Anyone carry OWB in the summer?

[navyretired 1]

In the summer months I carry a Kel Tec P-11 with their belt clip tuck in front right side of waistband. With a long Skivey shirt (t-shirt) nobody has ever noticed it. I've dehorned the weapon considerabley and after reparked slide I've paint the plastic and slide with Krylon Fusion paint baked on the metal. It's very tough paint, but I still wipe down gun and very lightly lube every night, rust has not been an issue and it get's real hot and humid here in Mo.
In the winter I've become very fond of the CZ-82 in 9X18MM. It's a very dependable little weapon that is absolutley reliable and light enough not to pull jeans down to one side. I carry it OWB in a bikini holster I modified from a thumb break with t-shirt, over shirt and a jacket. I offset belt weight with a extra mag and cell phone which I consider my second most important weapon. I never leave home without it.
I also have a Sunday-go-to-meeting weapon, it's a High Standard 2 shot derringer in 22 mag. My wife thinks it's terrible to carry to church but there have been some crazies shooting preachers and other people at church and if it happens I want to be ready. Not paranoid just ready. If nothing happens nobody knows I'm armed their.

 

[owsi26]

Actually I OC during the summer months and have been doing so since 1995. When it is cooler, I CC. Except for a few shoulder and ankle holsters, mine are all OWB - with one exception, a Thunderwear holster. I find IWB too uncomfortable on my slim frame, especially when seated.

 

[DFW1911]

The other evening I CCW'ed a 1911 OWB under a t-shirt and "cover" shirt.

Many of the short sleeve button-up shirts are kind of big, so they're really good for using as a cover garment.

Just because it's summer doesn't mean you are forced to carry a smaller frame gun. Carry what you want, just dress appropriately so you don't attract attention.

 

[Steve H]

OWB just about all the time. Kimber Ultra CDPII with a Ross 1911 leather holster. Tee shirt and usually a Hawaiian shirt over it.

 

[Guy de Loimbard]

I always wear a wife beater, it helps alot with CCing by keeping the gun off your skin. I've never carried OWB without my shirt tucked in though.

 

[rideandcarry]

Haven't carried OWB on hip yet. I carry in pocket and/or IWB appendix carry. For me it makes more sense as I'm not trying to draw attention to myself and if I need to draw covertly, the action is less likely to attract attention with appendix draw rather than hip draw. Plus, it seems more natural, rather than the slight reach involved with hip draw, the gun is already in front of me with appendix carry. I want to try hip carry though, open and concealed, as my state allows both.

Bottom line, do what's comfortable and practice it routinely.

 

[navyretired 1]

I tried a OWB middle of back with a Galco SOB but the sob was too hard for me to reach if truely in the middle. It wasn't hard to draw, just difficult to mount properly without changing grip after clearing leather. But it was sure a beautiful holster.
As long as I could carry in the open I'd use a Bianci 19L wonderful highride which tucks in close. I've had one for I guess fourty years. they're condition one with thumb strap.

 

[Shadow 7D]

I'm trying to find a new rig, I can pocket carry, but I just hate driving with IWB, it never feels right even if I get where it is accessible, best so far is cross drawing, in the end I think I'd rather a pancake with FBI cant, now to go spend the money, I do like my local police store (yes they are open to the public, but we pay MORE) because they have 2 walls of holster. So I can try it before I buy it.

 

[hirundo82]

Actually, it's not.

The Kimber Pro Carry II is 1.28" thick while the Glock 19 is only 1.18" thick.

Interesting. I didn't actually look it up; I just assumed that a 1911 would be thinner than a Glock. That'll teach me to make assumptions.

 

[Mike J]

I carry a XD-40 service OWB in a Don Hume holster year round. I just wear a loose fitting T-shirt or Polo type shirt over it. Like 9mmepiphany said make sure the shirt is long enough to cover your holster. I have on occasion carried a Ruger P-944 the same way but it is a little harder to hide. Most people aren't paying attention anyway.

 

[GojuBrian]

Is that just the slide thickness on that glock? I can't see how the grip would be thinner than a 1911.

 

[benelli nova guy]

I carry OWB all the time. I always cover with a polo that barely leaves the bottom of the holster uncovered. I've not had any probs. Just for fun I OC'd the other day and no one even noticed so I doubt they'll ever notice that little inch of holster.

 

[Deanimator]

No. I REALLY hate untucked shirts for anything but exercise. The only time I wear an untucked shirt is when I walk for exercise. I generally carry a Smith 36 in a pocket holster for that.

 

[riceboy72]

Yes, all of my holsters but one are OWB and it's my preferred method of carry for comfort reasons. I usually wear a t-shirt with a button up shirt (untucked) and cargo shorts in the summer, with either a Glock 19 or a Springfield Armory Champion Operator in an OWB holster. As it's been mentioned, I try to get holsters that ride high enough where the bottom part of the holster that covers the end of the barrel doesn't stick out.

Tried IWB and I'm just not a fan of it.

 

[mousegun380]

Guys, I have just discovered the perfect cover shirt for OWB CCW. Of course it's from 5.11 Tactical. Try one of the covert casual shirts and you will be amazed.

It's just something about how it's cut and how it's built. They have all kinds of other little fun things built in like the interior holster pocket, but honestly I doubt that I'll ever use it.

The shirt is just a darn good cover garmet, built well, looks great, and hides perfectly. They cost the same as a nice button down would too.

XD45c in a Crossbreed Snapslide

 

[hirundo82]

Guys, I have just discovered the perfect cover shirt for OWB CCW. Of course it's from 5.11 Tactical. Try one of the covert casual shirts and you will be amazed.

It's just something about how it's cut and how it's built. They have all kinds of other little fun things built in like the interior holster pocket, but honestly I doubt that I'll ever use it.

The shirt is just a darn good cover garmet, built well, looks great, and hides perfectly. They cost the same as a nice button down would too.

LA Police Gear has a buy one, get one free sale on those.

I bought several and they do work very well. I think they may be a little too thick for comfort in the summer in Houston.

 

[mousegun380]

THANKS!!!

Order placed. I have 7 now with this order. I love these shirts!!

I appreciate the heads up.

 

[SSN Vet]

'flip' to a pancake and wear a camp shirt untucked over a muscle shirt tucked in.

comfy and secure

 

[kup9984]

Mainsail:
Yes

So you open carry in Washington? Where in the state are you able to do this without getting stopped or arrested? I live on the Eastside and I'm pretty sure there's nowhere I could get away with doing this...

 

[Mainsail]

Everywhere. The picture is at Pike Place Market in Seattle. I carried openly in downtown Tacoma almost every day for years while I was living there. There really isn't anywhere I've gone in WA that I haven't carried open. At first there were some incidents with the police, but we got it straightened out and they got retrained. Now getting stopped is very rare, and usually goes like this:

Cop: Sir, can I see some ID?
ME: No.

There are plenty of OCers on the Eastside, and they do not report any drama.

 

[wishin]

I carry a Browning HiPower OWB. What bothers me the most in the summer is having the gun against my skin if my shirt is hanging out; consequently, I OC most of the time when it's warm out.

 

[DFW1911]

What bothers me the most in the summer is having the gun against my skin if my shirt is hanging out; consequently, I OC most of the time when it's warm out.

Me too. I OWB carry my Sig P250 most all of the time; at times I will IWB carry.

Even in the heat of Texas, it's possible to OWB in the summer without looking like a complete slob!

There are so many un-tucked shirts around here who knows how many of us are actually carrying!

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

I've switch almost all of my holsters over to the Serpa platform from Blackhawk, that way I can have a duty belt rig, tactical thigh holster and off duty OWB carry all with the same method of draw and all interchangeable. Consequently, I carry almost exclusively OWB no matter what time of year.