thoughts on a pocket gun

[57Coastie]

Lunchbox,

I too prefer pocket carry because I am almost always wearing shorts and T-shirt, the only acceptable attire here on the beach where I, now firmly retired, live, and I find that a pocket is the only place I can readily carry without advertising that I am carrying. Your choice will probably include the following factors, among numerous others, some known only to you, and only you can give the answer after looking at the options which might meet your requirements:

1. It must be of a size that it will be effectively concealed in your pocket. (In my case I have found pockets to come in many different sizes, and I now purchase my shorts with that in mind).
2. Cost - unavoidable consideration for most of us. This factor applies to ammo as well as the weapon.
3. It must be secure in your pocket. As pointed out above, if you are upside down under a car you do not want it to fall out into the grease pit.
4. While it must be secure, you also need to be able to present the weapon relatively rapidly.
5. What caliber weapon have you decided you would prefer? The ins and outs of this question are beaten to death on this forum, but you might consider the experience of others as laid out here.
6. What is the minimum number of rounds loaded for immediate use that you might feel comfortable with?
7. Related to #6 is the question of whether you would be more comfortable with a revolver or a semi-automatic.
8. Do you want to just stick it in your pocket, or do you want to use a commercially available pocket holster? I certainly would recommend the latter, for several good reasons.
9. Do you want to carry ammo in addition to that in the magazine or cylinder, as the case might be?
10. Will your choice be convenient to carry almost always, until converted into bedside? If it is not convenient to carry, you are likely to not carry it, and that defeats the purpose.

As I said above, there are bound to be other factors which need to be considered, and you have probably thought about some of them perhaps without having spelled them out to yourself.

After going through this list myself, I have two pocket-carry weapons which I use, often depending on where I am going to be and what I am going to be doing. When in my automobile I often carry one, with the other concealed from observation but readily accessible.

a. A Smith & Wesson mod. 38 Airweight, .38 special. It is loaded with 5 rounds of Buffalo Bore 20E20, and I stick a Bianchi speed strip containing 6 more rounds of the Buffalo Bore into the same pocket, in an IHL Speed Strip Wallet. The Airweight is equipped with a CTC laser for low-light and darkness. I bought the Airweight for my wife, who is licensed, but she chooses not to carry; I find it very convenient to stick in my pocket, and I often carry it. My only problem with the Airweight is that it is so unnoticeable that I very easily forget that I am carrying it. Oncet upon a time I got almost all the way into the inspection line (just 2 persons in front of me) at Hobby Airport (pre-9/11 and TSA) before waking up and quickly leaving the line to hustle back to my car long enough to lock it up inside. Nearly missed my flight.

b. A Springfield XD40. My carry magazine has 9+1 Corbon .40 S&W 165 gr. JHP, and I stick another longer magazine with 11 of the same in another pocker. I find the shorter magazine conceals the weapon better when carried in the pocket. The XD40 will soon be also armed with a CTC laser for low-light and darkness.

My carry ammo is expensive stuff, but I practice - practice - practice - practice with a less expensive variety.

While I have belt-supported holsters for both these pocket carries, I have worn long pants no more than half a dozen times since I retired some 8 years ago, so they tend to gather dust. I use an Uncle MIke soft pocket holster for both of these weapons. They meet my requirements, but they may not meet yours when upside down under a car.

I went at some length here to point out that your decision will need you to consider many factors, and that there is no easy answer to your question. I am certainly not recommending that my choices will meet your needs, but simply point out a couple that meet mine, and how I went about making my decision. I am very happy using pocket carry, and I silently and respectfully ignore cowboy experts when they belittle pocket carry and start talking about all the fancy holsters I could be using.

Any choice of a concealable defensive handgun demands that you choose one which is both concealable and defensive. All the other factors listed above boil down to these two.

Good luck on your choice,

Jim

[lunchbox]

My wife is a amateur seamstress, she sews cloth diapers and other things...
P.S. Its official!!!! I need to go shoot some stuff...watch some manly shootem up movies, play some pool and drink a beer before I become so demasculinated I start painting my nails ARRRRRRRGHHHH!!!

Your wife? Sure!!!

Lunchbox - I can't imagine that concealing any type of gun while working as a mechanic given the awkward positions and contortions that are involved in your day-to-day work would be easy. Any of the recommendations [Kel-Tec, Seecamp, NAA, Bersa, Ruger and Taurus] are a good choice. If you are considering a revolver, don't forget the S&W 642 or other hammerless models so they wouldn't snag on your clothing. With all of the humidity, sweat, oil, fluids, etc that you encounter I would also suggest something in stainless steel.

I think the Nemesis is a great pocket holster [again much better than leather for corrosion resistance], but I would probably keep my handgun locked in my tool box rather than on my person. In an emergency you could always bop them on the head with a wrench!

i have carried a EAA witness-p in my pocket wile working with no holster but i no longer have that gun and the pockets in the uniforms i have now are slightly smaller i only had a problem once wile on a top side creaper but it just wasnt wide enough it wasnt the guns fault im just wide
well to wide for the creaper anyway and all the guns mentioned are smaller than what i had before plus i like the pocket idea i may look into getting one put in

[KD5NRH]

Don't forget the AMT Backup. 5+1 in .45ACP or .400 CorBon would give you serious performance in a small package if you can find one.

Also, the KelTec PF9 could be a useful choice if you don't mind the small caliber.

[lunchbox]

ok i think my pocket is going to be too small but the way my short fits there is only one loose spot on it that happens to be the small of back im thinking a belly band small gun and put it small of back i will have to try it before i carry that way but i think that is about what i have to look at what are some more guns out there im likeing where this has gone and these guns seem great but there must be more stuff out there right

[JRG]

I find that my S&W 642 doesn't like me to go anywhere with out it! It is my constant companion anytime I leave the house.

Joe

[lunchbox]

whats the cost on that gun

[JRG]

whats the cost on that gun

The 642 was bought at one of the Dallas gun shows last year for $386 plus their Visa 3% upcharge and taxes. Seems like it was $420 out the door.

Joe

[The Annoyed Man]

My primary carry weapon weapon at this time is a Kimber Stainless Ultra Carry II, carried IWB in a D.M. Bullard holster. While the Kimber is a pretty small gun for a .45 ACP 1911, I'm beginning to envy my wife the 642 Airweight I bought for her this past Valentine's day. As small as my Kimber is, it still needs the support of a good belt and a well made leather holster. The empty gun by itself doesn't weigh that much, but full of ammo, it is not all that light either. That's fine for when I wear my big-boy pants and something over my shirt, but during the summer I tend to be a cargo-shorts and t-shirt kind of guy. That Airweight is looking better and better.

I can see that I'm going to have to get one for myself for summer pocket carry. My wife's is an "OK" shooter. The trigger pull is long and heavy - which I suppose makes it safer to carry - but I would like to have a little bit lighter pull. As far as practice goes, we practice with her Airweight using whatever ammo is cheap. But for rizzle, we keep it stoked with +P Hydro-Shoks.

[lunchbox]

so does anyone have one of these guns that they would trade for a mossburg 500a just by chance im throughing that out there

[pt145ss]

I have a NAA Guardian 380 that I love. But just today someone told me about Rugers new 380...gonna check it out for my self when i have a chance.

http://www.ruger-firearms.com/LCP/

[Big Worm]

I recently got a S&W 637 in a 2" barrel Airlight and love it. For a small J frame it is supprisinglly accurate. I used to have a Colt .380 Mustang II and I wasn't too accurate with it. The S&W is also very light weight, you'll forget you have it with you.

[lunchbox]

thanks for all the thoughts but as someone said carring wile working as a mechanic would be tough so i decided to carry in a boot im thinking small glock xd or sig maybe even a snuby 44 mag anyone ever carry in a boot

[Tactical_Texan_CHL]

I'd suggest something with a very sturdy metal clip to clip it to the boot, and a retention strap. I'd hate to be in a strange position under a car and have my gun slide up my pants leg. That little dance would take some explaining in the shop! Lace up work boots probably a no-go with that set up.

[lunchbox]

yea i prefer pull up boots anyway so that was in the plan regardless
are there holsters made for boot carry or just get a soft in the waist band type for it

[Tactical_Texan_CHL]

I don't really know. I'd probably look at something like Uncle Mike's. You could get a holster with a metal belt clip for a lefty, and clip it inside your left boot on the inner side of your leg. Or the opposite if you're a lefty yourself. That way, you could reach with your strong hand "crossdraw" I guess would be a good description, and unholster your weapon. Did that make any sense or help you? I can see it in my head, not sure if it translates well to type.