380, 38 snub or other for pocket carry?

I pocket carry a Sig P938 9mm in an Uncle Mikes pocket carry holster. I just pull my shirt down over it to conceal it.

I carried a 1985 vintage Colt Mustang in a pouch holder for many years. It is a small size and reliable. The holster may not be the best for quick presentation of the pistol but adequate enough for my concerns.

An alternate might be a S&W 642 but it is a bit bigger than the Mustang. In the winter time with a pocket carry holster, I'd probably carry it. The heavy coats for winter provide an easier carry situation. My S&W 642 and 442 are machined for moon clips.

I have a Kimber Micro and Sig 238 and I am not confident in their reliability as compared to my Colt Mustang. Maybe someday if I shoot them enough. Since I got a flat wire recoil spring for the Sig 238, it has been reliable but not shot enough. The Kimber is doing well compared to the Mustang but I still have not fired it enough.

I have a Colt Pocket Lite from 2016 purchased with the idea of retiring the older Mustang but I have not put enough rounds through it yet to be comfortable with its reliability.

P.S. The horse in my avatar is an American Mustang adopted from the Bureau of Land Management. She is a great friend and pet. She is the brunette girlfriend that my wife does not mind that I have,

Sig Sauer P365. (9mm) It’s just slightly bigger than an LCP, easy to shoot and very accurate.

FL-NC said:

I prefer not to pocket carry as it is terribly inefficient under the best conditions, and impossible to draw under some conditions. But if I was going to do it, it would be a 380 like a Ruger, since most of my clothes don't have really big pockets.

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Agree on all fronts. I’d rather have a bigger gun on the belt, but if I must pocket it’d have to be something the size of a LCP, oh heck it’d probably just be an LCP.

I tried the .38 lightweights a few times and they just don’t conceal in a pocket for me.

Seecamp.32 all day every day.

I pocket carry my LCP (gen 1), but only with a BORAII trigger cover.
Cargo shorts or overalls are easiest.

For many years, I carried a Kahr PM9 in an Alabama pocket holster.

A couple of years ago, I upgraded to a Sig P365 in an Alabama pocket holster.

If you can carry a .38 or a .380, you can carry a 9mm.

Most of the time I carry a .380, but I’d much rather shoot the 38 spc.

I own 5 handguns that I occasionally carry in a pocket .. jacket or pants
TCP , LCP Max , 642 , Boomer 44spl , 85 NV
I tend to lean toward revolvers though

SteadyD said:

I didn’t read all of the replies but for pocket carry I would suggest the LCR 327 using 32 Magnum. 6 rounds, low recoil, reliability.

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This is exactly what I pocket carry. In fact I did yesterday. I currently have it loaded with Hornaday .32mag but our local gun store has some Buffalo Bore heavy .32mag that I am picking up tomorrow.



I thought I had replied to this thread but didn't see it. For me this is an easy decision and that's the J frame. I do not shoot pocket autos well at all and have never trusted their reliability(though I am sure they can be very reliable). But putting 1-6 shots on target in a hurry is much, much easier for me with a J frame revolver.

If I ever pocket carry (very rare occasion), my P365 with a 10 round magazine is my go to.

For true pocket carry you really need a 25. 380s are not going to work in all pockets and in all outfits.

Since the small 5-shot .38/.357 snubs and the diminutive .380 single stacks are usually more difficult for many folks to run hard, controllably and accurately, it seems prudent to make sure sufficient time is invested in working with them when it comes to range work (drills, practice, quals or training). That's why I often have at least 1 of my assorted J-frame snubs in the safe that are dirty from range work. At the present, all of my J's are clean (last one used was one of my M&P 340's, for a LEOSA qual) ... but now one of my LCP's are dirty from a recent range session.

That recent range session was boring, as I was once again reminded of how well the revised version of the original DAO LCP can be used to run rapid shot strings at reasonable distances and still obtain very surprising accuracy for such an itty bitty pistol. Then again, all the years I've invested in running small DA/DAO J-frames probably hasn't hurt, as those DA/DAO skills can be applied to shooting the LCP's (in my case).

I was also reminded that manipulating the really small slide on the LCP requires some attention and dexterity ... since I encountered a round with either a hard or inert primer. FWIW, I was shooting a mix of some recycled carry loads comprised of Speer GDHP and Remington Golden Sabre. It was a Golden Sabre round that exhibited the "click", instead of a bang. Properly centered FP hit, and deep enough it ought to have ignited the primer ... but no joy. Since GS typically have case mouth and primer pocket sealant (and I don't use excessive CLP and oil lubricants, anyway), and the FP exhibits hard impact force (bench check afterward), I was inclined to suspect just one of those seldom hard/inert primers. Never had one happen with the GS .380's in the last several years, and they were a rare thing when I was shooting GS Duty ammo for so many years (pallets of cases, etc), but that doesn't mean one can't come along. Resolve it and drive on.

Anyway, the little LCP put nicely tight clusters of slow and fast shot string hits where I intended for them to appear on the anatomical qual targets available at the range that day.

I still prefer the heavier bullet weights of .38SPL (and occasionally the added oomph/velocity of .357MAG from the short barrel in my Magnum snubs), but the LCP .380ACP does lend itself to use when shorter/tighter front pockets are involved at times. Or, I wish to slip a slim LCP pocket-holstered into a jacket/sport coat breast pocket because I don't wish to use a belt scabbard to wear one of my larger weapons that day/evening. (Yes, I've often used the pants/jacket pocket carry when involved in range work, since I use an agency range and have carried/drawn from various pants and jacket pockets over the years, and in various weather conditions.)

WisBorn said:

Most of us old guys don't wear skinny jeans. Loose jeans, cargos, and khakis will support the small LCP size 380s. Also shorts in the above styles.
I have also slipped a LCPII in the front pocket of suit pants.

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I don't even own jeans. Or cargos or khakis for that matter. But I do live in a hot climate where lightweight clothing is the norm much of the year, and making an LCP not stick out in dress shorts or a fishing shirt pocket is much harder than the 25. True, for many people its not an issue, but for some it is.

Also with a suit, unless you are a detective and go full on shoulder holster, having a smaller gun for pocket carry does less to the silhouette than a bigger one.

As I said, the 25 works in anything. The 380 would work in perhaps 75% of my outfits, but for the remaining ones I end up needing a 25 anyway.

Diamondback DB9, in an Uncle Henry “wallet style” back pocket.
I know, I know…..but I won it for stupid cheap on a GB last minute auction. Now, 1200+ rds of 124gr RMR hollow points (stick within standard pressure and you won’t wind up on YouTube or worse) and I trust it as much as any other pistol I own. 6+1 of a solid cartridge beats the 6+1 of 380 I used to carry “when I’m not carrying a gun”
Rule #1of a gunfight: have a gun
And as I tell anyone interested, “I don’t care what you carry, as long as you train with, have confidence in, and can put effective hits on target under field conditions with it.”

Smith and Wesson 642 Airweight in a pocket

my pocket carry is a 380 TCP that works very well. the pocket carry is used for my second gun. I love the fact that it weighs only 10 oz and packs 6 rounds. primary is either glock 30 or sp 101 357, depending on my mood.

Ethan Verity said:

I have a 38Spl Model 642, but these 380s are my main go-to in the summer time.
View attachment 1084096

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Oh, I do love that Walther. Fondled one at the LGS yesterday. Not suitable for front pocket carry but a beauty nevertheless

I'm going with other.
Kahr PM9 is smaller than 38 snub, while offering quicker follow up shots and greater capacity.
https://www.handgunhero.com/compare/kahr-pm9-vs-smith-wesson-model-642

PM9 is my 2nd option in weak hand front pocket to a Glock AIWB; both easily concealed by my untucked shirt in the FL heat and despite being in a "good area".

My EDC is an S&W 642 Airweight stuck in one of my hip pockets. I carry a long check-book style wallet that hides the snub pretty well in the summer, and in winter my coat hides it very well. There's an occasional peak of the grips, but most people don't realize what they're looking at if they do accidently see them. When I started carrying the 642, I had a Desantis pocket holster, but it didn't jive with my wallet so I nixed it. I will say, I'm considering an LCP with pocket clip a-la @Armored farmer for summer carry. Much easier to conceal vs. the J frames. But, I'm a big fan of the 38spl, so I'm torn.

Mac

MacAR said:

But, I'm a big fan of the 38
pl, so I'm torn.

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Just think of it as a .38short.

It's a very versatile carry option.
I carry an empty chamber unless it's in a holster.