pocket carry no holster?

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Jeffg330

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I just received a Ruger LCR .38 as a gift and plan on pocket carrying during the hot summer months. while deciding on what pocket holster to buy, i found it very comfortable to stick in my front pocket (unloaded) without any holster around the house.

i did a little research and the consensus seems to be "it's dangerous to carry without a holster", but i'd like to know how it's unsafe? It's legal in my state to carry without a holster, I don't mind if the revolver shifts in my pocket, i can adjust easily, i don't mind clearing out pocket lint from time to time.

So if I keep nothing else in my pocket except the revolver with it's 10LB pull, how is in unsafe? I probably will eventually get a pocket holster but i'm very curious if i really NEED one for safety reasons

ty
 
Ok, well, first welcome to the The High Road. since you're new here, I'll go ahead and answer the Q and others will chime in. Plz use our search function to find similar threads from the past. And remember to do this for all topics before jumping in with a new thread.

Why is pocket carry without a holster a bad idea or dangerous? Let me count the ways... The firearm can get turned round in loose pocket carry so that the grip is no longer at the top of the pocket. If you need to draw a weapon in the gravest extreme, you do not want to grab the barrel or try to rip a sideways gun from your pocket and then turn it around to get it pointed toward the threat. You always want your presentation to be swift and sure. This is one football you cannot afford to fumble with.

If you have anything else in your pocket like keys, loose change or a pocket knife, they can get tangled in the trigger guard or slide and either cause the gun to fire as it is drawn from the pocket or jam up the works so you cannot make the swift and sure presentation of the firearm in the gravest extreme.

This is a serious business and you should not take it lightly. A holster protects you and the firearm from accidental discharge, dirt, pocket lint, and debris that can jam it up. .
 
I agree with the above. You seem to imply you are going to get a holster right? In the mean time I would just drop it in my pocket until I could get an appropriate holster. The sooner the better. Welcome to THR.
 
I would not carry that gun without a pocket holster. Granted the probability of you inadvertently putting something in your pocket and it getting caught in the trigger guard is very remote, still not worth the savings of not buying a pocket holster.
 
You are only going to hear one correct answer to this. Buy a pocket holster. Yes, the chances of having a problem are slim but your chances of needing to use you gun are pretty slim and, since you are carrying, I assume you want to minimize risk to yourself.

I carried my LCR .38 in a cheap little Desantis holster for several years. They only cost a few bucks and are worth it.
 
Its more of a generalized statement. The reasoning being, having the trigger covered on ANY firearm makes it more safe. Yes, its hard to imagine a DA revolver firing without willful exertion on the trigger- like from a trigger finger. That said, a holster of some type to keep it consistently secured and not shifting makes the most sense, tactically speaking. Assume that if you need it, you will be at a tactical disadvantage. Therefore, why not seize every advantage possible well in advance of that situation?
 
I’ve been pocket carrying for 8 years and I’m on my third holster, the Desantis not only covers the trigger but keeps the gun upright and some what clean. Safety yeah but there’s other reasons as well.
 
Dedicate one pocket to your holster and gun. Carry nothing else in it. You can carry a spare mag in another pocket or on your belt. Practice your draw setting and standing till you are at ease with it, (with a MTY gun). The trigger needs to be covered or it's not even close to safe IMHO. Welcome and good luck with your new revolver.:thumbup:
 
Jeffg330 said:
Ok thank you. I’m convinced that buying pocket holster is the way to go. Desantis had a few mentions. Anyone like the “sticky” holsters?
Click to expand...

Sticky holsters are okay for pocket carry, better for IWB IMO. DeSantis Nemesis are often on sale for 10 bucks or so. Been using the one for my BG 380 for about 4 years.
 
Also a pocket holster places the gun in a consistent location every time for drawing purposes. When I really need it i dont want to fumble for it...

ETA: others posted similar comments, but this, plus the need for consistent location during training, are keys to success when required.
 
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The DeSantis is okay, but have a look at Mika too! Comfortable, good concealment, long-lasting, and they stay in your pocket when you pull the gun out.
 
While not particularly dangerous with a double action revolver, I do recommend a quality pocket holster. A holster will protect the firearm from pocket lint, loose change and anything else you may place in your pocket. Also a quality pocket holster will keep the firearm upright in your pocket for the best draw position possible.
 
I pocket carried without a holster when I got my first pocket gun... 30 years ago or so. Finding a pocket holster back then was near impossible and you couldn't just go on the internet and order one. My very first pocket holster was a finely crafted 100% full grain duct tape holster. With all the nice pocket holsters available these days available for dirt cheap I don't know why anyone would want to pocket carry without one. Not only does the holster keep the pistol secure it also keeps it from flopping around making it much less bothersome to carry. I don't think anyone mentioned that a good pocket holster will hide the outline of the gun from printing.

I am glad to hear you decided to get a pocket holster... I think you will be much happier carrying with one.

The Desaints holster I have is pretty thick and bulky but it completely keeps my Kahr CM9 and LCP from printing. I do prefer my thinner lighter pocket holster though... it doesn't feel like I am walking around with an extra pair of underwear shoved in my pocket.
 
There are kydex trigger guard holsters which can protect it. Pretty minimalistic but used by some. The idea that only the pistol can be in the pocket is nice but things happen.

A holster does keep the pistol oriented up and also can conceal it's outline, which helps. What it's made of is up to the buyer - while some would never use a woven fabric belt holster they might consider it for a pocket holster. I've tried them and they are bulky and fat, often doubling the amount to stuff in the pocket. Leather absorbs moisture and in the summer a pocket is a high humidity environment at times, especially with mesh linings ie sports shorts.

Being that the industry just doesn't have a pocket holster for every gun in every material you do see DIY pocket holsters, and some survive scrutiny to the point that they are made by small cottage makers and put on the internet for direct sales. One uses a single sided design with a barrel pocket and trigger block - a foam piece is attached that slides in behind the trigger effectively making it a trigger block safety. DA gun owners are finding it popular and it's effectively not only thinner but safer. You reach in pushing the outer skin and block aside, then withdraw. For CCW it's a matter of extracting the holster and applying it, then reinsert it into the pocket. For pocket carry I would not recommend trying to get it back into the holster by jamming the gun back down the pocket, ever. Adjust your training to be safer as reholstering constantly is where the ND's occur, not on the draw IF you keep your finger out of the trigger guard until at least to the 45 degree and extended point of aiming.

With DA triggers that have minimum 6 pound pulls and longer travels, you don't need to prove you can ND in your pocket. Carry is for your protection and self induced injury is what we strive to make 100% avoidable. Cause, it is.
 
Another advantage of a pocket holster is, it saves wear and tear on your pocket.

Before I used one, the "sharp" parts of my gun always wore holes in my pocket for my wife to fix.
 
Sistema1927 said:
Google: BORAII

Minimal solution.
Click to expand...
I have one of those, other than the fact that it comes off while still in your pocket it’s a decent trigger cover.

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To answer the OP’s question as to why it’s unsafe. I present one scenario.

The barrel will (likely) end up pointing into the corner of the pocket if it’s not in a holster. With that in mind, let’s say you get in your vehicle and and while you butt is on the way down the corner of the seatbelt latch sticks in your trigger and pushes it back.... their is now a hole somewhere.

Now in all likelihood that want happen because the newer seatbelt latches are bigger and more rounded than the ones of the 70’s-90’s. But that’s how things happen... think about it. How often do you take a jab in the leg, Come to think of it I’ve ripped a pocket on the door latch getting out of a unfamiliar, and to small, vehicle before and if the door latch catches a trigger, well, bang.
Bottom line, it’s dangerous because of the unknown.

Not to worry though, because if you pocket carry it much you’ll end up with it in a holster anyway, you’ll get tired of buying new jeans when you figure out how fast a hard gun in your pocket will wear a hole through blue jeans. And you can’t just walk around with a barrel hanging out, trust me you get really funny looks.
 
I don't want to cause a ruckus, but awhile back I posted a somewhat similar question about holsters with exposed triggers:
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...do-not-cover-the-trigger.718743/#post-8961240

The consensus was that it was fine to have a holster that exposes the trigger and is is not a safety issue. Note that many of the pictures show double-action as well as single-action revolvers. Some of the pictures are no longer available.

However, on this thread there seems to be a preponderance of opinion that having the trigger unguarded in a pocket is dangerous, even for a 10 lb pull revolver trigger.

On another note, I often carry in my pocket without a holster and have had no issues. I have tried pocket holsters and practiced drawing with them. Often the holster comes out with the gun. Practicing a draw and having a problem like that puts a lump in my stomach and I say "dead" out loud...:barf:
 
I personally wouldn't carry in a pocket without a holster. I want a holster completely covering that trigger.

Even though I use a pocket holster, my gun has a heel mag release which sticks out of the holster and it wears holes in my pockets. I think the wear problem would be worse without a holster.

I purchased these jeans in August, the only worn spot on them is the right pocket

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