I do not worry about “printing”. It’s gonna happen. The couple of times I have been asked, I replied that it was my colostomy bag and asked them if they wanted to see.
I love the Sticky holster, carrying has never been so comfortable.
http://www.stickyholsters.com/
I was out bicycling this morning on a local cycling trail and encountered a fellow cyclist going the other way who clearly had a holstered autoloader. He may have been a LEO but I just saw the “GUN” ...
BOY, was I upset! Took me about an added 15 seconds to make it home - WOW!
And at the least you're probably going to lose your favorite pistol for some time.
The current trend of casual “cargo pants” for everyday wear presents a unique opportunity. I wear 511 brand “tactical pants” at work with lots of pockets to hold the gadgets I need. The side pockets on these pants are huge and will easily conceal a Ruger LCR 5 shot .38SPL in a good pocket holster. Belt holsters work well if you are long and lean with wide shoulders. I have learned that for a squatty body like me a pocket full of .38 is just the ticket. In 5 years of using this carry method I have never been busted - even by people who knew I was carrying - somewhere ;-)
I’ve come to appreciate a well made belt, that’s for sure.
L
I’m a traveling salesman, and have to dress in a certain manner (plus, it’s really, really hot where I live and work), so it’s pocket carry for me. A Ruger LCP in a Tagua holster fits the bill nicely. If anybody has ever noticed it, noone has said anything.
Guns are not my thing. I bought a .40 cal Taurus semi a few years ago but I never even fired it once or took a class.
Just don’t have the desire..I should just kick myself in the butt and get with it . Anybody give me some good advice?
Well I can’t find anything in his 10 points to criticize. I must be slipping. :-)
I need to find a better belt for OWB carry, I’ll check out the author’s suggestion.
Thanks, bfl.
Over the years I’ve gotten a pretty good handle on the proper combination of clothing to keep my concealed concealed. I still struggle with #4 - a “good” holster. Holster manufacturers love me because I buy their stuff and then reject it (and turn around and buy something else).
Having lost one sidearm in the middle of a busy street during a foot chase I’m cautious (maybe even paranoid) about having a holster that actually secures the weapon. Now it’s easy to get one that emphasizes secure containment - but they all come at the expense of concealment.
I have yet to find the happy medium.
5 rules of a gun fight:
1) gun beats no gun
- if you left your gun home because of X, you have no gun
- if your gun jams and you cant clear it, you have no gun
- if you run out of ammunition, you have no gun
2) a hit beats a miss
- a .22 that hits is worth more than the .44 that misses
- carry only what you can shoot accurately
- carry only what you can hit with the follow up shot
- too big of a gun does not make you a man but it just might make you dead
3) fast beats slow
- he who shoots first, often shoots last
- until you get your gun into the fight, you have no gun
- carry so you can get to it
- practice getting to it in all kinds of situations (standing, sitting, in the car, with or without jacket, etc)
4) big holes beat small holes
- bigger holes bleed out faster
- bigger bullets make bigger holes
- jacketed hollow points make even bigger holes
- carry the biggest caliber you can manage under #2
5) 2 holes beat one hole
- if it needs to be shot once, shoot twice
- consider this when you are carrying extra magazines
That one rang a bell. YEARS ago, before CCW was allowed in many states, I carried anyway. I was at a box store with my two kids when there was some kind of ruckus up near the cashiers and the loudspeaker blared for everyone to stay where they were, the police were on their way.
There were about six people standing near by (Betamax video recorder rack.) The oldest (12) says "Dad, are you gonna use your gun?" I damned near wet myself, expecting someone to rat me out.
Instead, they all moved closer to me and inadvertently I laughed to myself, thinking that these people would probably vote against anyone carrying, yet, as above, the sheepdog effect worked even then.
By time the cops got there, whoever was causing the disturbance ("waving a knife) had left.
Carrying a piece daily, doing errands, also biking, walking, running offers different challenges for concealment. Also the desire not to sacrifice firepower/accuracy/handling etc for a more concealable tiny firearm that some have a tendency to treat as a magical totem that defends against evil is another issue.
Carrying appendix inside waist band 1 or 2 o’clock (I’m ambidextrous with handguns) I usually go up in pant waist and shirt size...also concealment is easiest with guayabera or hawaiian shirts. Would work for any belt carry position really with these shirts. Such a shirt with patterned design like flowing lines one could hide a very large pistol easily, normal printing is camouflaged and disappears. I had a plain guayabera today and hid a Glock 20 full size 10mm easily with shorts.
A thick wide belt is necessary. Loading pockets with items for myself can feel weighty, while in contrast securing items on belt line — mags, fixed blade, flashlight — one feels lighter. Of course it depends on what type shirt being worn as it effects concealability...too many items, too many potential bulges.
If moving around all day, driving car to stores, walking, back to car, etc do I want items jabbing me in back sitting in car seat? Typically I’ll go over a belt loop at the 7 or 4 o’clock position when putting on a belt to allow movement so the extra mag(s) carrier can be slid to the side of my body to comfortably drive. Exiting vehicle the mag carrier is slightly moved back behind the hip bone. I don’t want back issues from sitting against a mag or flashlight jabbing me.
With AIWB carry it’s always a trade off between speed of access and concealability. For example running I use Dale Fricke Archangel, mounted high, excellent retention with the body/leg movement. Can do sprints, no issue. It does print so extra large sport shirt worn plus I normally run at night. Also biking with AIWB is intrusive with leg position, so I carry at 9 o’clock OWB American from One Source Tactical hugs body closely under shirt.
Otherwise normally carry Blade Techs Klipt kydex types or Galco Sto n Go leather. The bottom line is if people carry daily you’ll need several different holster variations.
Another issue I’ve had with a compact or subcompact firearm, such as Glock 19 or 26, printing is an issue with tighter shirts for variation (summer heat, dressing up, etc ...not into wearing a bed sheet all day) Normal holsters with clip will print, depending on shirt design, etc. Going to a smaller pistol isn’t something I want. However last week I attended a summer fair in tight t-shirt and shorts, and successfully concealed Glock 19 AIWB with extra mag in pocket. It was a matter of using a blackhawk or uncle mike’s nylon holster, not using the belt clip but sliding the pistol down until the grip was even with belt. A deep carry, pistol disappears, though harder to access quickly. Really it’s a thumb grab and pistol flies into palm of hand as moving upward.
I’ve noticed the sticky holsters mentioned here and will try them, as I want an option for wearing tighter shirts on occasion and a holster without a clip should work for that deep deep concealment, just have to make sure belt is tight per usual for retention, and the holster isn’t holding onto the gun in a draw... holding a piece with a sock over it one would look like a darn fool.
Once you start carrying, you tend to look for other people who are also carrying. Trying to spot other concealed carriers is a great way to pass time. Better yet, make this activity a self-improvement drill. If you can spot others carrying, consider what tipped you off to their armed status, and don’t make the same mistake yourself. For example, my daughter spotted a motorcyclist on the highway the other day using an inside the waistband holster covered by a long shirt. Cruising along with the wind in his face caused his shirt to ride up to his chest, leaving his gun exposed for all to see.
Bad example for CC. The biker was hardly carrying concealed. Sounds like brandishing to me.