Pocket carry options

[mr.72]

I have a Kahr CW9, it's WAY too big for pocket carry. a PM9 is smaller, but not smaller enough to make it pocketable. I'm about 5'11 and 190lb, and I tend to wear jeans 99% of the time. My Ruger LCP is also too big for pocket carry in jeans for me. Maybe if you are 100lb heavier than me or 6" shorter and wear khakis all the time you can pocket-carry such a large gun. Sorry to be so blunt, but that's the reality.

I did carry my LCP in my pocket with a suit to a wedding. Works fine in dress pants. It's a nice option for when I am tucking in the shirt.

However, I really don't see much point in pocket-carry when with a clip on it you can IWB a Ruger LCP or P3AT in any clothing as long as you are not tucking the shirt tail in.

[Keith B]

I have a Kahr CW9, it's WAY too big for pocket carry. a PM9 is smaller, but not smaller enough to make it pocketable. I'm about 5'11 and 190lb, and I tend to wear jeans 99% of the time. My Ruger LCP is also too big for pocket carry in jeans for me. Maybe if you are 100lb heavier than me or 6" shorter and wear khakis all the time you can pocket-carry such a large gun. Sorry to be so blunt, but that's the reality.

I did carry my LCP in my pocket with a suit to a wedding. Works fine in dress pants. It's a nice option for when I am tucking in the shirt.

However, I really don't see much point in pocket-carry when with a clip on it you can IWB a Ruger LCP or P3AT in any clothing as long as you are not tucking the shirt tail in.

I am 5' 9" and 190. I can carry a PM9 in a Desantis Nemisis or Superfly in jeans pockets with no problem. I do not wear skin-tight jeans though; they are just Wrangler regular cut jeans.

[9mmfish]

My solitary carry piece for a real long time was a compact Bersa Mini-Thunder 9mm. It's a double stack, not as thin as the .380, but it is still worthy of pocket carry under the right conditions.
The Bersa .380 is nearly a legend in some circles. try http://www.bersatalk.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I like the 9mm idea better than a .380 but I'm worried about recoil I want to be able to enjoy shooting what ever I buy and I know alot of the pocket/mouse guns are no fun to shoot.

How do you like shooting the Mini-Thunder?

I like the Bersa .380 real well. It fits my hand like a glove. My only complaint is shooting in SA mode. It seems almost hair trigger like.

I like several suggestions made so far. I do wear loose fitting clothes.

[ExpatBen]

The Karh and Colt are the originals, but other things have come a long way. You should reconsider the Kel-Tec. I've been carrying one for years now and it is great. If you still would like something else, I'd stay away from the Bersa, it bites, if you have big hands. Beretta makes some great pocket pistols and they have been around for a long time. Check them out. If you can shoot them and see which one you like, and buy that one and learn how to use it.

[stroo]

I have five pocket guns ranging from a colt vest pocket .25 to a j-frame to a Glock 26. I don't find any of the five guns fun to shoot. None fit my hand, they are all light, and have more recoil than my M&P 45. The only gun I have pocket carried that is fun to shoot is my Hi-power Detective, but that is a little big to pocket carry regularly.

[TexasVet]

or if you have time you could wait for the MSAR Archangel, a compact 9mm pistol

[Embalmo]

Guys,

I chose an LCP for my first gun 'cause I figured I'd carry a lot more than I would shoot, so I chose comfort in the pants over comfort at the range; sure it hurts a little to shoot, but in a SD situation, I don't care if I break my wrist, and nothing has proven to be as reliable, reasonably priced, and concealable as the LCP for a mouse .380.

My problem is that me and my wife got into it for defensive carry, and fell in love with shooting along the way, so I had to buy a .22 and a 9mm for ammo price and availability.

Embalmo

[chabouk]

My Ruger LCP is also too big for pocket carry in jeans for me.

If you can't pocket carry an LCP or P3AT, the problem isn't that the gun is too big, it's that your pants are too small.

[RPB]

I have seecamps, which are small but heavy, and an AMT .380 Backup, and a Diamondback DB380, which is light and thinner than a P3AT or LCP (just on the market as of a month or so ago) ...

But, for POCKET carry, I patiently await the Microtech Archangel MCP 9mm ... weighs 7.1 ounces empty (lighter than ANY .380).... estimated to be on the market in a month or two.

[jbirds1210]

I understand that weight is an issue for you, but I really try to only carry something I would be comfortable shooting across a restaurant with.

I have a Smith 642 that I will carry if my dress will not allow a Glock 26, but do not trust my revolver skills at any real distance. I generally go with an ankle holster if the Glock wont fit elsewhere.

Mouse guns are awesome in the hands of some people......just not mine. You are more than welcome to try out my airweight smith if you are local. Good luck.

Jason

[RPB]

I understand that weight is an issue for you, but I really try to only carry something I would be comfortable shooting across a restaurant with.
Jason

I agree jbirds1210, I do carry a Glock 27 with internal Armalaser Guide rod, in a waist/fanny pack, and my Diamondback DB380 IWB, or Glock 27 IWB .... I was just mentioning my pocket guns for this thread. I rarely go anywhere with just 1 gun. .... If I have to, I'll leave the fanny pack at home and use IWB + Pocket. Most I've carried concealed was 25 to 30 guns at one time (for a police training exercise .... find them all, ... be sure to check under the baseball cap for that NAA .22, type exercise)

[jbirds1210]

I understand that weight is an issue for you, but I really try to only carry something I would be comfortable shooting across a restaurant with.
Jason

I agree jbirds1210, I do carry a Glock 27 with internal Armalaser Guide rod, in a waist/fanny pack, and my Diamondback DB380 IWB, or Glock 27 IWB .... I was just mentioning my pocket guns for this thread. I rarely go anywhere with just 1 gun. .... If I have to, I'll leave the fanny pack at home and use IWB + Pocket. Most I've carried concealed was 25 to 30 guns at one time (for a police training exercise .... find them all, ... be sure to check under the baseball cap for that NAA .22, type exercise)

Awesome....please know I was not picking apart your choices, just sharing mine. I pocket carry my G26 in a Mika's pocket holster throughout the summer with good results. I hope you find what works for you with pocket carry.

[9mmfish]

Awesome....please know I was not picking apart your choices, just sharing mine. I pocket carry my G26 in a Mika's pocket holster throughout the summer with good results. I hope you find what works for you with pocket carry.[/quote]

I have a M&P 9c that I decided on over a Glock 26. The 26 seems to big to me for pocket carry.

I'm probably going to go with a Sig p238 or a Bersa .380cc. I think either of these will front or back pocket carry in jeans or in shorts with cargo pockets which is my to most frequent forms of dress.

[Rex B]

Be sure to try them out if possible.
I've had two Bersas. Overall I liked everything about them, but the SA trigger was just too light.
That sounds a bit odd, but what would happen is I'd shoot the first shot DA, then recoil was enough to trigger the 2nd shot.
So every new magazine started with a double-tap, but the 2nd shot was not controlled. I wasn't really comfortable with the SA trigger anyway. I think it was probably something to do with the way the gun fit my hand, length of trigger pull or ? I probably could have overcome that with training, but as I had plenty of other choices without that issue, I just sold the pistols instead.
As I said I did this twice. The first time was when I was faily new to handgun shooting. A few years later I tried another thinking now that I was an intermediate shooter the issue would not be there. But it was.
I have not had that problem with any other pistol.

[lrb111]

My solitary carry piece for a real long time was a compact Bersa Mini-Thunder 9mm. It's a double stack, not as thin as the .380, but it is still worthy of pocket carry under the right conditions.
The Bersa .380 is nearly a legend in some circles. try http://www.bersatalk.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I like the 9mm idea better than a .380 but I'm worried about recoil I want to be able to enjoy shooting what ever I buy and I know alot of the pocket/mouse guns are no fun to shoot.

How do you like shooting the Mini-Thunder?

I really like it. I have over 4000 rounds through it. I put a full sized barrel in it, and shot some IDPA type events. Did okay for a slow old guy.

Of course, I'm carrying and practicing with a Taurus compact PT145 now. The two are not real different for size and weight. Shooting the .45 for a while makes the 9mm seem like a playday.