just plain works in a number of niche cases. Today, it was 90 deg and I was loading stuff in and out of the bed of my truck in public. There was no way I could guarantee my cover garment could do its job.

Because I regularly carry my 442, I regularly shoot it. Whenever I go to the range I practice draws from the pocket.
 
At the risk of baiting any airchair commandos who may be lurking here, I'm going to make the bold statement that there really isn't much training necessary for drawing a pocket carry firearm so long as you're being responsible and using a proper pocket holster.

After all, it's in your pocket, so reaching in, grabbing something inside and drawing it out is already pretty much second nature to begin with. All other aspects of drawing a firearm in particular just carry over seamlessly and effortlessly.

That being said, I'm prepared to get a lecture on the martial art that is drawing a firearm from a pocket which requires cat-like reflexes/dexterity and a zen-like state of mind complete with an hour of daily training to even grasp the basics of it, and how the writer would love to face me as an opponent in glorious mortal combat so that they could destroy me effortlessly because I'm a fool who doesn't understand nor appreciate the intricate, delicate, and precise procedure required to draw a pistol from a pocket.
To which I can only say; I bow my head to you, oh master of the art of pocket carry, I yield to the better man. Please direct me to the best-selling novel you've no doubt written on The Zen of Pocket Carry so that I might purchase it.
 
The idea has just never appealed to me much. If you're comfortable and proficient with it, hey, to each his own.
 
I practice with pocket draw infrequently because I carry that way rarely. When I do I practice eight or ten draws in the house, facing the brick fireplace with the gun empty. That isn't great but I figure it is adequate to ensure that it works for my hand and for the clothing I am wearing at the time. I then load up, drop a speed strip in the off-side pocket, and go on about my business. This happens maybe 2-3 times a year, maybe less.
 
I regularly carry either my Shield 45 or my 1.0 M&P 40c in a DeSantis pocket holster. (I'm used to carrying a lot of stuff in my pockets, so the weight doesn't bother me.) I've found that different pockets require slightly different drawing techniques, as the position of the grip varies from pocket to pocket. I can only practice drawing at home, as doing so at my range is Strictly Forbidden.
 
Forte Smitten Wesson said:
At the risk of baiting any airchair commandos who may be lurking here, I'm going to make the bold statement that there really isn't much training necessary for drawing a pocket carry firearm so long as you're being responsible and using a proper pocket holster.

After all, it's in your pocket, so reaching in, grabbing something inside and drawing it out is already pretty much second nature to begin with. All other aspects of drawing a firearm in particular just carry over seamlessly and effortlessly.
.
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a...big....Fat....PLUS ONE
 
Forte Smitten Wesson said:
At the risk of baiting any airchair commandos who may be lurking here, I'm going to make the bold statement that there really isn't much training necessary for drawing a pocket carry firearm so long as you're being responsible and using a proper pocket holster.

After all, it's in your pocket, so reaching in, grabbing something inside and drawing it out is already pretty much second nature to begin with. All other aspects of drawing a firearm in particular just carry over seamlessly and effortlessly.

That being said, I'm prepared to get a lecture on the martial art that is drawing a firearm from a pocket which requires cat-like reflexes/dexterity and a zen-like state of mind complete with an hour of daily training to even grasp the basics of it, and how the writer would love to face me as an opponent in glorious mortal combat so that they could destroy me effortlessly because I'm a fool who doesn't understand nor appreciate the intricate, delicate, and precise procedure required to draw a pistol from a pocket.
To which I can only say; I bow my head to you, oh master of the art of pocket carry, I yield to the better man. Please direct me to the best-selling novel you've no doubt written on The Zen of Pocket Carry so that I might purchase it.
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None of that. Lol. The reason I mention is for instance, I teach among other things a church security class. I use the shooting at church in Texas a few years ago as an example to point out successes and failures. I ask those who pocket carry “ can you get that pistol out of your pocket while sitting”? Or are you going to have stand up while everyone else is sitting or hitting the floor? In the video of that shooting a gentleman stood up to draw pistol that was in a holster (not pocket carry). When he stood up he caught bad guy’s attention and was shot before he ever cleared leather. I just want people to think. Can I get to this thing quickly and easily from whatever position I’m in?
 
jbull380 said:
None of that. Lol. The reason I mention is for instance, I teach among other things a church security class. I use the shooting at church in Texas a few years ago as an example to point out successes and failures. I ask those who pocket carry “ can you get that pistol out of your pocket while sitting”? Or are you going to have stand up while everyone else is sitting or hitting the floor? In the video of that shooting a gentleman stood up to draw pistol that was in a holster (not pocket carry). When he stood up he caught bad guy’s attention and was shot before he ever cleared leather. I just want people to think. Can I get to this thing quickly and easily from whatever position I’m in?
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If my memory is correct, one of the two good guys who was shot appeared to be having difficulty drawing his gun. He was carrying small of back, right side. I remember admiring his courage, standing his ground facing that shotgun just feet away and still trying to get his gun in play.

I agree with your point about drawing from a povvket while seated. I was just thinking about it in church this morning. As the greeter and usher I stand a lot. And I always stand on those occasions somebody I don't know comes in. The way we are laid out I have eyes on them as soon as they step inside from about 60 feet away.
 
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jbull380 said:
None of that. Lol. The reason I mention is for instance, I teach among other things a church security class. I use the shooting at church in Texas a few years ago as an example to point out successes and failures. I ask those who pocket carry “ can you get that pistol out of your pocket while sitting”? Or are you going to have stand up while everyone else is sitting or hitting the floor? In the video of that shooting a gentleman stood up to draw pistol that was in a holster (not pocket carry). When he stood up he caught bad guy’s attention and was shot before he ever cleared leather. I just want people to think. Can I get to this thing quickly and easily from whatever position I’m in?
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Ah, that's a bit tricky... In my personal experience, I couldn't easily draw from a standard hip pocket while seated without awkwardly leaning off to one side.

That being said, I most commonly wear cargo pants/shorts with thigh pockets, and those on the other hand are not only easy to draw from, but the firearm is already pointed forward in that pocket, so to draw and aim it is extremely fast/easy, so it depends on how you dress.

If your pants have thigh pockets like most cargo pants do, then you're good to go, but with jeans, not so much, especially if you wear jeans that are of a tighter fit.
 
I practice at home drawing and dry firing . A small amount of practice is also done on the Range.
 
I pocket carry quite a bit. I am on our church security team also, but I don’t pocket carry at church. My belief is that for church security, it is likely you will need to be more accurate and shoot at longer distances. I use a different gun for that, and our church is air conditioned so it is more comfortable to carry a bigger gun and additional ammo. I would carry an AR 15 at church f it didn’t make people uncomfortable. :)
 
Speed is not an attribute applied to pocket carry. It's advantage lies in concealment in ordinary clothing, from cargo shorts to tuxedos. Another advantage is that in a potential confrontation, you can put your hand on the grip without "brandishing", and draw nearly as quickly as from a belt holster.
 
I agree with what Newman said — you can be ready to respond without worrying about brandishing. Only I believe if I have my hand in my pocket holding the grip, I can have the gun in firing position quicker than I can clear a cover garment and have a waistband gun out and in firing position.
 
Upon more careful consideration of the subject matter I have an additional statement to make which I had previously neglected to consider...

First of all, it has occurred to me that not everyone carries objects or tools in their pockets which are anywhere near the size/weight of even a lightweight pocket pistol such as the Ruger LCP and lack the ability to seamlessly adapt to the change of carrying something completely different effortlessly, ergo for them, at least some degree of practice would be advisable.
Obviously, such practice ought to be conducted safely by observing all standard firearms handling safety procedures, preferably using either a dummy version of the firearm or the real gun loaded with snap caps to adequately simulate the weight of a loaded firearm.

In addition, some folks have an unfortunate tendency to fumble things as they take them out of their pockets, there's no shame in it as it can occur for any number of reasons which have nothing to do with focus or skill, but obviously such people are better off not pocket carrying.
 
OK Here's the deal! Pocket carry is fine when standing up as in walking around but is not OK for seated as in a restaurant, car or in church. It is way to slow to get at and into action when anything but standing.It is best to think about where you are going and dress around that scenario. If for instance you are going to be seated in a vehicle for a long drive, then put the handgun where you can get to it quickly and efficiently. Why pocket carry it if you can't get to it unless you are standing outside your vehicle as in at a gas stop. AIWB might be much more appropriate for vehicle carry or cross draw depending on the situation. I often think that many of us think of pure convenience instead of the fact that you may really have to use the gun. My same thoughts apply to carrying mouse guns vs. something with more power , ease of reloading and increased capacity. Sorry for the rant!
 
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