Is carrying a pistol "high" in AiWB ok?

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Doc7

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I have a Glock 19 and a Crossbreed Supertuck. I know it is not an AIWB holster. However, I have only been carrying a short while and I only want to carry AIWB on Sunday at church where I am not yet comfortable with a bulge at 330 when the same people will get a good long look at me every week, and all of the sitting and standing that could cause a shirt to ride up. I feel that I want to be even more discrete than usual at church vs the grocery store etc.

Last week I just shifted the holster around to appendix carry but it simultaneously dug the barrel into my thigh and the grip into beneath my ribcage.

If I put it in the highest position, it barely contacts my thigh and is positioned such that it no longer digs into my ribcage.

Please see attached photo. Is this a safe way to carry? Is the pistol any less secure than it would be lower down?

Thank you!
 
The photo is a mirror shot - the pistol grip is on my strong (right) side and the forward clip of the holster is actually slipped behind my buckle.
 
I know a lot of guys like to wear their IWB holsters very low. I don't see the advantage to that. I want to be able to get a "full firing grip" on the gun while it is in the holster and prefer the gun to ride higher like you have it.

I agree with Hometeached1, you'd probably like a dedicated AIWB holster better, but if that is one is comfortable you should be fine.
 
It really depends on comfort. I have a Crossbreed style holster for IWB at 3:30-4 position. And it would never be comfortable on me carrying a large holster AIWB, even at a higher position.
 
Ok thanks guys. I just wanted to make sure nobody was telling me I was asking for an ND or a gun to fall out of the holster carrying like this.

I just realized it is way harder to tie shoes etc with appendix carry!
 
I carry appendix and find that if takes a certain build of body to maximize this type of carry. A leaner midsection and a shorter gun are optimal for me. Lost 30 pounds when I realized that appendix carry was the way for me and can now hide anything there.

Larger carry guns work better riding a little higher in some clothing...I personally prefer to carry in a low ride and *really* get along with tuckable style holsters carried low ride/no cant. A good belt (stiff vertically) really help with appendix carry as well. If you are wanting to stick with appendix carry try losing a few pounds if you can. Appendix really starts to shine as a carry style with a leaner midsection if you can pull that off. It's much more comfortable and concealable that way.

VooDoo
 
I don't care if the trigger is covered or not. I'm not comfortable with a gun being pointed at my crotch/leg/groin when ever I sit down. But that's me.
 
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I don't care if the trigger is covered or not. I'm not comfortable with a gun being pointed at my crotch/leg/groin when ever I sit down. But that's me.


+ 1 on that if its in front its in a cross-draw holster
 
I carry in that position ALL the time, but in a holster made for it that rides comfortably. X-draw, rt hand, trigger covered, open top, fast draw

Its excellent in a car seat or at a restaurant. I can stoop or whatever and stay concealed and comfortable. I'm a skinny old guy, so staying concealed is problematic in the summer (9-10 months here in TX).
 
I don't see anything unsafe and I carry AIWB.

Like others have said, you would probably be better suited with a proper holster but if it is comfortable for you the I wouldn't worry about it. Just be very careful when holstering your Glock that nothing catches on the trigger. I always take a pause and look into the holster to make sure shirts, strings, brass, etc have not migrated into the holstering path before putting the gun back home.
 
The right holster and the correct mindset and gun handling skills are critical to making AIWB work for you. I carry my G26 appendix with no worries but I train, train, train to reholster slowly making certain nothing gets tangled in the trigger like loose clothing or whatever.

That said maybe the reason I'm comfortable with AIWB is because I primarily carry my Beretta Px4 subcompact there...it gets decocked and carried lever down (deactivates the trigger) before it goes in the holster. I also carry revolvers Appendix. And a Colt 1903 model M.

It's not for everybody and the awareness that you can be fatally shot if you screw up makes for some serious training and mental conditioning which has made me a better gunner. The advantages of Appendix outweigh the fear of a ND to the crotch/femoral artery. I can draw from the ground if an opponent is on top of me, I can draw undetected from behind a notebook and the draw motion is smaller/less conspicuous and faster. High ride/low ride in appendix depends on body shape and the gun you are carrying and the holster.

VooDoo
 
I carry a S&W Shield 9mm, safety-off, AIWB, in a home-made, left-hand, crossbreed-style leather/lkydex holster 99% of the time. It took me several try's to get it right, but overall I find it's pretty comfortable, and I've never felt that it's unsafe...

A few thoughts. 1- I don't think there's really anything wrong with the photo shown. I found through a few try's, that it's most comfortable with the holster only having one clip, on the slide-side of the holster. This allows the holster to move a little bit, allowing the whole rig to be carried, high, low, or in between, as comfort dictates. This is especially handy when sitting for a while, driving etc, or simply moving the rig around to avoid chafing/rubbing of your belly. (I'm not big on undershirts, especially in the summer with this miserable humidity...)

2- I carry around 11-o'clock, (I'm left-handed,) and as such, I always twist my belt buckle off-center to avoid a bulge. This helps with comfort and printing as well. Plus, no one will ever notice the belt anyway...

3- yes, definitely put your shoes on before holstering up. :)

4-Some suggest "finding" the holster with your thumb before re-holstering the gun. It's not a bad idea, but just be slow and deliberate when holstering the gun, and you'll be fine.

There's a good video about AIWB by James Yeager on YouTube. I think it's worth a look. (Please, no James Yeager flames...)
 
Just to clarify, in a proper holster and with proper practice, I believe appendix carry is safe.

But I don't care. I could never be comfortable with it mentally. I'd always have that nagging feeling. I am very comfortable carrying IWB, but in the 3:00 to 4:30 position where a ND means a grazed butt cheek.

It's like Rocky Mountain oysters. I've heard over and over that they're delicious, but I'm still not gonna try them.
 
Thanks for all the input guys.

I did not intend to ask about safety of appendix carry - I know some people have concerns about holstering etc in that position. I have a healthy awareness of it but I was more concerned about if it is secure to keep a gun in a holster riding that high. So far everyone is on board with that

I only weigh 150 and am trying to put on weight in the gym right now .... Would be tough to drop 30 lbs lol...
 
It's fine if it's stable. If too much of the gun/holster rides above the belt and if it's not rigid enough it could dump the gun on the ground when you bend over.
 
I like appendix carry with the gun. For me, a Glock stuffed down the front of my would give me the willies. I usually carry my SP101 at 11o'clock and cant it slightly for a cross draw.

If you're comfortable with it, I don't see any issue with it. For me, I prefer a good hammer on a gun if I carry that way.
 
The bottom of the grip/mag/magwell will print bad I think.

I have single clip holsters that work great AIWB.
 
My concern isn't the carry but more the feeling that you need to hide the gun rather than make it discreet. I carry every Sunday as do others. We are far from being a country church too. If you feel a need to not let the people in your church family ever accidentally find out your armed then you might want to rethink that strategy. In my church we have had a few times where we go in the back room and talk with new carriers about what, how, etc and more than once we have unloaded and laid out on the table. I carry low appendix strong side with slacks and a buttondown. J-frame knockoff in summer. Winter is when I wear the suits and shoulder rig with m9, 1911, or 6" 44mag. I'm not trying to question your church or your beliefs, but I think you may be stressing over it too much if your worried about a setup specifically for church. I have been known to carry in a home-grown rig where I sewed a pocket into the back of a under Armour shirt and had it upper back between shoulder blades and carried the J-frame and a p11 that way until I realized it was dumb to worry about the people you know and trust. If you trust somebody with your kid in the nursery then you should trust them to know your packin.
You have a good holster, and it's comfortable for how it was intended to be used. If you feel you need to do something different ask 2 questions...why do I feel I need to do different, and am I doing it for me or because others think I should.
 
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