AIWB holster question????

[AFP22811]

hey guys, im new to the forum so first and foremost hello! im waiting on my concealed carry permit to go through here in OK and while i'm waiting i have been considering many different types of holsters. i currently own a sig sauer p228 that i love and i will soon be purchasing a m&p shield or 9mm compact for a warmer weather carry gun. last summer my dad and i attended a class at the sig sauer academy and our instructor recommended the raven concealment appendix carry rig. i did some research on AIWB and decided to give it a try. i carry the gun around the house in this holster from time to time and im still not sold on it. here is my issue: when i carry the gun (UNLOADED) simply in my waistband in the 1 o'clock position, i love it. i find it to be very concealable and comfortable. but, i obviously would never carry a loaded gun this way. the trigger is not covered and there is no retention. when i put on the ACR holster, the retention and safety are great, but i lose some concealability and lots of comfort. the gun is not small to begin with, and when i pair it with that holster, it just seems like too much bulk. so im not sure what to do! i like AIWB, but im not sure what other holsters to try. i already feel that i have wasted $100 on this holster, i dont feel like spending hundreds more looking at holsters. anyone have any recommendations? anyone ever AIWB'ed with a belly band? im considering scratching the whole idea and purchasing a crossbreed-type holster too. any help would be much appreciated, thanks guys

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[zacii]

Everybody goes through a lot of different holsters, regardless of carry position, because every body is so different.

Do a search on appendix carry, here on the forum, and you'll find almost endless resources regarding holsters, methods, etc.

I prefer appendix myself and use a few different holsters.

A Dale Fricke Archangel, a High Noon Public Secret, High Noon Mr. Softy, and a clipless Remora.

Don't overlook a quality belt. You can have the best holsters on the market, but without a decent belt it's only half of the equation.

Check out the links in this thread: Appendix carry advice



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[Catalina]

Dale Fricke is the only AIWB I have found that works for me. I have tried them all to date excepting Raven Concealment Systems ACR.

Got to dress around the gun. Baggy belly hiding shirts that a lot of guys have to wear to cover up their pot bellies or post college-days spread formation work great.

That and a Wilderness Tactical type nylon webbing belt with some stiffness do the trick.

Don't forget the extra inch or two in pants size.

[WoodLark]

For my Shield, I find that the AIWB holster from JM Custom Kydex | What gun? works perfectly. If you prefer leather, the best I have found for AIWB wear is AKJ/Concealco, but I don't know if he makes one for the Shield.

[kg4ghn]

Dale Fricke Archangel

Wilderness instructor belt.

One thing, when I carry AIWB(which I do everyday) I loosen my belt a lot more than if I'm wearing strong side, this lets the holster move up and down as you move/bend and makes it much more comfortable. I just carried like that during a two day training class and had zero problems with my belt being a little loose.



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[jarhead79]

I cannot carry any auto AIWB. I can carry a revolver there all day. The grip is so thick that for most people, printing is going to be a major problem. Plus, depending on your body type and clothing choice, it may not be comfortable having a gun there, period. It will be fine at first, but wear it for a few hours, and your whole '
area' will tell you a different story.

[wagon]

I love Mitch Rosen Clipper ($60 ish), easy on/off, low ride, straight drop allows me to whear anywhere between 1 to 3 oclock. Best: the steel clip has a reverse hook I can wear it without a belt. NOT the purdiest... but EFFECTIVE.

I have total 4 of them for various subcompacts.. that's how much i like it.

[AZJD1968]

Old School has an active thread on this topic also and he picked this:
http://www.highnoonholsters.com/Prod...et_w_clip.html

Here is his tuckable version.

Alter Ego

They just may work for you.

[AZJD1968]

I love Mitch Rosen Clipper ($60 ish), easy on/off, low ride, straight drop allows me to whear anywhere between 1 to 3 oclock. Best: the steel clip has a reverse hook I can wear it without a belt. NOT the purdiest... but EFFECTIVE.

I have total 4 of them for various subcompacts.. that's how much i like it.

Nice belt! I have been wearing the wilderness instructor everyday for almost 3 years. I highly recomend it!

[45ACP4ever]

The grip is so thick that for most people, printing is going to be a major problem. Plus, depending on your body type and clothing choice, it may not be comfortable having a gun there, period. It will be fine at first, but wear it for a few hours, and your whole 'area' will tell you a different story.

I used to think AIWB would be extremely uncomfortable for a guy proportioned like me, but now I carry a Springfield XD9 Service AIWB clothing permitting ie if I can wear some sort of cover garment, I'm golden. I'm 5'8" and about 215lbs with a goodly portion located in the belly region (don't worry, it's being worked on). I carry with a holster from Dale Fricke as well (I'm stoked to see so many Fricke fans!) but I use a Zacchaeus which is a plastic piece that clips over the trigger guard covering the trigger, and it has a loop of cord that goes around the belt. Your belt tension holds the gun in place and it is extremely comfortable and the lowest bulk you can get safely holster-wise. Yeah, if you wear tight shirts you are going to have an issue, but if you are wearing a bigger shirt like most people who CCW do, you shouldn't have an issue. I also use a Remora holster with a Kahr CM9 for seriously low-pro concealment. I will say that the only time I have had an issue with AIWB was trying on shoes ooooomph

Secret for sitting for longer periods of time, loosen the belt or pop the gun up a little bit since the shirt is probably billowed out a little bit anyway. A lot less digging in the groin, which frankly will make us all happier.

[JerryMac]

UBGHolsters.com ..... very high quality, about all i use anymore.....