Those who CCW Steyr M9/M40 (or med-large pistols), how do you do it?

[hartzpad]

I'm taking my concealed carry course this weekend and I'm considering what gun(s) I should carry in the future. I only have my Steyr M9 right now, but it seems too wide and the grip seems just too long to be able to conceal easily. I am 5'11" and 200 lbs. Not huge and not small, 34 waist. What holster do you use to carry an M series Steyr IWB? Are there other methods of carry that will work? For IWB do you have to buy pants with a larger waist? I'm considering buying a Steyr S9/S40, but it is still the same width and only 3/4" shorter in both length and height compared to the larger M series pistols.

Any help you could give a soon to be noobie CCWer would be great.

I'm thinking about carrying my Steyr for the winter and then getting a Glock 26 or CZ RAMI to carry during the rest of the year. But in reality, if I get a RAMI or a G26, I'll most likely be carrying that everyday and not the Steyr, which will most likely be resigned to range use.

 

[Zundfolge]

I used to carry my M40 ... now I carry an S40. I'm also 5'11' and about 185lbs and wear a 34" waist. Get a few pair of 36" pants.

I started out carrying the M40 in a belly band (bad idea) but now I have a good molded leather IWB holster that I can carry either the M or the S in, and the M is concealable.


Biggest piece of advice is to wear in the 3 o'clock position instead of the usual 4 o'clock. I started out carrying at 4 o'clock and found that even the smaller S will print when you bend over and such ... plus its inaccessible when seated (like in the car).

Carry in a good molded leather or Kydex IWB holster with at least a 15deg forward cant in the 3 o'clock position and you'll be fine.


The biggest thing is your mindset ... keep in mind that even if you print or *gasp* flash your chances of being spotted are close to zero ... most people are sheep walking around in condition white so concealment is not your primary concern. Comfort is your primary concern, so a good holster made for the gun and a good heavy/stiff belt and you'll be fine.

Most important thing is that you relax.

There are guys to CCW full size HK USPs so your Steyr will be a piece of cake (nice and smooth and much smaller then a USP)

 

[hartzpad]

Would you suggest buying an S9/S40? It only looks barely smaller, but everyone that has one says that they are a lot easier to carry. Plus, I could use my LEO M9 mags in it for range time.

My question for you is: Having owned both M and S, is it worth buying the S to go along with my M? Or should I just get a good sub-compact like a RAMI or G26?

 

[ny32182]

Wow, maybe I'm just a lightweight or something...

I'm 6'1" 185, and wear 34" waist pants also. They are a little loose, which is how I like them. I carry my P226 IWB in a Comp-tac Ghurka. The 34" pants work fine for me for that.

 

[Ivy Mike]

I don't own a Steyr, but I do carry my FN Forty-Nine IWB almost every day.

I had to mold a USP9 holster to fit (get it wet and stick the gun in it) but it works very well. The Forty-Nine is a full size handgun (its longer and taller than a G17) and I conceal it fairly well. I usually wear a 34" waist (I can wear 33" without the gun, but its not always easy to find) when I carry.
No problem printing and the only time it bugs me is when I'm in a car for a long period of time.

 

[spacemanspiff]

i used to carry both m9 and m40. best holster to have is IWB with a little more than 15 degree cant, and for me, at 3 oclock was best. high noon holsters are pretty good. for some reason, cover garments tended to ride up over the grip, being that nice slick polymer. maybe a hogue wraparound would help?

 

[Brian41]

I'm 6'3'' 175, and i also buy 34 waist pants... but about an inch and a half of that is to compensate for the Full size Ruger P89DC which i carry in an IWB holster from Don Hume at the 4:30 possition. and even on my narrow frame it hides great under a t-shirt, add a sweatshirt or some sort of light jacket and you'll NEVER know it's there. I'm also about to purchase a Galco belly-band, i've got a friend that is about my size who carries his Beretta 96 in one and it hides quite well.

hope that helped some.

 

[Flashpoint]

I carried the M-40 in a highnoon hidden alley that I modified so that set at a 15degree cant. Before I modified it the grip would stick out a little if I wasn't carefull. I switched a S-40 just because that's what I wanted to begin with but they didn't have them available at the time.

I think with a good holster you shouldn't have a problem keeping it hidden, and remember most people dwell in thier own world and wouldn't ever notice a little print (or a big one for that matter)