The J-frame and pocket carry

[Lt JL]

I agree whole-heartedly with Redlevel and Glock em down. Smith knew what they were doing with the J frames. I use factory issue on several, although a confess to a spot in my heart for Colt D frames, too.

 

[Beretta682]

Tyler t-grip and a Barami hip grip. Fits perfect in any holster, including my ankle rig. Mine is a 342pd and it works perfectly with a pair of jogging shorts with no pockets and a t shirt.

 

[medic15al]

I have these Ahrends on my constant companion, but also thinking of the Magnas and T-grip combo.

 

[jkd88]

I sometimes carry my 3" 60-15 in a homemade pocket holster of my own design. Some of my baggier jeans/cargo pants have deep enough pockets for this application. The standard pockets will show a small portion of the grip but an untucked shirt/sweater takes care of that. Smaller boot grips would hide better but I can't shoot well with those. The hook at the bottom contains an "L" shaped wire and is canted to the side so the holster stays in the pocket while drawing. The flap on the mouth also serves the same purpose. Works for me.

 

[DoubleGs]

I too, am hapy with the factory grips, though I have XXL hands. Just what you're used to probably. I have found that the brand of jeans is more important to me than which grip. Harley-Davidson sells nice rugged jeans - whether you ride or not - with wider/deeper back pockets that hold my 642 in a Nemesis holster with the appearence of a wallet.

 

[Gearhead Jim]

Good thread!

I've been pocket-carrying some kind of J-frame for 30+ years, currently a 340PD.

For me, the factory Bantam grips seem to be the best compromise between ease-of-draw, control, and shooting comfort. After a while they lose their "tacky" feel but still stick well in the hand.

For years I used the Uncle Mike's pocket holster, it works well and is cheap; need to replace about once a year so it doesn't mold to the gun too much and come out with the draw.

For the last year I've been using the Safariland pocket holster. More expensive but never molds to the gun, and covers the outline better in my pocket.

I keep a Safariland speedloader between the holster and my leg, surprisingly comfortable and the loader does not print at all.

 

[camsdaddy]

My only issue with pocket carry is that the butt of the gun seems to shine out of the pocket. I think Im just paranoid. Its a M38 Ive tried the factory grips and the bantham rubber grips. Both I see peeping from my white lined pockets.

 

[cabopc]

I had that same problem (butt slightly sticking out of some of my pockets) which is why I put on the Kelly Arms boot grips. That problem is completely gone now.

 

[tazcollins]

My grips and holster.

I have Hogue bantam grips on both of my 60s, and pocket carry with no ill effects.

I cannot get away from the Hogue Bantam grips either. I've tried others but these one piece semi-hard rubber grips really work. They cushion recoil very well, do not have a screw and fit the gun like a glove. My hand just melts into them. Also on pocket holsters, I keep going back to my Mitch Rosen from Dillon. A great pocket holster!

 

[ImDrRich]

Do you just put it in your pocket or do you carry in a pocket "holster?"

I use Uncle Mike's pocket holster for my J-Frame and in my front right pocket it goes nowhere it shouldn't. I do like the standard J-Frame Boot Grip a lot but right now my gun is wearing Altamont's black and silver boot.

 

[haywood]

Earlier this week, I got reacquainted with the reason I first got a S&W J-frame. It's gotten a little warmer around here, so a coat hasn't been necessary. When I left work one afternoon I had to run a few errands. I took my 642 out of the truck and, as is usual, I put it in my pocket. I can't carry at work--government building...illegal to possess weapons, etc.

I proceeded to the supermarket to pick up a few things. When I got out of the truck, I noticed the Pachmayr Compac grips of the 642 was showing. I tried to adjust it but those Compac grips are not really "compact". I had to pull out my shirttail to be sure the gun was concealed.

This got me to thinking. I have acquired several J-frame snubbies over the past few years. I got them for concealment and for pocket carry especially. But over time, I've managed to outfit all of them with larger rubber Pachmayr or Hogue grips. They carry fine in belt holsters and they are more comfortable to shoot but they are hardly pocketable anymore.

So I went through my gun stuff boxes and tried different grips. The rubber boot grips that came with the J-frames and the various other small grips that fill the area behind the trigger guard do not fit for diddly. I end up with a two-finger grip down low on the gun that is not at all secure. So finally I settled on the Smith Dyamondwood laminated grips for those guns I will pocket. They are small, thin and hard and they hurt like hell when you go through a 50-round box of ammo at the range, standard or +P. But the guns are now pocketable again and, after all, that is the reason I have them.

I keep one 442 and my 37 with the Uncle Mikes Boot Grip. These are my pocket guns. They get shot at the Range but, not as often and not for long. My second 442 and my 36 with bigger grips get shot way more and while they will fit some pockets, they are usually carried in the waist

 

[Etalksalot]

My only issue with pocket carry is that the butt of the gun seems to shine out of the pocket. I think Im just paranoid. Its a M38 Ive tried the factory grips and the bantham rubber grips. Both I see peeping from my white lined pockets.

Don't know if you ever found a solution to this problem or not. I use factory grips and they hung out a little. I realized I was pointing the gun straight down, but if I push it into my pocket and point the barrel backwards about an inch or two, it put it at a different angle, and the grips stayed well inside. Now with this, you will have the hammer snag and rip the front of your pockets. (by the way, this is with angled pockets like dress pants, not typical jeans pockets). Took me a little while, but I practiced resting my thumb on the hammer as I pull it out and my thumb acts like a hammer shroud and it comes right out. If you have an internal hammer or a shrouded hammer, that shouldn't be an issue. This has worked very very well for me. I could walk in a store and no one would know from looking into my pocket from the side, because this angle of the gun seems to pull the outside edge of my pockets shut as well. I'll include a picture of what I'm talking about. This site seems to rotate my pictures so just know however it comes out, the barrel is supposed to be on the bottom end, so you may have to turn your phone to see it properly. The bottom of the grip should be directly about the end of the barrel to get it how I describe. The top of the gun (which is facing forward) also kind of leans forward and keeps it inside.

Yeah, it rotated it. Turn your phone to the right ro see it right!

 

[Old cop]

I have several J frames but the one carried most is the 340PD. The Model 60 snub is mostly a range gun and has the oversize rubber grips. My Model 37 is set up w/factory magnas and a T grip, also for more realistic range time. I transitioned for IWB/appendix to pocket w/a Galco holster several years ago due to a comfort issue and found it fits my retired lifestyle best, especially in the warm weather.