Best way to CC

Ok, without getting into all the different methods of carry, sizes of guns, concealability of various size frames and so on, here's what I think and why I think it:

1. Strong side: Fast draw. Not difficult to conceal. Can be worn with most common clothing.

2. Inside the waistband for semi-autos/Outside the waistband for revolvers: I find revolvers too think to generally be comfortable IWB, so if I'm carrying a revolver, I carry as comfortable as I reasonably can. Comfort is incredibly important to carrying because it will encourage you to carry more frequently. IWB for revolvers because it conceals better without a substantial loss in comfort or any loss in draw time.

3. Medium or compact frame gun (no smaller than j-frame, Glock 26, or small Kahr): These guns are still relatively easy to conceal but are more comfortable to shoot and will shoot better for you. Comfort and cost to practice is also important because it will encourage you to practice more frequently.

4. Good belt and holster are a must. Do not skimp here. Buy a less bling bling gun before you buy a cheap gun and holster. I'd rather be carrying 3" GP100 in a great belt and holster than a Sig/HK/Kahr in a crappy belt and holster. I prefer leather holsters because I find their flexibility to be more comfortable than kydex. I like holsters with belt loops and I like belt loops that are not directly adjacent to the gun to reduce the total width of the package and provide a wider stability platform when attached to the belt.

All that said, I think a good gun belt, with a Milt Sparks Versa Max II or Watch Six, and a Glock 19 or similar sized weapon is a near perfect carry package.

The best way is definitely dependent on the gun you're trying to conceal. Mouse-guns need only a pocket whereas a full-size double-stack duty pistol would require a large holster so I'd think mentioning the weapon carried is a must.

A holster for Inside-waistband conceals the greatest for me:

I carry a Ruger P345 in a Crossbreed Super-tuck holster and have never been "outed" for it. I'm 6'1", 250 so wearing just T-shirts was my greatest concern since they can be "revealing" whenever I bend or sit. But I simply where one size larger and it hides perfectly. My close friends who are also gun-aficionados, have never been able to tell when I'm carrying.

IWB can be cumbersome when seated in a car, though, if you're a righty and wear more toward the 3'O'clock position.

for me its a open top pancake type holster. my carry pistol is a kimber pro-carryII (1911, 1/4" shorter than a commander with an alloy frame)

i intentionally miss the belt loop on my side so i have a large area and i can readjust during the day.

my belt is a wrangler leather belt, 1 3/16ths inches wide.

the holster is very inexpensive and i basically got it just to see if the hip method would work for me. it does.

here is the model i got:

http://www.highnoonholsters.com/Pro.../Close_Up_Skin_Guard/close_up_skin_guard.html

i wear it against me under a untucked t-shirt so i like the big gaurd on the back that keeps the sights and hammer from digging into my side.

it has proven to be very comfortable and rides high enough to let me sit naturally.

i also like the angle the pistol rides which is less aggressive than many concealment holsters.

i think it will do fine, but im considering trying this one too, although its custom made and takes 9 months to get.

http://www.brigadegunleather.com/m-5aspis-exotic.html

an SR9 too big for concealment? Ha! You just have to use the right holster. Check out the (Warning: shameless plug) Crossbreed Super-Tuck. Pick an SR9 and one of those and the nay-sayers won't even know it's on you.

I seriously have to show my wife it's there before she believes I've got it on me. No one suspects the guy in shorts and a T-shirt

I like an IWB (inside the waistband) holster at about 4 o clock. Puts the weapon close to your hand (if you are a lefty it would be at about 8 o clock), conceals well, and allows you to carry a decent sized weapon. You can carry small pocket pistols and mouseguns in various pockets but they are slower to draw and carry marginal calibers.

Well, you're in New Hampshire where open carry is legal and printing does not create problems. I'm in the same situation here in Nevada. I use a Galco belt, an OWB holster from SimplyRugged.com, and slip on a concealed carry vest whenever I need too. Simple, safe and comfortable.

I'm in a bit of a different situation than most people. Being made in my town would be asking for trouble from cops, even though open carry is legal. Accordingly, Smart Carry with a G27 would be the way to go. I also like pocket carry in cargo pants. I can stick my hands in my pocket and have the gun halfway drawn without being made.

By the way, I don't have a CCW license (to hard to get in my county). So, everything I just said above is based on me carrying at home and fantasizing...LOL

CCW is like shoes. What works for some will not for others.

I'm spoiled insofar as I have lots of guns and lots of options. Open carry is legal here, "printing" is not a legal issue, and a gun on the belt -- even inside the waist band -- is not viewed as "concealed" with regard to requiring a CCW.

State law can affect how you carry.

I think by far the best option for a woman is in her purse -- dedicated purse with a pocket for the gun, which is not going to get snagged up in lipstick, combs, brushes, key rings, cell phones, etc.

I carry a portfolio a lot, people see me with it and so it's "normal dress." The gun's in the folio.

Carry needs to be appropriate. 90F and sunny, you're not going to "conceal" in a fur parka. Fanny pack will not work with a suit.

I've carried concealed everything from a Smith & Wesson 629, 4" bbl in 44 mag. -- which covered up fine. To a NAA Guardian semi-auto in 32 ACP, which was "too big" for what I was wearing.

Whatever you figure out, practice getting at the gun before you need to get at it.

Indications of geography would be nice.

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If you can't at least reveal your state, then talking about how the laws are around you is useless information.

The above comments about a good gun belt are important. What might not be readily apparent is that several good leather belt/holster makers make gun belts that are indistinguishable from dress belts. DeSantis and Galco are two makers that I prefer. I have two such belts, one black and one medium brown that have lasted over 5 years of heavy use. They are of normal width, so the fit normal belt loops with no problems.

I have a lot of choices available to me, but what I use most is a Galco SOB Right hand draw with a J-frame revolver. It draws easily, whether seated or standing. It conceals well with minimal clothing.

I have a Berso Thunder .380. Great little gun. It's my main carry peice. It's lighter than most of my fullsized 9mms and just more comfortable to carry around all day. I Open Carry about 80% of the time and generally just have it in an Uncle Mikes nylon holster on my belt. In NH you can Open Carry but to carry in your car you will need a license. That's so weird. Anyway, since you are getting a license to conceal carry anyway you will be good to go for concealed carry on your person. I'd look at simple Inside Waist Band holsters. I have a nice leather Bianchi hoster for CC but rarely use it anymore. Often if I'm OCing and need to CC for some reason I'll just untuck my shirt. It's a lot of trouble not to mention unsafe to keep switching holsters back and forth.

Check out corneredcat.com. It is website for women who carry.I think they can answer lots of your questions.

I most typically carry a High Power, occasionally a Commander sized .45 1911. I use an old Bianchi Pistol pocket most often, because the rotation feature allows me to use the same holster for SOB (most used), or strong side carry, even vertical crossdraw with either pistol and just the one holster. I also have a kydex for the 45. The only thing I don't like about the PP is that the hammer thumb-break is unlined on the inside and the back side of the snap wears the finish. As several have said, the most important part is a good belt. A normal belt just doesn't cut it.

John

Well, most of the time I prefer a shoulder holster. I do carry alot on the belt, but shoulder holsters are comfortable and carry well under and unbuttoned shirt. If buttoning is a must, you can yank it up and grab your gun also. This works, but the draw is slower. It is more accessible in the car and your body hides the gun well.

Hip IWB is my second choice, but the gun is always banging my door opening and pushing on my seat belt buckle. I thin my draw would be greatly slowed in the car, which is where I'm most likely to have to use it.

Pocket carry. Kahr PM9 in 9mm or KelTec in .380 with pocket holster.

Farmer

Strongly recommend strong-side front pocket carry. Unless you just love carrying a gun. But if you're in any way normal, get a gun and a holster that will work in your front pocket (e.g. S&W 642 w/ DeSantis Superfly holster).


Advantages of front pocket carry:


1] You can have your gun in your hand without starting a gunfight.
2] You'll never lose concealment by stretching, bending over, or removing your jacket.
3] You can wrassle a bit without your gun becoming a conversation piece.
4] You can carry the same gun in the same mode all year long.


Disadvantages:


1] Hard to draw while seated (you can stand up, of course, but not in your car)
2] Gun size and weight will be limited to something like an aluminum-frame snubnose or a small automatic such as a PM9

Strong side (behind the hip)

Forward cant holsters will help prevent the gun from rocking back. The butt of the gun will then poke out a bit, causing a bulge under the shirt.

Some holsters have a wing attached to help prevent this.

Advantages:

1) Great for larger guns and longer barrels or slides.
2) Fairly quick draw that's the result of a compromise between comfort and concealability
3) Easy to balance...carry ammo on the other side.
4) Taught in almost all gun schools
5) Wide variety of holsters available with any option you can think of

Disadvantages:

1) Slower draw due to distance the hand has to travel
2) Can be difficult to reach the gun if you carry it under an untucked shirt and are wearing a coat
3) Somewhat slower access when seated
4) Movements must be restricted to avoid revealing the gun
5) Long barreled guns will tend to rock back when seated due to the friction of the pants as the body bends.
6) More vulnerable to gun grabs since the gun is at 7 or 5 o'clock and out of your line of vision


Appendix Carry:

Advantages:

1) Faster access because the gun is in front and right where the hand naturally rests
2) Very concealable
3) In front so the hands can protect the weapon and within the viewing angles of the eyes

Disadvantages:

1) Requires shorter barrels
2) Can be really uncomfortable with the wrong gun
3) Tends to print if the gun sits too high or the grip is too long
4) Requires an untucked shirt or other covering garment

I tend to use either method, depending upon the gun.

I've never felt the need for anything other than a standard leather belt you can buy at Wal Mart.

I carry just about every way there is at one time or another. And I carry sometimes two ways or three ways at once if I am carrying two or three. The question is impossible to answer for someone else. It varies as much as what's the best kind of clothes to wear.

The best way to cc is what works for my body shape, what I am wearing right now and where I plan to be or where I am going right now. And what I am carrying or plan to carry. That will change in an hour and then it will change again.

I have pocket holsters, belt slide holsters, IWB holsters, shoulder holsters, and ankle holsters. I use the all, some more than others.

That said, I think you should have a good gun belt and not a standard Walmart belt. And consider getting suspenders, too.