Thanks for the input. With how I currently carry the only parts that prints enough to bother my employer is the base of the magazine when I bend over. Weight isn't a top priority, I normally have enough crap hanging off my belt at work another five pounds won't be noticed. Don't think a shoulder holster will work with company t-shirts.
Hadn't thought about pocket carry before. Anyone have a link to beginner's guide on pocket carry?
I'm a traveling service tech that works standing, kneeling, squatting, on all fours, laying on my sides, sometimes on my back. I've been pocket carrying since I got my carry license in 2008 at work every day wherever it is legal. It does depend on the cut of the pants and the pocket size and shape . Khaki pants tend to have better suited pockets for carrying the larger pocket guns than snug fitting jeans.
With the variety of pocket holsters out there, I've never had a pocket pistol or pocket revolver or even a pocket holster wear a hole in my pocket. That's with either khaki type pants or jeans. A fellow tech has done the same for the same length of time, but he is a jeans only guy.
Drawing the gun while seated or on the ground is problematic. The other thing you have to watch for is, will your gun fall out of your pocket because you're laying on the ground in a certain way with a "easy draw" pocket holster? One has to pick a better holster or know not to get into certain positions unless you disarm.
A pocket gun isn't a great car gun or while your turning a wrench gun. But it is a pretty good option for walking in industrial areas or commercial areas while dragging a tool cart along. Or any other place you need to go, workday or day off.
Not a real pocket carry guide, but I can tell you how my particular pocket guns work for me. In order or purchase.
Taurus 85UL .38 Special:
Easiest gun to draw out of all my pocket guns due to the grip being behind the gun. The "banana" shape of a pocket revolver compared to the "L" shape of a semi-auto adds to the slickness of draw for a snub nose revolver. I cut off the hammer spur early on to reduce snagging on the draw. Overall size is larger than my other pocket guns, so it won't go in pants with small pockets.
NAA Guardian .32 ACP:
Smallest pocket gun I own. A true double action only hammer fired gun not unlike the 85UL. Has double strike capability. No manual safety lever. Hardest gun to shoot well that I own, but it fits in pockets that no other pocket gun I have will go into.
Taurus TCP732 .32 ACP:
One step up in size from the Guardian. Much easier to shoot than the Guardian. Uses a semi-cocked hammer which does not give double strike capability. No manual safety lever. Fits in most pockets very well. Sized the same as the ubiquitous Ruger LCP.
Remington RM380 .380 ACP:
A little wider in the grip than the TCP732. Easy to shoot well. Another true double action only hammer fired gun with double strike capability. No manual safety lever. Fits in most pockets well, but a little fat in tighter jeans.
All my pocket guns have long double action type triggers. It's just my preference since I started off with revolvers before I ever owned semi-auto pistols.
Also, all my pocket guns ride in stiff pocket holsters. All but one holster is leather. A holster is important to keep the trigger covered and to keep the grip at the top of the pocket for drawing.
Depending on how you clean your clothes, you will likely have lint in your gun. If you already have an air compressor at your home, you have the best lint removal tool ever. Just unload your gun before blasting it with air, of course.
My RM380 gets put in my pocket more than the rest of them. It's shorter, thinner, and holds two more cartridges than my snub nose revolver. The only thing the RM380 does worse than the snub nose revolver is it is not as quick to grab and draw. That snubby is slick and quick from a khaki pants pocket when standing up. Loose fit work jeans are almost as easy to draw from as khakis.
