How deep do you carry your pistol?

[breakingcontact]

My White Hat holster (crossbreed style) has about 6 mounting levels. I've been carrying with the kydex even with my waist band. I've since dropped it down a notch which lets the pistol sit down about 3/4" lower. It changes how I grab it to draw and got me thinking.

Is this just a compromise between a quick grab and draw vs concealability?

What do you prefer and why?

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[aus71383]

It will conceal best if the grip is underneath your belt - the higher it is the easier it will be to draw from. It's a compromise.

I like to be able to get a full grip on my pistol - which means I need enough height to get my fingers in between my belt and the grip. For most guys that carry at 4:00 or so I don't think it's as much of an issue, since they have a lot of cant built into the holster already so the grip is up above the belt line.

Austin

[rednichols]

I like to be able to get a full grip on my pistol - which means I need enough height to get my fingers in between my belt and the grip.

It IS the obvious answer; not even any point in rephrasing it.

[Mike1956]

A 20-degree forward cant allows a very low ride combined with an ease of grip while affording excellent concealment on my edc guns. Mark at Midworld Gunleather made a kydex holster for my DeltaPoint-equipped Glock 17/19, and it is absolutely perfect. The bottom of the sight rides 1/16" above the top edge of my pants, the grip cants forward far enough to allow a flawless, easy grip and draw, and it is contoured enough to be all-day comfortable. All this with great concealment through the entire range of activities and motion.

[Snatale42]

Different guns and holsters are different, but there is no purpose of carrying a gun you can't get to quickly. Most guns carried at 3:00-4:00 with a 15-20° forward can't should hide very well and be very accessible. If you can't get your fingers under the grip, it's too low.

[joker1]

My CBST rides with the kydex just above the top of the jeans, biggest advantage is reholstering. I can get a full grip on the grip when drawing.

[Timkid]

Carry in a old faithful holster in the 2nd hole. The kydex is about 3/4 of a inch above my jeans and makes it very easy to grip/ reholster gun.

[ghost tracker]

Ideally, I already have my pistol in my hand at eye level when trouble arrives. When trouble is miles away and I'm dressed in nothing but a Speedo swimsuit, I like it to be completely, invisibly concealed. The very nature of concealed carry is a continuous and very personal series of compromises. Those compromises include what; handgun, caliber, holster, belt, clothes, etc. etc. that works best...for YOU. For me to address your question, I would want to know if you carry a revolver or an autoloader, what size, if it's SA, DA/SA or "safety-triggered", if it's got an exposed hammer, bobbed or is striker-fired, what cover garments do you have to clear, what style & material of grips that you prefer...(again) etc., etc.

IMHO, there's a BUNCH of details that you've omitted. To answer your question "Is this just a compromise between a quick grab and draw vs concealability?" - my answer is clearly - YES!

[GraySkies]

CBST with the kydex just a smidge below the top of my jeans, with maximum forward cant. I can just get my fingers under the grip of my XDsc because of the cant, and it is almost invisible even in a lightweight overshirt.

Having it that low makes reholstering a bit more difficult because the top of the jeans will pull in just a bit once you draw. I'm considering raising it up one hole and seeing if that helps, although to this point the ease of reholstering hasn't really been a big consideration for me.

[Richard58]

Just deep enough so others can't see my pistol but where I can lay hands on it a flash if needed.