Pocket Carry or Other Carry Options???

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The_Sheriff

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Hello,

I am really confused about finding a way to carry, I am interested in both ankle carry and pocket carry in the summer and OWB in the winter. My question is for those who pocket carry and that is do you have to wear cargo or tactical pants when carrying or would they be well suited in a pair of relaxed fit wranglers? This is for a Taurus 85.

Also what would be the best way of CCW for someone who dress western style? Wranglers, tucked in shirt, boots, ect

Thanks
 
You can probably pocket carry that wheelgun without too much trouble in anything BUT jeans (based on my experience). Something about jeans, even comfortably sized ones, makes things in the front pocket stand out more to me.

I have been able to pocket carry a Ruger SP101 in 357 wearing business casual khakis, with no problems. Cargo pants and cargo shorts work a little better, but still no problems with chinos as long as they're comfortably fitting. There are several options in pocket holsters that would probably work, although the only I have experience with is the Uncle Mike's pocket holster. The Desantis Nemesis looks pretty similar to the UM holster.
 
If you're going to carry a gun in a pocket, you need to do two things:

  1. Invest in a pocket holster, which will hold your gun vertical instead of letting it tip forward and not come to hand if you need it in a hurry.
  2. Form the habit of removing lint from your gun every week.
 
I have pocket-carried exclusively for years; I started with J-frame snubs, then went to a Kel-Tec P11--now I carry a K-T PF9. I wear trousers with "vertical" front pocket openings. These are easier to reach into than the more horizontal openings of jeans, especially when sitting. Slacks and cargo-style trousers are also looser fitting than blue jeans, which reduces printing to almost nothing. As far as I know, I have never been "made" carrying; at least no one has said anything.

For holsters (ALWAYS pocket-carry using a holster and don't carry anything else in the same pocket as your gun), I used Uncle Mike's pocket holsters and currently a DeSantis Nemesis.

WHY carry in my pocket? The heat of Alabama summers makes cover garments uncomfortable, and winters are mild enough that I don't usually have to layer up. Also, if necessary, I can simply stick my hand in my pocket and grip the gun without appearing threatening. I pocket-carry exclusively to avoid possibly tragic confusion of just where I am carrying if things get hairy. I keep remembering a video of a Special Forces soldier in Afganistan; he was wearing his pistol in a thigh holster. He suddenly went for it, and his hand first went to his waist, then down to where the weapon was actually carried. That split second could have been the rest of his life.
 
Western-wear jeans and pocketing a Taurus 85 don't really seem to be compatible.

Even with a pocket holster - which is a must for pocket pistols - a wheel gun will print and probably be rather uncomfortable. Ankle holsters are usually a last resort, at least for me, 'cause they keep sliding down.

I carry 99.9% of the time and I have a Charter Arms that looks and specs very similar to your 85. I carry it either IWB or OWB. It's a tad too heavy (loaded) to ankle carry and it feels weird in my pocket. My preferred carry weapon is definately my Kahr P9. It's light & I forget that I'm wearing it.

It's difficult to conceal in the summer though while wearing shorts and a T-shirt. I'm sure some folks have figured out what I have on my side but no one has ever said anything.

That new little Ruger .380 ACP looks pretty intreging and is easy to pocket carry. That's my next semi-auto when the demand drops to reasonable limits.
 
Nothing beats a Mika Pocket Holster which will set you back $20, keep your pocket pistol ready to go, prevent 'printing", keep the lint out of it, and is even autographed by the creator - Robert Mika.
 
Sheriff, when I began carrying, I had to migrate from jeans to cargo pants because of the cut (and the way I'm a bit bigger around the middle). I don't use the cargo pocket, but the looser cut allows me to sneak an SP-101 or Kimber UCII into my front pocket. I use an RKBA holster for the Ruger and a DeSantis for the Kimber. The handle of the Ruger likes to hang around the opening of the pocket when I sit, but no one has made an issue of it yet. I believe someone else on this forum observed that we CCW'ers are much more paranoid than we need be. Good luck finding a comfortable solution. Oh, BTW, I tried ankle carry of a Walther PPK/S, but it was uncomfortable no matter what I did. Along with the other issues of availability, it got discarded rather quickly.
 
In relaxed-fit jeans with larger pockets, my Kahr PM9/Mika pocket holster carries just fine. It is less successful in regular-fit jeans, and IMO the bulging cylinder of a revolver will be even tighter.
 
The DeSantis "Super Fly" pocket holster has a panel that fits on the outside of the holster to break up the shape of the gun. You can also use a piece of cardboard or even a handkerchief to do the same think. The bulge will always be there, but you can keep it from looking like a gun.

Speaking of which, the relative flatness of an auto is one reason I drifted away from a wheelie. The other reasons were the lighter trigger of the auto, more carried rounds and speed of reload.
 
I think you'll have less success with jeans, the pockets of which open from the top of the trousers, than with chinos or dress pants, which typically open from the side of the trousers. The problem with jeans would only be exacerbated by tight Western-cut jeans. It's a fact of CCW carry that you have to tailor your clothing to your gun.

One thing you might do if you have a favorite pair of slacks is to have the pockets reinforced or even replaced with canvas or nylon packcloth, which will wear better than the muslin typically used to line pockets.
 
I pocket carry a lightweight (13.3oz) j-frame almost daily in a DeSantis Nemesis. This works in all pants except one pair of cargos (the side pockets are so big, they made the top pocket too short).

That includes dress pants, jeans, khakis, etc. I'll be honest, I don't know what "western wear" jeans really means. I wear Levi's relaxed fit.

the relative flatness of an auto is one reason I drifted away from a wheelie
Click to expand...

That's funny, I see it the opposite. The flatness of an auto makes for sharp corners and a more obvious outline, IMHO. The j-frame cylinder clearly makes a somewhat larger bulge than the small autos, but to me is is way less distinguishable as a gun because the shape is irregular.

I do have a Ruger LCP for pocket carry, too, and that's so small you can carry it in anything, but I almost always prefer the lightweight j-frame.
 
As others said, if you pocket carry, use a holster. The Nemesis is great, really stays in place.
Ankle holsters are, in my opinion, best only for a backup or last resort. I don't find it viable for a primary as it takes waaay too long to draw. (Plus, it might be tough wearing boots.)
 
Wrangler jean wearing man here. I usually carry a Bond Arms .44 mag derringer in my back pocket or a NAA mini .22 mag. Plenty for what I run into out here in West Texas.

Anything else in Wranglers seems a bit too large otherwise. I ain't gonna change the way I dress just to carry a bigger gun. I work in the oil field and need something that is completely concealable and affords me freedom of movement while with clients.

NQ
 
"That's funny, I see it the opposite. The flatness of an auto makes for sharp corners and a more obvious outline, IMHO. The j-frame cylinder clearly makes a somewhat larger bulge than the small autos, but to me is is way less distinguishable as a gun because the shape is irregular."--FranklyTodd

This kind of discussion is what makes these topics endlessly fascinating. To me, the cylinder is more obvious. The holster breaks up the shape of the slide, so if there is a bulge, it could be just about any modern gadget.:) The important thing is that each person is comfortable and confident in his choices.

For example, No Quarter is man enough to be comfortable and confident carrying "micro" guns! I know I'm not, if I have any other option!
 
That Bond Arms is actually a bit hefty. Similar in size to a J frame, but without the cylinder bulk. Still small enough though that I wouldn't want to be firing .44 mag out of it!
 
Thank you, Matt. The only place I have seen the Bond Arms derringer is in the cartoon ads they run in The Blue Press, Dillon Precision's magazine.
 
The Bond is much smaller and flatter than a J-frame. 240gr bullet at 1100 fps is going to do what needs done if you ever have to use it. Believe it or not, it is not that bad in .44 mag. Sure it is loud and there is a refreshing kick to it, but it is certainly something an experienced handgun shooter can handle. .44 specials are downright pleasant out of it.

I will be the first to say that it not a choice for everyone though. I will admit I had to steel my nerves for the first time I shot a full-bore magnum out of it.

Nq
 
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