Pocket Carry
- Thread starter rhoffler
- Start date
All pockets are not created equal. In gym trunks you can't beat the LCP (wont pull my pants down) or even a snug jeans pocket. As much as I like my Glock 42 (because it shoots like a real gun) it pulls my trunks. I love my SW642 in a pocket, but needs to be the right pants. Also use Mica pocket holster.
Pocket carrying in the Phoenix area.
I have tried virtually everything. Wasted hundreds of dollars.Here's what I still have.
Go with the LCP for a pistol. Both of mine have been reliable, and the newer models have improved sights and triggers. Superior to the Kel-Tecs, in terms of build quality and reliability, at least in my experience.
Oh and Ruger did NOT get sued by Kel-Tec. The technology is public domain, not patentable.
For a revolver, I recommend the Ruger LCR chambered for .357. Shoot .38s out of it though. It's 17 ounces--still light enough--but comfortable to shoot all .38s. The Smith Airweights kick too hard for me, practice is a pain with them.
While I like my Shield, it is at the margin in terms of weight and size for pocket carry.
I have tried virtually everything. Wasted hundreds of dollars.Here's what I still have.
Go with the LCP for a pistol. Both of mine have been reliable, and the newer models have improved sights and triggers. Superior to the Kel-Tecs, in terms of build quality and reliability, at least in my experience.
Oh and Ruger did NOT get sued by Kel-Tec. The technology is public domain, not patentable.
For a revolver, I recommend the Ruger LCR chambered for .357. Shoot .38s out of it though. It's 17 ounces--still light enough--but comfortable to shoot all .38s. The Smith Airweights kick too hard for me, practice is a pain with them.
While I like my Shield, it is at the margin in terms of weight and size for pocket carry.
lots do not care for taurus, but the tcp 380 is what i carry most of the time.. i also carry sw bg 380 and an old airweight sw bg revolver... the tcp trigger is better than the sw 380 in my opinion... but all 3 are great pocket.. i can carry the beretta nano or the sw shield in my back pocket with long shirt.. not in front pocket...
Been going back and forth on the idea of a pocket pistol myself. I find I don't really need one as long as I'm wearing a belt. If I do get one it will most likely be a Kel-Tec P32. Other than running down to the corner store in my sweats I use a cheap soft leather IWB holster. It's even easier to clip it to my belt than to empty my pocket to put a pistol in. Right now the carry gun is a SAR B6PC in 9mm but soon will be an EAA polymer compact Witness in 10mm. This size pistol is light and small enough to be all day comfortable. If I get a Kel-Tec it can reside in my always empty left pocket as a BUG unless I need it for the rare coffee run in sweats. Then again, they're cheap enough. Maybe I'll just get one for each pair of sweats I have and leave them in the pockets! Anybody know if a Kel-Tec stands up well to going through the wash?
I pocket carry Colt Pony Pocketlite (modified with night sights) or
Beretta Pico. I prefer hammer fired DAO to striker fired. The Pico is a bit lighter and flatter and easier to disassemble for cleaning. The Pony Pocketlite absorbs the Hornady Critical Defense recoil a bit better. I use a DeSantis pocket holster. Pocket carry can include a light jacket rather than just pants.
Beretta Pico. I prefer hammer fired DAO to striker fired. The Pico is a bit lighter and flatter and easier to disassemble for cleaning. The Pony Pocketlite absorbs the Hornady Critical Defense recoil a bit better. I use a DeSantis pocket holster. Pocket carry can include a light jacket rather than just pants.
If at all possible have a cooperative store let you at least dry fire a few different guns, or rent them to see how you interact with them. The for sale forums nationwide are full of small pocket autos that weren't quite the ticket because of some personal preference. Better to discover that early on before the money is plunked down.
There is also another "concept" in acquiring a firearm - observe the masses and do the opposite. In pocket guns the current trend is to carry the smallest. lightest, and cheapest .380 on the market. Is that a valid set of criteria? What do more experienced shooters and carriers prefer? I ask that because they went thru the learning curve and when it came down to their final choices they made different decisions. Overall the larger market of pocket carriers these days are not experienced long term carriers and are still working up the learning curve. A choice of the cheapest, lightest gun might still be valid for any one individual, but the process of figuring that out means we should all get hands on with the final list to see if what we think on paper really works when we pull the trigger.
I'm going to repeat myself about one feature - the last shot hold open. It does make a difference. We can get used to about any trigger, but when you need to reload, or the range or in the Mall, you would rather do it with the slide racked back already and no impediment to the mag catch lining up. It's the exact feature that makes the M16 easier to keep shooting compared to the AK: drop mag, insert new, release firing pin assembly, shoot. Compare that to drop mag, insert against stacking pressure exerted by the top round under the firing pin carrier, rack and chamber round, check to see if mag fell out, shoot.
If you take two guns to the range with ten mags, loaded with one round each, and lay them out on a table, loading and firing them in sequence, the pistol with last shot hold open will be faster, and because there is less stress manipulating the gun, safer, with an incremental increase in accuracy if you shoot against the clock. You simply have more time to line it up because you spent less time racking the slide.
Last shot hold open is a modern, professional grade feature that is used in better guns. If you think you don't need it because your risk assessment says it's not a major issue, fine. It IS an issue in practice, tho, and if your range sessions are made more difficult because you have to rack the slide every time you charge the weapon it may be something to consider. Especially if your grip or handling of the firearm is compromised due to your current status physiologically. Pocket pistols by and large lack a lot of area to grip and usually have minimal slide serrations. If you are going to buy one that doesn't hold open on the last round then expect to get a lot of practice racking it.
When I chose a pocket pistol that was an issue with me, and being accurate with it more important. I bought one with last round hold open and my range time is spent aligning sights, not racking the slide. It makes for a more enjoyable gun overall and one that becomes preferred to shoot. These may sound like subtle points or minor issues in the finesse of firearms handling but they are more often reported as the reasons for why one gun or another is sold, too.
If all you plan to do is load it once and almost never shoot it, your choice, but it's nice to have one that you like to take out for practice and will let you focus on shooting accurately rather than fighting it. Again - the better guns have slide hold opens and there is a good reason to prefer it.
There is also another "concept" in acquiring a firearm - observe the masses and do the opposite. In pocket guns the current trend is to carry the smallest. lightest, and cheapest .380 on the market. Is that a valid set of criteria? What do more experienced shooters and carriers prefer? I ask that because they went thru the learning curve and when it came down to their final choices they made different decisions. Overall the larger market of pocket carriers these days are not experienced long term carriers and are still working up the learning curve. A choice of the cheapest, lightest gun might still be valid for any one individual, but the process of figuring that out means we should all get hands on with the final list to see if what we think on paper really works when we pull the trigger.
I'm going to repeat myself about one feature - the last shot hold open. It does make a difference. We can get used to about any trigger, but when you need to reload, or the range or in the Mall, you would rather do it with the slide racked back already and no impediment to the mag catch lining up. It's the exact feature that makes the M16 easier to keep shooting compared to the AK: drop mag, insert new, release firing pin assembly, shoot. Compare that to drop mag, insert against stacking pressure exerted by the top round under the firing pin carrier, rack and chamber round, check to see if mag fell out, shoot.
If you take two guns to the range with ten mags, loaded with one round each, and lay them out on a table, loading and firing them in sequence, the pistol with last shot hold open will be faster, and because there is less stress manipulating the gun, safer, with an incremental increase in accuracy if you shoot against the clock. You simply have more time to line it up because you spent less time racking the slide.
Last shot hold open is a modern, professional grade feature that is used in better guns. If you think you don't need it because your risk assessment says it's not a major issue, fine. It IS an issue in practice, tho, and if your range sessions are made more difficult because you have to rack the slide every time you charge the weapon it may be something to consider. Especially if your grip or handling of the firearm is compromised due to your current status physiologically. Pocket pistols by and large lack a lot of area to grip and usually have minimal slide serrations. If you are going to buy one that doesn't hold open on the last round then expect to get a lot of practice racking it.
When I chose a pocket pistol that was an issue with me, and being accurate with it more important. I bought one with last round hold open and my range time is spent aligning sights, not racking the slide. It makes for a more enjoyable gun overall and one that becomes preferred to shoot. These may sound like subtle points or minor issues in the finesse of firearms handling but they are more often reported as the reasons for why one gun or another is sold, too.
If all you plan to do is load it once and almost never shoot it, your choice, but it's nice to have one that you like to take out for practice and will let you focus on shooting accurately rather than fighting it. Again - the better guns have slide hold opens and there is a good reason to prefer it.
I've pocket carried the Smith 642 for many years with zero problems. Its extremely fast.
However I picked up the Ruger LC9S Pro. I found I can shoot it better then I can my Beretta though its much smaller.
I don't have any problems shooting my 642 to 15 yards but past that, it cant compete with my LC9S.
Every now and then you find a pistol or revolver that seems to be magic in your hands. The LC9s is just that gun for me.
I was leery of the light striker fired trigger. I stuck it (empty of course) in one of those sticky holsters and tried everything possible to pull the trigger while in the holster, simply not possible.
However its not near as fast to get out as my 642. That may be because I have years and years of practice with the 642, but just a couple months with the Ruger.
Guess we'll have to practice and see what happens.
Neither one print while in the Sticky holster. I do like the idea of 7 rounds vs 5 or 8 with a full mag and one in the chamber.
Plus the extra mags of the little LC9s arnt near as bulking as the speed loaders for the 642.
Whether I make the switch has yet to be determined.
However I picked up the Ruger LC9S Pro. I found I can shoot it better then I can my Beretta though its much smaller.
I don't have any problems shooting my 642 to 15 yards but past that, it cant compete with my LC9S.
Every now and then you find a pistol or revolver that seems to be magic in your hands. The LC9s is just that gun for me.
I was leery of the light striker fired trigger. I stuck it (empty of course) in one of those sticky holsters and tried everything possible to pull the trigger while in the holster, simply not possible.
However its not near as fast to get out as my 642. That may be because I have years and years of practice with the 642, but just a couple months with the Ruger.
Guess we'll have to practice and see what happens.
Neither one print while in the Sticky holster. I do like the idea of 7 rounds vs 5 or 8 with a full mag and one in the chamber.
Plus the extra mags of the little LC9s arnt near as bulking as the speed loaders for the 642.
Whether I make the switch has yet to be determined.