What is the purpose of a pocket holster?

It keeps the handgun properly oriented, it masks some of the printing in the pocket, and if you are dumb enough to put keys or spare change in the pocket it keeps stuff out of the trigger guard so you don't shoot yourself.

It helps keep the "belly button lint" ount of the barrel.

My P3AT with crimson trace laser and desantis hoslter looks like I am carrying a Blackberry or PDA in my pocket in jeans and dress slacks.

The point of many holsters is to "sqaure off" the outline of the gun.

Lots of people put stuff in their pocket. If the gun shows (as in printing) then it is not concealed. The pocket holster positions the firearms so that you may remove it more quickly as compared to having it lie loose in your pocket. It is also a safer approach to keeping a gun in your pocket.

There are other ways to carry concealed.

I think one of the important reasons to use a pocket holster is to keep your finger off the trigger while digging a gun (or anything else, if you're inclined to put other stuff in that pocket, not recommended IMO...) out of your pocket.

Les

lets see...
First, if you just drop a kel tec, for instance, in your pocket, it will orient itself almost upside down every time.
Second, there is a lot of dirt, grime, and lint in your pockets. In fact, you would be surprised how much SAND there is in your pockets. The holster aids in preventing the crud from making your gun fail when you need it.
Third, a bare gun has a lot of sharp edges that actually print BADLY through your pocket. A good holster actually breaks up the outline even better than none at all.
Fourth, people put a lot of things in their pockets. A holster helps prevent a key or other random object from snagging the trigger when you are attempting to draw the gun in a hurry when it is needed. The result, ND!!!
Fifth, personal preference. IMO, there are 3 useful modes of carry. 1, in or on the wastband. Useful for larger guns. 2, shoulder holster, for large guns for those who want a bit more comfort and manuverability. 3, pocket carry. All require holsters for multiple reasons, not the least of which is safety... and just personal preverence, retaining clips have no place on a gun.

A few reasons off the top of my head

#1 To help keep it clean

#2 To Keep the trigger covered

#3 To keep the gun poisoned properly

#4 To break up the outline of the gun

#5 To make the draw easier (front sight wan't get hung up)

#6 To keep from wearing a hole in every pair of pants you have

There are more I'm sure, but that is what I can think of in around 10 seconds.



One more thing.......

Lots of people put stuff in their pocket. If the gun shows (as in printing) then it is not concealed. The pocket holster positions the firearms so that you may remove it more quickly as compared to having it lie loose in your pocket. It is also a safer approach to keeping a gun in your pocket.

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I disagree, but that is a different topic.
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I have read somewhere about the dangers of carrying a pocket gun without a holster but I don't quite get it. It kinda defeats the purpose of the handy pocket gun for qwik use.If you feel the need to carry a pocket gun somewhere you must be expecting trouble or at least feel unsafe. When I am carrying the snubb in my pocket I am aware of what I'm doing and would be conscious of the potential. But better yet It is free for qwik use if needed. Thats the beauty of having these pocket guns to me and I've carryed that way for about the last 25 or so years anyway. Leave the hosters to the big guns. thats my 2cents

I would say, to "conceal" the shape of the gun, so you don't get "made".

It is he aw in Georgia, If you pocket carry you must use a pocket holster.

#1 To help keep it clean
#2 To Keep the trigger covered
#3 To keep the gun poisoned properly
#4 To break up the outline of the gun
#5 To make the draw easier (front sight wan't get hung up)
#6 To keep from wearing a hole in every pair of pants you have

What DeepSouth said summed it up pretty well.

The basic reasons for using a pocket holster have been outlined well in this thread. As for the comfort factor, i find a pocket holster to be quite comfortable, provided the pants have decent sized pockets. I use a pocket holster for my J frame. It does feel like a "small pillow" to a degree, but it is better than the alternative- small, hard contact points on your leg from the cylinder or barrel, especially if the gun gets turned sideways.

I've never used a pocket holster with a semi-auto, but it would seem to me that the most important reason in that case is for protection of the trigger. No matter how smooth the gun might be naked in your pocket, having a 3-5 lb trigger just floating around in there would make me uncomfortable.

Edited to add: Basically if a pair of pants will allow me to stand up and comfortably put my hands in my pockets, than those pants will work just fine with the pocket holster.

covers the trigger, keeps lint out of the gun.

The simplest thing is to try carrying the same gun with one and without one. Then you won't ask this question again.

It is he aw in Georgia, If you pocket carry you must use a pocket holster.

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I forgot mention nobody ever really knows when I do pocket carry.

Well, I've tried both ways. A good pocket holster adds minimal bulk, postions the gun for a consistent draw, and keeps foreign matter out of the gun. A loose gun shifts around in the pocket, lints up, and actually prints worse. The trade-off for a little extra bulk is more than worth it.

I have a S&W 442 with a Desantis pocket holster. I carried for a few weeks without it and then broke down and bought the holster. I would never carry without it now. Orientation to the butt of the gun is everything in a hurry plus the printing is minimized a good bit. It works well in my cargo shorts during the summer

I have carried my S&W 442 with and without a pocket holster. Without the holster, I had some problems with the gun rusting because sweat came though my pocket. The barrel also wore a hole in the pocket of two different pairs of pants.

With the holster it stays oriented much better, and your pockets last longer.

It does feel like a "small pillow" to a degree, but it is better than the alternative- small, hard contact points on your leg from the cylinder or barrel, especially if the gun gets turned sideways.

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Agreed 100%. Good point. I experimented carrying my J Frame without a pocket holster and found it to be less comfortable.

First, if you just drop a kel tec, for instance, in your pocket, it will orient itself almost upside down every time.

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S&W J frames do the exact same thing (tried it with my unloaded 642 once). In fact, it takes only a couple dozen steps for the butt and the muzzle to switch places, with the gun pointed roughly at your head. I've got a feeling most pocket guns will do this.

Now imagine the unthinkable happens and you have to draw your weapon to live. But without a pocket holster, there is very high likelihood the gun has flipped upside down. You jam your hand in there to retrieve and push the trigger down, firing it.

At best, you will blow your hand to bits and the BG will freak and take off. At best.

At worst, you'll blow your hand up and the bullet will continue up through the neck/chin area and lights out.

Other times, the gun will simply turn 45 degrees, with the top of the gun facing the ground and the butt pointing skyward. This may not be as directly dangerous as the aforementioned scenario, but it will certainly complicate the draw.

As for concealment, a good quality pocket holster like a Robert Mika will simply make the gun look like a wallet in your pocket.

beeenbag said:

It just seems like to me, that if your gonna have a gun in your pocket odds are your gonna have a bulge and putting a gun plus a holster is going to really stick out there.

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Next time you try a pocket holster stuff a thick wad of cash right in front of the holster in your pocket. Print- Not Even Close.
My Bad, I didn't read about your "Fine" 32acp derringer. Well, I guess you could just fold up a few sheets of paper, to simulate the money part