Talkin' IWB

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Warren

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1. For those that have done both is there an advantage to having your IWB clips placed out from the holster? Some holsters the clips or on the body of the holster and some have these deals off to the side. I would think that having them out to the side would be better, but I need to hear from those that have BTDT.

2. Sweat and leather. Is there an issue with the leather components of a rig degrading due to sweat?


3. Anyone here use the Sidearmor 4th gen. IWB? I'm looking at it and seems like a good rig given its adjustability.


4. I've been looking at options other than IWB 'cause I'm worried about using a public restroom stall and having all that weight clipped to my pants getting out of control. Since my dominant hand is weak due to injury this is no small matter for me. If I lose control of the rig and weapon I could be in deep doo-doo.

So what do y'all do?


5. Where do you keep your spare mags? If clipped to your belt on your off side does that not make you even wider? How many extra sizes do you go up on your pants and belt to accomodate two protrusions on your waist?


Thanks,

H2L
 
The only leather capable of resisting my sweat is shell cordovan. I complement my Bulman ARG-style IWB holster with a Van Horne rough side out leather dual mag pocket pouch. While riding a motorcycle, or otherwise unsuited for belt carry, I use a horizontal carry shoulder holster rig.
 
H2L,

1. as to the where the snaps/clips are, its kind of a trade off. the ones that are attached directly to the side of the holster make a bigger bulge in one place, the ones with the clips/snaps fore and aft make a smaller bulge in terms of protruding from your hip, but its also a 6-7 inch long bulge that may only stick out an inch or so, as compared to a 3-4 inch long bulge that sticks out 1.25-1.5 inches. i use a Blade-Tech with the snaps on the side of the holster and i don't have any problems concealing it with just an untucked t-shirt. and i'm a tall, skinny kind of fella. you just have to find one that sits nicely in that flat part of your back/side about 4:00 and hugs your hip without makeing the grip stick out excesivley.

no experience to asnwer #'s 2&3

#4 unzip, don't unbotton. no sweat.

#5 i just use a Bianchi clip on mag holder. if you slide it around aft of your hip, you minimize the widening effect, but yes, it makes you even wider. you have to experiment with clothing to cover it well. i only add 1 inch to my pants waist size to accomodate the IWB. sometimes after a big portion of my famous BBQ, i wish i would have gone up 2 inches. :)

ya just have to do like everyone else and experiment with different holsters and clothing styles until you find what works for you. if you're lucky, you may be able to sell off all those extra holsters on eBay and recover some of those wasted funds. but you'll probably end up with a whole drawer full of barely used ill fitting holsters like the rest of us.

Bobby
 
You don't mention the firearm...

I would be tempted to look at an ankle holster If I were in your situation. Keep the extra mag in your pocket or get a holster with attached mag pouch.

just a thought.
 
Rich...

It's a G26 so it would be small enough for ankle wear but in the summer I only wear shorts so an A-rig is out for now.

Also I tried a Nemesis holster in my cargo pocket but it was dragging my pants down to that one side and it banged against my knee. So that is out.


I may just buy an Artoonian made TJM holster. Or a bellyband.
 
I carry my springfield XD-9 subcompact in a Comp-Tac C-TAC holster. It's kydex with leather extensions for the clips fore and aft. This holster, like any good holster, will mostly take care of problems of the gun coming out in bathrooms and whatnot by holding the gun so well that you can turn it upside down and shake it and the gun will not come out. I've not had any problems with this holster so far and I've been using it for several months now. In the bathroom it stays secure no matter which way the holster turns or flips.

I previously had a Don Hume leather holster with the clip right there on the side. This thinner kydex holster with clips extended out definitely makes a slimmer profile and I have no problems concealing the XD-9 sub, which isn't particularly slim.

re: spare mags
I usually keep a spare mag in a pocket. I wear a lot of cargo pants and with those I usually have no problem finding a spare pocket. I kind of have a personal rule where I always keep OC spray in my weak side front pocket with nothing else in there and I always try to put my spare mag in a cargo pocket with nothing else in there. By having only that single item in the pocket it ensures that when I reach in there to grab it that's the only thing I can possibly grab. I know that's not possible for everyone because it requires a lot of pockets.

brad cook
 
I have a G30 and a Comp-Tac Gurkha. The clips off the holster make the holster more stable and move less. I've had the other kind on a Blade-Tech and didn't care much for it (kept shifting.. the wider clips stop that).

I go one size up on pants for the IWB holster, and a good gunbelt (Wilderness Instructor) keeps teh gun from flopping.

My spare and a Surefire are on a combo carrier from Comp-Tac, and yeah, it makes you wider but not that much. It also helps balance out the weight.

In the bathroom, stick your piece in the crotch of your pants. Either that, or find someplace with a real bathroom not individual stalls. In case of using a urinal or just taking a leak, unzip, don't unbutton, and if something starts moving, press it in with your elbow.

The Sidearmor 4th Gen and the Comp-Tac C-TAC are essentially identical in adjustability, price, and quality. Get either.
 
I carry my G19 in a CompTac C-TAC and its a good steady holster. Also does a good job when wearing your shirt tucked. I'm thinking about adding the velcro clip to replace the rear standard. That way a clip wont be showing in the rear and the front one I place my cell phone next to so it's not noticable. Actually I doubt anyone would notice the rear clip either except for a fellow carry

SideArmour also makes a good holster also, you'll have to wait a few weeks to get it though.
 
Sweat - I think personal Ph plays a role here. Mine must be really low because it attacks leather. Mink oil or some other heavy leather treatment seems to help quite a bit but you need to be careful that it doesn't soften the leather too much and that it is compatible with the materials the gun is made from.
 
Thanks, I am trying to avoid the box 'o holsters thing and get it right on the first try.
Click to expand...

Haha, good luck. You're going to need it. No man can escape the travesty of the holster drawer/box. ;-)
 
Bobby...

Thanks, I am trying to avoid the box 'o holsters thing and get it right on the first try.
Click to expand...
Then I'll help you. Depending on the gun in question (mine are 1911s), a Milt Sparks Versa Max II is probably the most comfortable and stable holster around. I did the box o' holsters thing too and wish I had listened to everyone before. If you are trying to tote around a G34 or some other wide-body, any IWB holster might be uncomfortable to you.

Greg
 
Or a bellyband.
Click to expand...

I just got a bellyband by galco for my xd40, it's VERY concealable, i can wear adidas shorts that i've had since middle school, i'm now 21 and about 90 pounds more, and you can't see any budge whatsoever in the side of them, they're not tight but are sorta small. it's also tuckable. it's got 2 holster pockets, you can carry 2 guns at one time, one regular draw and one cross draw, it has 2 accesories pockets, 1 magazine sized and the other wallet sized, it's ambidextrious and the guns can be put in a lot of configurations.

the downsides are the sweat, the fact that if you run you have to hold it against your body or it'll bob, and you need to use a 2nd hand to hold it down when drawing (not much strength is required to do so though). i wear 2 shirts anyways to keep the sweat from appearing on my outer shirt, so if i were to become very sweaty i could put the inner shirt between the band and body and it would still be concealable (i'm 6'1" 190 lbs, muscular build, a large shirt fits me somewhat tight and it's still concealable). if you don't plan on running, a belly band is great.

side note, if you go to some crappy country with pickpockets, a bellyband would be a great option to put your wallet in.
 
Well, the DeSantis Insider is not for me.

When the 26 is in it and it is clipped to my belt there is nothing to grab onto to pull the gun out. Odd design. Plus, according to my wife, it prints like crazy.


So I have my first member in my box o' holsters. :D
 
Another vote for the Milt Sparks.
I'm using the Watch Six, but it's just a slimmed down version of the Versa Max.
Either of these have the widely spaced belt loops.
Definitely more comfortable than loops or clips on the holster body, in my opinion.

I have tried several holsters and guns.
A Colt Defender didn't work out for me, but the Watch Six was the most comfortable holster I've tried.
When I got a Glock 36, I ordered another Watch Six.
By far the most comfortable carry combo I've tried in 10 years.

You'll also need a good quality belt, designed for carrying a gun.

Keep your holster oiled on a regular basis, and the sweat shouldn't be a problem.
For using the john, you can buckle the belt back after you get seated, or remove the gun and put in the "pouch" formed by having your pants at your knees.

I don't carry a spare mag. Never have.
I've got better odds of winning the lottery (and I don't play) than I have needing more than 7 rounds of ammo in my normal routine.

If going somewhere I knew was dangerous, I may use a different rig, with spare mag pouches, but most likely I'd have 1 or 2 other guns on my person.
 
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