Your choice for pocket pistols?

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Deus Machina

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Alright, new job. One that brings me to a bunch of strangers' (some stranger than others) houses, through neighborhoods of all kinds, and loading and unloading the van everywhere from the well-lit police medical examiner's office at noon, to a pitch-black alley behind windowless business at 3 in the morning.
One in which I have to wear formal clothes.Tucked in. And had to cut my hair, dangit. Blessings to the cancer patient that gets it.
I know that at least one coworker carries to alleviate these issues, and I've already had many a pro-gun conversation with the manager. But concealed means concealed. So once I finally get a full-time paycheck (another griping story there), I'm in the market for a pocket pistol.
I'm all of an impressive 5'7" and 130 pounds, so my .38 is too thick for these clothes. It needs to disappear into a pocket in slacks or a blazer. I'm not a stickler about caliber under the circumstance. A tiny 9mm, .380, .32, even maybe a sturdy little .22.
So, with all the other conversations going, what's your personal choice for the matter?
 
As I was just saying in another thread I pocket carry an lc9s in a desantis pocket holster, but I’m 6’4” so I hide it well. It’s invisible standing up and sitting down it looks like I have a wallet in my front pocket.

Perhaps you need something smaller yet. I would recommend a Kahr CW380 or beretta pico
 
If you are wearing a blazer you should be able to get away with a considerably larger gun than a pocket pistol. I'm 3" taller and about 20 pounds heavier than you. Under a blazer or sport/suit jacket I can adequately conceal a full size service pistol or 4" K frame revolver in an OWB holster. You ought to be able to do that with any of the compact .380 or 9mm pistols easily.

I would call these intermediate size; in between pocket and service pistols. In .380 something like the Beretta 84 or 85 - or the 9mm S&W Shield.
 
I have a S&W Bodyguard in a DeSantis pocket holster loaded with Hornady Critical Defense ammo.

I prefer to carry a compact 9mm OWB when I'm wearing a sport coat, but if I'm dressing more casual, it's the Smith.
 
I would try to avoid pocket carry if you can...the compromises involved might be more than you expect.

I usually carry a Kahr CW9...it replaced my S&W 642. If I wanted something smaller, I'd consider the CM9. They are about the size of many .380s, are very accurate, and very reliable
 
Look into the Colt Mustang Pocketlite. We now have several. For us it has more things going for it than most choices in this class.
 
Some stuff to look at so far. Thanks, guys.
I might look into a tuckable holster. The reason I don't just carry the SR9c under the blazer is because I end up bending and moving and heavy lifting a lot and bumping into things, and because I'm in Florida. Tucking in a shirt and wearing a tie this time of year is pulling hair enough, wearing a dark blazer a second longer than I'm in sight of a family is outright torture.
I had to do a removal from a trailer that had lost AC and had no circulation today. Aside from not wanting the blazer picking anything up, it was hovering around 140.
 
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I go back and forth between the Mustang and the Beretta Pico. Both are great for pocket carry (if you must pocket carry), but I prefer the ankle as I nearly always wear long pants- nobody wants to see my pasty, hairy stumps.......

Of course, the Mustang is a tad heavier, and its single action. I can cock it pretty quickly, doesn't bother me.

For a DAO, the Pico has a lot going for it- everything is steel except the grip module, light, smooth trigger, good sights- but probably its best feature of all is the price. For a gun which can regularly be found for $250, the quality is amazing. Great pistol.

Good luck!
 
I sometimes go with a SIG P238 in a DeSantis SOF-TUCK IWB holster. Moving up in caliber (with a similar IWB holster), I carry a Kahr CM9 or a S&W Model 638.
 
Sounds like a case for a SmartCarry, a belly band, ankle holster, or a 5.11 compression tshirt with pistol pockets.

I suggest an LC9; larger than a J-frame, but flatter.

Since we're speculating, I guess undertaker.
 
I carry an LCP II in my back left pocket or front left pocket (if I'm wearing looser clothes like shorts).

It's a robust little gun with a nice trigger.

Sometimes I move up to the lc9 series. It's actually an EC9S. I bought it for times when a larger gun is too cumbersome but I want more than a .380. It's only an inch or so bigger in each direction than the lcp. However, it's not the most pocket friendly if you are wearing slacks or jeans with tighter pockets. I carry it iwb.

Now in the Florida heat....i get it. There would be days where I would probably opt for a NAA (or better yet, 2) and be done with it. Not the most hard hitting or fastest to reload (thus my comment about carrying 2 of them), but .22 mag up close and personal can be nothing to sneeze at. Plus the all stainless construction holds up well in the heat and sweat.
 
I've been pocket carrying for almost ten years (nearly 365 days per year) away from work and at work as a traveling service tech*. I started with a .38 snub nose revolver, went next to a NAA Guardian, then a Taurus TCP, then a Remington RM380.

IMO, the best all around size class for a pocket pistol is a polymer framed, locked breech .380. That size pistol (in a pocket holster) fits in the most pockets and pant tightness variations I have. Two of my co-workers only have, and carry, first generation Ruger LCPs.

If I had to get rid of all four of the guns I listed above, I'd probably just get a Ruger LCP. The Remington is a great gun for being a true double action hammer fired gun, but it is a tad thick in some jeans I have compared to the TCP I own.

*Work dress requirement for me is short sleeve polo shirt or short sleeve button down shirt tucked into khaki pants or blue jeans. Office buildings I visit usually get the khakis, where as industrial buildings usually get the blue jeans.
 
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someguy2800 said:
What do you do for a living? It sounds like you are either a medical examiner or muscle for the mob.
Click to expand...
An ME wouldn't need to carry, there are always cops on the scene......
A tuckable IWB holster with a single stack 9 would be my choice in your situation, unless that blazer is tightly tailored.
The 5.11 compression shirt is a good option too, my son's DB 380 disappears in mine.
 
I pocket carry almost every day. Most of the time a Kahr PM9 w/CT laserguard. Sometimes to mix things up I decide on a S&W 442 w/CT lasergrip. On those rare occasions when I am required to wear a suit I carry a Kel-Tec P32. (Most suits have such flimsy thin pockets that even lightweight guns like the PM9 or 442 are too heavy.)

Each of these is equipped with a BORAII clip on pocket holster. I have found that these work very well for me.

One word of warning: If you decide on pocket carry, then make absolutely sure that there is nothing else in that pocket and always use a pocket holster that covers the trigger. I also find that my pocket carry guns need to be cleaned/lubed once a week.
 
Ah. Sorry, I thought I had mentioned.

someguy2800 said:
What do you do for a living? It sounds like you are either a medical examiner or muscle for the mob.
Click to expand...
Bah. I'm too little for muscle.

edwardware said:
Since we're speculating, I guess undertaker.
Click to expand...
'Mortuary courier', the modern equivalent. Not exactly a pleasant job, but occasionally fulfilling.
Sometimes there are police on scene. The other times it's a hospice nurse, and then the drop-off is often unsupervised and wherever it may be.
Apparently it's surprising how many people occasionally think hospice nurses and mortuary vans carry medical supplies. Thus the question.

And I'm familiar with pocket carry; it's the way I carry my M85. It's just too big for these clothes.
 
Deus Machina said:
Ah. Sorry, I thought I had mentioned.


Bah. I'm too little for muscle.
Click to expand...

Ha ha
Some of the toughest people I know aren’t very big.

The creator of the Marine Corps Martial Arts program isn’t a big guy, but he instills fear in 18 year old Marines that look like tanks. I’ve seen him toss 300 pound musclar guys around like rag dolls.

Add a firearm and it’s a force multiplier.

Back on track, the best carry IMHO is the one you have, no one knows about but you can use if needed.
 
(How can you not love a G19?
Steve)

I know how you feel Steve.

I carry G19 4th Gen TruGlo night sights, extended slide release (I know Glock does not call it that!)
Cold weather, Sweater/Coat. Otherwise Florida Shirt. So, Same place/Same gun always. Plus spare g17 mag. and Surefire flashlight. Kydex OWB Holster, just behind the right hip bone.

Always carry, in the house, or outside. Just now, right pocket, track pants, left Cell Phone.
Not paranoid in the least, but you never know when you might need a loaded pistol (With lots of BULLets!)
 
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