bigpower491
Member
Yes 2 for sure. I actually now have 3
2 Smith M&Ps, a compact in a sneaky Pete for general all season carry, and a full size LE model in a shoulder rig for the colder months. GP100 44spc in a shoulder rig under a heavy coat
Well, I got my CC license
- Thread starter Mullo98
- Start date
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Yes 2 for sure. I actually now have 3
2 Smith M&Ps, a compact in a sneaky Pete for general all season carry, and a full size LE model in a shoulder rig for the colder months. GP100 44spc in a shoulder rig under a heavy coat
About concealment, loose fit shirts with a pattern, stripe, print, plaid, are conducive to concealment.
I carry either AIWB or strong side IWB about 3:00 with a forward cant.
I'm not required to tuck in my shirt anywhere and I don't.
Glock 20/21SF is AIWB about 12:30 on my right.
Glock 19/23 doesn't print even when seated.
Full size 1911 ... same
Note I'm wearing summer clothes and a shirt with plaid or stripe in all pics.
If someone says they can't conceal bigger than a pocket gun that may mean they are unwilling to.
can't =/= won't .... unable =/= unwilling
(ex: work clothes versus think a untucked shirt looks sloppy)
I carry either AIWB or strong side IWB about 3:00 with a forward cant.
I'm not required to tuck in my shirt anywhere and I don't.
Glock 20/21SF is AIWB about 12:30 on my right.
Glock 19/23 doesn't print even when seated.
Full size 1911 ... same
Note I'm wearing summer clothes and a shirt with plaid or stripe in all pics.
If someone says they can't conceal bigger than a pocket gun that may mean they are unwilling to.
can't =/= won't .... unable =/= unwilling
(ex: work clothes versus think a untucked shirt looks sloppy)
LUCKYDAWG13
Member
Being able to conceal a full size pistol is only part of it it also needs to be Comfortable or you just won't want to carry it IWB just doesn't work for me and spend the money on a good holster and belt
Yes, and you must be able to draw from any position.
Just dropping in to say: Congratulations on the CC license!
I don't know what you have available but my local indoor range has a very serious collection of try before you buy selections. Very reasonable charge to do so and they provide the ammo...
GBExpat
Member
Congrats on the CC License, Mullo98!
Unless you live/work in the middle of Gangland, don't be in a hair-on-fire, bleeding-eyeballs Rush. Sounds like you are not, though, so ... good!
When I got my first CCW in the mid'70s my one pistol (.357 DA revolver) was not, at that time, a good match for me & continuous concealed carry. It took me awhile to settle upon the Walther PPK/S (or the PP, I forget which one was first). With my black leather Roy's Leather Goods (of Magnolia, Arkansas) pancake holster I was set for many years to come. The combo worked & felt great under a working-world suit/sport jacket. I soon got to the point where I felt uncomfortable if that weight on my belt was not there.
Up until ~15 years ago I would still use that holster to carry the PPK that I purchased in the mid'80s.
BTW, putting this stuff together was MUCH more difficult in the days of gun print publications and mail order.
Enjoy!
You'll probably look back and realize that it was actually rather interesting, educational & enjoyable.
Unless you live/work in the middle of Gangland, don't be in a hair-on-fire, bleeding-eyeballs Rush. Sounds like you are not, though, so ... good!
When I got my first CCW in the mid'70s my one pistol (.357 DA revolver) was not, at that time, a good match for me & continuous concealed carry. It took me awhile to settle upon the Walther PPK/S (or the PP, I forget which one was first
). With my black leather Roy's Leather Goods (of Magnolia, Arkansas) pancake holster I was set for many years to come. The combo worked & felt great under a working-world suit/sport jacket. I soon got to the point where I felt uncomfortable if that weight on my belt was not there.Up until ~15 years ago I would still use that holster to carry the PPK that I purchased in the mid'80s.
BTW, putting this stuff together was MUCH more difficult in the days of gun print publications and mail order.
Enjoy!
Hopefully I can find rental range near me, the only one I know off the top is a class 3 machine gun rental place.
Is there a reason for wearing a pattern shirt? Does break up the imprint of the pistol or something?
LUCKYDAWG13
Member
Yes it does help it also screams gun when I see a guy wearing a Hawaiian shirt
GBExpat
Member
IMO, a pattern shirt over a concealed handgun (like an AIWB rig) will usually aid in concealment, yes.
Unless I am in "good clothes" ("suit") I always wear a pattern shirt. Summer or winter, it is always plaid ... and if it is summer, there is always a handgun under my shirt.
This was brought home to me a few years ago when I decided to put on a been-in-the-closet-for-decades monochrome t-shirt to do some grubby & hot work outside. My 8 year-old outdoor cat took one look at me and FREAKED OUT. She seemed to recognize my voice but I did not look right ... so she watched me from the woods.
GBExpat
Member
<chuckle> You could hide an AK Folder under the huge Hawaiian shirts that I have seen some guys sporting.
Yes, plaid, stripe, print helps break or conceal a slight bulge compared to a solid color.
JFrank
Member
Get ya one of them big old school Hawaiian shirts that all the cool old guys wear.
Just messing buddy
Just messing buddy
bangswitch
Member
Well, wouldn't you expect McGarrett and Dan-O to be carrying?
JFrank
Member
Even funnier that I don't think either of us spelled it correctly.
md7
Member
Congrats on getting licensed.
My ccw experience began around 2006, so I’ve only carried for 15 years. Lots of folks have way more experience than I do.
Here’s a few things that I have settled on. Bear in mind, this is just me.
- Overkill is underrated
- I like spare mags
- Body types can impact what works best for you
- I’ll take less comfort from carrying a larger pistol if it means I’m more effective and better served
- A good holster, belt, and clothes sized to accommodate your pistol are good investments.
- I don’t go anywhere with a gun that I wouldn’t go without one.
My daily carry is usually a Glock 26 with 12 round mag and a spare 15 or 17 rounder in a sidecar. Occasionally I’ll carry a Glock 19 with a 17 round reload.
I wear a tuckable AIWB holster, a TRex Arms Sidecar. It works with my khakis, jeans, button downs, polos, tucked in or out. I wear it everyday in a business environment with no one ever giving it notice.
I also keep several spare mags in my briefcase, and that case goes everywhere with me.
My ccw experience began around 2006, so I’ve only carried for 15 years. Lots of folks have way more experience than I do.
Here’s a few things that I have settled on. Bear in mind, this is just me.
- Overkill is underrated
- I like spare mags
- Body types can impact what works best for you
- I’ll take less comfort from carrying a larger pistol if it means I’m more effective and better served
- A good holster, belt, and clothes sized to accommodate your pistol are good investments.
- I don’t go anywhere with a gun that I wouldn’t go without one.
My daily carry is usually a Glock 26 with 12 round mag and a spare 15 or 17 rounder in a sidecar. Occasionally I’ll carry a Glock 19 with a 17 round reload.
I wear a tuckable AIWB holster, a TRex Arms Sidecar. It works with my khakis, jeans, button downs, polos, tucked in or out. I wear it everyday in a business environment with no one ever giving it notice.
I also keep several spare mags in my briefcase, and that case goes everywhere with me.
John Joseph
Member
- Joined
- May 5, 2016
- Messages
- 1,441
FWIW pocket carry J frame in a Bianchi 152 satisfies 80% of my CCW needs. For full size, a 1911 in a Wilson Combat Low Profile OWB is as comfortable as it gets and conceals well..
Works for me anyway
+1 about getting a good gun belt. I like Hank's Belts
Works for me anyway
+1 about getting a good gun belt. I like Hank's Belts
Oldschool shooter
Member
I'm not a big guy, 5'5" tall. I regularly carry a 638 snubbie, but on occasion have also carried an M&P Shield in 40 cal and a Springfield XDs in 45acp. All of these are pocket carried on apocket holster. They work for me. As mentioned above, try as many pistols as you can. There is no single universal answer. FWIW, my wife carries a 1917 S& W in 45 acp in her purse. She is scary good with it.
Congrats on your license.
One more voice here to emphasize what others have said: ACCEPT right now that you'll be extremely lucky to find that perfect holster and carry style with your first purchase. Like everyone that has carried for a while, I've got one drawer dedicated to holsters. It is the way.
One more voice here to emphasize what others have said: ACCEPT right now that you'll be extremely lucky to find that perfect holster and carry style with your first purchase. Like everyone that has carried for a while, I've got one drawer dedicated to holsters. It is the way.
For 15+ years I carried a snubby .38SP Airweight in a quality pocket holster (Mika), because it was light, easy, and a comfortable way to be armed. (And I had believed the rumor that SD shoots are 3 shots or less.)
In the past year I have been actively training in full SD skills, after many years of simple range training and shooting.
I learned a reality: selection of gun and holster as a set for CC should have four factors.
1. Comfort of carry.
2. Adequacy of concealment.
3. Ease of rapid draw from concealment.
4. Ease of quick, accurate shooting after draw, under stress.
The above reality is why @Kleanbore and others have recommended SD training ASAP.
I now carry a double-stack 9mm IWB strong side.
Pocket carry can be quite comfortable, but is terrible for rapid draw.
Airweights are light for comfortable carry, but the hard recoil makes practice unfriendly.
Snub nose guns are hard to maintain skill in accuracy.
5-shot revolvers are not enough rounds if you have to confront multiple attackers, a more and more common situation in SD events.
Yeah, you will have a drawer of holsters, and you may well change your preferred carry gun more than once.
Craig
In the past year I have been actively training in full SD skills, after many years of simple range training and shooting.
I learned a reality: selection of gun and holster as a set for CC should have four factors.
1. Comfort of carry.
2. Adequacy of concealment.
3. Ease of rapid draw from concealment.
4. Ease of quick, accurate shooting after draw, under stress.
The above reality is why @Kleanbore and others have recommended SD training ASAP.
I now carry a double-stack 9mm IWB strong side.
Pocket carry can be quite comfortable, but is terrible for rapid draw.
Airweights are light for comfortable carry, but the hard recoil makes practice unfriendly.
Snub nose guns are hard to maintain skill in accuracy.
5-shot revolvers are not enough rounds if you have to confront multiple attackers, a more and more common situation in SD events.
Yeah, you will have a drawer of holsters, and you may well change your preferred carry gun more than once.
Craig
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CapnMac
Member
Yeah, not going to e terribly common in Illinois. Here in Texas . . .
Use "aloha" instead of "hawai'ian"; although "daddy-o" may be simpler than "Guyabarra" [
]Guyabarra shirts are very handy as they are meant to have long tails, and have a nice, straight hem. Bonus: Four pockets. Carry the cellphone under the shirt, and that and the patterning means anything under is a guess.
Howland937
Member
Definitely a wise decision, but most ranges won't allow drawing from concealment with their guns (if they allow it at all). Not sure if any will rent holsters with the guns.
Getting a license to carry is step #1.
Finding a gun you can shoot accurately and comfortably is important, but lots of guns of different varieties can fill that role. Finding what you can carry comfortably with ease of access isn't likely to happen at the range.
Your options are unlimited and for most people, what to carry and how is an evolution. Like others have stated, a good SD class can help you learn more about your individual needs, then you can address them. No one size fits all.
Shootinator
member
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2021
- Messages
- 27
After 25 years of concealed carry I say Glock 26 (with an aftermarket floor plate with a bit of a hook to help with grip) or (if you like .45s) a Glock 30 Gen4 (not 30s sf or some other new configuration).
Carry it crossdraw IWB.
This means it's handy when you're driving your car (that's something often forgotten).
All this talk about how you shoot it or how you like it is something to take with a grain of salt.
You might like a horrible gun.
Get the Glock and learn to like it. We humans are adaptable and Glocks are the best.
Carry it crossdraw IWB.
This means it's handy when you're driving your car (that's something often forgotten).
All this talk about how you shoot it or how you like it is something to take with a grain of salt.
You might like a horrible gun.
Get the Glock and learn to like it. We humans are adaptable and Glocks are the best.
Howland937
Member
- Status