Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Too Heavy for Pocket Carry?

KevinGibson has an article in which he has an interesting concept about either belt/shoulder holster or pocket holster carry.

So, I ask - what is the biggest handgun you regularly carry in your pocket, either loose or in a pocket holster?

5" all steel 1911 Springfield, they are not heavy at all, the weight is around your waist, after a bit you forget it's there.

Gunner

Sig 238 - 380

As far as weight goes, my comfort threshold in suit pants or casual slacks is about a pound or so. In 5.11�s or BDU�s I can tolerate a little bit more weight.

As to size, anything larger than a compact Kahr sized pistol will not present quickly enough from a pocket to satisfy me.

Practically speaking for me; .380�s and smaller can go in my pocket � anything 9mm and larger goes on the waist.

Glock 19 IWB Mexican style, it does have a clip grip on it.

Pocket, KT P3AT in a pocket holster.

S&W J frame or a Walther PPKs is about as large/heavy a gun as I'll carry in my trouser pocket. As 41magfan has said, anything larger will not present quickly enough from a pocket.

Ruger LC9 is about as large as I'll put in a pocket. S&W J frame works too.

Kel Tec P3AT is the heaviest I go for a pure pocket carry and the weight does seem to disappear after a while.

Heavier go on a IWB up to a Sig 2340.

Still heaviest go on a belt holster.

Kel-Tec P32 carried in my Speedo at the beach.

I've stuffed a Detective Special in my back pocket for short periods, where no sitting down was anticipated. Ordinarily, though, the biggest I've carried in my pocket for any length of time has been little mouse gun autos in .32 ACP or a NAA mini revolver. I much prefer IWB and near service sized sidearms for regular concealed carry, though.

Who is this Kevin Gibson fellow, anyway? He a new writer in the gun rags or something?

So, Kevin's article suggests either pocket or belt, and if belt, then full-size power. My Kahr K9 is neither, so should I bag it in favor of a J-frame (pocket), or full-size Commander/Hi-Power? Is there room for a K-9-size handgun in a belt holster?

Very thought-provoking article, BTW.


Oh, yeah, brand new...

Good article. J-frame is the most often true pocket carry for me.

Differing a little from Kevin's article...I do often carry a G27 in a pocket holster in cargo pockets (nemesis pocket holster)...won't work in every pair of cargo's but I have several pair that it works great with....no way I could carry it front pocket due to thickness/size more than weight.

I agree on his general principle of J-frame (or similiar size) pocket and full size (I consider G23/G19 full size) on belt (with good leather). I have a little trouble with IWB and prefer OWB, but that may be due more to build than anything.

One "cheap" OWB holster that I've liked is the Glock sport holster. Good retention, pulls the gun in close to the body, and rides high. The Nemisis pocket holster is cheap, slim/compact, draws easy, holds the gun upright, and works well for me for pocket carry. Most anything else I've tried that is cheap, especially for belt carry, just doesn't get it (for concealed carry).

Of course, because they are so lightweight and slim you will simply never be reminded you're carrying, and neither will anyone else. That said, I prefer giving that up in exchange for being only slightly aware I'm carrying and getting twelve rounds of 9mm with my S&W M&P 9c.

Kevin, I slightly disagree with you in preferring a full sized to a compact version of a service sized gun since when I carry my M&P 9c in an IWB it doesn't print unless I carry it with the magazine (and adapter) that replicates the grip frame of the full sized version (expanding round count from 12 to 17 rounds), in which case it prints substantially.

PS This example in your article of a full sized M&P is actually the M&P Compact.

For pocket carry as the original post asked, the biggest handgun is a Kahr CM9 in a DeSantis Nemisis, and that's pretty well maxing it out. I can fit a Kahr CW9 inside the pocket but the handle prints badly and it gets hung up trying to draw it. Used to carry a K-T P32 in a Nemesis as well.

Won't carry without a pocket holster for two or three reasons. Without it the handgun shifts around in your pocket so it might not be positioned properly when you reach for it, it looks more like a handgun when it prints through the fabric, and I am not comfortable with a no-safety, DAO handgun so close to my nuts without something covering the trigger.

I've experimented with carrying a larger handgun in a winter coat pocket, the CW45 is a good match, but it still needs a holster of some kind to keep it positioned properly. Also, unless the coat is zipped or otherwise closed it's difficult to draw from a slanted pocket, the coat wants to come with you instead of allowing you to withdraw the pistol.

S&W M&P 340 CT in 357 Mag
Sig P938 9mm

Both in DeSantis Nemesis front off hand trouser pocket

Alan

S&W Model 36 in a quality leather pocket holster is the only way to go. Model 49 is an acceptable substitute in a pinch.

Older the better


The fit and cut of the pant has a lot to do with your 'comfort' level. Plus you need to look at what gun you like/shoot well with/ is reliable for CC.
For me its a wheelgun.

Aluminum J frame S&W or the Taurus clone.

Well sir, that�s pretty much what I did, but it was a Kahr 45 that I ditched.

Now keep in mind when you read that article, that is what I found out for ME. I found it out the hard way, and I kept wandering back to the sub-compact 9�s�keep them a few months, and then realize, oh yeah, they really don�t carry all that well in a holster for me.

Now honestly, I have carried guns as big as the Kahr 45 in my front pocket of some cargo style jeans, and even slightly bigger than that. Weight seems to be a bit more of an issue than size, but you get the jest. Each person has to learn for themselves, but I wrote that article in the hopes I could save some poor sap from doing it the hard way like I did�again, and again.

I regularly carry my Glock 20 in my front jeans pocket around the ranch, but I'm not trying to conceal it, that is just the most comfortable way of carrying it I have found for me. I hate belts.