I was pocket carrying my S&W 442 in a Nemisis holster the other day (which I have done infrequently before) and discovered I had created a sizable hole in the pocket of my jeans.
The 442 isn't very heavy, but the material that most pockets are made out of is pretty thin and apparently, weak.
I'm looking at reinforcing all my pockets before I pocket carry again.
At least it didn't rip all the way out and send my gun skidding accross the floor.
This, along with masking the print and placing the gun in one spot and not letting it flop around are all reasons for a pocket holster. The weight of a revolver baring down on the muzzle in a pocket WILL wear holes. If it's in a pocket holster that distributes the weight across the bottom of the pocket, that will not happen.
My usual work "uniform", and normal street dress for me, is a long sleeved dress shirt with necktie and slacks, so a belt holster is not an option. (Haven't gotten around to trying a tuckable IWB yet.) I wear khakis (Dockers, Land's End, etc.) or slacks that are sized to fit a bit loosely, and that have a pleated front. This pistol/holster/pants combination will print slightly, but is not recognizable as a pistol. In a more casual environment, I wear convertible hiking pants with cargo pockets. The pistol does not print at all in them.
Early on, I bought a Mitch Rosen Workman tuckable. It is quite comfortable for all day carry and works very well. However, I still find pocket carry more comfortable for my needs. But, my needs involve hot, hot weather, sweating a lot, rolling around under tractors for a living, not IWB friendly. I don't carry much IWB anymore, but the Workman rig is an option.
Of you Kel Tec folks, did you have reliability issues?
Mine's an early production P11 that I got some 10 years ago. I've put over 10K round through it in that time, put about 100 rounds a month out of it average, some months more, some months less, but at any rate there are a lots of rounds though that gun and it's been flawless. I trust the gun as much as any of my revolvers. I KNOW it's going to go bang when I squeeze the trigger and cycle perfectly. It's not even very picky about loads, bullet ogive, that sort of thing. I've never fluffed nothin', but my pillow at night. If you were near me, I'd be glad to let you fire it. It's a lot of firepower for a pocket and in a major caliber.
I have considered buying a P3AT just because those things are so tiny. Amazing they can put a .380 in such a small package. Most everyone that has one seems to like it. I have an old Grendel P12 that works fine, though, and I think makes a better back pocket gun cause of the heel clip magazine release. I made a wallet for it, looks like a wallet in a hip pocket and is less restrictive than my P11 as far as mode of dress. I can't pocket the P11 in "normal" jeans, but I buy carpenter's jeans or Wrangler Cargo Jeans (big front pockets) anymore. They work fine with the P11 and I really like +Ps at 410 ft lbs out of that gun, the power of a snubby .357 with much less flash, bang, recoil. .380 is fine, but I have more confidence in the 9. Besides, the P11 is quite a bit more accurate than my Grendel and I suspect a P3AT. I can put 5 of my carry rounds to POA in a 3.5" group. That's acceptable for a service sized gun and pretty danged decent out of a subcompact, on par with a snubby J frame which I've found can also be incredibly accurate.
I never polished anything on my P11, but after a few thousand rounds, the trigger became incredibly smooth, smoother than any revolver I've ever shot regardless of brand or even some with action jobs. Think about it, no cylinder to turn. All that trigger has to do is draw the internal hammer back and release it. There's far fewer working parts and functions to the trigger on the P11 compared to a J frame so it stands to reason the action is much smoother. It is LONG, of course, and some don't like that. But, it makes the gun very safe to carry in a pocket condition one and I have become quite used to it, shoot it very well. My gun has the old 10 lb spring in it, on par with a really good revolver for weight. the newer guns are lighter with the 8.5 lbs spring in 'em. I've never really considered putting the 8.5 lbs spring in mine, though I understand Kel Tec will upgrade it for free.
That's another thing about Kel Tec, the consumer service is second to none in the industry. So, if you get a lemon, it ain't as bad as if you get a lemon of some other brand. KT will make it right for you if they have to replace the whole gun. I've never had to use KTs service, though, just going on what hear and read. I did call 'em a while back, asking about the recoil spring, whether I should replace it considering the round count. They said "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" so I took their advise.
