Looks like the next issue to address with the SC is the fact that I carry a lot of junk in my pockets
That means, of course, unless I want my pants to fall off, I have to have a snug belt, and that makes it a little tougher to get at the SC. Has anybody tried any sort of stretchy belt with a SC or Thunderwear? I notice WalMart has a few reasonable looking ones, but nothing in my size right now.
Maybe I can get all this worked out before DPS gets done with my application, and it all becomes relevant.
My primary is a Kimber Ultra Carry in a Tucker "Answer" at about 3:30. I chose the SmartCarry for my backup gun, a Colt Mustang PocketLite .380.
I've been using my SmartCarry for the past few weeks. I have the smallest model, carrying the Pocketlite and one spare magazine. I'm wearing it slightly right of center, so that the gun rests in the crease of my right thigh when I sit.
PRO:
- Great concealment. I've been wearing it under flat-front slacks. If I look straight down, I can just make out the edge of the butt. To anyone else, it's invisible. In pleated slacks (black) even I can't see it.
- Reasonable comfort. I've been climbing on ladders, squatting, and kneeling a lot. No problems. Sitting is quite comfortable.
CONS:
- Drawing is unsatisfactory. I can draw with my strong hand unassisted, but I have to use my fingertips to start the draw. I don't have a full firing grip until the gun begins to clear my belt. I haven't timed a draw, but I think 5 seconds is a minimum.
- Weak-hand draw is extremely difficult.
- Another downside is that I like to carry a Spyderco folder clipped inside my waistband on each side of my belt buckle (call it 11 and 1 o'clock). The folder seriously interferes with my draw and blocks any sort of weak-hand access. A weak-hand draw with this rig with the folder in the draw path is just about impossible.
I don't think I could carry a bigger gun than the Pocketlite in this rig.
I'm 5'8" tall and weigh a bit over 200 pounds. In the last two years I gained about 30 pounds and have a bit of a belly now. My gut laps over my belt just a bit in the front.
Consequently the space between the crotch of my pants and my belt is pretty short. My PocketLite just fits in the available space. I don't think I can carry anything bigger in this sort of rig. If I lost the dunlap in the front, I could wear my trousers higher in the front. Wearing my trousers higher in front = greater distance crotch <-> belt = more room for my hand.
I find that (like most holsters) my body shape has a big impact on the utility and comfort of the SmartCarry. Were I taller and/or had a flatter belly, the SmartCarry might be a better choice.
The SmartCarry is acceptable as the only way to carry a small gun, even with its limitations. However, it doesn't work well as a BUG holster with the rest of my rig. I'm seriously rethinking this combo, given the slowness/uncertainty of the draw.
I work in a "business casual" atmosphere. Docker-type slacks and polo shirts are the norm. In that setting, my Kimber in the Tucker "Answer" doesn't fly. I opted for the Colt Mustang in a SmartCarry. As I've said, comfort and concealment are fine. Draw is slow and awkward.
Away from work, I changed my wardrobe. I'm not a jeans guy, so I stuck with dark pleated-front slacks. I wear short-sleeve sport shirts with a square bottom, untucked. The Kimber / Answer combination, supported by a Liger 1.5 inch gunbelt, hides pretty well.
What doesn't work all that well is the Mustang / SmartCarry combination. It doesn't work well as a BUG rig in conjunction with the Kimber. I'm trying to find a better solution.
I'm inclined to stick with the Mustang as my BUG / deep concealment gun. I shoot it reasonably well under pressure, almost as well as the Kimber. With any pistol cartridge, bullet placement is crucial. More so with something like a .380ACP.
I've tried baby Glocks. I have small hands and can't grip them well. I've tried Kel-Tecs. I'm not sufficiently skilled to shoot well with the long, heavy trigger pull. Same for S&W J-frames.
I'm thinking seriously of adding an ambridextrous safety to the Mustang and calling it, "Good enough."
As for a BUG holster, I'm looking.
A front pocket seems like a poor choice. What if I need to get the gun out with the opposite hand?
A hip pocket carry might work, but I'll need to practice a safe draw so as not to cross my body with the muzzle. And forget drawing while sitting down.
Cross-draw IWB? Maybe. I'm not sure whose holster would work well for that. Weak-hand draw from a cross-draw holster is doable, with practice. Draw from sitting is feasible. I spend a lot of my life sitting.
I've never tried an ankle holster. Speed of draw seems slow. Seated draw and weak-hand both seem doable.
