Anyone try a belly band?

would you (assuming you have a digicam) take a picture of your torso both with the shirt up (exposing the bellyband) and down (showing how it looks concealed)? I'm interested in a Glock 36, think it would fit? How slow is the draw?

atek3

I have an ''Action Direct'' bellyband ... it's promoted as a tuckable.

Initially I found it very comfortable but due to my shape .... slimish hips - and (amazing!) still something of a waste!! .. it seemed after a while and moving around, it kept riding up .. and higher than I was comfortable with.

Strikes me the individual's form has much to do with success or otherwsie with these. It resides along with quite a few other of my less than ideal solutions!

I frequently carry in a "Belly Band" but try to stay with the lighter guns. I sometimes wear the BB up high on my chest with the but of the gun under my left arm like a sholder holster. Worn like this I can tuck my shirt in and still carry discretely. A couple of open buttons at the top allow for a pretty quick draw.
str1

I used to carry in an Action Direct Defender.

On the plus side it's the most concealable holster I've used, its almost infinately adjustable and its comfortable.

Downsides where that it didn't hold the gun as secure as I'd like, and I don't think it offers adequate protection of the trigger (so I wouldn't recommend you carry a Glock in it ... I carried a Steyr M40 but its got a manual safety).

The biggest downside is that the holster part stretches so eventualy its too loose to use (so if I wanted to keep carrying that way I'd have to buy a new one every 10-12 months). I keep thinking I'm going to order an Ultra Thin Kydex holster from Fist but not have any belt slots cut in it and then sew it into the bellyband ... that would be about the best tuckable holster there is.



On a humorous side note, the times I really miss carrying with a belly band is when I have to sit down on a public toilet ... with an IWB holster it can be a hassle (sometimes I even have to draw the gun and hold it while I do my business) but with a belly band I'd just pull it up around my chest and it was out of the way (but one weird side effect of the belly band was that I would have to visit the restroom more often ... something about the wide band tightly around my waist gave me some Gastrointestinal distress )

Bellybands do have a tendency to stretch out a bit and allow the gun to sag away from the body. As inexpensive as they are I buy one every year or so. It's a carry option that I don't want to give up.
str1

I primarily use a belly band when carrying my P32. On some occasions (such as during unseasonably warm weather) I'll also carry my K9 in this manner. I've never personally had a problem using mine.

I carried an M9 Beretta for months in a belly band while in Balkans. This under BDUs. Just wore a larger sized BDU top than normal. The M9 is a huge pig to carry concealed but it can be done. Belly band would be very nice for something small & lightweight (P11, P32, PPK/S, Kahr, etc.). Good choice for hot weather clothing...

sometimes I even have to draw the gun and hold it while I do my business

Click to expand...

Sounds like you are prepared for a "stall invasion scenario."

As Rik Writer stated, those of use with 'a belly' do have a hard time carrying with a belly band. the only place they will stay put (on me, anyway) is at the W-I-D-E-S-T stretch (pun intended ) , and this makes the gun 'print' too much. I'll have to try shooter1's method of putting up high, and drawing up through the top.
With IWB, my 'roll' covers the gun quite neatly.

I've used a belly band to put the gun up high, weak side under a dress shirt and it wasn't even noticable. Works well when you have to wear a dress shirt, but you don't want to wear your jacket all day at the office. You can leave a button undone and your tie hides it and you can just draw through there. It's not a quick draw, but you're armed. Sometimes tuckables just aren't sleek enough.

I also have an "Action Direct" BB rig. However, I don't wear it on my belly...

I place the weapon under my arm as if it were a shoulder rig. Using a Glock 26 or 30, I have no problem with it staying. Wearing a slightly larger button up shirt, I've talked for hours with folks who know I nearly always carry, but they couldn't figure out where it was....

In a take-off of the belly-band, these are some pretty nice CCW holsters:

http://www.smartcarry.com/

I carry a 4" Ruger Security Six in mine - never had a problem with it yet. Comfortable and conceals well.