HELP PLEASE What gun for pocket carry?

Bobo's pocket auto comparison chart

Bobo's pocket auto comparison chart - very useful size comparisons.

hard to beat a 5 shot smith in the pocket.they do clear out a little room in the pocket though.just got a M&P 340 now I don't need my wallet(its empty) LOL

you've got the p3at and 642. any of the above would work fine.

Once you start pocket carry, one won't be enough.

I started with a S&W 642 in a Mika pocket holster. It works pretty good in my jeans, but some of my slacks have the vertical cut pockets, and if someone is looking, they could see the grip. Still, it does disappear really well.

Then I got a Kahr PM9, and another Mika pocket holster. It is shorter than the 642, so I don't worry about the grip showing, but it doesn't seem to disappear as well as the 642. I end up carrying it in a Crossbreed Supertuck most of the time.

Next is a P3AT, and one more Mika pocket holster. This is a pocket gun. I had a problem with the recoil spring hanging out the end of the slide, but KelTec took care of that with no problem. Since then it has been perfect. It conceals very, very well. You can literally forget about it.

I think my last pocket pistol is going to be my Seecamp .32. I'm still waiting on Mr. Mika for the holster. This thing is a jewel. If you appreciate well made guns, this is it. Size wise, you can almost put it on your key chain. It is no target pistol, but neither is the KelTec. In my opinion, they are made for that last desperate effort, or BUGs.

Can you tell I'm happy with Robert Mika's product?

Good Luck.

hear the triggers are pretty heavy(8.5lbs),

Click to expand...

There's a simple trick to lightening the trigger pull by a pound or so. Doesn't reduce the length however.

I carry a S&W 642 & 442, Glock 26 & Kimber Ultra Raptor.

p3at

keltec is my always pocket gun...the 380 is so compact, you hardley feel it.. p11 is a OWB jacket gun..p3 is still in the pocket for back up..ktog.org has a lot of info...gpr

All of the above are acceptable but....

The P11, which for me, is too large. The newer PF-9 is a better alternative and incorporates the best features of the P-11 and P-3AT. Capacity is not is much as the P11.

I've carried the Smith model 638 and 340, both excellent recommendations. You must find a pocket holster that secures the gun and masks the familiar profile of the revolver. I used an Uncle Mike's size 3 pocket holster.

Sizewise and pricewise, the P-3AT is probably the best choice.

A budget alternative to the more expensive Smiths would be either Charter's Undercover or Off-duty. Both weigh in at about one pound or less.

Whatever you do, ALWAYS carry your weapon in a good pocket holster to keep the gun secured, keep debris out of the action, inhibit any perspiration, and to mask the gun's profile.

You've made some good choices!

642...use the P3AT as last result only

The J frames are just to thick for pocket carry, at least for me. I prefer to choose between between one of the TWINS!!
Can't have enough Guardians.

For pocket carry, my preference is w/ a alloy framed j-frame like the 642 in a relatively soft holster

A few weeks ago my cousin/ex-bounty hunter partner stopped an attempted robbery with his Kel-Tec P3At .380.

He was on a bad side of Indianapolis and two gentlemen tried to jack his van and he popped one in the gut with his Kel-Tec. It didn't kill him, but he dropped his weapon and the other guy took off. IMPD found the guy after he showed up in the hospital a few hours later with a .380 hole in his belly.

On the upside, one shot stopped an armed assailant. On the downside, he stopped out of shock of being hit with a bullet. The round itself did not drop him. Proof it's all shot placement and the stomach isn't the most effective place to put your round, although surely painful as hell.

Back back to your debate, the Kel-Tec is obviously an effective choice and easy to carry in your pocket (thats where he had his) but a J-frame would stand a better chance of defending you. As my cousin's experience teaches us all, sometimes you just get lucky. Shot placement is key and a J-frame will be easier to place your rounds. Unless you're at war or defending yourself from a mugger in, say, Somalia, then you'll never need more than the 5 rounds the S&W will provide.

I carried a Kel-Tec .380 as back-up for a year. I never needed it (fortunately), but it proved reliable every time I pulled the trigger. I met a guy who swears he stopped a pit bull attack with one shot from his Kel-Tec .32 at point blank range (base of the terrier's skull/neck). His weapon malfunctioned after the first shot, though, so luckily one shot was all he needed.

A dear friend of mine used to carry a Charter Arms Bulldog off-duty (he's a cop) but it blew up in his hand at the range (faulty manufacturing) and Charter Arms was in no hurry to replace it, never apologized, and took over a year just to send him another firearm identical to the one that almost took his hand. So not only did it nearly cripple him, but he was without a firearm that he paid for for 18 months just to wait on the replacement. I hope Charter Arms have improved their customer service.

Any way you choose, good luck and hopefully you'll never need it!

The S&W.

Will Learn:

Before you send the 638 in, try shooting it again, this time concentrating on your trigger pull.

I had a few light strikes when I was learning to shoot my M&P 340, and I think I traced it to short-stroking the trigger. At any rate, it doesn't happen any more, now that I have put a lot more shots through my j-frames. No service was done--and I had had an action job done by my gunsmith prior to the 'light strikes,' but did not take it back.

Jim H.

638 for me

I use a S&W model 38 loaded with REMINGTON 125 +p in a De SANTIS pocket holster.
It is hard to detect and I have carried it all day on some occasions. One word of advice, if you walk long distances, choose your holster carefully. My leather holster tends to "SANDPAPER" the lining of my pocket when I take a brisk walk for exercise.

I stick with the REMINGTON ammo because you can buy it cheaply in WALMART and the 125 +p recoils a lot less than the 158 grain +p loads. It is significant enough that I won't use 158 grain +p ammo even in my .357 magnums. They get 110 grain .357 loads.

Also, the semi-jacketed bullet that REMINGTON pioneered has a good reputation for expanding.

Jim

If your pockets can handle it I would take the 638, if that gun is too big then the P3AT, based on your choices.

Kahr PM9

I voted for the S&W but I would recommend the 642/442 over the Model you are looking at.

My BUG is a 442.

Biker

There is nothing better than a M638 for pocket carry IMO.

I own a 638, a P3AT and a Bersa Thunder .380.

All get carried, but the 638 gets carried most.

A Kimber Ultra Carry II, .45 ACP, in a Sam Andrews www.andrewsleather.com pocket holster.