[jeff111]

Despite not really wanting to, I think I'm about to suck it up and buy a "mouse gun" for pocket carry in order to maximize compatibly and convenience with business casual dress for my day job. I'd love to pocket carry a Glock 43 (9mm) but I did it for a week or so and it's just too bulky, even with very large pocketed pants. I think I've settled on a Ruger LCP Custom .380.

I'm also reserve LEO so having a backup for when in uniform will be nice. I shoot quite well at the range weak handed, unsupported. When I shoot right handed on the qualification course I score 100% of the available points. Left handed I score a 98% but it's a fairly easy, 60 round course. I've historically practiced weak hand shooting and plan to continue to do so.

So, when it's a backup, weak side pocket makes perfect sense. But when all I have is the LCP should I stick with weak hand? It makes sense from a muscle memory perspective (100% of the time when I reach in my left front pocket a gun will be there and I'll never have to play "where's the gun today") to do so but that's a trade off with using the weak hand in a bad scenario when that 2% could be critical.

What'll it be? Weak side pocket all the time and do 80+% of my practice with the LCP weak handed (This is what I'm currently leaning towards)? Strong side pocket when the LCP is the primary, weak side when it's a backup? With the former I'd have a gun in 1-2 of 3 possible locations (Strong side hip, strong side pocket, weak side pocket). With the latter there would always be a gun in 1 place and sometimes an additional "primary" in a 2nd place.

 

[Gaius]

You don't have to settle for a .380. Take a look at the Sig P938. Pocket carries beautifully. I use a Remora holster and the fit is fine.

 

[joker1]

What is your duty weapon? Something that is common to that would be a good idea. I realize it is probably a double stack GLOCK and a subcompact double stack GLOCK may be too big for pocket carry.

 

[jeff111]

I've looked at it and really tried to like it. It's certainly a fine piece.

1) I just don't want a manual safety. I want my "manual" safety to be a holster with positive retention. I know it's training and I don't want to train for this. My duty holster is level 3 so I've already got to train to instinctively overcome 3 (really 2 as the "third" is just friction) safety mechanisms to get that weapon in my hand. On some pocket guns I'd be ok with just not using the safety but not with that single action.

2) Pocket carry makes me cringe enough, even in a proper holster, given that the muzzle ends up pointed at stuff more than a hip holster (Yeah, I know about multi story buildings). I'm not mentally prepared for a "cocked and locked" 1911 style single action that posseses all of the potential energy needed to strike the primer, held back by mechanical means and having my kids bouncing on me and what not. I carried (and loved) a 1911 for about 10 years in a Milt Sparks Watch 6 and, despite it being covered with molded horse hide, the safety would end up wiped on occasion if I was particularly active or in and out of vehicles a lot. I don't want to start an argument here. I understand the mechanics and what's possible in the physical realm and fully acknowledge that this is almost completely an emotion based opinion so no need to tout the safety merits of this style of action and people saying "keep your booger hook off the bang button". I'm just not there mentally at the moment and I'll leave it at that.

 

[jeff111]

What is your duty weapon? Something that is common to that would be a good idea. I realize it is probably a double stack GLOCK and a subcompact double stack GLOCK may be too big for pocket carry.

Glock 35 (long slide .40) with streamlight. I'd really like a pocket Glock. I've got a 27 (double stack 40, "baby") which is my normal IWB off duty carry. I haven't been able to make it work as my backup. I've tried it on my vest, on the ankle in a Galco Ankle Glove, pocket. It's just too bulky and I end up taking it off after a couple of hours. I borrowed a 43 (9mm single stack) for a couple of weeks and really liked the gun but it's just a bit too much to drop in a pocket and forget about. It fits in my pockets (I used a kydex "hook" style pocket holster) but it's just very big, prints a lot, and nobody's gonna think it's a wallet.

 

[Stevew]

The LCP is a very popular pocket pistol. I held out for a long time before I finally broke down and got one. When I carry it, I carry weak side. Weak side makes a lot of sense for some of us. i don't use it as a primary very often. When I do the main problem I have is when I go outside at night. I keep forgetting to carry my flashlight in my right hand, I am just so use to carrying my flashlight in left hand.

 

[G26Raven]

I normally carry a Glock 19 or 26. But for pocket carry I like the Sig P938. I agree the Glock 43 seems just a bit too big to comfortably pocket carry.

 

[jeff111]

I'd carry the Glock 43 in my front pocket all day if I didn't have to give a damn about printing (i.e. Everywhere but work. It fits fine, just very bulky to be dismissed as a phone or wallet)... but if I don't give a damn about being "made" as carrying then I'd err on the side of something I feel I can really do battle with in an IWB or OWB holster, under a shirt. Relative to the 43, my 27 is about the same length, slightly shorter from baseplate to slide and less than 1/8" thicker. It's heavier but in a nice holster that additional few ounces is totally imperceptible. For that extra few ounces in weight I get 9+1 of .40, and the ability to carry 15 and/or 22 round magazines for reloads.

So,I like it but the glock 43 fills a niche that I personally don't really need filled. It would be good for running to the corner store, cutting the grass, jogging, etc but so would the LCP. But the LCP is wallet sized so it fills my need for deep concealment at my day job and pro mag makes 15 round magazines that still fit in my covert cargo pockets. Also, even with "blue label" pricing the LCP Custom is about $150 cheaper than the Glock 43.

 

[forester58]

I finally bought the LCP custom. I love this gun for pocket backup or primary when I can't carry anything else. Drop a 13# main spring into it and a Hogue Handall and its pretty easy to get good punching gallon milk jugs at 25 yards which is more than you can ask from a pocket gun IMHO. 100% reliable so far, pretty good trigger and I know its a Kel-tec clone but ,Ruger did a much better job with the Custom than the P3AT. I have the stock 6 round and a spare 7 round. Magguts sells kits to add a round to both without changing base plates. Holster options abound as well. I painted some bright orange around the glow dot front sight and it helped for bright days. I don't think you can go wrong with the LCP. I know people say you can get a 9mm that size but, I have not seen another gun that conceals this well.

 

[jeff111]

I ended up ordering an LCP Custom after wasting my time driving/calling around locally trying to find one (apparently they're a bit scarce right now for some reason). Nobody here has the Custom and only one shop had the regular LCP. It should be here Monday. It was a lot cheaper anyway even with an FFL fee. Given the current scarcity, I figure I can sell it with no loss if I get my hands on it and don't like it.

We'll see how it goes. I'm going to start carrying it on the weak side and practicing with that. If it turns out that I tote it by itself often I'll probably switch to strong side when it's my primary.

 

[flphotog]

You should have added one more option, "Neither"

 

[Kennydale]

I love my Glock G17 and that's my main EDC, but my BUG (Left front pocket , behind MINI WALLET) goes my Ruger LCP.

 

[Nmuskier]

Is this a Glock thread, or a pocket carry discussion? No mention of the most popular pocket gun out there: J frame revolvers.

It's good to be proficient with your weak hand. I carry a bug on my weak side, but what is the advantage of carrying your only defensive gun to use with your weak hand?

 

[KevinRohrer]

Where is the option to always carry strong-side?

 

[jeff111]

Where is the option to always carry strong-side?

That's not an option for me. With my Glock 35 light bearing holster I lose the use of my strong side front pocket.

 

[Matthew Temkin]

If you can practice enough to make your "weak" hand almost as strong as your strong hand then I would go with weak hand only.
The LCP is not an easy gun to shoot so I carry mint in a strong hand pocket holster.

 

[Bolt_308]

Don't know if it is 'right' or not, but I went through a similar analysis/ thought process about a year ago when trying to figure out the best way to incorporate a BUG. My conclusion was to pocket carry the BUG in the weak side pocket ALWAYS. my rationale was that when the crap hits the fan, instincts are going to kick in, and you are not going to have time to pause and think "now,which pocket is it in today?" So for me, always goes in the weak side pocket. However, I almost always have a primary IWB strong side, so VERY rare that I would pocket carry only as my primary. I tested pocket draw times between weak and strong side, and found for me the speed difference was negligible, and again for me the benefit of consistency of the same pocket outweighs the negative of shooting weak hand.

 

[jeff111]

Don't know if it is 'right' or not, but I went through a similar analysis/ thought process about a year ago when trying to figure out the best way to incorporate a BUG. My conclusion was to pocket carry the BUG in the weak side pocket ALWAYS. my rationale was that when the crap hits the fan, instincts are going to kick in, and you are not going to have time to pause and think "now,which pocket is it in today?" So for me, always goes in the weak side pocket. However, I almost always have a primary IWB strong side, so VERY rare that I would pocket carry only as my primary. I tested pocket draw times between weak and strong side, and found for me the speed difference was negligible, and again for me the benefit of consistency of the same pocket outweighs the negative of shooting weak hand.

Yeah, this is what I'm thinking. If I go to guns based on reflex, without conscious thought, it's always in my left (weak) front pocket. If I have a bit more presence of mind and can remember whether I've got a "primary" and go there first. The alternative is that I decide to always use my strong hand first... but then I have to remember if it's on a hip holster or in the pocket (Or train try one first and automatically fail over to the alternate location). For the latter option I may also lose some reflexive ability to use the backup from the weak pocket and forget it's there in a situation where it could have been beneficial.

 

[GPNP]

Try the Ruger LC9s. Shorter than the G43, thinner than the G43,lighter than the G43 and larger capacity. Oh, there's also the Kahr CW9 if you want to stay with a 9mm.