Concealed Carry Pictures (please)

What is that in your picture with your wallet and money clip?

I have problems with this as well. I did a poll on GT one time and over 50% of the people carried OWB or IWB untucked. That means due to their employment, lifestyle and environment they were able to ALWAYS wear a cover garment. That just doesn't work for me, and tucked carry is a major PITA. There's always belly bands (which I rather like except they do make your waist look even bigger), SmartCarry, and other non-mainstream solutions but none of them work well for most people.

I've settled for my P3AT in a pocket holster for weekdays and untucked IWB carry of my PT145 on the weekends. The problem with pocket carry is guys like me already have too much friggin stuff in our pockets. With my P3AT in my right front pocket that leaves only my left pocket for everything you see on the left page in the pic, obviously not a good situation. Its getting to the point that guys are going to have to loose (or ignore) the stigma of carrying some kind of a bag or look like Batman with crap hanging off our belts everywhere.

Kramer

If you don't want an IWB, I am a huge fan of Kramer holsters - I am wearing a J frame in a Kramer paddle holster right now. Comfortable, hugs close to the body, easy on and off.

http://www.kramerleather.com/productDetail.cfm?productID=17&categoryID=25

I have a matching pocket holster for the J frame - fits nicely in pocket.

http://www.kramerleather.com/productDetail.cfm?productID=25&categoryID=28

I also use an Uncle Mike's neoprene IWB as a pocket holster for a Keltec .380. If this doesn't fit in your pocket, you need a bigger pocket!

I'm in a similar boat and considering the "smartcarry" for a PT-140 (when I get it).

http://www.smartcarry.com/

P.S. I have no personal experience with Smartcarry yet, just going on the recommendations from others.

This what and how I carry daily...

Weak-side (left) front pocket: Comb, penknife, ballpoint pen, paper money, small measuring tape, mouth freshener.

Strong-side (right) front pocket: Folding utility knife, coins, keys.

Weak-side (left) rear pocket: Throw-down wallet, handkerchief.

Strong-side (right) rear pocket: Real wallet.

SmartCarry holster with Kel-Tec P-3AT and Armalaser, and two spare mags.

I just emptied out my pants pockets, and shot a picture with my camera enabled Palm device.

Kahr PM9 in Desantis Nemesis in left front pocket.

Keys, Tylenol, pocket knives, spare magazine in leather sheath in right front pocket.

Checkbook and comb in right rear pocket.

Wallet in left rear pocket.

Not in the picture, but Leatherman and cell phone on the belt.

Carry either a weak side IWB holster or under-arm vertical holster - under the shirt.
Sure, you would need to have one button opened before you can draw.

miko

I am 6'2" weigh 265#
I wear relaxed fit Levi's(blue jeans to you flatlanders)

I carry a stainless J frame in a Mika holster in my right front pocket
My keys, change, and an HKS speed loader in my left front pocket.

Wallet in right rear pocket
Snot rag in left rear pocket
Cell phone with skate board tape on it in shirt pocket.

Didn't post a picture, as there is nothing to see...

Sometimes it's possible to find a concealed carry method that fits your normal lifestyle. However for some people that is not possible.

In those cases one must be willing to change lifestyles i.e. what they wear and how they wear it. Carrying a weapon sometimes involves making changes in our normal routines to accomodate. This is just another example of the need to sometimes make a change in our daily habits.

Shirt tuckable CCW

Tucker Cover Up IWB that allows you to tuck in your shirt. Glock 26. I use this everyday for pants. For shorts and T-shirts I use a Safe Carry. Here in Houston where it is hot/humid most all the time and CCW is a challenge - I have found that these 2 methods work very very good.

Not wanting to start a argument, but I would recommend that you do not get a Kahr PM-9. I had one and the factory could not make it function reliably and I ended up getting a full refund from the Kahr Factory. The size is great, but it was not a reliable gun. Therefore I went with the Glock. That is my experience - take it for whats it's worth.

Thanks, gamboolman....

9 times out of 10 I'm carrying my G19 in a DH OWB, though soon I'll be getting a CompTac Infidel for it for before the weather gets better.

Otherwise, I carry my SIG SP2009 in a CompTac Gurkha.

I'll post some pics later maybe, but I often carry my Sig 226 in a shoulder holster under a button-down shirt, especially in the summer.

It's a bit slow on the draw, having to unbutton/ rip the buttons, but it is invisible even with a large gun like the 226.

I've heard some plainclothes cops carry this way, with the middle two buttons undone, covered by a clip-on tie.

In the same boat. I’ve come to the conclusion that there is no one good concealment method for chubos like us. IWB is uncomfortable but it’s what I try to force myself to use most of the time in the fall/winter. Pocket Carry is great but has some serious draw backs when drawing for a seated position. Fanny packs look dorky (but I’m married so who cares) and are my main summer carry. Murses are too hard to maintain control of. OWB is just too easy to expose accidentally. Belly bands are very comfortable and conceal extremely well but must be the suckiest to draw from (second only to seated pocket carry IMO).

I used to NEVER have an un-tucked shirt. Then CCW’s entered my life and now I only tuck in when going to church. The hardest part for me is to realize that I now have to dress very differently. I can’t wear what I used to wear. It stinks but after almost a year, I’m coming to grips with it.

My next attempt to make the IWB more comfortable will be to get a REAL gun belt so I don’t have to crank down on the belt to keep it from sagging. As said… IWB is uncomfortable, but as it’s been told to me by several (SKINNY) people, “the gun is supposed to be comforting, not comfortable”. FEH! :banghead:

I know. I can hear all the skinny freaks out there already, "loose some weight, lard butt!" Yeah… well... when the end of the world comes and you run out of food, me and my bug out belly will be laughing as we stroll by your rotting corpses!

IWB vs OWB

I don't pics, but I was amazed at how well OWB Full size witness barely printed when under a tee shirt nearly as well as my IWB w/ a PT145. And much more comfortably.

FWIW, try them all out and go for comfort, it's key to long term carrying. If it's comfortable, you'll carry more often. Albeit size of CCW or means of hoisting it along with you.

jeepmor

No photos, but some words:

I usually pocket-carry in a front pocket. A Glock 26 in a pocket holster (designed to snag the front or back of the pocket when drawing so the holster stays in your pocket) will fit in *most* types of jeans pockets, although some brands/sizes may be a bit too shallow to engulf it completely.
I did have to shuffle a bunch of crap around in my pockets: I usually carry two sets of keys, a pen, two pocketknives, a cell phone, and a wallet around. When I carry a firearm, the pen, pocketknives, phone, and keys go in the non-dominant pocket, and the pistol is the only thing in the pocket on my dominant side. I make do by buying brands of pants which have decent-sized front pockets, such as "Wrangler" for jeans. Relaxed-fit style also gives you more room to stuff crap in your front pockets without them being obviously full or annoying you.

There are also many tiny pistols which can disappear in a non-skin-tight front pants pocket. Instead of a high-priced (or potentially low-quality) semi-auto, I'd suggest looking at something similar to North American Arms' mini revolvers - they may not be ideal in terms of capacity and "stopping power", but with one, you can ALWAYS go armed.

Next, with IWB of any sort, you'll generally need to buy bigger pants. Going IWB with a pair of pants which fit "just right" without a firearm will be uncomfortable, no matter your waist size. Buy the next larger size, then try it with a good-quality holster. I also recommend a T-shirt between your skin and the firearm/holster.

Another non-optimal suggestion is an ankle holster. You may need to buy *longer* pants to keep the firearm covered when you sit down. The draw speed sucks from ankle carry, as well.

Here's all the stuff:





Here's me carrying it:

Is it The Instructor Factor?

I note significant differences between how my fellow MCPL (CCW) classmates and I carry, versus those who studied under other instructors. The two instructors (one a former SWAT Team director; the other an inner-city Sergeant) I studied under advocate carrying the maximum that one can carry...multiple pistols and as much ammunition as can be carried.

They specifically advocate having a firearm at the ready on either leg and on the waist (or both sides if ambidextrous as I am). They carry 4 or 5 pistols. Five pistols would be a bit heavy for me. However, I never go out without at least 1 back up of the same caliber (i.e. G17 and G19C). All of the magazines outside of the G19C are for the G17. As such, I have no need to sort before reloading either. Those two pistols work great with Fobus holsters on the waist/shoulder/briefcase. Then, I can also carry a P3AT or NAA .22 Magnum mini-revolver on either ankle. I do not carry reloads for the latter two pistols. They are my SOL pistols.

The instructors advocate that in the event you know you are going to die and have exhausted your two primary pistols, die brave and "mark" the BGs so the police can identify them later when they arrive (conscious or unconscious) at the emergency room with a sepsis.

This mentality is significantly different from any other posts that I have read here. Is this difference due to the instructors' employment experiences (SWAT director and inner city sergeant)? I don't know. I do not want to post any pictures though. Better to be unidentifiable.

Doc2005

Springfield Armory 1911A1 GI45

I also carry a spare 8 round mag in an Uncle Mike's Sidekick single stack mag holder on the other side of my belt.

Doc2005 said: Is it The Instructor Factor?

I note significant differences between how my fellow MCPL (CCW) classmates and I carry, versus those who studied under other instructors. . . . They specifically advocate having a firearm at the ready on either leg and on the waist (or both sides if ambidextrous as I am). They carry 4 or 5 pistols.

Click to expand...

Yes, I certainly think that a good portion of instructor influence exists. Many folks put them on a pedestal, and will emulate both their views and equipment selection.

4 or 5 pistols . . . I'd wager that if we found these fellas out at the grocery store or the mall, we'd find they didn't have that many with them.

I don't have my CHL yet but it seems like some of you guys could stand to lighten the carry load or invest in some cargo pants. Just an observation...