Pocket Carry....

Interesting ready from caring in your pocket. My next toy will probably be a 357 snub nose and I gotta get a holster for it.

3 considerations for pocket carry

Earlier this month, my good friend and PoliceOne Colleague Lindsey Bertomen and I had the distinct pleasure spending a full morning at Media Day at the Range — the semi-official opening of SHOT Show 2014 — at the Boulder City (Nev.) Rifle and Pistol Club. We then spent our afternoon at the Clark County (Nev.) Shooting Complex, attending an invitation-only event hosted by Sig Sauer at which a dozen or more Sig specimens were available for testing.

Make repetitions from the pocket a training priority. In the image above I demonstrate with an old Kel-Tec Blue Gun I had in a drawer in my office...

...During our day of “work” we were given the opportunity to shoot three excellent “micro-sized” handguns: the Beretta Pico, the Glock 42, and the Sig Sauer P290RS. I encourage you to check out Lindsey’s outstanding article in which he shares his thoughts on all three pistols.

Here, I want to share three quick thoughts to keep in mind if you elect to purchase and carry one of these excellent “pocket guns” — whether that be as an on-duty backup gun or an off-duty concealed carry gun.

I will say this again in the close, but let me be clear right up front: This list is just the beginning. It’s intended entirely as the starting point.

That disclaimer dutifully disseminated, here are my “3 Ds” of pocket carry.

1.) Designate that pocket your pocket-gun pocket. Into your chosen pocket goes nothing but your gun (and its holster, because that’s how you should be carrying). No combs, coins, cards, or cash. Nor should you discard there any other “pocket litter” like chewing gum wrappers or retail receipts.

2.) Do regular pocket maintenance. I was speaking about pocket guns with a buddy of mine recently and he gave me some awesome advice — which he had been given someone else at an earlier date. Once a week (at least) turn the carry pocket inside out and vacuum it. No lint, dirt, or other detritus allowed!

3.) Decide to make repetitions from the pocket a training priority. This should go without saying, but use a cleared weapon in a safe environment and practice. Take into account different types of clothing that may be worn during different seasons and incorporate that into your practice sessions.