First Concealed Holster reccomendations/help

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jefnvk

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First off, I apologize if this should be in the Accessory forum.

I am looking for my first concealed holster. As soon as the State of Michigan gets around to seeing I'm not a bad person, I'll finally get my permit. I have already picked out and purchased a gun, a stainless Walther PPK.

Now, I need a holster for it. I am more than willing to do things right and pony up the money for a nice one, but I don't want to do so not knowing what I should be looking at in a holster.

I have pretty much decided against a pocket holster. My pockets already suffer from a lack of room.

My first choice would be an IWB holster. However, I am diabetic, and wear an insulin pump. Because of this, I have an IV tube stuck in my stomach. I am curious to hear from anyone else that may have the same situtation, and whether an IWB holster works for them. My worry is whether I can wear the gun far enough back to avoid any entanglement with the tubing. What is a normal carry position for IWB (more forward, hip, back)? Or, is there another option I am missing? Ankle is a far off choice, pretty much a last resort. Shoulder is definitely a possibility in the winter, but I just dont wear enough heavy clothing in sumer to make it possible (usu. khaki or jean shorts and loose t-shirt)

Also, some reccomendations on quality producers would be nice. Right now I am looking at a Brommeland Max-Con V, or High Noon Tailgunner. Can anyone offer reccomendations on either of these, or suggest an alternate? I would like to keep the price at or below $100, but again am not against paying for quality.

Thanks in advance!
 
Look into a DeSantis Speed Scabbard. http://www.desantisholster.com/002.html It is very comfortable and the price is reasonable too. I bought several for my revolvers for $43 each. If it makes a 4" .357 Magnum comfortable to carry you will love it for a PPK. It's an OWB holster but it's very close to the body so you can't see it under your cloths. If you would rather one with a top strap they have that model too. http://www.desantisholster.com/001.html

DeSantis is a top company and those holsters are high quality leather so they will last a long time.

Don Hume makes great stuff too. http://www.donhume.com/Products/ProductsList.cfm?action=SearchByWeapon&WeaponID=259 They are also a top company with quality products that work.
 
You should consider the Alessi Talon. That's a high quality clip-on IWB holster. I wear a Talon in the Appendix carry position with a 3" S&W Model 65. I've also used a similiar (but cheaper) clip on IWB holster with a Makarov in the same location. It should work well with your PPK.

Where exactly is your pump? I like appendix carry, forward of the right hip, but if that is where your pump is, you may want to go with a more traditional behind the strong side hip location. In that case I also reccomend the Milt Sparks Versa Max II.
 
The IV location gets changed every 2-3 days, alternating sides of body. It is usually within 2-3" of the belly button. The issue isn't so much the site, but the tubing. That runs from the IV site to the pump itself, which I keep in my front pocket, the biggest reason behind no pocket holster.

Is there a site for Alessi products? I can't seem to find an official one by just searching the internet.
 
On the rare occasions I carry my PPK, I use a Galco pocket holster. I know that doesn't help you out, but this might. I have a drawer of discarded holsters that I don't use. In that drawer is a Galco Scout IWB for a PPK and a Comp Tac paddle for a PPK. The Galco is a little IWB that rides vertically and has a J hook that catches under your belt. Its a solid little holster with a reinforced mouth that I carried either appendix cross drawer or at about 5 o clock behind my right hip. The paddle holster is kydex and rides nice and high. I also wore it behind the right hip. Since I use neither of these holsters I would be glad to send them to you to either use or at least get an idea of what you might like. Email me at [email protected] if you are interested and I'll drop em in the mail next week with my various and sundry bills.

If you are interested in a really nice IWB holster, try and lay your hands on a Milt Sparks VM2. I wish I had one for all my guns. For small guns like the PPK, I actually like kydex IWB holsters the best. Comp Tac makes good stuff out of kydex.
 
It's been a while since I have seen on of your posts. Where have you been?

I won't try and talk you into to pocket carry, but I had never considered it until I became frustrated with very hot weather concealment. If I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt, then the gun was rubbing against my skin, which got really uncomfortable after 4 or 5 hours. I decided on pocket carry and this has worked well. I use a Desantis Nemesis and usually wear shorts with cargo pockets and have found that it fits well in those. Hopefully, these will stay in style. Are they still in style?
 
I use a Don Hume IWB with my S&W 908. I always carry at my 3:00. A little secret I learned here on THR is to wear a "wife beater" t- shirt under your outer shirt, yes even your loose fitting t-shirts. It protects both you from the gun rubbing your side and the gun from your sweat.
 
I got a cheapo IWB/OWB ambidextrous universal slide holster from cheaperthandirt.com for $15 and am very satisfied. It works with all my CCW weapons and can be worn comfortably IWB in several positions. I strongly suggest one like this for a starter.

KEY-146.png
 
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SteveS - Been here and there. Biggest change was getting a job last summer, which cut out all free time, kinda drifted away from most online activities and just never got back into it. Threw in a girlfriend on top of that, which didn't help. Was actually without internet for about two months, which didn't help either. Basically just drifted due to life circumstances. Glad to know I was missed, though, and am definitely glad to be back. I had almost forgotten what a helpful, nice place this was.

And rethinking the pocket holster, Ii did take a look at my shorts I wr almost every day. It would seem that the cargo pocket is almost designed to fita PPK perfectly. how does the button flap at the top affect access though? Do you just leave one button undone, can the gun fit through that opening?

copaup - thank you very much for the offer, although I am going to politely pass on it. I am, however, taking a serious look at the Comp Tec holsters. I do like the looks of them.

Slinger - thanks for the advice. Seems simple enough, but I would have never thought of it.
 
No problem, my quest to find new homes for my unloved holsters is neverending...:)

Try a cheap Uncle Mikes or Desanitis Nemesis to decide if pocket carry will work for you before dropping coin on a more expensive holster. You might find the PPK a bit heavy in a cargo pocket. I like mine in the hip pockets, but it swings about a bit in the looser cargo pocket and annoys me. But thats me, you may find it a perfect fit. Truth be told, the Nemesis is a pretty good holster.

People will tell you the PPK is a poor choice for CCW. Don't listen to them. I love mine. Its accurate, easy to shoot, reliable with ammo it likes (pretty much anything but Golden Sabre), and oozes class. There are better weapons out there, but if you put the rounds where they need to go, it will do you fine.
 
Do you just leave one button undone, can the gun fit through that opening?
Click to expand...

I have a few pairs with velcro, which works great. Of the ones that button, I just leave open the front button and my J-Frame can fit through the opening easily. The Nemesis is a pretty cheap holster ($20 or less), so you wont be out much if you try it and don't like it.
 
Thank you much for all the advice. Got to try out a few options today, and I must say that at this point, I am actually leaning more towards a simple high riding thin belt holster. It was more comfortable than a IWB, and actually seemed to hide a bit better to me.

My worries about the insulin pump interfering were put to rest too, as it doesn't seem to be in the way at all, no matter where I have the holster.
 
I am 5'8" tall and weigh about 165 pounds.
VM2.gif
This is what I conceal under a pair of jean shorts and a slightly oversized tee shirt. It's a Milt Sparks VM2 in horsehide with shark trim. I also have the MS belt and shark mag pouch which are not shown. I paid as much for the leather as some have paid for their pistol but after a year with this rig, it's worth it. It has become a part of me. If you wanted to cut corners and save a bit of money you could go with the watch six style holster in plain cowhide and I'm guessing it would be about $70 cheaper.
 
Wild bills concealment should have some options for you, and maybe even some advice regarding your IV lines. :)

www.wildbillsconcealment.com

I carry a PT58HC .380 in a G-Code G-A001 from wild bills. Fits like a glove.
The new PT58HC has not been out long and one of there reps at a Gun show went through everything he had till he found a perfect fit.

It is for a Walther P-99 if anyone wants to know.

Here are pics:
 

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ctrout - that is beautiful. Over the past few days, I have grown quite fond of the looks of the horsehide/sharkskin combo. Seriously considering the extra $30 or so it seems to cost if its available on whatever I decide on.

Tomcat or hunter - either of you have any experience with Wild Bills undercover carry?

Oh, and does anyone know where I can find a chart for what guns fit what Milt Spark holsters?
 
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I use the C-TAC for CC of a XD40 without issue. Being adjustable makes it real nice. I can wear it with shorts and t-shirt.
 
I have not yet, but I think I am going to get a Pocket Packer Natural hopefuly for my Baretta Tomcat .32. $29.95 + shipping for most revolv
ers and small autos.

www.wildbillsconealment.com

What was you gonna carry Jefnvk? And also the guys at wild bills are a helpful bunch, they might be able to help you with the list on holsters.
 
I am also a diabetic with an insulin pump. I haven't found that the tubing or the canula sight are much of a problem, as long as I keep the tubing tucked. Its really about where you carry your pump in relation to your gun. When I use a pocket holster and the pump is on the right side, I simply clip it to the belt at around 4:00 and make sure the tubing is tucked. It doesn't interfere with my draw at all. With a more conventional holster, I find its often easier to put the pump in the pocket and make sure there isn't a lot of extra tubing flapping around. As long as you are simply aware of it and pay attention to the tubing when you get dressed and put your holster on, its really not a big deal.

As for pocket carry, I do that a lot with my Bersa Thunder .380 CC. Its very similar to a Walther PPK/S, but lighter, smaller and less expensive. Cargo shorts are fantastic for pocket carry, but don't use the cargo pocket. Use the regular front pocket. There are two reasons for this. The first is that you can draw very quickly from the front pocket of a pair of cargo shorts. Also, nobody will think anything of it if you walk around with your hands in your pockets. That let's you prepare for a potential threat by putting your hand on your gun in advance. Another nice thing about that is the front cargo pocket is sewn on top of the main pocket and prevents printing. As for pocket holsters, I use a Galco Pocket Protector and like it alot. I've also heard good things about the Desantis Nemesis. Both are inexpensive.
 
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I don't see how a IWB or OWB holster, worn in the conventional position just behind the strong side hip bone, is going to interfere with your IV device. I like IWB a little better because it provides for greater concealment under a wider variety of conditions.

I'm very pleased with the UBG (Ugly Bald Guy:D) Canute that I acquired recently. Not knocking the other famous makers, but it is difficult to see how they can improve substantially on the quality for $30 or $40 more, plus a long wait.
 
Just because its bugging me, I have to point out that IV stands for intra-venous. IV catheters go into a vein and deliver meds directly to the blood stream. Insulin pumps use a subcutaneous canula that sticks into the fatty tissue beneath the skin. Its basically a very thin soft plastic tube that you stick through the skin with a needle that is then removed. These infusion sites get infected or become blocked if left in place for too long, so they have to be removed every three days. To prevent building up scar tissue, the sites are rotated around the abdomen. I also use the upper thighs and some people use parts of the lower back. The upshot for carry is that the tubing is only so long (usually 22 inches), so the placement of the canula dictates where the insulin pump can be carried. The insulin pump itself is about the size of a pager and has a belt-clip. The problem with insulin pumps is that the tubing can get caught on your gun if you don't keep it tucked in. Loose tubing gets caught on all sorts of stuff and having your canula violently ripped out is not kind of fun, so I tend to keep mine tucked anyway.
 
I've now tried alot of holsters esp for my 9mm.
I have found the desantis tuck this holster to be my favorite.
See here: www.desantisholster.com/n91.html

I took the holster and attached a very soft fabric on the side touching my skin using contact cement.
I quite often forget it's there.
 
Cargo shorts are fantastic for pocket carry, but don't use the cargo pocket. Use the regular front pocket. There are two reasons for this. The first is that you can draw very quickly from the front pocket of a pair of cargo shorts. Also, nobody will think anything of it if you walk around with your hands in your pockets.
Click to expand...

I still prefer the cargo pockets. I can draw just as fast from them and they are also easier to draw from if I am sitting down.
 
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