Shield in Pocket?

[EricR]

I'm 55 and longtime handgun owner/shooter but only short time experience with concealed carry. Since last fall and through the winter I've opted to carry my Shield, with 7 round mag, in a kydex IWB holster. Works great for me whether in jeans or dress pants. Tried the same rig while sporting shorts for the first time this year today. Not going to work as unlike when I carry when in long pants I don't have a tee shirt tucked in between the rig and my body. With the kydex holstered Shield against my skin, and concealed by a long untucked tee, it's going to wear a hot spot on my flesh.

So this brings me to my question, how do you carry your Shield when in warmer temps and wearing only shorts and a tee? Is this a situation where I'd be better off looking for an even more compact pistol to be safely carried in my pocket? Thoughts appreciated.

By the way, I have a safety on mine. Does fit kinda nice in the pocket of my cargo shorts.

 

[DocB]

I often have to go places where you "really" don't want anyone to know you're carrying. The Ruger LCP is about as big as I can go since I wear shirt and tie frequently in the Summer. A Shield is totally out of the question. I might as well carry it on a chain around my neck. . .no way it's going to conceal in one of my pockets.

 

[Old cop]

The largest gun I can manage to pocket carry is a J frame, or my M&P .380. Anything larger will be too heavy and likely too large for the pocket. This is a good "reason" for you to buy another gun.

 

[bobknn]

I live in Central Florida so this is a problem for at least 10 months a year. I started wearing cheap sleeveless undershirts ( not wifebeaters, regular undershirts just sleeveless) under my T shirts. Hanes 100 % cotton from Walmart. Tuck the undershirt into your underwear and have the T shirt untucked. The holster and gun don't rub against your skin and the T shirt covers everything.

Although this adds another layer of clothing it hasn't been a problem for me, and I am gravitationally enhanced (PC for fat).

As for pocket carry, I'll leave that argument for others.

 

[McE]

For my pockets, I think the Kahr PM9 is the biggest 9mm that will comfortably pocket (I can't pocket a Shield, too big). There are many smaller options if you consider 380acp.
For IWB, consider leather or something with a fabric material between you and your gun.
Assuming you wear underwear, only the bits of the gun above the beltline have the potential to rub on your skin, an many holsters can have a sweat shield cut that takes care of contact on that side.

 

[fpuhan]

I routinely carry my J frame 360 or Sig P938 in my pocket. One thing I've noticed is that when I look down, it appears like I have the biggest bulge ever showing in my pocket. However, when I look in the mirror, I see nothing.

I do use a pocket holster. I like Sticky holsters. They disguise the outline of the gun well, and because they are sticky, I can draw the gun without pulling out the holster as well.

 

[Mal Cap]

You didn't advise which caliber Shield. I recently acquired a 9 Shield with a CTC Green Laserguard Sight. I carry it IWB Appendix in a BladeTech holster and replaced the belt clip with a metal Ulticlip. I can arrange for the holster to sit deeply inside the waistband. Even if wearing shorts, I would also have an undershirt on and just use a cover shirt over it. With the Ulticlip and BladeTech, I can even tuck the shirt behind the clip which can hide behind my belt so it might work with only a tee shirt if it sits low profile. Before that I carried an a J-Frame Titanium Airlite Ti in a Remora pocket holster, or an ankle holster or belt holster. The 9 Shield fits into my pocket just fine in a Remora pocket holster in 5.11 Tactical Pants. Jeans might print.

 

[jdh]

I have no problem with a Shield in an Uncle Mike's pocket holster in the right front pocket of jeans.

 

[mister75]

https://www.taguagunleather.com/ind...t_id=753&page=2&weapon=1986&weapon_model=1990

I use one of these between underwear and pant at 4 o'clock. Very comfortable and stays very secure for normal day to day activities

 

[JGVent]

You consider a belly band or other deep concealment option (ie. SMARTcarry)?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

 

[EricR]

Thank you, sincerely, all of you for sharing. I don't take for granted to be able to solicit opinion on forums like this.

 

[hexnut]

My pockets are too small for the Shield. I carry it in a Desantis mini belt holster. My shirt comes down over it. For pocket carry I carry a M&P Body guard 380 or a Ruger LCP 380 in a Desantis nemesis. I just got a Sig P938 9mm. I believe this gun is small enough to carry in the front pocket. I will know as soon as the Desantis memisis holster I ordered comes in.

 

[Jaysq]

Walmart carries light weight Hanes tees in assorted colors. They are much cooler than their Beefy Tees. I wear one of these tucked in and a button type shirt over it, left unbuttoned and untucked. I find this is no hotter than wearing just a Beefy tee. I carry my Shield in a leather OWB with no problem.

 

[EricR]

Walmart carries light weight Hanes tees in assorted colors. They are much cooler than their Beefy Tees. I wear one of these tucked in and a button type shirt over it, left unbuttoned and untucked. I find this is no hotter than wearing just a Beefy tee. I carry my Shield in a leather OWB with no problem.

I hear ya. And I'm sure there'd me many occasion where this would work for me too.

Thanks

 

[ockgator]

Wear usually cargo shorts and just put shield 40 in front pocket w/o holster. When I do use IWB holster it's a remora.
Before the shield I bought a Diamondback DB9 (ya'll can stop laughing now) which I used to carry, Still plink around with it and tinker on it but just not reliable enough to trust my life to. It's about the size of a kel tec p3at which wife carries.... That little sucker eats whatever we stick in it

edit: My Shield has the safety, Doubt I'd just throw it in my pocket without

 

[carbuff]

I cannot carry a Shield in dress pants or jeans.

I do carry it in a DeSantis Nemesis Pocket holster in the slit side pocket of my long or short length cargo pants without it printing.

It does feel heavier there than while on my hip in a paddle holster.

I live in an extremely hot climate where open carry is allowed. Nevertheless, I prefer to carry concealed and find at times I have to substitute my Shield for a smaller G42 in the pocket.

 

[Kframerbluvr]

I can't speak for pocket carry of the Shield since I do not own one. However, I can speak from experience regarding pocket carry of J-frame revolvers and Glock 26/27 pistols.
For me:
Glock 26/27 - doable with khakis and a heavy belt to support the weight. Not so well with Wranglers.
Smith J frames - Airweights are very doable with khakis, dress pants, or jeans. Steel frame "J"s need a good belt to support the extra weight.

To me, the revolvers win for pocket carry because one can easily have their hand in the pocket with the revolver in a firing grip without being overtly aggressive in appearance. The Glock is too chunky for this unless the pocket is oversized.
I may pick up a Shield sometime soon to try out.
Sorry for the drift, but this is for the OP's possibility of buying a second CC handgun. I would recommend an Airweight enclosed hammer J frame, a stiff pocket holster, speed strips and lots of dry fire and a reasonable amount of live fire. Just my .02.

 

[Bayoutalker]

Walmart carries light weight Hanes tees in assorted colors. They are much cooler than their Beefy Tees. I wear one of these tucked in and a button type shirt over it, left unbuttoned and untucked. I find this is no hotter than wearing just a Beefy tee. I carry my Shield in a leather OWB with no problem.

I wear a tee tucked in to keep the gun off my skin. Then I top it off with a cheap hawaiian shirt from WalMart. I buy one a size larger and I'm able to button it up to keep it from flying when the wind is strong. Of course they are made to be worn untucked.

Cliff

 

[EricR]

I can't speak for pocket carry of the Shield since I do not own one. However, I can speak from experience regarding pocket carry of J-frame revolvers and Glock 26/27 pistols.
For me:
Glock 26/27 - doable with khakis and a heavy belt to support the weight. Not so well with Wranglers.
Smith J frames - Airweights are very doable with khakis, dress pants, or jeans. Steel frame "J"s need a good belt to support the extra weight.

To me, the revolvers win for pocket carry because one can easily have their hand in the pocket with the revolver in a firing grip without being overtly aggressive in appearance. The Glock is too chunky for this unless the pocket is oversized.
I may pick up a Shield sometime soon to try out.
Sorry for the drift, but this is for the OP's possibility of buying a second CC handgun. I would recommend an Airweight enclosed hammer J frame, a stiff pocket holster, speed strips and lots of dry fire and a reasonable amount of live fire. Just my .02.

Ha Ha. Little do you know of my love for Smith & Wesson revolvers. While I have a nice collection I do lack the small J frame center fire you're referring to. My next choice may be a little more difficult then I'd thought it would be.

 

[EdJG]

I must have cloths with really big pockets! I have almost no problems pocket carrying my Shield in an Ace pocket holster.

Fits in my shorts, (gets "lost" in cargo shorts); tight fit in my jeans (but can still draw it OK); the only issue is with some of my dress pants, in which case I use a Sneaky Pete Holster.