ccw a 4" revolver?

thrash,

Start with quality leather, both belt and holster. I use a Bianchi holster and Gould & Goodrich belt when toting a 4" model 28 S&W. I absolutely always know it's "there", but the proper belt/holster combo spreads the load.
If you will do some searching and shopping you can arrive at a suitable solution.
You will need to adapt your wardrobe to insure legal concealment.
A shoulder rig is also a viable option.
Neither solution will be inexpensive.

Using capital letters to begin sentences is a considerate, intelligent practice.

Mike

Absolutely right. With a good leather belt and holster carrying a 4 in. revo or a 5 in. 1911 is not a problem. As the last post said you do need to give some thought to your wardrobe but it's really not that difficult. And if the flag goes up you will be much better equipped to deal with it than someone who carries a ""pocket" .25 or .380 just because it's easier to carry and they refuse to dress around a CCW rig. I really tried to carry in a shoulder rig but finally decided it's just too slow to get the gun out. There are some very good IWB revo holsters out there but you kind of have to look hard to find them since everyone has gone over to polymer pistols nowdays.

Good leather gun belt...from Comp-Tac.

Quality holster with lots of forward cant. The slots or straps need to fit the belt. Blade-Tech and others make kydex holsters for revolvers. I prefer Milt Sparks holsters, but the wait is at least six months. DeSantis Thumbbreak Scabbards have worked well for me in the past, but the holster does not have much forward cant.

One key to hiding your gun successfully is to use boot style grips that do not extend past the bottom of the frame. Herritt's Stocks can make you Jordan Troopers or similar if you ask.

Buy two "split six" speed loader holders, speedloaders, and a few speed strips and you're done! I like the eight shot speed strips from TuffProducts because you can put a full six rounds on it with space between them. The space facilitates loading.

https://www.tuffproducts.com/product.php?productid=16340&cat=265&page=1

You may want to consider buying a Ruger GP100 with 3" barrel (or having the barrel switched out by Ruger) or going with an S&W 686 or 686+ with 3" barrel. The slightly shorter barrel is a good compromise between the tiny snubby barrels and the versatile 4" barrels.

I sometimes IWB carry a 4" 629 in a Hoffner's rig and it works great for me.

Here are some shots:







In the last pic, you can tell it's there if you're looking for it, but that's not bad for concealing a .44 Mag and 3 speed loaders.

I removed the rear belt loop, drilled a hole a bit lower down along the rear edge of the holster, and reinstalled the loop there. That spreads out the anchor points on the belt and gave it a slight forward cant. Easy 30 second modification.

-Sam

DO NOT BUY THE HOFFNERS RIG!

I had one for my N-Frame and it would not let go of the gun 33% of the time. I work with kydex and did some modifications to it (after I determined it was not functional) and the holster still did not release the gun properly. Furthermore, Hoffners didn't want to replace it on their dime.

Interesting. (haven't we gone 'round about this before?)

I make Kydex sheaths and holsters myself, as well. The model I have has always worked just exactly as I thought it should. I made a slight modification of moving one strap back a inch or two to the rear for stability, but my N-frame has always released and drawn smoothly, every single time.

I can only assume there was a flaw in the holster you bought. It is quite a shame they did not give you better customer service.

A wide leather belt and Tex Shoemaker Pancake work for my 4" guns, including a Anaconda. The holster holds it snug to my body, up fairly high, and with enough forward cant to keep the muzzle from being a bother when I sit down.

I regularly carry a 4" Colt Python or S&W 686 in an old Bianchi model 8L. I wear a nylon bomber style jacket and have no problems concealing it.

In the summertime (not wearing a large jacket, etc.), using a good IWB holster will help. Like others have mentioned, a good gun belt is a must.

I carry a 4" Security Six in a leather pancake holster. A decent belt makes all the difference. (and sometimes Perry suspenders)

I use a Galco Highrise open top, and a really good belt. Never had a problem yet.

Simply Rugged makes a good copy of the origianl Baker Pancake holster. That and a good belt will conceal a revovler well. I use a Bianchi 5BH for my 4" S&W Model 28.

4 in Security six IWB at 4 o clock in a copy of a cheap uncle mikes holster I sewed myself .

of course all these work good if your skinny or weight proportionate,not like most of us fat folks or with big love handles

nrastore.org, http://www.concealedcomfort.com/

As others have said, the key to concealment is shirt, belt & holster. For my 4 and 5 inch guns I prefer the Texas Yaqui slide or the Don Hume JIT Slide. I daily carry a 5 inch 1911 in both of these with zero issues.

LD

Carrying boulder like steel L,N-framed S&W or GP100 type like weapon is very uncomfortable especially inside waist band. There are plenty better pieces for CCW out there. If you're into revolvers I have seen two perfect choices at local show yesterday. Alloy K-frame round butt about 3" barrel cal. 38Spl. Far superior to the boulders mentioned above and head and shoulders about dinky pocket J-framed stuff.

maybee a vertical shoulder rig in the winter months. a bit harder in summer though.

Definitely go with quality leather:

of course all these work good if your skinny or weight proportionate,not like most of us fat folks or with big love handles

Click to expand...

Try wearing suspenders *under* your shirt, and don't cinch your belt so tight. If the suspenders against your skin bothers you and you just can't get used to it, wear a "wife-beater" undershirt, then the suspenders, then your shirt.

of course all these work good if your skinny or weight proportionate,not like most of us fat folks or with big love handles

Click to expand...

Check out post # 19. I hide pretty large guns, and I'm a fat guy.

Carrying a 4" K-frame, such as my S&W Model 19, is easy and comfortable. I use a Milt Sparks PMK or 200AW holster, and a nice, purpose-built belt, made by Milt Sparks, Kramer, or The Wilderness, the latter being nylon. A Ruger Speed Six, in the same rig, is equally comfortable.

Carrying a Ruger GP100, or S&W L- or N-frame, is still reasonably comfortable, but the weight will be felt sooner during a long day of carrying.

Obviously, I have to wear more than just a tight T-shirt as a cover garment.

I have also used some IWB holsters that are no longer in production.

Barrel length is NOT a hindrance to comfort! All else being equal, a longer barrel acts like a keel on
a sailboat, making the whole rig more stable. I have also experienced short barrels tending to poke me in a certain spot on the gluteus, when carried IWB, whereas a similar weapon with a longer barrel will bridge over that spot, and lay flat. This is largely a matter of where one wears the weapon.

I often carry my 4" k frame iwb in a Grandfather oak Kydex holster. I like it and it was inexpensive. I would probably own more of them if their customer service was a little better. I will probably be checking a Theis holster soon for it.

I wear a Bianchi pancake for my SP 101 .357, 3.06" revolver. It has a straight up wear slot, or it also has another slot for a more canted wear, which is the way I carry it. With this setup, I never know its there, never digs into you, especially sitting down.

I have always had trouble keeping something a little heavy concealed on a belt holster. I like what was mentioned about wearing suspenders UNDER your outer shirt. For me, in the past, when carrying a 4-inch piece, I would use a vertical shoulder holster like the Bianchi X15 and a jacket (light or medium or heavy....depending upon the weather). It has worked for me with 4-inch Smiths, Rugers, Colt DAs and 6-inch K-frame Smiths.