Ron

I just received my Florida Concealed Weapon Permit and am considering buying either one of the small frame .38 Smith & Wesson revolvers or the Kahr PM9. I would prefer to carry the gun in a pocket holster in my side pants pocket. I would appreciate the benefit of the experience of other members of the Forum as to which of these two guns they found or believe to be most comfortably carried in a pocket holster.

Thanks.

Ron

CraigJS

Would you be open to any other choices?

P95Carry

Of those I personally would choose the flatter profile of the semi. I do not like the revo outline much for pocket other than in a big coat pocket in winter.

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Ti Carry

I have to agree with Chris about pocket carrying a revo, but some can pull it off just fine. I would steer you to the MK9 instead though, a bit heavier but much better in quality IMO.

I am looking at the MK9 as well or the R9s, I still can't make my mind up.


Ti.

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JimmyC4

I like the simplicity and dependability of a revolver for pocket carry. For about $400 out-the-door you should be able to land a new S&W 642, then as I do, plop it into your pocket in a $15.95 Mika's Pocket Holster. http://www.frontiernet.net/~akim/

Good luck!

slimjim

I pocket carry a Kahr PM9, Keltec P-3AT, and a Colt Cobra (little bigger grip than S&W J-frame). The Kahr definitely works better than the Cobra in pocket primarily due to its different grip size and position. The J-frame has a tad more concealable grip. I would not want to carry a MK9 in pocket as I find it to be too heavy (i.e. too much "pendulum" action). Fortunately, I have one of the good PM9's. There are those who have problems with the polymer Kahr's. The PM9 will also cost couple hundred dollars more than say a 642. I especially like the reliability and simplicity of a revolver for pocket carry. Good luck.

Barry in IN

I carried J-frames as pocket guns for many years, first a 60, then usually a concealed hammer Centennial like the 442 or 640.

Almost 2 years ago, I switched to a Kahr PM9 Covert.

So, I guess I have some experience with both as pocket guns. I went to the Kahr mostly because I can shoot it a lot better. Other, less important, reasons are that it holds a couple more rounds; it's easier/faster to reload; and it's easier to carry a reload for (if I can carry a fat speedloader, I can carry another revolver almost as easily).
One very important advantage the Kahr has, that I discovered later, was that I shoot it more. Shooting the J-frames was a chore- Besides recoil that made it no fun, I wouldn't always have ammo. I would have to bring ammo just for it if I was going to shoot it. With the Kahr, I usually have 9mm because although I usually carry a 1911, I also carry a HiPower or HK P7 some, so shoot them regularly. That means I have ammo to shoot in the Kahr.
I often carry and practice with a HiPower

With regards to ease of carry, they each have advantages. The Kahr is flatter, therefore slightly more comfortable. But it also makes it harder to draw than a revolver. The revolver's round cylinder holds the pants out for grip access. The flat Kahr allows the pants to close up against it.
The Kahr also "prints" in the pocket easier. A revolver's cylinder helps again here by holding the material away from forming to the rest of the gun's shape.

One last thing- I like the shorter gripped Kahrs for pocket carry. The K9/P9 grips are just a little too long to work well for me. But I think the longer slides are more reliable. Solution- the Covert models. They have the standard slide and short grip. The polymer framed PM9 Covert felt a lot better in the pocket than the steel frame ones. Kinda like a 60/640 S&W vs an Airweight 442.

ELCruisr

Well, I'm in the J frame for pocket carry crowd. I also have an IWB holster and a chest band holster for it. They are a light and versatile gun for me, very easy to carry. Shooting one well does take some practice, they are not exactly instinctive for me like a 1911, which is actually my primary carry. The .38 is a BUG or there for when I just can't carry the .45. In it's role as a BUG I wanted dependability and simplicity. If I'm down to it then I probably won't have time to worry about clearing jams or remembering a different set of controls then my 1911. It's "point and click". One fellow I know refers to his J frame as his "get off me gun".

I did add some after market grips that are wood and a tad longer than the stock. Gives me a better grip and still conceals well. I find 75 or so rounds to be my limit at the range before my hand gets sore with +P ammo, about 100 with standard. These days I'm carrying the 135 gr Gold Dot short barrel loads. Truth is either of your choices are good guns, it would be great if you could rent or borrow both at a range to try and see what you are the most comfortable with.

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Ron

CraigJS, yes I would be open to other choices.

Ron

ccw9mm

I carried a S&W 442 Airweight in a Mitch Rosen "Pocket Softy" for 10yrs. This year, I'm changing my mode of dress somewhat and am moving to dual-carry: a CZ P01 in a strong side belt holster, and one or the other of these sub-compacts for pocket carry ... a Kahr PM9 9mm or a KelTec P3AT 380ACP. Am breaking in both the PM9 and P3AT now, for evaluation, so I don't know yet which will get the nod. Quite possibly the P3AT, if my troubles with the PM9 don't get resolved. We'll see.

Yes, I think that comfort and ease of use are two hallmark features of pocket carry. Of course, that places severe size restrictions on what you can cleanly conceal. It should be thin.

Generally, revolvers are at the outer limits of width, in terms of ability to break up the bulge so that it appears like something else / or nothing. My SW442 had a lot of kick, even in 38SPL +P's. At just over 15oz unloaded, it was a handful to shoot consistently. The titanium or scandium variants are even lighter and kick harder, though they'll be better able to stand up to repeated use of hotter rounds.

The SW442 was also fairly long. In semi-autos, there are a number of choices in terms of length. Notably, the PM9 or P3AT, which is largely why I'm considering them.

The P3AT is tiny. At 6+1 rounds and single-stack, it has been made very, very flat. Of course, combined with the short grips, extended shooting can be hard on the hands. But then, this gun is meant to be carried a lot and shot just a little. Otherwise, so far it has been flawless. Seems to be somewhat poorly made; rather, simply made, I should say. But it has performed very well. Smooth feeding, no jams, no eject problems, reliable shots with decent aim. Stout recoil, though, given how light it is (~8oz unloaded), with micro-weight magazines. The 7rd "extended" mags suck buckets of donkey sweat, and that's a fact. Can't imagine they sell those things, as they simply won't stay together during shooting and completely fall apart. (Both the 6-rounders and the 7's are MecGar, strangely. Thought the 7's would have been better than that, given MecGar's good track record.) If you go this route, stick with the standard 6-rounders, as they're fool proof and solid.

The Glocks sub-compacts are still fairly long, and they're wide/fat. The benefit, of course, is that you get a tried-and-true firearm with higher capacity and ability to handle hotter loads. Lots of good holster options out there, as well, for the baby Glocks. Excellent shooters, excellent reliability, a strong following to give you plenty of people to lean on if needed (ie, gunsmithing services, spare parts, etc). If you're open to a bit larger gun, this might serve well.

The CZ 2075 RAMI 9mm sub-compact is also a possibility. CZ is known for dead solid reliable guns. I've got a CZ 75 Compact P01 9mm. It's a bit large to consider for pocket carry, but the RAMI is about the same size as the sub-compact Glocks. Wonderful feel in the hand, natural pointing, good balance. Heavier than many other similarly-sized guns, but a good package.

- Michael

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