Sidearms & Scatterguns How Best To Carry a J frame?

SporterII

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Minuteman
Nov 23, 2006
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Central Fl. USA
Casual S. Fl. attire.
Tried a quality IWB behind my right hip. I think the shape with a cylinder made me not comfortable.
1911 works like that and I am used to it.
I want to keep this snubie if practical for me.
 
I carry mine in my front pocket......no holster necessary......

if its not there is OWB on my belt at 3:00......i could never csrry revolvers IWB
 
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In Florida these are a couple that work well for front pocket carry. Both inexpensive and well made.
Top one is a Ruger LCR in Elite Survival; the tab works allows the holster to bend to conform to shape of upper thigh as well to secure the holster during the draw.
Below, is M&P .357 in Safariland #25 holster with suede outside texture to engage cloth of pocket; get it @ Holsterops.com

IMG_2870 copy 2.jpgIMG_2869.JPG
 
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If I'm wearing pants and shirt it's in a Galco OWB holster on my belt. Most comfortable of any of my carry guns.

If I'm in cargo shorts it's in a sleeve typical of the ones above in my front pocket. Still reasonably comfortable you just need pockets deep enough to get the grip all tucked in.
 
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Here's a few of my OWB holsters when it's impractical wear a gun in the front pocket.

Modified Blackhawk CQC variant; not my favorite retention mechanism but it is also not as devilish as claimed on the internet.
Modified Galico.

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My favorite retention holster; S&W 640 ported .357 in a Safariland 6378 ALS.

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These little holsters are easy to modify the mounting platforms to suit your needs. Shown here is use of
simple T-nuts to mate the leather holster to polymer hip platform and get just the right cant angle.

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I carry mine in my front pocket......no holster necessary......

if its not there is OWB on my belt at 3:00......i could never csrry revolvers IWB

Yep, it's a scandium 340PD and weight practically nothing (I've forgotten I had it on me more than once). I usually keep it in the pocket since it's just a backup, I holster a small Glock but sometimes just pocket that revolver if going to the store real quick. If it were SS I'd probably want a small holster. A J frame is one of the best CC weapons ever made IMO. Find a good holster if you plan on carrying it everyday though, it will wear holes in your pocket if you don't. A pocket holster is a great idea (and what I should do really).

I have this cheap leather clip on I got at a gunshow years ago and it fits the revolver well but not the belt. It doesn't have a pronounced cylinder, more of triangle block of leather. A Serpa seems to be about the best belt holster for practically anything IME. Milt Sparks is my go to for CC leather though, they have a few J frame holsters and nobody complains about 'em. The VM2 is about the best IWB holster made, period, for an auto.
 
"Cheap" and "EDC holster" should not be in the same sentence. If the pistol deserves a VM2, then the little wheel gun deserves a quality, leathers pocket holster. Something that looks like a wallet if it prints.
 
I carried a J frame in my pocket for probably 8 years. Went through tons of holsters. The only pocket holster i was ever happy with and i still use is the Desantis sticky holsters. They work like a pocket holster should. I used leather, kydex, other sythetic materials. Desantis has worked very well for me. To me a holster is always essential for any carry. Including pocket. All guns carry better in a proper holster and it certainly keeps things out of the trigger guard. I know there is a long heavy trigger pull on a J frame. But you are digging in your pants to get your gun.
 
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In the cargo/side pocket of cargo pants, always on a pocket holster. I also like ankle holsters, especially while driving.

For all of you front pocket carry guys above, doesn’t it print loudly when you sit down?

My first choice is always IWB or OWB whenever possible. I don’t think I own a carry gun that I have less than 3 holsters for.
 
In the cargo/side pocket of cargo pants, always on a pocket holster. I also like ankle holsters, especially while driving.

For all of you front pocket carry guys above, doesn’t it print loudly when you sit down?

My first choice is always IWB or OWB whenever possible. I don’t think I own a carry gun that I have less than 3 holsters for.
i wear Duluth firehose pants almost exclusively.....nothing prints through these.

ide imagine if you were wearing some slim fit khakis, you might run into an issue........but even at that, most people wont see a revolver bulge and think "gun".....especially a small j frame, they are kind of small and indistinct.
 
i wear Duluth firehose pants almost exclusively.....nothing prints through these.

ide imagine if you were wearing some slim fit khakis, you might run into an issue........but even at that, most people wont see a revolver bulge and think "gun".....especially a small j frame, they are kind of small and indistinct.
Thanks, I just checked their website and there’s more than one type. Specifically which ones do you like?
 
In the cargo/side pocket of cargo pants, always on a pocket holster. I also like ankle holsters, especially while driving.

For all of you front pocket carry guys above, doesn’t it print loudly when you sit down?

My first choice is always IWB or OWB whenever possible. I don’t think I own a carry gun that I have less than 3 holsters for.
As far as printing, depends on the pants and the legs. I have thick thighs so sometimes i print, with the right holster printing is minimized.
 
a few ways i carry my mdl 60,

1 bladetech klipt appendix or at 4:00
2 desantis pocket tuck appendix or at 4:00
3 desantis cargo pocket holster with the extended "wing" in a cargo pant / shorts pocket, or field jacket large cargo pocket in winter jacket.

if vedders comes out with a j frame holster, that'll be my go to.

i also like alpha concealment & mk-tech due to the lack of sharp edges, common sense shaping, minimalistic holsters, sweat guards, and methods of attachment used
 
I carry my charter arms southpaw all week in a desantis sticky holster wearing la operator pants and I'm a steel hauler no one has ever pegged me for it my only problem is my pockets could be just a smidge deeper some time the butt tries to poke out
 
I carried a j frame for about 15years for work. A pocket holster works well as does a belly band (with it the pistol sits just behind your belt buckle). I preferred the belly band as it allowed me to use my pockets for other things
 
Another vote for pocket, I think the cylinder bulge almost works in your favor there to break up the distinctive "gun" outline. Mine was ultimately displaced for daily use by a SW Shield because I was able to shoot it much better, but the J frame was very easy to carry.