Posted on 08/05/2008 4:14:56 AM PDT by Pistolshot
Free Republic Gun Club – Concealed Means Concealed
You finally have your CCW permit. Now what?
You’ve qualified, shot the course of fire, did all the paperwork, made the conscious decision to protect yourself. Now what? Holsters.
The one mistake I see novice CCW permit holders make is the ‘hand-check. They consciously keep reaching for where the gun is in its holster. It’s a dead giveaway. I have more than once walked up to a permit holder and ask them why they keep checking to see if the gun is still there. If it’s in a secure holster and you’ve done the job of checking the mirror that, yes, it is concealed.
LEAVE IT ALONE.
Concealed mean the ability to hide a weapon where it can be reached and employed in the quickest manner possible. THAT NO ONE ELSE KNOWS IS THERE..
Deep concealment is for law enforcement, so let’s dispense with the ankle holsters, waist band, bra, garter, and other deep concealment holsters. They are S L O W. Slow to access and slow if you need it right now.
For anyone who has a CCW permit, you’ve had to make a lot of choices. What kind of gun to carry, caliber, and especially, how to carry it and still have it quickly accessible. What I am going to talk about today are holsters. The one item you can never have too many for carry.
We all have our favorites or the ones we rely on for almost every day usage. But there is a difference between carrying in cooler northern environments and the hot desert of the Southwest, between the jeans and a shirt and a suit or in the case of women, dresses, skirts, and blouses. The environment alone will determine what you carry as well as how. For most guys a good strong side holster inside the waist will be sufficient such as the Summer Special
or the Milt Sparks Executive Companion
My favorite for autos is the Biachi Pistol Pocket.
The PP covers just about everything I need in a good IWB holster and has one feature that has me sold on it for all my autos. The buckle has a swivel to change the cant of the holster. It can be shifted to crossdraw or deep behind the hip. It has a nice thumbsnap to help with keeping the weapon secure at any angle or even a tumble if you fall.
Ok, so these are a little more pricey that you’d like to spend on a IWB holster. Well, Galco has this little number.
It covers the tire weapon and is secure.
What about revolvers?
Also from Galco.
But a word of caution on IWB for revolvers. The cylinder is going to poke and rub against you. It will be uncomfortable. For revolvers I suggest a high rise thumbsnap such as the Bianchi Black widow.
Now, I didn’t forget the ladies. Galco has a couple of holster purses that work well with almost any size firearm.
These are not the only modes of carry. There are crossdraw, shoulder, ankle, small of the back or pocket holsters depending on what you want to carry. The crossdraw has you reaching across your body, similarly the shoulder rig does the same. Both modes are secure, but both have extreme drawbacks. If you are wider around the middle, or especially endowed on top, a shoulder rig or the crossdraw may not be your best choice.
Pocket holsters are great for the mouse guns or something along the Kahr/Kel-Tec lines, but for anything bigger, a proper holster should be employed.
Small of the back holster are nice IF you are not driving. Something about even a small pistol sticking you in the back while driving down the highway doesn’t sound too appealing. Fanny packs are out there, but a word of caution. Most law-enforcement officers pick them out quickly and a LOT of the criminal element take a fanny pack as a challenge.
These are not the only choices you have in a holster, just the ones I would recommend. You can find holsters almost anyplace, garage sales, flea-markets, and especially gunshows. I, personally have about 100 different types of holsters. Some work well…..others….well….they make good examples of what not to wear.
What do you like to use? Remember this is for concealment.
Enjoy
JOIN THE FR GUN CLUB PING LIST HERE!!!
Enjoy, participate.
I am very interested in this subject, but your photos are not showing for me.
I’m “Old School.” Leather for me. The expensive stuff. On the belt, strong-side carry. No exotics yet, but working towards a Rafter S in black gator hide for my Glock 21. Retention is not an issue for me, so scabbards fill the inventory. Never liked thumb snaps. Heavy artillery gets the shoulder holsters. And yes, like all pistoleros I have a footlocker filled with holsters for all occasions. Comes with the territory. It’s my only “vice” these days so I don’t feel too bad about spending money on leather goods for guns.
I don’t think the a href call tags are closed.
That Galco IWB holster you pictured—any idea if you can wear it without a belt? I almost never wear a belt, but my OWB holster juts out too much when I wear a t-shirt. I have a USP 45 Compact and this issue has been driving me nuts!
Wow that's all there is to it huh? I wish I lived in the free part of the country. the only way I'm getting a CCW in New Jersey is if I get in a time machine.
nevermind our stupid proxy was stripping the tags
Can someone expand on ladies choices? I am getting the girls weapons and want them to have good access without giving away the farm and drawing attention.
Yeah how do the inside the waist holsters attach?
The only ones I’ve seen attach only by hooking to a belt or requiring a belt to loop through it. Kind of a pain if you never wear a belt!
I carry my 1911 in a Milt Sparks Versa-Max II, horsehide.
I quit checking for my firearm a long time ago. Open carry is legal in PA as well, so I pretty much forget it’s there. If it prints, I don’t care, I’m legal no matter if it’s concealed, printing, or if my shirt rides up over it. I always wear it concealed, but it seems that 99% of people don’t wouldn’t notice a fire engine about to run them down so I don’t worry about it.
Check here: http://www.usgalco.com/Default.asp
Galco carries a line of items for women. Be advised it’s expensive, but like most folks I’ve wasted more money over the years on “trick” holsters and cheap stuff that in the end never gets used. Also, think in terms of wardrobe, not just holster. With proper tailoring and the right clothes, I’ve had no problem concealing big guns.
My Ruger 3” GP-100 gets carried high and tight, on the belt, strong side in a Black Hills “Comfort Slide” vertical draw scabbard. I must confess, however, that since I transitioned to the “dark side” (semi-autos) it’s rare when it does see carry duty these days.
I know. It is going to be tough for me as I am a shorts and tshirt type. I won’t be able to wear the same shorts I wear to golf/work in.
My Ruger 3” GP-100 gets carried high and tight, on the belt, strong side in a Black Hills “Comfort Slide” vertical draw scabbard. I must confess, however, that since I transitioned to the “dark side” (semi-autos) it’s rare when it does see carry duty these days.
I, too, do not really care much if it "prints" here in Texas. It is still "legal". I hate and never carry IWB! Hard to draw and uncomfortable at any time. Simply a shirt tail on the outside and so, with my 9mm PT-111 Millenium Pro:
Holster works equally well with my Springfield XD when I want to carry .45ACP.
My wife's normal mode of carry: 
My Ruger 3” GP-100 gets carried high and tight, on the belt, strong side in a Black Hills “Comfort Slide” vertical draw scabbard. I must confess, however, that since I transitioned to the “dark side” (semi-autos) it’s rare when it does see carry duty these days.
“I keep checking to see if it’s there because I’m worried about another one of those microwormholes opening up inside my jacket and transferring my pistol to an alternate dimension.”
Womens handbags are risky for CC, bag is stolen, gun lost.
Pocket holsters OK, make sure gun & or holster don't fall out.
Ankle hostlers NG unless you are a gymnast, still not the best.
IWB, make sure you have belt which has hole in the right spot, and allows for growth.
OWB, stiff belt, width right for loops little slop.
So what if you are always checking it. Just scratching an itch.
Forget small of the back, anytime you are sitting it becomes a problem. Then there is the question left hand or right, no matter which you shoot with.
Practice, Practice with an empty gun.
That is what I was thinking about for my wife. Thanks.
Hard part for a lady is that the thieves will target the purse not even suspecting the gun is there. Makes you go hmmmmm.
The small j frames are not as uncomfortable but they are still a problem. Other good holsters are like this one from Mika Pocket Holsters.
Cross body went out of favor with the cops and most self defense guru’s sometime ago. The thought is that it gives the bad guy a chance to pin your are across you. That said I have and do carry a 1911 in a shoulder holster - in certain situations where I am reasonably confident that I have freedom of movement. BTW both my shootings were under the legendary 7 yards.
Yep! But notice the bag is for shoulder carry. Shoulder carried bags are almost never targeted for stealing as they are too hard to get. The gun inside is also at a perfect reach height and can be fired from inside the purse, if necessary.
Back holsters are not nice - they are dangerous. Never, ever wear your gun on your back or behind the hip. This is not a comfort issue. I’m surprised anyone who has been around guns would say that it is acceptable when every expert will say that it is not.
Many hip holsters can also be a problem when driving. More specifically, they are a problem when drawing your weapon while seated in a vehicle. Not so good if you are concerned with car-jacking.
Shoulder holsters can be good, but only if you use the right drawing technique with extensive training. Otherwise you can easily kill someone behind or beside you or blow off your arm.
Also, many of the purses have a wire inside of the strap to keep thieves from cutting the strap and running off with it.
Purses offer a greater degree of flexibility except as one poster said, 'lose the purse, lose the gun'.
Most skirts have pockets, but there again, that limits the size of weapon that can be carried.
I remember a clothier that made blouses that had a pouch for carrying a concealed weapon. Let me see if I can find that info.
I usually pocket carry a Kahr PM9 in a Desantis Nemesis holster. When I’m not too worried about deep concealment I carry my custom 1911 in a Brommeland MaxCon V IWB holster. Not too worried about either one printing as Virginia is an open carry state, and printing is not a crime.
Just a question, I really only own skirts, and most of them don’t have pockets, however, I was considering getting a thigh holster? What would you consider about that?
Just a question, I really only own skirts, and most of them don’t have pockets, however, I was considering getting a thigh holster? What would you consider about that?
Most stores that cater to the law-enforcement crowd also carry a larger number of holsters from different manufactures. I'd check with them on trying a few examples.
However, a news story yesterday had a perp getting shot in the head by his intended victim and surviving.
My preferred pistol is my Witness 10mm. It's a full sized semi-auto with a double stacked grip. The big problem is that it's really hard to carry IWB. OWB, deep carry (SmartCarry or Pager Pal), or a shoulder rig are the only options I've found that give comfortable concealable carry options.
Still looking for a "fanny pack" or a day planner option that doesn't make me want to turn in my "man card".
But then one day a Beretta Tomcat followed me home from the gun store. You may argue about the stopping power, but even a .32 on you is better than the 45 or 9mm you leave at home.
What about CC vests?
Mine works great for mid sized pieces. Gun in one pocket and extra mags in the other.
AZ is an open carry state so the 1911 goes on the hip.
I understand, but my carry weapon (only handgun I own for right now) is a Ruger SP101 - pretty compact, for a revolver.
Cross-body seems to allow me the quickest access to it, fanny-pack on right side doesn't allow the gun to be carried in an easy-to-access position.
Perfect solution is to get a small auto - in process of saving for one now - in love with the new Ruger I saw in AR last month.
Thanks!
You might think about a vest for carry. There are some nice ones made for women.
Like these guys? I have a couple of their vests. WONDERFUL for carrying a larger auto or a larger revolver.
Hadn’t thought about that (the vest). Thanks
EXCELLENT POINT!!!
My experiences have been to have A firearm, even one of the little NAA mini-revolvers is better than a stick.
In hotter climates, it's a lot easier carrying a smallinsh pocket pistol rather than have your shorts droppiing from carrying that 1911.
The Kydex are excellent holsters, although kind of stiff and inflexible.
This is my next purchase. Small, stainless, and pocketable. It's a lot smaller than what the picture shows. Seecamp size without the Seecamp price.
Interesting. Thanks for sharing. Either way, I can’t get them for another year, but (due to age restrictions on CCW permits) but I wanted to start planning on how, what kind, etc. What the name of the gun. I can’t read it.
It's a bad habit to get into. Yes, you are legal in most areas in PA, but not all.
Do you ever carry into a Post Office? You're not allowed to, and if anybody noticed, then you potentially are in trouble
If you are in Philadelphia and you ever took a shortcut through Independence Park (where they have the Liberty Bell), guess what? It's federal land, and your permit is no good, and if one of the park police notices, then you're in trouble. In PA, you are also not allowed to carry in state parks (unless you are in a vehicle)
It's quite likely that you will find yourself inadvertently carrying into or through some area where you're not supposed to, in which case it would be good for you if your status was not noticed
I picked up a nice Desantis IWB last weekend that works w/o a belt. Only problem I have is the hammer on my pistol digs into my side. Any solution to that?
Here's some other choices from NAA.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.