Printing ?

[mr.72]

I just got a "new" (used) holster, Crossbreed Supertuck that's a couple of years old:

http://www.crossbreedholsters.com/

This is with my S&W SW9VE (G19 size gun).

It works great when I am standing or walking around but sitting or bending causes the grip to protrude very noticeably (dunno how the dude on the little video doesn't have this problem ... I guess his pants ride much higher).

Any tips? I can't see how a gun with a shorter grip is going to help much. It's not protruding by 3/8", it's like 3".

[bdickens]

You may have to adjust the positioning of your holster. For me, an inch or so one way or another can make a big difference.

[mr.72]

Yeah I tried that ... well a little bit.

a little further back, it prints worse but is more comfortable.

further forward, first it begins to dig the muzzle into my hip, and then further still results in it printing obviously when I am standing straight up (approx 3:00 position).

hmmm...

the argument in favor of the SmartCarry and appendix is gaining steam :)

BUT fwiw this holster is really comfy :)

[chewy555]

Can you change the holster so that the handgun ride lower in your pants? Maybe riding lower would help with printing.

[Velocity]

I just got a "new" (used) holster, Crossbreed Supertuck that's a couple of years old:

http://www.crossbreedholsters.com/

This is with my S&W SW9VE (G19 size gun).

It works great when I am standing or walking around but sitting or bending causes the grip to protrude very noticeably (dunno how the dude on the little video doesn't have this problem ... I guess his pants ride much higher).

Any tips? I can't see how a gun with a shorter grip is going to help much. It's not protruding by 3/8", it's like 3".

I find all the "tuckable" IWB holsters print a bit if you actually tuck your shirt with them.

Wearing a slightly loose fitting shirt over a tshirt and putting the holster in a 3:30 or 4 oclock position barely causes a print on me IF I bend at the waist (so I usually bend at the knees). This is with both a Supertuck and a Comptac Minotaur and a G26 (slightly shorter grip than a G19 would be).

As the other posters have mentioned, adjusting the holder to another position on the belt OR riding it a bit lower can help (via clip adjustments). If it's just a little bit of a print, don't worry about it - with the assortments of PDAs/cellphones, etc on the belts of everyone today, nobody will ever likely notice.

[Emmett]

Are you getting someone else to look at it, to see how it is printing? Or, Do you just feel like it is printing? A lot of times you might think that it is printing, because you feel the gun more and you are thinking about it, It could give you a false thought that everyone else can see it. Just a thought...
But, if you are not haveing someone else look at it for you, try that, get a second opinion.

Emmett

[The Annoyed Man]

I try not to print, and I try to keep my weapon adjusted so that the butt doesn't stick out a bit when I bend over or squat down, but I know it does. I finally quit worrying about it.

[Excaliber]

I try not to print, and I try to keep my weapon adjusted so that the butt doesn't stick out a bit when I bend over or squat down, but I know it does. I finally quit worrying about it.

Suggestion for bending down to pick things up from the floor or low shelves without printing:

Bend the knees and keep the back straight as if you had a brace on it. This keeps everything in the same alignment as standing. If you're not printing standing up, you won't in this position either.

[mr.72]

thanks for the suggestions guys.

I was checking this with a t-shirt, and not tucked. I don't ever tuck anything in. Actually I think it would print less with it tucked over since it would create sort of a "blouse" effect over the gun's grip.

In fact when I bend, it sticks WAY out, then when I stand back up, the shirt tail hangs under the grip of the gun and it's clearly obvious and this totally won't work. I am not wearing a "fitted" t-shirt... this is a "Spurs 2007 NBA Champions" t-shirt, fits loose compared to most of my other shirts.

It's not just bending that's a problem, I know I might be able to deal with that. But sitting is a major problem as well.

I will have to fool with it some more. It doesn't adjust for height or cant, it's fixed position. BTW it rides way higher than my other IWB and I think riding higher prints less generally speaking. However I think the major issue is that I don't wear "relaxed fit" jeans or khakis with a high waist... The lower waist means that when I sit or bend, the gun follows the position of my body below the hip more so it gets tilted outward.

[Excaliber]

I think the major issue is that I don't wear "relaxed fit" jeans or khakis with a high waist... The lower waist means that when I sit or bend, the gun follows the position of my body below the hip more so it gets tilted outward.

If the top of the gun's grip (the end closest to the slide) is not at the same level as the narrowest part of your waist, you're most likely right that the placement of the holster in relation to the waistline is the issue. If the holster places the gun properly, it angles the grip inward so it hugs the body and is easy to hide.

Slim folks have an easier time with this, and heavier folks will have more challenges. If the holster places the grip lower where body parts with rounded contours push it away from the body, it will print badly.

You might try a different set of jeans and experiment with getting the holster to ride right at the waistline. A good quality holster belt like the Liger, Wilderness, or 5.11 models also makes a big difference in holding the holster and gun securely in their best positions.

[mr.72]

I'm not sure being slimmer would help much... I'm about 5'11.5" 180lb.

I tried two different pairs of jeans ... but it didn't make that much diff either way from the most "slim" to the most "relaxed" ones I have. I guess if I got some jeans about 4 sizes too big and wore them up around my arm pits it would work better :)

[brianko]

Something to keep in mind: Just because you think you're printing doesn't mean anyone is going to know the difference. There are many items worn on belts now (PDAs, iPhones, cellphones, knives, etc.), so to the untrained eye there is probably going to be no cause for alarm. I carry a Kahr CW-9, and the gun butt is about the same size as a typical cellphone...I seriously doubt the average person is going to be able to see the difference if, by chance, I do print between a cellphone and a gun butt.

It also helps to wear busy shirts...my shirts are rather, shall we say "colorful," so everything just gets lost in the background.

[Greybeard]

Quote: It doesn't adjust for height or cant, it's fixed position.

FWIW, years ago, I found a local boot/shoe/leather repair shop to work on some "issues" I had with various "factory" holsters. On Bianchi Pro 100 IWB holster for example, it took two different $10 attempts at re-stitching the clip location before getting both the cant and the depth right for my Kahrs to ride in the "sweet spot" (for me, around 4:00).

The double stack magazine pistols (like Glock 19) carried in such a fashion seem to constantly remind me of their presence, particularly when sitting. I'm 6'/165 and pretty much stay with a single stack semis, which I can comfortably handle on workdays that sometimes go 12 to 14 hours.

Too, ya mentioned thinking of a Smart Carry holster. I'd say go for it as they can be quite versatile. FWIW, the cant along the outside of the "spare magazine pocket" was just about right, so I had The Wife get a heavy duty needle for her sewing machine and relocate the center stitching to accommodate a gun there instead of a magazine. It's worked out well for me to position the holster portion in the aformentioned 4:00 "sweet spot" and take the weight off draw-string shorts.

[jmorris]

I have the supertuck and a S&W SW40VE. I don't have the plastic yet but I've been carrying it around the house and in the truck. 6' and 250 lbs. I wear kakies and loose polo shirts, tucked in. Carry it at 4 o'clock with a 1 3/4" belt snugged up. Not noticed any printing problems at all.

My super tuck does adjust. There's three t-nuts and bolts front and back. I adjusted the cant so it was a little more forward. It would move up and down using them, probably around an inch from top to bottom holes.

[mr.72]

this is a used Supertuck. It has no adjustments. The clips are riveted on. I suppose the new ones may be adjustable. Certainly this one could be adjusted if I wanted to remove the clips and replace them with some with multiple holes (or drill new holes in these) and then install with T-nuts or new rivets.

I plan to get a Kahr CW9 Real Soon Now, but I don't have a holster for IT! Just the Smartcarry.

heh.