Pocket Carry. Holsterless

[Gunmeister]

I have heard most of the neat sayings, i.e. "A CCW is not always comfortable but is comforting" and so on. Here in the lower half of Florida and in Texas where I grew up and in some South Western states, it stays warm to hot almost year round so comfort is a deciding factor. Over the fifty plus years that I have carried a concealed handgun, I have tried every type of IWB holster from the most expensive Kydex and leather holsters on down to Uncle Mikes inexpensive nylon holsters. Down here, IWB holsters make sweat and sweat makes rust. In my personal opinion, nothing is more comfortable than unholstered pocket carry. My first real gun was a 1908 Colt .32acp semi-auto my Dad gave me in 1954 (wish I still had it). I progressed through numerous pocket guns. In later years most were revos like Colt "D" frames and S&W "J" frames, the AirWeights were nice. A couple of years ago I started carrying Kahr products. Today at age 67, I carry a Kahr PM9, IMHO the best true pocket pistol out of the more than a dozen I have owned over the years, bar none. The PM9 disappears into the right front pocket of my shorts, Dockers, and relaxed fit blue jeans. It's size is perfect and it always rides muzzle down with no need of correction by me. I carry a full spare magazine in a knife holster on my belt. Some of you will poo-poo .38 spl +P and 9mm as too weak and that only a .40 cal on up is acceptable but in all honesty that just aint true. To each his own.
In all these years, I never had a problem pocket carrying unholstered with exposed triggers and always with a round in the pipe. The trick is self dicipline and training yourself to never, ever put your finger inside the trigger guard while the gun is in your pocket and never put keys and loose change or anything else in the same pocket as your gun. I also run a patch through the barrel once a week or so to get rid of any lint that may accumulate altho I have yet to see enough accumulation to cause any kind of problem.
Oh I know this will more than likely cause a loud chorus of no-no's from the
experts out there but like it or not, it has worked just fine for me for over 50 years.
I'm just curious to know if some of you folks out there carry unholstered in your pocket.

 

[Old Fuff]

Yes, I have. And in too many cases I've found that the gun shifted around and sometimes even ended upside-down with the muzzle pointing up (!!). While I am fond of pocket carry - particularly in hot weather - I always use a pocket holster to reduce or eliminate printing and insure that the gun is always positioned in the same place. I have never found that a good pocket holster presented any disadvantages over holsterless carry.

 

[webley455]

No. I do not believe it is a good idea. The metal can wear the pocket and rip in addition to all the other reasons you will hear it is not sharp practice.

 

[P95Carry]

I'm not that many years behind you GM! It's good that you get on well with this method because it is one I would dearly like to exploit too myself.

What I cannot personally get on with is the pure and simple ''sag'' factor .... that inevitable effect of the gun's weight.... and that is with or without pocket holster. Further to that ... I sweat not in pints but gallons!! .... and a gun in my pocket during very hot weather could suffer, considerably ... certainly if metal and blued.

I can manage a P3AT because so small ... and I shall probably at last manage pocket carry better when I get my Rohrbaugh R9S .... but still from choice will prefer even that sitting in a more FBI hi-ride on my belt ... and covered with loose t-shirt.

As ever ... it's a case of what works for the individual.

 

[Zonamo]

The heat can be tough here in the Southwest.

But carrying a no-safety light double action in a pocket with the trigger uncovered is a very bad idea.

Unless you want to take a big chance of earning the nickname "stumpy" from your friends.

 

[ruger357]

Always use a pocket holster.

 

[Old Fuff]

One of the problems related to pocket carry - regardless of the method - is that one has to use care in picking pants or other garments to be sure they have deep pockets made from substantial material. Too many of today's trousers are made with shallow pockets and too-light material. I make it a point to check the pockets before I buy, and in some cases replace the side pockets with better ones.

While they are universally popular, tight denim blue jeans are the worst possible choice for pocket carry of anything but the smallest guns. Even then they may print. Prior to World War Two going back into the late 19th Century pocket carry was very popular and many small-caliber revolvers were made for this express purpose. Holsters were often lined with oilcloth to prevent sweat from getting to the gun’s finish, and in a day when stainless steel was unheard of nickel plating was very popular. But the real point I want to make is that gentleman’s fashions were on the loose side, not so snug as is the case now. Current pocket gun users could benefit from understanding a little history.

Incidentally, John (Fitz) Fitzgerald, who worked for Colt during the period between the two World Wars was an advocate of side-pocket carry, and designed a revolver based on Colt products for this express practice. One of his favorites was a converted Colt New Service .45 (the largest cartridge revolver Colt made at the time – and all-steel construction of course) with a 2-inch barrel. This cannon was usually carried in his right-hand pants pocket – the pocket having been specially made for the purpose. Of course he didn’t wear tight pants ….

 

[azrael]

Holsterless pocket carry is not a good idea for me...

Weapon shifting and debris are the natural by-products of holsterless carry...Me I like to have the weapon in the same position all the time...


Also, with a light trigger pull you are running the risk of an AD...yea it happens..

Even if I didnt make holsters for a living I still would use one...


My .02 peso's

 

[Gunmeister]

As I said in my original post, the trick to not being nicknamed stumpy is to keep your finger outside the trigger guard. To draw my PM9, I hook my thumb over the rear sight, keep my palm flat and there is no problem. I have never had one of my pistols rotate around to where the muzzle points up, another fact I stated in my original post.
Never really cared for skin tight jeans, growing up in Texas, when on horseback we liked a little gonad room in our jeans, only the drug store cowboys wore skin tight jeans. Dockers have great pockets as do the "Weekender" shorts I wear.
People talk about light trigger pull, again keep your finger out of the trigger guard and no accidental discharge. Like I said, it takes self dicipline to not figgit with the gun and for the third time, keep your fingers away from the trigger. I personally have found that my PM9 in a pocket holster prints a bulge much more obviously than just the gun in your pocket. Lastly, debris is not a problem if you clean your pockets out and run a patch down the barrel.
Everyone states what could be a valid problem when pocket carrying holsterless, none the less in all my years, I have experienced none of them.

 

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

Murphy is around, and he gets into pockets too.

A DAO with no safety does not belong unprotected in a pocket.

 

[Zonamo]

Gunmeister said:

As I said in my original post, the trick to not being nicknamed stumpy is to keep your finger outside the trigger guard.

It is not your finger in the trigger guard but anything you might accidentally bump into you should be worried about, especially with the Kahr which does not even have the extra trigger safety of a Glock.

Questioning the wisdom of holsterless pocket carry is not questioning your ability to handle your weapon responsibly. Being a careful responsible person, you may very well never slip and put keys in the wrong pocket or have that trigger finger slip inside the trigger guard.

But even if you are the most careful individual in the world, all it takes is a table corner, car door handle, tree branch or a dozen other possibilities to end up being "stumpy." And it doesn't even have to be your fault. It could be some other clueless person bumping you for you to end up a few inches short of a full swing.

Sure, your luck has been good so far. But there are so many quality lightweight choices for a pocket holster on the market, why take chances?

 

[Amish_Bill]

I have a two part aversion to holsterless pocket carry... One part is just plain paranoia. The other part is that the CCW statues here state that the gun must be holstered.

Maybe my opinions will change when I finally get a P32. ??

 

[rolltide]

I don't.

 

[flip180]

For me, this is the best holster out there

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=70388

Here was a review that I wrote up after receiving my Milt-Sparks PCH-R1 a little while back. To be honest, it conceals my J-frame in just about any pair of pants that I own to include my Old-Navy boot-cut jeans with medium fitting pant legs and medium depth pockets. It just depends on what I wear which determines if I have to cant the pistol forward in my pocket to minimize handle print on the side of my upper thigh; And that only pertains to a pair of jeans that I have on now. The shirt I'm wearing is untucked and doesn't overlap/cover any part of the pistol to include the handle. I just went shopping at wally world with completed confidence that the pistol would not be made out. I say wear a pocket holster but, make sure it is a good one. I'd rather spend the extra money that to have to explain to the cops why someone was able to see my concealed handgun.

Robert.

 

[P95Carry]

Maybe the ''weight in pocket'' deal is no biggie to most .... no one has even brought it up again since I mentioned it! Just happens I find the ''pocket drag'' less than comfortable, even with lighter and smaller guns ..... plus the feel of it whacking against the leg whilst walking.

Guess it's just me ... I even dislike too much small change weight in pocket!

 

[Gunmeister]

I guess most of you missed the point of my post. I asked a simple question. I was just curious to know if other folks carried their pistol unholstered in their pocket. I'm not asking you what you think I should or should not do and at no time did I suggest that everyone should carry their pocket gun unholstered as I do. I just wanted to know if anyone else did.

 

[azrael]

Chris,
I hate stuff flapping around in my front pocket as well...that's why I carry mine in my backpocket

Alot of people seem to feel the same way...<~~~blatant PLUG!!!!!!!:

 

[tok]

I carried my PM-9 without a holster in the pocket of carpenter jeans a couple of times. I wasn't real comfortable with it like that, and also had the problem of the gun turning. Haven't found the ideal holster yet, but for now the PM-9 is riding in an Uncle Mikes size 2. It's intended for .380 sized pistols, but the little Kahr fits nicely with the trigger covered. Much better for me! Keeps the gun pointed down, and I can draw and flick the holster off very quickly.

Even the PM-9 still feels like a big old lump in my front pocket. Back pocket is nicer, but then it's awkward while driving, and presentation is much slower.
Still thinking I'm going to go with an IWB holster.

 

[biere]

I do it.

I chose a ruger sp101 dao with the 2.25 inch barrel since it is stainless and has nothing to hang up on if you need to draw.

I use it around my property and it works great. I did have the pockets of my jeans deepened 2 inches though since they were real shallow anyway.
I am a big guy who has been losing some weight so tight jeans are not a problem here.

I have a home made setup I can use to cover the barrel and trigger and bring the shape up to the cylinder bulge so it does not print much. I have not had a problem though so I don't worry about it. At worst I will have to repair my pockets from not using the pocket holster, and I can do that easily.

I still like something iwb, but I think a pocket gun works well in ohio for a bug.

I allow nothing else in that pocket, I make sure there is no lint in it every morning before the gun goes in it and I find that it works very well for what I want in a carry gun around my property.

 

[Dave R]

I never carry unholstered. Love my pocket holster. The pistol is always right where I want it. EZ to draw.

 

[Frankly 45]

I always carry my j-frame in an Uncle Mikes pocket holster. Mainly to keep it clean, dry , cushioned and to reduce printing.. In fact I use 2 other Uncle Mikes pocket holsters; one to carry my surefire light and swiss army knife, and another to carry either 2 speed loaders stacked, or 2 or 3 Bianchi speed strips.
Nothing against holsterless carry, but for me the the Uncle Mikes just make everything more comfortable to carry and saves the pockets.


Good Shooting,
Frank

 

[DDGator]

At your request, no diatribe on why you should or shouldn't. I don't. Ever.

Duane
[email protected]
www.KDHolsters.com

 

[c_yeager]

My Ruger always ends up wanting to point in weird directions when i try it in the pocket without a holster not to mention the fact that it prints horribly. I would rather resort to mexican carry than to try holsterless pockets again.

 

[ksnecktieman]

I carry my P32 without a holster, right front pants pocket, jacket pocket, or belt clip inside chest pocket on coat.

I like the idea of having my gun in my hand any time something looks wrong, no muss, no fuss, if nothing happens I just remove my hand from my pocket, and continue with my business.

 

[arinvolvo]

Zonamo nailed it.

its better to be safe...or safer.