Pocket pistols.....
Lots of options but most of it will come down to you. What types of pants/shorts do you normally wear? How large are the pockets? What is the minimum caliber you feel comfortable carrying? and most importantly what gun(s) do you shoot the best in the sizes and calibers found from above?
The pockets in a pair of my jeans varies signficantly from brand to brand as well as in my dressier pants, shorts, etc. This influences how I carry and/or what I wear when I am carrying in either pocket or IWB. Are you planning on front or back pocket carry? I only carry front pocket when I pocket carry. I have successfully pocket carried everything from a snubnose .38 special through CCO styled 1911. I currently carry a S&W Shield but will probably be changing to a Sig P320 in compact in the near future.
Secondly, a good pocket holster is essential to accomplish 3 things. First you want to cover the trigger guard so you don't end up on the news. Secondly you want it to keep the pistol oriented so you can actually remove it from your pocket if you ever need to use it. Third, you want it to break up the outline so its not as obvious. That being said most people around you are completely clueless.
Calibers.....I don't want to start a caliber war but you can easily find pocket sized 9mms out there since you already have ammo for that. Otherwise you are investing in a new caliber, if that's an issue. I personally don't like carrying smaller than .38sp or 9mm but do have a .380 for those times when I have to be incredibly discreet.
The main options I would look at would be the LCP, LCR, S&W snubnoses of many varieties, S&W Shield, Glock, Sig P320, etc. However, find a gun range that has the gun you are thinking about buying to rent or ask one of us and shoot it first. I had an LCP for all of a month and absolutely hated shooting it, which is why I didn't keep it long. You may be surprised how much a small fraction of an inch here or there can increase or decrease your comfort while shooting and how accurately you can shoot the firearm.
Here are two files that are a few years old but show and compare quite a few pistols in the size we are looking at. Unfortunately its old enough most of the newer stuff I mentioned above isn't in the file.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mex5igwz5hf14zd/PocketAutoComparison.pdf?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/7464v6363lhl3j0/CompactCompare.pdf?dl=0
Lots of options but most of it will come down to you. What types of pants/shorts do you normally wear? How large are the pockets? What is the minimum caliber you feel comfortable carrying? and most importantly what gun(s) do you shoot the best in the sizes and calibers found from above?
The pockets in a pair of my jeans varies signficantly from brand to brand as well as in my dressier pants, shorts, etc. This influences how I carry and/or what I wear when I am carrying in either pocket or IWB. Are you planning on front or back pocket carry? I only carry front pocket when I pocket carry. I have successfully pocket carried everything from a snubnose .38 special through CCO styled 1911. I currently carry a S&W Shield but will probably be changing to a Sig P320 in compact in the near future.
Secondly, a good pocket holster is essential to accomplish 3 things. First you want to cover the trigger guard so you don't end up on the news. Secondly you want it to keep the pistol oriented so you can actually remove it from your pocket if you ever need to use it. Third, you want it to break up the outline so its not as obvious. That being said most people around you are completely clueless.
Calibers.....I don't want to start a caliber war but you can easily find pocket sized 9mms out there since you already have ammo for that. Otherwise you are investing in a new caliber, if that's an issue. I personally don't like carrying smaller than .38sp or 9mm but do have a .380 for those times when I have to be incredibly discreet.
The main options I would look at would be the LCP, LCR, S&W snubnoses of many varieties, S&W Shield, Glock, Sig P320, etc. However, find a gun range that has the gun you are thinking about buying to rent or ask one of us and shoot it first. I had an LCP for all of a month and absolutely hated shooting it, which is why I didn't keep it long. You may be surprised how much a small fraction of an inch here or there can increase or decrease your comfort while shooting and how accurately you can shoot the firearm.
Here are two files that are a few years old but show and compare quite a few pistols in the size we are looking at. Unfortunately its old enough most of the newer stuff I mentioned above isn't in the file.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mex5igwz5hf14zd/PocketAutoComparison.pdf?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/7464v6363lhl3j0/CompactCompare.pdf?dl=0
