About to get my CCW license. What are effective ways of carrying?

[md7]

hey ya'll, i am brand new to this forum. not too sure how all of this works. anyway, this is my situation. I have a GLOCK 23 that will be used for CCW once i recieve my license. i am 6' 1 and 195 pounds. How can i most effectivly conceal this pistol? is carrying with a shoulder rig an effective way or would i be better off carrying inside the waistband? i am open to any suggestions.

 

[Punkermonkey]

md7,

Welcome to The High Road. My first suggestion to you is to get a large cardboard box to store all of your "reject" holsters in. If you are anything like most of the people on THR, you will go through quite a few.

Your method is based primarily on the following conditions:

1) Your normal form of dress
2) the temperature
3) the size of your weapon

Shoulder holsters can be a good way to carry if you are sitting down most of your day, but can be slower to draw from. Inside the Waist Band (IWB) if favored in warmer temperature as well as pocket carry. Outside the Waist Band works well with large frame pistols where a jacket is permitted.

THR as many threads discussing this issue and can be searched for easily.

 

[HowardC]

ON CARRYING:

Forget the box for holsters. Get a decent IWB and never look back. Mine is an Alessi, but I understand Milt Sparks and others make 'em too. I use them for a 1911 and a Smith M65. The Smith is just a little fatter, that's all. I'm pretty sure a Glock will conceal just as well. It may be different if you want an outside holster, but I don't see how you can consistently conceal it outside the belt. Even then, summer is more difficult.

They also make some 'tuckable' IWB units where you can tuck your shirt in outside the gun, only having a couple loops showing.

Search 'em out on the web.

-HowardC

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

Shoulder holsters are also pretty easy to stop someone drawing from if within arms reach, just grab their arm while it's across the chest.
If you go IWB get a quality one because you'll end up with one anyway no matter how many cheapies you buy first. Comp-Tac's CTAC is good as well as Milt Sparks' Versa Max 2 (those have a long wait time I hear). Get a sturdy gun belt, it makes a huge difference.

 

[md7]

i appreciate everbody's input. i think IWB is going to be my best bet. i have been looking at Galco summer comfort IWB holsters. i think that it would be a pretty good holster. i have not seen the milt sparks holsters so i will have to check them out too. punkermonkey, you raised a good point about the climate. i live in Mississippi. From late April until September it is pretty hot. The fall and winter seasons have some warmer days in them as well. It normally doesn't get really cold. so, outside the waist carry would not be very practical for me (except for the rare winter days that get cold enough for me to wear a jacket). Once again, I appreciate everbody's input, and if any body else has any opinions about ways of carrying or holsters let me know.

 

[blinkin357]

Difficult question - many answers

I also have boxes of holsters for various guns over the years. Now I only use a few of them depending upon my dress.

With pleated Docker style slacks, I often use a cheap pocket holster with a Glock 27.

OWB (outside waist band) are my favorite because it's not restricted by my belt plus it's easy to draw. I use this under an overshirt. IWB is also good because it holds your weapon tight against your body, reducing printing through your shirt.

I use a PagerPal holster with jeans. It’s not the fastest draw but is concealed and accessible.

The shoulder holster isn't good for me for two reasons. One is, that it's too hot in Florida to wear a jacket very often. Two is that I’m too FAT to easily reach across my belly for my weapon; sad but true. I have a very nice shoulder rig in my box.

Ankle holsters are OK if nothing else will work. It's difficult to draw without exposing yourself to nearby threats. Also, it's uncomfortable after a few hours (for me anyway). I only carry a BUG (backup gun) in the ankle holster.

I have a concealment brief case, concealment fanny pack, concealment leather jacket and concealment vest that serves well too.

 

[HKUSP45C]

I was just looking at the CTAC and wondered if you could wear it cross draw? Any body carry one that way?

 

[Punkermonkey]

md7 - I have the Galco Summer Comfort for my USPc in .40 and it would say it is "all right". It seems to turn quite a bit in my waist band due to the oversized belt loops. Also, it was rather expensive. You might want to check out Palehorse Holsters. The quality is quite good and the pricing is better than Galco. Better color selection too.

 

[CAS700850]

No matter whic concealment holster you get, also get yourself a decent OWB holster, as there will be days when you might want to carry and not bother with the less comfotable and more expensive IWB rig. I got an Uncle Mikes Kydex rig for general use, and really like it for range use and the occassions when I don't need to conceal. I like my Galco Jackass rig, but I live in Ohio, where a jacket is appropriate from October through mid-May.

 

[wheelgunner88]

Dillon Precision

The Blue Press carries a line of Holsters made by Mitch Rosen for reasonable prices. You can also find some decent hosters made my Don Hume for good prices and the turnaround time is usually less than a week.

 

[Chuck123]

Holster suggestion (Milt Sparks VM-11)

I have had a lot of different holsters, shoulder, fanny pack, plastic holster, a couple inside and outside holsters. Save your time and money and purchase one good holster to start with. The Milt Sparks Vera Max II is the most comfortable holster I found for IWB; approximate cost is $115.00. You can go through a lot of money buying cheep holsters that are a pain to wear. I can wear this holster for 10 hours plus. It can take several months to get one from the factory but it is truly worth the wait. You might be able to get one faster through a dealer like Craig in Beaverton, Oregon.

A good holster belt is a must. The best price on a quality belt I found was from A.E. Nelsen Leather Company in Scio, Oregon. Belt start at around $30.00 and up. I had costume belt made with a piece of spring steel swan into it for it wouldn’t turn on me. It cost about $55.00. Normally you can spend over a $100.00 for a good belt.

I found the wearing a gun on the hip at the three to four o'clock position is the best for me and I hear a lot of others.

Chuck

 

[pax]

Here's an overview of the choices -- http://www.corneredcat.com/Practical/HowHide.htm

pax

 

[tellner]

DoubleTapDrew:

On the contrary. The shoulder holster is no easier to block if wearer has a little training in body mechanics and weapons retention.

As for IWB, it works for some, not for others. My wife and I are both very short-waisted. It just doesn't work for us. Shoulder and pocket holster work for me. Most of the time I wear a vest, Scott eVest or 5.11 Tactical's vest. The 5.11 is designed for concealed carry and has an innovative "Belt Backup" system of modular velcro pouches including a holster. the eVest is not designed for CCW, but it has adopted the velcro carrying system in part. It also has enough pockets to fit several pistols, all your reloads, firstaid kit, twenty different electronic devices and a Dillon Progressive Reloading Press.

The J. R. Noble Leather Company in Vancouver, Washington makes an excellent vertical shoulder holster. They would prefer that you come in to get it custom fitted to you and your weapon and then come back later for final adjustments. I've been very happy with it. You have to trust to whatever safety you have and the covered trigger.

A lot of people scorn small-of-back carry saying that you can break your back if you fall. In defense of S.O.B., many of them are also range owners who forbid shoulder holster carry. Both cause you sweep your neighbors when you draw. As an experiment I took a Blue Gun replica of a Glock 17 and several holsters. I took ukemi from a variety of positions with each of them. The worst bruising was from a FOBUS paddle holster and my WIB rig. Falling on my back was unpleasant but not as bad. The most painful was the sharp blow to my bladder from falling forward with a fanny pack. YMMV. Use only as directed. Most people haven't had as much experience falling down as I.

 

[txgho1911]

Several months ago and maybe more than a year by now I started wearing a denim button down open over a Tshirt every where I go and even as I am going to work and such. I wear a Galco Yaki for the 1911. It sadles the pistol over the ejection port and around the triger guard and not much else. Only way to open carry.
Some folks will direct you to change your dress to fit your weapon's concealment. Any way you go you can get out pretty cheap with Unkle Mikes or spend some good money on quality gear you know you will use.
Also found the split leather Bionchi products better than none as Galco, Milt-Sparks and most others you cannot find local may be working on May or April orders as of this writing. Once you know the holsters you like and are comfortable with you might order a spare because they do wear out and once you are forced to give it up for evidence you may be able to leave it in a holster so it doesn't get as beat up. Or to keep the spare weapon in when it's just sittin at home or in the cache just waiting for your need.

 

[tellner]

5.11 tactical now sells jeans with a gussetted crotch and internal pockets for magazines, handcuffs (or whatever you want) and a small pistol.

Blackie Collins' "Toters" jeans are excellent. I carried a 1911 in a room full of cops (legally). Nobody noticed.

 

[Sir Aardvark]

I own my own gun accessories business, so filling that box full of holsters comes cheaper for me.

I actually settled on Milt Sparks for my CCW needs because I did a little research first.

I decided that Inside the Waist Band (IWB) would work best for me. So... I have a selection of Milt Sparks holsters to select from depending on what I choose to carry that day.

S&W J-frame = Milt Sparks Summer Special II - I can wear this with a T-shirt and you can't even tell that I'm packing.

SIG 229 and Glock G30 = Versa Max II - pretty much this is the standard IWB holster that ALL the competition is measured against - be prepared to wait 10 weeks while yours is made.

Also Milt Sparks Executive Companion - I have a couple of these, and while I enthusiastically recommend these, the Versa Max II hold an edge in most carry situations (I find that the Executive Companions are better if you do a lot of sitting).

I do have a Milt Sparks pocket carry holster for my J-frame and I dont really like it that much (I'm not complaining, just explaining) - I mostly use a real cheap Safariland In-the-Pocket holster that performs quite nicely for my needs.

Truth be told - I actually had a harder time finding Grips for my SIG that are conducive for CCW than I did finding a holster (I finally settled on some Nill stocks).

 

[md7]

okay, it pretty much seems that the majority of people that posted in this thread say that IWB is the way to carry. I am relying on ya'lls experience, so if that is what you say works, then it is good enough for me. So now, I guess the question is, where inside my waistband should i wear the gun and holster? in the front, the hip, or the in the back? where do you wear your gun? Please forgive my lack of expertise in this subject. I am trying to learn from ya'll.

 

[ceetee]

(Not trying to hijack the thread, but I'm in the same boat as the original poster...)

Has anyone had any experience with the IWB holsters that look like belt slides? Matter of fact, one I was looking at actually is a belt slide, but it comes with an optional spring clip to clip it on IWB if you so desire. Like this one:





I know that retention would probably be poor during any really athletic activity, but my activities while wearing it would be limited to things like shopping, etc. Opinions?