How do you conceal a pistol?

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DerringerUser

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How the heck do some of you guys conceal a pistol. If you dont have a purse, and if you arent using something really small, then how the hell do you conceal it?

I dont think most of you guys are down with the Gangster look, so im guessing you dont stuff it down your pants. It looks way to hard to conceal with a holster around your waist or leg. Maybe an ancle holster, but even thats pushing it. So where do you CCW holders conceal your guns?
 
IWB, or Inside the Waist Band, is probably the easiest & most comfortable way. I suspect it's the most popular, too, for a standard compact or full sized pistol. For smaller guns, you have more options.
 
How does IWB feel when you sit down? It seems like it would be a little uncomfortable. And what size gun would still be comfortable? I have a 4" XD-9, you think it might be too big?
 
Lots of ways. IWB, OWB, shoulder, ankle, SOB, pocket. Usually just have an untucked shirt to go over it. Yes, for a lot of the belt-mounted holsters you'll need pants a size or two bigger than normal. The gun + holster fills up the rest of the space, and your pants are hanging normally. Well, you need a sturdy belt to carry a gun, but once you've got it, no problem.
 
You just have to go with what you're comfortable with. It may also be necessary to alter your "style" of dress.

My "style" has always been jeans with a t-shirt and some sort of "cover shirt" worn over the t-shirt. Usually a flannel shirt (in cooler weather) or a short-sleeved, button-down the front shirt (worn un-bottoned) over the t-shirt. Combined with a good IWB holster you can conceal just about anything (within reason).

I regularly carry either a Sig 229 or a S&W 1911SC (commander-size) this way. I use a Milt Sparks VMII IWB holster for each one. My usual "cover shirt" in warm weather (southern Florida now) is a short sleeved Royal Robbins 5.11 shirt worn unbuttoned over a solid color t-shirt.
 
I carry a Ruger .45 (4 1/2")using the IWB method. Sometimes I keep it in the SOB, sometimes at 1 o'clock depending on the pants I'm wearing. I've only been made once, and thats because someone put their hand on my back as an excuse me gesture.
 
Its more so how do you ACT when carrying around a gun. If you fidget, or your strong arm doesn't swing while you walk, then most will know something is wrong :D

I'm skinny, 6'1 at 160 lbs, and I carry and conceal a full size Kimber 1911. If its hot out, a polo shirt with a Milt Sparks #1 Heritage IWB at 4 o'clock works well for me.

At night I carry with a Milt Sparks 60TK OWB holster (more comfortable) at the 4 o'clock position and can conceal it with a fleece sweater or light jacket with no problem.

You just have to find that sweet spot, and it can be quite comfortable. :)
 
I like OWB. I just think it's uncomfortable and messes with your wardrobe to use IWB. I can't carry all the time and pants that are a size or two too large look wrong... not to mention always give me the impression that I'm "skinny" when I'm not lol! Makes me think I can eat more! I just can't afford "gun clothes" and "work clothes".

I'm of the camp that modifies my style of dress. Summertime wardrobe will be t-shirts that are probably xxl or xxxl in conjunction with shorts or pants. Spring or fall are long sleeve shirts xxl or xxxl. Winter is a combination of those in conjunction with a good length jacket or hoodie. I'm big enough to probably carry more, but a compact in OWB seems to work for me.

Honestly, I don't carry thinking about whether I'll print or not. So many people have cellphones the size of bricks that will print the same as a gun more or less, nobody pays attention I'm pretty sure. If they grab me and then find out I have a gun, there ain't nothing I can do about that.

In my opinion, most people don't expect you to be packing and don't look for it... even cops. Just make sure the shirt you wear covers every part of your holster and your grip doesn't point out at a 90 degree angle or anything lol. Be mindful if you bend over and don't constantly shift your holster around while walking through the mall.

You'll get it after a while. Most people are, for lack of a better word... sheep. Just make an effort and nobody will know.
 
IWB is the easiest, but since i normally don't do that i wear blue jeans, a t-shirt which is plenty to conceal my kahr k40, but if i am carrying a little bigger gunn then over my t-shirt i wear a button u shirt but un button, and so far that has worked perfect for me carrying my xd and the glock that i have carried in the past. but if you are gonna wear owb holster, you need to get something that is close to your body, and not one of those that sticks way out and makes a shilloute against your outer garmets. one big thing to remember is not to touch all over it,don't draw attention to it, and no one will know you have it on. put is on and let it be!Hope this helps.
 
I usually carry a Hi Power or Commander size 1911 in an OWB (outside the waistband) holster at 4:00. I wear jeans and a t-shirt, with an unbottoned button up. It's a lot easier than it looks, just get a good holster and a good belt, and don't act like you're carrying a gun.
 
depends on...

several things.

Fall/Winter/Spring (all together, about three months down here), more cover garments, more options. Glock 23, 1911 Officer size or Kahr P45, IWB.

Summer, especially weekend/leisure time, shorts and t-shirt...Kahr PM9 or S&W j-frame, pocket carry with pocket holster or SmartCarry.

Summer jeans, khakis, etc, some more lattitude/overlap between the two above.

To a certain extent, your weather affects your clothing. To a great extent, your clothing dictates your carry options.
 
This is why i like derringers :D, none of this fuss about where to put it and how comfortable it is.

With a derringer, a waist holster, or an ankle holster can easily be concealed. Also, you can just put it in your pocket :).
 
I carry a variety of weapons depending on where I am going and what I feel like.

Sig-Sauer P239, IWB in a Galco seude holster with thumb break. Or else OWB in a Fobus Paddleback.

Springfield XD-9 4" Tactical, IWB in a DeSantis nylon holster, or OWB in a Springfield XDGear paddleback.

Glock 21 .45acp 1st gen, OWB, in a Glock belt holster.

I carry IWB's with a Tee shirt cover, strong side, 4 o'clock; OWB's, also strong side 4 o'clock, but tee shirt under, button up shirt or loose jacket cover.

Every now and then I Mexican carry something but that's usually just when I am out on my property.

The biggest part of "hiding" a CCW is choosing clothing that is not too baggy, not too tight, not too loose. I've lost some weight over the past year or so so now my pants are all one size too big- which is perfect for CCW. My problem when I first started CCW'ing was I liked to wear these triple XL baggy silk shirts thinking I needed to cover everything! Problem was they hung like a tent and tended to snag on the holster so they made it worse! Properly cut shirts make a medium pistol vanish assuming you are not "very heavy" then the bulges will cause funny things to happen; but the natural shape of the body lends itself to the clothing hanging just right so you don't even see the gun usually. The biggest thing to remember is that you have to NOT stand like there is something on your hip, don't keep feeling for it, don't keep self consciously tucking your shirt down, etc.

Sure you may print a little but most people today wouldn't notice an open carried weapon let alone a well concealed IWB. And if anyone sees the holster clip or belt loop they think it is a cell phone bracket.

The biggest problem I have is that I don't like having the rear sight dig into my abdomen when I sit in a vehicle with seat belt on
; by sliding the holster slightly or adjusting the rake I can make it so I do not even notice the gun while driving.
 
I used to think the same thing....how can you hide a big chunk of metal so that people don't freak out, but you can still get to it quick? Although I've had a concealed carry permit for quite a while, I've just recently been making a habit of carrying at all times. The keys I've found are that you need a good holster, and you need to be comfortable with the idea of having your pistol with you so you aren't messing with it all the time. A good holster will keep the gun secure and obscure the form so it doesn't look like a gun. It will also go a long way to making things comfortable.

I can carry my G19 in a comp tac ctac holster or my SP101 in a FIST kydex #1AK wearing only jeans (or shorts) and a T-shirt. It does help if your pants are a tad bigger in the waist than they need to be if you are going IWB.

Jer..
 
and since no one else has mentioned it yet - a good belt will make all the difference in carrying comfortably and sucessfully.
 
I agree with "zoom6zoom" a good belt is a must!

I have only been carrying for about 6 months...it is hard not to mess with it. I usually carry with an untucked shirt, but I am looking for a holster that I can wear with my shirt tucked in. any suggestions? I carry a Witness .45ACP. right now I have a OWB holster but am looking for a IWB.
 
My P-3AT fits easily in a front jeans pocket in a pocket holster. If I'm wearing shorts or dress pants then I use a SmartCarry and it disappears and is very comfortable. With a little practice draw from the SmartCarry is faster than from a pocket. With loose jeans, or pleated front khakis or dress pants, you can easily conceal anything short of a .500 S&W in a SmartCarry with your shirt tucked in.
 
I too have a full size Kimber 1911 in a Milt Sparks Versa Max II (IWB) and have no problems. Along with two spare mags, Surefire, and pepper spray.

I also have a Milt Sparks 60TK (OWB) holster but find the Versa Max much more comfortable and, obviously, much easier to conceal.

As already stated, a great belt designed for this use is paramount.

/tg
 
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