Posted on 04/24/2012 12:02:54 PM PDT by Sopater
I think I like the BLACKHAWK! Leather Speed Classic Holster on Amazon for the price.
http://kangaroocarry.com/
My favorite!
Yes - with jeans, I prefer an inside-waistband (shirt tucked in) or external belt holster (shirt untucked). Depends on the weather and dress requirements.
While not sexy or pretty at all, I still find the custom made Bob Mika pocket holster to be one of the most affordable and functional choices out there. It simply works.
They’d have to be pretty old to be shrink to fit. Those aren’t made anymore. I’ve got a few of them from the early 90s.
Yeah, I think you will have a had time using a pocket holster in Levies 501s. Shrink to fit was those old style jeans that were so dark blue they were black...and the material was really stiff and coarse like a canvas tarp. After the first wash, the material would shrink up, turn dark royal blue and become soft. You had to buy them a size larger than you wear.
Does an IWB with shirt tucked in really work well?
Try a Mika pocket holster. I have one, dad and brother as well.
They conceal your jframe or colt det. spec. and it stays put in your
pocket when you draw. I highly recommend them.
Yes, not too comfortable w/ slim jeans.
I usually wear cargo pants, pretty full cut.
IWB works with shirt outside. The shirt should have a pattern, plaid, design, something to make any bulge more difficult to determine.
Generally - no. It depends on your situation; concealment is obviously compromised when any part of the holster rests outside of your clothing, absent a concealing garment. If you are outside walking the dog, with holster in the front, positioned on the strong side, partly concealed under a short jacket (leash in your weak hand, naturally) - that can work. In full public view, you must maintain concealment, which dictates either an untucked shirt or a jacket, or both.
At night, I use an exterior leather holster with a thumb break, and also, a full-sized pistol (1911 .45ACP or police model 9mm with 4" barrel) as opposed to a J-frame revolver or compact semi-auto. In public at night, I use either a cross-draw shoulder rig under a jacket or an exterior holster under a 3/4 length jacket.
Aside from that, the best advice I can give you is to practice, practice, practice. And by that I not only mean range time: drawing, index calculation (range to target) and firing stance but situational awareness and intelligent (not emotional) threat assessment. Think through potential defensive situations in advance. Never forget that if you use a gun in self-defense, you will be made to account for your decision and that bullets cannot be recalled.
Freedom is always coupled with responsibility. Please take it seriously.
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