Left side IWB as a right side OWB?

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mick53

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Oct 18, 2003
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Hi,

I don't like my IWB holster anymore.

I quit smoking and I've put on some weight... OK, a lot of weight, damn it. I don't like pushing my gut in to get at the grip to make a draw. It's a slow(er) process and I don't like slow if I have to draw. (I've never had to and hope I remain lucky).

So I want to switch to an OWB holster. There are a lot of them that will fit my little .380 BUT they all seem to be belt slide holsters.

I'm in and out of a courthouse all day long and have to go through a metal detector every time.

I don't need the hassle of undoing the belt, hiding the pistol in the car etc. every time I have to go in and then putting it back on when I leave. It would be off about 8-10 times a day and on again 8-10 times. No thanks.

So I've been thinking of getting a "lefty" IWB clip-on holster and using it as a "righty" OWB clip-on holster.

I figure if I order a left-handed draw clip-on type IWB holster and simply wear it on my right side (I'm a righty) I'll have a OWB clip-on holster without the hassle of wearing a belt slide OWB.

No fat man hassles trying to get at it and no on/off courthouse hassle either. A sport jacket will cover it easily.

I hate making a fool of myself and I've tried to think what "unintended consequence" would make this a bad idea ... but I can't think of one.

What do you guys think (besides telling me I should lose some weight)?

Can I use a lefty IWB clip on as a right OWB clip-on?

Thanks.
 
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Hehe. I think bigwhiteyj misread the OP. I really don't think a clip is going to work OWB.

What could go wrong?
The balance point could be off. Many OWB holsters rely on 2 retention points to keep the gun oriented properly. If there's a flat side, it will be facing out. If there's an extended shield protecting your gut from the hammer, it will be on the wrong side. Obviously, a retention strap is going to be backwards.

But beyond that, why not? Just don't expect to buy the cheapo foam/fabric 15.00 Uncle Mike's or Blackhawk IWB and get away with this. The material is too soft and stretchy to support the gun without a belt/waistband wrapping around the outside of it.
 
Hehe. I think bigwhiteyj misread the OP. I really don't think a clip is going to work OWB.
Click to expand...

Actually I was thinking more along the lines of removing the bulk of the holster and allowing more flexibility in positioning a small .380 might allow the OP to continue carrying IWB without the extra "fluff" interfering.
 
mick53

What kind of gun are you carrying? I've seen some of the cheap onesize fits most holsters that would work well. Tagua has one that can be worn owb sliding the belt thru or iwb using the clip on the other side of the holster. it can be worn left or right side. I've picked one up when I had a PF-9 and it worked well wherever I put it.

http://taguagunleather.com/new/inside-the-waist-holsters-p27
 
The holster is for a Taurus TCP/738.

Can the clip on the Tagua be used on either side of the holster so I can be worn IWB and OWB?
 
I tried switching my Don Hume right hand clip-on IWB to OWB on the left side. It works but feels just a little loose, I don't know if I would feel real comfortable with it in that position all day. IWB it's being held close by your pants, OWB it seems to want to flop around like a flag. Other brands/styles may be better suited for this option.
 
The holster is for a Taurus TCP/738.

Can the clip on the Tagua be used on either side of the holster so I can be worn IWB and OWB?
Click to expand...

Yes it can. I picked one up for around $20 dollars or so. It fit my kel-tec pf9, glock 26, 1911. Its very versatile in what it can carry. My only complaint about mine is that it doesn't hold open when you draw the gun from it. When I wore it iwb I had to remove it put the gun back in and put the holster back on.

I don't see a problem with using it the way you mentioned with such a small pistol. I wouldn't trust the clip for a heavier type of gun but it should be fine for the tcp.

I know you didn't say anything about it but have you considered pocket carry? It may be more convenient for your needs.
 
How about getting a good quality OWB cross draw holster that is actually made for that purpose....and then simply keeping the holster mounted, but empty, when coming and going? Is there a rule at the courthouse that you cannot have an empty holster? As often as you come and go, the screeners will get used to you very quickly.

Depending on the pistol, the chance of an ND while holstering/unholstering should be considered.
 
If you have a good quality IWB holster, particularly one that does not collapse when the weapon is removed, try wearing it between your belt and pants. This is how I wear mine, and it's known as "inside-the-belt" carry. I originally was carrying IWB, but discontinued for comfort reasons. Like OWB carry, ITB carry does require a little more consideration to concealment than does IWB.
 
All the paddle holsters I have seen are belt slides. I need a clip-on type.
Click to expand...


Ehh.. yeah, there may be some miscommunication going on here. What is a "belt slide"? Do you mean a standard belt holster with belt loops?

If it were me I would do one of two things:

1) Paddle holster, and remove the whole thing (gun+holster)... a paddle holster does not attach to the belt like a standard belt holster. It literally has a paddle that fits the curve of your hip and goes inside your pants, and is held in place by the belt. You may have to loosen the belt to remove the paddle holster, but you will not have to remove the belt or remove the belt from any belt loops on your pants.

2) Keep my IWB, leave it mounted and just remove the gun... I doubt the hardware on a holster is enough to set off a metal detector.
 
Found a good solution. A guy was selling one of those Tagua holster on another forum for $12 shipped and I was curious about them.
so I took a $12 gamble. And it paid off in spades!

Here's some info on it from an ebay ad. But Natchez sells the same holster for around $14, a lot cheaper than this ebay guy:

http://cgi.ebay.com/IWB-ITP-INSIDE-...780?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5188bfe6ac

Good quality leather and double stitched. It's tight and sturdy. It goes IWB, OWB, SOB. Can be clipped onto pants with no belt or it can be used yaqui style using just a belt with the clip removed.

It's ambidexterous too because it's not a form molded to a specific firearm but it fits my TCP very nicely. And it's real snug. The leather is good quality and it's double stitched.

I was worried that for only $12 it wouldn't be much of a holster. I was wrong. It's a great holster.

It's equal or perhaps a little better build/quality wise to the Don Hume line.
 
All the paddle holsters I have seen are belt slides. I need a clip-on type.
Click to expand...

Paddle holsters aren't belt slide, as already pointed out by ny32182, just think of them as OWB clip ons with huge clips. (they also generally print quite a bit since they aren't terrible snug against your body.)

There are quite a few OWB belt holsters that use snap on keepers instead of 'holes' so you can easily remove the holster just by unsnapping the keepers without pulling your belt. I just can't think of any right now, but they are not uncommon.
 
I used an IWB right hand Don Hume holster, OWB on the left side for a pistol class one day (weak side drills). It worked fine, but I can't say I was used to using my weak hand at all.

Also, what about just getting a second holster/container, putting the gun in that and going about your business with an empty holster?
 
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