[rlggray]

If you do own a small revolver, is pocket carry without a holster part of your normal routine, or not?

I never carry mine sans holster.

My favorite minimalist holster is the Blackhawk (Sticky) TecGrip.

 

[graydude]

I'm one of those safety nuts who won't carry any handgun without a holster. I get comfortable carrying most guns and end up forgetting about them while doing yard work, fixing things in the garage, rough housing with the kids and dogs, etc. For me the chance of something catching and pulling an exposed trigger in my pocket is too great, even with heavy DA wheelguns, and holsters are a simple answer with few downsides.

Plus holsters keep all the lint, bark, sawdust, plant debris, and other gunk out of the actions and barrels. But that's my life, others live differently, so the risk calculus for others may be significantly different than mine.

 

[jacob jump]

Why does who wins the election have anything to do with this question?

 

[forester58]

Why does who wins the election have anything to do with this question?

Hello? Gun control under Bilbo/Kalamaty and the elimination of semi auto handguns, i.e. carrying revolvers.

 

[G26Raven]

Why does who wins the election have anything to do with this question?

Because Biden and Harris are virulently anti-gun and they will go after the semi-autos first. Somewhere down the road it will be ALL FIREARMS, but the semi-autos are where I expect them to start.

 

[JayGunFu]

Given that Joe Biden may possibly win this election, I am thinking that I may end up carrying the K6S snubby more than I thought. After receiving it back from Kimber, I slipped into the pocket of my pants and was impressed with how easy it was to draw without a holster. This got me to wondering how many people don't use a holster when pocket carrying a small revolver?

If you do own a small revolver, is pocket carry without a holster part of your normal routine, or not? It would seem to me that this would be a reasonably safe thing to do, but of course, I could be very wrong. I don't see this as more hazardous than carrying my DA/SA Sig in an AIWB holster, but again, there are probably those with far more experience than I that see some hazards that I don't. I definitely do not carry a semi-auto in my pocket without a holster.

I'd like to hear if there are advantages or disadvantages/safety issues that I am overlooking.

For pocket semi autos never, but pocket J-frames and older I-frames I have pocket carried them without a pocket holster, especially the centennial j-frames and their more modern kins.

 

[retired badge 1]

Most camping, fishing, and hunting trips find me with a S&W Model 34 .22LR revolver in a vest pocket and a box of ammo in another vest pocket. I usually have a .357 or .44 revolver along, but the little .22 has taken dozens of quail, grouse, cottontails, snowshoe hares, even a couple of trout over the years. Very handy to have!

Occasionally I will run to the store for a couple of things, or go mail a package at the post office, or other such quick errands. A S&W Model 37 Airweight .38 Special can ride easily in a jacket pocket.

If I really thought I was going to need to defend myself against serious troubles, my first instinct would be to stay home. My second instinct would be to carry the 12-ga. 870, the M1 Carbine, the 1911 .45, the Browning Hi Power, and call a few friends to go with me.

 

[Rexster]

Yes, on rare occasions. The wisdom and practicality are dependent upon the dimensions of the pocket, and of the weapon.

More often, I have used a pocket holster, with the weapon.

 

[Rexster]

I feel compelled to mention that pocket carry has its situational limitations and hazards, whether or not a pocket holster is part of the equation. Folks often cite the tactical edge that a pocketed weapon can provide, when walking through a hazardous area or situation, with one’s hand casually gripping the weapon, while it remains hidden within the pocket. I agree with this. The problem occurs when one has to get a hand into the pocket, onto then weapon, and then expediently draw the weapon, when a dynamic situation is already in progress.

Hip pockets, for example, will tighten, along with the trousers’ fabric, when one bends at the hip joint. Front pockets may or may not tighten, very much, when one bends at the hip or waist, but getting a hand into the pocket can be blocked by bunched fabric, or by one’s own body. If suddenly attacked, one may have to create distance, to enable access to the pocket.

Some pockets, especially front pockets, may well allow good access to the weapon, but may well dump the weapon, when one bends, squats, or sits. Sadly, a young child recently died, at his own birthday party, in this area, after the child found a handgun that had slipped from a guest’s pocket, while that guest was sitting. (This was according to a statement by local LE.) I do not doubt the story, as I own trousers and shorts that will dump a Seecamp, along with its Kramer pocket holster, almost immediately, and some that will dump a snub revolver that is not inside a pocket holster, or will dump the revolver while the soft synthetic pocket holster remains inside the pocket.

To be clear, I am not against pocket carry. It is rare that my only weapon will be pocketed handgun, if I am out and about.

This is worth a listen, when one has the time:

 

[G26Raven]

Rexster, all methods of carry have their situational limitations and hazards.

 

[Rexster]

Rexster, all methods of carry have their situational limitations and hazards.

True, but, well, I have developed strong feelings about the need to mention specific things, especially safety/survival-related, anytime I discuss pocket carry. If I say anything, I feel compelled to say it all.

The thing about pocket carry, is that it is often done casually, but this is something that can be so very dangerous, if done casually.

 

[forester58]

I don't own pants that guns fall out of or carry guns that go off when dropped but, its good to be aware of the possibility. I also don't pocket carry without another gun on my belt line, usually appendix, that way I have options no matter if I am standing, running,driving or diving for cover.
Two j's can cover a lot of scenarios for me.

 

[retired deputy]

Have front pocket carried for many years. One thing i discovered early on is that without the holster, the snub will shift around a bit. And without a holster, i would eventually wear a hole in my pocket from the front sight. An uncle mike's No. 3 for the j frame fixed that problem many years back..

i regularly use a nemesis pocket holster nowadays for my LCR..