J-frame pocket holster

[bdjansen]

I'm looking for a pocket holster for my 642. It seems like the most popular ones are Uncle Mikes, DeSantis and Mika. I can buy and try out the first two for myself, but not the Mika.

So what is it specifically about the Mika that people like over the other two? Also, I wear Levis 501 jeans so I'm looking for something that will fit those pockets the best.

 

[SAA]

I've been using an Uncle Mike's holster every day for two years and it is still going strong.

I found the cylinder printed through my jeans pockets a bit too much for my liking, so I modified the holster by adding a thick leather pad to fill the areas surrounding the cylinder, like this:


Then I smeared clear silicone caulk on the leather to increase the "stickiness" to help hold the holster in the pocket while drawing the revolver, like this:


I, too, wear Levi's 501s on a daily basis except in summer, and have found that pocket depth can vary considerably. Some work fine, while others are barely adequate. With the ones that don't work as well the black rubber stocks and grip frame can be seen from above. The black hides well though, and in the event someone does see it I think I am saved by the fact that many people carry cell phones in their pockets. A gun with a silver gripframe may present more of a problem.

I always bought shrink-to-fit in the past, but the pockets in my pre-shrunk jeans are the deeper ones. I don't know if this is a consistent trait that can be counted on; I'd have to go to the store and check more pairs of jeans to say one consistently has the deep pockets and the other shallow pockets.

 

[GunNut]

Pocket depth can definitely present a problem with longer guns like the j-frame.

I sell a lot of j-frame pocket holsters, but can rarely carry my j-frame in my jean pockets. Probably has to do more with the cut of my pants, and the 5-10#'s i've gained since Christmas.

 

[Jrob24]

When I used to own a smith 642 I carried it in a Mika holster and liked it.

 

[32dgrz]

I use this and like it http://www.sideguardholsters.com/holsters/Pocket_Holsters.htm

 

[Gordon]

Mika holster, Mika Holster Mika Holster !!! The very best and inexpensive!

 

[DAdams]

I tried a DeSantis Nemesis which is a little too tight and requires more push off assistance.

Mika is now my favorite. Just a little assist and it stays in the pocket although in fixed pockets and crossed legs you need to be situationally aware you might and this is a slight might, you may lose your load.

 

[skoro]

Robert Mika makes the best.

 

[MCgunner]

A cheap Blackhawk number 4 works for me.

 

[Photoman]

99% of the time I use a Mika.

 

[340PD]

I have both a Mika and a Kramer. I find the Mika to be a bit more "pocket filling". I tend to use the Kramer more. If I were you I would get the Mika as it is much cheaper than most all other products. If you have an issue with it you are not out a ton of money. Plus it would sell on "the Bay" in a couple of minutes so you can recover most of your cash if you need to.

 

[lebowski]

I have a Mika's pocket holster, and I also have an a-holster (kydex) pocket holster, http://www.lefthandholster.com/Pocket_Holster.php

Both are excellent pocket holsters, but they have different pros for different situations.

IMO the Mika's holster does an excellent job breaking up the shape of the gun, but it leaves a larger overall print. For pants with big pockets but where you might see an outline (like a lot of my khakis), I prefer the Mika's.

The aholster leaves a much smaller overall footprint, but in pants where it prints it will print much more of a "revolver" shape.

Both have very easy draws. Both are low retention holsters, particularly the aholster, which is fine as long as they're in your pocket gravity will do its job.

I'd say I carry w/ the aholster 80% of the time and the Mika's 20% of the time.

 

[Resto Guy]

I carry a 642 in a Mika, often in 501 Levi's. No problem for me standing or walking. Seated for any length of time (such as driving), I wear a cross draw.

 

[JoeShmoe]

I used to pocket carry a J-Frame in a Don Hume leather pocket holster. I liked it because it was compact, and concealed the gun well. I also like the look and feel of leather. What I didn't like was that it kept coming out of the pocket with the gun. I don't use it anymore.

I don't really like the Mika, but it stays in the pocket when you draw. It's ugly, and made out of some kind of synthetic material, but it stays in the pocket when you draw. Did I mention it stays in the pocket when you draw? That's why I carry a J-Frame in a Mika roundcut, 90% of the time.

 

[camsdaddy]

I may be the only person that prefers a Blackhawk over a Mika. I have a Mika roundcut and find that while it mask the shape of the revolver its massive and a pocketfull. While I don't think my current Blackhawk is the perfect holster it works for now. It conceals well in jeans pockets. Keep in mind looking down the gun will print more to you than to others. It took me a while to get comfortable and reallize that. My search continues.

 

[dallascj]

I have several pocket holsters, and many work fine. However, there are several features that make the Robert Mika holsters exceptional, IMHO. First, it is available with a rounded bottom edge which really helps in concealment. Second, the reinforcement of the mouth makes it very easy to re-holster. Third, he uses great materials, and it stays put in your pocket. When I ordered mine on his website, I forgot to specify which bottom I wanted, square cut or rounded. He called me within 10 min. of the order, after 10:00 at night, to find out what I wanted. His customer service is exceptional, in my book. I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone.

 

[BADUNAME37]

I have Robert Mika's pocket holsters in both round-cut bottom and square-cut bottom.

By the way, in some of my pants, the front pocket is so large, the holster and gun kind of get lost. I took my pants with large pockets and my wife showed me how to use her sewing machine. I put the holster (no gun) into the pants pocket so it is riding as close to center as possible, then carefully grabbed the outer portion of pocket - laid it out as flat as possible and drew a line with a permanant marker where the outer edge of holster is.

These lines are about 3" long and stop about 1/2" shorter than the actual holster height.

I then removed the holster and carefully laid the outside of the pocket totally flat onto the sewing machine and sewed back and forth (giving the holster about 1/4" extra room away from the line).

On half of the pants I did, there is just enough room adjacent to the holster to carry my small Nokia Cell Phone! When the additional space leftover is narrower than my cell phone, I just continued the line over to the top edge of the pocket where the pocket is connected to the pant material so change and small items I may carry when not carrying the gun does not get caught in that narrow space!

Now my holsters don't move around at all and when I put my hand in my pocket, my J-Frame is right there. It also just so happens that my Mika LCP holster just fits in that J-Frame space I created in each pair of pants!

 

[DAdams]

Mika roundcut. M&P 340 with Hogue Monogrips.

 

[rdrancher]

Pocket depth can definitely present a problem with longer guns like the j-frame.

This is exactly the reason why I quit buying 501's (and other brands too)...not enough pocket depth. The pockets seemed to be too tight as well. I only buy jeans that fit my pocket holster and grips of choice and that's important because I wear jeans 99% of the time. So for me it's almost always a Mika that ends up in my pocket (round or square cut), even though it's a bit bulkier than some of the others. The draw NEVER requires a thumb push or wiggle of any kind to get my 642 or old Charter Undercover out of my pants pocket.

But...

I also have pocket holsters from Desantis, DM Bullard, Uncle Mike's and RKBA, and they all have unique features that make them useful.

The Desantis Nemesis (not shown in the pic) is open-bottomed, and lets the gun sit lower to better conceal the grip, but I have trouble drawing the Charter from it on occasion. The hammer gets stuck on the sewn lip at the top of the holster. It also sometimes requires a thumb push with my 642. It gets used the least of any of my pocket holsters.

The leather DM Bullard feels good in the hand and is small enough so the gun sits low, but it's boned (which makes it print a little) and relies on the hook at the front to keep it in the pocket during the draw. I don't like that.

The Uncle Mike's is a handy and inexpensive little holster that also allows the gun to sit lower in the pocket. I use it in some of my jeans and shorts. It was the only pocket holster I could use with 501's. In larger pockets it sometimes comes out with the gun. YMMV

My RKBA (not shown in the pic) is used a ton during the winter months in the inside breast pocket of my ranch coat. It's boned and doesn't have a hook at the front, but it stays put during a draw, so it's a keeper.

 

[camsdaddy]

Mika roundcut. M&P 340 with Hogue Monogrips.

Ok my Mika doesnt fit anything like that. I wonder if that could be my issue

 

[rdrancher]

Ok my Mika doesnt fit anything like that. I wonder if that could be my issue

Do you have a photo so we can check it out?

 

[alemonkey]

I would say get the Mika plus one other, smaller holster. I have a roundcut Mike and in bigger, looser pockets it is great. In tighter fitting jeans it's a little too big, but still works well. I need to pick up a Blackhawk and give that a try. I saw one at Walmart and it looked a lot smaller. You can never have too many CCW holsters!

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

SAA, your holster is a definite case of form following function.

I used a Mika holster with a Kahr PM9 with complete satisfaction. Obviously it is flatter than the revolver. But it exemplifies what I think a pocket holster should do - protect, position and break up the outline of the gun without needing any special techniques (e.g., pressing against your leg, hooking a corner) to draw from. Mine is not just a simple pouch; the area around the trigger guard is molded and built up inside to keep the gun from shifting within.