Thin, small guy wants to pocket carry and can't make a decision

[ashtxsniper]

I can carry my Kahr P40 in the front pocket of wrangler boot cut jeans. Sometimes its a tad bit uncomfortable but not to bad.

 

[jackstinson]

I'm in Ohio. I normally wear Levi's regular cut jeans everywhere and carry a Kel-Tec P3AT in the front right pocket using a DeSantis Nemesis holster. It shows a "bump" in the pocket, but doesn't have a neon sign saying "GUN!". Funny thing is, when I was in the CCW class, 3 of the 4 instructors carried a P3AT in the Nemesis holster also, the fourth liked snub revolvers.
When I first began carrying, I thought everyone saw the gun. They don't. Most people do not pay that close of attention to things. Concealed is normally interpreted to mean reasonably concealed, not totally hidden from all scrutiny. A "pocket bump" is concealed, the gun is not in plain sight. In summer, I sometimes carry a little .32acp derringer or one of my various .22, .25, or .32 pocket guns. But the P3AT is as small as most of these and more potent (no it's not a 1911). In Winter, I do at times carry a 9mm S&W 6946 in my coat pocket in a modified nylon holster.
Someone mentioned that you will want a holster. Actually, you will NEED a holster, Ohio law requires it for concealed carry.
Jack

 

[BamaHoosier]

Okay,here come the guffaws and snickers,but my pocket gun is a Beretta Bobcat(model 21) with a simple fabric holster with no clip.It prints somewhat in my jeans pocket(yes,they're relaxed-fit for my circulation),but not at all in my Duckhead khakis.A 22LR hollowpoint is just as deadly upclose! Many a deer have fallen with this round and look how big some of them are!

Anymore,I CC a .357/.38 wheelie on the hip at 3 o'clock position,with a pair of speedloaders at 10 o'clock.Doesn't print under most of my coats and vests,but the bottom fourth of the holster sometimes pokes out to breathe.I try to get those garments a tad long when I can to avoid that.Now that I've made some of you laugh,time to go get the wife for lunch.Back later.
~Dave

 

[doc2rn]

If you are not going to change your dressing habbits you need to look at ankle carry or OWB.

 

[jt1]

TyRip - As has been said here already, What you see as a huge and obvious gun printing in your pocket will, in almost every case not even be noticed by the average person. As you can see I like the j-frame, 442/642 airweights, but any gun of similar size can be concealed, the more important issue is weight. Decide on auto or revolver and then caliber ( .38 special/9mm is the minimum IMO) then take a hard look at weight, for me anything over 20 oz. or so is too heavy for pocket carry, but ok for smartcarry. Don't forget to add ammo weight.

Nemesis/Mika. The Mika is the best available IMO.



The smartcarry really does work, while it is a bit slower than the Mika, this setup just disappears...

 

[searcher451]

+1 on Mika pocket holsters. He's a great guy to deal with, is wonderfully accommodating, and a real gentleman to boot. And his holsters offer top-notch quality. I use one with a Walther PPK/S from time to time in pocket carry mode with Dockers, and it's quite functional.

 

[DawgFvr]

+2 on both the Mika pocket holster and the S&W 642.

 

[Mainsail]

Man, what a PITA. Ohio? Carry OWB on your belt with a loose shirt to cover. If it gets too hot take the shirt off and carry openly.

Problem solved.

 

[harbingerm]

Another vote for the PM9. I'm 5'7" and 150 lbs, give or take, so I'm not that big. I pocket carry it on the right with two spare mags in my left pocket. It does and WILL print, but anything will print in a front pocket, especially sitting down. However, due to the holster, it does NOT look like a gun. More like a large cell phone or PDA. I know it's against the "no other stuff in the pocket rules", but if I'm wearing thin dress slacks, I'll either throw my keys or a small wadded up piece of cloth in the lower right corner (looking down) of the pocket to break up the outline further. There's no way for anything to get in the completely covered trigger guard.

 

[camsdaddy]

I am about the same size and I have to where dress pants and tucked shirts daily. I have found that the best all around all the pistol for me is a p32. I have found it doesnt just dissapear but no one really notices. I carry in my weakside pocket so that it is always in the same spot if it is being used primary or bug. I also feel that I will probaly be using my strong hand to push away or grab while I try to get away and then my left will be used to add a little suprise punch. I may carry a larger gun in my pocket one day but for know my P32 works great

 

[Ala Dan]

'proly something like a 1-1/8" barrel North American Arms .22 magnum
would work best, if you are not willing too change your dress criteria~!

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

As has been said here already, What you see as a huge and obvious gun printing in your pocket will, in almost every case not even be noticed by the average person.

A good point. Instead of having no hint of any kind of object in your pocket, think instead in terms of being unobtrusive. The times I went to busy shopping malls, etc. with a Glock 27 in my pocket, no one noticed, although even in an Uncle Mike's pocket holster it resembled a thick paperback book.

 

[TyRip]

jt1,

I am thinking your smart carry setup is where it's at for me.

I am concerned about concealability and reliability, and having a backup/New York reload of S&W revolvers carried in a smartcarry or thunderwear seems like it would be just about impossible to beat.

Thanks for the inspiration, I think that is what I will be carrying, except maybe the main weapon will be the 642 with the factory CT grips.

 

[AndrewGWU]

I am a small framed thin guy as well, I wear the same sized jeans, 31x32. The only wardobe change I have had to make to carry a Taurus Mil Pro IWB is to by 32x32 pants. I have found that I can still carry with some of my 31x32s as well. The trick for me was figuring out where to put the holster (wound up at 4 oclock) and having a good holster and belt.

 

[tegemu]

When you decide to carry concealed, you should make up your mind to make your wardrobe fit your gun, not the gun fit your wardrobe.

 

[FranklyTodd]

When you decide to carry concealed, you should make up your mind to make your wardrobe fit your gun, not the gun fit your wardrobe.

Yeah, I understand this point, but it's not always that easy. People have jobs where they have to wear certain clothes, etc., or certain environments where being made has bigger consequences than others.

If your "jeans are too tight" and that's it, then I agree: suck it up and buy different jeans, but to say that you pick your gun first, then make it work, is easier said than done.

I often see new CCW guys over-arming themselves without sufficient consideration of the carry issues they will face. I started my CCW with a Glock 27, and soon found that I only carried it 50% of the time because of its size and weight. I switched to a 5-shot j-frame .357 and pocket carry. Obviously one is better armed with 10 shots of .40cal. However, a j-frame 99% of the time beats the stars out of a Glock 27 (or ANY other handgun) 50% of the time. There are situations/weather/clothes that cause/allow me to opt for more firepower on a given day, but the j-frame is my EDC.

So, it's all compromise. Some guys choose a Kel-Tec P32 for it's power vs. carryability, and some choose a full size 10mm after working through the same considerations. Obviously there's 1000s of other choices out there that are somewhere in-between. Nobody is wrong because they reach a different conclusion than I would reach.

Everyone needs to decide for themselves what they are willing to put up with as a carry burden, versus the inevitable downside of an easy-to-carry gun. If you are not carrying at all today, then tomorrow you are carrying a .32 or .380, you've improved your capacity for self-defense...

 

[brentfoto]

I apologize but I've not had the time to read this thread. When I carry, I only carry one gun.

But I exclusively pocket carry using a Mika Pocket Holster for the J-frame, or a DeSantis Nemesis or SuperFly. I carry the J-frame the most.

For my Bersa Thunder 380, I can also accomplish it with a DeSantis Nemesis, though it's slightly large with certain jeans but you can still do it.

I rate the Bianchi Pocket Change very highly, too. Just got my first one yesterday for a Kahr, but I was able to slip my BT380 into it. It's a surprisingly nice pocket holster, and more sturdy than depicted on website manufacturer photographs. I'd rate it equal to the Nemesis or may even prefer it.

I haven't had to alter or change any of my clothing thus far. I really don't think that it's necessary-YMMV. I'm a believer that the gun should suit the clothing and not the other way around...

IMHO, nothing tops pocket carry. Without taking into consideration other factors, the J-frame Smiths are best for pocket carry out of the three guns that I've mentioned.

I'd try pocket holster first before considering SmartCarry or similar, like ThunderWear, whatever. You may find it cumbersome and not worth it to have gun pointing at your privates, etc. I don't find it necessary. JMHO.

 

[TyRip]

Update

It's a done deal for now...

Well, I have had it for a little while, but I just got my concealed handgun license a couple weeks ago, and here is my pocket carry (some of it, at least. I cram a lot of stuff into my pockets). Thanks for the help. I love the 638 and how convenient it is, how little it prints in the Nemesis, it is great.

 

[PMK]

check out the bersa thunder in 380. It is hard to beat the vertues.