Concealing an OWB with just a polo shirt?

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Monkeybear

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I have been thinking about getting an OWB for my CZ75BD. I hear that they are a lot more comfortable and I just want to try one out, however with Houston winters lasting a few weeks I would like to be able to conceal it with my normal clothes as well.

I know, I know; "we all have different body types/no one can tell you what is best for you but you" ....blah blah blah.....tell me about your expierences concealing a OWB without a jacket. How well has it worked for you?
 
I'm somewhat of a big guy but only average height. 5:9, 250 pounds. I usually wear 3x everything upperbody. And usually I wear my polo shirts out just because I do carry. A 3-4x polo shirt conceals a OWB for me just fine. I don't cut corners on a good belt. That makes a hell of a difference also.
 
Gov't model and polo shirts.

I carry a fullsize 1911, two reloads, fixed blade knife and flashlight. All conceal well under a polo shirt one size larger than normal. A good (not adequate, but good) belt and holster to hold it close to your body is essential to concealment and makes it much more comfortable.
 
I find that a pancake style holster works best for me in this role...keeps the gun closest to the body. With an Avenger style OWB holster it bulges out too much at the front.
 
Vonderek said:
I find that a pancake style holster works best for me in this role...keeps the gun closest to the body.
Click to expand...

Ditto.

I conceal my full size USP under a normal shirt (one size big) using a Don Hume 721OT pancake style holster.
 
I think if anyone carries OWB, it is extra beneficial to not live in a Jackboot Oppressive State that yanks your permit if you blow concealment, or presses charges against you for "terrorizing the public"...
 
Pancake rig does work best - that's what I used back when I carried a full size EAA Witness 40 concealed, in a Galco Hi-Jak rig. Down here in AZ, you won't be wearing more than one shirt at a time!
Don't have the gun anymore, but I still have the holster!
 
Monkeybear. I have a very high quality IWB (i know you asked about OWB) and I am able to conceal a Glock 17 in the summer, in Austin under a large t-shirt. I generally wear an "athletic shirt" under all my t-shirts anyways, so that keeps me from getting the gun too sweaty.

I have not had very good luck concealing OWB under just a t-shirt. In Texas. Now when I lived in NY, I would carry my Ruger BlackHawk OWB (obviously) and conceal it under a sweatshirt or a flannel. But when the highs in the summer might only be 80F and at night get down in the low 70s/high 60s on a regular basis...well that is pretty much what you are dealing with now. Also the Blackhawk was only being carried out Camping, Hiking, Hunting...concealing that beast is never much fun.
 
I can pull it off, because of my build. There's really no way to get around the "it depnds on your build" fact, by the way. Some folks just won't be able to do it, even standing ramrod straight, let alone the various positions we transition in and out of regularly.
 
THe problem I have is that no matter what, The Grip of the Gun is more of a Give away than the actual barrel showing below the shirt line.

I can never get my grip ticked around my waste to not stick out .
 
Pancake holster, larger, slightly baggy or extra long polo shirt (the kind that are designed to NOT be tucked in, usually have a little v shaped cut along the hemline on left and right) DARK IN COLOR (white and light colors are going to show a silhouette of a gun much easier.

BIGGEST thing is mindset. If you walk around like carrying a gun is the most normal thing in the world, most people won't suspect the bulge is a gun (especially in this day and age where middle class white guys walk around with cell phones and other crap on their belts like they're Batman).

Standing Wolf (who posts here a lot) often open carries a .44mag revolver and has commented several times about going about his day and nobody notices the giant shiny silver pistol with light colored Nill grips on it.

DON'T TOUCH IT. Constantly patting the gun, checking your shirt, etc is just going to draw attention to it. Again, most people won't notice.


Also if you've got a gut and love handles, OWB is just not going to conceal that well.

Overall, a good IWB is still a better choice for concealing a handgun. If you get pants a size larger and have a good sturdy belt and wear a t-shirt under the polo (so you can tuck it behind the holster) you're going to find a good IWB holster is every bit as comfortable as an OWB ... maybe moreso because it will clearly conceal better.



Oh ...an after thought. Hawaiian type shirts are generally considered on the same level of casual vs formal as a polo shirt, yet they conceal better and are more comfortable in the heat ... so consider them. You can get Hawaiian shirts without garish prints on them ... but the garish prints do help conceal the outline of the gun (if my wife didn't outright forbid it, I'd wear nothing but Hawaiian shirts whenever the temperature is above 30)
 
I quit wearing polo shirts because I am a big guy and finding my size is hard enough and finding one size bigger is usually not an option. I find a button up shirt conceals better for me.
 
Howdy Monkeybear,

I live in Austin and my prefered carry is also OWB. MUCH more comfortable than IWB in my very humble opinion.

I like to tuck in my t-shirts and/or polo shirts, so the method you describe would not work for me. Instead, I tuck in my t-shirt and wear a button-down shirt over it as my 'concealment' shirt. This works great and is NOT oppressive even in Austin summers.

There is no need to button the outer shirt at all so far as concealment goes unless it's a windy day. In that case I usually button just the bottom button.

Never been 'made' so far as I know.

Edited to add: unfortunately I DO have a 'love handles' as described in a previous post. It has no affect on my OWB concealment.

Hope this helps,
ChickenHawk
 
THe problem I have is that no matter what, The Grip of the Gun is more of a Give away than the actual barrel showing below the shirt line.
Click to expand...
This my biggest problem when I carry and the biggest reason I carry a Glock 26. It is one of the shortest guns (heightwise) available. I used to carry OWB with a DeSantis Mini Slide and it worked well, depending on the shirt and how tight it was. I could pull it off without looking sloppy, but looking sloppy made it easier.

I now use a Milt Sparks Versa Max 2 for most of my carrying. It is more comfortable than my OWB holster was, assuming I have roomy pants on.
 
I am in your same position and essentially your same height/ weight. I find that OWB puts my gun too low to be 100% concealed all the time. But I blame it on the Fobus holster I use. I was just at a Presidential debate party where 4/5 of us were carrying and it was in a private home so I did use the OWB with a polo shirt but that was only because it was not a big deal if a part of my holster showed. While at the same party one of the other guys there showed me his holster that he uses its a horsehide "gunshow special" that he didnt know who it was made by but it puts his gun up higher above the belt than my Fobus Evolution does.

In short yes OWB can be done with a polo or t-shirt as long as the holster rides high enough and you position it properly so the grip does not create a tangent line off your waist.
 
Just discussing this at work the other day with one the younger guys ... he has realized that a lot of the jeans and casual pants sold today are the stylish "low rise" fit -- designed so the belt will be worn lower on the hips, vice up higher around the natural waist. This style works against good concealment.

If you're one whose handgun grips protrude out too much and you can't seem to get your piece close enough to the body, check your pants style. You may have to graduate up to the grown-up pants (yeah, that retro high-waisted look). A pancake holster, no matter how good, doesn't work when worn too low.

I can conceal a full-size 1911 in a Kramer belt scabbard under just about any type of un-tucked shirt; the key, as noted, is a good belt/holster combo, but if you want to be on the cutting edge of urban fashion, wear baggy jeans sagging low on your a$$, it's gonna be tough to carry like the big boys.
 
I'm 6'1" and weigh 200lbs. I dislike most IWB holsters so I carry OWB (or IWB appendix carry). With an slightly outsized polo or t-shirt I can carry most compact guns without difficulty. With an outsized square tail button up shirt (Hawaiian style but with subdued print) I can carry just about anything.

The heavier the gun the more important a quality gun belt becomes.
 
just dont wear "st johns bay" polos from jc pennys.... they are cut weird and the back half of the shirt is about 4 inches longer than the front... after a few washings, this makes the shirt unable to cover the belt line reliably... look for polos that are cut evenly at the bottom... those are more likely to work
 
I also have a BD. OWB with this large pistol is great but trying to conceal it with just a shirt is gonna make it print badly. That grip isn't exactly short.

If you attempt to do this, be sure to get a holster with an extreme forward cant to hide the grip against your body better.

I see you live in TX, mainly the reason why I pointed out the printing issue. I'll be so glad when they allow open carry in TX.
 
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