Thunderwear or smartcarry

[Ledgehammer]

I picked up a thunderwear holster at the gun show a couple weeks ago and love it for my g19. For some reason hip holsters feel awkward and really obvious to me. I'm 6'2 about 210lbs and haven't been able to find the sweet spot yet. I love the thunderwear and can draw my weapon quickly And safely from apendix. What are ya'lls thoughts on thunderwear and appendix carry in general. It's safe right? Lol

 

[velocette]

It is as safe as you are. Just don't make a mistake. :- (

Roger

 

[Nushif]

Hehe, Thunderwear.

 

[rondog]

Call me old-fasioned, but the thought of carrying a loaded firearm in my crotch isn't very appealing to me. Of course, I've got "too much front porch" to try it. That sounds like a carry method for slim fellers.

I personally use one of these, a Beltster. Not a product for everyone, but suits my needs perfectly.

 

[Flash!]

I've used Thunderwear for at least 10 years now.... I still have all my body parts intact...... just be careful and responsible.....

the biggest gun I carry like that is a makarov... anything bigger "prints" if you sit down or bend over....

 

[bensdad]

I carry at appendix with this: http://www.sideguardholsters.com/holsters/IWB_Holsters.htm

Mine is the "quick clip" about halfway down. A 19 might ride up a bit though. I carry a gun with a shorter bbl.

 

[Vonderek]

I have used one in the past for carrying a J-frame with a fairly heavy trigger. I wouldn't feel comfortable carrying a Glock with one in the chamber in like manner.

 

[GoodKat]

I've wanted to try thunderwear, but I'm afraid I may break any gun I holster in there.

 

[Ledgehammer]

Hehe, Thunderwear

haha yea my wife got a kick out of the name too. I am a little Leary carrying my glock with one in the chamber down there, but realistically isn't it the same as carrying a double action revolver? Maybe a little safer with the golck trigger safety. I know revolvers usually have a stronger trigger pull but the glock is around 5.5 lbs and I don't see it getting snagged as long my fingers not on it I should be good right?

 

[Nushif]

My biggest concern would be the fact that I'm active an awful lot and I'd need like ... a ton of THUNDERWEAR (that name always cracks me up) instead of one or two holsters.

 

[doc540]

re: smartcarry

Not for every body size and shape and not for every kind of pistol.

Does NOT "point at your privates" - if it does you're wearing it wrong

I've carried a D frame Colt revolver for years, and it has fit my needs perfectly.

I'm active and wear it while working outdoors, working on my cars, everywhere except where prohibited (and without a metal detector they would NEVER know).

In fact, it's so safe and comfortable I often forget I'm wearing it.

Two thumbs up from me.

 

[benEzra]

I know revolvers usually have a stronger trigger pull but the glock is around 5.5 lbs and I don't see it getting snagged as long my fingers not on it I should be good right?

Until you lean against the counter or bench in front of you while reaching for something, and a corner or projection pulls the trigger.

A standard rigid holster, whether kydex, leather, or even nylon, protects the trigger from stuff that might press it. Cloth holsters do not. I used one for a while when I lived in Florida, but my personal preference would be to only carry a gun with a manual safety in a cloth holster, IMO.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

Smartcarry didn't work for me. I just couldn't find a comfortable carry position.

Since moving to Florida from the Seattle area a couple of years ago I adopted appendix carry as my method of choice when wearing hot weather clothing. After experimenting with a cheap Uncle Mike's Inside-the-Pant holster, which I also modifed for purposes of experimentation, I chose a leather Milt Sparks Summer Special II IWB holster. I modified it by trimming off excess leather around the trigger guard area and cut the belt loop in half to use just one of the loops. This set up has worked very well for me for almost two years now. I'm very happy with it. I can easily adjust it as necessary for comfort when I'm sitting or driving/riding in a car.

Good luck!

 

[josephbw]

I've used a Smartcarry holster with my Kel Tec P11 for several years without any issues at all. The trick is to carry it low, and have the proper body shape for it. I'm 5'11 and 200 pounds, so I'm no light weight, but I've found that it works for me.

Someone with a more severe case of Dunlap's Disease (that's where your belly done laps over your belt) may find it uncomfortable or even physically impossible to draw from inside the pants. If the issue of snagging the trigger through a cloth holster is a concern, it would be very easy to open up the seam of the Smartcarry and insert a plastic shield to cover the trigger area, then sew the seam back up. I've never had that issue come up, and I can't really see how it could happen, but we all know "stuff happens".

Of course ymmv.

 

[MattTheHat]

OT, but...

Thunderwear sounds like a good name for flatulence-proof under garments, to me.


-Matt

 

[CDW4ME]

I use a Smartcarry "holster" when wearing gym / sweat (whatever they are called) shorts & t-shirt.
You don't wear a belt with those kind of shorts; Smartcarry works well with those.
I can easily carry a Glock 27 and extra magazine.
Offers reasonably quick access to pistol with loose garment.

 

[oldrevolverguy]

I had some concerns about carrying a Glock with a round in the chamber using the Smart Carry. I cleared the gun, holstered it and then tried everything I could think of to try to cause the weapon to fire. I couldn't do it. That was years ago and I have used the Smart Carry with my Glock 26 with a round in the chamber ever since, with excellent results.

 

[jobin]

Does anyone have any negative feedback on carrying something like an s&w 442 in a pocket holster? A friend of mine uses an Uncle Mike's pocket holster & it seems perfectly simple & straightforward.

 

[TheProf]

When pocket carrying a j-frame (front pocket jeans), I find it best also to wear one of those Cuban style button down shirts. They are long enough to wear untucked and it partially covers the front pocket area...thus hiding any gun printing.

 

[jobin]

On the same subject, has anyone had any problems carrying a small pocket pistol w/ hammer as opposed to hamerless? Common sense makes me think that the hammer could "catch" on your pants, but has anyone had significant problems with this?

 

[sgt127]

I think appendix carry is the fastest and most concealed way to carry a gun if you are physically capable of it.

That said, I cannot make myself carry a Glock pointed in the vicinity of my femoral artery.

I do not buy the Glock is as safe as a DA revolver. A DA revolver is at rest when you are carrying it. A Glock mainspring is "pre loaded" to some degree. It has to be. You can get a Glock down to a 3.5 LB trigger pull, that means alot of mainspring energy is already loaded up behind the striker. I know, if the striker were to slip off the trigger bar, the firing pin safety will catch the firing pin spring before the gun can fire. I got that. But, I also couldn't carry a cocked and locked 1911 pointed at my femoral artery either.

Realistically, I think the odds of the Glock going off by itself are very remote. I think your odds of winning the lottery, being struck by lightening etc (fill in your own "what are the chances?" phrase here) are much greater. But, thats a really bad place to get shot. And, I can't make myself do it.

DA revolver...DAK...TDA, yeah.

1911, Glock and, even to some degree HK's LEM, Not so much. (the jury is out on the HK LEM. The mainspring energy is stored, but, the hammer is down, I don't THINK it could fire if the sear let loose)

 

[Phydeaux642]

The guy that makes Smartcarry holsters carries a full size 1911 in his. I carry a 642 in mine and it carries real well. The full size 1911 seems a bit much. When I ride my bicycle I swing it around to my strong side. I like mine for how I dress.

 

[orionengnr]

I am wearing a Kahr P45 in a Smart Carry as I type this....

 

[Yo Mama]

OP, is it safe? Yes, as long as nothing touches the trigger. Better question-is this the best method to carry? NO!

Both thunderwear and smartcarry lose their novelty quickly. They just are not comfortable. For deep concealment in a g19, i'd go IWB all the way.

I went through a few holsters to figure this out.

 

[HowardCohodas]

Another data point.

I am 5' 9" 200 lbs. I carry an M&P 45fs with an attached XTI Procyon weapon light plus an extended 14-round spare magazine plus and extended 15 round magazine for my BUG 380 in my SmartCarry.

Since I carry my BUG in my front pants pocket on my non-dominant side, I have options when speed of draw is essential. If the problem is up close and personal, the LCP BUG is more likely to be first to the party. There is hardly anything faster than a gun already in your hand. This is easy with a pocket gun like the LCP. If the problem is more distant and exiting is not an option, then cover and drawing from the SmartCarry is not a problem.

Although I carry spare magazines for both my carry guns, a "New York reload" is a good alternative. A New York Reload is bringing a second gun into action rather than reloading with a fresh magazine.

Charlie (SmartCarry owner) gives you 60 days to decide if it's for you if you buy it from him rather than from a distributor.

Some take to the SmartCarry without effort. It took me nearly three weeks to work out all the details of comfort in all modes of carry and transitioning between them. The only mode where the SmartCarry fails for me is carrying while driving. I added a Universal ClipDraw to my M&P to carry at 10:00 while seated in a car. This has the additional advantage of being at the place where trouble is most likely to occur, i.e. the driver's side window. Not having to transition the steering wheel is a great advantage.



This picture was taken before I added the extended 15-round magazine for the LCP (380). The spare magazine goes in the additional pocket in back in the "security" model and nestles nicely between the M&P and it's spare magazine.