Best handgun / holster CCW combo for working outside in the heat

[Monster Zero]

I work outside, all day every day.

Right now, I'm carrying a small handgun in my right (strong side) front pocket.

I'd rather not say exactly what type or caliber of gun it is, because I don't want to prejudice anyone's response. Let's just say it's small enough to qualify as "something to carry when you're not really armed." Have a gun, right?

Well, what if I do what to go "really" armed? By that I mean carry a serious handgun in a serious caliber - all day, in the 100 degree heat? It's gotta be concealed though - I wear a synthetic high-vis T-shirt that could be tucked over something IWB. I also wear a long-sleeve sun shirt most of the time, but not always. Open carry is not legal in my state, and I don't think I would consider open carry even if it becomes legal.

Suggestions, anyone? I have some favorite handguns of various types and calibers, but I'm flexible in that regard even though I do have my preferences (***coughcoughSP101coughcough***)... Seems to me the holster and tactics of carry are more important than which particular handgun.

I'm interested in what some of you other guys do when working outside in serious heat. It'll be serious cold, too about 6 months from now. I know more about handguns than I do about holsters and concealed carry so I'll really appreciate some input on that - keeping in mind we're talking serious outdoor heat and lots of moving around and stuff.

TIA

 

[jfrey]

Although not my personal first choice, I would seriously suggest a Glock 19 and a Fobus paddle holster. Nothing will hurt either one: sweat, hot, cold, water, dirt whatever. The rig is comfortable and fairly easy to conceal.

 

[Ala Dan]

Kahr PM 9mm auto, cuz its stainless and polymer; + really small, in an Uncle
Mikes pocket holster~!

 

[Snowbandit]

Might have a peek at the new polymer revolvers. They're not much to look at but I think both S&W and Ruger make them. A 38 Special in a pocket holster might be just what you're looking for. I would suggest the light weight revolvers from S&W but, after a day at the beach with my model 340 M&P I noticed some light surface rust on the trigger. It was nothing to clean up, took all of 5 seconds with an oil rag but, if I was going to carry there all day, every day, polymer might be the way to go.

 

[NMGonzo]

sp101 and simply rugged holster

 

[Travis McGee]

My every day all day CCW is a knife. A big folding knife, namely a Cold Steel Vaquero Grande. I carry it in the right front pocket of any pants I'm wearing, all day, every day. In Florida, a CCW also covers other weapons, not only pistols. I can draw and swing it open in one motion with my right hand, while using my left for blocking or parrying if required.

Inside of 20 feet, (think Tueller drill), I don't consider myself poorly armed at all. I also own snubby revolvers, .380s, compact 9mms etc, but my Vaquero Grande is always in my right front pocket, NO MATTER WHAT. Unfolded, the knife is about 13" long and it's razor sharp and fully serrated. I don't care how hot it is, it's fully concealed in any shorts under any T-shirt.

If somebody already has the drop on me, it will also be a big problem drawing a pistol, right? And if a fight is brewing and the bad guy is just going for a weapon, I'm going for him, to cut him up in a very bad way.

A nice thing about carrying a big combat folding blade is that you can practice drawing and slashing with it while on walks (when nobody is watching.) I draw and cut shrubbery along my path, so I have a very good feel for the draw and cutting strokes. Inside of 20 feet, I don't feel at much of a disadvantage compared to carrying a minimal pocket pistol like a .380.

If I'm going anywhere outside of the neighborhood, I carry a 9mm IWB at 4 oclock. But seriously, I consider myself very well armed with just my big sharp folding knife for ordinary chores.

 

[ghostoftheprairie]

Glock 27 in a Crossbreed Supertuck, The gun disappears on my 4:30. The Glock finish resists oxidation. And I almost forget it's there!

 

[45Fever]

I carry my G23 in a Uncle Mikes IWB holster with shorts and a T-shirt and forget she's on.

 

[Paladin38-40]

Beat the heat

Kydex is good material for your purpose. The Fobus or the similar Serpa are not very concealable however.

You already have an excellent gun - the Ruger 101. Look at FIST's kydex offerings in several styles and available custom options. Most of their leather styles can also be made in kydex - just specify when ordering. http://www.fist-inc.com.

 

[JustinJ]

If you're doing an outside job like construction where you are constantly bending, leaning, squating, etc. it will be more difficult to conceal and to do so comfortably. If IWB is what you are leaning towards the smallest "real caliber" is going to be a single stack 9 mm like the ruger LC9 (one gun i carry), keltek PF9 (one gun i used to carry), rohrbaugh R9, Kahr, etc. Single stack is going to be significantly slimmer which will help. I've had good luck using a Desantis Tuck This with tucked shirts. Kahr makes a single stack subcompact .40 but i can't imagine they are comfortable to shoot with the recoil of a .40 in such a small firearm.

 

[InkEd]

If you can untuck your shirt an OWB holster will be better for comfort and reducing body contact on the weapon.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I carry a full-size M1911 in a tuckable of my own design. Among the things to look for in a tuckable is full leather backing -- so no part of the gun can touch your skin. (In the M1911, this also provides a place for the leather cam that holds the safety lock in positive engagement.) The backing should be thoroughly sweat-proofed with Sno-Seal or Mink Oil.

Get your T-shirts big and loose, and preferrably in colors. You can sometimes find them with a slightly heavier fabric than Ts designed to be worn as an undershirt.

Start fully dressed, shirt tucked in. Unbuckle your belt and insert holster and gun into your waistband. Then pull out your shirt from behind the holster, drape it over holster and gun, and tuck it between pants and holster. Be sure the shirt is pulled down all the way.

Tighten your belt, check your gig line (buckle, fly and shirt front) then "blouse" your shirt -- pull out two or three inches all around and let it hand down naturally.

The gun will simply disappear.

 

[sam1952]

When I work outside around the properity I carry a Seecamp .380 in a Jim Powell IPS (In Plain Sight). It really just looks like a cell phone or blackberry case. As it clips on the outside of my belt it never interfers with bending, kneeling and such. I've worn it in public and have never been questioned. No so good at posting pictures but here is his website if you have an intrest in taking a look.

http://www.leatherandstuff.net/

It is available for other guns and calibers.

 

[ripp]

Same as any other time, Keltec PF9, in front pants pocket holster. you can get yourself in trouble, carrying different guns in different places, as in reflexive panic draw to the wrong spot, not manipulating a safety, etc.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Get the SP. Check out the American Pride Leathers pancake. At 23 bucks on eBay, it's about half the price of the other guy's leather pancake. The package can be hidden easily under a shirt tail.

 

[sixgunner455]

S&W 642 in a pocket holster is what I do most days, year round. If I go hike in the mts, I add a bigger pistol. If I hunt, I add the rifle or shotgun.

But, doing yard work, hanging around with friends, travelling, etc, most of the time, it's the little guy, quietly hiding in a pocket.

 

[Remllez]

Glock for the tenifer finish and a good kydex holster for sweat resistance.

 

[jensb]

J frame in a good pocket holster.

 

[Monster Zero]

Yeah... I see your point about having a knife at quick access all the time. Problem is, I learned the value of training one day on the rassling mat at Daniel Webster Junior Prison - excuse me, Junior High School in the city I grew up in.

I could say more, but less is more... I've never had any training in the use of a knife, or defense against one except with a handgun and only then if a shotgun isn't handy.

 

[Monster Zero]

Actually I have "the other guy's" leather holster and belt for one of my other revolvers. I use the belt for my work belt, and when it gets wet with sweat the dye leaches out into my work clothes. I don't mind it with just the belt but a leather holster doing that all over me, my shorts and my pants and stuff... thanks for the idea but I see that problem coming.

That's one of the reason I'm leery of leather holsters for this application. Gotta be able to let literally gallons and gallons of sweat run off and not mess up my skin or my light-colored work clothes.

 

[Frozen North]

What are you doing? Climbing, squatting, and rolling around in the dirt? Will getting "made" get you fired? Is this a dirty job?

 

[Strykervet]

I use a G27 and a Milt Sparks VMII. Comfortable enough to wear all day, easy to conceal, and has enough firepower to do the job. I prefer a G29, but it doesn't hide as well as the G27. The Kahr and HK P7 look like good pistols, but I only have experience with the G27 as a carry rig.

The holster, along with a good, stiff, thick gun belt is crucial to a good rig. Without those, it will be sloppy, move around, uncomfortable, etc.

You can tuck the VMII, you just have to order the tuckable clips with it. You can get it in horsehide or cowhide. The sweat won't hurt it either (the latter is treated and high quality).

I wear underarmor polo shirts untucked, tucked underarmor t-shirts with a button down shirt untucked, t-shirt and fleece, all with either shorts, pants, jeans, etc. In short, I can wear this everywhere I go. In winter, I use the exact same rig, but with a G29, which is marginally more difficult to conceal (a light jacket or fleece makes it disappear though).

 

[forgetitohio]

I carry my Ruger LCR all the time. It's stainless and polymer so it doesn't rust.
I bought a nylon IWB but put it in my front pocket.
With the belt clip on my pocket it sits about half way down inside my pocket.
It stays secure and I can sit down, move around and it doesn't print.

The central problem of our age is how to act decisively in the absence of certainty. - Bertrand Russell

 

[MCgunner]

J frame in a good pocket holster.

Never a bad choice. I much prefer pocket carry in 100 degree high humidity weather we have down here. I also prefer a stainless gun if I can, but hell, I don't worry about bluing much. My Kel Tec looks like it's seen the elephant. It's been carried a LOT in a sweaty pocket. Whatever i carry is in a pocket. I don't wanna risk "flashing", not with Texas CCW laws as they are. Don't look like our open carry modification is going to go through this legislative session. I'd had my hopes up.

Lately, I've been totin' my Taurus stainless Ultralite M85 .38 in a pocket. One thing I do know, I won't rely on a knife. I'm old, I'm no Bruce Lee, not even a Jim Bowie, and I don't carry a knife to a gun fight. That can be fatal. I defeated a knife weilding mugger with a .25ACP without having to fire a shot, once.

 

[joeq]

I carry my S&W 442 in a Crossbreed Supertuck with the combat cut. I work outside every single day in Texas, I know what the heat is all about. I just wear jeans and a t-shirt, the little J frame pretty much disappears. I wear jeans and boots everyday, my pockets aren't big enough for a pocket holster. My 442 has never had any rust carrying it this way all summer.