Smaller gun for winter?

[XDShooter07]

Has anybody done this? I have a little J-frame and in the summer it conceals like a pro in a pocket holster as I normally wear khaki shorts. In the winter I always wear jeans as I can't stand khakis if they are pants. Jeans don't have big enough pockets to pocket carry the J-frame for me so I figured I'd try IWB and got a galco summer comfort. Basically it's like carrying a brick on my hip? Are all the IWB holsters for these guns this thick; I have to wear a huge coat to conceal it. Sooo, I was thinking of getting an LCP as I could probably pocket that with jeans.

Has anyone else had to do this? .....or are there thinner holsters or an owb holster I should be looking at? Maybe an IWB PPS would solve the problem.

Suggestions please.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Have not had that problem myself...I carry my 1911 IWB year round without any problems.

Holster selection makes a big difference...mine is a Milt Sparks.

I'm not knocking Galco...I've never owned one, but I do know that the wrong holster makes the entire setup feel like a brick on my side.

One question...where are you trying to wear the IWB???

Mine hides best at 3:30...but its a tad more comfy at 4:00.

 

[Kind of Blued]

Summer = big gun IWB

Winter = big gun IWB + more guns

So, you haven't tried an autoloader IWB?

 

[gazpacho]

I am a huge fan of the Galco SOB for the J-Frame. In fact I like it SO much, I bought a left handed one so I can carry a second J-Frame. It is amazingly comfortable. However, I don't wear it in the Small Of my Back. Rather, I wear it at a 4 o'clock position. Shifted slightly to the back aids concealibility. Shifted slightly forwards improves comfort while seated in the car.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Summer = big gun IWB

Winter = big gun IWB + more guns

Yeah, those were along my thoughts. People usually go with more power during the winter (if they change) because of the potential of dealing with heavily clad BGs and that often means going with a bigger gun (larger caliber and/or longer barrel).

 

[chipp]

I carry a j frame IWB at 1;30 its perfect for me. I've bought about 6 holsters.
some a little high some a little low. Ended up having to make my own.
After ALOT of trial and error. I comfortably wear it even mountain biking. (hammerless)

Also if you draw with you finger on the trigger this wouldn't be a good idea.
(you could shoot yourself in the pappy)

A retired leo showed me an easy inexpensive way that he carries in this position. I'll share if interested.

I'm thinking alot depends on your build and holster.
I've seen guys conceal 1911s perfectly,and others terribly.

I agree not to carry something smaller in winter you should be able to find a way to carry what you have anyway. Good luck.

 

[punkndisorderly]

One thing I've noticed is that the belt you use can be almost as important as the holster. A weak flimsy belt doesn't seem to give enough support and the holster will feel "floppy".

 

[wnycollector]

I'm just the opposite. My J frame gets carried most of the time in the summer around town. In the winter the big guns ( .357 Security Six, Sig P220 or CZ 40B) get the nod. Its amazing what an untucked flannel shirt can hide

 

[Fat Boy]

Funny how fashion helps this process along, given that "un-tucked" shirts are a bit more acceptable in todays world than they were, say 35 years ago-

(my high school years...in basketball games, officials used to stop the game to make a guy tuck his game shirt into his shorts...)

Seems like there used to be a "belly band" holster that guys carried a j-frame gun in-

 

[jjohnson]

Bianchi Nemesis in Down Vest Breast Pocket

Well, here in the frozen tundra lands of Minnesoviet (where we still don't know if Al Franken is our senator ) lots of folks wear a down vest for warmth. We're not talking a big puffy fashion model for skiing, but thin enough to wear under a coat. Mine has 'Napoleon pockets' which are roomy enough to hold a Nemesis holster for a high crossdraw. It'll hold either a Makarov or Kel-tec ready to go.

The Nemesis is slick on the inside, tacky on the outside, so it stays in your pocket when you draw. There are a couple of other 'pocket draw' holsters on the market, and most of them will handle a handgun in the 'medium-small' category like a J-frame, PPK, and so on.

Works for me - your individual results may vary.

 

[420Stainless]

I'm just the opposite. My J frame gets carried most of the time in the summer around town. In the winter the big guns ( .357 Security Six, Sig P220 or CZ 40B) get the nod. Its amazing what an untucked flannel shirt can hide

I'm the same way. I pocket carry in warm weather and then switch to a combat commander OWB in cold when cover garments are comfortable to wear. I admire the folks who dress for serious carry year round, but it is not for me.

 

[jfh]

jjohnson: As another Minnesotan, I've been churning away on the winter-carry techniques, too.

For me, I am exploring the use of a shoulder holster in my layers--e.g., under the left arm, or with the pocket holsters in a vest pocket. Like your Nemisis--only I use one of Robert Mika's holsters for the j-frames.

Jim H.

 

[XDShooter07]

Mine hides best at 3:30...but its a tad more comfy at 4:00.

I wear it 4-5:00. This holster is just really thick and has a reinforcement strip at the top and really adds to the thickness of the gun. I'm a thin guy and it conceals ok with a big coat but when I take my coat off it looks like I have a tumor on my hip. I'm thinking I need to try something in kydex to keep the holster as thin as I need.

Any suggestions for a kydex holster.

So, you haven't tried an autoloader IWB?

Nope; I have an XD Service model but nothing smaller. The grip is way to long for concealing on my frame. I bought the J-frame in the summer for pocket carry. I've been thinking of getting a PPS for IWB carry in a kydex holster. Anybody use this setup and have a picture of it?

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

The design of the Summer Comfort - belt straps incorporated into a thick reinforced mouth - combined with the fat cylinder of the revolver, does add bulk and width. Try a holster with fore and aft attachments (either belt loops or clips). Example:

(UBG Striker1, photo courtesy of UBG Holsters)

 

[Mainsail]

Concealed? Why is that the paradigm? I carry a 1911 year around, openly or concealed, whatever.

 

[XDShooter07]

Lone Haranguer that's a good thought, I think I might try a crossbreed or a comp-tac.

Concerning the previous post I don't like to draw attention to my gun or let anyone know exactly where they can nab it off my body. And let that be the last statement concerning it. I don't want this thread to turn into a concealed vs. open carry argument. I'd delete that post if I could.

 

[jon_in_wv]

I prefer one gun that I can carry year round. I've carried a M&P 9C for about two years now. I used to carry it in a CompTac C-Tac until I ran into a guy who sent me a thin kydex holster that is SOO Comfortable. I didn't think it would be when I got it but its by far the best I've tried.

Search my name and you'll find a review and some pics. I wear my M&P under a t-shirt in the summer and I used to carry on the belt in the winter but I haven't stopped carrying in my Peters holster since I got it.

 

[RickH]

If it is just the pocket size, not the jeans being too tight, find some one that does alterations and have them sew bigger pockets in.

 

[FoMoGo]

I normally go larger in winter... heavier clothing hides it better... as well as protects the bad guys somewhat.


Jim

 

[Defense Minister]

Crossbreed makes their Supertuck IWB for the J-frames. Currently, I carry a Smith & Wesson M&P40c in one, and the M&Ps aren't the slimmest autos out there by a long shot. In the summer, it's just shorts and a T-shirt worn untucked. I now have two Supertucks, and just ordered one each of their tuckable mag carriers, one single mag, and one double mag for when I'm carrying a flashlight. I love Crossbreed's products, and my one experience with service after the sale was amazing. I'm a Crossbreed customer for life.

 

[Dr_2_B]

I'm a Crossbreed customer for life.

To present a contrasting opinion, I have two crossbreeds and I really don't favor them. I'm partial to the fist ultra-thin kydex. Its almost paper-thin, so it conceals really well. I'm sure it's not as sturdy as the original kydex, but I've used it for years with no problems. I prefer mine with the forward cant.

 

[makarovnik]

Winter = really big gun.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I don't have a problem with pocket carry in jeans. I wear mostly jeans all year long and carry a j frame in my front pocket all year round. I sometimes add a big revolver in the winter because of the coat but I would never think of "downsizing" in the winter. I would want to carry a lighter caliber when you might need to penetrate thick clothing that's worn in the Winter.

 

[XDShooter07]

I just got a glock 19 the other day and the grip is a little shorter and it's a little lighter than my XD and it disappears at 3:00 with a spare mag at 9:00; no cant. If I cant it, it prints. I think my next purchase might be a PPS that I think due to it's thinness might be very comfortable on the hip like that. Then maybe relegate the J-Frame to ankle duty as a back up. I'd still pocket carry in the summer though as it's down right comfortable.

How much thinner is the Fist kydex than standard kydex?

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Well, the P3AT or LCP should indeed conceal better in the front pocket of jeans, WITH a good pocket holster, than a J frame. But without a pocket holster, I'd stick with the J frame for jeans pocket as the cylinder would bulge out concealing the outline of the gun, unlike with a semi-auto by itself in there.

But yeah:

Winter = really big gun.

That's the way it is for me. In the summer/late spring/early fall, it's Kahr MK9 in Smartcarry ONLY for me. Right now, it's more fun with the diversity I can do with jackets & coats with waistband holsters and the guns that go in them.