Help me set up my 1st CCW

Depends on the clothing a bit. How form fitting it is. Darker colored clothing helps a little. The hem of a shirt can also break things up too.



However holsters do help hide the gun, especially with the outline of a revolver being so universally recognizable.

D.B. Cooper said:

Is a holster a necessity for concealment and to prevent printing?

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Yes, absolutely. Not only to prevent printing, but to keep the firearm in the correct orientation in your pocket, and to keep any foreign objects from the trigger. A pocket holster is an absolute must for pocket carry.

Kahr CM9 in a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster.

D.B. Cooper said:

When I made my original post, I already leaning toward pocket carry. I tried a Smith 340 today, but, with no holster, it prints a pretty clean picture of a gun through my pants. Is a holster a necessity for concealment and to prevent printing?

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Not only is a holster a necessity when pocket carrying, I believe a really good gun belt is equally important even when the gun is not hanging directly on the belt.

D.B. Cooper said:

That image is a complete no go; revolver is exposed. Also, I always, universally, wear shirts tucked in.

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The butt of the revolver is exposed so you know what you’re looking at. That’s not typically how people carry it.

I would never pocket carry without a holster. Even bunched-up pants cloth could get inside the trigger guard.

I pocket carry, but it's taken me a while to figure out what works best for me.

Something like an LCP in a DeSantis Nemesis can easily fit in my front pocket, but it's extremely difficult to access while seated/driving.

If I know that I won't be sitting down, the same thing in a back pocket is very handy and easier to draw than from a front pocket. I personally don't want to sit on a gun all day... or at all, really.

I can't carry at work (and there is an armed LEO there anyway). When out and about, for most of the year I wear cargo shorts. An LCR in a DeSantis Nemesis is easy to keep in the cargo pocket. The lightweight 38 special isn't heavy enough to make the pocket swing like there's a boat anchor in it. It's easy to access while sitting, standing, or driving.

If the weather is coolish, I can wear a largish flannel overshirt. The LCP fits nicely into the breast pocket. It is very easy to access.

If I'm running errands, sometimes I keep the LCP handy in the car, then put it in my back pocket as I get out of the car.

I have things like a CA Bulldog, 2" Model 10, Glock 43 and 26, S&W 915, etc. that are somewhat larger. I sometimes carry things like that in a coat pocket, or OWB under a cover garment, but for my body and clothing they are too large for pocket carry.

D.B. Cooper said:

When I made my original post, I already leaning toward pocket carry. I tried a Smith 340 today, but, with no holster, it prints a pretty clean picture of a gun through my pants. Is a holster a necessity for concealment and to prevent printing?

Click to expand...

Most of the time a holster is required to fully conceal the outline of a firearm... even in a pocket. You might get away without a holster with a small revolver if the pocket is a little baggy, but if the pocket is the least bit stretched tight, you will see a revolver's outline. Semi-auto pistols require a pocket holster in my opinion. A wallet type holster will work in a front pocket or rear pocket. Sometimes a sticky holster will work. Kydex pocket holsters work well if they fit your size gun and pocket. You can find an unobtrusive pocket holster, but you might have to try some with your particular gun.
Reholstering is not as much of a concern with a pocket holster. If you have to draw your gun, you will have to remove the holster from your pocket and insert the gun before putting it back in the pocket. You should not be reholstering until a threat is over, anyway.

Have you taken a look at the Springfield 911? When I was looking for a pocket I almost went with one until I found a Pico. The 911 is very pocketable and a large enough safety that I would have no concerns using it. Sights we're large enough to be used as well which is often a weak point on other pocket guns.

D.B. Cooper said:

So I've decided to start carrying concealed. I need to carry totally concealed while wearing something like Levi Dockers, Chinos etc. and a collared polo type shirt. There can be no accidental exposure of the sidearm. Autoloader should have a manual safety. Budget is around $1k for a complete set-up.

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I have similar carry restrictions and carry a G43 or K6S at the 4o'clock. They don't have manual safeties but at your budget, you have plenty of options.

I wouldn't immediately jump to pocket carry without trying some IWB options. Also, don't forget to budget for a quality gun belt ( I use and like Kore) as it helps more than I would have imagined prior to owning.

Good luck, it will take some time but in the end all of the advice in the world won't matter as much as trial and error on your end. The right set up (gun, belt, holster, carry position) is influenced by so many factors, it's really unique to your body, preferences, compromises and restrictions.

SCMikeyP said:

I wouldn't immediately jump to pocket carry without trying some IWB options. Also, don't forget to budget for a quality gun belt ( I use and like Kore) as it helps more than I would have imagined prior to owning.

Good luck, it will take some time but in the end all of the advice in the world won't matter as much as trial and error on your end. The right set up (gun, belt, holster, carry position) is influenced by so many factors, it's really unique to your body, preferences, compromises and restrictions.

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Good advice!

D.B. Cooper said:

When I made my original post, I already leaning toward pocket carry. I tried a Smith 340 today, but, with no holster, it prints a pretty clean picture of a gun through my pants. Is a holster a necessity for concealment and to prevent printing?

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Aside from concealment, I would worry about lint etc getting into the gun.

D.B. Cooper said:

That image is a complete no go; revolver is exposed. Also, I always, universally, wear shirts tucked in.

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Me too.
I use a Desantis SofTuck holster with three of my four main carry guns. the j-hook goes over the waistband of your pants. And the little reverse "s" goes under the bottom edge of your belt. It is almost invisible with a black belt.
As far as the gun.......
It sounds like a micro 1911 to me.
Sig 238, 938
Kimber micro, or micro 9
Colt mustang
I am gonna take a chance, and let you decide.lol
I too prefer a safety. I have said before that I really don't like my lcp, but it does a really good at what I need it to do: carry easily and comfortably, and put a magazine full on target.
I have never tried pocket carry. My pockets already have pocket knife, flashlight, car keys,wallet handkerchief, ammo, ink pen, pocket change......

D.B. Cooper said:

When I made my original post, I already leaning toward pocket carry. I tried a Smith 340 today, but, with no holster, it prints a pretty clean picture of a gun through my pants. Is a holster a necessity for concealment and to prevent printing?

Click to expand...

IMO you should never carry a gun in your pocket without a holster for many reasons already mentioned. You don't want anything pushing that trigger while the gun is in your pocket! It also serves to break up the outline of the gun too.

When you first start carrying most people tend to feel as everyone can tell they are carrying a gun and can see it on them. To tell the truth, most people don't notice anything but the phone stuck in their face and even when looking they don't see a gun even if the cover garment moves. Most people are blind to what's around them for the most part. Just relax and you will be fine.

Depends largely on body type, what your doing, and what your wearing too. Im 6 foot 3 and 185-200ish depending on my weightlifting goals at the time of year. 32 inch waist and 34 inseam in most brands. (UA/dockers/levis) Pocket size varies by pants but is dependent upon the waist size of the pants. Big legs and a small waist make pocket carry less viable. Especially if I sit, my legs smash the gun in any kind of dress pants or even 541 Jean's which are actually looser "athletic fit" for bigger quads. With Carharts and Riggs work pants it's a different story, but I'm only wearing those when I'm cutting wood or working outside fencing or something and open carrying anyway. Everyones body is different.
I carry in a crossbreed supertuck. A Glock 27 Iwb about 99 percent of the time. Big lats and a small waist and my shirts fall down and hide any gun I want to carry. Untucked tank tops or tucked in shirts hide equally well. Even my big full size guns (USP and 226 mostly) if I don't tuck my shirt.

Double action revolver in the pocket. You can extend your pockets to fit anything. Tons of videos of millennials showing how to extend uselessly shallow designer jean pockets to fit giant iphones. Make it deep enough and you can put your 44 in there.

D.B. Cooper said:

When I made my original post, I already leaning toward pocket carry. I tried a Smith 340 today, but, with no holster, it prints a pretty clean picture of a gun through my pants. Is a holster a necessity for concealment and to prevent printing?

Click to expand...

To prevent printing you can go with these. I have several but you will need baggy pants to draw from your front pocket



https://smile.amazon.com/desantis-superfly/s?k=desantis+superfly

I pocket carry LC9s 95% and I have only a couple pairs of pants it won't fit. Yeah, there's a bulge but only a knowing individual would notice. And, honestly, not many people are checking me out below the waist.
For years, before my ailing back eliminated holster carry, my SR9c disappeared completely in a Crossbreed Super Tuck or one of several leather or hybrid holsters in business casual dress. My boss never knew until he started a discussion about getting his CCW and I mentioned the gun on my hip.

You'll go through a few before you find the one that works best for you, but complete concealment is relatively easy.

If pocket carry is your only option. then I would look at a Seacamp LWS32.

You may consider an Urban Carry holster. It absolutely will not expose or print. It works well with cargo shorts. It can be awkward with larger pistols, and if you are seatbelted it is very difficult to draw from. You can do jumping jacks and handstands and not expose your firearm. I have one and use it about 20% of the time.

Positioned behind my wallet left hand side (single stack) or in a mag holder on my belt (double stack) in basically the same exact region.

Wish I could help with the pocket carry stuff, but I’ve never had good luck with it on a timer. Granted no one is bringing a shot timer to an armed altercation.... but slower is slower. Something to consider is a baddie gets past your baddie detection skills by being sneaky and you have to draw in a big hurry and get rounds on target. Plus any pistol or revolver small enough to ride in a pocket is severely compromised in ammunition capacity, and will require more training to shoot well than a larger option.

So my suggestion is a good holster, attached to a good belt that will support the weight of the pistol so you don’t have sagging issues. That’s also a potential problem for pocket carrying, one side of your pants will want to sit lower all the time.

I don’t tuck shirts in very often, and that makes my life easier for CCW. If that’s not an option the Air Marshal style deep concealment holsters will be the way to go.

Good luck with your decision process. I can tell you that underneath an untucked button up shirt or polo shirt that is approximately loose at the waist that I can conceal an HK VP9 all inside the waist in an appendix holster, with a Surefire X300U weapon light on the rail. Holster is a PHLster Floodlight, and I love it.

Oh one other bit of advice I will add, if you plan to pocket carry or IWB carry in a holster you’re going to need to buy bigger pants to pull it off. Makes concealment without printing way easier, and will make for a more comfortable setup.