Coat Pocket Carry

[bratch]

For any of those who carrry in a coat pocket.

When out to dinner or other activity do you take you coat off?
If so, do you put it on to go to the restroom or just leave it on the chair?

[trapshooter]

When I have been in that situation, I never let my coat get farther away than the back of my chair, so I guess I would say that my answer to your (three) questions are yes, yes, and no.

But this situation always made me a bit apprehensive in any case.

[Erich]

+1 :)

[unreal45]

When I carry my .38 in my coat pocket, I never leave the coat anywhere. :cool:

[Tacoma]

Easy, take it with you . a) If your going to carry, then carry. Crimes will happen anywhere at any time, without notice. (Yes, even when your in the jon. ) The gun is not going to save anyone in a robbery/ assault if it's in the next room zipped up in pocket. ( Remember the resteraunt shooting in Texas? " At least one patron had left the gun in the car.) b) Once it's out of your site, it's prone to being stolen ( whole jacket or pocket picked.) c) because of b, it's also illegal in many states leave the gun unattended / out of your control.

If it were a large/bulky winter coat , I'd consider a transfer from the coat pocket to pants pocket before leaving the car. For that reason, I always lean towards a pocket capable j frame revolver.

[MrMurphy]

When I had a coat pocket gun, there was a .45 IWb under the other layers, so I'd take the coat with me (for bathroom) or keep it firmly close at hand sitting.

Or, transfer it to my pants pocket.

[sgt127]

The only way I will pocket carry is on the inside, left hand, slash pocket of my leather Navy flight jacket. It has a big brass snap on it to keep things where they belong. Unless the outside coat pocket has velcro, a zipper or a snap, I would be pretty paranoid about the gun getting dumped out somehow, plus, its annoying to me to have it bouncing around. When I sit in a chair, I'll drape the coat over the back and then sit on the left sleeve, effectivly blocking access to the pocket and I can feel if somebody messes with it. If I get up to go to the bathroom or the salad bar, the coat goes with me. Getting into a gunfight would suck, facing my own gun would draw about a 60 pound vaccum.

[Standing Wolf]

My gun stays with me—period.

[yorec]

I occasionally carry in a coat pocket - but not often. When I do its usually just a quick trip to the store or somewhere that I don't plan to be long enough to justify putting on a holster. (But I'd never justify going unarmed. :scrutiny: ) Dinner requires a holster...

But if I were to find somehow find myself in such a situation - I'd keep the coat with me, over an arm if not on. It, and the gun, will never leave my reach/possession.

[sm]

Standing Wolf posted my reply as well.

[SapperLeader]

I almost never use any sort of potential off body carry as I like my guns to stay with me no matter what. I did do coat carry on Wednesday night so I could leave my gun somewhere. I was going on a first date with a girl from school, and VA doesn’t allow concealed carry of guns in restaurants where alcohol is served (though open is legal).

I didn’t want to spring the whole concealed carry spiel on this girl on the first date so I carried in my jacket, left my jacket in the car when we went to the restaurant, and managed to be armed the entire evening(except for dinner). Not the best method I know(I hate leaving guns in my truck), but does set things up for my concealed weapon explanation if things work out with this girl.

Now if I get to the point of where I can tell her, I can honestly say that she has always seen me armed except for dinner at the Olive Garden :).

[71Commander]

It's in a holster and the holster is on me. Period.

[birddog]

I have a long parka that I occasionally pocket-carry my Bersa Thunder (have also carried my Colt Python on occasion), but it has very deep pockets and the chance of dumping it out are minimal. When we've gone out to dinner, I try either to get a booth and put the coat down next to me on the bench, or take it out and put it in my pocket (the Bersa, not the Python, lol).

I also carry in one of my hunting coats which also has deeeeeeep pockets, but there's little chance of taking my coat off while out hunting in November and December.

[vito]

I have carried my S&W 640, which I think is the perfect pocket pistol, in my leather jacket. If I know I was going to be in a restaurant, I would transfer the gun to my pants pocket either before leaving my car, or by going to the restroom in the restaurant and doing it in a closed booth. It is too easy for a jacket to get swiped when sitting on the back of a chair, or more likely, someone brushing against the jacket as they pass and feeling something very hard hit their leg. I don't want calls to the police because some passer-by thinks he just bumped into a gun in a jacket pocket, especially since concealed carry is not legal in this state.

[Dienekes]

I have a 442 that would work excellently out of a coat pocket but that would only be the case if I wanted to have it ready to go for a developing situation and still be discreet. Otherwise I want it (or any other gun) ON ME where I have it under control at all times.

Sort of like being at the mall with a toddler. They can disappear in a second. You just can't be too careful. It's a full time job.

[TheEgg]

A concealed hangun should be in a holster.
The holster should be on your person.
Always.

Any other arrangement is sub-optimal at best.

[BluesBear]

I often coat carry. (In the 80s it was a 3" Colt SAA :D)
But I only coat cary in a coat that has pouch pockets (verticle entry) that fasten.
Too easy to lose a gun from a side pocket.