Pocket carry max size

[Glockman17366]

I pocket carry a Kahr MK40. It is the steel frame .40 cal. I carry it in a Don Hume pocket holster. I take it with me when fitting pants so I don't buy something I can't carry in. I can carry in jeans, but Dockers style works best.

I have an MK9. Kahr's are great guns, but I find them too heavy for pocket carry. Maybe I've just not found the right holster.

Pocket carry is my primary mode as well. I carry a Taurus .38 Spl. Ultralight. I've never worn trousers or pockets out carrying this gun (and it does have an exposed hammer). With 5 rounds of +P ammo and a spare speed loader, I'm about as well equipted as I think I need to be.

 

[thorazine]

Pocket carry max size

Depends on the pocket.

I can easily pocket carry my P239 with a few pairs of shorts that I own.

Jeans or dress pants on the other hand -- not a chance.

 

[Scottmkiv]

I can carry my Makarov in most all my pants, and it is a little bigger than most of the guns being discussed. I guess my jeans just have bigger pockets?

 

[ulflyer]

Comfort Level

I've not found anything bigger than a NAA 22 Mini that I can carry in my pocket comfortably. Anything heavier wants to pull my britches down. Nor have I found any IWB for compact 1911's comfortable. Problem is senior citizen belly bulge. The two things that work for me is a clip on my 1908 Colt 380...which is really thin and fits fairly well stuck in my waistband, or my Guardian 380 in a camera case.

Wish I could make use of my Defender as its a dandy shooter, or my LW Commander.

 

[orionengnr]

my 11 oz S&W 340PD

or my Kahr PM9

fit nicely in my jeans or khakis pocket with a De Santis Nemesis holster made for a G-26/27.

My Ed Hume pocket j-frame holster fits the 340 better, is smaller/thinner but prints a bit more than I like.

I've also dropped a Warthog in my front pocket to see if I could make that work (guess I was trying to justify buying one). While it fit in my pocket, it was pretty heavy unloaded, and with 10+1 of 45 acp...let's just say I walked out without it.

 

[jeepmor]

Pocket carry

Are only carrying in your front pocket? What about ditching your wallet, going with a money clip and putting it in a front pocket. Then getting one of the back pocket type holsters that prints your weapon like a wallet? Probably wouldn't be very comfortable to sit on at a desk job or commuting, but it's a thought.

jeepmor

 

[camper]

My primary pocket carry is a Kahr PM9 and for occasions calling for less size, I carry the P3AT, each in a Desantis Nemesis. With both holsters, the print, if any, looks like my wallet which I carry in the left front pocket.

 

[Bobo]

http://www.thehighroad.org./showthread.php?t=171820

 

[MrPink]

S&W 340PD. Works great in comfortable cut pants - like khakis or chef's pants. Not very well in snug jeans. Also very light weight so it doesn't weigh the pocket down.

 

[Morty76]

You need to buy some new jeans. I carry my S&W 642 in a pocket holster in the front pocket of a pair of Old Navy "Workers" jeans with plenty of room to spare.

Now if you have a Belk's department store near you, they have a line of jeans called Guyz with very deep and wide front pockets but they don't look like baggy gangbanger jeans. When I say deep pockets I mean i can fit my Browning Hi-power and it's holster into my pocket. Not that I carry like that, but it will fit.

But what fun is it to shop for pants? Pistols are more fun

My other pocket carry piece is a Beretta Bobcat in .25. I love that pistol. You should just buy one for those days you need something extra concealable.

 

[edison]

I have a huge problem with the Kel-Tec's. I am sure there are ways around this, but I refuse to put a pistol in my pocket that does not have a trigger saftey. I carry a XD-40, and it has no mechanical saftey either, but I damn sure don't stick in it my pocket! It stays in my ITW holster 24/7. The common solution for this is a pocket holster I am assuming, right? I tried that with the Kel Tec and it looked like I had a roll of toilet paper stuffed in my pocket.
QUOTE]

There is no way I would carry my P-3AT without it being in a holster. It may be DAO, but I find it has a lightweight trigger. I could see it firing while in my pants pocket if I had other items in there such as keys, etc. which might get stuck in the trigger guard. I read a article about just such an occurrence. I use a cheap ballistic nylon holster and I don't find that it adds that much width to the combo. I plan on replacing it as soon as I find a suitable holster for the wee beastie.

edison

 

[BigBink]

I can carry a 642 in the front pocket of tight jeans. I just leave the grip exposed. I don't try to shove it down into the pocket. With a decent pocket holster and an untucked t-shirt you don't even need a belt. I also carry a speed strip in the watchpocket.

For a BUG to my Kimber carried IWB at 3:30, I just switch the 642 to the left front pocket.

 

[dairycreek]

I have tried pocket carry in the past with several different weapons. The pockets themselves seem to wear out very rapidly due to the weight of the weapon. Anyone have any suggestions?

I have a friend who is really fond of his Glock 26 but came to the conclusion that it is just a bit big for pocket carry, partcularly with the required pocket holster. So, he went to a local tailor and had larger pockets sewn in his pants so that the G26 and holster would fit. I think he also used a more durable cloth when he had this done and it worked just fine. He carries his favorite G26, his pants don't look any different on him and, according to him, did not cost much to do.

 

[mustanger98]

Colt Mustang also fits. Prices are going up on these, but still a GREAT little gun.

Kevin

I like those too. What's the prices running now?

I found I like IWB carry in principle with those and Uncle Mike's has an appropriate holster, but that's not pocket carry. Of course, the size of the pockets in my Schaefer "cattle baron" vest, I might could get by with it, but I haven't tried it.

I've been known to stick a full size 1911A1 or 5.5" Ruger's Vaquero in my hip pocket in the gun shops just to cheese some guys off because they said pocket carry couldn't be done with those. Historically, Luke Short, in his famous shooting with Longhaired Jim Courtwright in Fort Worth... Luke Short drew his gun from his pants pocket and that was a Colt's Lightening, but pants (and their pockets) were a bit different then. And Wyatt Earp is said to have carried a 7.5" Peacemaker in a special pocket sewn into the inside of his business suit coat.

 

[carebear]

I always interpreted "pocket carry" to mean completely concealed within the pocket, no cover garment required at all.

If you leave the butt out you might as well have it IWB (or OWB, since your cover garment will have to reach 3-4" below your waistband to cover to the top of the pocket.

Heck, you can carry anything with a 6" or less barrel (I've done it with my SAA clone) in a front pocket using that logic. Maybe we need to come to agreement on what "pocket carry" really means.

 

[Preacherman]

Bear in mind that pockets can be easily modified to aid in pocket carry. I routinely do this to my trouser pockets.

1. Take your pocket-carry gun (and pocket holster - you do use one, don't you, for safety?) and place it in the pocket. Check out how far down it needs to go for complete concealment, further than the pocket will allow it at present: also, check on the width of the pocket, to see that it's enough to allow the gun & holster combination to sit flat in the pocket, without rucking the material.

2. Take off the trousers, and cut off the bottom seam of the pocket(s) concerned. If you need to increase the width, cut the pocket open along the inner seam (the one towards the center zip, not the one towards the outside of the leg!).

3. Using any convenient material, fold it in two, leaving the seam on the same side as the center zip of the trousers. Cut a patch big enough to allow the extra width the pocket needs, and the extra length below the bottom of the pocket.

4. Making a decent seam, either with a sewing-machine or by hand, attach the material to the pocket and close it all up. Make sure that the seams are strong enough to take the weight of your handgun and holster.

5. Test for fit, function, etc.

This way, you can make almost any trouser pocket big enough for pocket carry with very little effort. You don't even need matching material, as no-one will see the pocket inside the trousers.

As for size, I routinely carry S&W J-frames and Glock 27's in my pockets, and am about to try a Taurus PT145/745 next month, to see how it performs. I use the DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster, and like it very much.