Printing ?

[McKnife]

I've been having the same problem with my XD-45... the grip is just so stinkin long and sticks out like crazy if I wear anything other than a super-baggy shirt.

I was hoping a supertuck would solve this, but not I'm not sure.

[bdickens]

Are you sure you're really printing? Some pics might help. Remember, "printing" means that a distinct outline of what is obviously part of a pistol can be seen. A bulge under your shirt, however large, is not necessarily "printing."

Probably no matter what, and how, you carry, you will have to be more conscious of how you move. Bending at the knee instead of at the waist eliminates most printing. So does keeping your back straight while you sit down. Naturally, you want to bend at the waist when you sit, but conscious effort can overcome that.

How many people get their CHL and then rarely carry because they don't feel comfortable doing so?

CHL's should probably spend a lot of time practicing moving about while carrying. We practice our marksmanship, practice drawing from concealment, practice engaging multiple targets, practice speed reloads and all kinds of other stuff. But we never practice going about our daily lives without revealing ourselves. It actually takes practice to be able to perform the basic functions of our lives with confidence and naturalness. Herein lies the importance of the Wally Walk.

Practice sitting down. Practice picking things up. Practice reaching, bending and twisting. Find out what works; how, and how far you can move. Practice until it becomes second nature.

I am the same size as you and I carry a Glock 19. After 7/12 years of wearing BDUs to work every day, I find loose fitting clothes more comfortable. I would normally wear a "large" T-shirt, but I found that an "extra large" T-Shirt is just bigger enough to conceal better yet not look obviously too big. Just like the G19 is just smaller enough that the G17 to conceal better. "Relaxed fit" jeans are perfect for concealment for me. The "regular fit" ones are too restrictive even without the gun. Also, some brands of clothes are cut a little more generously than others for the same nominal size.

Keep experimenting and don't give up. You'll find what works for you.

Oh, and keep in mind that most people are so oblivious to what is going on around them that you could just about open carry and not be noticed.

[Excaliber]

Are you sure you're really printing? Some pics might help. Remember, "printing" means that a distinct outline of what is obviously part of a pistol can be seen. A bulge under your shirt, however large, is not necessarily "printing."

Probably no matter what, and how, you carry, you will have to be more conscious of how you move. Bending at the knee instead of at the waist eliminates most printing. So does keeping your back straight while you sit down. Naturally, you want to bend at the waist when you sit, but conscious effort can overcome that.

How many people get their CHL and then rarely carry because they don't feel comfortable doing so?

CHL's should probably spend a lot of time practicing moving about while carrying. We practice our marksmanship, practice drawing from concealment, practice engaging multiple targets, practice speed reloads and all kinds of other stuff. But we never practice going about our daily lives without revealing ourselves. It actually takes practice to be able to perform the basic functions of our lives with confidence and naturalness. Herein lies the importance of the Wally Walk.

Practice sitting down. Practice picking things up. Practice reaching, bending and twisting. Find out what works; how, and how far you can move. Practice until it becomes second nature.

I am the same size as you and I carry a Glock 19. After 7/12 years of wearing BDUs to work every day, I find loose fitting clothes more comfortable. I would normally wear a "large" T-shirt, but I found that an "extra large" T-Shirt is just bigger enough to conceal better yet not look obviously too big. Just like the G19 is just smaller enough that the G17 to conceal better. "Relaxed fit" jeans are perfect for concealment for me. The "regular fit" ones are too restrictive even without the gun. Also, some brands of clothes are cut a little more generously than others for the same nominal size.

Keep experimenting and don't give up. You'll find what works for you.

Oh, and keep in mind that most people are so oblivious to what is going on around them that you could just about open carry and not be noticed.

Good post - great advice.

[mr.72]

Yeah thanks, guys.

It's not printing. It's sticking out obviously though. I mean VERY obviously. I don't have any pictures at the moment but if I can't sort it out maybe I'll make some.

The real problem is that the gun is moving with my leg, not with my upper body. So when my leg is going forward (like sitting), then the handle of the gun prints because the gun is tilting in the direction of my leg.

I realize most people won't notice and wouldn't even figure it was a gun even if they did... but anyone who is even remotely clued in is going to notice instantly.

[Excaliber]

Yeah thanks, guys.

It's not printing. It's sticking out obviously though. I mean VERY obviously. I don't have any pictures at the moment but if I can't sort it out maybe I'll make some.

The real problem is that the gun is moving with my leg, not with my upper body. So when my leg is going forward (like sitting), then the handle of the gun prints because the gun is tilting in the direction of my leg.

I realize most people won't notice and wouldn't even figure it was a gun even if they did... but anyone who is even remotely clued in is going to notice instantly.

I think I'm missing something here. I'm having trouble figuring out how a gun mounted on the waist could move with the leg.

Please take pictures of your rig with the gun in it and your shirt up, standing and sitting, so we can see how it's configured.

I suspect the solution will be easy to figure out once we have a visual.

[kitty]

I'm female so this may not work for you, but I print really bad if I carry on my hip; it just doesn't work. I carry using an IWB on my left front, so I can draw with my right hand. The grip rests against my skin near my belly button, and I really don't have much of a problem, as long as I don't wear shirts that are too snug. I may have to adjust the grip a little after getting out of my vehicle, but that only takes second. The only thing that really prints is the clip on my holster which looks like a pager or a cell phone. Nobody ever notices.

[mr.72]

If the waist of my jeans was 3" higher, then it would be far enough above my hip joint that the belt would move along with my upper body when I sit. But as it is, when I sit or bend it pulls the gun down and away from my hip.

[jmorris]

If the waist of my jeans was 3" higher, then it would be far enough above my hip joint that the belt would move along with my upper body when I sit. But as it is, when I sit or bend it pulls the gun down and away from my hip.

Man, we are going to need photos because I just cannot envision this. This is my SW40VE in my supertuck.




Yeah, I know. The belt rides down, I'm fat. Honest doctor, I'm going to loose weight.

[mr.72]

you see how your belt is at an angle? tilting up towards the back?

mine doesn't do that. my belt is essentially level.

if you were to re-adjust your jeans so that your belt was level (like if you had less gut in the way, you might move the belt up higher in the front), then you would have the same problem as I have.

Those jeans are about 3" higher waisted than my jeans. Clearly if you level them (wear them with the belt basically level), then you will see that they are up over your belly button. I realize they probably won't fit you that way but I went out and bought a pair of 33/34 jeans of that same brand/type, then they would be up over my belly button when I wore them. To get jeans that ride at that same front belt-line for me, I end up with jeans that ride much lower in the back.

So basically this is why I think I need a lot more cant. You have about 15 or 20 degrees of extra "cant" due to the belt angle, and I need that much more with my holster. Unfortunately this was a used holster and it is old. The cant is not adjustable without making destructive modifications to the holster (which is not a bad idea, just something that needs to be done).

However I did notice that I can appendix-carry pretty easily. That makes it nearly impossible for my shirt tail to get hung up over the grip of the gun.

[Keith B]

you see how your belt is at an angle? tilting up towards the back?

mine doesn't do that. my belt is essentially level.

if you were to re-adjust your jeans so that your belt was level (like if you had less gut in the way, you might move the belt up higher in the front), then you would have the same problem as I have.

Those jeans are about 3" higher waisted than my jeans. Clearly if you level them (wear them with the belt basically level), then you will see that they are up over your belly button. I realize they probably won't fit you that way but I went out and bought a pair of 33/34 jeans of that same brand/type, then they would be up over my belly button when I wore them. To get jeans that ride at that same front belt-line for me, I end up with jeans that ride much lower in the back.

So basically this is why I think I need a lot more cant. You have about 15 or 20 degrees of extra "cant" due to the belt angle, and I need that much more with my holster. Unfortunately this was a used holster and it is old. The cant is not adjustable without making destructive modifications to the holster (which is not a bad idea, just something that needs to be done).

However I did notice that I can appendix-carry pretty easily. That makes it nearly impossible for my shirt tail to get hung up over the grip of the gun.

I have figured out the problem; you are just WAY too thin to carry properly. You need to stop exercising and eat more biscuits and gravy so you can carry the way a lot of the rest of us do.

Seriously, I think you have hit the right thing. When I was slim (actually SKINNY and many years ago), I could carry appendix or SOB. Hip carry IWB was hard as I had minimal body mass at profile to help cover from the side. I was carrying either a 4" model 66 or a Chiefs Special when I was not in uniform. I can't appendix carry any more do to 'done-lap disease" (stomach done lapped over my belt. ) So, I do understand your plight, but as many have said, you just have to find what works for your body, clothing and weapon and make some adjustments accordingly.

Keep working at it and soon you will be out there armed and ready!!

[mr.72]

Thanks Keith B.

I think I will probably stick with the appendix carry in my Smartcarry for the time being.

I would like to use this IWB but I will have to adjust the cant first. The Crossbreed is really comfortable, considering there's this giant thing shoved in your waist band :)