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!!!
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.
A couple of possibilities are to add a piece of leather to cover the hammer where it pokes you or find a good gunsmitth to round off the sharp edges ot bob it.
bwahahaha...
Thin built, jeans and t-shirt guys are a tough fit for full sized carry...
'Mexican' style w/empty chamber is lookin like the way to go for me...comfort and concealability wise...
LFOD...
BUMP Mika pocket holsters with a J frame
Check out this web siteLots of options
Look into the new LCP from Ruger
I know exactly where I can and can’t legally take my firearm, and act accordingly. For example, I’ll be extra careful around post offices (which I only visit maybe 3 times a year), I don’t go to court houses, and I’ve sworn to never go near Philadelphia at all.
If I’m walking through Home Depot or my local grocery store, my shirt or jacket’s covering it but I don’t worry about it printing at all.
Also:
Raven Concealment Systems Particularly the Appendix Carry Rig
Pocket Concealment Systems Highest quality pocket holsters I've seen. Like an Alessi holster for the pocket, which is not surprising, considering Mike studied with Lou.
http://www.c-rusty.com/pages/holsters/large/brownshoe.htm
`
"Life is a food chain; if you're not at the top, you're on the menu."
Personally, I want to see open carry come back.
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.