Pocket carry - Snub vs. 9mm auto

[brufener]

The guns I am looking at are the S&W j-frame (probably 442) and the Kahr PM9.

I know there are tradeoffs between the two, but right now I am just trying to get an idea of which is easier to carry. I take ease of carry to mean comfort, "printing" or lack thereof, and ease in draw.

I am interested in people's opinions as to which is easier to carry in a front pants pocket (with a pocket holster of course).

Is there a tradeoff depending on the kind of pants you wear (e.g. PM9 is easier in jeans, but 442 is easier in slacks)?

Thanks.

 

[billybob]

Any J frame Smith WITHOUT the goofy underlug will be fairly easy to conceal. I carry front pocket in holster. Jeans.
Don't like autos for CCW as they depend on good primers. Not all primers work all the time.

 

[News Shooter]

I started with a J frame in a pocket holster

I usually wear dress pants and found it just didn't work very well. The width of the cylinder is just a little too much. I just switched to a MAK and I think it's going to work. I would still prefer the instant reliability of a revolver though.

 

[Erich]

I've pocket-carried J-frames for years. I recently switched to a Kahr P9 Covert and have been delighted. It is thinner and prints less than the J-frames. It draws well, and I'm convinced it's safe in a pocket holster.

I hope these photos are of interest. Remember that this is the P9 Covert (with the P9's 3.5" barrel and longer slide, and the PM9's shorter grip frame); the PM9 is smaller still . . . and the Rohrbaugh is smaller than that!

 

[brufener]

Those photos are great, thanks for posting them.

It does seem like the general trend is towards pocket carry autos.

The Rohrbaugh would be sweet, it is supposed to be as small as the P3AT. Unfortunately, it is a little more than I am willing to spend.

I'm working this summer where I have to where a tie and slacks (and sometimes a jacket). I have currently have a Taurus Millenium Pro Pt111 that I can carry iwb. However, I don't find iwb to be very comfortable, and although my holster does allow for tuckable carry, it doesn't seem very fast/easy. Thus my interest in pocket handguns.

 

[cookekdjr]

Khar's are wonderful...except when they fail so miserably that they are re-called. I know some people's work exceptionally well, and when they work, they are near perfect (designed for +p+ ammo, polygonal rifling, exceptionally accurate, lifetime warranty, etc). But Khar lets just enough lemons out the door to scare me into thinking that if I did buy one, mine would be one of the bad ones that fails (and at the exact moment I need it the most).
Maybe I'm supertitious, but for me, the ultimate in pocket carry is a S&W j-frame. Low-tech, 5 rounds, and kicks like a mule. But I trust it to go "bang" every time, and, so far, every j-frame I've fired has been flawless.
I say, get a 642 and don't look back.

 

[h_tolley]

I prefer a snibby with an internal hammer. Nothing to snag, can fire from inside a pocket if necessary. The alloy ones are very light -- pocket or ankle carry is almost not noticeable. That being said, I plan on getting a really small back up 9mm, just to have a choice.

 

[Sistema1927]

I alternate between a 642 and a PM9, both carried in the same Desantis Nemesis pocket holster. I find that I can conceal both equally well, regardless of style of pants (jeans, shorts, dockers, dress slacks), and it just depends on what my mood is as to which one I carry.

I do find that when I travel by air, and need to declare my unloaded weapon, that the preferred weapon is the 642, but only due to the fact that showing it unloaded at the ticket counter is far simpler.

IMHO, you won't make a mistake with either weapon.

 

[Slip Shooter]

I pocket CCW either a S&W M642 .38 Special or Kahr CW9 9mm. To me they are both great pocket carry pieces.

The biggest problem, for me, is finding pants with deep enough pockets. I find Dockers and Izod's to be very good , especially the pleated ones. The Izod 's have a little deeper pocket and are fast becoming my preferred pantaloon.

 

[MICHAEL T]

of this choice the J frame just can't beat .Remember the depenability of a wheel gun . A hammerless J frame airweight is near perfect.

 

[ChristopherG]

I had to make this exact same decision a couple of years back. I went to a gunstore that would let me put them both in my pockets to see what felt like what and looked like what. I suggest you try the same.

 

[HankB]

Pay attention to what "cookekdjr" wrote.

I had a Kahr P9 - make that a POS9 - which had so many things wrong with it Kahr eventually gave up trying to fix it and replaced it.

I traded the brand new replacement P9 immediately ("Once burned, twice shy") and got a G26 which works, but isn't really good for pocket carry.

The Kahr P9 was a nice package, but a pistol that's undependable is worthless.

My "always" pocket gun is now an S&W 340SC I slicked up myself, fitted with Crimson Trace lasergrips. I like it a lot.

 

[Erich]

My P9 Covert is very dependable. I agree, reliability is not negotiable. FWIW, Kahr's customer service seems to be held in high regard by the folks on the Kahr Club section of GT.

I also do as Sistema does: when I travel by air, I take a revo. Not only is it easier to check in, it's cheaper - if it gets lost, stolen or eaten by the baggage handlers, it won't take up as much of the pathetically small baggage reimbursement to replace.

 

[drdirk]

how about a .380

I like the SW ppk/s for pocket carry. Mine is very reliable. Same goes for the Bersa Thunder. Both great guns and he profile is narrower than the j frame. Nothing against a j frame, have one as well and it is lighter but like the narrow proflie and I can shoot the .380 Auto much more accurately.

 

[brufener]

how about a .380

No offense, and not to start a caliber war but the 380 doesn't have quite enough power for me.

Perhaps I would feel differently if I was carrying it as a backup gun, but the pocket carry will be my only carry.

Not to get too off topic, but sometimes I read the "caliber wars" and wonder if 9mm is even enough, let alone 38 special. One idea I've had is to get a 357 snub, and carry it with an anemic 357 load (like WWB 110 gr JHP - about 400 ft-lbs at the muzzle of a 4" barrel). Then again, police used 38 special for a long time and it seemed to work ok. I don't expect to see as much trouble as a police officer sees today, or saw 30 years ago.

 

[cookekdjr]

carry the LSWCHP 158gr +p "FBI load". It out-penetrates most .357 loads, but with less recoil (don't get me wrong; the recoil of this load in a 642 will be like a baseball bat on your palm, but at least its less than the .357 loads ).

 

[Dollar An Hour]

depends how big your pockets are

My favorite pocket gun to carry is the Kel-Tec P32, and I was gonna recommend a P3AT but your caliber basement is 9mm.

Unless I've got the right pants/shorts with big pockets AND a belt for support, then my Airweight J-Frame loaded with 158gr LSWCHPs is annoyingly heavy in my pocket and a bit bulky. This is in a quality Kramer pocket holser too.

Having handled the PM9, I think it'd pocket carry better than a J-frame. It's narrower and that matters the most.

Alot easier to get a Kahr with night sights than installing one on your J-frame front sight too.

 

[TOADMAN]

If I need to CC something smaller/lighter than a G26 - I go with the S&W 642 revolver...For me, the small pistols ( (15oz or lighter) aren't reliable enough for CC..

 

[redneckrepairs]

well for me pm9

i have a fairly late made ( 04) pm 9 that has been utterly relyable , its just the thing for the front pocket of my wranglers i like snub's too but not enough to put up with the extra width other than in a coat pocket

 

[Manedwolf]

Waiting to see how Skyy Industries' new pocket 9 this summer comes out. Supposedly going to be pretty much the exact same dimensions as the Rohrbach, 12oz, but $600 less!

I just heard just as many stories of failure as of success regarding the Kahr, so didn't consider that reliable enough for CC.

 

[cslinger]

Jframe without a question.

 

[orionengnr]

or you could always do like some do

and own one of each.
I have had a number of j-frames (currently a 340PD) and bought the Kahr PM9in spite of the horror stories I have read.

My PM9 has been so perfect that I am now looking for a P45 to supplement my CHL selection. (G-23 for sale or trade).

Oh, and I've read a bunch of horror stories about Kimbers and 3"-3 1/2" 1911s. I'll be picking up my 3 1/2" Kimber CDP tomorow

 

[atlctyslkr]

There's just somthing about the snubby ... It's reliable and powerful for it's size. If you have one in 357 you've got quite a compact bit of firepower. I treat my S&W 649 like my Amex card. Don't leave home without it! I've had cops say "where can I get one of those, that's a cool piece"

 

[cslinger]

Like I said I am a small revo for carry kind of guy. They just work for me and give me far more confidence then any of the itty bitty semi autos. My thoughts are if you end up in a situation that you need to use it chances are it will be near or at contact distance and likely in an awkward position. Semi-autos are much more susceptible to user induced malfunctions in these situations.

I am not saying a small pistol is bad just that when it comes right down to it I am in the small revolver camp. I am not sure when or how it happened but I have really gravitated to revolvers, especially for SD.

Chris

 

[Kevinch]

I like this thread - I'm asking the same questions!

(No thread hijack intended here - apologies to brufener! )


I currently have a Colt Mustang Pocketlite that I want to retire from pocket carry. I'd prefer to go up in caliber, and am looking at either a J frame (642) or the PM9. This is for pocket carry - I have other hardware for OWB or IWB. I also have a P32 for when I need something really small.

Concealment in this application is a priority for me. From what I've read, it appears that the PM9 conceals as well as, or better, than a J frame but some are hesitant to carry because of a reputation of unreliability - is that a fair assesment?