How do you pocket carry?

Taurus TCP or Kel-Tec P32 in UM's pocket holster. In my uniform pants (EMS, a no-carry profession), I carry on my way to and from work, since I travel in uniform. This is the only time I carry only a pocket gun. My Kel-Tec PF9 carries okay there, too, and I have been meaning to switch to it for this purpose.

First thing is to forget about "pocket" guns. The reason pocket carry sucks isn't because of pocket carry, but because of so called pocket guns. Put a good gun in your pocket and voila, pocket carry is awesome. If it doesn't fit in your pocket, it's not the gun. Fix your pocket or get a better one. Pocket carry will never be good if you start with a crap gun. If you put a steel 1911 or a Smith Model 27 in your pocket and your pants fall down, do you think there's a problem with the gun? No. Your pants and your belt sucks. If you can't figure it out, get some overalls.

Interesting theory, but does not compute to many people's needs. The reason people pocket carry is because they can't or don't want to carry guns of the size and weight you mention.

So instead of no carry they pocket carry. Anything is better than nothing.

But seriously, you knew all that, didn't you? Posting that on a thread about pocket carry is tantamount to trolling......

Speedo66 said:

Interesting theory, but does not compute to many people's needs. The reason people pocket carry is because they can't or don't want to carry guns of the size and weight you mention.

So instead of no carry they pocket carry. Anything is better than nothing.

But seriously, you knew all that, didn't you? Posting that on a thread about pocket carry is tantamount to trolling......

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Not really. Just maybe making suggestions to those who may not know any better, and/or were told other things in error, by those who say and/or insist you cant.

When it comes to carrying a reasonable handgun, "cant" isnt, or shouldnt, be in the vocabulary. "Want" is what its all about, and if you want to do something, you always find a way. If you want to carry a small gun in your pocket? Fine, carry a small gun. Just dont fool yourself or try to insist to others, that anything bigger, isnt possible. Especially when people do it all the time.

My criteria has always been, pick what I shoot best with the first and foremost choice, and then figure out a way to carry it. Even my back up is considered by many, to be "too big". And yet, I carry a full-size primary, year round, and often my back up with it, in my normal clothes for the season.

If youre going to bother carrying a gun, why would you choose to carry something that isnt going to give you the best chance at working as many things as possible out, and carry it in a manner that will allow you to do so easily, and as quickly and positively as possible?

Sypher.... said:

I’ve looked at these before, but they just don’t look very comfortable, especially while doing a lot of sitting.

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You really dont know what you dont know.

I was very skeptical of them when I first saw them and thought there was no way that it could work. Once I actually tried it and began wearing one on a daily basis, I quickly saw the light.

I started with a Seecamp, then a J frame 642, and soon realized, a Glock 26 would easily go in the same spot, with a 17 reload. Ive even carried a Glock 19 or SIG P239 sized gun on one, with the right pants. For me, the 26 is the sweet spot.

Standing, sitting, squatting, running, climbing, jumping in and out of things, etc, and you forget you even have it on. I work in a harsh, active environment doing physical work, and this is the first holster I dont have to constantly keep hard after both the gun and holster on a daily basis. The gun sees very little if any dust and dirt, or even dust bunnies. The holster is waterproof against your body and even protects the gun when your pants are soaked with sweat. It protects your gun from you and your environment, and you from your gun, better than any holster Ive used that was in or on my belt.

The biggest advantage it has over pocket carry is, you can still get to the gun quickly and easily, even while seated, and with little effort and no struggle. And on top of all that, I can still carry a realistic gun in it with a reload.

Sticky Holsters for all my handguns.

AK103K said:

Smart Carry
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I'm just not comfortable flagging my femoral artery among other things...

That is not a criticism of those that are.
Everyone has to find what works for them.
T
he best evidence we have says that calibers .380 and up are effective.
For some of us a .380 Subcompact means higher (As Paul Harrell would say) "Program Compliance".

If you will carry a .50 AE Desert Eagle in a shoulder holster 100% of the time and are proficient with that set up it might be the right gun for you.

If you will carry a .380 95% of the time and a 9mm 80% of the time and a .45 65% of the time then the .380 is the right choice for you.

Not trolling, but trying to get those interested to see that pocket carry doesn't have to mean a lightweight aluminum or composite mouse gun buried inaccessibly in whatever random pants you bought without consideration to carry. AK103K explained the rationale in #31 better than I could. If the gun is the last thought and your first thoughts are wearing a polo tucked into your track pants and the gun has to bend or yield to every other priority, it won't work out well because there will be too much compromise on the gun. What I'm pointing out is that most people think this is what pocket carry is all about -- compromising the gun in every way to make it suitable for a wardrobe that won't support a better option. Pocket carry does not have to be like that at all.

Holsters are really nothing but leather or kydex pockets that are clipped on somewhere, usually as an afterthought. Leather or kydex-lined pockets that are better sewn and integrated into the wardrobe are not inferior in any way. Pockets can be made to accommodate any size or weight gun. If I was going to conceal carry a Mossberg Shockwave, my first choice would be pocket carry. I would extend the pocket below the knee and secure the bottom of the holster with a calf strap or a strap to the top of the boot to keep it from being pulled up when I drew the gun. I'd leave the grip protruding from the pocket so I could grab it quickly. It doesn't even look like a pistol butt, but I'd cover it with a shirt. From the pocket, I wouldn't have to pull the long gun as high as I would over the top of the waistband. And if I can pocket a Shockwave, I can pocket anything smaller. And pockets aren't limited to just front pants pockets, but you can put pockets anywhere. Put a long enough pocket on your coat and you can pocket a Mini 14 or an AK pistol. I'm not a trench coat guy, but in the winter I wear a heavy arctic type parka. I couldn't access any kind of belt holster, but the pockets of the parka are big.

Pocket carry can work for any handgun and you can put the pocket in any place you want, and in many places that are advantageous over belt carry. You can fashion the pocket for the easiest access and the fastest draw of any concealed holster. The only reason to compromise by carrying a gun that you're less effective with is because you haven't made the right pocket to carry it in.

I have successfully pocket carried a S&W 642/442, Kahr PM9, and Sig P365 (along with some smallr pistols like the KT P32 and Beretta Pico). My favorite pocket holster is made by Alabama Holster. They are not cheap, and they are not quick to ship, but they are very, very, good.

My rules for pocket carry:

1) ALWAYS use a pocket holster that keeps the pistol properly oriented, securely holds it, and completely covers the trigger.

2) NEVER carry anything in that pocket except the properly holstered pistol.

3) Make sure to clean the dust bunnies out of your weapon and holster at least once a week.

I pocket carry my LCP in a BORAII pocket eagle. It covers the trigger only (a MUST) and offers a nice hook to shed the holster during the draw. I also carry my Shield 9mm In a Vedder pocket locker with the thumb tab. It protects the Shield from pocket lint, and printing. The Shield isn't a pocket pistol per se, it is better suited for the "pocket" of a heavy jacket, or my concealed carry vest. Both holsters weigh ounces and are very affordable.

In the summer, an LCR with extended grips in a DeSantis Nemesis holster in the cargo pocket of shorts.

In cool weather, an LCPII in a DeSantis Nemesis holster in the breast pocket of a large denim or flannel outer shirt.

With jeans, a small light 38 special with short grips in a Nemesis in the back pocket with a shirt that hangs down... or the LCPII with any shirt. If I know that I'm not going to sit down, the back pocket is convenient and fast to draw from.

I will carry the LCPII in the Nemesis in a front pocket of jeans or slacks if I have to, but it is very difficult to draw while sitting. I can't carry at work, nor is there any need to, but that is probably how I would have to carry at some other job that didn't encourage it, if I felt the need. (There is an armed LEO officer at my worksite, so I let him do the carrying for me.)

Sypher.... said:

I am not trolling. I honestly want know how you pocket carry. I’ve tried it a couple times, albeit with a shield, and it’s not comfortable. I’ve even tried it in a jacket, again not very comfortable. I realize that the shield isn’t the smallest or lightest “pocket” gun, but people seem to do it.

I’m interested more in carrying in slacks, dockers, jeans with a polo tucked in vs say cargo pants.

It doesn’t have to be with a shield, though that is my smallest carry piece at this time.

Just as an FYI, I usually have my phone in my right front pocket and keys in my left front pocket.

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I don't know how you dress but to some degree you're probably going to need to alter your wardrobe and pick Slacks and Jeans that come with a bigger front pocket. Then you're going to have to buy a smaller gun.

I'm friends with the guy that owns my LGS so he lets me put his guns in my pocket when I'm trying them out. If you can take the pair of pants you own with the most average sized pocket down to your LGS and try guns till you find one that fits.

94045 said:

I'm just not comfortable flagging my femoral artery among other things...

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^^This^^

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On the humorous side of this:

Balance and movement of the weight with the leg are worthwhile concerns. Front trouser pocket carry is probably not as exagerated as it is with a drop-leg holster or an ankle holster, but the lower the weight on the leg, the more "pendulum" mass you're going to be accelerating. Raising the mass above the legs and moving it to the centerline can be a solution, but raising the gun even to the waistline is going to slow the draw. I don't know of anyone using a race gun holster that high. A concealment garment is also going to have to be pulled higher unless it's swept to the side. With respect to the weight, we should consider the entire load out and not just the firearm. I carry a heavy handgun but my firearm might only be 50% of the weight of all my carry items. For people who carry lighter guns, I imagine they carry an even greater percentage of the mass of their carry items in various pockets.

I have a "Gun Condom" brand name Sticky.

sticky holster works well with me. front pocket cargo pants. front pocket jacket etc. they have different sized holsters for all guns.

RA40 said:

On the humorous side of this:

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Visit most gun forums and there is really a lot of truth told in that video

In the past 10 years, I tried all kinds of ways to carry a firearm. Have to say, I do not think the Human body by nature is made to carry a concealed weapon. That said, here is one of my favorite Carry positions for concealment.I find it a lttle slow on the draw, especially when I wear long pants but conceals well.