I pocket carry a 340PD in jeans all the time. I have a KelTec P11 which I would like to be able to pocket carry, but I can't do it. I always go back to the J Frame because of the weight, and the shape. The square shape of the Auto, as opposed to the Revolver makes it look like a paperback book in your front pocket, where the more rounded shape of the revolver makes it blend in better. The J Frame is a whole lot lighter also, which makes a big difference in pocket carry. I know there are smaller 9mm for pocket carry, but they're all the same shape.
Pocket gun, Revolver or Auto?
- Thread starter Big Boy
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huskybiker
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I have both a Taurus 85UL & a Keltec PF-9. The 85 definitely carries better in a jeans pocket, but the PF-9 is doable. Summertime (Cargo Shorts) either is fine.
My PM9 is just a little too heavy and bulky for me to pocket carry in jeans, but when wardrobe permits, I carry it IWB at 4 o'clock, where it is real comfy. I'm with the OP in preferring to carry at least 9mm, but for pocket carry in jeans, my Kahr P380 is what works best for me.
wnycollector
Member
I pocket carry a .22 mag NAA mini. I have tried both the J frame airweights and micro .380 and 9mm's but to no avail. Both printed horribly and were just to bulky. The NAA mini disappears in my pocket and allows for discrete carry virtually 24/7. If/when I feel the need to carry something bigger, it goes IWB and I dress around my gun.
agent89
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This is a good subject. I find any j-frame to be too big for true pocket carry. Especialy with jeans. I have a few pairs of carhartt type work pants and these are better but only slightly. Even a lcp is somewhat large when put into a pants pocket. I have a good friend that carrys a naa pug .22 mag in his pocket regularly, any issues with the lack of firepower are dissmissed by him saying it's better to have something you can actually carry comfortably that you have with you. I have a couple of milt sparks summer special iwb holsters, one for j frame rev. It's pretty effective if you can wear an untucked big t shirt or similar. I find carharrt t-shirts really good for this, cut full size and long. Maybe whats needed is a pair of tactical pants designed for this purpose, (there is a good job for a seamstress to sew a hd pocket into an existing pair of pants)
451 Detonics
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I carry a J-Frame quite often in the front pocket of my jeans. It fits and draws fine from my 5 pocket and even better from my carpenter jeans. Of course I see no need to wear my jeans skin tight...as Willie Nelson sings "I ain't going down on Brokeback Mountain"...
There is not one answer that works for everyone as pant pockets and body types vary too much. Don't worry too much about printing a little, the general public is way to self absorbed to notice. I have several pocket guns but if I could only have one it'd be my Smith 442.
+1 on that. But do make sure you can draw it quickly and seamlessly because the common thread to all violent encounters is that they go down very fast. It may seem silly, but a hundred practice draws with an empty pistol is just a good start.
I've been pocket carrying an LCP in my front jeans pocket for a couple of years now with no problems. Anything bigger than an LCP is too big for a jeans pocket. You can argue whether 380 is an effective round but I really like a pistol that fits into my front pocket and comes out easily. I can reach into my pocket and have my hand on my gun ready to draw and it looks totally normal and non-threatening. I carry the LCP everywhere.
Some people don't like the LCP but it does fit into a pocket and mine has gone bang every time I pulled the trigger.
Some people don't like the LCP but it does fit into a pocket and mine has gone bang every time I pulled the trigger.
I don't wear my jeans too tight, and the Wranglers have deep pockets in front. I can pocket carry a 640 .38 Special with a 3" barrel with no problem, it's just a little heavy. I switched to a lighter weight .380 P3AT in a pocket holster, and it doesn't even make a bulge.
Ash_J_Williams
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I thought you carried that H&R/Iver Johnson?
bikerdoc
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Smith 649 or Bersa 380 CC
It's retired, timing issues are getting worse. It needs a new cylinder star and hand.
Coming in a bit late on this but here is my take on this.
Myself,I have never been able to warm up to IWB mode of concealed carrying.
If you are upright it's mostly comfortable but if you are getting in and out of a small econo car or having to sit a lot not so much.
So I much prefer front pocket carry.
Again this is concealed carrying I am talking about coming from a state that concealed means concealed!!
The four guns I have the most experience with in this mode of carry is an older J frame S&W model 37 Airweight,a Kahr PM9,A Ruger LCP,and a Diamondback 380,and a Kel-Tec P32.
The J frame M 37 is certainly light enough but since it is about an inch in overall length than the other pistols mentioned it has the most annoying tendency of wanting to constanly peaks it's butt handle out of your pocket.
This has happened to me in Wrangler jeans,nice work slacks,and some other slacks.
While wearing the comfortable but rather frumpy looking "relaxed fit jeans" there is no issue with this problem with these types of jeans I have tried which are generally Sam's Club brand.
The other pistols mentioned due to their overall shorter length,as well as less width, do not at all peak out of the pocket.
To the J frames credit even in tight jeans I find it is a tad faster to draw because the butt handle is somewhat superior ergonomically over the other pistols I mentioned and you can get a firm grip on that little model 37's butt handle and easily spring it forth for serious duty.
The other pistols are not that much slower really while being retained in their made for the pistols leather pocket holsters,but one must understand when wearing America's universally loved blue jeans that over a period and a short few washings and dryings they can get fairly tight if they are your normal fitted jeans.
With that in mind please also understand because of work constraints as well as general appearance a lot of people who use IWB holsters need one that allows the shirt to be tucked in.
From what I have seen the actual time to draw from a tucked in IWB holster and a pocket holster is not that much difference in time really and with loose slacks maybe the pocket holstered guns are actually faster on the draw.
Not sure even if the quick draw scenario is of the utmost importance in the over all scheme of things for most concealed carry situations.
That's not to say during one situation or another that would not be the case though.
Lastly,and this is just me commenting here,I have never been able to shoot a snub J frame anywhere near as accurate as I can the other pistols I listed.
So I carry the semi auto's I mentioned in a leather pocket holster fully concealed and am happy with what I have.
Myself,I have never been able to warm up to IWB mode of concealed carrying.
If you are upright it's mostly comfortable but if you are getting in and out of a small econo car or having to sit a lot not so much.
So I much prefer front pocket carry.
Again this is concealed carrying I am talking about coming from a state that concealed means concealed!!
The four guns I have the most experience with in this mode of carry is an older J frame S&W model 37 Airweight,a Kahr PM9,A Ruger LCP,and a Diamondback 380,and a Kel-Tec P32.
The J frame M 37 is certainly light enough but since it is about an inch in overall length than the other pistols mentioned it has the most annoying tendency of wanting to constanly peaks it's butt handle out of your pocket.
This has happened to me in Wrangler jeans,nice work slacks,and some other slacks.
While wearing the comfortable but rather frumpy looking "relaxed fit jeans" there is no issue with this problem with these types of jeans I have tried which are generally Sam's Club brand.
The other pistols mentioned due to their overall shorter length,as well as less width, do not at all peak out of the pocket.
To the J frames credit even in tight jeans I find it is a tad faster to draw because the butt handle is somewhat superior ergonomically over the other pistols I mentioned and you can get a firm grip on that little model 37's butt handle and easily spring it forth for serious duty.
The other pistols are not that much slower really while being retained in their made for the pistols leather pocket holsters,but one must understand when wearing America's universally loved blue jeans that over a period and a short few washings and dryings they can get fairly tight if they are your normal fitted jeans.
With that in mind please also understand because of work constraints as well as general appearance a lot of people who use IWB holsters need one that allows the shirt to be tucked in.
From what I have seen the actual time to draw from a tucked in IWB holster and a pocket holster is not that much difference in time really and with loose slacks maybe the pocket holstered guns are actually faster on the draw.
Not sure even if the quick draw scenario is of the utmost importance in the over all scheme of things for most concealed carry situations.
That's not to say during one situation or another that would not be the case though.
Lastly,and this is just me commenting here,I have never been able to shoot a snub J frame anywhere near as accurate as I can the other pistols I listed.
So I carry the semi auto's I mentioned in a leather pocket holster fully concealed and am happy with what I have.
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