Carry Position/holster

[Papaster]

I'd like to know how you carry your ccw. I primarily carry strong side with a pancake holster, and am quite happy with it. I know it's advised to always carry in the same position, and for logical reasons, but I'd just like to know what other positions/holsters people are using and why. What holster do you prefer, and how do you conceal with it? Also, how do you handle places into which you cannot carry, i.e. hospitals, churches, work, jails, etc. or whatever your state forbids?

 

[fletcher]

Just a minute and I'll dig up a link to a big thread on this sort of thing.

EDIT: Here you go - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=239555&highlight=makarov

 

[Papaster]

thanks for the link. good info there.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Strong side IWB -- usually with an untucked shirt as a cover garment.

 

[James T Thomas]

practicality

Coincidence Vern, I like my El Paso pancake strong side holster, but have been considering either a shoulder holster or a cross draw.

I have carried IWB, but of course, it was with a small pistol.

Occasionally I have carried in an off the body bag.

Jim

 

[Vern Humphrey]

A shoulder holster demands a special cover garment -- a T-shirt won't cut it. Which makes it mostly a cold-weather proposition.

 

[lance22]

Try different things

I bet the pancake holster will serve you well for a long time. Most people carry strong side at the 3:30 / 4:00 position - but after that there are million ways people find to carry. If how you carry doesn't totally work for you, be open to other carry methods and be willing to try a few things.

I carry IWB strong side 4:00 position with a BearClaw Holsters 'Hidden Asset' but I'd bet my little finger that what I do won't work for half the people here.

 

[hexidismal]

Whenever possible, strongside OWB in varied leather open top belt holsters. Position can shift a bit depending on clothing, but generally right around 3:00.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I'm right handed and typically carry IWB at about 4:00.

("Clock positions" for wearing a holster: 12:00 is directly on the front of your body aligned with the bellybutton, 6:00 is the center of your back, and so on.)

Alternatively (with a smaller gun): in the right front pants pocket, in a pocket holster.

 

[highfive]

OWB in a Galco holster about my 4:00. I like it a lot there but depending on clothes sometimes same gun IWB at the same place

 

[jbauch357]

G26 in a Kramer IWB at 4:00 - holster: http://www.kramerleather.com/productDetail.cfm?productID=6&categoryID=23

I was wary of the price for the Kramer at first, but after a couple days break-in it's obviously a superior product to the Galco I previously used - the G26/Kramer combo is more concealable and turns out to be more comfortable too...

 

[littlelefty]

9:00 (strong side for me), OWB, Don Hume 721 OT (pancake) with tucked in T-shirt and polo style or casual button down over it when toting the 1911. Left pocket (again, strong side) for the P11 in a Desantis Nemesis when the 1911 can't come along.
As for places where I cannot, I try to plan a little up front and hit those all at once, either at the beginning or end of the trip, all the while locking the gun in the car, then holstering for the remainder of the stops (keeps me from holstering and unholstering at every other stop). I'm not crazy about leaving a gun locked in the car, but even less crazy about leaving it at home. I drive an older, conservative, dad car (traditional 4-door sedan) too so hopefully that makes it less of a break-in and/or steal target.

 

[kahrcarry]

Usually either a Glock 23 or S&W1911PD somewhere between 7 and 8 o'clock (yup, I'm a lefty) in an AKJ Concealco IWB holster. I believe their site is www.concealco.com. The Concealco IWB holsters don't use the typical reinforced mouth so they are very thin. In the sumer, I can get away with an untucked button-down shirt.

For those places that forbid carry, I have a small "safe" that slides under my front seat. It attaches to the seat supports via a very strong looping cable, so it's not going anywhere. I leave the holster on in those cases. It's thin enough that it's not noticeable at all.

 

[JamesM]

I recently switched to IWB at 2:30.

 

[lance22]

IWB at 2:30 ??? How does that affect your ability to conceal ?? How do you do that? I presume you have a "straight up" holster with no cant ??

 

[beretta92d]

mainly IWB at around 3:00 in a bianchi holster.other times it's OWB in uncle mikes paddle holster w/adjustable cant(butt forward)

carry gun is a beretta 92D.(found out that if pants are a'lil loose and no belt,it will pull pants down more then comfortable)

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c34/beretta92d/newholster.jpg--OWB carry

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c34/beretta92d/berettainbianchiholster.jpg--IWB carry

 

[DawgFvr]

Read: "No Second Place Winner" by Bill Jordan. This is an older/classic work written by a guy who has really "been there" and "done that". His chapters on holster selection, carry position, drawing, etc., have probably saved quite a few lives. Tell you what, except for special purposes like driving a car...and that carry position/holster immediately terminates upon exiting the car, it sure stopped me from purchasing a cross draw holster! He convinced me that there is no such thing as a comfortable shoulder holster. I also found out that, aside from comfort, there is no drawing time advantage involved with straight up...or any kind of slant to the holster on the belt. Since LEOs' were the target audiance of the book...there was little mentioned on IWB holsters...but they seem to be a great way to conceal a weapon providing a good belt and holster are selected. Me...I'd stick to your OWB pancake holster...between 3 and 4 o'clock depending on your body build.

 

[Guitargod1985]

When I'm carrying my Taurus 605 .357 I carry appendix style, because it's the comfortable enough for me to carry it like that and the grip is small enough not to print. When I carry the HK I usually carry it just behing strong side hip so that I can conceal the grip a bit better.