[Pheonix]

I have a G26 to use as a primary (if it ever becomes legal) I am about 5'10" 180. I bought a Sidearmor IWB with 20 deg cant. I just ordered the J-hooks for 5 & 15 deg. As of now the barrel/holster put a large lump at the top of my but!:scrutiny: I dont like that look and feel that it will need to be covered (I always wear my shirts tucked). So if I am going to alter the way I dress I might as well get an OWB holster. I see that some are set to ride high, this looks to me to be a good thing. I want leather. Anything I should look for/watch out for? What do you use to carry?

[Psssniper]

g-27 and a piece of string
very lightweight,
disposable too

[Soap]

I carry my Govt. model 1911 in a Sparks Summer Special IWB. It rides on a Mitch Rosen contoured 1.5" belt, a hair over a hundred bucks and worth every penny. I carry OWB sometimes when I'm out in the country or sometimes when I'm wearing a suit.

[Zak Smith]

Over the last 3-4 years, I've carried (or tried to) the following combinations:

1. HK USP40 (fullsize) in IWB 15 degree Blade-tech, with M/D enterprises 1.5" leather belt. Gun too big, holster not up to task.

2. Glock 27 in IWB canted Sidearmor. M/D belt or The Wilderness 1.5" Instructor Belt. This works well, even under just a t-shirt. A little blocky.

3. Glock 19/23/32 in IWB canted Sidearmor. 1.5" Instructor Belt. This works well, but needs more than a t-shirt. More blocky.

4. CZ 85 Combat in cheap OWB. Way too big and heavy.

5. Browning HP (P35) in Milt Sparks Watch-Six IWB. 1.5 and 1.75" Instructor Belt. 1.75" works better. This is my favorite carry combination. The BHP is slim and hides under a t-shirt. This Sparks holster is the ne ultra plus of IWB, as far as I'm concerned.

6. BHP, again, but in a Milt Sparks OWB NP-1 ("Nelson's Patriot"). This is a hybrid belt/paddle holster. It holds the weight the best of all of the combinations, but protrudes down since it's OWB, and needs a proper covering garment such as a fleece, shell, or spotcoat.

7. A CZ 75 Compact (SA-only, with action job by Teddy Jacobson) in a Milt Sparks Watch-Six. I just got this pistol back from Teddy and haven't carried it yet.

8. The Glock 27 tossed in a pants pocket. When I do this, I leave the chamber empty and the striker "down."

The 1.75" Instructor Belt is my favorite so far, after going through several leather belts, and then using a 1.5" Instructor Belt for a couple years. The 1.75" distributes the tension better and stabilizes the pistol vertically.

Within the year, I expect to switch to a 1911/Commander in a Sparks IWB, and I expect it to work out about the same as the BHP.

Edited to add:

I normally wear either solid-color BDU's or Columbia Chinos ("ROC"). The 1.75" belt works fine in either, but better in the ROC's. The NP-1 OWB holster does not work well with BDU's if the right-hand-side cinch strap and metal clip is left on the pants, due to paddle interference.

If I carry an extra mag, I normally just throw it in the left-hand front pants pocket. It goes in a simple Tyvek sheath to keep the dust out, constructed from a used Priority Mail envelope.

-z

[COHIBA]

kimber procarry strong side galco avenger.

[OF]

Nice write-up Zak. Makes me want a 1.75" belt :)

Carry for Gabe:

G29, KyTac Braveheart IWB, 1.5" Rafter-S belt.

Soon to change out for a Springfield 5" 1911, Kytac BraveHeart, same belt. I'm with Zak on the Glock thing - too blocky. After reading Zak's write-up, I might get a Sparks VM-II and the 1.75" Wilderness too. Run the BraveHeart on the Wilderness and the Sparks on the leather Rafter-S. Sounds good to me :)

- Gabe

[Skunkabilly]

5'5", 120 lbs.

USP45C and extra mag in Milt Sparks VM2, but with a Uncle Mikes :barf: dress belt :barf: :barf:...I can't wait till my new belt gets in.

[Zak Smith]

Gabe,

The Wilderness belts are really functional. The ability to make small adjustments for tension makes them good for CCW. The 1.75" belt is just marginally more comfortable for carry than the 1.5", but they are close.

Most of the Sparks holsters can be converted to a different belt width by just getting an extra set of belt loops for around $9. My NP-1 and WS-1 both came set up for 1.5" and I converted them to 1.75".

-z

[C. H. Luke]

Have switched to CCW'ng a Glock 36 for about a year now.
In warm weather it's almost always in an Alessi Talon+.
In cooler weather it's in a Cen-Dex Taylor "Nighthwak" IWB.
The Nighthawk is the finiest High-Ride OWB I've found and
Chuck actually had a lot of input into it's design.

In Winter often use a G26 if wearing a heavy coat with generous pockets. Use Lou Alessi's pocket holster for this and use his
DOJ on belt if needed. {Don't care for holsters with much of any cant for Glocks}

When I CCW'd a G17 or 22 it was always with a KyTac Braveheart.
Certainly the best Kydex IWB to be had!


For IDPA the only "plastic" I'll use is Cen-Dex's ""Storm" or his new
"SD Series". The ability to tune the retention and draw speed of the Storm is Superb!


www.cen-dex.com

[Hemicuda]

Galco Jak-Slide belt holster with a Beretta 8040-F Mini-Cougar @ 4 O-Clock... between the belt and the pants... with a mens "long" shirt, untucked covering it...

[cool45auto]

Vertec at 1:00 in a Uncle Mike's open-top soft holster.

[ajacobs]

I had the same problem with the holster showing right above my right rear pocket. The glock is a little thick. I solved this by switching to 3 oclock carry. I have grown to like it better. I also carry in a summer special they run just over 50 bucks from brownells. But if you want out side the waist ban I like galco.

[falconer]

I'm in the same situation as Pheonix. How to carry if/when we get CCW in Ohio. I just got a FIST #20 IWB in kydex. VERY NICE. Positioned at about 4 o'clock, it conceals my fullsize 1911 easily with just a t-shirt over it. If I put an unbuttoned shirt over the t-shirt there is absolutely no telling its there.

Oh, and since we're talking about concealment, let me publicly state that Mr. Flory might want to invest in shirts a size larger, last time I was out with him, his 1911 was printing like a mofo. Then again, maybe its just cause I was well aware of its location.

[P95Carry]

In ''depths'' of winter I am pretty happy with my P95 in a Bianchi sho rig .. tho need to change position of top elastic a little.

Rest of winter (as now but not for much longer) P95 in Fobus paddle ... strong side 4 0'clock.

Soon tho it'll be back to summer carry M85 snubby ...... that will be either OWB about 3 to 4 o'clock or sometimes when real hot ..... same piece in fanny pack.

If conditions real extreme ... now and again, resort to HP22 pants pocket!

Really must get a P-32!:p

[Khornet]

Cold months: G22 in a Fobus paddle under jacket or fleece, or P90 on a Hume JIT slide under jacket or fleece. Once in the office, gun & holster come off and into a file cabinet.

Warm months: G22 in a Tucker Texas Heritage IWB tuckable, under the loose flannel or cotton shirts I've always worn.

All with a Bulman Gunleather "UGB" (Urban Gun Belt) 1-1/4" wide, looks like a dress belt, 1/4" thick and reinforced, carries the weight nicely.

I'm a lefty. I position the pistol just a bit back from 3:00 looking down on my head, so the muzzle points down between my trouser seam and my back pocket. Unnoticed so far.

[Kentucky Rifle]

Mainly~~
J-frames: Brown Rafter 1.25" shark skin belt and matching holster.

Glock 27: Black Rafter 1.5" shark skin belt and matching holster.

Back Pocket: RJ Hedley "Back Pocket" model holster. Brown for my Guardian, black for my Seecamp. (Easy for me to find.)

Front pocket: DeSantis "Nemesis". I've got these for my J-frames and my small autos.

KR