"Business Casual" Carry . . . How?

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Like Henry, I use the Texas Heritage, and it conceals my SIG P228 under a tucked dress shirt.

My morning regimen is much simpler than the convoluted one jdege suggests. Get fully dressed except for buckling belt. Slip holster in between shirt and pants. Insert SIG. Pull dress shirt out just enough to cover SIG and tuck in over the grip. Blouse shirt a bit to look natural. Takes about 2 minutes.
 
i used to carry a walther ppk/s in my right pocket sans holster... never had a problem... though i made sure that i checked it for obstructions every night, would hate to have pocket lint make a KB
 
I usually wear my Hi-Power in a IWB on the right and a knife on my left I wear a mag pounch with two magazines and a flashlight. I leather vest or a jacket easily conceals all of this with no problem.
 
Shoulder rig under the oxford for me, if there's a chance I'll ditch the coat. Vertical rig. Also pocket carry.
One option for under-the-oxford is to leave a few buttons unsnapped and cover with a tie. Another is to sew the buttons in place, and use velcro to keep the shirt shut. Looks just like it's buttoned on that way. For an upside-down vertical rig like mine, just pull out the shirttail for the draw.
 
For summer, I carry a Glock 26 in a De Santis pocket holster, or a Taurus 905 in an Uncle Mikes pocket holster. On casual days, I carry a Glock 19 in the Glock Sportsman holster with either a Hawaiian shirt, or a Columbia PFG shirt untucked over it.

I have tried IWBs, but they just don't work for me. I am a pretty "girthy" guy, so they feel like I have a brick in my pants. I'm built such that another size up on my pants makes them look like a troop of Gypsies moved out of the butt.

Printing is not a huge concern for me. The code in Texas is pretty lax on this issue.
 
I still can't get ANY IWB to work for me tuckable. There's just no way you can stick a gun in your pants and NOT have a bulge from some angle. Loose shirt, fine, but tucked I go for pocket. Check DeSantis Nemesis or Super Fly, Andrews Leather pocket, or K&D makes on too. There's also Uncle Mikes and Grandpa Oak.
 
'Business Casual' Carry

I speak a lot at workshops and seminars around the country, sometimes in front of audiences of 700+. I usually concealed carry my Kimber 1911 or S&W99 under my suit or sport coat (button in the front) in Galco Yacqui holster.

However, at home at the office or when an event or workshop is 'business casual' I either go with a smaller pocket holster for my Colt Mustang .380 or I keep the SW99 in a Galco 'Sky Ops' holster. The Sky Ops holster by Galco is perfect for Sky Marshal operations but works well for the rest of us too when we want to carry something with a little more 'punch' to it but need to do so in a low-profile way. In my opinion the Belly Band is 'okay but not great'. I find the Sky Ops by Galco to be very effective and it allows me to carry something more formidable than the typical pocket rocket.
 
I have a tuckable IWB the Versa Max 2 from Milt Sparks with my 1911 or my XD-45 5", works WONDERFULLY! Just get a stiff belt, I would suggest one for them. I wear business casual all the time. I have also used this wearing suits and even a tuxedo.

You can also get around not tucking these by using some sort of shirt the Haggar short sleeved flat bottom tailored, button up.

Used for work or play I find them to be comfortable, cool, and non-snagging on my ccw.

Just a thought, but yes you should seriously consider Milt Sparks, I would have not spent over $800 with them so far if I didn't love everything they've made.
 
I agree with Correia - The Belly band is IMHO the best method of deep concealment. Carry a medium frame or smalle frame auto or small revolver at 4:00 over a t-shirt but under a dress or casual shirt tucked in. Not only comfortable, but almost invisible. 1911's and Kahrs are particularly suited to this because of their thinness.
 
Relevant because we all have to learn sometime...
I'm a surgeon and have a couple of different "business casual" dress. I carry 24/7.

For the prototypical I usually will wear a light sports jacket as detailed above. However, my wife is kind enough to sew liners over where the gun rides (BHP or 1911) and where I wear my mag pouches as these areas tend to wear excessively and fray when you carry every day. I can't stress enough how well this has preserved my clothing over the last decade or so. Even the liners will get ripped up and periodically have to be changed but much better than a a hammer or safety eroding through your nice jacket and displaying you now nonconcealed piece.
I use basically only Milt Sparks holsters and belt though Alessi stuff is nice. I usually use a SS-2 or VM.

When I wear scrubs it is far tougher and usually have either a bag with the gun on my shoulder or occassionally a pager pal. I have also found that "mexican" carry with the strings tightened well down and then covered by my long lab coat works well and is essentially nonprinting. For very hot summer wear I generally will layer a light weight shirt or lightweight vest over a nice t-shirt or polo. I rarely if ever carry a pocket type gun or compact anything. In fact, (my wife is looking over my shoulder and reminding me) the vest has acually become a known "trademark" garment for me and I doubt anyone ever gives it a second thought. That might be a neat route to develop for your own business needs.

Regards,

Bob
 
I carry a Sig P226 9mm (Blackwater Edition) in the South Florida summer heat and I use a Crossbreed super tuck deluxe. It is extremely comfortable, the weapon vanishes under a mere oxford shirt tucked in and the draw is still fast and smooth. Best the cost was only $65 and they'll let you try it risk free for 2 weeks or your money back. No strings. At first it is a MISSION to get it on and situated so as to be comfortable. But once you're set you can go anywhere and be armed with a serious firearm suitable for literally any situation and it's so comfortable you forget its there.
 
I've had lots of luck with a size small smartcarry and a Kahr PM40. It vanishes under a pair of dress slacks. Just be sure the rise isn't too low and it's all good.
 
I was faced with this problem when living in Miami. I worked for a large pharmaceutical company, and the dress code was 'business casual'. This was a company that did NOT like guns.
I found that either an ankle holster, or a pocket holster solved the problem. The office building was in a 'bad' part of town, and I walked outside daily at lunch. I was always comfortable with what I was carrying, and my abliity to get to it.
No one in all those years at the office, ever had a clue.
 
Attorney here...

and business casual is typical (although I push the "casual" part of it). I carry my G21 SF in my MTAC. I find that dark and/or patterned polos work great. This is a tuckable option too. However, I'm rather large in stature (6'6" and 265) so I have some real estate to hide things.:D
 
Then there's the heat

In Southeast Texas we have 6 to 8 months of Summer. I rarely ever wear a cover garment... it is just not necessary. So I go through this endevor all the time... always looking for just the right combination.

I got another gun to try this year, a Kel_Tec P11. Without going into the gun, it is a full 10 shot 9mm +P approved little gun that I can actually hit what I am aiming at. I got it because it is small and I very often don't slip on my carry gun BECAUSE of the way I am dressed.

I got 2 pocket holsters for this gun. One a comparatively expensive leather unit that fits my Docker's just fine, though there is obviously a wallet or something in my pocket. The other is a much smaller, cheaper unit that is perfectly hidden. During my search for the perfect carry method for this sweat resistant gun (hey... it must be a consideration... it is hot here most of the year and I do perspire) I found Grandfather Oak's IWB Tuckable. Only the little loop shows. I carry mine SOB and prefer palm out.

I know, I know... that is not the preferred method, but I like it! I like it so much that I got one just like it for my Kimber Pro CDP Commander sized, 'melted' peice which is my favorite. Either one slips in back there in the small opening of my back, doesn't constantly press against my side from being cinched up tight to stay in place. For me, it works great.
 
If you wear tucked in button downs, consider the 5.11 Holster Undershirt. I've got one and it has 2 holster/pockets, on each side by your chest to underneath your armpit. It basically works exactly like a shoulder holster, just you wear it underneath a shirt, and it's completely invisible. Just undo the second or third button from the top of your button down, and reach in and grab the weapon. I wear mine with tucked in button downs all the time.
 
Hmmmmmm... not sure how that would work in the heat. 2 undershirts - one being polyester over cotton and another shirt. Doesn't sound very comfortable to me.

And at $39 a pop I am not likely to want to buy 6 to wear a clean one every day.
 
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