Pocket Carry: Pros, Cons, and Best Practices
Woody's answers are based on published federal and state law. Not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney for your specific situation.
Pocket carry offers deep concealment but severely limits firearm size, requires dedicated holster, and demands careful draw practice. Best for small revolvers and micro pistols.
What This Means for You
Pocket carry represents the deepest concealment option but comes with significant trade-offs in capacity, size, and accessibility. For builders considering carry options, pocket carry fundamentally changes firearm selection criteria, prioritizing compactness and reliability over capacity or features. Understanding these limitations helps determine if pocket carry fits your intended use case.
The Detail
Pocket carry excels at concealment since the firearm completely disappears within clothing, making it ideal for situations requiring absolute discretion. The method works best with lightweight revolvers or micro pistols that won't print through fabric or weigh down your clothing. You'll need clothing with appropriately sized pockets, and the firearm must fit comfortably without obvious printing.
The major disadvantages center around accessibility and firearm limitations. Drawing from a pocket requires significantly more time and deliberate movement compared to belt carry, and you're restricted to very small firearms with limited capacity. Pocket carry also demands a quality pocket holster to prevent the trigger from snagging on pocket contents and to keep the firearm properly oriented for drawing.
Best practices include using a dedicated pocket holster that covers the trigger guard completely and breaks up the firearm's outline. Keep that pocket empty of everything else to prevent interference with the draw stroke. Practice your draw extensively since the motion differs substantially from belt carry, requiring you to clear the pocket opening cleanly while maintaining proper grip.
Build Impact
If you're planning a pocket carry build, prioritize reliability and simplicity over capacity or advanced features since you'll be working with severe size constraints. Consider that pocket carry fundamentally changes your requirements toward ultra-compact designs that may not accommodate standard accessories or modifications.