[sevenpoint62mm]

havign my wife make a conceal carry vest for me sicne the ones I've seen are either too heavy/bulky, too cowboy, or just plain too expensive. Having her go basically off http://www.concealedcarry.com/ basic design but a bit more business casual. Any ideas for improvement?

[Werewolf]

Ahhhh....
The Classic Shoot me First method of concealment. :scrutiny:

I've never gotten it I guess. Using a vest I mean. I imagine it would be totally appropriate while hunting, fishing or hiking though. :)

Even living in Oklahoma (we have lotsa cowboys - real ones - and cowboy wannabe's here) I don't remember ever seeing anyone wearing in public a vest like the concealed carry vests vest manufacturers make. I've seen some Hell's Angels types :mad: on their bikes with vests but that's about it. That type of garment would stand out like a sore thumb just about everywhere. :what:

But then most folks probably wouldn't know what it was for anyway. :confused:

Hmmmmmm...

OH! WAIT! You wanted ideas for improvement.
In all honesty! I'd suggest investing in a quality gun belt and IWB holster.

[sevenpoint62mm]

In all honesty! I'd suggest investing in a quality gun belt and IWB holster.

That holster, or any other for that matter, has to be covered as well. Either way you look at I'll need a vest, a jacket, or really baggy t-shirt (concealing a .45).

[Werewolf]

I carry a Sig P220. Can't get much bigger than that. I carry it IWB in a Don Hume. In summer shirt is untucked. In winter I wear a jacket. It is invisible and I've never been made that I know of. Most of the time my family doesn't know if I'm carrying and has to ask.

How one carries is pretty much based on what one is comfortable with. The vest route is uncomfortable to me (and if a poll was run - probably already one out there - vest carry will be found to be a 1 or 2 percenter - that's for a reason).

All that weight on one side with no support but the vest and bouncing around as you walk - uhuhn. Feels like carrying a rock. IWB though distributes the weight across the belt and the inside of the pants and there've been times I've forgotten I'm even packing. NOT with a vest though.

And vests being not normal wear for most folks they tend to stick out.

[nemesis]

havign my wife make a conceal carry vest for me

I checked the link to the vest and tried to figure out if the idea was to carry the weapon in the vest and I think that is what is being suggested.

Just my opinion but I think that is a very bad idea. First of all, you're going to have that weight flopping and banging around and it's going to be a pendulum. Bend over and your vest will be dragging on the ground.

Unfortunately, that's not the worst of it. The worst aspect is that the gun is not anchored anywhere and may be impossible to draw in the heat of the moment. Any decently concealed weapon is normally anchored in a securely fastened holster and needs only to be swiftly removed. I don't know how successful you are going to be drawing your gun when the "holster" comes with you.

What's going to secure the gun and prevent the vest from preventing a clean presentation?

I opt out and I'll stick with a solid holster. By the way, I carry 24/7 and that includes all day, everyday at work.

[sevenpoint62mm]

Very good info guys, I'll look into IWB

[sevenpoint62mm]

Wait, with a IWB aren't I going to need a looser pants?

[Art Eatman]

Coronado makes two styles of leather vests. The way they're built, the gun doesn't flop about. With spare mags on the off side, the balance is good. My carry-pet is a Lightweight Commander. (I disremember the URL, but they have a website.)

I got mine because of bursitis/arthritis in my strong-side shoulder. The vest carry makes for much less pain when drawing.

Art

[lee n. field]

Wait, with a IWB aren't I going to need a looser pants?

yup.

[Dr.Rob]

I knew an old cowboy who carried a derringer in the leather lined pocket of his vest.. the other pocket had a watch on a fob and a cigarette case.

If you wear a vest all the time (I do a lot) no one will look at it twice.

[Stand_Watie]

Any chance you could go with the motorcyle club vest route? People expect bikers to have a few odd bulges, wrenches and oil filters and the like:D Just be sure and not use some genuine bikers real vest colors, I've heard they can get a little bent out of shape about "posers".

That reminds me of a little encounter I had with bikers out in Colorado. I had my bike into a shop near Rocky Mountain National Park and a guy by the name of "bubba" who owned a scooter rental place was testing one of his scooters - when he got ready to ride it one of the guys in his club, "Rat" (I kid you not) called him out on wearing his colors when riding anything other than a harley. He turned around in the driveway of his shop and sheepishly took his vest off before he went out on the test drive.

[sevenpoint62mm]

No I'm more of a computer techie type. However I work late (past 1:30 am) and work for an Armored car company, though not a cash site. I don't like the idea of walking out unarmed.

[owsi26]

I would love to carry IWB. Maybe it is just me but it is very uncomfortable when sitting and is so obvious, unless wearing a shirt untucked, that why not carry OWB? You also have to have bigger pants and belts for when you want to carry IWB, then smaller when you don't. After all there are places it isn't legal to carry concealed or open, so you need two wardrobes.
Am I missing something here?

Alan

[dairycreek]

Its called a Safari vest because it has a lot of extra pockets in it. True, it is expensive but it will last forever. It has carry pockets so that the owner can carry either right handed or left handed and these pockets are huge. I have carried a SIG 220ST in mine with no problems at all. It has been a terrific addition to my casual wardrobe. It is good looking and functional and can be worn anywhere where casual wear is appropriate without gaining attention. FYI http://coronadoleather.com/ Good shooting;)

[Stand_Watie]

Its called a Safari vest because it has a lot of extra pockets in it. True, it is expensive but it will last forever. It has carry pockets so that the owner can carry either right handed or left handed and these pockets are huge. I have carried a SIG 220ST in mine with no problems at all. It has been a terrific addition to my casual wardrobe.

I really like the looks of those. I might buy one or two if I hit the lottery:D

http://www.coronadoleather.com/upload/V25.jpg

[MyRoad]

I think that the cloth-based vests are intended for light weight guns. Since your wife is making this vest, if you want to stick with cloth, I wonder if it would be possible to actually stitch a shoulder holster into the vest - the full unit. You'd probably need to make the vest with an inner and outer layer of cloth, so that the outline of the stitching from the holster didn't show through... just a thought, could be a bad one. :)

Those leather vests look really nice. At first I was blown away by the price, but if I look at how much I've spent on Milt Sparks holsters, if this is a viable method of carry and would cover more than one of my guns, it could be worth the investment. Won't be any time soon, but someday I'd like to get one.

[Serpico]

Don't forget the Vest's brother in carry style....the Hawaiian shirt...
http://gavinhawaiian.com/pix/tbirdcart.jpg

[Werewolf]

Ahhhhh....
The Hawaiian Shirt. The most comfortable way to carry concealed in the summer.

Works fine, lasts a long time! :D