Travis McGee
Member
Shadow7D: If your IWB holster collapses and won't reholster, you need a new IWB holster. My Galco leather IWB is perfect.
Dressing for Concealment
- Thread starter CTGunner
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Shadow 7D
Member
Dave, I thought that the bianchi 100 was one of the better IWB holsters
bigfatdave
Member
The clip is right on top of the gun
There is no reinforcement
The holster is not custom-molded to a particular firearm
I could go on, but while the Bianchi might be made of pretty leather and look nice while on a table, no obviously it is not the best option if you ever want to re-holster. Do your pants get loose the moment you draw, too?
Do you hard-bitten Alaskans not have Kydex up in the great white north? Does it get brittle in sub-zero conditions? (in your pants?)
What a good IWB holster might look like:
Now, this one is one of mine, and it isn't this pretty anymore, it does, however remain a great holster after over a year's hard use.
Notice:
- the offset clips to minimize thickness in your pants and spread the weight
- the extremely thin but rigid Kydex shell, I've heated mine and tweaked it for just the right retention by molding it into the ejection port and trigger-guard a bit extra
- the thick leather backing to keep you from getting poked (horsehide is available, I cheaped it and went with cowhide)
See how the Kydex stays open without a gun?
This means my pants don't fall down when I draw, and I can shove the gun back in if needed. I re-holster by carefully placing the front of the slide on the body-shield and sliding in the gun with my fingers back/rearwards compared to a normal grip (I have guns with grip safeties, the habit is ingrained by practice whether the gun I'm using has one or not) the trigger is not in danger of activation, and the gun goes in easily (resistance is obvious and signals misalignment) with a nice >pop< when it goes into the two retention points mentioned above.
Here's that same holster about a month ago, notice that the leather backer has taken on a shape over time, that shape is my hip, this holster gets more comfortable as it gets uglier
The Kydex has outlasted one of the clips, the gun has taken a number of dings and scratches in the course of my life .. but the Kydex looks damn near as good as new
The bent clip was my fault, and the dings are too ... the point is, the Kydex is not the weak point here, this isn't Fobus's junk injection-molded plastic.
There is no reinforcement
The holster is not custom-molded to a particular firearm
I could go on, but while the Bianchi might be made of pretty leather and look nice while on a table, no obviously it is not the best option if you ever want to re-holster. Do your pants get loose the moment you draw, too?
Do you hard-bitten Alaskans not have Kydex up in the great white north? Does it get brittle in sub-zero conditions? (in your pants?)
What a good IWB holster might look like:
Now, this one is one of mine, and it isn't this pretty anymore, it does, however remain a great holster after over a year's hard use.
Notice:
- the offset clips to minimize thickness in your pants and spread the weight
- the extremely thin but rigid Kydex shell, I've heated mine and tweaked it for just the right retention by molding it into the ejection port and trigger-guard a bit extra
- the thick leather backing to keep you from getting poked (horsehide is available, I cheaped it and went with cowhide)
See how the Kydex stays open without a gun?
This means my pants don't fall down when I draw, and I can shove the gun back in if needed. I re-holster by carefully placing the front of the slide on the body-shield and sliding in the gun with my fingers back/rearwards compared to a normal grip (I have guns with grip safeties, the habit is ingrained by practice whether the gun I'm using has one or not) the trigger is not in danger of activation, and the gun goes in easily (resistance is obvious and signals misalignment) with a nice >pop< when it goes into the two retention points mentioned above.
Here's that same holster about a month ago, notice that the leather backer has taken on a shape over time, that shape is my hip, this holster gets more comfortable as it gets uglier
The Kydex has outlasted one of the clips, the gun has taken a number of dings and scratches in the course of my life .. but the Kydex looks damn near as good as new
The bent clip was my fault, and the dings are too ... the point is, the Kydex is not the weak point here, this isn't Fobus's junk injection-molded plastic.
Shadow 7D
Member
Na dave, but you might be amazed with what the cold but of a gun feels like when it drops and goes down the crack of your, well, not pleasant
I don't think kydex would last on some days, and I wouldn't carry that way that cold, lets just say the draw would take a while and the gun probably wouldn't work anyways (hot and moist to super cold, big no no). I don't like the bianchi because it's not really comfortable, and that thing looks like a monstrosity to strap into your pants.
I don't think kydex would last on some days, and I wouldn't carry that way that cold, lets just say the draw would take a while and the gun probably wouldn't work anyways (hot and moist to super cold, big no no). I don't like the bianchi because it's not really comfortable, and that thing looks like a monstrosity to strap into your pants.
bigfatdave
Member
With the hybrid IWB design, you don't come in contact with the gun, generally.
Not really.
It is a bit cumbersome to store, but it dies the job of keeping a handgun in just the right spot, at just the right angle, invisible to anyone, comfortable to me, and easy to re-insert.
Strapping it in is only slightly more difficult than a single-clip "clip-in pocket" holster, remember that it is fairly rigid so you just pop on one clip and then pop on the other. It is easier if you remove the gun, but I generally don't bother.
I was joking about cold-temp Kydex, the Kydex is warmed by being in your pants, although IWB draw from under bulky winter gear will be tricky regardless of holster selection.
Don't knock IWB carry because of one inadequate holster, get something more advanced, Tucker, KHolster and CrossBreed all ship and have lots of molds available, the one I pictured is a CrossBreed, and I've bought another for a compact 1911 I pack other days since that one ... Kydex is the best way to make a rigid holster without adding steel rings to the mouth or adding bulk.
bigfatdave
Member
Well, works equally for all seasons, at least.
I can't imagine ever using such a device unless I had to go without a belt professionally, wearing scrubs or something similar.
Gouranga
Member
I'd definitely recommend the crossbreed supertuck for the IWB holster. It was the 3rd IWB I tried for my M&P 40 FS. Once I broke it in fully, I barely know it is there. It really spreads the impact of wearing a larger firearm out and it does not collapse. You can draw/re holster without much difficulty. The sad part it was the least I spent out of the IWBs I bought.
The traditional Guayabera is the four pocket casual outside of the pants shirt. Great for summer carry if a little looser fit is selected. Most of them are cut straight and unless you're small in the waist don't conceal the print/bulge of a firearm very well.
Flynt
Member
I haven't been carrying very long, so I may be missing something. So far, I place a low priority on having to reholster and don't understand why that would be much of an issue. I assume that I'm only going to draw my gun very rarely, if ever. If I have to, reholstering will be the least of my concerns.
Rail Driver
Member
I have a similar problem... I'm from Detroit, but live in Florida, and here it's in the 90's every day. Dressing to conceal a Sigma .40 is difficult in this heat, to say the least. It's made more difficult by the fact that I'm a slim person. In a 3 o'clock position the grip prints in the back, and if I move the gun forwards to a 2 o'clock position the back of the slide prints in the front. Only real solution I have managed to find would be an IWB in the 1 o'clock position.
speaksoftly
Member
For casual it's the PF-9 in an IWB holster at 6:00 and for dress it's a deepconceal.com soft shoulder holster with the PF-9 or the Sig P229R.
Shadow 7D
Member
I've been thinking about a shoulder holster for my weak side, a plus is that it would clear my seat belt driving.
pockets
Member
"Too casual" for what?
I dress the same in the summer as I do in the winter; jeans and a short sleeve shirt.
I just leave my heavy coat at home in the summer.
I carry the same all the time, 1oc itw(except hiking or in the woods, that's a whole other setup). Currently its a PT709 Slim in a Highnoon Mr.Softy. I'm 6' 225lbs, athletic build and the gun disappears into just about anything, 90% of the time I'm in jeans and a tee this works the same in belted shorts with dress shirts or whatever and as long as they have a draw sting in the waist band the setup is fine with gym shorts & sweat/wind pants too.
Blackbeard
Member
I'm seeing a lot of untucked going on here. Forgetting the fact that I live in Illinois and can't carry anyway, what would you do for those of us who work in an office where untucked simply isn't an option?
bigfatdave
Member
Blackbeard, there are plenty of tuckable IWB holsters on the market.
RE
I have a Crossbreed IWBH, but my preferred method of choice is my Maxpedition Jumbo EveryDayCarry.
It's comfortable and has a specific pocket for CCW.
I actually get a lot of compliments on the bag..
Edit: I'm 148lbs so IWB carry is difficult. I'm also 27 so the bag looks like a messenger bag etc.
I have a Crossbreed IWBH, but my preferred method of choice is my Maxpedition Jumbo EveryDayCarry.
It's comfortable and has a specific pocket for CCW.
I actually get a lot of compliments on the bag..
Edit: I'm 148lbs so IWB carry is difficult. I'm also 27 so the bag looks like a messenger bag etc.
NMGonzo
Member
Pretty much a combination of the posted above.
Second set of cargo pants has a holster sewn in the strongside cargo pocket for the Bersa.
It's hot here so short sleeve shirt plus loose open shirts here are not uncommon and i take advantage of that.
Winter: Sweaters cover well my full size 1911 and a p-coat is the next level of heavy layering, so the full size 1911 goes in the p-coat pocket.
Fall and spring: I have a coat that I wear most of the time with a heavy shirt and undershirt that conceals my shoulder holster very well (Bianchi x15)
Second set of cargo pants has a holster sewn in the strongside cargo pocket for the Bersa.
It's hot here so short sleeve shirt plus loose open shirts here are not uncommon and i take advantage of that.
Winter: Sweaters cover well my full size 1911 and a p-coat is the next level of heavy layering, so the full size 1911 goes in the p-coat pocket.
Fall and spring: I have a coat that I wear most of the time with a heavy shirt and undershirt that conceals my shoulder holster very well (Bianchi x15)
Concerning wearing a tucked buttoned shirt with no jacket.
If you are triangular shaped with a flat gut, you can wear under your shirt a military style web belt at or above belly button height with a no frill thin cloth or thin leather holster just off center on your weak hand side. The barrel part of the pistol/holster actually can overlap above and over your regular pants and belt along with your tucked shirt. You puff the shirt up around the waist. You button your shirt with several buttons above your waist with the buttons not quite though the button holes.
This set up is highly concealed, comfortable, and allows for a very quick draw.
It only works if you're muscular with a flat tummy and a broad chest. I carried this way when I worked in a retail store. I then got too tubby for this method. But I am almost back down in weight where I can go back to this method.
Simply put, if you have the body shape for it, it is the best.
If you are triangular shaped with a flat gut, you can wear under your shirt a military style web belt at or above belly button height with a no frill thin cloth or thin leather holster just off center on your weak hand side. The barrel part of the pistol/holster actually can overlap above and over your regular pants and belt along with your tucked shirt. You puff the shirt up around the waist. You button your shirt with several buttons above your waist with the buttons not quite though the button holes.
This set up is highly concealed, comfortable, and allows for a very quick draw.
It only works if you're muscular with a flat tummy and a broad chest. I carried this way when I worked in a retail store. I then got too tubby for this method. But I am almost back down in weight where I can go back to this method.
Simply put, if you have the body shape for it, it is the best.
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