Snubby Pockey Carry Realistic?

[snatchel]

Alright, so some of yall might remember a while back I posted a thread about wanting a pocket gun, and wanted to go with a .380. Well....I got over that after hitting the range with a buddy of mine who had a few for me to fire. He brought:

Keltec P3AT
S&W Bodyguard .380

He also brought a few snubby's for me to fire off:

S&W Bodyguard .38
S&W 642
Ruger LCR

Um.... I hated the .380's. They just weren't too comfortable to shoot, and I didn't shoot em worth beans. I did LOVE all 3 of his snubbs, they were a dream to shoot, and were actually a lot more accurate than I thought they would be (@ 7-15 yards). So I have changed my mind to wanting the LCR. It was fantastic. The hogue grip was comfy, super light, and I personally thought it was a good lookin gun. So my question is, because I know a lot of y'all pocket carry snubby's, how realistic is it for me to pocket carry one? I'm not a big guy. I dont wear big and tall jeans or shorts. I generally wear levi jeans, dockers, and cargo shorts and pants by wrangler. Im 5'7 and weigh about 170. So is that thing gonna fit comfortably in my pocket? I will probably have to change that hogue grip out, but otherwise ... i dunno. If anyone has pictures I would really, really appreciate it.

[USA1]

I pocket carry a Smith 642 at all times with no problem of printing or concealing. As long as your britches aren't skin tight, you shouldn't have a problem. I usually wear cargo style pants/shorts and occasionally dress slacks with generous size pockets. Blue jeans work fine too, but the pockets need to be deep.

It will take a little time to get used to the added weight and slight bulge but eventually you won't notice it's there until you have your hand casually in your pocket.

[Salty1]

I tried pocket carry with my LCR for a short while and just could not get used to it. I picked up a cheapo WRB IWB tuckable holster and it worked perfectly (at 2:00) since the gun is so light I did not need my heavy gun belt to support it. With such a light gun there are many options to try....

[A-R]

I pocket carry a Smith 642 at all times with no problem of printing or concealing. As long as your britches aren't skin tight, you shouldn't have a problem. I usually wear cargo style pants/shorts and occasionally dress slacks with generous size pockets. Blue jeans work fine too, but the pockets need to be deep.

It will take a little time to get used to the added weight and slight bulge but eventually you won't notice it's there until you have your hand casually in your pocket.

Highlighted USA1's points above that are especially important to consider. There ARE times even I - at 6-1 and more pounds than I care to mention until I lose more of 'em - can't quite pocket my lil' S&W J-frame. That's when I carry the LCP. I only carry Elsie Pea a few times a year.

I've actually extended slightly the length of the pockets on a few of my pants so I could pocket the J-frame. $10 at the tailor and worth every penny.

Even if the "bulge" seems rather large at first, the beauty of pocket carrying a revolver is it doesn't scream "GUN!" because the general shape/outline is not what the average sheeple think of when they think "GUN!" (they are usually thinking semi-auto or larger revolver).

A good pocket holster like Mika's http://www.frontiernet.net/~akim/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; really helps the "bulge" look like just a wallet, glasses case, or wadded up hanky in your pocket.

[MoJo]

Snubbies were made for pocket carry! Find a good pocket holster and some pants with deep pockets and you'll never know it's there after a week or so. I use either a cut down DeSantis nemisis or a Tuff Products "Jr. Roo" for mine.

[fickman]

I can pocket carry my snubbies in cargo pants, slacks, and cargo shorts (front pocket or cargo pocket), but can't do it in the jeans I wear since I lost weight. I have both western "cowboy" cut and "relaxed" fit, but the front pocket wourldn't work in either one.

[Excaliber]

I pocket carry a Smith 642 at all times with no problem of printing or concealing. As long as your britches aren't skin tight, you shouldn't have a problem. I usually wear cargo style pants/shorts and occasionally dress slacks with generous size pockets. Blue jeans work fine too, but the pockets need to be deep.

It will take a little time to get used to the added weight and slight bulge but eventually you won't notice it's there until you have your hand casually in your pocket.

Highlighted USA1's points above that are especially important to consider. There ARE times even I - at 6-1 and more pounds than I care to mention until I lose more of 'em - can't quite pocket my lil' S&W J-frame. That's when I carry the LCP. I only carry Elsie Pea a few times a year.

I've actually extended slightly the length of the pockets on a few of my pants so I could pocket the J-frame. $10 at the tailor and worth every penny.

Even if the "bulge" seems rather large at first, the beauty of pocket carrying a revolver is it doesn't scream "GUN!" because the general shape/outline is not what the average sheeple think of when they think "GUN!" (they are usually thinking semi-auto or larger revolver).

A good pocket holster like Mika's http://www.frontiernet.net/~akim/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; really helps the "bulge" look like just a wallet, glasses case, or wadded up hanky in your pocket.

IMHO pocket carry is the easiest, least conspicuous method for keeping a moderately capable mid caliber pistol or revolver readily accessible while wearing clothing that is comfortable and blends very well with what everyone else is wearing during our triple digit temperatures.

There are other options that work, but none are as easy or inconspicuous for carrying hardware that handles the .38 and up calibers you'd want to have with you if you ever need to use them.

EDIT: The method works best with deep pockets that go down to the lower edge of the exterior front patch pockets on cargo pants or shorts and a good holster like the ones mentioned to stabilize the gun to keep it from flipping upside down or flopping around, and to break up its outline. Anything carried in the exterior patch pocket (keys, money clip, etc.) helps to further hide the underlying contours.

[The Annoyed Man]

Until fairly recently, I pocket carried a scandium .357 snubbie all the time. I sometimes still do. The only reason I don't is that I also recently bought a kahr PM9 which I really really like, and it is only .98" in width, and it's also +P rated in 9mm.

But I have great faith in my snubbie, and in the power of the .357 magnum cartridge. The main advantage to the Kahr, and it's the real reason I bought one, is that reloads are faster with a semi-auto......for me. I'm left handed, and reloading the snubbie requires shifting the gun to my weak hand. On the other hand, if the first 5 rounds of .357 won't give me time to get away, then maybe I shouldn't have been there in the first place.

In any case, I love my snubbie and I'm a true believer, as are a lot of other folks here.

As to clothing, my regular summer wear is cargo shorts. But I also wear regular jeans, nothing baggy, and my snubbie fits in my jeans pockets just fine. And this is done when standing on a stage with a guitar in my hands, and several hundred people staring at me. None of them know. So I wouldn't worry too much about whether or not you'll be able to conceal one.

[apostate]

Pocket carry of a 642 works great for me. It's comfortable and conceals well. Presentation is not as quick as IWB but it's not too bad. My only real issue with pocket carry is habit. I usually carry my DL & CHL in a card case in my non-keys front pocket. Having my license and handgun in the same pocket could pose a challenge if a peace officer asks for ID.

[74novaman]

I carry a 5 shot .357 in an uncle mikes pocket holster. Works great in cargo shorts and Texas heat. The first few times you feel like a tennis ball is stuffed in your pocket and everyone is staring. Just like carrying in general, the feeling goes away over time.

[aaangel]

If anyone has pictures I would really, really appreciate it.

i'm 5'9" 168lbs. No problem pocket carrying this in my cargo shorts.

[bnc]

I usually carry my LCR IWB, but it does fit in my pockets in some clothes, and I'm smaller than you. In the winter (all 3 days of it ) it is very handy to carry in the front pockets of a fleece jacket.

I use a FIST K5 pocket holster made from ultra thin kydex, which is truly ultra thin (but plenty stiff). One option you can get on that holster is a smooth sheet of kydex on the top so any printing would be flat and not show the gun at all (I didn't get that option).

As for the LCR itself, I'm very pleased with it. I chose it for similar reasons that you have expressed: I don't like the small autos, the LCR's Hogue grip is excellent, and the trigger is better than the S&W out of the box. Granted, you can always smooth a J-frame's trigger and they are fine guns as well; actually a bit smaller than the LCR so it conceals well. To me the size difference wasn't large enough to be important so I went with the one that fit my hand better.

[snatchel]

Thanks to EVERYONE so far who has put in on this for me. The bulge i'm not really worried about. I have mentioned before that my G26/36/19 all print pretty badly in most of my clothes--but I dont care. I've been carrying like this in the great state of TX for some time, and have never had anyone ask me what that strange bulge on my hip is. It may look like a glock, but in fact its my ultra thin colostomy bag that sometimes ruptures when I move my shirt :) Of course out of state, I tend to try and be a bit more conspicuous. Is that how you spell conspicuous? Im not an english major.

So to the meat of it-A couple of yall are my size and carry it fine, just stay away from jeans. Kind of a bummer for me because I wear jeans a LOT during winter. But then again, I carry OWB almost always in winter so it wouldn't really matter. If yall say it works in cargo shorts, cargo pants, and slacks I think I will take your expert advice and buy the darned thing. If nothing else, I'll finally own a nice wheel gun that I have been looking to purchase.

So on to the second delimma. I have a wife. She doesn't like spending money. But my birthday is in a week on Aug 1st, so maybe I can convince her I absolutely need one. She said I can if I trade in one of the Glocks, but she isn't aware that doing that would be sac-religous. Anyone want to donate an LCR....or maybe a couple hundred bucks? Or sell me a J-frame or other snubby for 100 bucks?

[snatchel]

Until fairly recently, I pocket carried a scandium .357 snubbie all the time. I sometimes still do. The only reason I don't is that I also recently bought a kahr PM9 which I really really like, and it is only .98" in width, and it's also +P rated in 9mm.

But I have great faith in my snubbie, and in the power of the .357 magnum cartridge. The main advantage to the Kahr, and it's the real reason I bought one, is that reloads are faster with a semi-auto......for me. I'm left handed, and reloading the snubbie requires shifting the gun to my weak hand. On the other hand, if the first 5 rounds of .357 won't give me time to get away, then maybe I shouldn't have been there in the first place.

In any case, I love my snubbie and I'm a true believer, as are a lot of other folks here.

As to clothing, my regular summer wear is cargo shorts. But I also wear regular jeans, nothing baggy, and my snubbie fits in my jeans pockets just fine. And this is done when standing on a stage with a guitar in my hands, and several hundred people staring at me. None of them know. So I wouldn't worry too much about whether or not you'll be able to conceal one.

Sir, you are going to convince me to buy a Kahr one day. You love those little guys don't ya?

[rdcrags]

Granted, you can always smooth a J-frame's trigger and they are fine guns as well;

Right, and that's what I did.

Don't change out the Hogue grips; Heck, I recently switched to them on my S&W 442. Much better shooting experience.