TexasCHLforum.com

I have been buying larger waisted pants to my wifes chagrin, she also cares little for my overshirts for layering. I now have 3 sport coats to help conceal but being in Texas its a sweatbath to wear them except in the fall.

Maybe I'm looking at this wrong, Maybe my holster is the problem. I have an OWB holster, an IWB holster and an SOB holster. All are leather and fit well, but each has a detractor: all print badly if I wear a shirt that fits well. I either have to wear a large shirt or layer. Anyone use a shoulder holster, is it easy to conceal under a button up shirt? What works best for you?

My belt is great; hand made by a guy in houston. no problems with it at all (except its a little plain).

I have a sub-compact springfield XD-9mm that I wear in the summer I have an IWB holster that I run under my belt and untuck my shirt. I easily conceal with just a regular T-shirt but have found that darker shirts and shirts with patterns like stripes work real well just be sure your shirt tail stays down I was standing in line at the convenience store 1 day when I realized my shirt tail was up and behind my gun luckily no body noticed before I corrected the problem. During the winter I wear my glock-22 under my arm but I have to wear a jacket to conceal it because a regular button down shirt prints badly for me but keep in mind that I an 6'1" and 140lbs (skinny) which presents some challenges when concealing.

fadlan12 wrote: Anyone use a shoulder holster,

Yup.

fadlan12 wrote: is it easy to conceal under a button up shirt?

Yup.

fadlan12 wrote: What works best for you?

Good quality shoulder rig, properly adjusted, works great for me.

If you are trying to wear tight clothing/"short" shirts, you are going to print badly. I've found that cant goes a long way to conceal better. Perhaps try kydex? it would be thinner.

When selecting a carry gun, I look at thickness, weight, and length in that order. My 1911 is the biggest gun I have, but conceals well because of the overall thinness.

If it's a real problem, try pocket carry. Some of my pistols conceal better than others, but I carry them all - you just have to be mindful of what outfits work with which pistols...

Well first of all, what gun is your primary carry?
I'd be willing to be that others here have carried the same, and would be able to offer their "this worked for me" stories.

Thanks for responses. Mine is Kimber ultra carry, I also have a full size 1911 Springfield. I'm looking at a glock 36 for ankle or pocket carry.

I carried a Kimber Tactical Ultra for 5 months or so and it would disappear on me in a Tucker Answer holster, worn anywhere from 2:45 to 3:30(right hip obviously). I generally wore nothing more than an untucked t-shirt, sometimes even a slightly baggy polo shirt often tucked it. The kimber almost always disappeared on me without effort.

Your frame, and the cant of carry will affect things as well. I canted my Answer holster as much as I could and had it riding on the medium setting. Of course, I am 6' and 220lbs, with somewhat broad shoulders so a pistol tucks under my arm at 3 o'clock rather well.

The Kimber Ultra sizes are fabulous carry pieces, if it wasn't for the exceptional rise in .45ACP I would never have gotten rid of mine. When I start re-loading, I will pick up another 45ACP Kimber, probably a 4" CDP this time around though.

I have used serveral different shirts to hide my weapon. The best I have found was made by Woolrich Elite. They are made for carry and light weight. You could also try columbia button downs from Gander mountain. Just my 2 cnts.

If you want to carry with a tucked in shirt, your options are a belly band, although the gun might still print, a smart carry, if you don't mind you weapon being in close proximity to your family jewels, shoulder holster, pocket carry, a fanny pack or other off-body carry.

If you go with pocket carry, you need a small gun and big pockets. I understand Lee Dockers work pretty well although I haven't tried them myself. You also need a small gun. I pocket carry with a Kel Tec P 11 and that is about as large as I would want to go. Glock 26, 30, and 36 all seem a little large for pocket carry to me but maybe you could get away with it. Kel Tec P 32 or 3AT, Seacamps and NAA are probably better options.

flintknapper wrote:

fadlan12 wrote: Anyone use a shoulder holster,

Yup.

fadlan12 wrote: is it easy to conceal under a button up shirt?

Yup.

fadlan12 wrote: What works best for you?

Good quality shoulder rig, properly adjusted, works great for me.

Flint advised me when I was buying my shoulder rig (Galco Miami II), and he gave me a lot of helpful suggestions. I'm very happy with my setup. It's comfortable, great for driving, and efficient. You do, of course, have to wear something over it. In the winter, I often wear safari jackets (picked one up recently at Cabela's to add to the collection-$45) and have a Woolrich vest on order from our local dealer for summer.

If you frequent the Dallas area, one of Galco's largest stocking dealers is there, Dallas Public Safety Supply. It's a cop shop, and they will let you try everything on, and set you up with what you want and custom-fit it to you. I carry either a G21 in .45ACP with 40 rounds of ammo, or a G21 left and G17 right, depending.

With smaller guns, you could easily conceal under a loose-fitting tee shirt. For me, it is more comfortable than belt holster carry, just doesn't seem to be in the way as much.

If you prefer more fitted clothing, a shirt tucker holster may serve you well.
I have been using a kydex shirt tucker holster from CompTac, but would like to purchase Tucker's The Answer for my 1911. (Tucker's holster is $125, but I haven't heard a single bad report as of yet.)

Shirt tuckers are excellent, as you can tuck in a shirt and then blouse it out just enough to help conceal your goodies.

fadlan12 wrote:Thanks for responses. Mine is Kimber ultra carry, I also have a full size 1911 Springfield. I'm looking at a glock 36 for ankle or pocket carry.

There is no valid reason for these guns to be hard to hid. Too many of us carry them.

AS stated above, if you are wanting to learn about shoulder carry then flintknapper is our resident authority on that. An injury has made that his common method of carry for several yrs. He will steer you right.

I will not talke up space w/ already posted pictures but check your PMs for pics & other aids.
LT

fadlan12 , I hear ya brother. As a new-B I have spent quite a bit trying to figure out what works best for me.
Go to http://www.smartcarry.com

Near the bottom of Charlies' first page there is a link to CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO.

I purchased 3 different sizes for my needs. Charlie will fix you up !
Smart Carry solved my comfort and conceal needs !
Please check it out.

Tin Bender

I've never used a smart carry, but I could never see sticking a firearm down my pants, comfortable, or even comforting.

Take a closer look at belt carry, I think a mix between having the right holster, and dressing appropriately, will achieve your desired results.

Cyphur,

That Kimber 3 inch disappears on me as well and I am using an OWB and an untucked tee shirt or polo shirt. In a weekend, it has become my primary carry weapon.