Arrrgh! Help with "tuckable" IWBs?

[Mr. James]

Greetings, all,

Am interested in a concealed carry rig that permits a tucked shirt - I simply am not the vest- or big-Hawaiian-shirt type. I've investigated a host of holster options, from Milt Spark's Versa-Max II, to comp-tac's C.T.A.C., to High Noon Leather, to Smartcarry's, er, unique design. I've now reached info overload, and the cranium just vapor-locked.

If it helps with input, I'm 6'1", c. 190 lbs, medium build, no spare tire or gut worth mentioning (thanks, Dad!). I like to carry a Springfield Champion LW model; I'm not averse to other options, but for now, if I may, I'd like to limit discussions to the 1911-style pistol. With the cooler weather, I have had excellent results carrying in a Galco Concealable; that holster tucks the pistol tight and just under the base of my ribs (carrying at about 4 o'clock); the pistol, grips and all, more or less disappears. Even a lightweight windbreaker is sufficient cover; printing has not been an issue at all with this holster.

Any suggestions or guidance on "tuckable" options would be much appreciated.

 

[Alfadog]

I used a tuckable holster (Galco Deep Cover) for several months and eventually decided that the concept sucks. Having to untuck your shirt to reach your gun is clumsy and takes way too long. I had many instances of the holster flopping out either when I untucked my shirt or attempted to draw the gun. And I never could figure out how to reholster with that thing. Maybe other tuckable holster are better, but I have given up on them.

Now I carry a full size 1911 in a regular IWB. The full size conceals just fine for me under an regular untucked shirt, and I'm smaller than you. If I must wear my shirt tucked in, I carry a J-frame in a pocket holster. I'd rather put up with a less effective handgun that I can draw reasonably quickly than have to halfway undress myself to draw a bigger gun from a tuckable holster.

 

[Mulliga]

I concur with Alfadog - it's more trouble than it's worth. I simply use my "Tuckable" holster from HBE Leatherworks as an IWB holster. If I ever need to tuck in my shirt (a formal occasion for me ), that usually means I can wear a jacket, too.

 

[DR]

I use a C.T.A.C. and I'm really happy with it. It's secure and reasonably comfy. I'm using it with a smaller pistol (Kahr K9) but it's really the thickness that counts anyways and 1911 isn't that far off.
It definitely is slower to present than a non-tuckable. There's no getting around the old speed versus concealment tradeoff.
My only real gripe is that it take a bit more arranging to get everything squared away: tuck the shirt between holster and pants, button and buckle, then blouse the shirt a bit as opposed to a regular IWB where I just need to make sure my shirt doesn't hang up on the grip.
One other thought: the tuckable doesn't print so easily but is, to my mind, more obviously a pistol if it does. People wear all manner of gadgets on their belts these days so a lump under an untucked shirt may get mistaken for a cell phone. Nobody wears their Blackberry under their shirt.

 

[Mr. James]

I appreciate the comments, both for and against. I have the singular good fortune to live in a Commonwealth where open carry is an option (especially with state-wide "pre-emption" as of 1 July), and I have no qualms about so carrying. Of course, some folk here in Northern Virginia are not so enlightened, and there are simply times when one would rather not be so obvious. Even locally, we've had some rather notorious over-reactions by local law enforcement to legal open carry.

Thanks, too, DR; I traded e-mails with the a fellow named Ryan at comp-tac, and he was mighty helpful.

The best compromise may just be a standard IWB with the addition of a lightweight vest or jacket over the top. But July and August can be brutal here!

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I have a flimsy Gould and Goodrich deep cover system -- this is basically a wide Ace bandage, with a sewn-in "holster" and a naugahyde square that goes between the holster and the skin. I modified this to take my IWB (my own design) and carry an M1911-type pistol under the shirt this way.

Some people who carry under the shirt like to cut off a button and sew it to the opposite side (over the button hole) so as to leave a gap in the shirt that allows you to easily access your weapon.

 

[crucible]

Mr. James, I'm in the same area as you (NorVA), and have a (modded for comfort using closed-cell foam) C-tac slide I use. Coupled with the optional c-clips they sell for it, it conceals well, and disappears decently when tucked, though I rarely do so.

With the 1911 C-tac, the kydex is molded around the thumb safety in such a manner that it really ate into my side making the holster intolerable after only a short period of time. Adding several thin layers of closed-cell foam ($1.00 a sheet @ Michael's craft store) made it not only tolerable, but doggone comfy in comparison, and I can now wear it almost indefinitely-really.

Square-bottom shirts are your friend in our summers btw-good for business casual to really casual, and I've even gotten to like some the more obnoxious Hawaiian shirts too (with a wifebeater underneath)

Chris

 

[MrMurphy]

Get the C-Tac......end of story.

 

[Smoke]

Just to confuse you some more:

http://store.yahoo.com/rlcompanyusa/teheiwb.html

and

http://store.yahoo.com/rlcompanyusa/answer.html

 

[sm]

I have used the set up similar to Mr. Vern Humphrey.

A pc of Hook&Loop under a button(s) work ... but that is noisy.

My "belly band" system is gone...I lost some equipment ( holsters and all). At the moment I have my shirt tucked in , a firearm b/t my oxford shirt and T shirt, held in place on weak side by my waistband and belt.

Allows for easy access while driving , as I just returned from running an errand in a bad area of town.

 

[nemesis]

I live down here in the extreme southern tip of Texas where it seldom gets very cold and we normally don't wear a lot of clothing nor clothing that would permit the frequent use of cover garments. At least not without attracting attention and suffering heat prostration. I normally wear hiking shorts and a short sleeved shirt to work but will change over to long pants for the cooler months.

My height and weight is not much different from yours and I carry a Springfield Ultra Compact every waking moment of my life, including work and Church. I have been using a Galco Deep Cover tuckable IWB for some years now and am extremely pleased with it. It is comfortable and secure and people who are constantly around me have no idea that I carry. Galco has since changed the design slightly and, if buying another, I would instead buy one of the High Noon Hidden Impact clones. It's a dead ringer for the original Galco.

I carry 10 to 16 hours a day without removing my gun and holster and have no problem with comfort nor security. The flat OM equivalent lays unseen behind my hip and the grip lays up along my kidney. It really doesn't print.

Accessing the weapon is easy with a Hackathorn Rip to pull up the shirt with the left hand, prior to presentation with the right. I didn't understand the negative comments concerning reholstering as I didn't understand why the gun was pulled and reholstered. My gun stays put and, if I pull it to use it, reholstering ease is not my first concern. Pulling the shirt clear is probably no more difficult than accessing your IWB under your sealskin parka or whatever up-north people wear in winter.

You DO need to know how to dress yourself properly with a tuckable. I start by putting on my shirt and pants and doing everything except zipping up the fly. Then I spread my legs apart to hold the pants up while I insert the pistol/holster combination into position and put the J-hook into place on my belt. Following that, I even out my shirt around my body and pull the right side of my shirt slightly excessively to the rear. Then, I pull my shirt centered to the front and that pulls our and wrinkles or gathered material from around the holster so that the holster lays under a smooth expanse of shirt. Zipping up and fastening my belt finishes that off and it doesn't need to be done again.

That works for me and I'm not a part time carrier nor just a leisure time carrier. I note again that I ALWAYS carry at work and seem to have passed the test as nobody has ever noticed.

Recently, there was an issue with an employee at another site who had been in a legal predicament and it had come to light that he is a CHL holder. His erratic and unpredictable behavior has worried other staff members so much that one told me she is very concerned. She told me that "he has a CHL and may even have a gun in his car." As I listened, I was wearing a Springfield Ultra Compact behind my hip and a spare magazine on the other side but I did express my sheer surprise that he has a license to carry. Evidently, she didn't realize there was another legal .45 just four feet away.

Tuckables work just fine and will work where other options are dubious. You do need to know how to deal with the issues and you do need to know how to rapidly access your weapon but they do work. Let me qualify that. They do work with a reasonable selection of concealment weapons but may not be the best choice for your Desert Eagle pocket pistol.

 

[DMF]

Blade-Tech UCH. www.blade-tech.com

 

[BlkHawk73]

I've used a Mitch Rosen "workman" for years now to comfortably carry my Ruger SP101. Allows comfortable all-day carry and isn't difficult to access. Why put a good gun in a cheap holster? Besides, the "Workamn" is the original tuckable. All the others are mere copies. Awsome craftmanship & quality! Yeah, costs a bit more but after all, you get ehat you pay for.

 

[Greg L]

I have a Galco tuckable (Deep Cover?) that doesn't get used much anymore. The biggest problem that I found with them is that the weight of the gun is supported by the pants rather than the belt (with the J hook to prevent the holster coming along with the pistol when you draw, like on the bottom of the 3 Mitch Rosen pictures). My pants just couldn't take the weight of the pistol & would really sag badly. Do the other Mitch Rosens pictured have a belt loop/snap on them? If so I'll have to look into that again as I do have occasions where a tucked in shirt is pretty much required.

Greg

 

[BlkHawk73]

Do the other Mitch Rosens pictured have a belt loop/snap on them?

as the top and middle picture show, they are not clip held holstets but rather have a belt loop (unsnaps for easier removalof the holster). The top is the std "workman" model which I use. The middle is the "slimline workmsn" which is basically the same but with a tad bit less material/width to it. Also, with the diff. position of the loop, I'm guessing it may ride a bit higher/tighter too. I've got 5 of his pieces and can't say a bad hing about any of them. first class craftmanship and well worth the time and money to me.

 

[Charles S]

I carry a Kahr K-9 in a Comp-Tac C-T.A.C and I am very pleased with the system. I only use my tuckable holster when I really want to look nice. The rest of the time I just use a Blade-Tech IWB.

nemesis has some really good advice.

Charles

 

[dave3006]

I tried the UCH tuckable. It looked like a had a tumor growing on my side.

You have to live with an untucked shirt and a regular IWB. I used to always tuck my shirt in. I don't anymore. I actually like things better now.

 

[Doug Add]

I concur with Smoke's recommnedation of the Texas Heritage by Tucker.

I carry a SIG P228 in one, and once I got the cant and ride height adjusted the way I like it, it has performed flawlessly. Very comfortable and secure.

For work I usually wear dress pants and oxford shirt. In the Texas Heritage, the SIG is completely concealed, even without a suit coat.

Presentation may be a bit slower than when I wear my Ruger SP101 in a belt holster, but when I am without a jacket I would rather have a slower presentation (if needed) than no firearm.

 

[PaleRyder]

I'm 5'8", 140 lbs. I carry a full size Springfield Loaded in a soft holster.

www.softholsters.com

I have a Smart Carry, IWB, belt rig, nothing works as well for me as this soft holster. In fact, I was going to get a Champion for more easy carry, but I don't need a smaller .45 with this holster.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I've got several tuckable holsters...

If you have a Galco Deep Cover (especially the original model), please do not confuse that abomination of design with what a tuckable holster can be.

The Milt Sparks VM2 is very nice. It works as both tuckable and IWB holster. Its major defect as a tuckable holster is that there isn't much room for shirttail in the clips and it grips so firmly that you will lose shirts if you practice with it.

There are several Kydex rigs that strike a happy medium between those two extremes (not as concealable as the VM2; but more tuckable).

After looking long and hard, my solution was to go with a quality bellyband. These are the best solution for carrying if you require a tucked in shirt IMO.

 

[nemesis]

The biggest problem that I found with them is that the weight of the gun is supported by the pants rather than the belt (with the J hook to prevent the holster coming along with the pistol when you draw, like on the bottom of the 3 Mitch Rosen pictures). My pants just couldn't take the weight of the pistol & would really sag badly.

It seems that you aren't doing your belt up sufficiently. I would expect any belt holster to behave the same way under those conditions.

I don't think the pants nor the belt do very much to support the weight of the gun. The support tab and J-hook really don't do much to support the gun but they do locate it and keep it in one position. Most of the supporting qualities come from the gun being pinned in place by the friction of being between the belt and your body.

My pants just couldn't take the weight of the pistol & would really sag badly.

Just try cinching up your belt a bit.

 

[Island Beretta]

Let me see, for extreme concealed carry (like at work-dress pants, tucked oxford shirts, occassional jacket-on/off) I have a Desantis bellyband, Uncle Mike ankle holster, Smart Carry and a Galco USA tuckable. All are uncomfortable for all day carry and have their downsides.

I have the same problem that Alfadog has with the tuckable but what to do??? I have spent more money on holsters than on the gun and still no 'perfect' fit. ..and please do not recommend another holster

I also noticed that when in the car (like going to grab lunch or client visits) access is almost impossible with the tuckable, bellyband and smart carry. For deep concealment at work, I have come to realise that the ankle carry is the best of the worst.

Outside of work I wear an untucked shirt so no problem with holsters.

 

[nemesis]

I also noticed that when in the car (like going to grab lunch or client visits) access is almost impossible with the tuckable, bellyband and smart carry. For deep concealment at work, I have come to realise that the ankle carry is the best of the worst.

Yuh know, there just ain't no such thing as a free lunch. Concealed carry is always going to be a compromise. Up north people have to find their guns under their winter clothing but I don't hear a lot of complaints.

I concede that access with a tuckable holster is almost impossible, if almost impossible means pulling your shirt out with your offside hand. My gun(s) are totally accessible while driving and belted in. I will concede that I am tall, drive with the seat all the way back and the gun is in the open access area behind the seat belt fixture and in front of the seat back.

Ankle carry does have a lot of merit. It's just that your gun is not within reach unless sitting, is probably unrealistically difficult to access without attracting some attention and has certain inherent negative characteristics if wearing shorts. I can draw my gun while moving into a more secure position but that may not be so easy to accomplish with an ankle holster.

All are uncomfortable for all day carry and have their downsides.

I just came in a while ago and had worn my Deep Cover all day at work without being uncomfortable. Comfort may be as much an issue of the gun you carry as it is for the holster that carries it.

I have the same problem that Alfadog has with the tuckable but what to do??? I have spent more money on holsters than on the gun and still no 'perfect' fit. ..and please do not recommend another holster

I think we expect too much when we depend upon the holster to solve all of our problems. There is a learning curve for everything and we should try different methods and procedures to find the optimum way for that holster to do its job.

How many threads have we read from unhappy holster buyers that had the barrel jammed in their groin because they were wearing their holster in front of them or the equally large group that was disgusted because their OWB holster wouldn't conceal when it was hung right on their hip?

Few holsters are the magic silver bullets that will cure all of our problems but many holsters can work well if we invest a bit of time and a modicum of effort to finding out how they will perform the best. It's up to us to find what makes them work for us.

 

[Perfesser]

Any opinions - good or bad - on this one? I'm looking for a good IWB for my SP101 or possbly a Combat Commander.

http://www.desantisholster.com/n91.html

 

[Island Beretta]

Nemesis:

You are preaching to the converted, I am not the one that asked about IWB.. I am simply stating my experience, matter of factly- not as a complaint-, you take it or you leave it!!

I am guided by the dictum that handgun carry must be comforting, not necessarily comfortable. So I take the good with the bad.. People's comfort level varies so what may be all smug and cozy for you may be someone else's living nightmare..