PM9 Pocket Carry - Learn Something New Every Day

[Bill K]

So got dressed and ready to leave for Church. Switched my Glock for my PM9 out. Dropped into my pocket the PM9, which has been ridding in a modified by me Alabama pocket holster, did a couple test draws and determined I was good to go.

So services ends, I'm off by myself for a moment, and as is often my practice when pocket carrying I’ll nonchalantly put my hand in my gun pocket attempt a couple start of a draw sequence. Well to my surprise the start of the draw feels way to “sticky/tacky”. Got that oh crap feeling – hope I don’t have to really draw this thing. I go further off by myself so I can’t be seen and try to figure out what is going on. Analysis... Air conditioning was out of order and apparently my paws had swollen some and perspired some from the heat and humidity in the building. All I could think to do was wait until I got back home to see ifin I’d have the same problem with my .380 (P3AT) in the same pants pockets. NEVER had drawing issues in Church dress pants pockets with my .380 and Nemesis holster.

Well, the ride home (~45 minutes) in an air conditioned car reverses the conditions and the PM9 is again drawing like a hot knife through a tub of soft butter from the very same pants pockets. Lesson learned is that as much as I’d like it to be the PM9 just ain’t the pocket pistol that the .380 is and that I must consider a little extra pocket margin for carrying the PM9 during warmer/hotter weather. Cargo pants slash pockets and Kirland jeans, because of the copious space of their pockets, would have been just fine under the same conditions.

Your thoughts?


Bill K.

[jocko]

stay outta "CHURCH"

[wyntrout]

Heat and humidity... in Church... I woulda been asleep! :rolleyes:

Man! that sounded like the start of an AD episode... sure glad it wasn't!

Wynn:)

[Bill K]

Heat and humidity... in Church... I woulda been asleep! :rolleyes:

Man! that sounded like the start of an AD episode... sure glad it wasn't!

Wynn:)

Not with the chairs we have you're not falling asleep! Rented K 0f C building in Cromwell, CT.

I understand where you're coming from on the issue of safety but AD/ND can not happen. Trigger never passes being covered by the holster as it is just the very start of the draw. Even if it is a full draw you'd never place your finger on the trigger until you've cleared the pocket, you've pointed/aimed the pistol and you've decide to shoot. Still I understand your concern for safety. I understand how you feel it is or could be a risky habit. But the inability to effect a smooth quick draw from concealment could also have its risks.

Bill K.

[mr surveyor]

I'm still waiting for the "pocket carry fan boys" to wake up and realize the method just ain't practical for 25-30% of the waking hours.

[GunByte]

I do not understand your problem about being sticky? I live in Florida and it gets so hot that I sweat through my clothes and use a Nemesis pocket holster and it is not affected by the heat. You did say something about modifying the holster and perhaps something you did caused the problem.

I do not pocket carry when sitting down is going to be a big part of my activity. Drawing from a sitting or twisting position is one of the known drawbacks to pocket carry and should be avoided. I pocket carry mainly when I will be walking around stores or a park all day.

I also found that a Ruger LCR/S&W J-Frame carries much better in my pocket than the PM9. The cylinder provides more space around the gun making the draw easier in my opinion. My PM9 is carried in an OWB holster under a camp style or polo shirt in a pancake hoslter. It is so small that it conceals well for me in that manner.

[Bawanna]

I read it as more of an issue with his hand swelling up and not fitting in his pocket rather than any malfunction with the holster or pants.

Since I sit near all the time pocket carry just isn't an option for me swollen hands or not.

[Bill K]

I do not understand your problem about being sticky? I live in Florida and it gets so hot that I sweat through my clothes and use a Nemesis pocket holster and it is not affected by the heat. You did say something about modifying the holster and perhaps something you did caused the problem.

I do not pocket carry when sitting down is going to be a big part of my activity. Drawing from a sitting or twisting position is one of the known drawbacks to pocket carry and should be avoided. I pocket carry mainly when I will be walking around stores or a park all day.

I also found that a Ruger LCR/S&W J-Frame carries much better in my pocket than the PM9. The cylinder provides more space around the gun making the draw easier in my opinion. My PM9 is carried in an OWB holster under a camp style or polo shirt in a pancake hoslter. It is so small that it conceals well for me in that manner.

Hi,

My written explanation is lacking, let me try again. These particular pants pockets were small/tight enough so that when my hand swelled the "feel" of the start of the draw was what I could only best describe as sticky/tacky. The draw was fine when I left for Church and fine when I got home. Problem was the swelling of my hands from the heat and humidity. If I were wearing my cargo pants the draw would have been fine even with my hand being a bit swollen.

I'll switch from pocket to AIWB ifin I'm going to be sitting for awhile. In the car I'll place the gun in the door map pocket or place under my leg - depending.

Bill K.

[mightymouse]

Hi,

My written explanation is lacking, let me try again. These particular pants pockets were small/tight enough so that when my hand swelled the "feel" of the start of the draw was what I could only best describe as sticky/tacky. The draw was fine when I left for Church and fine when I got home. Problem was the swelling of my hands from the heat and humidity. If I were wearing my cargo pants the draw would have been fine even with my hand being a bit swollen.

I'll switch from pocket to AIWB ifin I'm going to be sitting for awhile. In the car I'll place the gun in the door map pocket or place under my leg - depending.

Bill K.
Bill, I get what you're saying. I have times when front pocket carry seems OK, others when its just a touch too tight, though wearing the same pants. Hot days, forget it. Cargos are great with much more room, but my jeans are always on the borderline. IWB has become the only way to consistently carry and know I can retrieve quickly. Pocket is now exclusively reserved for smaller frames like my LCP or NAA.

[Bill K]

Bill, I get what you're saying. I have times when front pocket carry seems OK, others when its just a touch too tight, though wearing the same pants. Hot days, forget it. Cargos are great with much more room, but my jeans are always on the borderline. IWB has become the only way to consistently carry and know I can retrieve quickly. Pocket is now exclusively reserved for smaller frames like my LCP or NAA.

I've got several different brands of Jeans. I find that Kirkland Jeans from Costco have ample room for PM9 pocket carry - less so the other brands. Off the property I wear my cargo pants more than my jeans.

[paul34]

I'm still waiting for the "pocket carry fan boys" to wake up and realize the method just ain't practical for 25-30% of the waking hours.

Perhaps, but it sure is a lot more practical than the 45 I left at home because I happen to be wearing better fitting dress clothes to church, in which I cannot conceal the 45 as comfortably as I could with regular clothes.

I choose a slower pocket draw over a never draw.

[cal45]

I get what you are saying as it is always hot and humid here in Orlando (well, April - Sept 90 plus & humid) and even though I love the PM9, I find that for pocket carry - a 380 (KT, Ruger, or Kahr) is a much better fit for that role.

[sharpetop]

When he said the inside of his pocket felt sticky and got that "oh crap" feeling, I thought maybe he sh-- himself. [Sorry, I couldn't resist.]

[Bill K]

When he said the inside of his pocket felt sticky and got that "oh crap" feeling, I thought maybe he sh-- himself. [Sorry, I couldn't resist.]

LOL but I don't know why. At soon to be 67 years of age I don't even want to think about it... :)

Bill K.

[KyJim]

Like anything else, the right tool for the right job. I just purchased a CM9 and Nemesis pocket holster. It seems a great pocket gun for some pants, like khakis. I would not pocket carry in "normal" jeans with "normal" pockets. For that, I would opt for an even smaller pistol like my Sig P238 or Ruger LCP.