I have a surgery scheduled for next week on my primary shoulder. If I’m going to carry at all it will be weak hand. My Walther PPS is too large for pocket carry, my P238 doesn’t have a weak side safety. I won’t entertain appendix or hip carry as I won’t be able to clear a shirt.

A friend has a G43 I could borrow. I could get a left side pocket holster for it. Is a standard G43 easily out of sight in the front pocket of jeans, or is it more like my PPS and just a bit too large to hide? If it’s good to go, please recommend a pocket holster for me. Leather would be my preference but not mandatory. Leather would make a nice thank you gift for when I return it.

Update

There’s a new twist. After losing a bunch of weight and getting new jeans, I now have pockets deep enough to hide my PPS. I think I’m going to look for a pocket holster now. Mika and Desantis has been suggested, anything else?

2nd update

Thanks to V-Tail, I should probably consider a fanny pack. Please suggest some of those as well.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 400m,

Check out this size comparison website.. Assuming you have the PPS M2, the two guns are within 1/16" of each other in most dimensions. Height is largest difference at 1/8".

If you're not pocket carrying your PPS, you probably won't like pocket carrying a G43.

Thanks tatortodd, that’s a neat website. Is there anything you recommend for pocket carry that doesn’t sit level with the top of the pocket for all to enjoy looking at? Or maybe I could find jeans with a deeper pocket. I’ll try an internet search for that too.

S&W 642 with a Mika holster?

A G42 is good for pocket carry, although it is a .380. S&W makes a pretty tiny 9mm in their M&P line.

Good luck with your surgery. With a good course of physical therapy, you should recover much of the function in your right arm in about 6 months. Don’t get rid of the PPS just yet.

I pocket carry a P365 daily.

I have several different P365 set ups.

Small pockets get the p365 SAS.
Normal pockets I have the regular P365 with a TLR6 attached or I sometimes pocket carry the longer handle version.



The good thing is, when you get better you can just switch pockets.

quote:

Originally posted by 400m:
Thanks tatortodd, that’s a neat website. Is there anything you recommend for pocket carry that doesn’t sit level with the top of the pocket for all to enjoy looking at? Or maybe I could find jeans with a deeper pocket. I’ll try an internet search for that too.

My S&W 642 and my Kahr MK9 are the only 2 guns I've pocket carried. I actually prefer cargo pants/shorts for pocket carry as all of mine have large front pockets and the shape of the pocket openings are larger than my Levis.

I have a Desantis pocket holster for each gun. Superfly for 642 (it's 9 years newer) and Nemesis for Kahr.

It's probably a 99:1 ratio of carrying my 642 IWB vs carrying it in my pocket. I'd frankly have to dig through my holster drawer to find my pocket holster, but it's currently sitting in its IWB holster.

I was thinking about the 365 as well, but buying another gun is an expensive solution. I passed on the 365 based on cost, but saw that Ruger's Max-9 is about half the money. I haven't bought either, trying to make-do with my G-19, but I'm not in 400m's situation.

A suggestion to a fellow Illinoisan, check on the legality of using a borrowed weapon in this corrupt shithole, mainly your friend's liability if you use his gun in a shooting. Maybe CPD SIG could chime in on this.

Like all these striker pistols, even micro-compacts, it's not the size that works against them for pocket carry, it's the shape. The upper rear corner of the slide and the rear sight are snag points. Something like the Ruger LCP II or LCP Max will draw much more smoothly.



(The standard LCP has even smoother contours, but might be a handful in your weak hand.)

Or, do you have to pocket carry? Could you put a holster (IWB or OWB wouldn't make much difference) in front of or nearer to the "point" of your left hip, at the 9:30-10:00 position, and draw with your left hand? (With holster clock positions, 12:00 is in line with your navel.) Then all you need is a left-handed holster. And some practice shooting left-handed.

Good thinking, if he doesn’t weigh in on this, I’ll email him. I certainly don’t need to invite trouble.

quote:

posted by newtosig765:
I was thinking about the 365 as well, but buying another gun is an expensive solution. I passed on the 365 based on cost, but saw that Ruger's Max-9 is about half the money.

I have both, the 365 for longer. They are virtually equal, almost indistinguishable, in size and performance. Despite large pockets (this is important) and a Mika pocket holster, I just didn't find the 365 good for that carry because of the slide and rear sight snagging. For me, these are very compact and more comfortable belt guns.

egregore, I’m trying to stay away from belt carry as I won’t be able to use my right hand to clear my shirt. I have practiced lifting my shirt with my L thumb hooked up and that works when I’m posed in front of a wall, but I’m not so sure that wouldn’t go south under pressure.

Are you in an enviornment that will permit loose over shirt or light jacket and perhaps a shoulder rig for weak arm access?

If that will not cause an issue with your gimpy wing while you recover.

I think getting a shoulder holster on or off would be unbearable.

He's in the Chicago area, so it's winter coats for the next few months. As to shoulder holsters, last I checked the Galco Miami Classic, which I have two of, was about the cost of a Ruger Max-9 and a bunch more than some of the other pistols suggested.

Full disclosure, I'm a cheap, penny-pinching old guy!

I’ve had hand issues in the past. (Broke my spine in 3 places/cracked bones in my hands many times. If I tweak something, my hands get iffy.)

For smaller hands, the browning 1911-380 works well as a belt carry.

(Mine bump the safety)

I ended up with either the air weight 22lr J frame, if my hands are really bad, or an air weight 38 special, loaded with wad cutters.

(Federal gold medals/gold match can’t remember) work really well in snubbies. The sights are regulated well, they do decently in ballistic gel, low recoil, and reasonable enough to actually practice with.

I realize “uberthunp McSexy Bullets” sell - but I’m a big fan of reasonable penetration, minimal report/recoil/capacity.

For pocket carry, I would consider a S&W Bodyguard 2.0 in .380acp. Never fired one, but I heard outstanding reviews on it. $400.




As you can see, smaller, lighter, and higher capacity. And with Federal HST rounds, not a bad alternative.

SafePacker?

https://thewilderness.com/product/safepacker-holster/

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
SafePacker?

https://thewilderness.com/product/safepacker-holster/

No, but I forgot about fanny packs. Surely nobody is gonna judge a middle age man with an arm in a sling.
Thanks V-Tail!

Sounds like you have a great reason to buy another gun and holster LOL

Have to echo the Ruger LCP suggestion, nothing to snag, thin, light, and the LCP Max has plenty of capacity. Only $199 at PSA and most larger LGS

Link LCP 380 Max $199.99