Pocket Carry - S&W 642 or RUGER LC9

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm a huge fan of the J frame for pocket carry. It's much less effected by lint and other bad things that can get into the works of a semi-auto. I carry a M442 daily (same as the M642 but for color) and wouldn't go anywhere without it!

 

[LawScholar]

Between those two only i would stay with a 5 shoot revolver. I carried a revolver for 20 years. I don't want a saftey on a stricker fired pistol. For its size the lc9 ain't light or thin. You could buy a kahr cw9 for IWB . Same weight, higher cap, no saftey, only a touch bigger and thinner. or stay with a revolver.

The LCP and LC9 appear striker fired, but are actually hammer fired guns.

I vote LC9. Higher capacity with more powerful rounds in a slimmer and lightweight package.

 

[mongo4567]

I would vote Kahr PM9/CM9, the LC9 is just too big for pocket carry in my mind. Of your choices, I would pick the j frame. I usually carry the Keltec P3AT myself, have a 438 j frame that I carry sometimes.

 

[jimbo555]

I own j-frames and the ruger lc9.The lc9 is shorter in length and much thinner than any j-frame including my 1970 model 37. The lc9 weighs 17oz.empty. If you can pocket carry a j-frame you can pocket carry a lc9.I find it more comfortable than a j-frame because it is thinner.I use the flat magazine base which makes it easier to draw.The slide safety I leave off all the time because the trigger pull is long and i feel it's unnecessary.The big plusses of the lc9 are capacity,better sights,practical accuracy and easier reloads.

 

[Sour Kraut]

J Frame= bang,bang,bang,bang,bang. Every time....
Easily shoot through a pocket if necessary.

 

[Ledgehammer]

True ^^^

 

[FMJMIKE]

LC9 for the win !

Sold my revolvers and carry a Ruger LC9.................. I am happy now.

 

[royal barnes]

I've carried airweight or airlite Smiths in a pocket for years. I just don't care for any of the small semiautos.

 

[jp]

fwiw I have both if I were carrying in an outside pocket the 642
would be a viable option (shoot through pocket no jam).
other wise I prefer the LC9 for its slimness.

 

[orionengnr]

I have owned half a dozen j-frames, and no longer own one.
I do own a Kahr PM9, which (IME) is a far superior firearm. I carried it every day for three plus years, and shot it weekly. It was absolutely reliable, which is why I carried it.

YMMV. Figure out what you shoot well, what carries right for you, and go from there.

 

[wrs840]

I pocket carry a LCP on occasion in light dress slacks, have pocket-carried a 442, which I still own, but don't much care for anymore, and heartily recommend a 637 2-1/2"bbl (in a Desantis Nemesis) as the "best" pocket-carry gun I currently own or know of.

To the post above, I've never found a S&W J-frame un-reliable, so I'm confused about your implication. I like the 637 2-1/2"bbl because it's still pocket-sized, and I can actually hit something with it at 20 yards.

FWIW.

 

[breeze010]

Why not go to the LGS, stick them both in your pocket and see which one you prefer? Seems like the easiest way to answer your question if you consider the other differences (38 vs 9mm, capacity, etc) negligible. That being said, if I had to choose one I would go with the LC9 because I find the slimmer the gun the easier it is to carry.

I own an older chief's special snubby that I carry occasionally and have borrowed a PF-9 a few times. I'm fairly average (34" waist and a little under 200lbs) and don't find either all that comfortable to carry in my pocket. It's not horrible but I find both to be ever so slightly too bulky to be comfortable. I was disappointed as pocket carry seems to be one of the easiest ways to CCW and carry everywhere.

I have considered the LCP/P-3AT but haven't seen one locally and don't know anyone that owns one either. The size difference looks small on paper but from pictures I've seen and from people that own both it makes a big difference when actually carrying. At this point I'm close to just giving up on pocket carry, start carrying a single stack 9 IWB and force myself out of the habit of leaving it at home because 'it's a hassle', 'it's too hot out', etc.