Pocket carry & loud bang

[sncup]

This morning sitting in a bike shop / coffee shop with friends, a loud bang.
Having been reading about lawsuits Sig had with guns going off – in holsters & untouched – I immediately thought about an accident.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/special-forces-pistols-1.5897942
Since my leg was not burning I didn't think it was mine and looked around for who was in distress. The guy across the table from me, a fellow navy vet, said "sounds like a 45".

Turns out it was a bike tire blow out. Whew.

However it made me consider where the gun in my rt front pants pocket was pointing and consequences of an AD at that point. I've decided to nix pocket carry and only carry such that a AD in the holster would cause minimal injury to anyone.

 

[beentheredone]

A glitch in military procurement? I am shocked, I tell you. Shocked!

 

[Mobuck]

I ain't packin' my shooter pointed toward my "leg".

 

[Jeepnik]

A glitch in military procurement? I am shocked, I tell you. Shocked!

Oh please! The same sorts of folks adopted the M-16. Nothing should surprise you after that debacle.

 

[blume357]

I was totally against pocket carry until I watched Hichock 45 do a YouTube episode on it. As with any firearm and carry, a proper holster and training is the answer. I still prefer carrying at 4o but there are times when a smaller pistol in the pocket is easier. One advantage to pocket carry is if you are in a situation that could turn dangerous but are not totally sure, you can have your hand in your pocket and on the gun and not look threatening or even indicate that you are carrying and less than 1 second away from using deadly force.

 

[sncup]

Blume
I very much agree with what you are saying. However on Friday when I looked down and considered where my pocket carry gun was pointing, it was at the person sitting opposite me (groin or lower) or past him to a ladies group.

Pocket carry does have several advantages, but I'm not going to do so if my activities include sitting down in a group setting (restaurant, waiting area). Good holsters are hugely important but all my civilian training tells me NOT to have a loaded gun pointed at people – even if you are not touching it.

 

[dstegjas]

I agree, pocket carry can have its hazards. I carry the S/W 380 body guard in my front pocket. I usually wear cargo pants with the wider pockets on them. so the gun actually lays grip up with the barrel pointing behind me. Sitting down, it’s pointed at the ground. I like the body guard because of the long trigger pull. The odds of it discharging without actually pulling the trigger are pretty slim. There is nothing wrong with the other pocket pistols. This one just works best for me.

 

[vito]

If I were really concerned about the gun I was carrying going off by itself, I wouldn’t carry it. I like pocket carry, in a Desantis pocket holster, and carry my Lc9s or my 642 in that way far more than I carry IWB or OWB. From a sitting position, the gun is pointed away from my body, unlike carrying on my belt where my gun is likely pointed right at my femoral artery when sitting. But as I said at the start, I have no worries about the accidental discharge of my holstered gun, and prefer the advantages stated by others about pocket carry, including using public restrooms.

 

[Snake Pleskin]

Like most people posting I own more than one firearm and do so for a reason. They serve a different purpose, not just to have them. I do not carry 1911 style pistols period. Trained with them and used them when required, but I've seen to many ND's with them over the years. When it is necessary to carry appendix I use a SA/DA style like a SIG 226 or a CZ75 compact. They have a decocker, long trigger pull and a hammer which contributes to safety. No preloaded striker fired pistol in appendix carry! I also own Glocks and love them but not in Appendix carry. In pocket carry I have Glock 42, LCPII .22lr or various J frames. I carry the 42 in a OWB. The LCPII has a safety and the j frames, well, are j frames. If you pick the right tool for the job at hand and not because its the latest and greatest you are usually in a safer condition. Anytime a pistol is offered with a safety or without one, I get the one with a safety. It's a no brainer. If you think you are so good that you do not need a safety(LOL) fine, but I'll take the added measure of safeness every day, because the safety does not hinder my use of the firearm in any way and provides one more level of safety and that is the bottom line anyone with a firearm should be concerned about. Safety! It is not just about YOU, but everyone around you too. You are responsible for their safety every time YOU have a firearm on you. Just have an ND and see how fast you are arrested, prosecuted & jailed. Then the lawsuits begin. Just one mans opinion.

 

[blammer]

All who carry have to do so in the way they see fit and most comfortable. It's their life and their responsibility for wherever a bullet might go. Good points above and I'm glad to see well thought out reasons for the decisions made.

I decided to pocket carry only pistols with manual safeties for the reasons of where it is pointing when seated and as extra precaution on drawing with my old ham-fisted hands, especially when seated.

Always tradeoffs. If things start getting more unsafe, I might revisit the extra seconds it takes me to draw from a pocket.

 

[blume357]

So, one of the cardinal rules is to only point a gun at something you want to destroy... but does that include when the gun is 'dormant'. Whether in a good holster on your side, in your pocket or just sitting on the coffee table at home? Contrary to what they write or report in the news, guns don't go off by themselves... A lot of shoulder holsters have the gun pointed at what ever is behind you...

I guess with the situation sin cup described .... if the pocket gun that was pointed at the guy's groin across the table was a striker fired or 1911 style with safety off and a tooth pick or such got caught inside the trigger guard while it was holstered and had pulled the trigger almost to the point of tripping it and then you adjusted your sitting ... yes, the gun could have gone off on its own.

 

[Snake Pleskin]

Remember when the Glock was issued IN NYC. The NYPD had the highest ND rate in the country, hence the requirement by the NYPD for the "Glock" trigger, which substantially increased the trigger pull rate to help avoid ND's. Most ND's happen when re holstering a weapon. Something including, gets stuck in the trigger guard and as you jam it back in the holster, bang!

 

[vito]

When I pocket carry nothing besides the holstered gun goes into my right front pocket, nothing. Not a tissue, toothpick, key or anything else. So far it’s never caused me the slightest problem.

 

[Bob Wright]

When I pocket carry nothing besides the holstered gun goes into my right front pocket, nothing. Not a tissue, toothpick, key or anything else. So far it’s never caused me the slightest problem.

Since I carry a Ruger Blackhawk, accidental discharge is a very remote worry with me, as the hammer must be cocked first.



Bob Wright

 

[kmoore]

I have carried 3 different handguns in a pocket carry for many years. Along with a few co workers. In a jacket pocket or pants rear, front or cargo pocket. In my world no one has ever had a AD when carrying a pocket gun. But then again you must know how the gun is designed to be carried as in manual safety on/off etc. and as another stated, its carried in a holster and NOTHING else is in that pocket.

 

[Mobuck]

I was 'banned' from carrying in a horizontal position shoulder holster because "it allowed the weapon's muzzle to sweep anyone behind me". I couldn't deny that even though I wasn't touching the gun in any way.

 

[Snake Pleskin]

I worked at SGC for 10 yrs or more on the range and as a trainer. We had to pass the Phoenix PD firearms' test each year to stay qualified. No holster use was allowed other than strong side because of the potential for "sweeping" others. It is a fairly standard rule at most well run ranges.

 

[BearBiologist]

I pocket carried for years with Mika pocket holsters=both semi-autos and revolvers. I still sometimes carry a G43 or G27 (Glocks) in my cargo pants thigh pocket but I carry with an empty chamber (I really don't expect a quick draw situation!)

 

[RSIno1]

I like pocket carry, in a Desantis pocket holster, and carry my Lc9s or my 642 in that way far more than I carry IWB or OWB.

I've got one of those for my 642 but rarely use it. It just makes the gun bulkier. I'm not worried about AD with its 15+ lb trigger pull.

 

[Snake Pleskin]

I use leather pocket holsters from AZULA for my 42 & 649, that eventually mold to the firearm. I use a DeSantis for my LCpII.22lr.

 

[Hvymax]

I use leather pocket holsters from AZULA for my 42 & 649, that eventually mold to the firearm. I use a DeSantis for my LCpII.22lr.

Problem with those is that the gun fully prints in a jeans pocket. And they roll around in a cargo pocket.

 

[Hvymax]

So, one of the cardinal rules is to only point a gun at something you want to destroy... but does that include when the gun is 'dormant'. Whether in a good holster on your side, in your pocket or just sitting on the coffee table at home? Contrary to what they write or report in the news, guns don't go off by themselves... A lot of shoulder holsters have the gun pointed at what ever is behind you...

I guess with the situation sin cup described .... if the pocket gun that was pointed at the guy's groin across the table was a striker fired or 1911 style with safety off and a tooth pick or such got caught inside the trigger guard while it was holstered and had pulled the trigger almost to the point of tripping it and then you adjusted your sitting ... yes, the gun could have gone off on its own.

I wouldn't necessarily consider bouncing around in a pocket dormant. A good holster helps but most pocket holsters aren't known for retention and if they were would add taking the holster off the gun to use it.

 

[Ranger]

I've come to appreciate the benefits pocket carry can offer at times (isn't always the best). I haven't found the perfect holster that adequately (in my opinion) disguises the firearm outline yet though. Still looking.

 

[Ranger]

Regardless of Firearm, I don't think I'd feel comfortable without it in some form of pocket holster though.

 

[blume357]

I've been taught that when carrying a handgun on your person the trigger should be covered... and all the holsters I have do this including the one pocket carry holster. Pocket carry holsters are designed to be sticky on the outside and slick on the inside.

 

[Hvymax]

I've come to appreciate the benefits pocket carry can offer at times (isn't always the best). I haven't found the perfect holster that adequately (in my opinion) disguises the firearm outline yet though. Still looking.

I've found that putting the spare magazine alongside the pistol in the holster completely breaks up the outline of the gun and means you have a reload handy.

 

[TPopkin]

I carry a S&w Scandium J-frame .357 in a Galco holster....almost never know it is there from pulling down my pants. Seats well in driver's seat of the car. lightweight guns are easy to carry and a bit more difficult to shoot. Comforting to know it is there.

 

[StevethePirate]

I've been pocket carrying a J-Frame in a Simply Rugged pocket holster off and on for about a year now. Yes, with the wrong pants, it prints more than is acceptable, but it's a great option in winter coat pockets, baggy pants, cargo shorts, etc. With a proper pocket holster (and dedication to keeping that pocket clear of other items that may find their way towards the gun), they're as safe as any other carry method. It takes different care and respect for the gun than carrying owb, but for its niche, it's very hard to beat.

 

[Paul B]

My pocket gun is an S&W M60 .38 Spl. I sits bare in my right hand pocket and doesn't print in most of my jeans. Its job is back up to the IWB Colt Combat Commander that is my main piece. Sometimes I use a Walther PPK/s as my main gun with the M60 again playing back up. I cannot think of anything that might make that gun go band while in my pocket. The Combat Commander is a 1911 type gun and is carried condition one. I don't worry about it either.
Paul B.

 

[Mobuck]

I don't where/how it was carried but I heard a 'clatter' and saw a shiny silver finish revolver skitter from under the partition of a stall in the Menards men's room a while back. The guy at the urinal closest to the partition casually pushed it back under with his foot. Then he looked at me, rolled his eyes, and shook his head. I couldn't stifle a chuckle that seemed quite loud in the 10'x20' space.