Huntergirl
New member
In the summer time,I pocket carry a 642 more often than not. In the cold winter time, my Colt Defender fits well in my winter coat pocket. Easier to pull than moving my coat outa the way to access a holster. Works for me.
Thoughts On Pocket Carry
- Thread starter Gunmeister
- Start date
My biggest problem with pocket carry is it is virtually impossible to access your weapon with the opposite hand. If I carry in my right pocket, I'd darn well better be able to use my right hand and vice versa or else I'm SOL in terms of drawing my weapon.
Other than that, I can see the advantages of pocket carry. Fortunately, I am never in a situation where I find pocket carry necessary.
Other than that, I can see the advantages of pocket carry. Fortunately, I am never in a situation where I find pocket carry necessary.
Wildalaska
Moderator
You develop a tendency when your hinky meter goes up to turn yourself at an angle so that your left shoulder is presented to the hinky level raiser
WildithinkineednewjerusalemcruisersfolksarelookingatmefunnyAlaska ™
Poseidon28
Moderator
Didn't know anyone had pockets big enough for a Sig P 210...
While any kind of crime can happen anywhere, I feel comfortable that pocket carrying will suit me fine in New England. I don't expect to have to pull at lightning speed. It's more for if some random crazy comes in shooting the place up, I have access to a gun. If someone wants my scooter or my car they can have it, it's insured. If someone wants my money, they can have it. Ten or twenty bucks isn't worth my time or the paperwork at the police department. If they want more, well then they obviously can't be pleased and I'll just go to the other pocket.
Still, I haven't started carrying yet. I may end up choosing a different method. It's going to be a trial and error journey for me in finding the most comfortable combination of gun and holster. Here's to hoping I can make my S&W442 work out!
Still, I haven't started carrying yet. I may end up choosing a different method. It's going to be a trial and error journey for me in finding the most comfortable combination of gun and holster. Here's to hoping I can make my S&W442 work out!
Wildalaska
Moderator
Been actually carrying that primarily for several days, got one of those itches that comes from current events
WildhopefullywilldiedownsoonAlaska ™
I have a pocket carry with me every time I leave the house. To me the pocket carry does not require me to wear bulky clothing, a stylish fanny pack, or a jacket when it is hot outside. I had tried many methods of CC, but once I tried the pocket carry method with my smith revlover I was hooked. Comfortable, ease of use and ready by simply puting your hand in your pocket.
armoredman
New member
Tuarus 850 CIA in weak side front pocket, carpenter's jeans, it diasappears and yet is held right where I need it. Mikas' pocket rig on order, but carrying without it for now. This is a BUG, primary is on strong side IWB. It is nice to haveahand wrapped around it while looking like I om nonchalantly standing with my hands in my pockets, which is, of course why police are very interested in you keeping your hands OUT of your pockets when they are talking to you.
I do practice draw and fire, and from a normal relaxed stance it doesn't take long at all.
I do practice draw and fire, and from a normal relaxed stance it doesn't take long at all.
predecessor
New member
Tactically speaking, the best way to carry in order to be best prepared for the bevy of bad guys who brazenly beset us is to carry with the pistol in our hands. 
Not really legal and not really necessary where I live. Most folks treat each other pretty decent 'round these parts and bad guys pretty much stick to the cities where concealed carry is illegal anyway. The only quick draw I practice is with my USFA Rodeos when I'm CAS. Now if I was living in 1879 or bad guys were dropping civilians left and right in my neighborhood I might go take that combat class in Oregon. 
I love pocket carry, especially during the summer. In the extremely rare event that I will ever need my firearm, I've got it. I don't often hear tales of armed civilians buying it because some guy hi-jacked their car and they could have ended the threat if only they hadn't been pocket carrying -- so I'm good with pocket pistolas for now 
Not really legal and not really necessary where I live. Most folks treat each other pretty decent 'round these parts and bad guys pretty much stick to the cities where concealed carry is illegal anyway. The only quick draw I practice is with my USFA Rodeos when I'm CAS. Now if I was living in 1879 or bad guys were dropping civilians left and right in my neighborhood I might go take that combat class in Oregon. I love pocket carry, especially during the summer. In the extremely rare event that I will ever need my firearm, I've got it. I don't often hear tales of armed civilians buying it because some guy hi-jacked their car and they could have ended the threat if only they hadn't been pocket carrying -- so I'm good with pocket pistolas for now It all depends
Hi All,
I fully agree that a 0.45 in a speed holster is far better than a 0.22 in a pocket.
but if all you can have at the given moment / place is a 0.22 in your pocket, it is far better than having no weapon at all.
That said, IMO the factors that one needs to consider when pocket carrying are:
1. Safety - if there is the most remote chance that a trigger / hammer will snag and cause a discharge, it is obviously no good.
2. Acessibility, if it takes too long to reach and draw, maybe one needs to re-consider.
3. Reliability - If there is anything that may cause the gun not to work reliably, again a re-think is required.
Brgds,
Danny
If all these 3 points have been suitably addressed, any gun in your pocket is far better than none at all.
Hi All,
I fully agree that a 0.45 in a speed holster is far better than a 0.22 in a pocket.
but if all you can have at the given moment / place is a 0.22 in your pocket, it is far better than having no weapon at all.
That said, IMO the factors that one needs to consider when pocket carrying are:
1. Safety - if there is the most remote chance that a trigger / hammer will snag and cause a discharge, it is obviously no good.
2. Acessibility, if it takes too long to reach and draw, maybe one needs to re-consider.
3. Reliability - If there is anything that may cause the gun not to work reliably, again a re-think is required.
Brgds,
Danny
If all these 3 points have been suitably addressed, any gun in your pocket is far better than none at all.
Madcap_Magician
New member
One advantage of pocket carry for those of us who live in cooler climes is that during the 8 months of winter in my state, I can drop my 642 into my outside winter coat pocket. This eliminates one major weakness of this carry method- its difficulty of access while seated, because you can flop the coat into your lap and still have it readily accessible. It also allows you to not just access your firearm inobtrusively, but even to aim and fire it from the pocket. While riding a bus, train, or taxi, for example.
Additionally, it helps during winter when you may have two or more layers on over a belt holster. Maybe that's a foreign concept to those of you in Florida, Arizona, and Texas, but in states where it hits 30 below zero in the dead of winter, it can make a big difference to have a gun readily accessible in your outer layer of clothing.
Additionally, it helps during winter when you may have two or more layers on over a belt holster. Maybe that's a foreign concept to those of you in Florida, Arizona, and Texas, but in states where it hits 30 below zero in the dead of winter, it can make a big difference to have a gun readily accessible in your outer layer of clothing.
Firepower!
New member
Everything is a trade-off. I'd rather carry my NAA .32. If I actually get in a gunfight, I'd wish I had an M4gery.
Is my Kahr PM9 as fast to draw from my pocket as my M1911 from a kydex OWB holster? No. Nor is it as easy to make fast, accurate shots.
But on a hot summer day, the Kahr PM9 in my pocket beats my M1911 locked up in the safe.
Is my Kahr PM9 as fast to draw from my pocket as my M1911 from a kydex OWB holster? No. Nor is it as easy to make fast, accurate shots.
But on a hot summer day, the Kahr PM9 in my pocket beats my M1911 locked up in the safe.
Good points made in this thread.
I love the convenience of pocket carry and most often my method of carry is in fact pocket carry. Either a J-Frame or my trusty P32.
But, depending on the pockets, I could see it being nearly impossible to get to your weapon if you were ambushed as your arms would be doing anything but reaching into your pocket.
I guess it comes back to awareness of your surroundings and having a ready mindset for what could happen.
I love the convenience of pocket carry and most often my method of carry is in fact pocket carry. Either a J-Frame or my trusty P32.
But, depending on the pockets, I could see it being nearly impossible to get to your weapon if you were ambushed as your arms would be doing anything but reaching into your pocket.
I guess it comes back to awareness of your surroundings and having a ready mindset for what could happen.
I carry 50% of the time with the gun in my right rear jeans pocket here on our farm. It's a daily habit. That carry method allows me use of the piece and keeps it pretty much out of my way if I'm on foot. On the tractor or on horseback, I use a conventional 2 1/2" gun belt, for the protection it offers the gun, and the comfort it gives me. I carry on the strong (right) side. It's just fine on horseback but a PITA on the tractor. I've meant to built a cross draw for tractor use...just haven't gotten around to it as yet. The pocket carry is very quick with a SSA type of gun or the shorter Commander length 1911.
The question of accessibility while sitting in an easy chair, the car, or any other type of chair for that matter...is a good one. I personally don't carry around the house as a general rule, but do on the farm as well as occasionally in the car and while far from an expert, it seems to me that a cross draw or shoulder rig is the answer.
The cross draw variety makes your piece accessible to either hand when standing, much the same as the old cavalry butt forward carry type. If positioned on the left side (butt forward) for right-handers, the right hand also has immediate access when seated. Car or couch you'd have the piece in your hand when the need arose. On horseback, however, it would be a PITA, as the butt would be constantly bumping into your elbow as you hold the reins. A cross draw type would be more difficult to hide for CC though. The butt bulge being more prominent.
For combat use, where trenches and the 'low crawl' are a fact of life, a shoulder rig is a better choice. They keep the piece out of the muck for the most part, far better than than any hip mounted rig. I'd would say that in civilian or police use, they're far better at hiding the fact that you're armed when compared with either a conventional or cross draw rig. 39 years ago, a shoulder rig is what I carried flying low altitude recce in the rolling country on the Cambodian border. It kept the Colt out of my way while thrashing around in the cockpit and would not have been a hinderance to a hasty exit, if the need arose. In the Spl Forces camp at night, it was the only way I could carry and not have to clean out the mud from our trenches and fighting bunkers.
JMHO, Rodfac
The question of accessibility while sitting in an easy chair, the car, or any other type of chair for that matter...is a good one. I personally don't carry around the house as a general rule, but do on the farm as well as occasionally in the car and while far from an expert, it seems to me that a cross draw or shoulder rig is the answer.
The cross draw variety makes your piece accessible to either hand when standing, much the same as the old cavalry butt forward carry type. If positioned on the left side (butt forward) for right-handers, the right hand also has immediate access when seated. Car or couch you'd have the piece in your hand when the need arose. On horseback, however, it would be a PITA, as the butt would be constantly bumping into your elbow as you hold the reins. A cross draw type would be more difficult to hide for CC though. The butt bulge being more prominent.
For combat use, where trenches and the 'low crawl' are a fact of life, a shoulder rig is a better choice. They keep the piece out of the muck for the most part, far better than than any hip mounted rig. I'd would say that in civilian or police use, they're far better at hiding the fact that you're armed when compared with either a conventional or cross draw rig. 39 years ago, a shoulder rig is what I carried flying low altitude recce in the rolling country on the Cambodian border. It kept the Colt out of my way while thrashing around in the cockpit and would not have been a hinderance to a hasty exit, if the need arose. In the Spl Forces camp at night, it was the only way I could carry and not have to clean out the mud from our trenches and fighting bunkers.
JMHO, Rodfac
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The reason to carry, in my opinion, is for self protection and preservation. In most instances, you are not going to have a lot of time to figure your tactical moves and flank the troops. You must be able to draw your weapon to the ready, prepared to utilize it. If it comes out, you MUST be ready to shoot.
There are a few defensive handgun courses I need to take but what I have taken thus far always proves that strong side hip carry is the most expeditious means to quick draw your weapon to the ready position. Digging a pea shooter out of your jean or jacket pocket is slow and cumbersome and then there is the lint problem. These little guns are not as tough as a Glock or an H & K, for example. Something like lint in the breech could foul up the works and if the gun is oiled with just a little too much, it becomes a lint magnet.
Of course, the climate and time of year are factors and well appreciated. During hot summer days here in South Florida I utilize a fanny pack and it makes me more vigilant as I fully understand that it may be quicker to pick a pocket shooter out than to breakaway the fanny pack and grab the weapon.
I guess it all boils down to a trade off and what you are most comfortable with.
There are a few defensive handgun courses I need to take but what I have taken thus far always proves that strong side hip carry is the most expeditious means to quick draw your weapon to the ready position. Digging a pea shooter out of your jean or jacket pocket is slow and cumbersome and then there is the lint problem. These little guns are not as tough as a Glock or an H & K, for example. Something like lint in the breech could foul up the works and if the gun is oiled with just a little too much, it becomes a lint magnet.
Of course, the climate and time of year are factors and well appreciated. During hot summer days here in South Florida I utilize a fanny pack and it makes me more vigilant as I fully understand that it may be quicker to pick a pocket shooter out than to breakaway the fanny pack and grab the weapon.
I guess it all boils down to a trade off and what you are most comfortable with.