Pocket Carry. Really?
- Thread starter Red Cent
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Guillermo
member
absolutely.
I carry a 2.5 or 4 inch D frame OWB almost all the time.
It is easy to get a consistently quick draw. And then a quick, reliable hit.
I hope I never need it.
mdauben
Member
Obviously your mileage does vary, but I don't consider less than 1/2 a second difference in draw time significant. Certainly, you can fabricate a situation where that would make the difference between life and death in a real SD situation, but how often is less than 1/2 a second really going to matter?
In any case, as you said that was a 'best' situation for the pocket carry, so most times it is probably even greater. I acknowledged that. A belt holster under lose fitting cover clothing is the best CCW option, no question. I just say that 1 or 2 or even 3 seconds slower is better than coming up empty handed in a SD situation.
Reality check. I'll accept that you carry your full size 1911 with you 24/7 in a belt holster, with your wardrobe adjusted to make that work and no "tucked in" or "zippered up" clothing blocking access to that holster. That's your choice and I admire you for it. If, god forbid, I ever found myself in a life-or-death situation, I would certainly want to be armed that way.
However, my (or anyone else's) CCW decisions don't have to 'fly' with you.
If we are going to be realistic, most CCW holders simply won't go to that extreme. Is that 'laziness' or a 'poor choice'? Perhaps it is, but its their choice to make.
For example, I generally don't consistently "carry" around the house and in the summer time often can be found in nothing but shorts and a t-shirt (in the 90 degrees 90% humidity common in my area, wearing a second button down shirt or some sort of vest over that t-shirt it just too hot). If I suddenly realize I need to run out for 10 minutes to teh local supermarket for a gallon of milk, I'm much more likely to carry if I can just slip a gun/holster into the pocket of my shorts than I am if I have change my clothing to accommodate concealing a gun/holster on the belt.
Again, yes that's a compromise but sometimes for me its a worthwhile one. YMMV
bdb benzino
Member
I can't beleive the way some people are acting about a persons method of carry or how fast they can draw. The most important thing is to be armed and the second one is to practice. Who cares what time it takes to draw as long as you practice and try your fastest. In the end if it comes down to it all you can do is your best, and that will be different for everyone.
We should all be on the same side as gun enthusiasts, not condemning eachother because we don't know our draw times. Zip it up boys, this is not a pissing contest!
All you can do is practice, practice, and pray you don't need it!
We should all be on the same side as gun enthusiasts, not condemning eachother because we don't know our draw times. Zip it up boys, this is not a pissing contest!
All you can do is practice, practice, and pray you don't need it!
JohnBT
Member
"Why does anyone pocket carry except for convenience?"
Because the other ways don't work for me. As I explained, it's about body type. Simple. It's not that difficult to understand.
John
Because the other ways don't work for me. As I explained, it's about body type. Simple. It's not that difficult to understand.
John
The problem is the situation you fabricate is a loosing proposition.
Because the bottom line is either we see trouble coming and I have my hand in pocket on gun or we get caught flat footed and a .4 faster draw is not gonna help.
hardluk1
member
The bottom lines is it does not matter how fast someone thinks they are at the range with there timer running to record there blazeing speed or how many bullets you can place in the heart of a target at 25 yards under control. It is all about how you will react to instant high stress levels if and when you get attacked. And for all the prcactice some will go thru you may still loose all ability to control a draw no matter how you carry or what you carry or how you dress.
David E
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Agreed, which I've stated 6-7 times in this thread.
Again agreed.
The badguy might care very much.
But that's only if you're the primary focus of said badguy. If you're a diner at Luby's when the shooting starts, that extra 1/2 second probably won't matter, depending where you're sitting. But how many have practiced drawing their sightless .32 or .380 from their front pocket while seated at or while under a table?
No, it's not all you can do, but it's a great start.
JohnBT
Member
Looking ahead to winter, anybody timed their draw from a belt holster while wearing a zipped up parka over it?
A medium-sized (or small) gun in the outside flap pocket comes out extremely quickly.
John
A medium-sized (or small) gun in the outside flap pocket comes out extremely quickly.
John
David E
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I sure haven't.......because that's not how I do things in winter.
But you hit upon one of the great applications of pocket carry.
This is one of the "places" I meant in Post #15 when I said "Pocket carry has it's place, but it also has serious limitations that should be honestly addressed."
But you hit upon one of the great applications of pocket carry.
This is one of the "places" I meant in Post #15 when I said "Pocket carry has it's place, but it also has serious limitations that should be honestly addressed."
Red Cent
Member
Uhhhhhhhh Mav, I guess I gotta plead guilty.
rdrancher
Member
You 'been watching me mav? 
I regularly do so. It is not always feasible, so not always, but yes, regularly.
CTPhil
Member
I do too. And if in a booth, the outer side.
sixgunner455
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- Aug 25, 2006
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- 3,052
Pocket carry is convenient, and can be comfortable, and that means that people will actually carry who otherwise wouldn't. There doesn't need to be another reason. If you're not comfortable carrying that way, or carrying that way as your only means of being armed, then don't do it. People have been doing it that way, though, ever since there were reliable guns small enough to do so. It is a perfectly legitimate way to carry a firearm.
I usually carry that way. I carry bigger guns in addition sometimes, but I usually just have my finish-worn 642 and a speed strip.
I carry all the time. The IHOP thing in Carson City is just the latest example of why. "Nothing ever happens here" ... until it just did. Carrying all the time, I used to do with an M16, but that was in an environment where carrying that type of hardware wasn't remarkable. In my hometown, friendly as we are to guns here, that would likely raise an eyebrow or two. Holstered guns rarely do. Completely hidden guns never do.
I usually carry that way. I carry bigger guns in addition sometimes, but I usually just have my finish-worn 642 and a speed strip.
I carry all the time. The IHOP thing in Carson City is just the latest example of why. "Nothing ever happens here" ... until it just did. Carrying all the time, I used to do with an M16, but that was in an environment where carrying that type of hardware wasn't remarkable. In my hometown, friendly as we are to guns here, that would likely raise an eyebrow or two. Holstered guns rarely do. Completely hidden guns never do.
When I pocket carry it's just the 5 in the gun much of the time. Sometimes a speed strip comes along.
But then I pocket carry because I spend a lot of time on a college campus where carry is illegal in GA. I keep my 642 in a pocket holster in a safe under my seat, which is unlocked while driving. If I stop somewhere going to/from campus I take it out and slip it into my pocket. 5 rounds of buffalo bore 158gr LSWCHP +P will probably do the trick. Probably. And anything more would be quite the hastle for a 5 minute stop at the gas station, grocery store or mcdonalds. It is not very hard to slip a snub into your pocket as you sit in your driver seat. Putting a larger gun in a waist holster on my belt would be a little more awkward, esp when I am in uniform with a tucked shirt.
But then I pocket carry because I spend a lot of time on a college campus where carry is illegal in GA. I keep my 642 in a pocket holster in a safe under my seat, which is unlocked while driving. If I stop somewhere going to/from campus I take it out and slip it into my pocket. 5 rounds of buffalo bore 158gr LSWCHP +P will probably do the trick. Probably. And anything more would be quite the hastle for a 5 minute stop at the gas station, grocery store or mcdonalds. It is not very hard to slip a snub into your pocket as you sit in your driver seat. Putting a larger gun in a waist holster on my belt would be a little more awkward, esp when I am in uniform with a tucked shirt.
huntsman
Member
the little pocket in my 5 pocket jeans holds my extra mag regardless of how I carry my gun.
FAS1
Member
I pocket carry all the time in addition to IWB some of the time. In my last CHL renewal we discussed the popularity of it and ran drills to show how slow it is to draw your weapon when someone attacks from 21' away. 95% of the time our hand never made it out of the pocket before the attacker was on top of you. That was starting with your hands to your side. Obviously, someone with good situation awareness or practices a little will slightly change the odds. For me it's just a part of my plan, if needed just as the Spyderco C07 that is always clipped on at the SOB. I can grab it faster with either hand in the same situation.
420Stainless
Member
I don't. I don't have an occupation that causes me to go looking for trouble. I don't have habits, friends, or family members that bring trouble to me. I do not have enough money or possessions that are likely to embolden someone, or a gang of someones, to continue to press an attack once they realize I'm armed and willing to shoot. That leaves me open to someone who is drug crazed, suicidal, or to a crime of passion. Very slight odds worth continually preparing myself for and making even more pocket space available; or buying special clothes with more? Not for me, but it is for you. We all have different fears. Getting caught up in a running gun battle is not one of mine. Sure it could happen. But odds are, I might be better off spending money on defensive driving lessons, or testing for chemicals in my food, or extra time in the gym, or buying a vehicle much larger than average. Life is very precious, but a life spent in worry about things that are not likely to happen to me would make it considerably less precious. I believe that carrying a handgun in my pocket without reloads will get me through the vast majority of circumstance for which I will likely need a gun and am satisfied that it is enough for me. When I start reading about CCW holders commonly getting shot because they didn't get their gun into action fast enough or because they ran dry then I might reconsider the need to change my ways.
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