The Danger of Pocket Carry (IMPD)

[40SW]

Roswell:
Excellent points about residue and lint impacting the pistol's action and reliability. This is exactly why I rotate the pistols I carry and clean/maintain them on a regular basis.
I also rotate the ammo/magazines at least once every 6 months .

 

[jackstinson]

Excellent points about residue and lint impacting the pistol's action and reliability.

I picked up a little FIE Titan .25 a few months ago. Inside the slide was a "one inch long felt washer" totally compacted around and in the recoil spring. It was both funny and sad. That gun had been in someone's pocket a lot! Cleaned up great though.
Anyone who carries (pocket or not) should be keeping their guns clean and well-maintained. Who knows what airborne stuff gets into a gun on a belt holster as well? I check my pocket guns prior to putting it in my pocket holster in the morning and when I take it out again...to insure they are lint-free. I clean them regularly. I wash my pants now and then also
Jack

Jack

 

[tinygnat219]

El Tejon,

Sorry, I have to seriously disagree with your call to stop Pocket Carry. I think you are basing all pocket carriers off of the cop that managed to shoot himself. The way in which he did pocket carry led to the ND.
Here's what needs to be done / considered for pocket carry:

• Get a good, quality Holster that protects and covers the trigger.
• Do not carry keys in the same pocket.
• Do not carry reloads in the same pocket
• Do not carry ANYTHING else in the same pocket that you carry your firearm in
  • Take the gun out of the holster on a daily basis and inspect for lint or other obstructions
  • Field strip the gun at least once a week to ensure no more dirt / grit / lint has gotten in the gun.
  • Remember the 4 rules and practice them.
  • Practice your draw stroke.

 

[Noxx]

Okay, who makes a .45 that can be pocketed?

Depends on your pockets. I can put a 1911 in the hip pocket of my golf shorts and not get made.

 

[GaryL]

I know some people don't like safeties, but it only takes a little practice to get good at - and in the natural habit of - flicking off a safety while pulling out a firearm.

 

[Roswell 1847]

Roswell:
Excellent points

Thanks I hope these little stories about the many out of the ordinary experiances I've had in repairing or refurbishing abused firearms will prevent damage and accidents in the future.

If for some reason you feel the need to pocket carry a small auto pistol.
A good substitute for a pocket holster is the common soft eyeglasses case.
Just pick out the stitching far enough that the triggerguard and handle don't prevent the muzzle of the gun from reaching the bottom.
Generally the case will cover the entire slide of a pocket auto preventing pocket debris from fouling the hammer or getting into any openings around the trigger or ejection port, and hopefully prevent the safety from being disengaged by accident if you carry with one up the pipe.
The broad rectangular shape of the case helps it remain oriented in the pocket, and if the gun is light in weight the pocket clip will prevent it from sliding deep in the pocket so if theres anything else in the pocket at the bottom it won't come in contact. That only goes for the sturdy spring steel enforced pocket clip, not the plastic clips which break easily.
Smallest pocket autos will ride with the butt just below the top seam of the pocket this way.

Not as good as a purpose made pocket holster but handy and more secure than it sounds, at least with blue jeans.

 

[Werewolf]

The gun was Weida's personal firearm and not department issue, police said. He was carrying it in his front pocket when it fired.
"When he reached in to his pocket to pull out his key ring it became entangled in the trigger of the pistol and it discharged," Sgt. Paul Thompson said in a written statement.

The problem isn't pocket carry it's the guy doing it. Pure unadulterated STUPIDITY! :banghead:

1. Need a holster
2. Nothing goes in the pocket but the holstered gun
3. A .45 ACP in a pocket

 

[jrou111]

Carrying an unholstered pistol in your pocket with keys is about as smart as running the belt through the trigger guard.

 

[fletcher]

running the belt through the trigger guard.

Talk about retention

 

[silverking]

I know I'll feel a lot more comfortable when my Mika pocket holster gets here. I often pocket carry my S&W 642 in my riding vest. It's in the inside weak side pocket. This allows for a cross draw configuration and the pocket has a snap closure to keep the snubby in a pretty tight position(muzzle facing aft). I'll still feel better knowing the holstered gun is more secure. Maybe I won't be able to snap close the pocket with the holster. If that's the case, I have to find another way to carry while riding. At any rate, when I pocket carry, the snubby is a loner in that pocket.

 

[SEMO Shooter]

A soft side holster is not sufficient for pocket carry. With a softside holster if something pokes against your pants and soft side holster into the trigger guard it can go boom in your pocket. I personally know someone that had this happen with an Uncle Mike's pocket holster. Buy a leather holster with sufficient trigger protection.

 

[Clipper]

Any ***hole who would pocket carry:
A) Without a holster, &
B) With ANYTHING else in the same pocket,
...Deserves whatever happens to his dumb ***!

I sure as hell am not gonna stop pocket carrying because some idiot shot himself by being felony stupid, and the fact that he's a LEO only proves the old addage that 'owning a hammer don't make you a carpenter, boy...'

 

[Snarlingiron]

My family was in the Jewelry business when I was growing up, and handguns were a common thing in our family. My brother one afternoon placed a 1911 in his front slacks pocket (he is a big boy, 6'3" 280 pounds) while taking a break during the busy Christmas season, and sat down. The pistol was cocked and had a round chambered. He shifted his weight and something triggered it. Who knows, keys, whatever. The round entered his upper thigh, and exited just above his knee cap. He recovered with no serious permanant damage.

I say this just to demonstrate that I have witnessed the danger of IMPROPER pocket carry first hand. With all that said, I carry a Glock 26 with a round in the chamber, in a DeSantis Nemisis pocket holster almost daily (dress requirements for work and the weather often do not permit anything else). I never, and I mean never put anything in that pocket except the holstered pistol.

Now, I will readily admit it is not quick to deploy, but it is still better than not having it at all. When dress permits (most weekends) I do carry with a proper holster and belt.

 

[rcmodel]

There is nothing inherently dangerous with pocket carry if you use a pocket holster.

However, if you stick a Glock in your pocket without a holster, along with your car keys, like this idiot probably did, you may shoot yourself or someone else.

We had a local cop shoot himself in the leg with a S&W snub-nose revolver while absentmindedly playing with it in his pocket a few years ago!

There are just some folks who shouldn't be allowed around loaded guns!


rcmodel

 

[Kevin108]

I occasionally pocket carry my Raven but when I do, it's the only think in that particular pocket and it's always in a cargo pocket down near my knee.

I have a buddy at work that pocket carried a small revolver. One day at the range he pulled it out of his pocket and the trigger was determined not to pull. He inspected it and a penny had wedged under the trigger preventing rearward travel. I'm glad he figure out the possibility of that happening with his gun before he really needed it!

 

[LiquidTension]

Nothing goes in my gun pocket except the 642 and the holster. No change, no keys, nothing.

 

[dastardly-D]

Pocket carry

If you decide to carry a weapon in your pocket-never-never-ever carry anything else but a weapon in that pocket.If you have 10 pocketsfull of junk to carry around,get in the habit of putting it anywhere but your weapon pocket.Keep this embedded in your brain that the only thing in your weapon pocket......is a weapon ! Much less chance of some kind of accident happening also.........Thanks for the rant.:banghead: -D

 

[Sistema1927]

"Some idiots are beyond proof" and "Make something idiot proof and somebody will build a better idiot" both come to mind.

I pocket carry a Kahr PM9 in a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster every day, but I follow some common sense rules:

1) Nothing but the pistol with holster goes in that pocket.
2) The pistol is cleaned and inspected each and every week.
3) Carry ammo is replaced regularly.

Firearms are safe if safely used.

 

[phaed]

Stop doing this

thanks, but i'll make my own decisions, thank you.

there are safe ways to pocket carry.

 

[Old Fuff]

there are safe ways to pocket carry.

You bet there are, and maybe someday somebody will let me have bullets...

It can be said that an unloaded gun is a safe one...

Maybe useless, but completely safe...

Some folks should try it.

thanks, but i'll make my own decisions, thank you.

Well if you say so...

 

[jrfoxx]

The only way to pocket carry is with a proper pocket holster.

Agreed.Also, IMHO, only a moron would carry anything else in the pocket with the gun.Put your "crap" in another pocket, you have several to choose from.Never seen any pair of pants with only 1 pocket.Seems like common sense, but.....

Okay, who makes a .45 that can be pocketed?

I'll be the Para Ordinance "Hawg" series could easily be pocket carried.They are pretty darn small and light.

 

[Daemon688]

Why anyone would want to carry without a holster to cover the trigger is beyond me....

 

[rdrancher]

Sorry if this is an old or previous post, but you should check out this youtube video on a certain pocket carrier and how careless he was

WARNING: May not be suitable for some viewers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xr1t...eature=related

I saw that video last night for the first time. Even though his buddies were telling him "not a good idea" he still did and paid the price.

Just goes to show - You can't help the helpless.

I carry a 642 in a pocket holster everyday. Nothing else goes in that pocket...EVER!

RD

 

[Soybomb]

Would you call someone that shot their crotch off carrying mexican an example of the dangers of IWB carry? Of course not, you'd call them dumb for not using a holster. Its dangerous to carry guns in an unsafe fashion. That can be mexican carry or a pocket gun with no holster and junk in your pocket. Carry your guns properly and you'll be fine no matter if they're in your pocket or in your waist band.

 

[Geronimo45]

It is dangerous to you and others around you and it is slow to action.

Can o' worms hereby opened fer sure.

I knew when I first pocket-carried not to let anything else be in that pocket. Keys for sure. Spare change when I noticed a coppery scuff on the finish. Only the gun, holster, and lint go in that pocket nowadays.