Do you dress to conceal your handguns?

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Unless it's too hot or the occasion prohibits the proper dress, I choose clothing to conceal the preferred firearm.

If it's too hot for proper concealment clothing, or I have to wear a particular outfit for some reason, I'll go with a pocket gun.
 
In the summer I find that I go with a Kahr MK40 .40 cal in a front pocket holster by Don Hume. In the winter I more often go with the Para Ordnance 12.45 45ACP in a Milt Sparks VersaMax-2 IWB holster since I have a sweater and/or a coat for additional concealment. Sometimes I have both.
 
I carry a S&W 340pd in a Milt Sparks Summer Special 2 inside-the-waistband (IWB) holster and it is undetectable with just a plain T-shirt covering it. I also have a SIG 229r in a Milt Sparks Executive Companian IWB holster that will print thru my clothing if I don't take care to wear something proper.
 
I do not dress around my gun. My CCW is a .38 snubbie. It's not as powerful and it doesn't hold as many rounds as a lot of other guns, but
I can always have it with me (because it's very easy to carry in a pocket).
 
I guess both. I chose guns that would not be hard to carry concealed, so I have to make minimal adjustments for them.

When I am carrying my SIG P228 in a Texas Heritage tuckable IWB holster by Tucker Gunleather (most of the time) all I have to do is blouse my shirt a bit and even the belt clips are covered.

When I carry the SIG or my Ruger SP101 OWB, I am wearing a jacket or suit coat.
 
What pax says...

I carry a Star PD and dress accordingly...

Dressing accordingly varies considerably according to season and activity, among other factors...
 
I usually dress kinda sloppy cargo pants and jeans and such,I also wear alot of button down shirts over tshirts/polo shirts so my full size colt 1911 disappears nicely. I'am also very young looking so I can get away with this kind of look I'am 26 but most people would guess me for 17-19 years old tops which comes in handy as most people don't even think me old enough to legally have a license to carry :)

All this being said to answer your question nmshooter No I diddn't have to alter my wardrobe to conceal my hand gun of choice. It get pretty cold here in florida this time of yesr to well its 46 degrees here tonight not cold compared to my native new england this time of yest,but certainly cold by Flrodia standards. Thus I wear alot of lose sweaters that also work very well to. As for summer carry I'am goona get me a S&W 642 to tote around (I gave my keltec P3AT to my brother) cause it gets very hot here in the summer. But then again I can probably hide my trusty old slabsides under a polo shirt and jean shorts to ;)
 
Most of the time, I carry a Glock 35 and dress to conceal the gun. On occasion, because of the clothes I wear, I will select a gun for the clothes. That usually means pocket holster carry with a J-frame Smith or Walther PPK.

Regards to All
--Dan
 
It has been an evolutionary process!

Do you carry large handguns and change your mode of dress to accommodate them, or do you prefer small handguns so that you may dress as you please?

Before I retired I had to dress according the demands of my job which meant I wore suits or sportcoats and slacks with a tie every day. My carry guns then tended to be smaller and more easily concealed. Now I am retired and can dress any way I choose which, for the most part, means jeans, untucked shirts, vests, etc. So, I can also carry pretty much which ever gun suits my fancy.

There is no real, absolute, "either or" answer to the question you pose. To carry concealed in an effective manner whatever concessions (gun or clothing) that need to be made - must be made.
 
Umm, no. ;)

Sometimes I have to dress in particular clothing and this limits my choice of pistols and methods of carry.

Sometimes I can dress any way I want, so I pick the pistol I want to carry, the holster I want to use, and dress accordingly.

Just curious, and wondering if others did things the same way.
 
I'm a big believer in misdirection, so rather than trying to conceal the gun, I just leave my fly undone and have a ripped seam in the back of the pants. No one's ever mentioned the Sig P220 that's poorly concealed. Of course, I don't get invited to too many parties, but since I wouldn't anyway it's no big deal. :evil:
 
Ya know, it's a matter of common sense. Number one if your gonna carry then figure on carrying every day and absolutely don't carry without a permit! I did for years and looking back, that was one of the dumbest things I ever did. Number two decide what you situations will be. Let the potential threat level and expected situational wardrobe guide you. There are times I can get away with a .38 derringer: white shirt and tie (no not the best of options but most likely with where I am, I want need anything), if I can dress casual with untucked shirt the snub .357 IWB, if you are wearing a coat then you can certianly conceal something larger. There are times when going into an area when potential for danger is higher then carry bigger and dress to cover. Try to stay out of them places, it's better to be a live chicken than dead duck or a jail bird. No hard fast rule just think and plan ahead. Most of all it's what works for you. Remember you are carrying a weapon with the power of death, an awesome responsibility, one which must be considered with the attitude befitting it.
 
Living in Central Texas I have found that its some times better to dress for concealed carry and change your method and/or weapon of choice to carry to fit the weather. I have been an LEO for a long time and I have been more prone to dress around my gun because I have been restricted to what I can carry by my department. My wife thinks I am paranoid because I am always asking if she can see the outline of my gun. I have carried a full size 1911 for a number of years and have recently carried my Officer's model more often on and off-duty. I also like to carry my Smith & Wesson 340PD when in shorts or running to the gas station or other short trips from the house. Even though I am a cop and can carry more places than others (everywhere except the secured area of the airport) I still feel embarrased to explain to some unsuspecting citizen why they can see my pistol.
 
Tam - I hear you! I do tho wear jeans almost exclusively and my fix is - on my belt slide rig - is to put belt thru rear slot of rig ... then thru that darned 90º belt loop - and then go thru the forward rig belt slot.

P95, I do the exact same thing with my Ruger P345's pancake hostler. Only I'm about 4 o'clock with mine when all is said and done. I like being able to make that subtle one or two inch "slide" when getting in or out of a vehicle. That tiny bit of adjustment makes a world of difference in comfort.

To answer the original question, I dress pretty much the same way as always. I've given up on IWB and now carry my Ruger and -- occasionally -- Bersa Thunder at 4:00 in a pancake. Usually covered either by a winter jacket or a large, button up outer shirt. I've not been made yet and I carry all the time.
 
Dress to conceal - although I did just recently pick up a p3-at for jogging and the upcoming summer when the 27 will be a little thick to hide on my small (but widening...) waistline.

-Colin
 
I will not wear IWB due to my size and discomfort from IWB Carry. In my office I wear dress clothes and OWB is out of the question so my office carry is my Kel-Tec P11 9mm in my right front pocket in an Uncle Mikes Pocket Holster. I carry this gun in every pair of pants, shorts, jeans or anything like that at all times. It is also my BUG (Back Up Gun) for all my .45acp primary carry weapons. I carry them OWB. I sometime cover them with a large t-shirt or sweatshirt. My sons really like that I now wear an unbuttoned/untucked floral or heavy print shirt shirt over a t-shirt. What they don't realize is it's covering my weapon. They just think that dad is now dressing to the current style and they think its cool.

My OWB holsters are always the "High Ride" styles that kick the gun up as high above the belt as possible. To my knowledge, I have never been "made" while carrying concealed. Being 6'-6" and 295lbs, most folks dont look for me to carry a firearm. I have had friends ask why I do being the size that I am...

So I guess the correct response is that I dress to conceal my handguns.
 
I dress to conceal. Lots of t-shirts and collared shirts that I don't tuck in. I usually carry IWB or OWB depending on what primary pistol I want to carry that day. I always have my Keltec P32 in the front left pocket. If it gets cold enough for a coat then I'll wear my shoulder holster.
 
Originally posted by SpookyPistolero
Yes, I dress to conceal. My sense of self-preservation generally outweighs my sense of fashion.
no, i pocket carry. my desire to get laid greatly outweighs any fears of not being able to defend myself.
 
Winter/Fall carry - XD 9mm with Hydra-shoks in a Fobus paddle holster carried at about 4 o'clock (position, not the time :p )

Summer/Spring carry - Intratec CAT-9 with Glasers in a nylon IWB holster carried at 6 o'clock (SOB).

When shopping for clothes, I always keep CCW in mind. As luck would have it, I recieved about 5 shirts for Christmas from various friends/family that conceal well.
 
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