Carry question...

[Clint]

Most of the time I wear jeans/dockers with a tuck in button up shirt. I have been looking for a decent way to carry, and it looks like a pocket holster is the best route, but I figured I would toss it up here and see what other options there are....Then there is the decision of semi-automatic to actually carry in this situation. When Im out and about on weekends off work I can carry my G23 in a waistband holster, but I would need something smaller for the pocket....

Thoughts?

Something like this:

http://www.miltsparks.com/images/Photos/PCH_large.jpg

[Whitey]

I carry a Keltec P 3 AT in one of these (http://magills.com/pgroup_descrip/39_Concealment+Holsters/6897_The+Nemesis/) in my front pocket.

http://magills.com/images/magick_cache/pgroup_6897_image_400x600__shadow.jpg

I've tried different brands of pocket holsters and after a while, the part under the handle gets a permanent bend, making drawing the pistol a little hard and not riding right in your pocket.

Another way to break up the outline is to use a piece of rubber, the kind that can be bought at the hardware store.

I do switch between a small bbl .357 magnum revolver and small autos, different calibers, depending on how I feel or where I need to be.

[Jeffro600]

IWB is the only way i carry because its not only comfortable, but it lets me wear pretty much anything i want without showing. The key to carrying in lightweight clothing is a slim pistol and an even slimmer holster. I carry a single stack 1911(Para SlimHawg) and its about as slim as your gonna find without going to a very tiny pistol...keltec and the likes.

The problem with pocket holsters is that they are still usually fairly bulky unless you have a really small pistol.

[Clint]

IWB is the only way i carry because its not only comfortable, but it lets me wear pretty much anything i want without showing. The key to carrying in lightweight clothing is a slim pistol and an even slimmer holster. I carry a single stack 1911(Para SlimHawg) and its about as slim as your gonna find without going to a very tiny pistol...keltec and the likes.

The problem with pocket holsters is that they are still usually fairly bulky unless you have a really small pistol.

Even with a tucked in shirt? I would much rather carry in my waistband, im just worried about it being seen, since I deal with alot of different clients/people each day. Nobody will question what they cant see, even if its bulky in a pocket....

[jnschwie]

Yota has a neat IWB where you can tuck in your shirt.

I dun remember the company he got it from. PM him.

[Jeffro600]

I dont wear shirts tucked in so i cant help ya there.

[newracer]

There are many IWB holsters that can be worn with a shirt tucked in.

[Big Dave]

If you're wearing long pants, what about an ankle/lower leg holster?

That's waht I've contemplated for when I start carrying.

[MQ79]

There are a lot of tuckable IWB holsters out there. You could easily conceal a full size gun with one, with your tucked or untucked.

I really like Tucker GunLeather myself. I own two of their holsters and they are very comfortable and well made. But they do have a long wait time, around 6 months.

http://rlcompanyusa.stores.yahoo.net/iwbholsters1.html

If your looking for something quicker, try Comp-Tac. I don't own one myself, but they have a great reputation.

http://www.comp-tac.com/catalog/

[jnschwie]

If you're wearing long pants, what about an ankle/lower leg holster?

That's waht I've contemplated for when I start carrying.

Never tried. Unless you have pretty wide legged pants, though, I bet its noticeable.

Also, I bet it would feel weird, much like wearing one ankle weight -especially for full size firearms.

I really like IWB. I also like the IDEA of IWB somewhere from 9 to 3 o'clock, but canNOT get comfy doing it.

[ZappBranigan]

You should be able to wear any IWB holster with a tucked in shirt if you wear a jacket or vest. I wouldn't go with a pocket holster unless the gun was really small. And then I'd go with a "wallet style" holster that wraps around the gun and fits in your back pocket.

[Clint]

You should be able to wear any IWB holster with a tucked in shirt if you wear a jacket or vest. I wouldn't go with a pocket holster unless the gun was really small. And then I'd go with a "wallet style" holster that wraps around the gun and fits in your back pocket.

Thats the kicker, I dont wear a jacket all the time, and never wear a vest. So its got to be tucked away, the links posted above look like they will get the trick done though so I can still carry IWB and not pocket, which I wasnt real excited about...

[ccondrey]

Thats the kicker, I dont wear a jacket all the time, and never wear a vest. So its got to be tucked away, the links posted above look like they will get the trick done though so I can still carry IWB and not pocket, which I wasnt real excited about...

I wore something similar to this over a t-shirt, but under a tucked in button up shirt years ago to carry a s&w airweight centennial.
http://www.kangarooind.com/ (also search 'belly band holster' for other models)
It worked well for me (comfortable) and concealed well. The link acutally has a support strap across the shoulder which mine didn't have. I wore my shirt with all buttons buttoned, but if I was in an area that I considered higher risk I could unbutton one button which would expedite the draw if needed. The deeper you conceal the slower the draw though so it's all a trade-off. I don't have any experience with the tuckable IWB holsters, but would definitely check them out if I had a similar carry need today.

[jnschwie]

You should be able to wear any IWB holster with a tucked in shirt if you wear a jacket or vest. I wouldn't go with a pocket holster unless the gun was really small. And then I'd go with a "wallet style" holster that wraps around the gun and fits in your back pocket.

I usually have a white undershirt tucked in, and then a second shirt over it.

[ZappBranigan]

I usually have a white undershirt tucked in, and then a second shirt over it.

That would be my plan if I had to wear a tucked-in shirt. I figure nowadays most people can get away with having an untucked shirt (like a golf shirt) in warm weather and in cold weather a jacket or vest would not look out of place. My Glock completely disappears under a sweat shirt, which is great because that's how I usually dress when it's cold and I'm not at work (and when I'm at work I can't carry anyway. :mad: )

[karstman]

This is a pretty decent tuckable IWB holster. I've got one for a Keltec P11 and P32. If you wear a black belt, the clip will pretty much disappear.

http://www.highnoonholsters.com/Product_Line/Split_Decision/split_decision.html

[summersja]

If you're wearing long pants, what about an ankle/lower leg holster?

That's waht I've contemplated for when I start carrying.

The classes that I have been to (Gunsite in Arizona and local CCW) highly recommended against ankle holsters as primary carry. What good is a gun if you can't reach it? If confronted by someone armed, you would probably be shot before you could reach your gun. Waist-style holsters of any kind are better than ankle ones, IMO.

[Budman]

I will add that you should try to carry in the same fashion all the time, and wear your carry rig to the range and practice with it. I say this because I have carried in the same 2 methods for years (Either Right hip or left breast in full gear) I had to switch to a low slung rig at the range this last time, and it really screwed me up on the draw. For the first 100 rounds of so I would first to to the right hip, then up to my chest, then remember my low slung rig on my leg. I finally got the hang of it, but had to ask the wife to dig through my gear in the basement and send me my Chest holster. I hate the low slung rig.

[summersja]

I usually have a white undershirt tucked in, and then a second shirt over it.

x2- this works well and is always in style! :D

[Dunedain313]

Over at Glock Talk (http://glocktalk.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=21), I'd say the Comp-Tac CTAC and MTAC are probably the most popular IWB, shirt-tuckable holsters. You can adjust the ride height and angle so it's as customizable as possible.

[Steve]

Clint, let me see what you come up with for this. I have the exact same questions as you do. :shrug:

Let's add one: how do you carry discreetly in the summer if you're wearing just short pants and a t-shirt?

[newracer]

Let's add one: how do you carry discreetly in the summer if you're wearing just short pants and a t-shirt?

I carry IWB with my Comptac Infidel holster even with shorts and a T-shirt.

[Big Dave]

The classes that I have been to (Gunsite in Arizona and local CCW) highly recommended against ankle holsters as primary carry. What good is a gun if you can't reach it? If confronted by someone armed, you would probably be shot before you could reach your gun. Waist-style holsters of any kind are better than ankle ones, IMO.


I get that, and that was one of my concerns, but how quick can you get to an IWB holster with a shirt tucked in? With an untucked shirt I would think it's pretty easy. But to me a tucked shirt just adds extra complication to the whole situation.

[Yota]

Over at Glock Talk (http://glocktalk.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=21), I'd say the Comp-Tac CTAC and MTAC are probably the most popular IWB, shirt-tuckable holsters. You can adjust the ride height and angle so it's as customizable as possible.

I carry my XD in a CTAC and I have carried with shirt tucked in and it works. Someone with a gun that is svelte enough to consider a pocket holster would really be well-concealed with a CTAC/tucked and he'd still have use of his pockets.

[springsman]

Concealed Carry extreme...this guy reminds me of Tackelberry from Police academy!....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdRE-CuBms4

[jnschwie]

Clint, let me see what you come up with for this. I have the exact same questions as you do. :shrug:

Let's add one: how do you carry discreetly in the summer if you're wearing just short pants and a t-shirt?

What I said above. I do it all the time, and easily conceal a full size 1911.

I wear tighty-whitey undershirts tucked in over my boxers, and under my holster, and then throw a larger "graphic" or "printed" t-shirt over it. That way I'm not getting sweat all over my leather holster or piece, nor am I exposing even where it connects to belt loops.



BTW, LOL @ "short pants" instead of "shorts." :laughing:


Edit: And like Zapp says, this still works for golf shirts, or long sleeve shirts, or button ups. I don't do hawaiian, but I guess that would look dumb with an undershirt. It makes ANY sort of printing non-existant with sweatshirts (you just learn new ways to bend down).

If I have dress clothes on, which is rare other than church or work, I may untuck the back of my shirt slightly. At my height, this happens naturally anyway.

[Steve]

BTW, LOL @ "short pants" instead of "shorts." :laughing:

I wear shorts under my short pants. :shrug:

:flipoff2:

[cheftyler]

Concealed Carry extreme...this guy reminds me of Tackelberry from Police academy!....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdRE-CuBms4

After he pulled the shotgun out I expected an RPG launcher to come out :eek:

[Yota]

I pack in shorts/t-shirt all the time. More frequently I wear those Adidas ClimaCool golf shirts in the summer. They are golf shirts and are also *extremely* cool. I always wear an undershirt tucked between skin and holster because I find that more comfortable. The base layer shirt is almost always some kind of cool base layer t-shirt (coolmax, dri-max, dri-weave, dri-heave or whatever) that does not trap moisture. Very dry, very cool and very concealed - even if I have to tuck in the shirt.

[Commander]

For those of you that carry with your shirt tucked in, how much difficulty does it add when you go to draw? I'm thinking of budman's post about trying to carry the same way all the time. If you carry part of the time untucked, and part of the time tucked in, does it throw you off on your draw? How much does it slow you down having to remember to untuck when drawing?

[Steve]

Wearing a white undershirt under a golf shirt just screams NERD!!!

:P

[springsman]

just don't do the black socks while wearing shorts...or short pants, or short legged britches etc..

[Steve]

just don't do the black socks while wearing shorts...or short pants, or short legged britches etc..

I've told my wife if I ever do that to immediately shoot me to put me out of her misery. :)

[springsman]

That is the sole reason for my wife's ccw, simply to put me out of my misery when I go Nucking Futs

[DADA_JEEP]

if you don't like the white t-shirt under the golf shirt, try a wife beater shirt, that's what i do.

[Yota]

For those of you that carry with your shirt tucked in, how much difficulty does it add when you go to draw? I'm thinking of budman's post about trying to carry the same way all the time. If you carry part of the time untucked, and part of the time tucked in, does it throw you off on your draw? How much does it slow you down having to remember to untuck when drawing?

It would definitely slow me down a little. But better a little slower than a lot deader, ya know :D

I don't practice drawing from a tucked shirt that much but when I have I've always figured it'd be fastest as a two-hand operation. I'm right-handed so lefty pulls out the shirt while righty does the usual draw.