best concealed carry

[beachwalker]

Have a Glock 26, but at least to me it's not that easy to conceal carry. Kind of block shaped, square etc. I will be carrying it in Florida, walking on the beach, riding a bike many miles, light clothes etc etc.

I almost bought a Smith and Wesson 642, then I read that it is not easy to use, ( Glock actually is, at least for me) sights not that great, and then there's the issue of only 5 shots.

Don't want to waste money on a second gun, can I have some professional advice please?

I know both Glocks and SW are very good guns.


Feel lucky I can ask the pros.

 

[Gadzooks Mike]

You've got basic trade-offs for this, really. Longer loose fitting shirts are good, and will cover up an inside the pants holster. The holster requires a belt, so swimming trunks and t-shirts are out. You could try a belly band, and then you wouldn't need the belt. Guayaberas are not out of place in Florida. Cargo pants or painter pants and an inside the pocket holster works well. Ankle holster maybe, although the Glock might be a bit large for that. Some of this depends on your build, but most depends on how you dress, or how you are WILLING to dress, to conceal your weapon.

There's always the fanny pack and the two arguments concerning them. 1 - Everyone who sees you with a fanny pack immediately knows your carrying! 2 - So what? They going to bother me KNOWING I'm carrying?

In any case, I'd stick with the Glock instead of a different weapon. It's the clothing that's in question. Experiment and see what's comfortable to you. Good luck!

 

[belus]

What kind of belt/holster do you use?

 

[mgkdrgn]

I'm in your same position here in SC (Tshirt and shorts country), and also have a Glock 26. I carry the Glock when I'm "fully dressed" ... but that isn't most of the time.

What I carry any time I have pants on is an NAA Black Widow in 22mag. 22 mag is a right nasty little cartridge that never gets it's due ... and it's light and small enough that I can carry it in anything that has a right front pocket.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Get a Kel Tec or a LCP and pocket carry Lite, flat, and no worries I always have a KelTec or a Mustang in pocket no matter what else I might have on me

 

[InkEd]

You can carry an LCP easily. If you want bigger and don't want a snubnose the I suggest kahr.

 

[snooperman]

Best CCW??

There is no such thing. It isn't the gun , it is the user. The 5 or 6 shot snubby revolver is a fine gun and plenty of shots to do the job. There are many guns to choose from, but the most important thing is being very good with it and practice a lot. It does not have to be 10-15 shots nor a very large caliber either as the coinfrontations are going to be very close. A small .380 such as the little Ruger LCR or the S&W 642 .38 special are fine. And so is the Glock.

 

[makarovnik]

Glock 26 is nice. I also like the S&W M&P 9mm compact.

S&W J-frames are great too. You can pocket carry and shoot from inside the pocket (or purse) if need be. That is a nice option.

I used to carry a commander size 1911 but now carry a Kel-Tec P3AT. I sometimes feel under-gunned. I need to be diligent and carry my 9mm.

 

[NMGonzo]

I have a bersa and a snubby 5 shot .357

The bersa conceals better, but it ain't no .357

 

[nitzer]

I'm pretty much in the camp that you have to have a couple of options when it comes to carrying (ie: have a couple of guns depending on the situation or different ways of carrying the guns). I have my XD-45C for winter carry, my XD-9 sub-compact for general summer carry, and I'm looking for a pocket gun for those times when I really need deep concealment. MN doesn't have any laws about printing or even a requirement to conceal it (open carry is legal with a carry permit). Carrying a gun changes your lifestyle. I am always acutely aware that I am carrying. I tend to be aware of how I stand, how I reach for an item off a shelf, how I squat, or how I bend over. I dress based on what I plan to carry and buy my clothes based on that also. You can conceal just about anything based on how you dress. Keep the Glock if you like it, get a nice holster that is adjustable, and buy a pocket gun when the Glock is not practical to carry.

 

[herkyguy]

In the Florida heat, the Ruger LCP works best for me.

 

[beachwalker]

Thanks to all of you for your information.
I think I will keep the Glock, buy a good inside the waistband holster and belt, plus buy some painters pants or cargo pants, and...buy a pocket gun too for times the other won't work. That's where I'm not sure again, want something reliable, and easy to use in the pocket gun, keep hearing the name Bersa?

 

[Wilson2]

I agree with snooperman. However, I'll add a little more. The best is what works well for you and is comfortable enough that you will carry it all the time. That may be two different rigs -- one for hot weather and one for winter's cooler weather. It may be the 1st, or the 5th or 6th combination that you try.

Peruse this forum for very long and you start to notice many of us selling holsters that we don't use anymore. Why is that? It is because most of us went through several until we found the right gun & holster combo that was comfortable.

Don't be discouraged if your next effort doesn't work out. Hopefully it will of course. If it doesn't, just check the accessories for sale and find another holster to try.

 

[9mmepiphany]

you can buy a lot of different guns trying to find the best compromise...not that that's a bad thing...or you can spend the time to figure out what works best for your build and style of dress.

CCW does require a compromise with fashion...usually longer and looser are the key words, or properly tailored

i've found that hot weather and light clothing means light and slim guns for me...i too found the Glock 26 too blocky and not much easier to carry than a Glock 19.

i've found the 2 best slim and light guns are the Springfield EMP and the Kahr PM9...i like the HK P7 for more formal dress, but it's a bit heavier

 

[Gadzooks Mike]

Just a quick note - when I said that the inside the pants holster required a belt, I meant a normal pants belt, not a special belt for the holster. It just needs something more sturdy than an elastic waistband to clip to.

If you are set on an inside the pants holster, try to go to a place where you can try them out. Gun shows are good for this, but some stores will also let you try them on to see what they're like.

 

[conw]

I've heard the Ruger SP101 is easier to shoot than the Jframes

 

[18DAI]

Semi auto : S&W 3913 - Light weight, good size, 8+1 capacity 9mm

Revolver : 3" S&W model 13 - Not heavy, 6 shot 357. Bob the hammer and it is near perfect carry gun.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

My IWB was designed for an M1911, but the principle of putting leather between gun and skin is good for any carry piece, especially in hot weather.

http://www.paul.desertskyone.com/vern/iwb_instructions.htm

I rub Sno-seal into the holster to sweat-proof it, and carry under all sorts of conditions, including strenuous work in 90 degree+ weather.

 

[fourdollarbill]

The SP101 is by far a better carry gun than the 642 when it comes to light clothes and T shirts. I had carried a 642 with an IWB holster. The darn thing kept riding up above the belt and wanting to pop out. Also the cylinder was directly behind the belt line causing a larger bulge. I switched to the 3" SP101 357 mag and found it fit more comfortable IWB and here is why. With the 3" SP101 in the IWB holster the center of gravity pulls it down bellow the belt line instead of riding up like the J frame. The grip is the only thing behind the belt and the cylinder is lower so it hides well. Also you can use it to knock the day lights out of the bad guy.

 

[Cosmoline]

Just use a shoulder rig with a loose cover shirt and you won't have to worry about a duty belt.

 

[UltimateReloader]

I really like my PF-9 because it's very light, very thin, and works great in the custom IWB holster that I designed/built- all day comfort and concealability:


This gun has a stiff SA pull that's safe to carry with, and has worked great for me!

 

[Japle]

There are hundreds of different gun/holster/ammo combinations and, here's the fun part, every one of them is somebody's favorite!

 

[ms6852]

I carry the full size springfield 1911 or the GI model champion, or the SW 642 depending on how I am dressed. The 642 smith and wesson conceals the best with less clothing. The handle is small which makes it a little difficult to handle if using +p's. I purchased the crimson trace laser grips for it which makes it a lot more comfortable to shoot now. The grips are longer which allow for a finger grove for your pinky finger to rest.

 

[earlthegoat2]

 

[camsdaddy]

Have you considered a smartcarry? I have one for my 26 and it makes it a lot easier to carry. I wasnt sure at first but the more I wear it the happier I am.