Best way to carry concealed for a shrimp?

[SWATcashJeremy]

Hey guys! I have had difficulty getting a good holster for concealed carry because I am 6' tall and 150lbs...kinda on the slim side...I've tried Uncle Mikes Belt Slide and it prints excessively. Carrying it in my pants pocket works better than that. I have a shoulder holster, but I then have to wear a jacket over it...which causes overheating. Does anyone have any suggestions that won't cause me to :banghead: over buying too many holsters?

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

What weapon are you carrying? Have you considered a good leather Inside the Waist Band holster from a reputable brand like Bianchi or Galco? I've got a Bianchi "The Professional" IWB holster for my Taurus Millennium Pro that works great.

 

[SWATcashJeremy]

sorry I meant to specify...I actually vary what I cary...
Glock 19
USP 40
Beretta 92FS
and S&W M&P 45

Before anyone comments on a skinny dude with medium to large guns...I didn't say I had small hands

 

[Autolycus]

Well I would suggest getting a gunbelt by The Beltman (do a google search), a c-tac holster by comptac (another search) and a spare magazine carrier. Then start carrying your Glock 19.

I think your problem is using a crappy holster and a crappy belt.

 

[SWATcashJeremy]

I thought Uncle Mike's was a good brand of holsters? They're not?

 

[Crunker1337]

Uncle Mikes is good, but I'm not sure if they really have much for tall skinny guys.

Why not try these?

You have to cut up your pants but I think it's a good idea.
Or you could just wear the belt itself under your pants and use a good OWB holster.

 

[kashton]

I am 5 ft 11 inches and 165 lbs so I am fairly skinny too. Here is how I conceal my Glock 27:

Milt Sparks VMII in black horsehide, with a Sharkskin 1.5" belt made by The Belt Man. If you do not own a gun belt please consider thebeltman. I could not be more satisfied with his quality. The belt made a HUGE difference in my carrying, there is noway I could carry my CCWs without it.

I also carry my G27 in a Mitch Rosen "Tito's Revenge" cross-draw IWB holster and a Mitch Rosen "Pocket Softy" pocket holster.






It conceals very well, you can try and find one from someone on the forums or from ebay.

I also use a S&W 642 CT in a pocket holster and an H&K P2000SK .40 V2 LEM in a Milt Sparks VMII / Tucker "The Answer" IWB:






Best of luck and be safe!

Kevin

 

[Lonestar49]

...

That depends on who you talk to.. IMO

I find them great, inexpensive, which is not because they're cheap, but simple designs made for either IWB or OWB, clip-ons, in most cases, and I'm a slim guy.

I like them for several reasons. Ease of putting on, anywhere one wants to carry, otherwise, versatility. Ease of drawing out, yet stay snug against one's body IWB. No break-in, very natural feeling, they don't make you sweat, nor does one's sweet get into a exposed muzzle, being closed - ended, if one is using one of their IWB holsters.

Very convenient to keep guns in, without ever getting any holster wear on ones guns, along with protecting them from scratches laying them down on tables, desk, etc., along with protecting them from other guns, holstered in any of the various sizes of IWB clip-ons, while storing them in a safe, from scratching each other or being scratched by a safe wall itself.

To each his own, as some of UM's holsters work well for some, and some don't.

I just know that none of mine have ever failed in any areas I spoke of, including actual CCW wear and use, and I'm slim, but they don't make any of my guns paint, and most of the time I have on either a T shirt, or a Hawaiian shirt, only, with Levis.

I do have a nice gun belt, which does help in holding the holstered gun tight, and in what ever semi cant position I use for the moment without either holster or gun moving around, as I do.


LS

 

[SWATcashJeremy]

Thank you very much all of you. I think I'm gonna go with the one two posts above me...provided...they make left hand versions...some manufacturers don't...kinda irritating

 

[bamabluesman]

not the cheap answer

I'm 6'3 and 170 lbs. and have the same problem. I've tried just about everything. I have large hands and know where you're coming from. But the biggest problem you have is those big FAT double stack guns. The only way I have found to carry in hot weather comfortably is go single stack. I chose a S&W 3913. It was the most comfortable for my large hands and conceals easily in any iwb holster. Try the holsters out but you may want to consider a single stack.

 

[jay43]

you try concealing useing a small of the back holster

 

[PX15]

FWIW:

I'm roughly 5'9" 155lbs.. I carry my Seecamp LWS32 in a rear wallet holster and you never even know it's there. (Nor does anyone else).

The LWS32 is just enough smaller than the competition (I've owned a Tomcat, I own a KT P32 and a NAA Guardian) for concealed carry purposes to make a difference.. I've cc all of the others, but the Seecamp is in a class by itself in quality, and concealability.

New LWS32's are running in the $425.00 range, about the same as the NAA Guardian, or Tomcat, but obviously more than the KT... But the LWS32 has a history of two decades of reliability (if you stick to Silvertips or Gold dots, whichever your particular LWS32 has a fondness for).

The pictured photo with the car keys gives you an idea of the size of the Seecamp, and when you put it in your back pocket you are good to go.

I've been legally carrying concealed since 1966, and I've tried many various pistols and revolvers over those years, but none cc as well as the Seecamp.

If the 32cal. isn't to your liking the Seecamp LWS380 is the same size as the LWS32, but it IS pricy, and I think for practical purposes the LWS32 is perfect for the job when the drama of recoil is such a small package is considered.

Even so I have an LWS380 on order.. I want to try it for myself, and if it's too much recoil in too small a package for me you seldom lose money selling a Seecamp..




JMOFO

J. Pomeroy

P.S.

On days I feel the need for a bit more firepower I chose my Walther P99c/AS in a FIST Kydex IWB...

 

[AK103K]

I'm 5-6, 165# and have carried full sized pistols daily most of my life. A good belt and IWB holster will allow you to carry pretty much anything you want. You just have to want to and be willing to dress around the gun. Its really not difficult, and just a light, untucked oxford type shirt, or something similar is all thats needed.

This is my old Commander in a Blade Tech IWB. I no longer carry a 1911, and a double stack SIG P229 now rides in its place, usually in another Blade Tech, or a Sparks VMII.

 

[Blarelli]

I've always been happy with my highnoon bare asset IWB holster. It's only $25, and has held up really well.

 

[SWATcashJeremy]

I actually found a perfect holster today...its a Desantis Cozy Partner (Left) made for the S&W: M&P 9/40, but it fits the 45 almost perfectly...the only "problem" is that due to barrel length the trigger guard is .25 inches from the "snug" fit on it. That being said..I wore it for 3 hours today and had one of my friends try to figure out where I was carrying and he couldn't....with just a t-shirt over it. So thanks for all the advice everyone but I got it figured out.

On another note: Does anybody else find it weird that people say firing 1handed will break your wrist? I've fired 9mm .40 and now .45 Auto one handed no problems. I've done the 9mm and .40 with my weak hand also...not comfortable enough with the .45 yet.

 

[kashton]

I've never heard that

 

[jahwarrior]

i have two that i use for my s&W sigma 9ve: a bianchi minimalist, and an uncle mike's IWB. i use the bianchi when i'm out an about, and the uncle mike's is for work. for a cheap holster, it works great. almost no printing, which is good, because i'm discouraged for carrying at work, where i wear mostly tshirts.

 

[SWATcashJeremy]

kashton, not only have I heard of wrists breaking...but I've seen it...it's funny if it wasnt so..oww...some people just dont know how to hold a gun. It scares me. the rangemaster at the range I go to won't fire a 92FS one handed

 

[DWARREN123]

For an inexpensive IWB leather holster go to
WWW.GUNNERSALLEY.COM
Good place to deal with and their Don Hume leather holsters work well for me.

 

[Geronimo45]

I suppose you could break your wrist, if you fired a hand-cannon with a really bad hold, or you had some kind of bone disorder or something.
I've heard that the purpose of the two-handed hold has little to do with recoil reduction and more to do with keeping the gun stable on target.

Anyway, to the original question: I'm a shrimp myself, and I prefer the Ken Null SMZ shoulder rig - it's a muzzle-up vertical holster. You can either cover it with a coat or wear it under a collared shirt (my preference).

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Oohhh, ohhhh, pick me!

I'm 5' 11 1/2" and just weighed in at 151 pounds in PTs and flip-flops. Almost exactly the same build as you. My carry gun is a Glock 23, twin to your Glock 19. So, physically we are in pretty much the same boat. I don't know what your personal preferences are, but here's my solution.

First, a good, snug belt will help. If your holster is flopping out you'll have a lot of trouble concealing your gun. I do prefer a belt that is continuously adjustable, rather than discrete. That is, something that you can adjust to whatever you want, not one that has holes in it. Good doesn't mean expensive. I carried my first couple of years w/ a Target braided leather belt, now I wear a canvas belt with a sliding bar buckle that I picked up at a store for six euros (about $8).

Holsterwise, I prefer a Fobus GL2. Since it's Kydex it doesn't flop around like some nylon holsters do. And the paddle, in addition to making it easy to take on and off, allows the belt to cinch the holster in tight against your hip. Also, Fobus is a cheap entry ($25) if it doesn't work out. They also have very affordable mag pouches. I have a single mag pouch that I'm very happy with.

Frankly, your body type should make it easier rather than harder to conceal. Since my waist is so small (30") it makes it narrower than my shoulders by default. Believe me, I'm not broad shouldered. But that, combined with the fact that most shirts tend to be a little baggy on me, gives me plenty of space to conceal a gun. In the summer I usually carry under nothing but a loose T-shirt.

 

[GigaBuist]

Take a look at the pictures and you'll notice all of the skinny guys carrying at 3:30 - 4:30 positions. As a skinny guy myself I find that 3:00 is uncomfortable and really prints, but back around 4:00 the gun tucks nicely under my ribs and stays comfortable.

 

[BoneDigger]

For a shrimp? Inside the shell carry works best.

Breaking wrists: I heard this when the .44 Magnum first became popular. I heard that it could break your wrist. Never heard of it actually happening...

Your suggestions so far have been good ones. I would think a good IWB holster and a loose shirt would be fine.

Todd

 

[SWATcashJeremy]

Bone digger...that took me 3 or four read thrus to figure that out

 

[WinchesterAA]

Cargo pocket carry on paper sounds good, but I have big issues with cargo pocket location as anything I carry in there that's the least bit solid makes running quite painful.

and that's just with a cell phone or some change. A pistol? prolly gunna throw the balance right out the door and make it more of a storage compartment for something else...

not what I want when I want a gun in my hand immediately.