"belly holsters", SmartCarry type conceal carry holsters?

I have owned a SmartCarry for about 18 months and have found it to be, in every way, a first class concealed carry device. The enclosed picture shows a Ruger SP-101, a Cold Steel Vaquero Grande (a very large folder) and one speed strip.

By way of information I am 6'3' tall and weigh 260 and am 71 years old. I tend to wear loose fitting jeans, dockers, or dress trousers with front pleats. The SC is quite easily concealed with no printing or bulging. I have worn the SC on the altar at mass on sunday (in front of several hundred folks) and have never, ever been "made". Concealment has never been a problem.

Some initial experimentation resulted in wearing it slightly to the right of center (I am right handed) and, with sufficient practice, I can draw and present the Ruger quite rapidly. Nobody would call the SC a "fast draw" rig but neither is it either slow or cumbersome.

For me, the SC has been a comfortable, secure, and effective concealed carry method. I recommend it highly.

I have a SC, and have carried my Sigma around in it a little bit.

It's OK.

It only works with loose pants.

It does cause a rather noticeable, uh, "bulge" if you wear it the way they instruct you to wear it. Actually I find that it is far more comfortable, and usable, to wear it higher so the grip is above the waist of the pants, kind of like appendix carry. Many people have decided that I am "doing it wrong" but who cares. Works better for me. I even kind of like carrying at about 4:00 with the smartcarry this way.

I will be getting a smaller gun and it will probably work better. I also plan to get a belly band just for the flexibility.

I like my smart carry and I'd say it was worth the price paid. I don't wear it often but I use it occasionally if I have to wear a shirt tucked, or if circumstances require deep concealment.

It's fairly comfortable and if your pants aren't too tight you shouldn't get much of a bulge. I have my best results when wearing a Bersa .380 in it. I would not wear anything without a manual safety on it, at least not with one in the pipe. There's too much time it's pointing at your thigh, or your feet when you walk...or if you go to a restaurant, it's pointing at the person across from you, or if you go to a theater, it's pointed at somebody's back...maybe not an issue for some people, but because of that I insist upon a manual safety for extra comfort.

Bottom line, it's a good product with its own set of applications and I'm glad to have one in the stable.

You will find it more tricky to pee.

I carry my PM9 in a smartcarry almost daily. I ride my bike to and from work, and with the SC no one can tell I'm carrying even in my (loose) gym shorts. Once I change into work clothes I switch to pocket carry for a faster draw.

I also wear the SC when I workout at the gym, either cardio or weigthlifting, and again no one knows.

The manufacturer claims I can carry my Glock 19 in it as well (it's the 'medium' size), but it prints really bad in my 5.11s, so I stick to the PM9.

Overall, I'm happy with it, and I'd be armed much less often where it not for my SmartCarry.

I carry a Taurus PT111 in a smartcarry all the time. I carry it between 3 and 5 pm.

I have SC for PM9 as well. Originally pocket-carried, but would print heavily in light colored pants or jeans. It would usually stay in safe or vehicle on those days.

Can wear SC with all pants that are not too tight. "Regular" fitting jeans will work as well. No problem. J frame revolver fits in same (small) holster. Shirt in or out, it doesn't matter. There is enough overlap of the velcro that there is no worry of support.

Dairycreek: I like the speed strip for the SC mag pocket. Good call.

Smartcarry works great for deep concealment. I often wear it with the pouch behind my right pocket.

One person, a member of this forum, uses his to carry a S&W 500 Magnum.

I use one everyday as a back up with my Seecamp. I wear Carhartt type pants that are "flat" across the front and it still works very well and is very comfortable.

If you want to carry a larger gun, you need appropriate pants. I have carried my P230 and P239 in one and it was the same as my Seecamp, but I was wearing different pants that were looser, and not so "fitted". Like anything else, you need to slightly adapt things to your needs. Nothing is perfect with everything.

As far as the gun staying put, I'm very active at work, and jump in and out of ditches and climb all over things, and I've never had any troubles or even a hint that the gun might come out of its pocket.

Dairycreek said it best. I've carried my Ruger SP101 in similar situations wearing flat front Docker style pants and a tucked in dress shirt and never been made. I also use mine when bicycling, worn under sweat shorts and the gun at about 3 o'clock.

I did make one modification to mine recently that made it much more comfortable. The edge of the velcro portions had a tendency to rub just a little. I cut the toe out of an old sock, fed the strap through the sock, then after I fasten the velcro straps, I move the sock around to cover all the velcro portion of the strap. Works great.

I cut the toe out of an old sock, fed the strap through the sock, then after I fasten the velcro straps, I move the sock around to cover all the velcro portion of the strap. Works great.

Click to expand...

Nice tip, thanks!!

Yes, yes, and yes. SmartCarry is the shiznizzle. Use it every day - works wonderfully with a Kahr MK9, but have also used a snubbie .38 in there before.

SmartCarry owned about 2.5 years
-It’s a very universal holster, so depending on what firearm I want to carry it works.
-I have put it on both before I dress (preferred method) and have had the need to put it on after with little difficulty/adjustment.
-very comfortable
- get over the fact of where it is, it’s in front of your factory installed equipment not pointing at it.

I carry a S&W 686 4" (L frame) in mine everyday (warmer months).
Hides great. I have never had anyone spot it in years.
Only problem is, if I gain weight and don't get larger pants, it cramps me a little. If I were to go up in pant size or loose weight.. no comfort problem at all.
The sock on the strap is a great idea.. the velcro area is a bit stiffer and tends to rub and cut a bit.... I will certainly do that next time I put it on.

I had one of the cheaper belly bands (around $20) that I wore below the waistline and it worked well. One reason I like it was that I wear shorts and pants a little larger to accomodate a concealed firearm. Unfortunately, looser pants = harder to keep them up, and having a holster that attaches to your belt just weighs the pants down even more. A SC type holster will not weigh your pants down like that.

Being the cheap guy I am, I made my own SC-type holster.

I used a back-to-school backpack I bought on sale for $5.

I used the piece that would lay against your back as the back of the holster (it seems to be pretty water-proof) and a piece of the nylon fabric as the front of the holster.

I used a couple of the 1" wide straps (end to end) as the belt, and one of the male/female clip deals as the buckle. (I don't like the noise Velcro makes when you take it apart.)

I carry a Kel-Tec P11 in it at 10:00 / 10:30. I'm right handed.

I've made 2 of them. The only problem I had with one was using a cotton thread to stitch it together and the thread wicking sweat into the inside of the holster and onto my P11.