I will soon be recieveing my CHL in a month or so and know little as of yet as to how I will carry. What are the different options? I will be carrying a Ruger P89 (may downsize in the future and use that as a truck gun) starting out. I'm about 6'2'' and 190 lbs, tall and lanky. Most likely I wont carry every day all day as I'm a painter and also a university student and cant carry at school. I also don't need my guns painted up either. :wink:
Whats the best concealed carry method in your opinion
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Nathan, you'll get a myriad of oppinions on this and this is just mine. I've carried both inside and outside the waistband and depending on attire, size of gun and so on I've found both ways have their place, but one constant I always follow is carry on your strongside. For me the optimal position is about 4 0' clock. Strongside is best in my oppinion for access to weapon and weapon retention. Just my .02
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Nathan - at risk of being awful boring - it is and probably will be - ''what works for you'' :wink:
That is not a cop-out - quite simply our builds, day-to-day lives (work etc) and our choices therefore re dress etc - all play a huge part.
I am lucky - I work at home - I dress casual (wife says scruffy sometimes LOL) - but this allows me to have a suitable cover garment of choice (geared to carry) almost at all times. Always strong side BTW.
So - my method is solely for most part - 3.30 OWB - and a good long shirt to cover, invariably unbuttoned - occasionally I do resort to other ways. I can and do carry full size all the time - hardly tho what some guys could manage in an office!!
You may well have to assess re your build and clothing options and move on from there - sorta refine down what you might manage.
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Can't find link for the minute but I did post a thread not long ago - with a diagram showing body shapes and how I felt they could alter folk's choices. If I find that I'll come and add it.
Here ya go - it may give you some thoughts re your body type - maybe!
http://www.combatcarry.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=6794
`
That is not a cop-out - quite simply our builds, day-to-day lives (work etc) and our choices therefore re dress etc - all play a huge part.
I am lucky - I work at home - I dress casual (wife says scruffy sometimes LOL) - but this allows me to have a suitable cover garment of choice (geared to carry) almost at all times. Always strong side BTW.
So - my method is solely for most part - 3.30 OWB - and a good long shirt to cover, invariably unbuttoned - occasionally I do resort to other ways. I can and do carry full size all the time - hardly tho what some guys could manage in an office!!
You may well have to assess re your build and clothing options and move on from there - sorta refine down what you might manage.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Can't find link for the minute but I did post a thread not long ago - with a diagram showing body shapes and how I felt they could alter folk's choices. If I find that I'll come and add it.
Here ya go - it may give you some thoughts re your body type - maybe!
http://www.combatcarry.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=6794
`
As has already been mentioned, the best method is what works for you. This will take some trial and error, unfortunately, but there are a few universal points:
-Start buying your shirts, sweaters, sweatshirts, etc. a little bigger. Once you start to carry you'll need a little extra room. Try to stick to darker colors or at least fabrics that have some sort of design that will distract the eye from any momentary bulges.
-Buy a sturdy belt if you're going to carry on your waist. Since you're in school, I'll assume you aren't rolling in cash. A good, reasonably priced belt is the Wilderness Instructor's belt. See:http://thewilderness.com/catalog/default.php/cPath/3
The three or five stitch models are fine - I'd stay away from the Combat Shooter's Model because it is stiffer than you need unless you're hanging a LOT of stuff on your belt.
-Buy a good quality leather or Kydex holster; stay away from the cheap generic nylon holsters.
-Most people, including me, recommend that you avoid Small of Back (SOB) style holsters. There's a great potential for back injury if you should fall or be knocked down on your back with the weapon against your spine.
-If you have the cash, a quality belt, mag pouch, and holster combo from a custom maker will serve you well and last a long time.
Living in AR, I'd suggest starting with an Inside the Waist Band (IWB) holster, considering the warm weather. These tend to hide a little better than OWB, which will give you a little more flexibilty with your outer cover garment.
Of course, YMMV. Check out the holster section of this and other forums for more ideas.
Good luck.
SSKC
-Start buying your shirts, sweaters, sweatshirts, etc. a little bigger. Once you start to carry you'll need a little extra room. Try to stick to darker colors or at least fabrics that have some sort of design that will distract the eye from any momentary bulges.
-Buy a sturdy belt if you're going to carry on your waist. Since you're in school, I'll assume you aren't rolling in cash. A good, reasonably priced belt is the Wilderness Instructor's belt. See:http://thewilderness.com/catalog/default.php/cPath/3
The three or five stitch models are fine - I'd stay away from the Combat Shooter's Model because it is stiffer than you need unless you're hanging a LOT of stuff on your belt.
-Buy a good quality leather or Kydex holster; stay away from the cheap generic nylon holsters.
-Most people, including me, recommend that you avoid Small of Back (SOB) style holsters. There's a great potential for back injury if you should fall or be knocked down on your back with the weapon against your spine.
-If you have the cash, a quality belt, mag pouch, and holster combo from a custom maker will serve you well and last a long time.
Living in AR, I'd suggest starting with an Inside the Waist Band (IWB) holster, considering the warm weather. These tend to hide a little better than OWB, which will give you a little more flexibilty with your outer cover garment.
Of course, YMMV. Check out the holster section of this and other forums for more ideas.
Good luck.
SSKC
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The best concealed carry method is the one that is most comfy for you.
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AND is comfortable for you, given the clothing, your build and the particular gun!HotGuns said:
There is no "magic bullet" here. Too many variables to give more than general answers. That's why most of us have boxes of holsters that we've tried. :icon_neutral:
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Concealed Carry Methods
I'm relatively new at this, so consider the source. I got in my DeSantis E-Z Rider II this week and have been wearing it everyday. No one has noticed anything different. I work in a college situation as a reference librarian and I have always had various things hanging from my belt. Evidently having another thing hanging on the belt is easy to accept. I also carry an attache case and until I got the E-Z Rider II in I carried a large leather case that has compartments on both sides. It was designed to hold a laptop computer on one side and other things on the other. The laptop side has leather straps to secure the cover. The other side has velcro closures. I was carrying the pistol in the laptop section while waiting for the E-Z Rider II and as soon as I got it in I swapped to a smaller attache. People who see me think the E-Z Rider is a day time or carrier for a palm pilot. At least this seems to be the opinion. Since I went from the big attache case to the small one they think I just got a new way to carry.
I chose the E-Z Rider for several reasons. I have worked in IT and have carried meters and tools on my belt so another item on the belt was not an obvious change for me. In fact I already had a cell phone on one hip. The E-Z Rider was more my style than a fanny pack. The E-Z Rider uses the same paddle to secure it to my pants as the DeSantis paddle holsters use. This makes it easy for me to put on and take off, but makes it almost impossible for someone else to remove. There are other belt packs available, but I did not find any that used a paddle except this one. DeSantis makes them in two sizes. It also carries my spare magazine. I wear it at about 10:30. This makes it accessible from the strong (crossdraw) and the weak side. In my practice with it I have used the weak (left) had to unzip to about half way down the side and have drawn with the strong hand. It works quite well. Although using the weak hand to draw is not as easy, it is not difficult.
As has been said before you have to find what is comfortable for you. I tried several things and with my geek reputation from IT involvement and my reference librarian job (only reinforced the geek reputation) no one thinks anything of me having another computer, palm pilot, day timer, tool, meter etc attached to my waist. It works for me.
I'm relatively new at this, so consider the source. I got in my DeSantis E-Z Rider II this week and have been wearing it everyday. No one has noticed anything different. I work in a college situation as a reference librarian and I have always had various things hanging from my belt. Evidently having another thing hanging on the belt is easy to accept. I also carry an attache case and until I got the E-Z Rider II in I carried a large leather case that has compartments on both sides. It was designed to hold a laptop computer on one side and other things on the other. The laptop side has leather straps to secure the cover. The other side has velcro closures. I was carrying the pistol in the laptop section while waiting for the E-Z Rider II and as soon as I got it in I swapped to a smaller attache. People who see me think the E-Z Rider is a day time or carrier for a palm pilot. At least this seems to be the opinion. Since I went from the big attache case to the small one they think I just got a new way to carry.
I chose the E-Z Rider for several reasons. I have worked in IT and have carried meters and tools on my belt so another item on the belt was not an obvious change for me. In fact I already had a cell phone on one hip. The E-Z Rider was more my style than a fanny pack. The E-Z Rider uses the same paddle to secure it to my pants as the DeSantis paddle holsters use. This makes it easy for me to put on and take off, but makes it almost impossible for someone else to remove. There are other belt packs available, but I did not find any that used a paddle except this one. DeSantis makes them in two sizes. It also carries my spare magazine. I wear it at about 10:30. This makes it accessible from the strong (crossdraw) and the weak side. In my practice with it I have used the weak (left) had to unzip to about half way down the side and have drawn with the strong hand. It works quite well. Although using the weak hand to draw is not as easy, it is not difficult.
As has been said before you have to find what is comfortable for you. I tried several things and with my geek reputation from IT involvement and my reference librarian job (only reinforced the geek reputation) no one thinks anything of me having another computer, palm pilot, day timer, tool, meter etc attached to my waist. It works for me.
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Just know for sure, that you too will end up with a holster drawer. Your just like the rest of us, always searching for the perfect holster, and for some reason we cant be happy with the one rig we have used for years. Its why we still buy and buy and shop for the next, newest holster. Have fun and there is alot of advice posted above that is awsome, but ultimatly it will be what works for you.
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Nathan,
I can't carry right now. I have 9 months until I'm 21. But I have started to search for my ideal way to carry right now so I'm good to go in Nov and I have been wearing the holster/gun around the house. I will carry a GLOCK 26 on my strongside (right). I'm 6'0 175lbs so we are of similar build. I wear my pants a little low so I find I cannot comfortably carry in the front. The 4:00 to 5:00 position works best for me (just behind my hip to slightly right of the center of my back). I can sit comfortably and this position doesn't print very much.
As for the equipment I used to think a Galco Skyops IWB holster would work but I quickly discovered my shirts would hang up on the clip and the leather made for a slower draw and impossible to reholster 1 handed (My 1st holster for the draw). I did some research and decided to go with a kydex holster. I just got my Comp-Tac C.T.A.C. slide holster in today and wore it for several hours. Check out their website www.comp-tac.com. It was very comfortable and weapon draw is quick. The holster is very stable and can easily be configured to meet you carry style. I know I've only had it for 1 day but I know this is the holster for me. I currently use just a normal 1.5" leather belt and found that it worked just find but I might switch to a real gun belt in the future. I kind of like www.ligerproducts.com.
I can't carry right now. I have 9 months until I'm 21. But I have started to search for my ideal way to carry right now so I'm good to go in Nov and I have been wearing the holster/gun around the house. I will carry a GLOCK 26 on my strongside (right). I'm 6'0 175lbs so we are of similar build. I wear my pants a little low so I find I cannot comfortably carry in the front. The 4:00 to 5:00 position works best for me (just behind my hip to slightly right of the center of my back). I can sit comfortably and this position doesn't print very much.
As for the equipment I used to think a Galco Skyops IWB holster would work but I quickly discovered my shirts would hang up on the clip and the leather made for a slower draw and impossible to reholster 1 handed (My 1st holster for the draw). I did some research and decided to go with a kydex holster. I just got my Comp-Tac C.T.A.C. slide holster in today and wore it for several hours. Check out their website www.comp-tac.com. It was very comfortable and weapon draw is quick. The holster is very stable and can easily be configured to meet you carry style. I know I've only had it for 1 day but I know this is the holster for me. I currently use just a normal 1.5" leather belt and found that it worked just find but I might switch to a real gun belt in the future. I kind of like www.ligerproducts.com.
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All very good opinions in this thread. Myself, I carry IWB at 1:30 strong-side when I am out and about. At home, I switch to either a 4:30 carry IWB or I just toss my XD into the useless OWB XD-Gear holster that came with the gun. The chepao XD-Gear is fine for bumming around the house.
Look at all the options. Check out numerous holsters and opinions on them. It might take a few holsters to get the "wonder-fit" you are looking for, but it's certainly worth it to find the right one. I'm comfortable with my Desantis for now, but I'll be looking into a nice leather IWB this summer when I order one for my wife.
Look at all the options. Check out numerous holsters and opinions on them. It might take a few holsters to get the "wonder-fit" you are looking for, but it's certainly worth it to find the right one. I'm comfortable with my Desantis for now, but I'll be looking into a nice leather IWB this summer when I order one for my wife.
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a few months ago I would have said IWB or OWB, but recently I have been fond of the shoulder holster.
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I have been carrying concealed for many, many years. Over those years I have learned that there are a number of variables involved in successful concealed carry and these variables are active and interactive. Among them is the gun, its size, the holster, the belt, your clothes, the location of the gun, your comfort, the opportunity to draw, your body build, and so on. I have never found a formula that I could apply such that the result guaranteed me a safe, reliable, successful, stable, easily drawn, concealed carry method. For me it has been a matter of experimentation (trial and error too) until I got it just "right". So, when folks post here asking "what's the best holster", or, for that matter, what's the "best" anything I just smile. There just is not much that is a priori the best. Takes some hunting to find out what's best for you.:danceban:
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Therein DairyCreek lies the road (well trodden) to the infamous holster box/draw :rofl:
IMO it is inevitable - no way to know what works so often, without trying. That said - a good custom rig from one of our elite leathersmiths will most certainly tend to reduce the problem :smilez:
Definitely, the only way to find out is to try every different method you can think of. If you are anything like me, you won't find a way that satisfies you completly. There are drawbacks to every method of carry whether it be concealment, comfort, or draw related. You just have to find a good balance between the three.
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