Winter Concealed Carry?

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Alan Fud

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Having spent the past several years living in the FL Everglades, winter & summer concealed carry were the same -- either a belly band or an inside the waist holster with an untucked oversized shirt.

How do people in colder climates effectively conceal a firearm so that the gun is both easily accessible and still well concealed?
 
Its easier in the winter. I just put a coat on what I normally wear. I work plain clothes and I carry my Kimber Custom Classic 1911 in a Galco Inside the wasteband rig. I wear jeans, t shirt with a unbuttoned collared shirt over the gun. In the winter a coat goes over the shirts. Its simply not zipped up. If I need to zip it up. I just pull up on the coat instead of sweeping back.
Pat
 
I agree that it is easier to conceal in the winter. I normally wear a tucked undershirt and a sweatshirt or other un-tucked article over that. I carry with a Sidearmor IWB when dressing this way.

During the summer, I usually carry a Desantis belt pouch because it doesn't look as bad as a fanny pack, most people think it is a diabetic emergency kit, and I think that deep concealment articles are too much of a hindrance if a fast draw is required.
 
Does the shirt still go over the gun?

If so, doesn't that slow access to the gun?

If not, what happens if you have to go someplace where the jacket has to come off?
 
Alan,

It will soon cease to be hot and sweaty up here ..... and I can then at last cease to make my snub the carry piece.... not my fave at all.

Soon, my std wear will be T-Shirt over which will be loose shirt ...... my optimal carry dress and that way over whole winter ...... with maybe an added layer or two at times.

I always have the T-Shirt tucked in .... the piece then, (P series) will be either in Fobus paddle at 4 o'clock or, my Bianchi sho rig ..... and in either case is quick to access. One of the few benefits .... and believe me from my point of view they are FEW ......... of winter are ....... really good carry methods and suitable piece ....... plus, the damn bugs go on vacation!!!
 
The shirt normally stays on as well. Its a little slower but I can still make the times for the qualification. When you grab underneath your jacket just make sure you get a good handfull. If I am not wearing the shirt I simply take my jacket off carefully in resturants and what not by lowering it around my waste.
Pat
 
How do people in colder climates effectively conceal a firearm so that the gun is both easily accessible and still well concealed?
Click to expand...
Sweaters & sweatshirts in the winter, tee shirts untucked or blouses with a light vest in the summer. If I wear a heavy coat, I leave it unbuttoned most the time anyway.

My draw technique, winter and summer, is the same regardless of what I'm wearing.

When I draw, I grab a good handful of cover garment with my left hand, as far toward my right side as I can comfortably reach, and pull up. Right hand goes for the gun, left hand drops the garment and meets the gun hand as it moves toward point.

Yes, I do this even with garments that could be swept back instead -- because I do not want to build muscle memory in for a draw technique that works with only half of what I wear.

pax
 
Yes, I do this even with garments that could be swept back instead -- because I do not want to build muscle memory in for a draw technique that works with only half of what I wear.
END

Very good point. I normally leave my coat un buttoned. For those rare occaisions when its -40 below I figure the difference in muscle memory is worth staying warm. Sometimes I wear a fanny pack when jogging. Thats different. It can mess you up. When I do that I do about 10 dry practice presentations before leaving for work or going out.
Pat
 
OWB.
Shirt tucked behind holsters if coat on.
Shirt over holsters if coat off.
Shirt tucked behind holsters if in car too, even if coat off.

Sam
 
I can't believe I am going to say this, but...........I do concealed carry pretty much like Pat does. Every now and then me and him agree. But you will see Alan, here in the Lehigh Valley it isn't the norm for it to be frigid. Heck I spend most of the winter just wearing a t-shirt tucked in and a pull over sweatshirt on top. If I have an untucked buttondown shirt on, I usually have a vest on top.
 
Similar to Pax.
Coat is open indoors, often open outdoors.
The biggest difference in winter is that I'm more likely to carry a bigger gun.

Larry
 
Same gun IWB, same gun in purse.

Add one or two hammerless J-frames to outer coat pockets, pref one on strong side, one on weak, just in case I'm zipped up.

I like winter; I can tote more guns.
 
Alan, don't they have coats, pants, boots, and sweatshirts in Florida?

Unless you are talking about being some place like Alberta, things are hugely different, but there may be some serious issues with gloves, which I assume you also have in Florida.
 
I keep it simple - OWB at 4:00 underneath a jacket for knocking around. This is the most comfortable, and the most typical, since I live at 7200ft in CO.

If I think I will need to take off my jacket, I put a pullover (sweater, sweatshirt, etc) on underneath my jacket, so that it covers my holster.

If I have to dress up more - out for the evening or something, I use a Galco underwrap/bellyband underneath my shirt and carry something a little smaller like a 38 snubbie.
 
This will be my First winter of CCW,I got my restictions taken off in march.Most of the time I don't button my coat(if I even wear one)....I almost never "bundle up"...I'm always hot.I assume it will be easier to conceal a bigger gun ,so now I can carry my usual(SP101) or my Glock17..it will be good to have a choice.:cool:
 
It rains here most of the time. I use a Galco concealable hip holster and can wear either a Levi's jacket or a an oversized quilted flannel shirt (used as a jacket/coat). This works well to conceal my LW Commander.

ZM
 
I go from IWB to OWB during the winter months.

I also go from a Glock 19 to a Taurus PT100AFS in .40

Like the full size for the winter months cause its easier to conceal. Also like the increase of power when the layers of clothes comes out.
 
well, this will be my first winter with a CCW, but I suppose all I will do is switch from untucked t-shirt over an MK40 IWB to untucked workshirt over t-shirt over Beretta 92F IWB. Garnish with 1 (one) Coat, Cold Weather, Field M-65 (in "tactical" black). I may or may not get a shoulder holster for the 92F. seems like it would be practical for me for winter, but I've heard bad things about shohos, too. anyone have experience with shoulder holsters?
 
anyone have experience with shoulder holsters?
END

They are great for someone who is seated during most of their work day or will likely be seated during the time they need their side arm. This applies to drivers and pilots and the like. The disadvantages are that they have special weapon retention issues. Your gun is actually easier for someone in front of you to grab than for yourself. If its a horizontal holster you will cover many people with your muzzle during the course of the day. during your weapon presentation you may cover the person to your left or right unless you use the pull roll down and roll back up draw. But this draw is slower. For general use I recomend against them. For drivers and pilots there may be nothing better.
Pat
 
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