What's Your Pick for POCKET CARRY??

[vettekiller]

It's nice to see so many pocket carry because on another nameless site it seems everyone carry's using an IWB holster and are hauling around a full size heavy service pistol and to a man they all claim it's super comfortable....
Sure.
I tried inside the waist carry and frankly hated it.
.

I agree here. its probably why so many permit holders don't carry. I had a custom kydex IWB holster made by Theis. Its nice, about as good as it gets. standing or walking with it isn't bad at all but sitting, crouching, working..etc. there no getting around the discomfort of a hunk of metal between your hip and belt. now i carry the little pocket gun every day and forget its there.

 

[mdauben]

It's nice to see so many pocket carry because on another nameless site it seems everyone carry's using an IWB holster and are hauling around a full size heavy service pistol and to a man they all claim it's super comfortable....
Sure.
I tried inside the waist carry and frankly hated it.

I think it really comes down to individual preferences and body types. I've carried my "full size" Glock 17 and my 4-inch S&W 686 in IWB holsters all day without particular discomfort. Yes, my usual carry guns (Glock 36 and 2.5-inch S&W 386) are a bit easier to carry, but not because they are more comfortable. Indeed, I scratch my head when people say they are looking at subcompact .380ACP pistols, becuase they can't carry a Glock 26 all day.

Now, I'll qualify that by stating that I am a large individual, and being an office worker I don't engage in a lot of crouching, kneeling, crawling or whatever on a daily basis. Normal standing and sitting, though, I just haven't experienced that much problem with "comfort" when carrying a gun IWB.

YMMV.

 

[NapalmMan67]

SOG Flash Tanto in my jeans pocket.


I can't figure out how to carry a pistol in my pants pocket and have easy/quick access. I hate loose fitting dungarees and don't wear dress/casual pants to work.

So, OWB with a loose overshirt carry for me.


.

 

[Nalapombu]

I used to carry a Glock 19 in both an IWB and OWB holster and found the OWB to be much more comfortable. I didn't mind carrying it and thought it would be a manageable weight for all day carry if I had to.
I've also carried my full size and Commander sized 1911's and felt far different about that. They are heavy, as if you all didn't know, and hard to carry for me. I had a heavy belt with the nylon insert and a good holster and I found myself constantly reaching down to pull up my pants or adjust my waistband or holster to get it comfortable. Sure I could've cinched my belt down to keep everything in place, but then my belt would be so tight as to be uncomfortable. If it were my only option, I would live with it, but carrying a full size, STEEL 1911 day in and day out, ALL DAY, is just not something I want to do very often.

The quote above about how other sites talk about how great it is to carry a 1911 every day and that there's nothing to it and it's a walk in the park, reminds me of a story I read in one of the Gun Rags a few years ago.

The guy that hosts a couple different TV shows on guns, Michael Bane, was telling a story about how he was at an NRA show or SHOT or some other type of gathering where a large group of the well known gun magazine writers and contributors were in attendance. He talked about how all of them tell about how they carry a full size 1911 everywhere they go and that they'd feel naked without one and they encourage others to adopt the 1911 for carry use and that no other platform is even worthy of discussion over the 1911. They apparently had the same message out at this gathering about the 1911 and how it is the end all, be all to handguns and carrying concealed.
Well after a few days he had a chance to go out to dinner with a group of these guys and naturally the topic of guns came up. He said he went around the table and asked what each of them were carrying and almost ALL of them had a J-Frame.

Thanks for the info everyone.

Nalajr

 

[Rexster]

Not all pockets are created equal, nor are all fabrics or pants equally supportive, so I have Kramer pocket holsters for the Ruger SP101, S&W J-snub, and Seecamp LWS. I also have left and right Del Fatti pocket holsters to fit the Seecamp.

I tried the Glock G27 in large pockets when I was carrying G22 duty pistols ten to twelve years ago, with a quite well-made but now-forgotten brand of kydex pocket rig. I rather quickly returned to using spurless revolvers, as the bulging rear of the Glock slide, necessary to contain the striker mechanism, complicated the smoothness of the draw, and if there is anytime a draw needs to be smooth and unimpeded, it is while drawing from a pocket during a real-life emergency.

For me, except for inside the home, a pocket gun is almost always a secondary or tertiary weapon; "primary" has long been at 0300, at belt level. If a close-range fight starts without warning, drawing from a pocket can be problematic if one is bent at the hips or waist.

 

[camper]

Khar P380, or Ruger LCR or LCRx. Around the house, many times just an NAA PUG or Sidewinder in 22 mag.

 

[ArkieVol]

S&W 640 or 642, both 38 spl., in DeSantis pocket holster.

 

[jigglyjames29]

I wear slim pants and the only thing I could comfortable fit in my pocket is a NAA pug.

 

[psp7304]

S&W 442 and Kahr CM9. The 442 hasn't come out of the safe much since I got the CM9.

 

[HellTrain]

Glock 42 .380

 

[whughett]

I went with a Ruger LCP for the simple fact that it's small in all dimensions, particularly thickness. I like the pistol overall after putting 100rds through it. Next, I'm going to pick up one of these:


To carry like this:

I like that concept but wonder if, in time it is going to imprint, ie: you can spot snuff users by the little round imprint on their jeans pocket. The shape would be unmistakeable.

 

[dbp]

No printing with this outfit. The flat side goes out, not the gun side. If there is any outline it would be a vague rectangular shape. Could be anything.

 

[heeler]

I don't have any doubts that an OWB holster is probably the best of all worlds as far as ease of carry,comfort,and getting off a reasonably fast draw.
However saying that a great many of use have to contend with state laws such as Texas that concealed carry means concealed.
If we ever go to open carry I will order me an OWB as fast as I can.
Although I really don't care to walk around in public with on openly carried firearm there is a such things as shirts that are not meant to be tucked in which works great with an OWB holster.
So for now it's pocket carry pretty much exclusively for comfort.
As far as drawing in an emergency I have always wondered just how much faster or slower an IWB tuckable holster vs a pocket carried pistol would really be.
It would seem to me a lot of time being used up trying to get that shirt out of the way to get a grip on the pistol.
But I don't really know as I am just speculating.

 

[AKElroy]

However saying that a great many of use have to contend with state laws such as Texas that concealed carry means concealed.
If we ever go to open carry I will order me an OWB as fast as I can.

I've carried in texas many years. In an OWB. untucked tshirt is all I need.

 

[easyg]

Ruger LCP for me...

 

[SEE IT LIKE A NATIVE]

I often pocket carry a Ruger Lcr in a "sticky " holster ! sometimes I almost forget it is there ! Kevin

 

[golden]

Carry in my pocket every day

I have been using the pocket carry for the last 6 years and started with a CHARTER ARMS Undercover .38 Special or S&W model 49 Bodyguard.

I found that I prefer semi-automatics as that is what I carry on duty and they are easier for me to conceal.

Smallest normal carry is a BERETTA Tomcat in .32ACP. Easy to forget it is even there. Light, good trigger, useable grip length, reliable and the tip-up barrel is a real bonus for handling a small gun.

If clothes permit, I usually carry a WALTHER PPK in .32ACP. It is completely reliable, more accurate than I had expected and the trigger on this pre-war example is not bad. It is much better than the INTERARMS models which really are rough.
If I get an opportunity to fire a .380ACP PPK, I may switch up, but for now, I am quite pleased with it. I can shoot the standard qualification drill that I use with the .40 S&W H&K P2000 that I am issued.

Last of my usual carry pocket guns is a .380ACP SIG 232. It has the best trigger, grip ergonomics and night sights. The only down side is that it is bulkier than the PPK and harder to hide in anything but cargo pants.

Every once and a while, I carry a NORTH AMERICAN ARMS .32ACP Guardian, which is as small as a .25ACP pistol. The problem is that it is much harder to shoot than the BERETTA Tomcat which weighs about the same, holds more rounds and is safer to handle due to the tip-up barrel. I can carry this when nothing else will go unnoticed, but I do not enjoy shooting it.

Jim

 

[Big_John1961]

If and when I do pocket carry, SEECAMP!

 

[MCgunner]

Pocket carry when ever I have cloths on.

Lately I carry a Taurus M85SSUL I bought new in 1996 when I got my permit. 17 ounces of .38 +P and she hits where she looks.

I have a NAA Black Widow in .22 magnum for Sunday wear. It's like it isn't there, but it is.

 

[Willie Sutton]

J Frame Airweight snubbie, .38 of course.

Keltec .380

Seecamp .32 ACP


All depends on what pants I wear.

They are listed in my order of preference. I only step down if I can't carry the one above.


Poor Seecamp... it sits alone most of the time..


Willie

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[Sistema1927]

Until I recently lost 100 lbs. I found that pocket carry was the only way to comfortably carry. With the weight loss I find myself carrying IWB most of the time. However, there are times when I still pocket carry.

That said, some of you must have larger pockets than me, since I cannot conceive carrying either my Glock 26 or Springfield XDs in my pockets. These are the pistols that I normally carry IWB now. The weapon most of the time in my pocket holster is a Kahr PM9 w/ CT. When I need something smaller, such as while wearing a thin suit, it is a KT P32. Both of these pistols carry very well in the Desantis Pocket-Tuk.

 

[mnhntr]

LCR

 

[792mauser]

Colt 1951 detective special, '69 .38 spl j frame, or a 3.5" 1911 here normally.

 

[jimbo555]

S&W Model 37 airweight, for pocket carry. Revolvers present faster for me than small autos from the pocket.

 

[KenW.]

I can't figure out how to carry a pistol in my pants pocket and have easy/quick access. I hate loose fitting dungarees and don't wear dress/casual pants to work.

Someone fairly famous once said; "Carry a gun is supposed to be comforting, not comfortable". I pocket carry the J-Frame and LCR quite comfortably and easily. Obviously though, I do not wear slim or tight pants. Give me relaxed fit Levis or slacks any day.