How do you carry your J-Frame?

Status
Not open for further replies.
I use a nice old Alessi IWB for either my 442 or my Model 49, depending on whether I feel like nickel or not.

Most of the time at my eight o'clock as I'm lefthanded, but I've been liking to carry that one at between 1 and 2 o'clock for a crossdraw. It's quick and easier to reholster.

With the 442 the whole rig - loaded pistol and holster weigh in at 19 oz.
 
and am waiting for the judge to sign off on me picking it up
Click to expand...
How sad it that? You have to get the blessing of a judge to exercise your 2nd Amendment rights!!

I carry a J frame revolver in my front pocket daily. Almost any name brand pocket holster will do a good job these days. I use a Mika round cut pocket holster.
 
I have a SW 638. I swear...it seems to big to front pocket carry. I tried it without a holster (just to see...not that I would recommend this type of carry method) in the front pocket and it seems too bulky. I can't imagine how others have managed to fit it in the front pocket with holsters.

I have seen the pics of holsters...but could someone show pictures of how well the gun (inside a pocket holster) disappears while wearing either jeans or Dockers?

Maybe I'm just to self-conscious and imagine its more visible when its not.
 
The j-frame are very easy to carry in many ways, I have more holsters for my 642 then any other weapon I own. A lot of people say if you going to wear IWB or OTW you should use a bigger weapon. I carried snub nose's for years got away from them and went back about 2 years ago. The great thing about them is no matter how you dress you can always fine a good way to carry it IWB is the one i use most with pocket carry you can't get to it sitting in your car but for walks with loose pants pocket carry is great. Get your 637 shoot it a lot get seveal type of holsters you will be covered. At work I carried a Sig ,357 an AR and have a 870 pump, but then there always someone sending me to bad places on the radio but when I'm off I just don't go to places where more then the snub is needed.
 
psyprofessor said:
I have a SW 638. I swear...it seems to big to front pocket carry. I tried it without a holster (just to see...not that I would recommend this type of carry method) in the front pocket and it seems too bulky. I can't imagine how others have managed to fit it in the front pocket with holsters.
Click to expand...
I have similar issues. Essentially, if I print once, I run a significant risk of losing my concealed carry permit entirely. I can't carry my LCP in khakis in a Nemesis holster because it is plainly visible that it is a handgun, while its a little more discrete in jeans. I'm thinking that the most feasible option for me, being that I need to be able to tuck in my shirt for work, is a tuckable IWB holster, which would also enable me to have the added protection of tucking in an undershirt when wearing an untucked shirt while not working. I guess its something that will require a little experimentation, but it seems somewhat expensive to experiment with...
 
Speed Classic Leather Concealment (S&W J-Frame)You don't HAVE to be fast.It's like a magic trick! Blackhawk.com has 'em.
 
Last edited:
the search feature on the site in kinda funky,so just go to ''leather holsters'' it's the top one on the left.It's only about $45.00,and easily worth twice that.I've had buddy try to BUY mine....no way.
(Available only for some 2” compact revolvers)

This adaptation of the famous Berns-Martin design gives you a quick draw with secure carry and goes back to what the original models were, a minimalist holster for a minimalist handgun. Under a T-shirt, sweatshirt or suit coat, this will hold your snub-nose the way it was meant to be held.

• Premium, wet-molded leather and heavy duty elastic for a secure fit
• Trailing edge belt loop pulls the grip in tight to the body
• True to the original thin, minimalist design
 
Circumstances dictate how I carry, so the SmartCarry is doing a great job for what I need.

It's so comfortable I forget I have it on.

100_8841-1.jpg

J frame also fits well
ExcaliberSmartCarry1.gif
 
Last edited:
I carry IWB. It's often between the pants and the belt rather than complety inside - depends on the pants. A lot of people forget that they can do that. It can make a good IWB holster double as an OWB.

I carry it high and tight at 3:30ish with a good cant.

I don't like pocket carry for a j-frame. Some pants work OK. But most look like you are carrying a j-frame revolver in your pocket IMHO.

I back up my .357 with an LCP .380 with the best self defense ammo I can find for that marginal gun (DPX - same as in my .357). The LCP is my pocket gun when I want that. It's just right for that when nothing else will do.

Under my suit jacket, as a New York reload for my revolver, it's carried on my left side IWB in a kydex clip holster with a cant. I can draw and shoot with left hand. But I figure that I can draw left and transfer to right a lot quicker than reloading my revolver. (Maybe it's just me - but I've heard a lot of horror stories of trained professionals whose fine motor skills went to pot in a gunfight and couldn't even reload their automatic - let alone a revolver.)

I could practice reloading every day. But it's just easier for me to drop and grab if (God forbid) it comes to a prolonged gunfight.

I have a laser on each gun. I also practice with it off some of the time.

.380 is (admitedly) marginal. But I can shoot it fast and well with either hand. I can put 4 .380 DPX's center mass in the time it takes to put 2 in the same place with my snubbie. Still - I much prefer a snubbie - so here I am.

More than you asked for, I know. But, hey, advice is free.

MARV
 
I have similar issues. Essentially, if I print once, I run a significant risk of losing my concealed carry permit entirely. I can't carry my LCP in khakis in a Nemesis holster because it is plainly visible that it is a handgun, while its a little more discrete in jeans
Click to expand...

Truly, you are being waaaay too paranoid. I was too, as are most folks, when they first start exercising our 2nd Amendment rights.

However, how you carry yourself is the only thing that would give you away! So . . .

I just TOSS my Model 37 Airweight, in its Uncle Mike's #3 pocket holster, into my front pants pocket and off I go!

When I'm off work I carry it everywhere that it is legal. I'm no convicted felon, I am a law-abiding US citizen with no reason to hang my head or to act strange in any way.

I went downtown the other night with my wife, to go to a new Italian restaurant. The city has had to resort to assigning a policeman to walk this area at night due to past "problems."

The cop was right in front of my car when I parked. I hopped out, walked right up to him and chatted for a few moments about the weather and such, and asked if he'd tried the restaurant out yet. No big deal.

Then, I confidently walked away . . . with my Model 37 in the front pocket of my DRESS pants! It took me awhile to realize that folks weren't gonna "make" me unless I acted strange. You'll get over this fear too!

REPEAT AFTER ME . . .

I'M AN HONEST CITIZEN WITH A CCW . . .

I'VE PASSED THE BACKGROUND CHECK AS A GOOD GUY . . .

I'VE DONE NOTHING WRONG . . .

I'M EXERCISING MY RIGHTS . . . and . . .

I'M NOT A SHEEP!!!

Cops in my area LIKE having honest folks like me, who are licensed to carry, being out there on the streets!

We've made a whole lifetime of being honest and law-abiding CITIZENS . . . and we are there should the cop need us too.

Heck, this year our Sheriff has TRAINED over 600 ladies in our area on basic awareness, self-defense AND in firearms training!

He's tired of the thugs in our town cracking the skulls of our ladies, slashing their faces, raping them and stealing their purses so he's doing something that has greatly stopped these attacks . . . turning sheep into sheepdogs!

Thanks to the Sheriff ALONG with our District Attorney TOO, our city is now a safer place to live . . . unless you are a thug looking for a soft target!

The Desantis is a slightly better holster (and a little more in price), but the $11 Uncle Mike's #3 will absolutely CONCEAL your roscoe and effectively break up the shape of what is in your pocket! The only downside is they lose their corners after about a year and you have to spend another eleven bucks.

2328567IMG0121e.jpg
 
I just got myself a Comp-Tac Shirt Tucker holster for it and love it so far. I can't believe it actually conceals better in terms of printing with a tucked shirt than it does (or my OWB does) with an untucked shirt.
 
J-frames are for pocket carry for me. If I'm dressed for belt carry I carry an auto. I tried the Nemesis and didn't like it. Felt like I was carrying a rolled-up gym sock in my pocket. I also have a nice Galco leather pocket holster which does a nice job of diffusing the shape of the gun but it's pretty heavy and actually noisy sometimes. (Creaking leather actually audible in quiet situations!) I prefer the uncle mikes pocket holster. After a long while carrying it, it may wear thin and simply be replaced with a new one. But it does the job nicley for anywhere from $8-$12. If I drop my 342 in a jacket pocket for a walk or trip to the store I don't use a holster.
 
I can't pocket carry very well so I stick with a good leather IWB holster - silver dollar pancake by Simply Rugged.
 
I have a SW 638. I swear...it seems to big to front pocket carry. I tried it without a holster (just to see...not that I would recommend this type of carry method) in the front pocket and it seems too bulky. I can't imagine how others have managed to fit it in the front pocket with holsters.

I have seen the pics of holsters...but could someone show pictures of how well the gun (inside a pocket holster) disappears while wearing either jeans or Dockers?

Maybe I'm just to self-conscious and imagine its more visible when its not.
Click to expand...
psyprofessor,
When I first put a Airweight J frame in my front pocket I thought it was heavy and looked like a brick in my pocket. After only a few days of forcing myself to carry my M638 all day it felt no heavier than anything else I carry all day in my pockets. Give yourself a chance to become accustomed to carrying and I'm sure it will be fine. I can now carry an all Steel J frame in my pocket without noticing it much. It's not as comfortable as the Airweight but it's not that bad. Just give yourself a chance... I couldn't imagine walking out of the house without my J frame in my front pocket.

Like S&Wfan said, you are a law abiding American citizen who has done nothing wrong. Carry with pride and safe in the knowledge you are exercising your God Given Rights...
 
I personally think that a J frame is a little too bulky to be a pocket pistol, but I know that many go that route. Probably not with jeans, though, unless they're really over-sized baggy.

Anyway, I'm not averse to spending lot's of money for good holsters. Among what I have are the VM2 and Axiom, and various Brommeland and Ken Null. None of them are cheap.
I only mention my "big spending" to point out that I agree with many here that the Uncle Mikes little inexpensive holsters are perfect for the J frames. Not because it's cheap, but because it simply works really well with the J.

I carry IWB, as does my wife occasionally, and when we do, we both use the #36 Uncle Mikes. For $20, it's a no-brainer.
My wife also uses hers for purse carry because the holster adds no weight at all, and it keeps her 642 clean and ready.
 
I pocket carry an S&W J Frame on a daily basis. With the proper cut of trousers, pocket carry is my preferred method of carry for the J Frames and similar sized semi-autos. A properly made pocket holster will conceal well, properly retain and position the weapon while engaged in normal activities including being seated in your car or on a couch.
The last seen you want to happen is to be seated on a couch in a waiting room, stand up and have a stranger point out " Uh Sir, you left your pistol on the couch." A quality pocket holster will remain in the pocket while the weapon is drawn.
Lastly, with any carry method you choose, you need to practice removing your weapon from the holster
Randy


holster2.jpg
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

D
  • Locked
J-frame carry method (other than pocket)?
2
Replies
25
Views
3K
gitarmac
G
D
  • Locked
j-frame joy!
Replies
14
Views
1K
bean357
B
T
  • Locked
J-frame concealed carry questions
2
Replies
33
Views
3K
JimGnitecki
J
L
  • Locked
How are you carrying your J-Frame?
2
Replies
42
Views
3K
Haywood
Haywood
A
  • Locked
Should I sell my J-frame?
2
Replies
38
Views
2K
archigos
A
Back
Top