Recommend me the best pocket carry

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Wanderling

Wanderling

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I carry and love my G26, but often wish for something I could really pocket carry. Looked at G43 but didn't see it being that much different.

Can you recommend a gun that's super easy to conceal in summer clothing, can be pocket carried, and won't cost an arm and a leg ? I'd prefer 9mm but this may be too much to ask.

So far, I am thinking of:

  • Ruger LCP - seems to be a great little gun, people say it's very pocketable, weak-ish round
  • P-64 - about the same size, heavier, more powerful 9x18 round, not pleasant to shoot but I can manage a couple mags at a time.
  • ?
 
You'll have no problem with the LCP for pocket carry. You may also want to consider its brother, the LCR.
 
LCP is a good choice. I would have also preferred 9mm but size is a definite trade off. There are some very capable 380 loads out there. As mentioned the LC9s is a good choice but IMHO not very pocket friendly. In summer clothes for me the LCP is the way to go.
 
I would go LCP size for pocket carry. If you take thickness out of the equation there really isn't much difference in carrying a subcompact like a Glock 26 and a micro 9mm like the S&W Shield. To me, neither is suitable for pocket carry, but those with bigger pockets may disagree.
 
I looked at all of the pocket guns and chose the Beretta Pico, It's very thin, light yet easy to shoot for such a small pistol.

The venerable Seecamp is another excellent choice.
 
For summer pocket carry, IMO the two best choices are -
pistol - Ruger LCP, (can't get more pocketable than this) or
revolver - S&W 442/642/649 very pocketable with more umph (38Spl +P)

Of course you could also go the route of the AirLite S&W's, as light as 13oz. and in .357Mag, but as you said, they do cost an arm and leg.
 
For me, after finding the Ruger LCP unsatisfactory I chose two Kahr offerings . The CW380 and CM9 are in my inventory. The CW380 is much easier for me to shoot accurately than the Ruger, less snappy and better trigger . The CM9 is just as easy to shoot as the 380. It is a little bigger but still easily concealed in a front pocket. I carry every day so I wanted reliable easy to shoot firearms . Both are usually carried as BUGs since I'll normally have another on my hip. It's just what works for me.
 
The LCP is very easy to carry in a pocket. In my huge hands it is not fun to shoot - I can't even come close to getting my pinky on it and it beats up my hand a bit. That being said, I can shoot it plenty well enough for SD at seven yards. I only wear shorts and tshirt in the summer and it is still easy to conceal.
 
Staying with the 9mm want, the two I've handled that felt/looked/were smaller than your standard single stack were the Keltec P11 and the Diamondback DB9.

I agree the popular normal single stacks (G42, LC9, Shield) are too large to pocket.
 
I'd say the best are either the LCP or P3AT. I have Kel Tec P3AT's and a Ruger LCP. I'm comfortable with the .380 for EDC, and these are my EDC pocket carry 90% of the time. In a Desantis Nemisis, they almost disappear in dress slacks.

For 9mm, I'll add the Khar CM9 (or PM9). IMHO it's the best pocket 9mm for the money. I pocket carry in a thin kydex holster I made (similar to the Boraii holster).

I have the Diamondback DB9 & their customer service was great but the rear rails broke off so I personally consider it too fragile for EDC; and it's definitely not pleasant to shoot.

I also have the Ruger LCR (.38spl) and although it's pocketable with the bantam grip, its thicker than the semi autos.
 
I have bigger stuff, but for the price and size, went and also got an old version LCP.
Am happy with it
 
LCP or smith snubby. LCR if you don't mind how the weirdness of a plastic revolver.

I don't have pockets that fit the Kahr/Glock sized guns. I guess the glock 43/Kahr 9mms fit in my pocket but they don't conceal well. But I'm not used to carrying a large cell phone either that have similar "box" dimensions.

Snubs sit better in my pocket and have a better presentation for draw. Only 5 shots but I have a lot more faith in 158gr bullets than 90 gr. LCP gives you no excuse not to carry but I've shot tree stumps with them and pulled the bullets out of them with my hand. 158gr buries much deeper.

But IWB is much quicker and at that point, a g26 wins hands down to snub.

HB
 
When I was on "the job", I carried a PPK/S off-duty in my pocket most of the time. Since you do not favor the .380 round and have considered the P64 "Polish Pounder", that might work for you. It's about the same size. However, some factors must be considered: the availability of a good defense round, and whether or not it will function reliably in a pistol built for ball military ammo. Also, the P64 is not drop-safe (unless the safety is on), so don't drop it.

I can carry my Kel-Tec PF9 in the pockets now of pretty much anything except jeans without printing. But I wear jeans almost exclusively, so it goes on the hip.
 
I've accumulated a number of smaller carry pistols and have tracked their loaded weight. At 19.6 ounces loaded my Kahr PM9 works for pocket carry, but it is at the heaviest I care to go in a (front) pocket. The CM9 version around $300 will be equivalent. At the lowest end of things, my 9.9 ounce loaded weight kel-tec P32 feels like nothing in the pocket. Between these two ends of my particular scale are other .32s, 380s, and the airweight class of j-frames in 38 special.

Given your stated preference for 9mm I'd go with one of the Kahr offerings. If you require thinner than the Kahr you'd likely need to step down below 9mm in an auto. I personally like my RM380 at 16.1 ounces loaded for rear pocket carry. It is much easier to shoot than my gen-1 LCP.
 
S&W 642 in a Desantis Nemesis does pocket carry duty for me. It is the perfect gun for pocket carry IMO. Very light, small and reliable.

My EDC is an S&W Shield IWB and I have occasionally pocket carried it in a Nemesis holster, but it really is is too larger and heavy for that.

I just wish I could shoot the 642 revolver as precisely as I can the Shield, so I carry the latter a lot more. Sometimes I carry both.
 
LCP is very thin and small and pocket carries beautifully. Have a look at the Kahr PM9 if you want to step up a caliber. Shorter grip than Shield or G43 and smaller overall.
 
Whenever I wear a belt I carry compact 9mm or better in a IWB cheapy holster. Even when I do, though, I always have my KelTec P32 in my pocket. No belt? the P32 is still there. I know .32 acp isn't well regarded as a SD round but I really think the Underwood/Lehigh round actually makes it a viable option. An extra round over the LCP or P3AT. I would consider the Underwood/Lehigh ammo for .380 if I were happy with 1 less round also.
 
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