Pitfalls of Pocket Guns (or R9 in Pocket = Loser)

[sslater]

When I got my CCW I switched from blue jeans to relaxed fit khakis & cargo pants - with pleats, yet.  Sportsman's Guide usually has good deals.  Ditto K-Mart and Wall Mart.
This thread has inspired me to send my order for a genuine RJHeadley pocket holster & Stop Stick & hunka-leather vise pad as soon as I can buy a money order.  My R9S is due to be shipped end of June.  

RE: Skyhook's point about firing more than one round.
I agree.  In the event you have to defend yourself or family be careful what you say.  My CCW instructor repeatedly told us to remember that when the police ask why you shot the BG six times, the answer is, "Officer, I fired to stop the threat." Not, "Because I ran out of bullets."

[jlseagull]

Every contributor to this thread makes good points.  The also illustrate why it's a good idea to also carry a knife.  ...  If you practice your knife draw with your off hand, you can defend yourself while you're drawing your R9.

I've got to disagree with you here.   Even if it's a fixed blade, the "draw time" has got to be just under a pocket gun with your strong hand.  Unless you think you can time your slash/jab in the same motion as your draw, which would be mighty tricky against a charging opponent.

Switch this to your weak hand, and you may not even get the knife pointed forward by the time a BG closes 20', let alone have a decent grip on the knife.

I think you'd be better off hauling butt backwards 8 feet to add extra draw time, rather than trying to defend your way to it with a knife.

I love knives and daggers, but the rule I follow is that the only thing certain about a knife fight is that you're going to get cut.

[gr8guns]

If the BG can close and grapple with you, if he doesn't knife you,  he might tie up your strong side arm and prevent access to your gun. If he's an experienced grappler, he can put you in a lock and choke you out or break your limb in very few seconds.

Hence, you might carry a knife on the weak side as a means to get the BG to release you. What are some fast deployment knife and sheath combinations that are legal, safe and concealed?

[jlseagull]

Assuming BG is unarmed, I'd even offer him my weak arm while I retreat and draw with my strong arm.  If you are backing away and put your weak arm up, chances are he will grab that arm with both hands first.  You may end up with a broken arm in 2 seconds.  But I guarantee you've just bought yourself at least one shot at point blank range with BG's gut exposed and both his arms up.

[outlawyr]

A pocket gun isn't for everyone and won't be useful in every circumstance.  But life is rarely all or nothing.  

A pocket gun can save your life (or that of another person) [where allowed by law].  Even if you are ambushed and stabbed (or shot) the fight isn't necessarily over and a pocket gun may still be accessible to you to fight back or to prevent a coup de grace.  And, if you are responding to aid another person - you will probably have time to draw a pocket gun, no?  And having a knife is a good idea, but is it much slower to draw a pistol from a pocket than a knife (since not everyone has a knife on their hip).  

And, even if a knife wielding assailant charges you from 20 feet and you can't draw your pocket pistol in time, maybe you can try and evade the assailant, or throw him or her, or sacrifice your arm or leg to a slash long enough to draw (in which case you may be able to stop the assault one way or another).  How many knife-wielding assailants will stand and fight against a gun?

Others have already made the point that people often walk with their hands in their pockets, and while I don't like to compromise my hands, if I am in a dark and lonely place, my hand will generally be in my pocket (and not for pocket pool).