Carry blues...

[Wanderling]

So, having been carrying on and off - but regularly - for almost a year now, I have one big problem.

I have found a comfortable IWB holster, and I have found a decent sturdy belt.

Walking around with my G26 is easy.

It's seating and driving that kills my back.

And I do a lot of both.

So, here's what I tried:

1) Just stick with it, gun at 4:30-5 IWB position, Galco Kingtuk IWB. Bad back pain for a week.

2) Just stick with it v2.0, gun at 3:00 IWB position, Galco IWB. Better but still very uncomfortable and the gun is obstructed by the seatbelt.

3) Just stick with it v3.0, gun at AIWB. Still pretty uncomfortable and I really don't want it pointing at my groin.

4) OWB at 3:00 with Glock sport holster. Actually comfortable, but prints in the summer, and seatbelt obstruction issues.

5) Taking the gun out & re-holstering it back in when I get out of the car - hassle and I really want to minimize re-holstering. I get in/out 8-10 times during the day, at least.

OK, so what else should I try ? Or is it just the way it is ?

Of course I could try a slimmer gun, but I don't see it making a whole lot of difference unless I go with some tiny shooter like Ruger LCP - but then I probably won't be able to hit the wide side of a barn with it. I'd rather stick with G26, I like it a lot.

 

[Lord Teapot]

put it in your front, strong side hand, pocket. it'll be comfy

i tried carrying iwb for 30 seconds, stabbed myself in the gut with the handle, and said lolno.

 

[orionengnr]

When driving, try AIWB (not too deep) around 10:30-11:00. Not pointing at your groin, unless you wear your nads in a very unusual position.

Easily accessible and not too uncomfortable (unless you have a huge belly).

Before you depart the vehicle, put it back in your 4:30-5:00 IWB.

FWIW, I could never get comfortable with a double-stack anything...but that is me. YMMV.

 

[Ironicaintit]

Im in and out of a car quite a few times during the day as well, and I refuse to put it in, take it out, repeat.
So with a galco IWB holster, I keep it at 3 o'clock and have no problems. My seatbelt slightly obstructs, but if I lean slightly to the left, I can get the pistol out, no problem.
In a car, 3 o'clock is the only way to go. But thats just me and my BHP or whatever else I may be slingin...i have no idea the quirks a glock may have.

 

[tarosean]

try a thinner gun...

 

[BSA1]

Or different holster(s).

For strong side a high ride OWB holster will clear the seat belt buckle and not poke you in the side and lower back.

Another choice will be crossdraw which will make drawing while seated easy and no side or back pain.

The 3rd choice is a shoulder holster.

All of these options will require you changing how you dress.

 

[Compound8.0]

G26 at 3:30 , IWB BY Old Faithful and never uncomfortable once you find that " sweet spot " . Same set up for G42 for under tee shirt and shorts for summer , for myself it was a matter of trial and error . Even tried IWB for my SP101 with Simply Rugged but works better OWB as it is convertible , and SR makes good quality holsters by the way !

 

[jeepnik]

OWB cross. Easily concealed by a "Hawaiian" shirt or similar cut.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Or different holster(s).

For strong side a high ride OWB holster will clear the seat belt buckle and not poke you in the side and lower back.

Another choice will be crossdraw which will make drawing while seated easy and no side or back pain.

The 3rd choice is a shoulder holster.

All of these options will require you changing how you dress.

I agree.

 

[guyfromohio]

Move it towards the front. 2:00-3:00 position. You have an inch of steel between you and your belt. You will feeL it. Carrying at 5:00 likely prints more than 1,2,or 3 as weLl.

 

[Bobson]

Most back pain is attributed to weak abdominal muscles. You don't need to address this post, but you should personally assess whether this may be a factor. It's not about making carry better/easier, but about improving the quality of your life in general.

Good luck to you.

*This post comes from my own experience carrying a G19 with the same holster at ~4 o'clock, FWIW. I've had back pain in the past, but I've made fitness a priority and haven't had back problems since. I know this isn't going to be relevant to everyone with back pain, and it's not intended to be insulting.

 

[Uglyducky]

Ouch.

 

[Uglyducky]

And, as was mentioned, a weak core will certainly lend to less back stress/pain.

 

[Evil-Twin]

I've been a conceal carry person for 50 + years, of my 70 years of life... I carry every waking hour... 7 days a week. I ve been a combat veteran 22 months in South East Asia, and continued until retirement, then carried and continue to carry as a civilian over the last 35 years.

Over the many years I have honed this skill... to the point where I can offer you some very tenured advice... the first thing is, you never carry on and off, if you are going to carry occasionally , you might as well never carry at all, because the day you don't carry is the 1 day in a million that you'll need it..
If the reason you don't carry everyday is because its uncomfortable.. then you are not carrying the right weapon or the right holster... like most long time carry civilians, we all have a drawer full of holsters to go with all the guns we have carried over the years..

The idea about having an EDC is the confidence that carrying gives you with respect to your personal safety.. no one wants to shoot anyone, but being able to have a chance to defend yourself instead of being an un armed helpless victim... is worth the carry..

Ive carried ever size gun, and every type of holster from ankle to arm pit... For the last six years, I've been carrying the same weapon, summer and winter and the same holster..
I carry a Kimber ultra 45 ACP in an Uncle Mikes #3 pocket holster.. I can sit with it and can drive with it.... but I don't because.. quick access is very important... I use to carry a back up in an ankle holster.. Its ideal from driving and sitting.. its quick and easy access because you are already bet over sitting in the car or in a chair.. but I haven't carried a back up or ankle holster in many years.. for me...I carry in the pocket, every waking hour.. and remove it to a mounted holster in the car... I leave it in the pocket when walking standing or sitting when not encumbered with a seat belt... I also never ever change my EDC... when you need to draw your weapon,, you don't have time to think which weapon you are carrying today. I practice with my EDC every week.. IM old and need to keep my edge.. when I was younger.. once a month was enough..
At my age I would never carry anything less than a 45 ACP.. IM too old to have a wounded guy get his hands on me, or have the ability to get a round or two off, after being hit by a lighter weight weapon... I need to disable a 280 lb drugged up bad guy in a hurry. so I wont be swinging a tack hammer when I can swing a sledge hammer... there are no guarantees but I like the effectiveness of a 45 ACP..

 

[gazpacho]

Galco SOB in the 4 o'clock position. I use one for a S&W 340 PD, Kahr K9 Elite, and Colt Commander 1991. It has a reasonable draw in a seated position, with or without seatbelt. While the SOB is meant for the Small Of the Back, I fine it far more comfortable in the 4 o'clock position. Because the SOB carries in a near horizontal position, with the butt forward and the gun upside down, it conceals very well with a moderate length, untucked shirt tail.

 

[Fatdaddy]

I hate to be the one to say it because I carry and love my g27/G23.
One of the new single stacks will go a long way towards IWB comfort.
The G series doublestacks are quite chunky.
Have you tried one of the N82 holsters?
They've got a soft suede padded sweat shield.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I don't carry a Glock, so I don't know what they're like. I carry a full size Colt 1991A1.

I used to carry IWB with a Galco N3 at about the 4 o'clock position. This was comfortable and fit nicely when I was driving, with the gun actually in that sweet spot between the seat and the belt at the buckle location. No interference.

I now carry IWB with a Milt Sparks Criterion. A bit more bulky than the Galco, but better stability and in the same location. I notice it more when driving, but it still fits the sweet spot OK.

Where you carry is, of course, important. You might try sitting in the car and sliding your IWB back and forth to see what fits best. It may simply be that the combination gun, holster, and vehicle just don't work, though.

 

[flphotog]

Don't really have any advice, but I carry a full size pistol IWB all day every day at 4:30 to 5 in a Panther Concealment holster and have never had any issues at all. Also my pistol run on the heavy side as almost all of them are all steal or in a couple cases an alloy frame, I've only got a couple plastic ones left, I've been dumping them over the last year or so.

 

[TwinReverb]

I have a Glock 19 and a 43. My advice is get a MIC holster and see if you can position that where it's both comfortable and concealable.

My body type works great with this holster at the 3 o'clock position. Especially with the 43. In fact i can put the 19 in for right handed draw and the 43 in the 2 o'clock position but reversed for left handed draw and it is still comfortable and doesn't print with an XL shirt.

 

[gordyt]

OP I am a programmer, so I have a job that keeps me seated at a desk for extended periods of time, and I also have about a 1-hour commute each way. For me, I have found that a Crossbreed SuperTuck SuperTuck Deluxe, positioned so that the firearm is at about 3:30, is extremely comfortable, both when driving and when seated at a desk.

I carried a Glock 19 that way for about 9 months with no issues. I have recently gone back to carrying a Commander-sized 1911 (personal preference) and have had no issues there as well.

I think that there is a "sweet spot" for everyone with regards to holster placement. If I position mine too far forward (say at 3:00) it doesn't work well and if it is too far back then it most definitely bothers me when I am seated.

I had used more traditional holsters for years, but found out about "hybrid" holsters (nice big flap of leather against your body with a Kydex shell for the firearm) maybe two or three years ago. That was from Mark Walters (of Armed American Radio fame). He convinced me to give the Crossbreed a try and I have never gone back.

You will want to experiment with both the cant adjustment as well as placement to find something that gives you maximum concealment as well as maximum comfort.

Good luck!

 

[64Chevy]

Same gun, same issues here. G26, drive a lot etc. I've tried Supertuck & N82 Professional, and both were comfy when standing/walking but added too much bulk to an already pudgy carry, especially when sitting. I've also gone AIWB with Raven Vanguard 2, Q-Series Stealth, & JM Custom Kydex AIWB, but I don't exactly have the washboard stomach needed to make those work. I settled on a Comp-Tac Infidel kydex with the belt clip. It's easy enough to slide back/forth when needed for sitting, doesn't add much bulk, and is much more comfortable than I expected a plastic holster to be. I also hear great things about the thin & ultra thin Fist brand kydex holsters. Good luck!

 

[340PD]

Personally, I feel carrying while driving and carrying in every other situation are two different things. Appendix carry or drivers door pocket is my choice while in a vehicle. In my opinion, if you find your carry gun to be always uncomfortable, you need a different holster or a different gun.

 

[Evil-Twin]

Kimber 45 ACP in the pocket, summer and winter.


IM the right body type for pocket carry, in a mikes # 3 pocket holster, I pulled the Kimber up slightly to show the grip.. but normally is sits deeper in the pocket with no exposure.


Deployment



In the car in a fixed holster, attached to the floor tunnel, and just a few inches from my finger tips. when I get in the car my Kimber comes out of my pocket and into the holster in the car, when I leave the car, the Kimber goes back in my pocket.

 

[Evil-Twin]

Summer carry in cargo shorts. Again I am the right body type for pocket carry. Can't do this with a 30 inch waist, and slim cut jeans or shorts. But this works for me, over the least six years of my fifty years of carry experience... nothing works better for me...

 

[Wanderling]

Well, thanks for all help !

So far, as an interim measure that works when I can wear baggy shorts, I've been carrying in a Remora holster in side pocket (not cargo pocket). Depending on the shorts, doesn't really stick out any more than a wallet.

Based on the feedback, I will try and play with different holster positions around 3:00. It's possible I just didn't find a sweet spot.

At the very last, I will get a few bigger / baggier shirts and carry OWB.
This doesn't work with more dressy attire for work.