Pocket Holster VS Neck Holster

[tomhawes2002]

First off let me start off by saying this is NOT an opinion piece! I am looking for feedback and opinions. I use a neck holster probably 90 to 95% of the time. It suites me well as if I am not at work or church I am usually wearing a T-shirt so I find my Mini very easy to draw just by quickly reaching up and under my shirt and yanking down. I also know many folks are not comfortable with a neck holster especially one that is barrel up like mine. I tend to have tons of junk in my pockets, keys, loose change. receipts, cell phone, gum etc so Im concerned if I pocket carried I would have trouble finding my mini amongst all the other stuff, it would possible get dirty and or scratched. I do on occasion pocket carry and that is my second choice.

Today while in town (SA - the big city) My wife and I were out running some errands. She was driving, and while driving in the parking lot of a large chain home improvement store we were almost hit by an inattentive driver who ran a stop sign. Mt wife blasted the truck horn the other lady let us know she thought we were number one the we proceeded to get on the road. The other lady driver followed us, constantly almost kissing our bumper, and brandished a black object that she kept pointing at us through her windshield as if taking aim with a weapon.  When we reached the nearby intersection, the light turned red, so we stopped and the other lady jumped out of her car and started running towards our truck, still waving a black object in her hand. I quickly reached under my shirt and yanked down and drew my mini cocking it as I went to a proper aiming position as I have practiced. About that time the light turned green, and the other lady saw a police car who was observing the commotion a few cars behind. She proceeded to jump into her car and get over to the turnaround lane and took off. I know she did not see my Mini, so it was the police officer that scared her off. I do not know for certain if she actually had a gun or was just trying to intimidate us. I suspect the latter. Regardless we flagged down the police officer and told him what had transpired. Unfortunately as the lady had been kissing our bumper we were unable to get her license number but had a general description of her vehicle as well as the direction she went in so the officer called it in. Keep in mind this whole incident from start to finish was probably less then 3 minutes.  I have to say having my Mini on me gave me a sense of security and confidance, not in an arogant way, but  in a im not afraid way.

Moving on. My question is for those of you that routinely pocket carry either in a holster or otherwise. If you were in a similar situation where you were in your vehicle, or if you were in a carjacking situation would you be able to quickly draw from a seated position? If not while in the car do you usually place your Mini somewhere more accessible or is it a none issue and you can get to it just fine. I know im a bigger guy and would probably not be able to quickly reach into my pocket and draw from a seated position. Just wondering.

[fistmil]

I pocket carry,but never when seated in a vehicle. Seated with a seat belt on, I can't get anything in or out of my pants pocket.I always remove my mini from my pocket before strapping on the seat belt. I put  it in a cup holder or other easily reachable place. 

[TwoGunJayne]

I agree on not pants pocket-carrying while driving. On long trips, I try to wear a shirt with a flap pocket and drop the mini in there.

[heyjoe]

you would have to be a really special kind of stupid to make believe you have a gun to try to intimidate someone in texas. i would assume she had a gun. of course she is a special kind of stupid based on her behavior anyway. if she keeps that up she wont have to worry about the social security shortfall.

i dont have trouble getting a mini or guardian out of my right pocket if i need to. i unhook the seat belt, turn a little and grab it. im 6'3"
i recently did buy a driving holster from patriot joe for just this reason though.
the neck holster just bothers my neck though after a while. i do have a number of herniated vertebrae in cervical spine so that may be the reason.     

[Mandodoc]

Tom, do you have a picture of your neck holster, I'd like to see it. Your reason sounds sound to me and I might contemplate such a devise.

[Dinadan]

I find it rather awkward drawing my mini from my pocket when seated. My solution is to carry a second mini in my boot. That one is a bit awkward to draw while standing but easy to draw when sitting. I know most folks do not wear boots, but NAA sells ankle holsters which would probably work as well. I have considered a neck holster but not tried one yet.

[kbuzbee]

I find it rather awkward drawing my mini from my pocket when seated. My solution is to carry a second mini in my boot. That one is a bit awkward to draw while standing but easy to draw when sitting. I know most folks do not wear boots, but NAA sells ankle holsters which would probably work as well. I have considered a neck holster but not tried one yet.

The only thing harder for me to reach, in a car, than my pocket is my feet Okay, yeah, I'm 300# but I'm also 6'6". I can easy reach something by my wife's feet on the passenger side, but my own feet are inaccessible. But I get Tom's point. It would take me 10 minutes to get my wallet out of a front pocket for road tolls etc. (no, I don't tie up traffic, I set some cash out before we start out )

Actually, a very convenient location for me is the seat back storage behind her seat. I cal reach into that VERY easily.

And while I'm sure it's just fine, I have a conceptual problem carrying a loaded gun pointing up at my head too... Maybe on a empty... Maybe...

Driving holster seems like the best option though.

Ken

[top dog]

Glad to hear that the situation ended before it really became an incident.

I have a kydex neck holster for my 1 5/8 bbl Mini magnum but it has the tendency to cause the gun to slip out of the safety notch and put a live round under the hammer when I draw it.

I double check to make sure the hammer is in the safety notch when I holster it but am concerned about it discharging during the draw cycle.

So,I basically carry the gun in the standard inside the waistband holster while driving,otherwise it is in a pocket holster.

                                                                                                                          Top Dog

[tomhawes2002]

I currently have 2 neck holsters. One which is my usual carry holster is by a local company called On Your 6 Designs. It is a Kaydex compression type holster. My other is a leather holster I purchased from Joe. Unfortunately I did  not pay attention when ordering so while it fits my Mini, its actually a bit to large and long as it is for a longer barreled magnum mini and mine is 1 1/8 22LR. Even though the mistake was completely mine when I placed my order, and though no fault of his own, Joe has graciously (Says a lot about him, the kind of man he is and the pride he puts in all the holsters he makes - Thanks Joe!) offered to exchange it and even customize it to my liking including tooling. I have just been too busy and lazy to mail it back to him (Sorry Joe). Once I get it back to him, it will probably become my daily carry as I'm sure leather would be more comfortable against the skin then Kaydex. I have been pleased with my current Kaydex holster and have used it for almost a year. the only thing I wish was different about it was I wish it covered the hammer spur. Because it does not, I am thinking about ordering a clear kaydex (My current one is black but I saw a pic a while back of a clear one and loved it) from Lost River. I know the barrel up orientation freaks some folks out, but I like that you can quickly reach under your shirt, jerk it down, draw and be ready to fire in a split second. Another nice thing is that most of these holsters can double as a pocket holster,and if you loop the chain/lanyard around a belt loop, the when you pull it out of your pocket the complete holster comes out with the gun avoiding any snagging, but once you reach the full length of the chain/lanyard your gun  separates from the holster and you are ready to fire. In the case of my Kaydex holster, even though it does not cover the hammer spur, it holds the cylinder so snugly that you cannot turn it, so I am not concerned about it slipping out of the safety notch. I will take some pics of both holsters in a day or 2 and add them to this thread.

[top dog]

Tom,
I am interested to see how those holsters look. I think that the gun coming out of the holster straight down will eliminate the possibility of the cylinder rotating to cause a cartridge to come under the hammer from the safety notch.

                                                                                                       Top Dog

[swolf]

I don't like neck holsters, but oddly enough, they are the perfect solution for most of my carry issues.  I carry a shorty most of the time, and put it in a leather holster I made attached to a ball chain.  It faces barrel down, but flips easily if I grab it under my shirt.  I carry it on an empty chamber.  I also have a Kydex that holds it horizontally.  It is nice in the sweaty months as it doesn't absorb moisture, and still has a minimal print even under a t-shirt.  I use that when driving or when packing for more than a few hours as it has a para-cord lace that is pretty comfy.  I don't like wearing necklaces of any kind, but the shorty is fairly light and is a great way to carry when wearing shorts and a T.  I buy crew neck t-shirts that conceal the string/chain.  Wally World usually has sleeveless T's that can work under an untucked denim overshirt too in cooler weather.  But I still prefer my folding grip worn on my rear hip, accessible easily except when driving.

[Kentucky Kevin]

I have a pistol w/floppy wobbler(folding holster grip)in each pocket and can acces either while seated

[tomhawes2002]

Here are some pics of my 2 neck holsters as promised. Sorry it took a bit more time then expected. As I had mentioned previously the Kaydex one is my daily carry. It covers the trigger but not the hammer spur, but does keep the cylinder from moving.

[bud]

I carry my revolvers in a pocket holster, with hammer in the safety notch. Maybe carrying on an empty chamber is a better safety option, and one I am seriously  considering. Protecting my balls is something I think is important.
With that in mind, I cannot see myself carrying a revolver with the barrel pointing at my head under any circumstance. On an empty cylinder OR in the safety notch in not an option for me. This is just me and JMPO, but I would not only like to keep my balls out of harms way, but also my neck, eyes, ears, head, and etc.
Someone on here said that if the accident can happen, it probably will. To me there's no reason to make it easier to blow my brains out with the barrel pointing at my freggin head. Again, this is just me and not an option I would consider.

[Kentucky Kevin]

bud, sounds like wisdom to me

[Dinadan]

I cannot see myself carrying a revolver with the barrel pointing at my head under any circumstance.

I feel the same way. It would be real handy to carry in a kydex neck holster when I am kayaking, but I just do not want to carry a gun with the muzzle pointed at my head. The neck holsters with the muzzle pointing to the side do not look as handy, but I have not tried either style neck holster.

[Maccab]

What about a sort of fly off lever, like off a grenade... A stripper clip, 5.56mm I imagine yours are very similar if not the same as ours... Pull out the brass insert, and bend "the end with the hole in, been awhile" I've a feeling it would fit nicely over a minis hammer, then bend the rest to fit along the top of the frame, at the muzzle bend it to cover it and drill a hole through it, cut off the excess... Put a spring in the barrel, then "thinking a pop rivet, in one piece as a guide rod" fit that to size, so it compresses the spring but the end protrudes from the muzzle through the hole in the clip, drill this part of the river and insert a split pin/ring "make one" then, the clip should hold the lever in until you pull the pin, size/shape said bits to facilitate this accordingly, until it's removed the hammer won't move back in theory have a fiddle.

[Maccab]

Upon removing the pin the spring will expand and knock the lever up and away, thinking more in depth about that I can see problems but one is sure you can iron them out if you tweak and whatnot.

[heyjoe]

swolf can you post a picture of your neck holster which hangs barrel down?

[tomhawes2002]

The photo of the leather holster I posted made by Joe is of barrel down design.

[heyjoe]

you could also easily switch the kydex holster to a barrel down. or sideways.

[swolf]

Heyjoe, here ya go:
Wet molded leather.  Made it myself.  Prints pretty small, and the ball chain can allow it to twist under a looser shirt, but draws less attention than a black cord showing above a collar.  It was accidental that the balance point of where the chain goes through the holster (below the grip) also allows it to flip grip down when grabbed under the shirt. 

[I]

Do you just jerk the pistol out? Do you have to coax it out with your fingers?

I can see the "barrel inverted" thing just because you yank downwards for a positive draw. Is it the same thing, but "sideways?"

I'm just wondering how smooth the draw is on that kind of holster. I'm interested in this kind of holster... guess you could say I'm "in the market."

[heyjoe]

thanks swolf. very nice. id be more comfortable carrying it barrel down and then pulling it down to take the gun our.

[swolf]

I have it molded to grip pretty tightly.  It takes a very firm tug to draw it with one hand, but I was more interested in secure carry than fast draw.  It would be a simple matter to loosen the molded part above the cylinder and wax the leather inside to get an easier draw if I chose to.  I took the chain from a nice neck knife set.  I think a strong chain and connector would be the key to a better one handed draw as it would take the strain of even an angled pull.

[MR_22]

On longer trips, I typically have a larger-caliber gun in the slot in the driver's door. Typically, it's a 9mm or my Taurus Judge in there. I think if I have the space and the ability to have a bigger gun than a mini, then why rely upon just a .22?

For trips around town when I'm carrying, I typically have a 9mm in a pocket holster. But you're right on that--I should consider a more readily available piece. Good suggestion. Glad your situation turned out OK.

[tnhawk]

I'm more comfortable with the pistol horizontal while hanging from a neck holster.

[Bluelitenin]

I also don't like the  idea of the neck holster due to the position of the mini with the barrel pointed
up at my head. I mostly pocket carry with a holster from the kid. I usually have a second carry gun
in the pocket behind the passenger seat that is easily accessed. But as the original story states
you were in the passenger seat so it would difficult to get to. I can get my mini out of my front pocket by just a slight shift of the hip with shorts or loose fitting pants. Jeans make it nearly impossible to get to it when seated. Jeans also make it uncomfortable with the mini in the front
pocket so I usually take it out and put it in the console. As far as pocket carrying and having too much stuff in your pockets I am usually wearing pants or shorts with cargo pockets so I can keep
my mini in the right front pocket by itself.

[Maccab]

If you wear trouser braces you could attach a holster horizontally between them most probably.

[Maccab]

Modified sports bra, stitch a holster to it horizontally.

[tnhawk]

.... As far as pocket carrying and having too much stuff in your pockets I am usually wearing pants or shorts with cargo pockets so I can keep
my mini in the right front pocket by itself.

When I carry in a pocket, I don't want anything other than the pistol in that pocket.

[riverkilt]

I have a neck holster for my mini but it was made too tight.  Near impossible to draw even holding it, let alone dangling from my neck.  Maker told me to use a hair dryer on the kydex to loosen it.  No joy.  No clue where it is now....maybe I'll see if I can find it and try again.

I'm lucky that my ride has a drop down sunglass holder above the dashboard that holds my mini perfectly...keep it there when I'm driving.

[Rohn]

That sunglasses holder is a very good idea.  I'll have to try that when I get my mini.