03-08-2010, 04:02 PM | #1 (permalink) |
Tilted
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Pocket Carry Firearm
I'm currently the owner of a J-Frame S&W 640 .357. It's a beauty for most CC, but, as I generally pocket-carry, it doesn't do so well in dress pants due to bulk. I'm in the market now for a small, reliable .380 (reliable in terms of function, not stopping power, as I understand the issues inherent in that caliber), and have been looking at the Sig Sauer p232 for those days when I need to go really deep CC.
I prefer the pocket holster carry more than the others I've tried, including IWB, Belly band over stomach and over chest, and man-purse carry. Unfortunately, while wearing dress clothes, I'm somewhat stuck carrying in the man-purse when the weather doesn't warrant wearing a jacket. Pocket carry feels more natural to me. It's a method that I can draw from in a hurry, and when I'm feeling particularly wary I can walk with my hand over my weapon without drawing suspicion. Does anyone have any experience with the p232? Can anyone explain the differences between the various finishes, and why one would justify a few hundred dollars extra? Also, anything I should look for on this particular model if I'm exploring used-model options? |
03-08-2010, 06:02 PM | #4 (permalink) |
I Confess a Shiver
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I own a P232 in stainless. I've found it to be incredibly reliable and accurate, but it's heavy as hell. It's also a pretty big gun for "deep cover." I'll post sweet comparison pictures later when I sober up. As stated above, it has a baseplate mag release and decocker with no slide stop. The sights are substantial (actually useful) and the fit and finish is up to Sig standards. I wouldn't recommend it for pocket carry due to the weight, though.
Turns out DeSantis makes a ton of pocket holsters that are perfect for what you need. I believe LA Police Gear (retailer) has their stuff on sale. Link here: _GO_ Last edited by Plan9; 03-08-2010 at 06:04 PM.. |
03-08-2010, 06:32 PM | #5 (permalink) |
Tilted
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Wraith: I usually don't out there without a shotgun, case of holy water and great health coverage.
Raptor: I've been considering the Kel Tec, but I hear mixed reviews in terms of reliability. Given the low firepower I'll be packing, I want to be sure every round feeds as advertised and can be used. So you've never had any problems with yours? Cromp (forever Cromp, damn you): Thanks for the link, there's some nice stuff there. I have no problem carrying my J-Frame in stainless in my pocket; it's just the bulk of the thing that foils it for dress pants. I look forward to the sweet comparison pictures as I've never had a chance to compare them side-by-side. |
03-08-2010, 07:18 PM | #6 (permalink) |
I Confess a Shiver
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The P232 is more bulky than a J-frame, bro. Pictures:
SIDE VIEW - S&W 37 AIRWEIGHT, .38 SPECIAL vs. SIG P232, .380 ACP TOP VIEW - S&W 37 AIRWEIGHT, .38 SPECIAL vs. SIG P232, .380 ACP ... With both guns loaded, the S&W 37 weighs less than half of what the P232 does. You'd be better off with a polymer .380 or an airweight snubnose revolver, bro. The S&W 37 is my favorite carry gun. I use it the most often out of my collection. Last edited by Plan9; 03-08-2010 at 07:32 PM.. |
03-08-2010, 09:09 PM | #8 (permalink) |
Unbelievable
Location: Grants Pass OR
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I used to have a KelTec P11. It wasn't a target pistol, the trigger sucked, but it ate anything I fed it, and went bang every time. I loved that gun for concealed carry. It was stolen from me in a burglary. I still miss that gun. I would buy another one in a heart beat if the price was right.
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03-09-2010, 08:09 PM | #9 (permalink) |
Junkie
Location: Pats country
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American Rifleman did a comparison with a bunch of 380's last month (Feb 2010). Most of them were pretty much the same size overall, except for the Walther, but they differed a lot in weight (and price). That being said, if money wasn't a hindrance, that Rohrbaugh looked pretty nice, and is available in the same size in 9mm. Course it's $1100!
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"Religion is the one area of our discourse in which it is considered noble to pretend to be certain about things no human being could possibly be certain about" --Sam Harris |
03-13-2010, 06:37 PM | #11 (permalink) |
Upright
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Instead of buying a new gun in a lighter caliber, you might want to think about a pocket holster for your J frame. A good pocket holster will:
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03-16-2010, 03:49 AM | #12 (permalink) |
Tilted
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Cromp: Damn, man, I didn't realize. Thanks for the comparison pics, those help a lot. Guess I might start looking at the Kel-Tecs instead. As always, you're my go-to-guy in this field. Well, now you're my go-to-guy in this field.
Raptor and Cj: I may just give the Kel-Tec a go. A friend of mine "pawned" her firearm to me, and when she buys it back it should give me just about $350, which could probably purchase one. Any one know of a good way to tell stud from dud in the .380 Kel-Tecs? Llow: Thank, I'll definitely go over that article before I make a decision. Tangled: I thought about the Walther as my dad owns and carries one. I may still consider it, though my budget is starting to tighten up a bit since my original post. Therealcat: Good points. I really enjoy pocket carrying my J-Frame, but the bulk of it is too much in dress pants. |
03-16-2010, 06:24 AM | #13 (permalink) |
Unbelievable
Location: Grants Pass OR
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I've never seen a bad KelTec, however if you do happen to get a bad one, I know their customer service used to be outfreakingstanding. If you understand that the KelTec was designed to be a reasonable priced, concealed carry weapon, and don't expect it to be something it's not, it will serve you well. Most of the complaints I've seen about KelTec were recoil, and trigger complaints. Again it's a gun specifically designed to serve one purpose, and it's my opinion that it does that well.
BTW $350.00 should buy you a new one w/ money left to spare. |
03-16-2010, 08:03 AM | #14 (permalink) |
I Confess a Shiver
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Hey, I help where I can.
If you can scrape together enough sheckles to buy a Kel-Tec P11, you can get a used Glock 26 for a little bit more. I like Kel-Tec (don't own one myself) but the chance of you getting a dud P11 (trigger is infamous bad, gun often requires a little WECSOG to be functional) that can't hit the broad side of a barn at 7 yards is not appealing. Your pocket gun needs to go bang every time and has to be able to consistently hit a pie plate 3 yards off hand. The G26 will be almost as small as some of the other budget guns mentioned and 100% reliable. It also takes Glock mags which means your reload can be a 17 round full size mag if you so choose (very popular option). Holsters and accessories for the baby Glock are numerous. Honestly, I dislike pocket carry and don't do it often due to the size limitations. You can get a good Bladetech IWB holster for like $50 and never have to worry about printing, even with a bigger gun. They have "fully tuckable" models that disappear under dress clothes. Something to think about. Last edited by Plan9; 03-16-2010 at 08:25 AM.. |
03-17-2010, 01:11 AM | #15 (permalink) |
Tilted
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CJ: Money to spare always equals more mags and more ammo, both of which are bonuses
Cromp: I agree. I also own a G27, but, for me, it's worse for pocket carry than the J-Frame as the grip doesn't taper like on my S&W. I need this firearm to be as close to 100% accurate as physics and good maintenance will allow. Were I skinnier around the middle I would definitely go with the IWB holster. Problem is, most of my shirts tend to hug around my stomach and print far too easily in dress clothes. There was a tuckable custom holster that I was considering, but I'm wary of buying a holster that I can't try on first. I may end up buying a better belly-band for the baby Glock and going with that again. I'd like to avoid that if at all possible. |
03-17-2010, 04:45 AM | #16 (permalink) |
I Confess a Shiver
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So shoulder holster and appendix carry are out of the question? I'm just confused as to why you'd prefer front pocket carry over the multitude of options. If you're stuck in an office environment where you're just shirt/pants all day, yeah, it makes it hard to carry concealed. That's just reality. In such a case, you might be better off getting a desk holster or magnetic strip for when you're seated and then switching to a paddle holster or whatever when you head out of the office. Giant pain in the ass? Yeah, kinda, but unless you're in a gun-friendly office, you have to play it all covert so as to avoid alarming the 'phobes. It may be more useful for you keep the G27 at your desk and the J-frame in your car if stowing a gun on your person is a problem.
Example: On long car trips, it's easier for me to use a holster that's mounted to the vehicle than to my belt where it'll just wear a hole in my kidney. I have a backup gun in my GTFO bag, but the main gun is often either on the front of the driver's seat (between my legs) or secured elsewhere in the cab. As long as you have positive weapon retention in the event of a collision and you can index the gun without being too obvious, it's a good setup. Last edited by Plan9; 03-17-2010 at 04:50 AM.. |
03-17-2010, 01:05 PM | #17 (permalink) |
Tilted
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I can carry in a shoulder holster rig under my dress shirt, but that's about it. Seated, any IWB setups print horribly in dress clothes. I if carry at my between my 10 and 2 my belly won't allow me to sit.
I work in open-floor call centers, so I can't actually have the firearm exposed unless I'm in a bathroom stall. And, unfortunately, my car does not lock after a previous break-in. The limitations on my concealed carry are fairly high in this situation which is why I'm willing to drop to a lower caliber. If you can think of a better rig, by all means, let me know. I appreciate the input. |
04-05-2010, 09:24 AM | #19 (permalink) |
I Confess a Shiver
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I hear the Feather AT-9 is a great concealed carry piece for those hot summer months.
... Less about guns and more about concealment: holsters and clothing for the summer! It's the TFP Gun Nut Spring/Summer Fashion Special! ... So, yeah... IWB holsters and cover-up shirts go hand-in-hand. But it's hot out... so what can you cover up with that isn't going to sweatbox your torso? Those fancypants quick-drying half-zip running shirts are totally the answer. They have names like Dry-Weave and Dri-Mesh and whatever else. These things are friggin' great. I wear a regular cotton t-shirt tucked in with the IWB and cover it up with a running shirt. The ones I'm using have armpit mesh (but not see-through), are baggy enough under the arms to not print, and you can push the sleeves up and unzip the chest if you desire more air. I like them because they're breathable concealment and don't look like a safari vest or feature the garish print of the ever-popular CCW Hawaiian shirt. Last edited by Plan9; 04-05-2010 at 09:29 AM.. |
04-05-2010, 09:43 AM | #20 (permalink) |
Future Bureaucrat
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Hmm, I might just do that. I have a couple of dedicated light/summer jackets ( NOT Metro at all! ) that I use as cover garments during the summer. However, most of those experiences have been while going from home (air conditioned) to car (air conditioned) to starbucks/library/friends house (air conditioned). I was hoping for something I could carry without being scared to take off my jacket or shirt, if necessary (...it's Florida...). In the end, I might just IWB my G19, cover it w/ a t-shirt and call it a day.
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07-11-2011, 06:28 PM | #24 (permalink) |
I'm calmer than you are, dude
Location: North Carolina
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I've always wanted to get a couple of ankle holsters, affix them to my wrists and rig up some sort of mechanism that will allow me to fire the holstered weapons when I made the Spider Man web-slinging motion.
I've also always wanted the upper body strength that would allow me to pull of someones arm and then beat them to death with it (like the black guy in the original Dawn of the Dead). /Contributing.
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Calmer than you are... |
07-11-2011, 06:40 PM | #25 (permalink) | |
Future Bureaucrat
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...Found a picture of Walt:
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07-19-2011, 09:47 AM | #29 (permalink) |
Tilted
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I'm chubby, man! Reaching around the belly for an tiny toy pistol gives any craminel the opportunity to have his/her way with my wallet and my woman while I fiddle.
The ankle holster is mostly for secondary carry, or in the truck carry, or when I want a wicked tan line to confuse the natives. |
07-19-2011, 09:49 AM | #30 (permalink) | |
Tilted
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Quote:
I need a sword forge and a beer. |
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07-19-2011, 01:46 PM | #31 (permalink) | |
I Confess a Shiver
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Quote:
1. Your belt line is the single fastest access area for your defensive sidearm. Period. 2. On top of being the fastest access area, the belt line is also easiest area to conceal. 3. Ankle holsters are really uncomfortable, print like crazy and are slow to access. 4. Let's say you've got a love handles: it makes it even easier to hide a J-frame at 4:00. I'm speaking from experience. I have purchased and tried every type of concealed weapon holster from shoulder to ankle to pocket to straight homo fannypack to OWB to IWB to off body to girlfriend's purse. I have used a S&W J-frame in all of these areas. A good IWB from Bladetech is your ticket. Last edited by Plan9; 07-19-2011 at 01:50 PM.. |
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07-19-2011, 06:13 PM | #32 (permalink) |
Tilted
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You mentioned nothing about my sword forge.
I've tried IWB carry, but it was a cheap holster. However, I couldn't find any way to keep it from printing when sitting, leaning, or just shirt hooking on the grip. The ankle holster is just for when my J-Frame is in my pocket or my Springfield XDM is on my hip OWB. I wouldn't be carrying my primary on my ankle. What makes you recommend the Bladetech? |
07-20-2011, 02:49 PM | #33 (permalink) |
I'm calmer than you are, dude
Location: North Carolina
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I'm going to respectfully disagree with that tumbling, tumbling dickweed Plan9. I have found the Blade Tech to be adequate for IDPA/IPSC when you just have to "conceal" your pistol to meet gaming regulations.
IMHO, you can't beat FIST Inc kydex IWB holsters for concealed carry. The holsters are ultra thin, custom molded to your pistol make/model and can be set up in any configuration that your little heart desires. FWIW, I own several and haven't managed to break one yet.
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Calmer than you are... Last edited by Walt; 07-25-2011 at 03:42 PM.. Reason: As per request |
07-20-2011, 04:58 PM | #34 (permalink) | |
I Confess a Shiver
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Quote:
... Seeing that I have the weapon training and expertise of a video game-playing civilian fatty that posts on M4C... I'm not impressed. Turns out metal clips are for pagers and a holster without a "body guard" is about as comfortable as wearing a jock strap all day. I mean, I like the cut of FIST holsters but their assorted clips look annoying and the lack of a "body guard" is a huge turn-off. /scrawny white guy ... Fuck, I've got like 4 more threads to comment on seriously. Tilted Weaponry is busy. Last edited by Plan9; 07-20-2011 at 05:02 PM.. |
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07-20-2011, 08:22 PM | #36 (permalink) |
I Confess a Shiver
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Fine, maybe I'll buy one of the pancake models with a Kydex strap. They're cheap enough to resell.
I just wish it didn't look like it was going to cause a pinch point between the holster and top of the slide. ... UnclearContent, I've found your holster solution. (NSFW) |
Tags |
carry, firearm, pocket |
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