Five tips for pocket carry

[Trebor]

Here's my latest Michigan Firearms Examiner article with more tips for CCW holders:

Five tips for CCW pocket carry
http://www.examiner.com/article/five-ti ... cket-carry

"One popular concealed carry option is pocket carry. Some concealed carry permit holders chose pocket carry as their primary carry mode while for others prefer to use it as an alternative for those times where they can’t carry a larger gun in a belt holster. Whatever the reason, here are some tips on how to effectively pocket carry a defensive handgun."


If you missed them, here are two of my previous articles with more CCW tips.

Advice to new concealed carry permit holders
http://www.examiner.com/article/advice- ... it-holders

Advice to new CCW holders: Part 2 - Carry like a pro

http://www.examiner.com/article/advice- ... like-a-pro

[Charlie_Kilo]

Read it this morning, after I got it via email. Good article!

[cbr900]

I started to pocket carry my P11 a while ago it has worked pretty well, usually carry in the back it looks just like a wallet.

[Murph]

I was half expecting one tip to be: "don't pocket carry."

[Trebor]

I was half expecting one tip to be: "don't pocket carry."

It has it's uses, but it's not generally my first choice.

[Murph]

I was half expecting one tip to be: "don't pocket carry."

It has it's uses, but it's not generally my first choice.

Yup, same here... or my second choice, or third, or...

[whisk.e.rebellion]

I was half expecting one tip to be: "don't pocket carry."

It has it's uses, but it's not generally my first choice.

Yup, same here... or my second choice, or third, or...

How about giving a few valid reasons why one shouldn't pocket carry instead of shitting up this thread?

[cbr900]

pocket carry does have its advantages and disadvantages

Yes your draw is slow but you have the element of surprise, example your walking down the street and see 3 shady guys approaching you fast simply put your hands in your pocket on your pistol and your ready to go. Now if wearing an IWB you would have to lift your shirt and grab your gun not good if these guys were not a threat now you have to explain why your holding a gun to the cops.

A guy with his hands in his pockets hardly draws attention, with a proper holster it can be a great way to carry.

[Trebor]

I was half expecting one tip to be: "don't pocket carry."

It has it's uses, but it's not generally my first choice.

Yup, same here... or my second choice, or third, or...

How about giving a few valid reasons why one shouldn't pocket carry instead of shitting up this thread?

Pocket carry is a compromise. You generally need to carry a smaller gun, with fewer rounds available, and often (although not always) in a less effective caliber. It can also be harder to access the gun then a gun on a belt holster.

That said, it does have it's place. There are times when I need something more discreet then a belt holster and pocket carry fills that role for me. Just understand the compromises involved and, if you pocket carry, do it the smart way.

[crypto]

I was half expecting one tip to be: "don't pocket carry."

It has it's uses, but it's not generally my first choice.

Yup, same here... or my second choice, or third, or...

I pocket carry a lot, since my mode of summer dress doesnt always lend itself to hip holsters with big retarded cover garments. I get dressed before I pick up my pistol, so what I'm wearing isnt always good for a M-TAC hip holster.


If you get a decent pocket holster, its completely safe. The biggest problem with it is the size of pistol you can use.

That said, I've carried 5-shot .38Spls or a .357 snub, as well as a CZ-82 with a bobbed hammer, and I currently pocket carry a G26. I've never felt undergunned with those options.

So, tell me more about how you'd rather have an ankle holster or thunderwear or some other non-hip carry device thats not a pocket holster, because the pocket holster sure seemed to be the most logical non-hip option.

[Murph]

I was half expecting one tip to be: "don't pocket carry."

It has it's uses, but it's not generally my first choice.

Yup, same here... or my second choice, or third, or...

How about giving a few valid reasons why one shouldn't pocket carry instead of shitting up this thread?

Sorry, I wasn't trying to shit up anything... just stating my preference.

But anyhow... Pocket Carry, if a confrontation goes violent and you got someone pounding, pushing, (maybe even stabbing,) you it is extremely hard to fish something out of the bottom of pocket and get it into play. If you go straight for the gun, then that's one less hand and arm you have to adequately defend yourself with. One good punch to the dome, and it's lights out.

Even if you manage to get positional dominance against a violent attacker, that might only last mere second, again not long enough to draw from a pocket. If you look at how long it takes people to draw from concealment in general, it's clear that time is life in a deadly encounter. Why not give yourself every advantage you can when carrying?

Most people will counter those arguments with "I can put my hand on my pistol when I see trouble coming." While I think that's a highly arguable statement, I'll go with it anyhow... If an attacker is close enough to be attacking they're close enough to foul a draw, (if they haven't already TKO'd you because you have your defenses, your hands down.) You'd also be surprised at how easy it is to strip a pistol out of someone's hands at those distances.

Another argument, "I'll shoot them through my clothes." Even if anyone did practice this, I know for a fact most people don't, it's one thing to be able to pull it off on a static range, it's another thing entirely to get hits while someone is rock & rollin your face. Semi-autos will jam up in clothes, and you could run out of ammo with a revolver before getting a solid hit.

There's some basic reasons not to.

I totally see the reasons to pocket carry. It's easy to do. It's a feel good to have a gun with you. It's a small gun which is better than no gun. People are use to carrying things in their pockets since they were old enough to realize what a pocket was. People think it's easier to conceal a pistol there.

I mean, ultimately it's up to personal preference.

[Murph]

So, tell me more about how you'd rather have an ankle holster or thunderwear or some other non-hip carry device thats not a pocket holster, because the pocket holster sure seemed to be the most logical non-hip option.

Nope, I think hip-holsters are the best way to go... for me at least.
Carrying a compact pistol (not mouse gun) in shorts and a t-shirt isn't as hard as people make it out to be. But I understand it's not something everyone can pull off.

[cbr900]

With my P11 I get 12+1 in 9mm hardly a compromise you dont have to carry a micro .22 for pocket carry; today with the size of smart phones people carry even if someone can see an outline they wouldn't think twice about it as they would assume its a smart phone or wallet. With practice you can draw pretty fast, truth is that it doesnt matter if you carry IWB or pocket if an attacker gets you by surprise and starts his attack with a knife at anything less than 10' your going to most likely get stabbed unless your steven seagal