Pocket Revolvers

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ckpj99

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So I'm a die hard revolver fan, but I often find that I can't CC on my belt because during the summer my clothes don't allow it. Another issue is family parties. My family is full of a bunch of hippies (hippies who I love, but hippies nonetheless). This means two things. There are lots of hugs, and they would freak out if the felt a gun on hip.

So the other day, I decided I wanted a pocket gun/mouse gun of some type. I don't know about you all, but j-frames aren't really pocket guns in my opinion. I have to cram them in there. They are a tight fit. Sitting down creates a massive gun shaped lump on my leg unless I use an even bigger pocket holster.

I ended up buying a Kel-Tec P-3AT. I'm not in love with it, but it will do until something else comes along.

So is there a revolver out there that is smaller than a J-frame. I suppose the LCR is a bit smaller, but the dang grips are so fat. There's a store in town with a 2" Model 30 listed on Armslist that I thought might fit the bill, but I've never even seen an I-frame in real life, and there's obviously the caliber concern.

I know that Taurus is making some pretty small stuff, but I'm not a huge fan of the brand.

So what the solution, a NAA mini single action? I think the Ruger Bearcat could be cut down into something small enough. Maybe there's something I'm forgetting. Let me know what you think.
 
You can always go for something like an old H&R "Young America" DA revolver in .32.

Those things are pretty small.
 
There really isnt anything "normal" that is smaller than the J frame/LCR. If you truly are committed to pocket carry, as I am, a small autoloader is a better "fit". I wanted a revolver to work, and I tried, I really did, but I settled on a Kel-Tec P32. Its very small, shoots reliably, and you can control it, unlike the same size .380s. It locks open on an empty magazine(the P3-AT and LCP do not) and it carries an extra round over the 380s.

If you simply cant deal with an autoloader, how about your revolver in an ankle holster? Or maybe Thunderwear ? The fact you mention the posibility of hugging a relative, kind of rules out the Belly Band and shoulder band concealment style holsters.
 
Well, 50% of this equation is the gun. The other 50% is the pocket.

I carry a J-frame no problem in the cargo pocket of many of my summer shorts. If you're a die-hard jeans fan, I can see your problem, but it would be mitigated significantly with just a little fashion choice. Is this an option for you? I see baggy, voluminous shorts all the time here in Phoenix, and elsewhere. Would this be a major change in your lifestyle, to the point where your family and friends would "call you" on it?
 
So I'm a die hard revolver fan, but I often find that I can't CC on my belt because during the summer my clothes don't allow it. Another issue is family parties. My family is full of a bunch of hippies (hippies who I love, but hippies nonetheless). This means two things. There are lots of hugs, and they would freak out if the felt a gun on hip.

So the other day, I decided I wanted a pocket gun/mouse gun of some type. I don't know about you all, but j-frames aren't really pocket guns in my opinion. I have to cram them in there. They are a tight fit. Sitting down creates a massive gun shaped lump on my leg unless I use an even bigger pocket holster.
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That's funny. I have no problem pocket carrrying a Charter Undercover with Charter's big "Combat" grip.

You just need to adjust your pants. Skinny jeans, little pockets, just won't do. A good pocket holster (I'm thinking of the Mika) will hide that outline well.

is smaller than a J-frame. I suppose the LCR is a bit smaller, but the dang grips are so fat.
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I do recall seeing that someone was making aftermarket wood grips for the LCR now. Putting them on might turn the flyweight LCR into a painful-to-shoot handful.

I know that Taurus is making some pretty small stuff, but I'm not a huge fan of the brand.
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They have a .380 revolver, said to be smaller than their run of the mill snub.

And there's also "The View". Is there a gagging smiley? So not want.

So what the solution, a NAA mini single action?
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Bigger, baggier pants, or a belt clip for your P3AT. (IMHO, YMMV, Genuine Internet Gunboard Advice, worth every penny you paid for it.)
 
Can you in waiste band carry? Appendix area? I appendix carry my lcr, sp101. These guns just disappear. True some don't like it. But may work. I have one of the minis. If you make them your primary, carry two of them and practice. Carry premium ammo and don't dry fire them. Even with the cylinder out. Get them in magnum.
 
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My primary carry is a Model 10 2" in a pancake holster. I can wear it under an untucked button up shirt, and it hides great. I used to carry a j-frame, but I ended up carrying it on my belt because it was too big for a pocket. If I'm going to belt carry, I decided that the slightly bigger k-frame gave too many advantages not to carry. Better trigger, extra shot, etc.

I'm obviously not completely opposed to carrying an auto. When I need to pocket carry, I have the Kel-Tec. It does fine, I just don't love it like I love my revolvers. It's plastic-y and kind of boring and new (I tend to buy older guns).

As for pants, I hate wearing khakis and cargos. I wear jeans that fit properly. I'd rather have a crammed pocket in jeans than wear clothes I'm not comfortable in.

As for a few of the other suggestions, the H&R's I've seen are just as big as j-frames, but I'll check that one out.

Other carry positions are an option, but I'd really like to try to find something that works for pocket carry. I think my options are a small revolver (which may not exist), or a small auto like the Kel-Tec, a Seecamp, a NAA Guardian, maybe a Tomcat.

As for the Barami grip, I find them dangerous. When I carry any gun, the holster is part of the safety of the system. At the very least, I want the trigger covered. Most of the time I'd prefer a thumbstrap. I can't imagine running in drawstring scrubs with a j-frame flopping around inches from my junk. You are a braver person than me (and you were allowed to carry at a hospital!?). When I pocket carry my Kel-Tec, it's in a pocket holster and nothing else goes in that pocket.
 
There's definitely a market for something between a NAA Mini Revolver and a J-Frame. Back in the day S&W had the Model 30 on an I-Frame chambered in 32 S&W Long, but was switched to the J-Frame in its 2nd iteration. Ultimately it was discontinued because modern man got so much tougher in the last 50 years that the 32 S&W Long would simply bounce off him.

I've attached a pic I had posted in another forum on this subject. It seems that there are only a few who believe there is a market for something smaller than a J-Frame in a double action. The one between the J-Frame and NAA 22 Mag is an old H&R Victor double-action revolver in 32 S&W.
 

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Onward - I totally agree. I think Taurus is trying to fill that niche with their View and 380 revolvers. I like the concepts, but I'm (probably unreasonably) bias against Taurus guns and revolvers with polymer parts.

I saw a Model 30 on my local Armslist. It was boxed and in great shape, but cost $600. I heard that i-frames have really bad triggers and weren't made to the same quality standards as other S&W. I've also never seen or handled one in real life.

H&R revolvers are also interesting. I actually have a 929 with a 6" barrel. It has some issues, so I'm a little skeptical of the quality of the steel used in those guns as well. That being said, I'm just looking for a backup gun. It won't have many rounds run through it, maybe two or three cylinders each range visit as opposed to 100+ for some of my other guns.
 
The H&R Victor works well for me as a backup piece. The 2 biggest advantages it has over the NAA Mini's is that it's double-action and it's chambered in a slightly larger caliber that also happens to be centerfire. I've learned that the hammer/firing pin can rest between two cartridge rims so that all 5 chambers can be kept loaded just like the NAA notch in their revolvers.
 
ckpj99 said:
I don't know about you all, but j-frames aren't really pocket guns in my opinion.
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Of course, it depends mostly on the size of your pockets. They aren't universally appropriate.

I've been pocket carrying my S&W 642 in a Mika holster for years. After awhile, it feels unnatural if I don't have it in my right front pocket. In all kinds of social gatherings, no one has ever noticed.
 
There is most definitely a market for a pocket revolver smaller than a "J" frame. I have long said that a revolver chambered in, and scaled to, the .32 ACP cartridge would be an excellent seller.
The Taurus .380 is a step in the right direction, but it is only a conventional revolver with the frame shortened. The Taurus View is a standard sized revolver with minimal barrel and grip frame. The entire gun needs to be scaled down to a smaller cartridge.
 
I get it, I get it. Many people pocket carry j-frames. What I'm saying is that I tried it and don't like it. I'm searching for other options.

I'm not particularly worried about printing, though without the right holster a j-frame will print in my pockets, it more a matter of comfort. I work at a computer for long hours and sitting with that giant hunk of steel is uncomfortable.
 
Bill - I completely agree. I think I'm going to begin to hunt for a nice H&R. As Onward said, they make something that's the right size. Considering it's a backup/low-risk carry option, it doesn't need to stand up to the round count I put my S&Ws through.
 
Here's the odd ball option: Go to Gunbroker. Find an old breaktop S&W or H&R .32 S&W. Buy a box of Magtech ammo for the thing. Slip it in your pocket. My old H&R sends the Magtech 85 grain lead pills out at 700 fps. Not exactly a "knock down" round, but I wouldn't want to stop one. Advertised in the old days as effective at "card table range".
 
S&W makes the BG38. It's not the prettiest, but it's smaller and lighter than a J frame, and .38 +P rated. I wear jeans and it just sort of disappears.
 
I settled for the NAA Black Widow, which is definitely smaller and slimmer than a J-frame, but still large enough to grip firmly, and with a 2" barrel that gets a bit more velocity than the smaller NAAs. It has usable sights and is pretty accurate with a little practice. Best of all, it carries very easily in a pocket, even with a holster. I use a soft holster from Concealment Solutions that was $15 and works great.
 
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