Pocket carry consideration

[earplug]

Have been carrying a S&W 442 or 638 since 1981. Due to arthritis in my wrist and fingers I bought a Beretta 51 to play with and carry. Was intrigued with a SIG 938 in 9MM and its 22LR sibling. Was able to rent a 938 and fire off a box of ammo. Found out the perceived recoil was less them my Alloy J frame.. and about the same weight and size as the Beretta. Cost of the 938 was more then I could pay at the time.
Recently found a clean used SIG 938, 7 shot magazine with a laser that was affordable. Ended up buying it and made a Kydex pocket holster. Happiness was finding out it ran with my old USPSA minor loads I fed my single stack 1911!
One interesting thing I found was the pistol was easier and faster to draw from my pocket then the revolver or the little Beretta. The grip angle is easier to secure a positive hold and the weight/balance seems to hold the holster in a better position.
I just returned from a three day camping road trip in bear country and having 7 rounds of 9MM FMJ was a better option then 5 LSWC.
The point i'm trying to make is keep a open mind about trying new options and if a better mouse trap comes around don't be afraid of trying something new.
In thirty years the cost of 38spl and 9MM has reversed in cost. my range charges $24.00 for 38spl while 9MM is $12.00. I dare say 9MM is easier to buy if needed.

 

[franco45]

Small 9mm handguns are very popular for pocket carry. I pocket carry a Kahr CM9 fairly regularly. I also own a little Diamondback DB9 but it hasn't proven itself to be as reliable as the little Kahr. Having said that a j frame can be found in my pocket from time to time also.

 

[SharpDog]

p365 with a Vedder pocket holster:

 

[RON in PA]

Have you tried 148 grain wadcutter ammo in your J frames as a way of lowering recoil?

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Have been carrying a S&W 442 or 638 since 1981. Due to arthritis in my wrist and fingers I bought a Beretta 51 to play with and carry. Was intrigued with a SIG 938 in 9MM and its 22LR sibling. Was able to rent a 938 and fire off a box of ammo. Found out the perceived recoil was less them my Alloy J frame.. and about the same weight and size as the Beretta. Cost of the 938 was more then I could pay at the time.
Recently found a clean used SIG 938, 7 shot magazine with a laser that was affordable. Ended up buying it and made a Kydex pocket holster. Happiness was finding out it ran with my old USPSA minor loads I fed my single stack 1911!
One interesting thing I found was the pistol was easier and faster to draw from my pocket then the revolver or the little Beretta. The grip angle is easier to secure a positive hold and the weight/balance seems to hold the holster in a better position.
I just returned from a three day camping road trip in bear country and having 7 rounds of 9MM FMJ was a better option then 5 LSWC.
The point i'm trying to make is keep a open mind about trying new options and if a better mouse trap comes around don't be afraid of trying something new.
In thirty years the cost of 38spl and 9MM has reversed in cost. my range charges $24.00 for 38spl while 9MM is $12.00. I dare say 9MM is easier to buy if needed.

I don’t pocket carry but what you describe mirrors my experience over the years. Had a S&W 642. Ditched it when I bought a SA XDs 45, and now carry a P938 Legion.

There’s no going back. It’s lighter, smaller, holds more ammo, and softer shooting than either of the two guns I just mentioned. I really like that little gun a lot. I need a pocket holster for it yet.

 

[bannockburn]

My six pocket carry guns range from the tiny and extremely lightweight KelTec P3AT to a Colt Mustang and a SIG P238, to a pair of S&W J frames (a Model 649 and a Model 638), to a Kahr CM9.

 

[MedWheeler]

I periodically think about going "down" to pocket carry and ditching the belt gun, which is typically bigger than your usual pocket piece.

Then things like Dayton and El Paso happen again and turn me off to the idea.

My smallest pocket-nine is a Kel-Tec PF9, but it prints in jeans, which is all I wear when not at work.

It's kind of funny because, back when I was in LE, I thought nothing of going about off-duty with just a five-shot .38 or a .380 (PPK/S or Grendel P10 back then) in my pocket. Now, it seems harder to accept, but I'm trying to get there again.

 

[.308 Norma]

I periodically think about going "down" to pocket carry and ditching the belt gun, which is typically bigger than your usual pocket piece.

Then things like Dayton and El Paso happen again and turn me off to the idea

Yep. Me too.

 

[needmorecowbell]

Yep. Me too.

Me too. I can easily carry double stack subcompacts to compacts (have xd sc in 9 and 45 and Glock 29, had cz p01, SR9c) IWB under any shirt with spare mags also IWB so really have no need or want to pocket carry. Do have xds 9 and 45 for times I do go lighter and smaller though (hiking, running, jogging).

 

[earplug]

Have you tried 148 grain wadcutter ammo in your J frames as a way of lowering recoil?

Yes I have. The shape of the grip frame and high bore axis still beats me up.

 

[earplug]

I don’t pocket carry but what you describe mirrors my experience over the years. Had a S&W 642. Ditched it when I bought a SA XDs 45, and now carry a P938 Legion.

There’s no going back. It’s lighter, smaller, holds more ammo, and softer shooting than either of the two guns I just mentioned. I really like that little gun a lot. I need a pocket holster for it yet.

I make my own pocket holster from some Kydex sheets. Get a old GI ground pad and heat up a oven. I cut out a paper form, then transfer the pattern to the Kydex. Mark a center line and heat the kydex as required. Then lay the material on a section of the foam pad, lay the top of the pistol on the centerline. Fold over and press and hold until its cooled. I use bagged lead bullets or anything that will press evenly.
After the initial pressing I usually use a propane torch to make fine changes, such as forming a ledge to block the safety from getting knocked off. Fine tune the shape and tension with more heat and cooling. Trim as needed. I like to use RTV dots on the outside of the holster to keep it in my pocket when I draw.

 

[sparkyv]

I make my own pocket holster from some Kydex sheets. Get a old GI ground pad and heat up a oven. I cut out a paper form, then transfer the pattern to the Kydex. Mark a center line and heat the kydex as required. Then lay the material on a section of the foam pad, lay the top of the pistol on the centerline. Fold over and press and hold until its cooled. I use bagged lead bullets or anything that will press evenly.
After the initial pressing I usually use a propane torch to make fine changes, such as forming a ledge to block the safety from getting knocked off. Fine tune the shape and tension with more heat and cooling. Trim as needed. I like to use RTV dots on the outside of the holster to keep it in my pocket when I draw.

Me, too. It's easier than many think. I like the RTV idea.

 

[sparkyv]

Have been carrying a S&W 442 or 638 since 1981. Due to arthritis in my wrist and fingers I bought a Beretta 51 to play with and carry. Was intrigued with a SIG 938 in 9MM and its 22LR sibling. Was able to rent a 938 and fire off a box of ammo. Found out the perceived recoil was less them my Alloy J frame.. and about the same weight and size as the Beretta. Cost of the 938 was more then I could pay at the time.
Recently found a clean used SIG 938, 7 shot magazine with a laser that was affordable. Ended up buying it and made a Kydex pocket holster. Happiness was finding out it ran with my old USPSA minor loads I fed my single stack 1911!
One interesting thing I found was the pistol was easier and faster to draw from my pocket then the revolver or the little Beretta. The grip angle is easier to secure a positive hold and the weight/balance seems to hold the holster in a better position.
I just returned from a three day camping road trip in bear country and having 7 rounds of 9MM FMJ was a better option then 5 LSWC.
The point i'm trying to make is keep a open mind about trying new options and if a better mouse trap comes around don't be afraid of trying something new.
In thirty years the cost of 38spl and 9MM has reversed in cost. my range charges $24.00 for 38spl while 9MM is $12.00. I dare say 9MM is easier to buy if needed.

I pocket carried a P938 for four years and she served me well. I'm carrying a P365 now, it's a little bigger, but I prefer the extra round count.

 

[Reinz]

I agree totally about keeping an open mind.

It took me 23 years to finally find my Grail pocket pistol and nothing has topped it in 13 years. But I still look at others just in case.

Pair of Rohrbaugh R9’s, one each front pocket.

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

I pocket carry a .38 most times. I carry with swc going about 800 fps. The gun is always with me and two speed strips are located in my back pocket. I prefer a revolver for various reasons. I can rotate ammo much easier than an auto. This comes in hand with snake shot on light hikes and fishing trips. The auto can be loaded with shot as well but few autos actually will be able to cycle them rendering it into a single shot. To each his own. The cost savings for commercial ammo definitely favors the 9mm but for those that reload or willing to eat the cost the .38 is fine.

 

[bassjam]

I'm glad it worked out for you, those P938's are sweet little guns. I can't make mine work for pocket carry though, both that and my Kahr MK9 get hung up when trying to draw them. I stick to carrying them on a belt, and leave pocket carry to my S&W 442 or LCP.

 

[roo_ster]

Would love a SIG 938, but can;t swing it, cost wise now.

Besides, I like my SW638. In town, I load hot LSWCHP. In hte woods, hard cast full wadcutters. If my wife wants to tote it, mild target wadcutters.

Joints still OK, but glad to hear the SIG 938 is viable if they do start to ache.

 

[DustyGmt]

I periodically think about going "down" to pocket carry and ditching the belt gun, which is typically bigger than your usual pocket piece.

Then things like Dayton and El Paso happen again and turn me off to the idea.

My smallest pocket-nine is a Kel-Tec PF9, but it prints in jeans, which is all I wear when not at work.

It's kind of funny because, back when I was in LE, I thought nothing of going about off-duty with just a five-shot .38 or a .380 (PPK/S or Grendel P10 back then) in my pocket. Now, it seems harder to accept, but I'm trying to get there again.

Everybody has their own preferences and I dont presume to tell others what they should do because everybody's situation is different but at least for me and not being crazy about smaller pocket guns barely adequate/inadequate TB and capacity, I find that carrying something small like a micro .380 (LCP in my case) and carrying a full size pistol in my day pack helps me in terms of not feeling inadequately armed.


That may or may not work for others. I know what works for others does not work for me. For instance I know that alot of people carry a compact or even full size duty guns IWB. My frame, 6'3, 205lb and thin just doesnt seem to conceal well on my body and I always feel very exposed when carrying IWB. The only thing I can really feel confident is well hidden is a micro in the pocket or tucked way out of sight in an uncle mikes...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

S&W J frame revolvers like the M442
Sig P365, P238, P938
Kel-Tek PF-9, P3-AT, P-32
S&W Shield
Glock G42, G43

I'm sure there are many many more but those are the guns I know about personally.

 

[Kendahl]

Have you tried 148 grain wadcutter ammo in your J frames as a way of lowering recoil?

Yes I have. The shape of the grip frame and high bore axis still beats me up.

Another option is a Ruger LCR in .327 magnum but load it with .32 H&R magnum cartridges or even .38 S&W.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

for pocket carry the Sig p938 is just a little big for me but the s&W 637 is the ticket

 

[Safety First]

The P365 is a bit much for some to pocket carry. It works well for me even with the 12 rd mag. I carry it in an Uncle Mikes #3 and it fits like a glove. For my lifestyle it works just fine. I have wanted a P938 Legion for quite some time but the P365 has worked for pocket carry.
ymmv

 

[Jeb Stuart]

Not pictured below is my KahrCM9 and Another Beretta Nano which is my favorite Carry and most fun gun to shoot. I pick it up from the FFL tomorrow. I love the DAO.
Now two Pico's two Nano's. Life is good.
New one will be Sniper Grey

Fully loaded light for Hot Humid summer carry in light shorts and tee shirt
View attachment 856261

View attachment 856234

 

[If1HitU]

I PC my Airweight S&W's 442-2.638-3 .38 SPL+P's and i just added a Sig P365 9mm to my rotation.

 

[Gary A]

I alternate between J-frame Smiths and Sig P238s. I almost bought a Sig P938 Extreme but ultimately passed because I decided the J-frame is more flexible over time and as I age in that I can adapt carry loads to fit conditions with minimal rounds fired necessary to confirm reliability and point of aim. I can go from 110 grain standard pressure to 148 grain wadcutters up to 158 grain plus P with minimal disruption or uncertainty. I do have a couple subcompact 9mm handguns but seldom carry them. If Sig ever builds an all steel P938 HD, I’ll buy one. Maybe two. The P238 is less powerful but really is significantly smaller...to me.