[SodiumBenzoate]

Just curious - but how is a IWB firearm actually concealed? It seems people would notice a bump or soemthing like that.

[Jim March]

They don't. People just DON'T notice.

Basic psychology.

At least on guys :).

(Note: this may be different in San Francisco, where attention to that portion of the male anatomy may be a bit more common :D.)

[SodiumBenzoate]

Thanks. I guess a lump doesn't scream "GUN!" in any case, what with everything else some strap to their hips, like cameras, beepers, whatever.

Also, with IWB, does it matter more how tall/wide a firearm is or how thick it is?

[stevelyn]

I carry a G-22 in a DeSantis Cozy Partner everywhere in Los Anchorage. Most of the time the weather is cool enough to wear a sweatshirt or light jacket without looking suspicious. This past week I was up there and it definitely was t-shirt weather. I put my holster on as usual an left my t-shirt untucked. No one noticed and if they did they thought nothing of it.
But, one who carries concealed regularly and is aware of their surroundings, will notice others who are carrying. I spotted a couple of them at the Anchorage Zoo wearing oversized Polo shirts. :D

[Gary Brommeland]

A properly designed IWB will locate the grip of the weapon in the natural "hollow" below the bottom rib. When worn with a straight cut shirt, it makes any reasonably sized firearm pretty much disappear.

I wear a 5" 1911 or Glock 17 daily here in FL with nothing more than a tee shirt as a cover garment.

I have thousands of customers all over the world that do more or less the same thing, with minor vairiations in build, weapon choice and clothing choices.

If you want a holster that will give you a high degree of concealment and comfort, with a large variety of clothing options, then a good IWB is really tough to beat.

If I can answer any more questions for you, please feel free to call my shop (352-288-3292). Good luck!

[berettaman]

I'm 6'6" 175lbs,skinny as a rail and I conceal a Beretta 92 in a DeSantis Cozy Partner at about 3:00-4:00.No one has ever been able to tell I say carrying.I usually just wear a polo shirt untucked to cover it.The grip rides in the cavity just below my rib cage and above my love handel.:evil:

[Edmond]

Can you see it?

http://home.earthlink.net/~edmondlau/hidden.jpg

That's a G26 in a Sidearmor IWB. I'm 5'5", 130 lbs.

[pax]

If you have a good belt, a good holster, and an appropriately sized handgun -- and if you select proper clothing for the job -- the lump is functionally invisible.

In choosing shirts, patterns work better than solids and slightly stiff material is better than clingy stuff.

In choosing jeans or pants, you want pants that are about an inch and a half bigger than your natural waist -- that is, big enough to make room for the gun, small enough to provide some rigidity along the waistband so your gun and belt do not sag.

The belt has to be very rigid, and is, believe it or not, probably the most crucial item when it comes to determining whether you are able to conceal a gun.

While some people routinely conceal large handguns, the fact is that slimmer or smaller guns are easier to conceal. Every carry gun is a tradeoff between shootability and concealability.

As for holsters, the ideal holster adds little width to the gun, provides a stable platform that doesn't slip or slide around on the belt, and holds the gun securely enough that you're not going to be tugging, twisting, pushing, or fiddling with it all day long.

When all the items above work together well, the lump is either non-existent or functionally invisible.

(Oh, plus, if you're female and carry a gun, you can make the gun entirely invisible to most males simply by wearing a low cut blouse. But I digress...)

pax

[Croyance]

A IWB holster smooths out that bump, making it less obvious. This is in a addition to properly placing the grip in the hollow of the back. It is also better for longer barrel guns, since you don't have to worry about your shirt being long enough to conceal the length of your gun.
Smooth bumps are less noticable than abrupt, well defined bumps.

[denfoote]

A properly designed IWB will locate the grip of the weapon in the natural "hollow" below the bottom rib. When worn with a straight cut shirt, it makes any reasonably sized firearm pretty much disappear.

What Gary said!!
I carry, pretty much, everything IWB.
I can carry a full size Walther P99 with a loose t-shirt cover and no one is the wiser!!! :D

Even the full size 1911 or BHP works, although, I'm not crazy about the hammer digging into my side!! :eek:

[carpettbaggerr]

(Oh, plus, if you're female and carry a gun, you can make the gun entirely invisible to most males simply by wearing a low cut blouse. But I digress...)
Hmmmm. Would you have any pictures demonstrating this technique??:evil:

[Gary Brommeland]

quote:"Even the full size 1911 or BHP works, although, I'm not crazy about the hammer digging into my side!! "


This will not happen with a properly designed IWB. It should have a small "shield" covering that part of the weapon. (Trust me, with my "spare tire" I couldn't wear one otherwise:D )

[rappa]

Can you see it?

Damn, Edmond! You must be in DEEP DEEP CONCEALMENT, all I can see is a red x! :D

My primary mode of carry is IWB. It works best for me since I'm pretty much in shorts and Tshirt about 360 days of the year down here! As previously stated and IMHO, a good belt is the core of your rig. Of course a good holster is necessary also, but if you have a MiltSparks VM2 riding on a 1.25" belt from OldNavy, you just wasted $125!

My primary carry is a Glock 36 and\or 642 but I've successfully carried a Glock 19, a 229 and a 220 (not at the same time), without being made or printing or flashing.

[Island Beretta]

Gary,

I am big and believe me I can hide the weapon well..the problem is getting it out in a decent time.. I have spent a small fortune on holsters but it sounds like you may have some solutions..can you send me a catalog..i will also drop by your website..

[dairycreek]

With an IWB holster placement on your belt is important as far as concealment is concerned. Assuming that you are familiar with the "clock face" way of expressing holster placement (12 center front - 6 center of the back) placing an IWB at 4:00 o'clock places the gun somewhat behind the line of sight from in front and is an extremely effective position for concealment. As a large man (6'3" and 300lbs) I find that placing the IWB holster at approximately 2:00 o'clock[sometimes called an appendix carry] is particularly effective for me because of my body size and shape.

I also use IWB holsters that are constructed so that they keep the gun tight to my body. Any loose outer cover (untucked shirt, jacket, vest, etc,) will make a well selected and well placed IWB holster just "disappear". Good shooting;)

[NJ3]

Gary Brommeland's leather is first rate, I like the Max Con V a lot. Finding the right holster makes all the difference in the world.