Carry without a holster
- Thread starter DasGuy
- Start date
He must not have found out yet.
Ive been pretty abusive in my handling of the "empty" holsterless Glocks for the specific reason of trying to get the trigger to trip. So far, anything Ive done, short of actually pulling the trigger, has not been able to do so.
Even picking the gun up by the trigger, by hooking my finger around it and lifting has yet to trip it. If you dont get the trigger safety depressed fully, even with heavy pressure on the trigger itself, the trigger will not drop.
Im not saying that it "cant" happen, just like any gun "cant" go off while being holstered, just that I havent found it to be the big, bad, scary thing that you always hear in threads like these. Then again, Ive actually taken the time to try and prove it, and to the extreme, where I have a pretty good idea that most of those who tell you otherwise, probably dont even have a Glock, let alone even have bothered to try it out.
If youre reasonable in your handling and use some common sense (Plaxico wasnt/didnt) then I doubt youre going to have a problem. 99.5% of the time, I do use a holster with mine, but I do on occasion go without the holster as I feel the need.
Kreyzhorse
New member
Do yourself a favor, get a holster, even a cheap IWB holster that covers the trigger. Jamming a semi auto pistol down your pants without the trigger covered is asking for trouble.
Single Six
New member
This is by no means a stealth insult, so don't take it that way, but it just occurred to me: Every criminal I ever arrested that was carrying was not using a holster. Strictly pockets and waistbands for those guys. Me? Well, to each his own, and if it works for you, have at it, but....I'll stick with my IWB, thanks.
+1
Uncle Mikes. Cheapo holster for any model for less than $20. Most smaller carry guns Uncle Mike will holster for you for less than $15.
+1 on this too, BUT, a cheapo is better than none. Don't let the price of a quality holster hold you back. Fork out for a cheap one while you're saving for that Bianchi
Some of the cheaper holsters really arent any better than nothing at all, and in some cases worse, especially when it comes to reholstering, and even carrying with them.
A false sense of security can be just as dangerous as being over confidant. Knowing when your approaching either end of that scale, and staying towards center is the trick.
A false sense of security can be just as dangerous as being over confidant. Knowing when your approaching either end of that scale, and staying towards center is the trick.
I've carried my CZ-75b like that a few times. My IWB holster wasn't here yet. But it was while I was waiting on the new mag release for my Kel Tec PF9 so it was either carry the broken gun that wouldn't hold a mag or the cz without a holster.
I was actually surprised at how well it stayed in place. I had it sitting at about 3-4 oclock on my waist and pulled my galco gunbelt tight over it. Carried it loaded with the hammer cocked and safety on. Carried it for about a week and it never shifted any more than it does in my iwb holsters.
and I have a hard time imagining an event that could flip off the safety while its in place.
Still don't think I'd carry something without a manual safety that way.
I was actually surprised at how well it stayed in place. I had it sitting at about 3-4 oclock on my waist and pulled my galco gunbelt tight over it. Carried it loaded with the hammer cocked and safety on. Carried it for about a week and it never shifted any more than it does in my iwb holsters.
and I have a hard time imagining an event that could flip off the safety while its in place.
Still don't think I'd carry something without a manual safety that way.
Opinions clearly can differ here but I don't think any holster manufactured and sold in stores is worse than nothing at all. A $12 Uncle Mikes is better than stuffing the gun in the waistband. An Uncle Mikes will cover the trigger and keep the gun from sliding out of position too badly (or falling down your pants). It will also protect somewhat against sweat and moisture. The chief drawback to a cheap holster is that they don't last. I'd give an Uncle Mikes a month of daily carry at best before it falls apart. But it IS better than nothing.
Even a decent holster, like the Bianchi model 100 IWB I use will allow a gun to shift once in a while (especially on those of us with body by cheeseburger). It will also wear out. But in years, not weeks. You can get that Bianchi for $50 or so on cheaperthandirt.com (I paid about $70 for mine because I bought it in a gun store. My bad) There are more expensive IWB holsters but that one is a good one for reasonable dough.
Twenty years ago my wife would carry a Colt Mustang .380 Auto. She didn't have a holster but she had a pocket in her purse that fit it perfectly. She carried it loaded, cocked with the safety on. I remember checking it one day before she left, it was loaded, cocked and the safety was on. I checked it the next day and the safety was off. It was still loaded and cocked, and she had never touched it or even opened the pocket it was tucked into.
I thought "Whoa, if she is gonna carry this thing she needs to get a holster specifically designed to carry it"
~ A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. ~
I thought "Whoa, if she is gonna carry this thing she needs to get a holster specifically designed to carry it"
~ A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. ~
IMO, pocket carry without a properly-fitted holster is dangerous and ignorant. Some of you guys do it all the time apparently. I pray I'm never near you when that little pocket puppy barks. You are a danger to yourself and others.
Not only does pocket carry without a holster increase the risk of a unintentional discharge, it can foul up your weapon much quicker than pocket carry with a holster. So, maybe you've carried for "years" in your pocket sans holster. Then one day, the SHTF, you pull out your piece and it misfires because of years and years of being carried in your pocket along with dirt, grime, lint, sand, etc.
A pocket holster keeps the firearm much cleaner and in a much safer position than carrying without one. Period.
Not only does pocket carry without a holster increase the risk of a unintentional discharge, it can foul up your weapon much quicker than pocket carry with a holster. So, maybe you've carried for "years" in your pocket sans holster. Then one day, the SHTF, you pull out your piece and it misfires because of years and years of being carried in your pocket along with dirt, grime, lint, sand, etc.
A pocket holster keeps the firearm much cleaner and in a much safer position than carrying without one. Period.
I take my CCW to the range every Friday and shoot a box of ammo through it then clean it that night... I don't think Dirt, Grime, lint, Sand are a problem. I really enjoy cleaning it so It does get cleaned very well.
I do own a pocket holster but to be honest it is uncomfortable and does not fit in some of my blue jeans. May be getting a different one would help. I will agree that it may be slightly more dangerous to carry in the pocket with out a holster but if you are shooting and cleaning your gun frequently I doubt that your second point of getting grit in the gun really applies.
I am not against pocket holsters I just have never found one I like (I have not looked super hard but have looked some). With the attire I have to wear at work and the amount of sitting and driving I have to do a IWB or a ankle holster are out of the question.
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Bill DeShivs
New member
Carrying without a holster is not ignorant.
Carrying a Glock or SA auto without a holster is ignorant.
There are quite a few guns that are perfectly safe sans holster. Not knowing this is ignorant.
Carrying a Glock or SA auto without a holster is ignorant.
There are quite a few guns that are perfectly safe sans holster. Not knowing this is ignorant.
I read lots of cautions from folks against no holster carry.
Dirt and lint is one. Crap maintenance is the cause, revolvers in ankle holsters never cleaned have jammed up from wool lint from the padding.
A holster is nothing more than a dedicated pocket. In the day, a simple piece of leather folded over and stitched. Still that way today, and if it's cotton material sewed into the pants, it's no different. It's a holster.
People who want to carry change and a chapstick don't put them inside a gun holster, nobody here said it was a good idea with pocket carry. And ANY holster has been shown to still be a problem with safeties getting swiped off or hooking a trigger and discharging. Holsters aren't perfect, ask the guy attempting to remove a service auto from his Serpa jammed with mud. Button wouldn't depress. So much for fail safe.
Murphy will get anyone, assess YOUR risk and live with the decision YOU make. Me, a gun with a safety is a gun with a part that can and will fail. For pocket carry I use DA only, and make sure the trigger isn't capable of being activated except by my finger. Whether I put it in a pocket holster for my pocket depends on how redundant I feel that day. It really depends on the cut of the pants and how active I might be.
There are hundreds of thousands of businessmen who drop a small gun in their pocket every day, for over a hundred years. Doesn't seem to be a major problem compared to traffic accidents.
Dirt and lint is one. Crap maintenance is the cause, revolvers in ankle holsters never cleaned have jammed up from wool lint from the padding.
A holster is nothing more than a dedicated pocket. In the day, a simple piece of leather folded over and stitched. Still that way today, and if it's cotton material sewed into the pants, it's no different. It's a holster.
People who want to carry change and a chapstick don't put them inside a gun holster, nobody here said it was a good idea with pocket carry. And ANY holster has been shown to still be a problem with safeties getting swiped off or hooking a trigger and discharging. Holsters aren't perfect, ask the guy attempting to remove a service auto from his Serpa jammed with mud. Button wouldn't depress. So much for fail safe.
Murphy will get anyone, assess YOUR risk and live with the decision YOU make. Me, a gun with a safety is a gun with a part that can and will fail. For pocket carry I use DA only, and make sure the trigger isn't capable of being activated except by my finger. Whether I put it in a pocket holster for my pocket depends on how redundant I feel that day. It really depends on the cut of the pants and how active I might be.
There are hundreds of thousands of businessmen who drop a small gun in their pocket every day, for over a hundred years. Doesn't seem to be a major problem compared to traffic accidents.