IWB carry for newbie

[ricedw]

I have been considering getting a ccw for a while. I picked up a IWB holster this weekend and am experimenting with my options. I am wearing it today at work (I work for myself so I am on my property) and so far have found it to be very uncomfortable. I am 5'11" and about 240, the diet starts monday, oops, it is monday . Anyway, I am carrying it at the 4 oclock position and don't really see myself being able to sit very long, much less drive with it.
Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[Zundfolge]

I started out carrying at the 4 o'clock position, and after a couple years I realized I was much more comfortable at the 3 o'clock position.

At 4 o'clock, every time you bend over the butt of the pistol sticks out and prints real bad. Plus when driving the gun is completely inaccessible.

When sitting it prints or bumps into the back of the seat (and at worse it snags on the back of the chair when you're standing up).


At 3 o'clock your arm hides it most of the time, you can draw while seated in the car and you don't print when you bend over (and you don't have that pressure in you kidney).


More important though is the holster ... I can't understand how anyone can consider carrying a pistol larger then a P32 in one of those nylon "one size fits all" type holsters you get for $12.

What kind of holster did you get and what kind of gun is it?

 

[Henry Bowman]

Try one size larger pants until the diet kicks in. Also keep adjusting the position and angle. You'll eventually find the "sweet spot."

 

[ricedw]

It is a "one size fits all" type holsters you get for $12.

Also, I didn't mention the type of gun. USP .40 full size

Rick

 

[Double Maduro]

Rick,

I carry a Ruger P90 all day every day in a Ted Blocker DA3 iwb and am very happy with it.

Wear your pants one size larger, get a GOOD gun belt and keep moving things around until it is comfortable. I started out with a one size fits all and quickly went to the DA3. I cannot begin to tell you how comfortable it is. Most of the time I don't even know it is there.

The DA3 comes with 2 style clips, one that holds it a little high and tight and the other that is tuckable. I started out with the high and tight and went to the tuckable, they are much more comfortable and hold the gun a little lower and still very tight to the body.

Here is a link to them.

http://www.tedblocker.com/DA3.html

The other holster I use is a Bianchi Black Widow belt slide, I like it but I like the DA# better.

I hope this helps.

DM

As for the diet, I recommend the South Beach Diet, I lost 50+ pounds and never felt hungry.

By the way, welcome to the forums.

 

[Zundfolge]

Especially with a gun as large as a USP you need a good holster.

The little nylon holsters just don't support the gun and keep it put in one place well enough to be comfortable regardless of position or your weight.

For a larger gun like your USP (and despite what some will tell you, you CAN comfortably CCW with something that large) I recommend a holster with two clips or loops (like the DA3 Double Maduro posted, or a MiltSparks VersaMaxII or Watch6 or an HBE Leatherworks COM2)

http://www.hbeleatherworks.com/ <-- Eric is a member here (posts as PCRCCW) so if you have any questions feel free to ask him directly.

http://www.miltsparks.com/


I started out carrying a Steyr M40 in a belly band ... I cannot tell you how big a difference it made to change to an honest to God leather holster. When I first started carrying I couldn't imagine how anyone could carry a gun all day and be comfortable ... I assumed those who said they carried large guns where lying.

I currently carry a Steyr S40 in a pancake holster converted to IWB with two clips and I can easily carry my larger M40 all day if I wanted to.

 

[Standing Wolf]

It is a "one size fits all" type holsters you get for $12.

There's at least a third of your problem. The bulkier the gun, the more critically important that it be held securely.

Both your trousers and belt need to be loose without the holster and gun. It helps a lot to use a genuine official gun belt for stability.

 

[WEPS]

i like to carry in the 1:00 position myself (it helps me avoid bump frisk's) i find with my bersa 380 there is vertually no priting and i can bring my weapon into action much faster and more accurately.

 

[Hatton7]

Comp-tac

The usp is very large pistol. With a large pistol you need to invest in good holster. I have a comptac ctac. http://comp-tac.com/

 

[MrMurphy]

I carry a Glock 30 and have comfortably carried 24 hours straight in a Comp-Tac holster (first a Gurkha, now a C-TAC).


Primary things to make IWB comfortable and the gun disappear:

Pants one size larger. This is a must with any gun bigger than a P32!
Good gunbelt. Not a Wally World belt, a purpose made gunbelt, like the Aker B21 in leather or a Wilderness Instructor 5-stitch belt in nylon. You have a full size gun and need a good belt to hold it up. Measured WHILE you wear the gun.

Good holster. Either a Milt Sparks VM-2 in leather, a Comp-tac C-TAC, etc.

Cant. 15 degrees muzzle to the rear, worn in the 4 or 4:30 position, will tuck the backstrap into your side and prevent printing unless you bend at the waist (which you don't do... kneel).

I've been carrying exclusively in IWB for four years comfortably.

 

[ricedw]

Thanks for the input. After wearing it for a few hours it was obvious that something was wrong. As a side note, It was impossible to reholster without loosening my belt. Will the better quality holsters solve that as well? Not that it would be a problem in a defensive situation, but a real pain to practice drawing.

 

[Zundfolge]

Yes, a good leather or kydex holster will stay open better then the Nylon type, even if it doesn't have a re-enforced mouth.

 

[MrMurphy]

What he said. Good leather rigs will have a metal piece inside the leather that reinforces the mouth holding it open, or another piece of leather doing the same thing. Kydex by it's nature can't collapse without you standing a sumo wrestler on it.

 

[TarpleyG]

It is a "one size fits all" type holsters you get for $12.

Yep, that's your problem. A good carry rig will cost you close to $300 for a quality holster, belt, and a mag carrier and maybe a light carrier as well.

Don't stick a $700 gun in a $12 holster and expect it to be comfortable. I am bigger than you and I can tote a full size, all steel 1911 around all day long with no problem.

I prefer Sparks but there are several quality holster makers that can get you something proper.

Greg

 

[Zundfolge]

A good carry rig will cost you close to $300...

$300!? I think thats a little high.

You can get into a good holster for under $75

If you go with Milt Sparks stuff (which is among the more expensive) and you get their VersaMax II holster in the fancy horsehide with sharkskin trim ($122.50) plus a set of extra loops in sharksikin ($25) and a 1 1/2" belt sharkskin belt to match ($125) You're looking at $272.50, so if you want to spend $300 you can, but you really don't have to (same company; Watch 6 holster ($57.50) + $7 for an extra set of loops and you're set)

As for a belt, many will recommend you spend the bucks on a belt made by a holster maker, and in the long run they may have something. But I got a real heavy DKNY belt for $8 at TJMaxx so as long as you have a good heavy belt you'll be fine.

Eventually you can add stuff like a mag carrier and such.

I am bigger than you and I can tote a full size, all steel 1911 around all day long with no problem.

Whats funny is a full size 1911 is easier to carry then a full size USP regardless of holster ... because its thin