School me on pocket holsters

[jpruitt]

I've never carried in a pocket holster before and had a few questions:

I assume the holster is designed to stay in the pocket when you draw. How does it do that?

What issues should I look out for that might make the holster come out with the gun?

Is a revolver with an exposed hammer more likely to bring the holster out with it than one with a concealed/shrouded hammer?

Do I need a different holster for different pockets (front pants, back pants, jacket, etc)?

Does it work with jeans and pants with pockets with a horizontal opening (as opposed to slacks type pockets with diagonal or vertical openings)?

If so, do I need a different holster for jeans than for slacks?

I assume they are not ambidextrous?

Mika seems to be thought highly of, any reason to choose the round over the square (or vice versa)?

 

[jpruitt]

Also, I assume you can't carry anything else in the pocket with the gun/holster?

 

[Sistema1927]

1) Yes, devote the pocket to the pistol and its holster. A key or a coin getting in the trigger guard can ruin a day.

2) The holster makers use different methods to keep them in the pocket during a draw. Some use a bit of a hook that you thumb off of, others use different forms of "stickiness" to cling to the pocket.

3) Good pocket holsters keep the weapon from printing and cover the trigger guard so as to keep you from shooting yourself in the foot.

 

[psyopspec]

I agree with Sistema, and would add the following:

What issues should I look out for that might make the holster come out with the gun?

Improper draw. For the one I use (Uncle Mike's), it has a rubberized band around it that relies on gaining traction in the pocket for it to stay. In order to make sure it does every time, I grip the handle of the gun, press the holster against my leg, then pull up.

Is a revolver with an exposed hammer more likely to bring the holster out with it than one with a concealed/shrouded hammer?

Not on most pocket holsters. The hammer may impede the draw by catching the pocket, though. Practicing the draw, and the right pair of pants (ones with flatter openings across the pockets) could overcome this slight drawback.

Do I need a different holster for different pockets (front pants, back pants, jacket, etc)?

If you wanted to do all three, then maybe. In a large jacket pocket, it may be difficult to draw the gun clear of the holster if it's, say, one of the holsters with the "grippy" rubber material. What I would do for a coat is look for a way to attach the holster with hook and loop fasteners if it was the jacket I wore most. However, nice thing about wearing a jacket is that it keeps most every concealment option on the table.

Does it work with jeans and pants with pockets with a horizontal opening (as opposed to slacks type pockets with diagonal or vertical openings)?

If so, do I need a different holster for jeans than for slacks?

Yes. No. (Unless you want to.)

I assume they are not ambidextrous?

The one I have is.

Mika seems to be thought highly of, any reason to choose the round over the square (or vice versa)?

Agree, I've heard great things about the brand. The only reason I chose not to go with one of these was that the Uncle Mike's was readily available, and I'd used one of their pocket holsters before and been satisfied.