Posted on 02/13/2010 12:24:57 PM PST by Blueflag
Anyone have experience with concealed carry coats with the built-in ambidextrous pistol pockets? Looking for pros/cons recommendations ...
Comfort? Print? Practicality?
e.g., http://www.freerepublic.com
Looking for options in addition to waist holsters and shoulder holsters.
Thanks for the advice
The fastest draw is already having it in your hand.
That’s the reason I don’t necessarily want a shoulder holster — cuz you CAN’T remove your jacket. At least with a concealed carry jacket you can remove your over coat and stay concealed.
Concealed on hip is easier of course, but I am wondering if folks who have this sort of jacket like it.
Saw those. Looked attractive and comfy. Just didn’t know if they screamed “gun” when you wear one ... like a fanny pack or a “photographer’s vest” with no camera gear.
Still a good option anyways though.
I can stick a .38 in the inner cargo pocket, and some tissues in the outer pocket to break up the outline. It has the added advantage of having the gun being easily accessible when driving.
I have a western levi vest, and wear a broach that screams “grandma!” Excellent camoflage, and the vest is all-weather. May not work if you’re a man. Then again....
if you wear the fanny pack in the front and wear a dress shirt untucked, nobody can tell. In some cases, the fanny pack doesn’t draw any undue attention. I saw vacationers using them all over the place last summer for example. Some people were using them for digital cameras, some folks were using them for .357 magnums. :)
You know you’re getting old when you honestly prefer a revolver.
That and Hawaiian shirts draw yawns from the public.
People tend to look away. They are great concealment LoL.
When arriving at destination, visit bathroom and discretely transfer it into pants pocket, briefcase or whatever. If at work, transfer into briefcase and lock briefcase into desk drawer. I did this many times when I was having to travel through bad areas to get to work. If going to restaurant, don't check coat, hang it on your chair (easier if it's a short coat rather than trench coat.
The pants are a good idea, but perhaps not for me as I made the choice to get good with one sidearm, and it happens to be a ‘large’ one. ( I don’t own a .38 )
I tend to wear a sportcoat as regular garb (appropriate for work.) I even joke with my clients that my sport coat is my ‘purse.’ I don’t print with those when I wear the pistol and mag clip on my hip.
But I am searching for alternatives for casual/ colder weather.
When my kids were babies, and I was out with them and wife, I would wear a photog vest. I would put a couple of disposable diapers in the left pocket, a baby bottle with water sticking out a handy right-side pocket, and it would be my "daddy vest". Women would look and exclaim what a neat way to carry all the baby stuff conveniently...
I don’t like carrying pistols in coats, jackets or vests. They flop around too much unless the jacket is cinched tight, which makes drawing a problem. (This does not apply to micro backup guns, which can be dropped in any pocket.)
Better to get a CCW belt holster, IWP or a flat/high pancake style if you want it outside the belt and plan to wear coats/shirts that will conceal it.
Mis dos centavos....
I agree.
Not in Florida. And "Hawaiian shirt" doesn't have to mean hula girls, a good CCW shirt is any loose untucked button front shirt with a pattern to break up the "printing" of your pistol.
Plaid, checks, geometric patterns, camo, anything but solid colors. Solid light colors are the worst for "printing." Dark colors and patterns hide ANYTHING.
I have two main carry guns, a compact snubbie for when max concealment is the issue, and a .45 for when I'm going to be passing thru places where concealment is secondary to stopping power. I make a point of practicing with both.
You’re already used to carrying on your belt, keep it there. Just try different inside and outside waistband holsters until you find one that is “just right.”
Better than carrying different ways. Best to carry the same way, and just change the concealment upper garment from sport coat to casual untucked shirt to cold weather jacket etc. But the gun and presentation to grip will always be the same and “automatic.”
Well the general public dont get it and yes the Hawaiian print breaks up the pattern but it screams CCW at me LoL
It’s a great technique.
I agree. I’m good on my outside the belt holster when I wear my sport coat.
I can see how one of these jackets would have a significant ‘flop around’ factor if I was to be doing something physical.
(Didn’t like an inside the belt holster cuz, ahem, my existing pants were tight enough already and I wasn’t gonna buy a new wardrobe.)
I don’t like a pistol pointed at my “boys”
Sound advice. That philosophy is one reason why I have ONE pistol. The others are money and time. I can only get so much range time/ instruction/ ammo/ silhouettes etc.
No *REAL* need to change. Just exploring options. Always good to get a new shooting ‘toy’.
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