Acceptable revolver for pocket carry?

Malcolm Reynolds · November 13, 2014, 09:41 AM

I have a mid-sized auto that can work IWB during the winter. I'm in the market for something to carry in warm weather and I'd prefer to pocket carry. I've looked at the LCP and some other semi-auto options, but I'd really like to carry a revolver.

Would something like the Taurus 85UL work in a pocket holster? What other revolvers would you suggest? Thanks for the help.

BarryLee · November 13, 2014, 09:44 AM

I have a S&W 442 which works very well for packet carry. S&W has a lot of variations on what they call the J-Frame any of them should work.

lee n. field · November 13, 2014, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Would something like the Taurus 85UL work in a pocket holster?

Absolutely.

Grant D · November 13, 2014, 01:25 PM

My pocket carry is a NAA Mini-Revolver 22mag Wasp.
I find J frames to large for my pockets, so I carry them in a OWB holster.
(And I also have a LCP I can carry in my hip pocket)

tallball · November 13, 2014, 01:32 PM

I removed the hammer spur from my 85UL and is a pretty decent pocket gun. It's a little big for very hot weather, but it fits in most pockets okay.

2ndsojourn · November 13, 2014, 01:56 PM

Naturally, most of the emphasis on pocket carry is on the size of the gun, omitting the size of pockets. Check out pants and shorts from Duluth Trading. I'm tellin' ya, their pants have the hugest pockets. Their jeans fully conceal a BHP. Not a real comfortable carry, but it fits. You can easily pocket carry a lot of the lighter compacts and subcompacts, not just mouse guns.

http://www.duluthtrading.com/

Dave Chuppa · November 13, 2014, 04:43 PM

I've carried a few guns in my pockets. The S&W 442 is my favorite. Second in line is my LCR357.

4 Paws · November 13, 2014, 05:27 PM

Couple years back picked up a Ruger LCR. Take a look at it when you get a chance, the DAO design is very nice coupled with the lightweight nature of the revolver.

2damnold4this · November 13, 2014, 05:29 PM

I'm a fan of low weight, bobbed or concealed hammer revolvers for pocket carry. I commonly pocket carry a 642 but there are a lot of good options.

Brit · November 13, 2014, 05:47 PM

Think max 10 feet? S&W lightweight 8 shot .22? Hammerless, do not remember the model, but it is awesome! Twenty two can misfire, revolver? Pull that trigger again.

peggysue · November 13, 2014, 06:55 PM

Smallest and lightest 5 shot 38 revolver is the Taurus View.

rob-c · November 13, 2014, 07:21 PM

love my lcr, loaded and in a #4 Blackhawk pocket holster feels like I have my cell phone in my pocket...

Johnny Falcon · November 14, 2014, 05:51 AM

642 in a Desantis Nemesis.

sarge83 · November 14, 2014, 08:34 AM

S&W 642, Colt DS, S&W 36, have carried all, partial to 642 or Colt for the extra round. Carried all in a Mika pocket holster, best I have found out there.

Malcolm Reynolds · November 14, 2014, 09:32 AM

Thanks for the advice, everybody. I do really need to take another look at the LCRs. I've never had the chance to fire one but they definitely look like they'd fit the bill. And of course a 642 or 442 would be awesome. I'm sure it will take me quite a while to make a decision!

Someone mentioned the Taurus View. I'm still not sure what I think of that gun. It's definitely the lightest .38 I've ever seen. I'm not fond of the "view" part of the View. The little window that shows its insides just doesn't appeal to me. Also, I've never been bothered by recoil in any of the major calibers or platforms I've tried, but I've heard shooting standard .38s through the View is pretty painful. Anybody have experience with it?

lee n. field · November 14, 2014, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Someone mentioned the Taurus View. I'm still not sure what I think of that gun.... Anybody have experience with it?

Someone here, I think username "peggysue", just bought one. I've not seen any range report yet.

Not for me, either. Something that small, I think I'd rather just go with an LCP or equivalent, instead.

davem · November 14, 2014, 02:45 PM

One of the 5 shot S&W/Taurus types in 38 spl. and able to handle occasional +P would work. I got one with the DA only- concealed/shrouded hammer. I sort of regret that. I realize the spur can catch on garments but if an exposed hammer with a rowel could be had- I think that would be better as you could cock the hammer and have a better trigger pull. I'd also put on thin grips so it conceals better.

skoro · November 14, 2014, 03:47 PM

Quote:

What other revolvers would you suggest?

The S&W 642 is perfect. I've been carrying mine for 6 years. It rides in a Mika pocket holster and conceals nicely while being very available for a fast draw.

Pond, James Pond · November 14, 2014, 05:22 PM

I am happy with Astra S&W clone, but if money were no object (it is and stuff here is much more expensive than what you'd pay States-side), I think my ideal concealed revolver would be an LCR: possibly .38Spl +p or the new one in 9mm para.

They are just so small, yet well built. Strong metal where it is needed (very much a la Ruger) and sturdy polymer where it is not.

A well thought out gun, IMHO.

rkittine · November 14, 2014, 05:26 PM

Hammer Shroud or Hammerless is my vote. I had a friend and customer that pocked carried a model 36 S&W and ended up taking it out before going into a bank one day and caught the hammer on his coat and shot himself in the leg. The good news is, that till this day he is pretty consistent at predicting storms from his leg aches and pains.

Bob

DaleA · November 14, 2014, 06:05 PM

IMhO the little S&W's are the 'gold' standard of small revolvers but I fired a $500 LCR and thought it was a very serviceable gun.

Remember when you are trying them out that you do NOT have to run 158 grain .357 magnum loads in the guns. I got to try those loads in the LCR and I just won't do it again unless I'm forced to. The 125 grain offerings are MUCH easier on the hands and I've seen some 110 grain .357 magnum loads too. Plus you can use .38 Specials in a small .357 magnum to tame it even further.

In short be aware of all the loading possibilities you have when you're testing the guns before you rule one out as being too hard on your hands.

Auto5 · November 14, 2014, 10:58 PM

Taurus 85CH. Bobbed hammer doesn't snag. All steel isn't a lightweight though.

http://s279.photobucket.com/user/rus...58ce5.jpg.html

Onward Allusion · November 15, 2014, 12:06 AM

S&W Airlite 10.5oz to 11.5oz and . . . 5 38's, 7 22 mags, or 8 22LR's. Get one with the internal hammer and fire it from inside a pocket.

colbad · November 15, 2014, 01:08 AM

ditto on the 642 in Mika pocket

Real Gun · November 15, 2014, 06:31 AM

My little Rossi 85 is a brick compared to the S&W 637 Gunsmoke Wyatt Deep Cover Clip Grip 38.

I would strongly suggest holding out for an alloy frame. Don't be put off by the name Ladysmith either.

It seems to me that the S&W 642 is the most often mentioned.

November 13, 2014, 09:41 AM	#1
Malcolm Reynolds Member Join Date: September 9, 2014 Location: Northeast Kansas Posts: 79	Acceptable revolver for pocket carry? I have a mid-sized auto that can work IWB during the winter. I'm in the market for something to carry in warm weather and I'd prefer to pocket carry. I've looked at the LCP and some other semi-auto options, but I'd really like to carry a revolver. Would something like the Taurus 85UL work in a pocket holster? What other revolvers would you suggest? Thanks for the help. Last edited by Malcolm Reynolds; November 13, 2014 at 09:51 AM.

November 13, 2014, 09:44 AM	#2
BarryLee Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2010 Location: The ATL (OTP) Posts: 3,946	I have a S&W 442 which works very well for packet carry. S&W has a lot of variations on what they call the J-Frame any of them should work. __________________ A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it ... gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman

November 14, 2014, 05:22 PM	#19
Pond, James Pond Senior Member Join Date: July 12, 2011 Location: Top of the Baltic stack Posts: 6,079	I am happy with Astra S&W clone, but if money were no object (it is and stuff here is much more expensive than what you'd pay States-side), I think my ideal concealed revolver would be an LCR: possibly .38Spl +p or the new one in 9mm para. They are just so small, yet well built. Strong metal where it is needed (very much a la Ruger) and sturdy polymer where it is not. A well thought out gun, IMHO. __________________ When the right to effective self-defence is denied, that right to self-defence which remains is essentially symbolic. Freedom: Please enjoy responsibly.

November 14, 2014, 05:26 PM	#20
rkittine Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2014 Location: Manhattan & Sag Harbor, N.Y. Posts: 106	Hammer Shroud or Hammerless is my vote. I had a friend and customer that pocked carried a model 36 S&W and ended up taking it out before going into a bank one day and caught the hammer on his coat and shot himself in the leg. The good news is, that till this day he is pretty consistent at predicting storms from his leg aches and pains. Bob __________________ Robert Kittine Manhattan & Sag Harbor, N.Y.

November 14, 2014, 10:58 PM	#22
Auto5 Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2013 Location: Chicago suburbs Posts: 662	Taurus 85CH. Bobbed hammer doesn't snag. All steel isn't a lightweight though. http://s279.photobucket.com/user/rus...58ce5.jpg.html __________________ At the young age of five, a bear told me that I was the only person who could prevent forest fires. Why I was chosen, I'll never know.

November 13, 2014, 01:25 PM	#4
Grant D Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2011 Location: Brazos County, Texas Posts: 1,038	My pocket carry is a NAA Mini-Revolver 22mag Wasp. I find J frames to large for my pockets, so I carry them in a OWB holster. (And I also have a LCP I can carry in my hip pocket) Last edited by Grant D; November 13, 2014 at 01:40 PM.

November 13, 2014, 01:32 PM	#5
tallball Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2014 Posts: 2,444	I removed the hammer spur from my 85UL and is a pretty decent pocket gun. It's a little big for very hot weather, but it fits in most pockets okay.

November 13, 2014, 01:56 PM	#6
2ndsojourn Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2013 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,416	Naturally, most of the emphasis on pocket carry is on the size of the gun, omitting the size of pockets. Check out pants and shorts from Duluth Trading. I'm tellin' ya, their pants have the hugest pockets. Their jeans fully conceal a BHP. Not a real comfortable carry, but it fits. You can easily pocket carry a lot of the lighter compacts and subcompacts, not just mouse guns. http://www.duluthtrading.com/

November 13, 2014, 04:43 PM	#7
Dave Chuppa Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Posts: 448	I've carried a few guns in my pockets. The S&W 442 is my favorite. Second in line is my LCR357.

November 13, 2014, 05:27 PM	#8
4 Paws Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2012 Posts: 159	Couple years back picked up a Ruger LCR. Take a look at it when you get a chance, the DAO design is very nice coupled with the lightweight nature of the revolver.

November 13, 2014, 05:29 PM	#9
2damnold4this Senior Member Join Date: August 12, 2009 Location: Athens, Georgia Posts: 2,526	I'm a fan of low weight, bobbed or concealed hammer revolvers for pocket carry. I commonly pocket carry a 642 but there are a lot of good options.

November 13, 2014, 05:47 PM	#10
Brit Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2005 Location: Orlando FL Posts: 1,934	Think max 10 feet? S&W lightweight 8 shot .22? Hammerless, do not remember the model, but it is awesome! Twenty two can misfire, revolver? Pull that trigger again.

November 13, 2014, 06:55 PM	#11
peggysue Junior member Join Date: May 20, 2014 Posts: 1,835	Smallest and lightest 5 shot 38 revolver is the Taurus View.

November 13, 2014, 07:21 PM	#12
rob-c Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2013 Posts: 151	love my lcr, loaded and in a #4 Blackhawk pocket holster feels like I have my cell phone in my pocket...

November 14, 2014, 05:51 AM	#13
Johnny Falcon Member Join Date: August 18, 2010 Location: Maine Posts: 66	642 in a Desantis Nemesis.

November 14, 2014, 08:34 AM	#14
sarge83 Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2000 Posts: 426	S&W 642, Colt DS, S&W 36, have carried all, partial to 642 or Colt for the extra round. Carried all in a Mika pocket holster, best I have found out there.

November 14, 2014, 09:32 AM	#15
Malcolm Reynolds Member Join Date: September 9, 2014 Location: Northeast Kansas Posts: 79	Thanks for the advice, everybody. I do really need to take another look at the LCRs. I've never had the chance to fire one but they definitely look like they'd fit the bill. And of course a 642 or 442 would be awesome. I'm sure it will take me quite a while to make a decision! Someone mentioned the Taurus View. I'm still not sure what I think of that gun. It's definitely the lightest .38 I've ever seen. I'm not fond of the "view" part of the View. The little window that shows its insides just doesn't appeal to me. Also, I've never been bothered by recoil in any of the major calibers or platforms I've tried, but I've heard shooting standard .38s through the View is pretty painful. Anybody have experience with it?

November 14, 2014, 02:45 PM	#17
davem Junior member Join Date: October 4, 2004 Posts: 458	One of the 5 shot S&W/Taurus types in 38 spl. and able to handle occasional +P would work. I got one with the DA only- concealed/shrouded hammer. I sort of regret that. I realize the spur can catch on garments but if an exposed hammer with a rowel could be had- I think that would be better as you could cock the hammer and have a better trigger pull. I'd also put on thin grips so it conceals better.

November 14, 2014, 06:05 PM	#21
DaleA Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2002 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 5,313	IMhO the little S&W's are the 'gold' standard of small revolvers but I fired a $500 LCR and thought it was a very serviceable gun. Remember when you are trying them out that you do NOT have to run 158 grain .357 magnum loads in the guns. I got to try those loads in the LCR and I just won't do it again unless I'm forced to. The 125 grain offerings are MUCH easier on the hands and I've seen some 110 grain .357 magnum loads too. Plus you can use .38 Specials in a small .357 magnum to tame it even further. In short be aware of all the loading possibilities you have when you're testing the guns before you rule one out as being too hard on your hands.

November 15, 2014, 12:06 AM	#23
Onward Allusion Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2009 Location: Back in a Non-Free State Posts: 3,133	S&W Airlite 10.5oz to 11.5oz and . . . 5 38's, 7 22 mags, or 8 22LR's. Get one with the internal hammer and fire it from inside a pocket. __________________ Simple as ABC . . . Always Be Carrying

November 15, 2014, 01:08 AM	#24
colbad Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2012 Posts: 506	ditto on the 642 in Mika pocket

November 15, 2014, 06:31 AM	#25
Real Gun Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2004 Location: SC Posts: 2,743	My little Rossi 85 is a brick compared to the S&W 637 Gunsmoke Wyatt Deep Cover Clip Grip 38. I would strongly suggest holding out for an alloy frame. Don't be put off by the name Ladysmith either. It seems to me that the S&W 642 is the most often mentioned. Last edited by Real Gun; November 15, 2014 at 07:09 AM.