Newbie needs advice on concealed carry

[ricci316]

I have been around guns all of my life. I have been a hunter since the age of twelve. I am however, new to concealed carry. My biggest problem is not picking the right gun. I already have a Sigma Series S&W .40. The problem also is not finding the right holster since I have found one that I like and that is comfortable. The biggest problem is keeping my pants from sagging while I am carrying. Now I am not a small guy( 6'0" and around 340lbs.) so the problem is not being built like a rail. Any advice?

 

[pax]

You probably need to buy a new, super sturdy belt. The belt has to be stiff enough and wide enough to take the weight of the gun all day without sagging or twisting.

pax

 

[Stickjockey]

Another vote for a good belt.

 

[El Tejon]

Welcome to THR.

Everyone runs out and spends a bazillion dollars on their new Combat Blaster 2000 (now with enchance tacticality), but no one spends money on a belt and holster. No, do not buy a "really good" belt at Mega-Lo-Mart or the Try-n-Save.

I recommend Milt Sparks. I like horsehide. Buy the belt and holster from the same maker, it will save you headaches.

Buy good gear once, but lousy gear multiple times.

 

[bpisler]

It helps to wear a undershirt to give your
pants something to grip.I tried to ccw
without one and no matter how tight my
belt was my pants would slide down.At
5'9" and 320lbs i'am no light weigh and
understand what you're going thru.

 

[ricci316]

Thanks for the advice. I will have to look for a belt that is almost the exact size of the holes in the holster.

 

[tegemu]

God deigned to make me relatively buttless and like you, no matter how tight I cinched my belt, my britches were bound and determined to go South. In response to the same question you are asking, another member suggested Perry Suspenders at www.perrysuspenders.com . I got a set and VOILA- problem solved. Check them out. The real nice thing is if you are wearing cover garments, you don't have to remove them when you wish to lower your pants.

 

[mbs357]

I have a problem too...I'll be getting CCW in a few years, but the problem came about just the other day.
I walked into Wal Mart...and the snack bar was gone. No nachos for me. =(
If the snack bar goes...where shall I go, what shall I do?

 

[bpisler]

Go to target,they have Great nachos in
the snack bar

 

[Rock45]

Another vote on a good belt, but I prefer the nylon web variety.

Perspiration is a problem for me, and in Florida I sweat a lot! The leather belts I have bought have bled the dyes out from day 1.

5.11 Tactical makes a belt that works. It has a great buckle and it's stiff as a board, but fits loops on my Dockers.

Just an idea, maybe it's something you could use.

Bryan

 

[carnaby]

I just ordered a belt from www.thebeltman.net, heard good things. Should be in the mail in a week or two.

 

[Manedwolf]

For more slender sorts, the Smartcarry or Thunderwear eliminates the falling pants issue. Any of the new short autos by Taurus or Kahr literally just vanish, and I suspect a .38 snubbie would, too.

 

[Stainless Chili]

http://www.bianchi-intl.com/prodimages/B26_l.jpg

Bianchi Model B26 – Professional™ Belt 1.5"

I bought this one for about $35 or so. Pretty decent.

A "lined" belt is even thicker, and stiffer.

I recently bought a used one from one of the forums, for $20 delivered.
About $80 new. A great deal for the buyer!

 

[Zen21Tao]

I walked into Wal Mart...and the snack bar was gone. No nachos for me. =(
If the snack bar goes...where shall I go, what shall I do?

Buy a bag of nachos and jar of nacho cheese off the potato chip isle then sit on the bench outside and eat up.

 

[geekWithA.45]

I walked into Wal Mart...and the snack bar was gone. No nachos for me. =(
If the snack bar goes...where shall I go, what shall I do?

Plant corn, wheat, tomatoes, chiles, and cows.

Come fall, harvest same.

Pound the corn, thresh the wheat, can the tomates & chiles, milk the cows.


Mix corn with oil and threshed wheat. Bake it in an oven built of piled rocks.

Churn milk until it turns into butter, trade resulting glop for some cheese.

Enjoy.

 

[Werewolf]

Thanks for the advice. I will have to look for a belt that is almost the exact size of the holes in the holster.

Think in side the waste band. Don Hume makes good and inexpensive IWB holsters. I've carried full size autos in one for years (Sig P220, Glock 22, CZ-75, 1911) works fine, lasts a long time and costs a little less than $30. Not fancy but leather and they definitely do the trick. Every now and then I buy me a fancy 70 to 120 holster but always end back up with the Don Hume.

 

[scullydog]

I am also new to CCW, only different weapon and human frame size: S&W 637 2" and I a 5'11" 160 lbs. frame. Have looked into elastic waistband type, but concerned about the heat in AR. Maybe a pocket type from Mika?

 

[Auto-revolver]

Gun Belt

Make a good investment. Spend some money and buy a belt from Tucker Gunleather.

 

[BullfrogKen]

What are you using now?

A department store belt and a nylon gun bucket just isn't compatable with stability and comfort.

 

[skidmark]

My biggest problem is not picking the right gun(I already have a Sigma Series S&W .40). The problem is not finding the right holster since I have found one that I like and that is comfortable. The problem is keeping my pants from sagging while I am carrying. Now I am not a small guy( 6'0" and around 340lbs.) so the problem is not being built like a rail.

Look carefully at where you wear your belt.

If your belt is wrapped around your hip bones, your pants are going to sag - whether you are carrying or not.

I was taught that a gentleman wears his belt at the waistline, which for most folks means that it will be even with or just below your bellybutton. This holds true especially for those of us who are circumfrentially endowed. Allowing your tactical momentum-absorbing wall of lipids to spill over the top of your belt is just starting with a significant sag - it only gets worse as you add weight to your belt by hanging things like a holster and gun on to it.

The other thing about a properly fitted pair of pants with the belt properly situated is that your draw is much less impeded by the tactical side bumpers some of us posess in addition to the momentum-absorbing front.

If you do not want to go with the Perry brand suspenders, look at Duluth Trading Company's www.duluthtrading.com sideclip suspenders - in regular or beefy. They look more like a shoulder rig than a pair of suspenders, and hold up the sides instead of fore & aft.

stay safe.

skidmark

 

[fiVe]

I recommend a Smith & Wesson 642 (.38 spl) in a Robert Mika pocket holster.

 

[ExtremeDooty]

Like everyone else said, get a good stiff belt 1.5", and a good holster. I just bought the same from www.raftersgunleather.com in Burgundy Sharkskin. I've bought 3 holsters and 2 belts from them, high quality and they just look so darn good.

 

[johnny blaze]

A good belt is the key to the weapon not sagging, as stated above.
I like the in the waistband holster with a good belt - no sagging, and with the weapon clipped over the belt and pants together, it gives you really good support.

 

[NineseveN]

Wilderness belts are a VERY good alternative to leather.

 

[ricci316]

I've found the holster that I like and that works well for me. I think I may try the suspenders along with the belt and hopefully that will work.