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Sorry, I am new to the carry thing.

What can I do with the gun print? I use a bellyband which is pretty much the best holster. I carry my G19 above my right hip. However, whenever I bend over to pick something up, the handle will stick into the air, especially when I sit down. Unless I wear a thick fur coat, I don't think anything could cover that.

Unfortunately here in TX, everybody pretty much just wear their skin stuffed with human fat.

Well according to Texas law, as long as you do not "intentionally fail to conceal", you are pretty much covered. The "intentional" part is the key. If you are making a resonable effort to keep your firearm from being identified by a casual observer, then you are following the law and are safe as far as it is concerned. A lot is made of the whole printing mess, but we don't really have that problem here.

Stupid wrote:Sorry, I am new to the carry thing.

What can I do with the gun print? I use a bellyband which is pretty much the best holster. I carry my G19 above my right hip. However, whenever I bend over to pick something up, the handle will stick into the air, especially when I sit down. Unless I wear a thick fur coat, I don't think anything could cover that.

Unfortunately here in TX, everybody pretty much just wear their skin stuffed with human fat.

My suggestion would be to forget the bellyband, get a good IWB belt holster and stop worrying so much. You are the only one that notices. If someone does notice, and figures out what it is, the chances are good that the only reason they figured it out is because they have one too.

Hmm, I do have IWB. Same thing, a little worse.

KRM45 wrote:
My suggestion would be to forget the bellyband, get a good IWB belt holster and stop worrying so much. You are the only one that notices. If someone does notice, and figures out what it is, the chances are good that the only reason they figured it out is because they have one too.

Stupid wrote:Hmm, I do have IWB. Same thing, a little worse.

If you're just starting out, you probably think you're printing a lot more than you really are.

If you look at yourself in the mirror, you'll get an accurate idea if youre printing or not.

If you just look down at your gun side, you probably print more, because your instinct will be to pull your arm back while you look, which will pull any shirt you're wearing tighter against the gun.

Also, realise 99% of people won't question a buldge, as long as it's not obviously gun shaped. As you carry more, you'll become shocked at what people don't notice.

I was once carrying completely open around my office, because I took my sweater off, and my shirt got pulled up and behind my gun. I was that way for half of the day, and NOBODY noticed, even when I went out to lunch.

Moving it forward on your hip will cut down on that problem.

When I'm carrying I tend to use my knees a bit more rather than simply bending at the waist.

I use a bellyband sometimes and have gun placed in the appendix area with no problem. I can wear a t-shirt (not white) and blouse (sp) the shirt a little bit (very little) and no one is the wiser and does not print at all. I attended a lunch ceremony last week that consisted of all LEO's and used the bellyband - no problem - no one knew I was carrying. As a matter of fact I feel more comfortable with bellyband carry then IWB. Can someone tell me if it is possible to IWB and tuck the shirt in your pants - if you can I have not figured it out yet.

nitrogen wrote:

Stupid wrote:Hmm, I do have IWB. Same thing, a little worse.

Also, realise 99% of people won't question a buldge, as long as it's not obviously gun shaped. As you carry more, you'll become shocked at what people don't notice.

stash wrote:Can someone tell me if it is possible to IWB and tuck the shirt in your pants - if you can I have not figured it out yet.

Most definitely. I have a Blade-Tech UCH and it allows shirt tucking. Quite a few Comp-Tac holsters do too. I personally am wanting to get their C.T.A.C. because it has two clips and still allows shirt tucking.

I've carried for about a month and a half now, and I no longer worry about printing. Most of that was with shorts and t-shirt, carrying a 3" 1911 in an IWB.

Nobody ever takes a second glance.

KRM45 wrote:

Stupid wrote:Sorry, I am new to the carry thing.

What can I do with the gun print? I use a bellyband which is pretty much the best holster. I carry my G19 above my right hip. However, whenever I bend over to pick something up, the handle will stick into the air, especially when I sit down. Unless I wear a thick fur coat, I don't think anything could cover that.

Unfortunately here in TX, everybody pretty much just wear their skin stuffed with human fat.

My suggestion would be to forget the bellyband, get a good IWB belt holster and stop worrying so much. You are the only one that notices. If someone does notice, and figures out what it is, the chances are good that the only reason they figured it out is because they have one too.

I would agree with the above. Do not forget a quality belt made for carrying a gun. Even those expensive quality holsters are worthless with out a good belt. It's really a system.

Your carry method will also be dictated by your body. Some can carry a tree trunk and it wouldn't be noticed. Others will print while carrying a mouse gun. This is why you always read of people referring to their dead holster box. It can take several holster to find the one that works for you.

Good luck.

You made a couple of interesting comments in that post.

"I use a bellyband which is pretty much the best holster."

While a bellyband may indeed be the best holster for YOU, I think most who carry frequently would argue that there are much better holsters available for concealed carry. Personally, I cannot stand bellybands. I prefer a quality leather OWB holster with a good belt. IWB holsters are also very good for not allowing the gun to print.

"Unfortunately here in TX, everybody pretty much just wears their skin stuffed with human fat."

I'm not sure whether you're saying that we're all fat or that the generally warm climate isn't always conducive to concealed carry. Either way I'd have to disagree. I regularly conceal a full size handgun (Glock 22) carried in a FIST leather OWB holster with nothing more than an untucked t-shirt or polo shirt.

I try my very best not to print, but I also recognize that even if you do print on occasion most people are not aware enough of their surroundings to notice.