Pocket Gun

Which ever way you go, revolver or semi-auto, I heartily recommend you order a custom holster from Robert Mika, https://mikaspocketholsters.com
THR members have been singing his praises for years. You can search the site here for his name. Custom fit to your model gun, hand built just for you, and quite reasonable price. You do have to wait a few months for him to get to you, but he will.
I've been carrying my S&W 642 in a Mika for years; I have both a round-cut and a square-cut holster, for different pocket shapes. I learned of his work from the 642 Club thread here in the Revolvers forum.

Good luck!

Shop around. I just bought a no lick 442 a few months ago for $337.95
I also have a 638 j frame and and LCP. The revolvers get carried way more than the LCP. I shoot the revolvers better too

I also carry a S&W Bodyguard 380 . The M&P no lazer version. Desantis nemesis pocket holster. Yes the recoil can be snappy in the little 380's, but How often are you shooting them?. Mine has over 1500 rounds. It gets "carried often, shot very little". I might shoot a few rounds once a year.

I picked up a used LCP for $135. After 2 deep cleanings and 300 rounds it runs like a sewing machine. It puts 7 rounds in a playing card at 5 yards. It is true pocket carry ( in a BORAII trigger cover). With Ruger ARX ammo I trust my life with it daily.

Have been carrying my 1st year production LCP almost daily since new, and it has never rusted even though it only gets wiped down every few months. In fact it is due for that wipedown right now.

MedWheeler said:

Most of those who deride the LCP's trigger aren't "revolver guys", like Browning says in post 3. If you like the S&W, the Ruger's trigger won't bother you.

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Possibly, yes. I’ve gotten used to semi’s pretty much exclusively. I also generally shoot either SA or striker fired pistols the vast majority of the time. Not much DA practice lately here.

It helps to know where someone is coming from. I personally liked the LCP II’s trigger better, but maybe it wouldn’t be an issue for someone with a different background/viewpoint.

The LCP can be harsh in hand. I have the Taurus TCP, and it shoots well and reliably, but I still find myself reaching more often for the .32 caliber Kel-Tec I've owned much longer.

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I had one of those for awhile [Kel-Tec].

Kinda regret selling it.

442 for me

When best I could do wearing dress slacks was a pocket gun, I chose 380 over 38 revolver.
7 shots in 380 versus 5 in 38 snub.

No more dress slacks, wearing cargo / hiker type pants a pocket 9mm (Kahr PM9 / Glock 43)

My LCP functions flawlessly. Gen1
But I have been going for my S&W 2214 9 out of 10 times lately.

From the mid-1980s until the mid-2000s I carried a Colt Mustang in a pouch style holster in my carry bag. I could shoot the gun well in part due to the steel frame.

I elected to retire the Colt and replace it with a Kel-Tec P3-AT (380ACP) due to it's smaller size and lighter weight than the Mustang.

Trouble was, the lighter weight of the Kel-Tec made it more difficult to control the recoil.

An S&W J-frame is a possible replacement but the J-frame is larger than the Mustang platform. I do like that ther is no potential energy stored in the trigger group of the S&W J-frame when at rest.

With lots of practice, I've been able to shoot the S&W revolver pistol well with the DAO trigger.

Bottom line, choose an appropriate small firearm and work on developing a load that will meet your necessar specifications

For pocket carry, I have a 1st and 2nd gen Keltec P32, a Taurus TCP and Spectrum (Though the spectrum is a noticeable bump up in overall size).

I find myself carrying the Colt Gov't 380 more often though, possibly due to the old-school feel.

I wanted to point out that if you were to purchase a snub, you might do well looking into those chambered in 9mm also. From my understanding, the 9mm generates a good deal more energy from a snub than .38 special +P with ball ammo being less expensive. I would imagine reloading might be a tad faster using moon or semi-moon clips (unless using speed loaders) . Just another options to look into.

Check out Keely Arms. About a year ago I bought a 442 no lock for $319.00 plus about $10 shipping and $25 transfer when it got here. Nice little gun.

I just picked this up yesterday. I paid $77.00 for it. With shipping and transfer I have $127 in it. I haven't shot it yet of course but the first owner said he fired between 200-250 rounds with no problems.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/819224666

Rohrbaugh R9

I use to pocket carry a Kahr PM9n but the line of work I do I end up with a bunch of pocket litter.
Pocket litter doesn't mix good with any semi auto pistol or revolvers with an exposed hammer.

My 642


Pocket litter I get from work.


I filled my pockrt up with sawdust one day, took my 642 out and emptied the cylinder.
Try doing that with a exposed hammer revolver or any semi auto.

Highland Lofts said:

I use to pocket carry a Kahr PM9n but the line of work I do I end up with a bunch of pocket litter.
Pocket litter doesn't mix good with any semi auto pistol or revolvers with an exposed hammer.

My 642
View attachment 848959

Pocket litter I get from work.
View attachment 848960

I filled my pockrt up with sawdust one day, took my 642 out and emptied the cylinder.
Try doing that with a exposed hammer revolver or any semi auto.

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What are you? A termite? Lol just kidding.
My lcp gets stripped and blown clean with the air compressor once in a while.

I put a patch threw my 642 maybe three or four times a year. I have been carrying this gun every day/all day for atleast 8 years.
When I was working 14 to 18 hours a day/seven days a week at a friends 650 cow dairy farm my pockets would get a lotof jay chaft and daw dust from putting the bedding down. Plus I shot all the downed and or cull cows & calves. That's when I switchedfrom the Kahr PM9 to the Smith & Wesson 642 and never looked back.
Costal Tractor opened up a new store in the next town over last year. They had the S&W 642s on sale for $359 so I bought another just in case something happens to the one in my pocket.
The one I carry was right about $400 with tax when I bought it, devide that over eight years it comes out to $25 a year average for my every day carry weapon.
Pretty cheap in my personal oppinion and 100% reliable.

I do carpenty so i get a bunch of saw dust on my cloths from the power equipment. You'd be surprised how much gets in your front pockets.

Ratshooter said:

Check out Keely Arms. About a year ago I bought a 442 no lock for $319.00 plus about $10 shipping and $25 transfer when it got here. Nice little gun.

I just picked this up yesterday. I paid $77.00 for it. With shipping and transfer I have $127 in it. I haven't shot it yet of course but the first owner said he fired between 200-250 rounds with no problems.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/819224666

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Talk about a stellar deal! I paid close to $300 for the same thing a few years ago. They are very good pistols! In a Desantis Nemesis holster, you'll forget it's in the pocket often. The TCP has among the best triggers of the ilk and is quite robust despite it's svelte profile.

Thanks Snowdog. I took it apart and that sucker was dirty. So I gave it a good cleaning with a new to me cleaner, Hoppe's Foaming Cleaner. I squirted it on left it for about 20 minutes and the gunk just wiped off. I was impressed. I scrubbed the bore and then ran one patch down it and I was done with that part. Used an old tooth brush on the slide and wiped it down.

I didn't think the ramp was a slick as it could be so used a dremel and a felt pointed pad with some grey polishing compound and in less than 15 seconds it looked like it was chrome plated.

I had to go buy some 380 ammo. I gave all of mine away when I sold my Astra Constable (mistake). While I was at Academy I looked at the Taurus 380 that replaced it. The "Spectrum". Its a nice gun but bigger. It does have a double strike ability. But I like my TCP better. I looked at a Glock (42?) 380 while there and was impressed with it. It felt good in the hand.

But for now I have all the new guns I need. I like pocket guns. I like the idea of a small go anywhere gun you can drop in a pocket and forget its there. When I bought a Kel-Tec 32acp when they first came out I loaded it and put it in my pocket to see how it felt. Nice. So nice I walked around to a couple of places and then went to eat. I was in the middle of the meal and said whats thats? It was that gun and I had totally forgotten it was there. No one saw it and since I had forgot about it I was completely relaxed about being armed. Now thats a hide out gun.

Have LCP and snubbie revolver. the LCP makes a discreet carry pocket rocket. No fun to shoot but as you have likely heard before it is a carry a lot and shoot a little pistol. I know you did not ask but you might want to check out the Sig P365. Some say it is too big for pocket carry but there are those like me that have no problem with pocket carry. Just throwing out a possible alternative.

A good segment on pocket guns starts at around the 10 minute mark.



Jump to the 28 minute mark about Lester Gillis, baby Face Nelson and I have a story about the guy who played the part. I am an insurance adjuster and looked at his roof for hail damage. He lives in Dennison Tx and his name is Donny Adcock. You can see that on the credits. When this was filmed they came to the gun club he belongs to because several guys owned full auto guns like the Thompson he used in the show. They like the way Donny looked so they had him play Baby Face Nelson. He said it was lot of fun to do. He was a cool guy that kept guns where they were handy. Thats how I got to talking to him about guns. He is in real life an air Ambulance medic. Nice guy all around.

I have a LCP, a LCR and a LC9s also have had a couple 442s among others. I find that I carry the LCR the most.

Ratshooter said:

While I was at Academy I looked at the Taurus 380 that replaced it. The "Spectrum". Its a nice gun but bigger.

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I also have the Spectrum and there are some things that I like about it, such as you mention, the second strike capability. It indeed is larger in every dimension but not any more "shootable" than the TCP unless the magazine with the pinky extender is installed. If I had to chose between the two of them which to keep, it would be the TCP.

Ratshooter said:

I was in the middle of the meal and said whats thats? It was that gun and I had totally forgotten it was there.

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I have two Keltec P32s (1st and 2nd gen) and have done that same thing. In fact, with the belt clip installed, sometimes only after a change of clothes at home after a long day do I remember it was on me the whole time. I'm sure this level of concealment could get someone in trouble, but fortunately I haven't had a P32 make it to the washing machine yet.

Ratshooter writes:

It was that gun and I had totally forgotten it was there.

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Snowdog writes:

..sometimes only after a change of clothes at home after a long day do I remember it was on me the whole time.

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Police detective (investigating armed robbery and interviewing injured victim): "Why didn't you shoot back with the pistol we found in your pocket?"

Kel-Tec P32 owner: "I'd forgotten it was there!"

Lol. I can relate. i use to carry a P3AT and LCP and I truly have forgotten many times it was in my pocket.