Reader Dev asks: “Can you do a post about pocket holsters? I am very interested as I know nothing about them.”
No Problem, it’s STUPID Simple.
Step One, get a small gun:
There are millions of choices from all sorts of price points. These are just the “Pocket Guns” I have. 2 .38 S&W J-frames (S&W 642, and a S&W 638) a Jennings J22, and a Colt 1908 Vest Pocket .25. There are all sorts of plastic-framed autos like Kel-Tecs, the RUGER LCP, and all sorts of other guns. I even think Kar’s PM series of pistols are ideal for pocket carry. Some even consider the .380 “1911” guns good for pocket carry, but I would prefer a DAO gun rather than a cocked-and-locked pistol. (FYI both the Jennings and the Colt 1908 are SAO…but I also don’t carry them)
When you find your preferred small gun, Step Two Get a holster for it. Two Worlds will serve you well DeSantis Nemesis They’re cheap and they are AWESOME. A pocket holster does NOT need to be expensive or ultra-spesific. They need to perform 3 tasks. #1. Keep your trigger-guard free to prevent accidental discharges. #2. Keep pocket crud out of your gun. #3. Stay in your pocket when you draw.
The Nemisis does all of these, and does it for short money.
Step Three: Put gun in holster
Step Four, put in pocket and go about your day. I’ll defer to Jay for the demo
There’s really nothing too it. You simply place gun and holster in your pocket. Grab the gun and pull, and holster drops into your pocket and gun comes out.
You simply need pockets big enough to carry your gun. I carry that j-frame in the front pockets of my Jeans whenever I’m not packing a 1911, or feel the need for a back-up-gun. I have some pants where the pocket is too shallow or narrow for pocket carry, it all depends on what gun and holster you picked. Pocket holsters print…but they’re supposed to. People carry stuff in their pockets, pockets bulge. The holster should break up the outline of your gun so it doesn’t LOOK like a gun.
So there it is, quick and dirty. Any questions?
I didn’t know Jay had a Youtube Channel! Cool!
And this is kinda funny, I just bought a pocket holster yesterday for my XD9 subcompact. It was so cheap I had to do it. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it, right? Though even though it’s a subcompact it’s kinda pushing it for pocket carry.
Yeah that’s what I would say, but let me know if it works in a pocket. I’ve heard of people carrying their subcompact Glocks in their pockets, but that also seems a bit much for a pocket gun.
I suspect a subcompact XD or Glock would work just fine with pocket carry as long as you’re wearing cargo pants / shorts with deep, wide pockets.
It fits ok in the front pocket of the pants I wear–Cabela’s cargo type pants–but I don’t think you would even be able to fit it in the front pocket of blue jeans. Luckily for me, I hate blue jeans and never wear them (POCKETS RULE! CARGO PANTS FOREVER!). I think I will mostly stick with the OWB holster I have, unless I am going somewhere where I need to tuck in a shirt or something.
I grabbed an Uncle Mike’s pocket holster for my 642 this weekend. I can’t pocket carry in my jeans, but in khakis, it just disappears. We got back to the hotel from the wedding, and as I was emptying my pockets, MrsZ said, “Hey, were you carrying that the whole day??” Sure was. Including while we danced. She never noticed.
My 642 went to the last wedding I was in. Actually the LL Bean Dress Slacks I was wearing had a change pocket on the right side which was IDEAL for two Bianchi speed strips.
I had an Uncle Mike’s for a while and they’re good, but they don’t break up the patten or hold up as well as the DeSantis…and the price is about the same. Grab one when you get a chance, you’ll thank me later….just like I thanked Jay.
Carry mine in the cargo pockets, also. Gave up jeans 10 years ago. But I follow Jim Cirillio’s “New York Reload” philosophy, so my lumpy cargos look/feel balanced as I go about my day. Actually am dreading the day when I reenter the Corporate Suit and Tie world, going to have to rethink/retrain my gun carrying system. Hope the Man Bags stay in fashion.
Thankfully I haven’t had to work in a place that hasn’t let me dress like a total hobo.
I did have a job in College where I had to dress in a dorky sailor suit. That was a great job, but I had a LOT of fun cutting up that white sailor shirt and running it down the barrel of my .45 slathered in M-Pro 7
Thanks! 🙂
Obviously practiced!!! WHY is there no face shot and WHY did he practice this in SOME bathroom with all the windows looking like a construction site…
However, he IS quick on the draw…
Just where he decided to shoot the video. The bathroom is his master bath, and the cropping of his face is probably just the best angle to show the draw. If you really want to see Jay’s face just go to his blog, he show’s his ugly mug all the time.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you! 😉