I want to carry, but...

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JR24 said:
I tried suspenders a few times when my heavy leather belts weren't cutting the weight of my full size 1911 or Sig 226.

Then I got one of those nylon/kydex belts
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Body shape.....if your stomach hangs over your belt, it will take a permanent "set" with a sag where the buckle is and any weight elsewhere will be uncomfortable. Suspenders takes the weight off the hips. Take a note from Uncle Sam's TL-29 gear, suspenders, the shoulders carry the load, not the hips.
 
I suggest a holster from N82 Tactical. It keeps the gun, including the grip, away from your body. Layers of soft neoprene and suede between the gun and your skin is very comfortable.
 
Cygnus said:
The Alien is the Shapeshift IWB (huge, imo),
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This one? http://aliengearholsters.com/shapeshift-iwb-holster.html

the Clinger is the Stingray.
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https://clingerholsters.com/product/v3-stingray-holster/

Which one of these holsters allows this...
So far, I prefer behind my hip, but not in small of my back, drawing with palm away (knuckles against hip/back).
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Been getting lots of suggestions to explore leather, and I might pick up a sub-compact single stack, so long as I can find a holster with an extra mag option.
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As in a holster with a mag pouch attached? Most folks will recommend against that feature. Mag pouches are easy to come by, and they are typically fairly inexpensive. Get a separate mag pouch and wear it weak side opposite of your holster.

This video from the late Paul Gomez may be helpful

 
JTQ said:
This one? http://aliengearholsters.com/shapeshift-iwb-holster.html



https://clingerholsters.com/product/v3-stingray-holster/

Which one of these holsters allows this...




As in a holster with a mag pouch attached? Most folks will recommend against that feature. Mag pouches are easy to come by, and they are typically fairly inexpensive. Get a separate mag pouch and wear it weak side opposite of your holster.

This video from the late Paul Gomez may be helpful

Click to expand...


Thank you for the video and suggestion about separate mag pouch. Yes, those are my holsters plus the CE. Only my clinger allows me to draw from 4 & 5 o’clock palm out. The other two options are standard IWB right hand pull.
 
Cygnus said:
Thank you for the video and suggestion about separate mag pouch. Yes, those are my holsters plus the CE. Only my clinger allows me to draw from 4 & 5 o’clock palm out. The other two options are standard IWB right hand pull.
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On a mag holder. A separate one allows you to find the position where it works best for you. The mag pouch attached to the gun holster has been around for a long long time. I have holsters from WWI that are set up that way (in fact one leather holster from WWI that needs the stitching redone) but I always found that awkward.
 
Trunk Monkey said:
my problem with IWB carry has always been that in order to have my belt tight enough to stay up I had to to have it so tight that my gun dug into me. Once I switched to OWB and carried the gun outside of my belt the problem went away.
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I'm th opposite, OWB I gotta have the belt so tight it's uncomfortable around my waist while IWB doesn't bug me. Belt sags more for OWB for me as well

Unless it's a second, wider, belt like I use for hunting
 
jar said:
On a mag holder. A separate one allows you to find the position where it works best for you. The mag pouch attached to the gun holster has been around for a long long time. I have holsters from WWI that are set up that way (in fact one leather holster from WWI that needs the stitching redone) but I always found that awkward.
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I owned a CZ82 several years ago that had a space for a spare magazine and small cleaning kit in in the holster
 
Cygnus said:
Been getting the leather suggestion a lot. As I replied to someone else here, everyone I know that shoots uses Kydex, and they say it is because of our climate, and that leather will lose its shape over time. So, rather than experiment myself, I've just taken their word. And I agree on the Shapeshift, that was my first and going from nothing to that was like carrying a cantaloupe on my hip.
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Horse hide resists moisture better than cow hide. make sure your next holster has a sweat shield. that will both protect your gun and get any sharp corners, etc. off your body.
 
Ive used Milt Sparks holsters since before they got famous.

Inside the waistband, this is the most comfortable holster I’ve tried with a Glock 19. Really spreads out the footprint.

https://www.miltsparks.com/products-executive.php

I personally carry a P239 appendix. In a holster I made. Appendix works better for me. With the right gun. (DA trigger)

When I carried a bigger gun off duty (like a 1911) it was always outside the belt.
 
I can't carry IWB or OWB too uncomfortable. I gave up trying to carry a larger gun concealed. I bought a Ruger LCR and Desantis Super Fly pocket holster. I started pocket carry years ago and haven't considered anything else since I found pocket carry to be very comfortable. Just have to buy pants and shorts that have deep enough pockets.
 
View attachment 844654 This is by far my most comfortable EDC, I switched to a safariland micro paddle because I don’t want to undo the belt to remove gun.

Speaking of belts I own two 30dollar belts, one is steel core that works great with heavy guns(G23) which I carry OWB in a safarland clip on holster.
 
Cygnus said:
I have yet to find a comfortable carry option that works for me. No matter what I try, either my gun, or holster set up digs into my body such that it is so uncomfortable as to make me give up. I’m not going to purchase a fourth carry option until I know it will be comfortable.

So far, I prefer behind my hip, but not in small of my back, drawing with palm away (knuckles against hip/back). But even with this, the set up digs into my skin and I just can’t get comfortable. I now carry in a small backpack that goes everywhere with me. I know that isn’t ideal, but for me, it is better than nothing.

For those who can relate, what can I do to increase comfort so I can carry. Appreciate any help.
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After reading this whole thread, I just thought I would tell you what works for me. I started carrying in the small of my back, switched to appendix, then eventually ended up IWB at 3:00, right side. What did I end up with? I wear a hybrid holster from Tommy Theis. When he was first starting out, he made a crossbreed supertuck type hybrid with you choice of cowhide or horsehide. I got the three holsters from him in horsehide.

I am 6' 190# and with this type of holster, I can carry a 1911, M&P9, 45c, 9c. He even made one for my 4"GP100. I carried any of the above daily doing field service for years. Never was made. I would wear a bright orange t-shirt one or two sizes bigger than I am.

I did have a squeak with one of them, just use some baby powder on the holster and it went away.

Hope this helps.

Lnk

Oh, and get a good belt. 1-3/4" fit most belt loops.
 
LNK said:
...I just thought I would tell you what works for me. ... then eventually ended up IWB at 3:00, right side... I wear a hybrid holster from Tommy Theis.
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While everybody is unique, I'll point out "the book answer" is hybrid holsters are typically designed to be worn in the 4:00 to 5:00 area. The main reason is that's where most will find a large enough flat spot to place those large footprint holsters.

A common problem with hybrid holsters is cracking of the kydex at the attachment points mostly caused by folks wearing the holster in a position where the front loop/clip is forward of the hip and the aft loop/clip is aft of the hip. The leather backer will bend around the hip, while the kydex can't and the stress causes the kydex to fail.
 
JTQ said:
While everybody is unique, I'll point out "the book answer" is hybrid holsters are typically designed to be worn in the 4:00 to 5:00 area. The main reason is that's where most will find a large enough flat spot to place those large footprint holsters.

A common problem with hybrid holsters is cracking of the kydex at the attachment points mostly caused by folks wearing the holster in a position where the front loop/clip is forward of the hip and the aft loop/clip is aft of the hip. The leather backer will bend around the hip, while the kydex can't and the stress causes the kydex to fail.
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Trust me, the radius in not too tight:rofl:
 
I tried a Desantis holster at 4:00 with a Springfield XDs .45 and it was OK but I was not happy with a spare mag in my pocket. I bought a Crossbreed Supertuck and a Crossbreed double magazine holder. The holster is at 4:00 and the magazine carrier at 8:00. These are adjustable for depth and cant. I find these positions the most comfortable in almost all situations. I'm 6' and 230 lbs. My ass to waist ratio is not well suited to keeping my pants in place unless the belt is very snug. By the way I use a woven belt with infinite adjustments because 1/4" can make all the difference in comfort and pant sag. To solve the pants sag I have taken to wearing suspenders but at my age no one cares and I like it much better. I usually do not wear an undershirt and I can tuck most any shirt, including a T shirt, between the pants waist band and the holster without printing unless I bend over. I try to keep the shirt not tucked real tight at the waist so it blooms out a bit. I carry every day. usually all day. Driving is no problem and almost all chairs are comfortable. Make sure the pant waist size will allow for the extra hardware. Most of the time I forget that the equipment is there but it takes a while to get used to it. I realize that tucked IWB carry method does not allow the fastest draw but I am hoping it will allow me to ponder for a short time if I really need to draw.
 
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