Pocket Carry. Really?

[mark1616]

"I wonder how many pocket carriers using only one gun carry spare ammo.

If so, where, how (strip, loader or magazine,) and how many rds?"


When I pocket carry the S&W 642 I carry two speed strips (10 spare rounds) in a cell phone case on my belt.

When I will pocket carry the Kahr cm9, I will carry a mag (8 spare rounds) either in the cell phone case or I may buy a holder specifically for it.

 

[sixgunner455]

420 - I always carry a reload, not because I think that I'm likely to have to reload in a firefight (though that could happen, I suppose, and the rounds are available if it does) but, primarily, so I can reload afterwards.

A speed strip is small, and doesn't weigh very much. I have a couple of speed loaders in my truck, too.

 

[Lucky Derby]

420Stainless-Great post.

Boy, this is quite a thread, with the bickering and judgementalism.

Yes I pocket carry. Usually it is a BUG, but sometimes it is primary. When on my own time, I wear untucked shirts. When on company time, that is not an option. For now (a tuckable holster has been ordered) pocket carry is about the only way I can carry at work. Once my new holster gets here I will go IWB at work, with a more substancial firearm. Years ago I tried an IWB. I decided, at the time, that I saw no benefit for me in a traditional IWB. OWB was not that much harder to conceal and was faster and more comfortable. Now that work requires tucked in shirts, I am revisiting it.

I have carried a 6.5" S&W M29 in a shoulder holster. It required attention to dress, holster and even grips. No, I do not think that anyone not willing to do all this for EDC is lazy.

 

[Lucky Derby]

When only pocket carrying, I carry a speedstrip in a Most Versatile Pouch from Simply Rugged. Yes it can be seen on my belt, but it doesn't look like a gun item. If anyone ever asks (no one has) I will tell them it contains keys. If I am OWB, I have a speedloader in a Safariland Split Six.

 

[Tony_the_tiger]

Pocket carry is just dandy.

 

[Guillermo]

I wonder how many pocket carriers using only one gun carry spare ammo.

no matter how I carry...I have a reload.

My backpack (friends tease me and call it my "purse") has a full size handgun w 2 reloads.

 

[451 Detonics]

I carry front pocket for my BUG almost daily. Recently I switched from a Kel-Tec PF-9 to a 642 in that role simply because the revolver is faster to draw. Despite being about the same dimensions as far as height and length goes the sloped frame of the revolver draws much smoother than the square semi auto frame does.



With the pocket gun it is very easy to look natural with a hand in the pocket holding the gun ready to draw, there is no way to stand naturally with a hnad gripping your gun in a belt holster... you look like you are drawing a gun no matter what.starting with hand in pocket I can clear the pocket and fire very quickly, faster than I can sweep a cover garment out of the way then draw and fire from a belt holster.

So with warning I would have my hand already gripping the gun in my pocket...no warning and I would go to the belt.

I normally have on shorts in the summer, loose fit or carpenter jeans the rest of the time. When I try on any pants I do try the pocket gun in them as well.

 

[Rexster]

When I leave the house, I carry spare ammo, though to be clear, I am a "pocket carrier" only in that I see a pocket as a good place to carry one of two or more weapons. Two weapons, with one in a front pocket, allows me the opportunity to use the hand-in-pocket tactic when trouble is perceived early, and the ability to draw from a more conventional carry position when a situation is already dynamic or in-progress.

I agree with 451 Detonics, regarding the sloping top rear of the revolver's frame making a snubby better than most autos for pocket carry. This is particularly true when spurless-hammer snubbies are compared to striker-fired autos.

 

[Tony_the_tiger]

Sweet, 9mm + p DPX in a 642

 

[27hand]

pocket carry

I think a lot of people fool themselves into thinking that they will have ANY opportunity to draw a weapon at bad breath range.

If your awareness level is such that a guy is in your face with a knife, gun or any impact weapon, you will be hard pressed to even present ANY type of SD weapon.

The BG will not wait for you to get comfortable enough to make a move.
If you CAN make distance by employing some sort of H to H, MAYBE, you could pull them pistols.

Other than that, give up the goods to live another day.

Just my inexperienced opinion.

27

 

[Kendal Black]

Pocket carry is a very good way to keep a small gun out of sight. Simply pick the right pants, pleated front Dockers, cargo shorts and so on--not close-fitting jeans.

Pocket carry is not great for a lightning quick draw and drawing is rather awkward if you are seated. If you are seat belted into a bucket seat it's not very good at all.

But the gun is there on your person, well concealed. Certainly this may be allowed to stand as a good point. If a larger gun or a better location for the gun would compromise concealability, there you have your argument in favor of pocket carry.

 

[IMTHDUKE]

Boy, this is quite a thread, with the bickering and judgementalism.

Agreed...the escalation of these threads are predictable and humorous to me.

First, you got a guy that pocket carries, he is comfortable doing it but does it consistently. Good for him, its not for everyone but it fits his lifestyle. He feels he is covered for 99.5% of encounters.

Then comes this guy that doesn't like pocket carry, in his opinion. He says, "you'll never be able to present that gun quick enough". Well, maybe not, but maybe so. Advice is....you need to carry in an IWB super quick draw fast as lightning Wyatt Earp holster.

Another guy says...yeah but...if you don't have at least as much ammo as a Marine rifle platoon on a search and destroy mission, you are goin be toast.

Then comes a guy that says...yeah but those small cal pockets wont stop a elephant on steroids and coke, you need to shoulder carry a Desert Eagle 50cal so when said BG becomes a threat you can blow him right into the next zip code.
So,.......I usually pocket carry one of these....but no more....I am now persuded that is totally wrong....what have I been thinking?...









From now on....I will just carry on of these...forget pocket carry...



Oh yes....I will also bring along my puppy dog....Wilson.



God speed and party on...ye pocket carryers

 

[sixgunner455]

Party on, Garth.

 

[David E]

The recent shooting at the IHOP illustrates a couple things.

Having a gun WITH you, as on your body, is essential.

If you were sitting facing the door, you might've seen the thug shoot the motorcyclist with his AK before coming into IHOP, you would've had time to draw your gun, no matter where you carried it.

If you were deeper on the restaurant, then maybe your first clue would've been as he walked by.

If your back was facing everything and your table was next to the National Guard troops, then maybe your first clue would've been the first shot. Bad time to do any kind of draw, especially a pocket draw while seated.......while being shot at.

But if you were facing the door and did get your sightless .32 in hand, what's the best way to engage a psycho with an AK at the beginning of his killing spree in a restaurant full of innocent people?

Maybe you would've found a way, it's all speculative.

The big lesson to me is to sit tactically (hate that over-used word) and keep your situational awareness high.

 

[mavracer]

But if you were facing the door and did get your sightless .32 in hand, what's the best way to engage a psycho with an AK at the beginning of his killing spree in a restaurant full of innocent people?

Maybe you would've found a way, it's all speculative.

But if you were facing the door and did get any pistol in hand, what's the best way to engage a psycho with an AK at the beginning of his killing spree in a restaurant full of innocent people?
Still sounds like a bad situation to me.
Maybe you would've found a way, it's all speculative.

 

[armsmaster270]

I carry a Sig 226 in 357Sig Strong Side hip and a S&W J frame 340PD 357Mag in my lf pocket as a BUG. If I was in the restauraunt I would engage He is a much greater threat than me trying to stop him and I do not wish him to hit me.

 

[hardluk1]

duke Cool puppy and deer rifle.

I do carry a extra mag or two in a knife pouch or side pocket for my cm9 or cw9.

 

[420Stainless]

420 - I always carry a reload, not because I think that I'm likely to have to reload in a firefight (though that could happen, I suppose, and the rounds are available if it does) but, primarily, so I can reload afterwards.

A speed strip is small, and doesn't weigh very much. I have a couple of speed loaders in my truck, too.

Absolutely nothing wrong with carrying what you feel comfortable with. Never hurts to be better prepared.

The main purpose of my post was to explain why I don't feel a need for me to carry extra ammo on my body.

I do keep extra ammo in my vehicle in the event that I might be far from the house when some event that might cause mass violence or looting occurs or just simply that my vehicle breaks down while I'm traveling through bad or unknown territory. If such happens then it is easy for me to take with me if I need to abandon the vehicle.

 

[MCgunner]

I walk with my hand in my pocket. I ride motorcycles more than I drive. To each his own, but belt carry is impossible down here most of the year and a PITA at any rate. If I lived up in Oregon or something where it never gets hotter than 80 degrees and there's no humidity, I might be able to wear a cover garment even in summer, but not here even in winter most of the time. Pocket carry, I don't even notice it, forget I'm carrying during the day. I will continue to pocket carry and i can draw and fire post hate. But, I do practice now and then. Do as you feel works for you. Everyone has their fave systems that work best for them.

 

[Guillermo]

of course McGunner usually rides a nitrous injected Hayabusa.

He can shoot and catch his own bullet.

He has to hide his gun in a pocket as his shirt flaps behind him like Superman's cape.

 

[mavracer]

I do keep extra ammo in my vehicle in the event that I might be far from the house when some event that might cause mass violence or looting occurs or just simply that my vehicle breaks down while I'm traveling through bad or unknown territory. If such happens then it is easy for me to take with me if I need to abandon the vehicle.

heck ya extra ammo, an extra gun, extra knife, a shovel, an ax, a come-a-long, air tank and tire plug kit just to name a few. Thing is I can put 200 extra pounds in the back of the Bronco and it neither causes me any discomfort or pulls my pants down.

 

[mavracer]

Hey Duke you might get some anbasol for Wilson I bet that broken caning is causing a bit of his apparent bad disposition.

 

[asmith759]

I carry a Glock 23 or 19 IWB in a Crossbreed supertuck with a 642 or CM9 in a pocket for BUG when I can. But I always have one of the pocket guns on me. I keep a reload in my truck but never felt the need to carry extra ammo when I usually carry two guns.