A prosthetic socket having a self-contained vacuum reservoir chamber includes a rigid, load-bearing inner socket member for receiving a residual limb and an outer, rigid, load-bearing wall section attached to the inner wall section in a manner providing a vacuum reservoir chamber between the inner wall and the outer wall section. The vacuum reservoir chamber communicates with the inner volume of the inner wall through a vacuum transfer port and the vacuum reservoir chamber may be evacuated via an evacuation port having an appropriate one-way check valve permitting withdrawal of air from the vacuum reservoir chamber while preventing ingress of air into the chamber. A method for making the prosthetic socket is disclosed.