How to carry concealed

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dolot

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Hey folks,

Lately I've been thinking about doing the concealed carry thing and I have some practical questions. I'm a geek who works in an office environment and travels some with work. At home I have a wife and three daughters, and we travel frequently to see family and friends.

How does one carry in an office environment? Is it comfortable to have a holster stuffed into your pants? Where do you place it - front, side or rear? Is it possible to carry someplace other than the belt and still have it accessible on short notice? What about a jacket pocket? How does one prevent 'print through'? What do you do when you're out and about and you discover you're carry technique isn't very 'concealed'? How do you carry when traveling? Am I asking too many questions? :)
 
The biggest problem carrying when traveling is legal, though CCW reciprocity has made it easier to some extent. For deeper-than-normal concealment when I can't be sure if I'll have a covering jacket on I like the KL Null Seventrees style shoulder rig. It fits underneath your shirt quite easily, and isn't going to be noticed unless someone pats you down. There are also some IWB deep concealment holsters that go under the shirt as well, not just under a covering jacket.

But the pocket remains by far the easiest form of deep concealment IMHO. I've really come to appreciate the Galco horsehide model for my Detective Special. It will print, but doesn't look like a firearm.
 
I've really come to appreciate the Galco horsehide model for my Detective Special. It will print, but doesn't look like a firearm.
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Cosmoline -

That sounds very cool. I just got the DeSantis Nemesis for my DS, and it definitely prints like a firearm. And doesn't always stay put when I practice drawing. How does your DS re-holster into the Galco horsehide? I got some sense with the Nemesis and my DS that the hammer spur would get caught up a bit. A little scary. :uhoh:
 
The DS prints more like a wallet in the Galco holster. It has a rounded shape and if it flashes when I draw the holster out it looks like something leather--provided my hand is covering the revolver grip, obviously. There's no clear firearm shape to it when it's in pocket

For drawing, I put my index finger on the side of the revolver with my nail against the side of the holster. To draw simply pull out while pushing down with the index finger and it will come out clean. Plus the finger will automatically be over the trigger guard as the revolver comes up. The galco has extra leather over the hammer area but I usually keep a thumb over the hammer during the draw to eliminate any chance of snagging. So far it has never snagged.

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Although I am now retired the issue of how to effectively carry concealed in the office was one that presented a persistent problem to me. Our office was fairly formal in terms of its approach to dress. For the guys a suit or sport coat and tie were an absolute must - every day.

I am 6'3" and weigh 260 lbs and tend to wear my suits and sport coat outfits in a relaxed fit manner as a matter of personal choice which, as a matter of fact, worked well with concealed carry.

About two years ago someone recommended that I try a SMARTCARRY and, for me, that ended up being just the right way to go. I now carry a Ruger SP101, a large knife, and two zip strips for back up ammo.
SMARTCARRYOPEN.jpg
Note that in the pic only one of the zip strips shows. The other along with my CHL is in the pocket that runs along he back of the SmartCarry. Quite frankly the extra large knife is functional overkill and I now use one that is smaller and much handier.

I can, and do, wear this rig with either pleated or unpleated trousers and have never run into any problem with printing. At the outset I admit that the SmartCarry may not be for everyone but it sure has worked for me.

I am now fully retired and can wear whatever I want and, for me, the choice is still SmartCarry.
 
:eek: I currently live in Alabama and usually travel to Georgia to visit family and friends. Our route also takes us through Tennessee and North Carolina. I'm going to have to travel on business stateside over the next year - the exact sites are still unknown.
 
AM I correct that the smart carry is a better choice for flat bellies rather than round bellies?
 
Does your employer allow staff to carry ?

What handgun were you thinking to carry ? I use to carry a S&W 4" barrel 686 ... I found a belly band worked for me in the summer, while in the winter a shoulder holster was what I found best, unless I was going to take the light jacket off.

Today I mostly carry a single stack 9mm, S&W 3913. I find the thinner body easier to keep concealed. In the winter, it even works well as a pocket carry (in California reaching inside one's jacket, behind one's back, under one's shirt, if construed as reaching for a gun and resulting in the fear induced in another, can be called brandishing .... whereas putting one's hands in one's pockets is mundane).

Good luck ... keep us informed on how it goes with you.
 
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As long as your carry permit is valid in all of the venues you plan on entering (check state laws) then any decent holster will do if you dress around it.

For office carry - that has been addressed many times here, but I generally agree with the above posters. Pocket carry in a front pocket (with a decent pocket holster) always worked for me when I was doing professional level non LEO work. I have a Thunderwear - similar to Smart Carry- and like it also. That way I never had to worry when the jackets came off. No one knew that I was carrying in my Brooks Brother's attire. By the way, my carry guns were a PPK or a Jframe Smith. Later I went to a KT P11. Now if I were in that environment, and I needed to buy another gun, I'd go with a Kahr MK9. ;)
 
there's another question, Hook, that I'm not too sure about. Not meaning to sound like a nelly, but I had thought about a Ruger SP101, just because of it's simplicity of operation. I can just see myself freaking out in a situation and forgetting to work the action of an auto, but I may surprise myself. :eek:

What are ya'll's thoughts on that?
 
I carry a 38 sbub nose 16 oz., it carry's great only got 5 shots.I think if I had a larger auto I would not carry it as much.
 
KL Null Seventrees style shoulder rig
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+1, think the current version by Ken Null is called the SMZ. I got one for my Bersa Thunder .380, it is an excellent holster - especially for "deep cover" purposes....;)

Something else worth considering in the deep cover department would be a Kramer Confidant undershirt holster.

I don't CCW a revolver (yet)...but thought I'd add my $0.02 where I can...

there's another question, Hook, that I'm not too sure about. Not meaning to sound like a nelly, but I had thought about a Ruger SP101, just because of it's simplicity of operation. I can just see myself freaking out in a situation and forgetting to work the action of an auto, but I may surprise myself.

What are ya'll's thoughts on that?
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"Practice Practice Practice!" ;) I can understand the feeling though. My main CCW guns are either a Glock 19 or a Kel-Tec P3AT. Semiautos, but 'revolver-like' in operation in that there is no manual safety. Just carry it chambered and if the need arises: pull the trigger, it goes 'boom.'

For when I carry the aforementioned Bersa, I sometimes find myself thinking "I hope I remember to take the safety off if the need arises!"

How does one carry in an office environment? Is it comfortable to have a holster stuffed into your pants? Where do you place it - front, side or rear? Is it possible to carry someplace other than the belt and still have it accessible on short notice? What about a jacket pocket? How does one prevent 'print through'? What do you do when you're out and about and you discover you're carry technique isn't very 'concealed'? How do you carry when traveling? Am I asking too many questions?
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All righty:

-Concealed, most likely. Sometimes 'better' concealment is needed than other times. Though the trade-off can come with a slower presentation. It's a lot quicker to get a snubbie out of your pocket than it is to get through or under your shirt to the undershirt holster or belly-band...!

-I carry my G19 in an inside-the-waistband kydex holster. I'm a pretty big guy, but I can carry it all day in comfort. Your mileage my vary, depending on the gun/holster/body/position variables...

-I would NOT carry in the very rear, small-of-back. For fear of really hurting your back if you fall down backwards! :what: I wear my Glock in either the 3 or 4 o'clock position.

-Absolutely - the pocket is the best for that. As for the jacket, it depends on whether the jacket will stay ON you. ;)

-I'm kinda paranoid about print through. Even with my tiny P-3AT and nice Desantis Nemesis pocket holster, I usually fold up some papers to put between the holster and outer side of the pocket to make more of a "wallet" illusion. Slacks are better than jeans to avoid printing, in my experience - due to the looser fit. Again, "YMMMV."

-Don't freak out, especially if no one ELSE is. SUBTLY fix the problem.

-When travelling - generally as I would about town. Though, sticking it in the glovebox/center console might lend itself to a faster draw depending on how you carry.

-No such THING as too many questions, that's how we learn! I think most anyone new to CCW has such concerns. :)
 
With a smartcarry maybe you could put it over the tucked portion of your shirt, and below the waistline to keep it hidden. I don't have one, would that work, smart carriers?
 
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