Tips for Conceal-ability

Speaking only for myself, CC at work requires:
• The ability to kneel, bend, or reach under a desk without worrying about printing; and,
• no visible belt clips.

I deal with this by:
• Wearing a cardigan, hoodie, or light jacket when seasonally appropriate. The office also stays cool much of the time.
• Wearing button up or polo shirts that are designed to be worn untucked while still looking presentable.
• When I lost weight, I switched to AIWB. When I finally discovered the value of holsters that have both a wedge and claw, I unlocked the ability to conceal on easy mode. I use Tuctite Annex holsters for both my G19 and G43, which leads to:
• Having a smaller gun that can be used when wardrobe dictates. For me that's the G43 about 20% of the time when the G19 won't work.
• Finally, when all else fails or I have to wear slacks and a tucked in shirt, I pair the G43 with a smart carry and I'm good to go.

Deep concealment with office wear = pocket pistol.

Another option for deep concealment take a look at the undertech t short holster. For smaller guns that aren't too heavy they conceal well.

SCMikeyP, consider getting a MIC for that G43? Just another option.

http://www.themicholster.com/

I'm not familiar with your holster selection. Is that an OWB rig? If so, you might find switching to IWB a way to pull the grip frame in close enough to reduce the chances of the cover garment slipping behind it.

I carry a Kel-Tec PF9, about the same size as your G43, in an IWB holster worn outside the pants, but inside the belt ("inside-the-belt" carry.) I find that the combination of the gun being held in snug to the body and the belt smoothing over the gun/holster profile makes a good compromise between IWB and OWB carry. I've even carried my Ruger P95 several times like that, and will do so more often once I get a better holster for it.

As far as I know, I've never been "made."

I admit that I may not be constantly going from sitting to kneeling to standing as you might. My job is a no-carry profession, so I'm not carrying there. On the rare occasion I'm dressed in a way that would preclude my normal carry method (typically 1-3 times a year), I switch to a pocket pistol.

psyopspec said:

S
• Wearing button up or polo shirts that are designed to be worn untucked while still looking presentable.
• When I lost weight, I switched to AIWB. When I finally discovered the value of holsters that have both a wedge and claw, I unlocked the ability to conceal on easy mode. I use Tuctite Annex holsters for both my G19 and G43, which leads to:
.

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LOL. I can agree with you with first hand experience. I lost 20 pounds this spring and it made a world of difference with IWB carry. Untucked button down shirts and polo shirts are my primary concealment as well.

Carrying a Shield or a P365.

One other aspect: a lot of men these days have gotten used to wearing their pants on their hips, not their waist. A holster at the waist tucks the gun into the hollow at the bottom of the rib cage. A holster at the hips sticks the gun onto the widest part of your lower body. Guess which one makes concealment easier?

Unfortunately, fashion trends have made it so that a lot of men's trousers literally cannot be worn at the waist... you run out of rise (amount of material above the crotch to the waistband) before you can pull them up to your waist.

Also remember that in general no one looks, no one sees, the general public are totally oblivious and do not even notice open carry.

You have a nice belt and holster, great start. I have a couple of things to add.

Increase the can’t slightly. If carrying at 4:00 another 3-5 degrees can make all the difference.

Make sure your wardrobe can cover your pistol. A sport coat/jacket, cardigan, or even an untucked button down should do the trick.

Finally, a wildcard: try appendix carry. I switched to mainly aiwb about 18 months ago and it conceals so much better, to the point where there’s 0 chance anyone will notice a small pistol and there’s barely a fleeting chance someone would notice a real pistol. At 4:00 I can have difficulty concealing a shield, but at 12:30 I can hide a G17 length grip with ease. I will say though that I have a Kore belt, and while a great belt it’s tough to aiwb with it because the locking lever can interfere with a rigid holster behind it.

I am a small guy, 5-7, 150, and have found this is what works for me.

toivo said:

Deep concealment with office wear = pocket pistol.

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This is probably the correct answer.

However, if your office-wear consists of ...

With warmer weather approaching... Hoodies, light jackets and vests are about to become obsolete.

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If you can wear a hoodie at your work place, chances are good just about any cover garment would be OK.

The big button up (Hawaiian) shirt - Denzel in "Man on Fire" with a G34 in an OWB holster http://www.imfdb.org/images/8/85/G34_3.jpg

SCMikeyP said:

I have a Kore Gun Belt and a Vedder/C&G holsters, carry at the 4 o'clock.

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As alluded to above, most of us probably don't know exactly what holster you are using.

A pocket holster or even an appendix inside the waistband (AIWB) holster may work better for you than 4:00 in your situation, and with those little guns.

toivo said:

Deep concealment with office wear = pocket pistol.

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Pocket pistols don't have to mean under powered. A decent .380 such as a PPK or a Colt Pony (like a DAO Mustang) loaded with Buffalo Bore ammo makes a very concealable package even in blue jeans.

Smaller pistols like the P3AT are easier to conceal, but functioning and reliability can be a sometime thing

Sarge7402 said:

Pocket pistols don't have to mean under powered. A decent .380 such as a PPK or a Colt Pony (like a DAO Mustang) loaded with Buffalo Bore ammo makes a very concealable package even in blue jeans.

Smaller pistols like the P3AT are easier to conceal, but functioning and reliability can be a sometime thing

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No need to go down to a .380, they make pocket holsters for the OP's G43

If you work/carry in a NPE, then Smart Carry is probably your best bet. You can carry a realistic gun in a pair of shorts with no shirt if you want, and no one will be the wiser.

www.smartcarry.com

These days, I usually carry a Glock 26 with a 17 reload in mine, usually under a pair of either Carhartt or Dickies carpenter jeans.

I have carried guns as big as a Glock 19 or SIG P239 in one, but that was with looser fitting pants. The bigger guns are very doable, just not as comfortable (at least to me), especially if youre active while carrying.

A Glock 43 or a snubbie should work under pretty much anything you choose to wear, other than maybe a Speedo.

SCMikeyP said:

... I sit most of the day and carry a few *cough cough* or more extra pounds, my body pushes against the grip, shoving the barrel side into unpleasant positions. ...

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Aaaahhhhh ... forget the MIC, then.

In my opinion they work best for relatively lean (minimal visceral adipose tissue) individuals.

You might get away with comfortably carrying, Kel-Tec P3-AT in a MIC, but probably not a G43.

Best of luck with your search!

SCMikeyP said:

I'll look into this as well.

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https://aholster.com/product/pocket-aholster/

I'll admit I really don't know that much about the G43, but you may have wear some pants with generously sized pockets.

#1 - You're going to eventually wind up with several ways of carrying depending on the circumstances of the moment. As your clothing needs change so must your means of carry.

#2 - We all struggle against it with varying degrees of success, but everyone eventually winds up with holsters and/or carry systems that didn't work out. It took me the longest time to accept that I just don't like nylon holsters and to stop fooling with them.

#3 - A proper gun belt has been one of the best things I ever did. It more evenly distributes weight which leads to better comfort even after hours of wear, and it also can help with preventing printing to a degree. Mine isn't steel-lined or anything. Just two pieces of thick full-grain leather stitched together and made a noticeable difference over my old belts.

#4 - How sensitive are you about your concealed weapon printing? In many places with many people who carry if they're "made" they don't particularly care and it's not really any big deal. In other places, also with many people, being "made" is a serious matter leading to major embarrassment or possibly even arrest or loss of job, etc. The .32 in deep concealment you can get away with carrying has a hell of a lot more stopping power than the .45 in your glove box or at home because you can't carry it where you want to.

#5 - I have come to the point that I buy my clothes around how well they conceal my handgun. Some materials print a lot more than others. Some fabric patterns or colors make a concealed weapon easier to spot, i.e. prints break up patterns better than solid colors. Large deep pockets carry better than small, shallow pockets, and so on.

#6 - When it comes to finding holsters I haven't found a better tool than using Google Image Search and not getting too narrow with my search terms. I may search on "pocket holster" then look at everything out there that anyone has ever posted a photo of on the Internet. In conjunction with the way I dress this has gradually let me to finding one that works for my particular circumstances, i.e. the grip prints more than the barrel so the holster needs to obscure both while still allowing me to draw it one handed.

Concealed carry in Florida in the summer time is a challenge. When it's 95 degrees, over 60% humidity, and you simply have to maintain good concealability it will put your ingenuity and resourcefulness to the test.

Good luck!

If you are allowed to have a cell phone on you while at work, how about a Sneaky Pete holster? They make dressy holsters that blend right into a work wardrobe. Hidden in plain sight.

https://www.sneakypeteholsters.com/

If you are allowed to have a cell phone on you while at work, how about a Sneaky Pete holster? They make dressy holsters that blend right into a work wardrobe. Hidden in plain sight.

SCMikeyP said:

I always find that after sitting then standing or bending over my shirt rides up going above or behind the grip. Larger shirts are huge on me so I don't believe that to be an option - I don't wear anything close to tight as is.

With warmer weather approaching... Hoodies, light jackets and vests are about to become obsolete

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So, I'm not at all fashion conscious. I also thought that an over-garment would be out of the question. Then I had the idea of a very large fishing outdoor shirt that is ventilated in the back (think a very light warm weather jacket). I have both long and short sleeved. Works fine but I'm sure I'm not a chick magnet .. but then again I doubt the shirt is the reason for that. I buy 2 sizes larger and leave the bottom 60% unbuttoned, Generally over a V-necked T-shirt.



https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AB1QYJO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1



https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B002618IVE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Another option (for us older guys) is a guyaberra which I also use (it doesn't have the vents which is a plus and a minus depending on the situation):



https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01A7EBK02/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also use Hawaiian shirts:



https://smile.amazon.com/Johari-Wes...ords=untucked&qid=1556314803&s=apparel&sr=1-9

And the final option are shirts by Untucked (or Van Huesen's Never Tuck) which are meant to be untucked. I don't have any of those.

Go here: https://tuctite.co/products/annex-appendix-holster

Those Kydex clips on the holster illustrated are called "Reverse J-hooks." They're easy to make from Kydex and will transform any reasonably flat holster into a "tuckable." The holster is stuck between body and pants, and the clips go outside, hooking onto the belt. You can now tuck your shirt into the space between the hooks and holster, then "blouse" your shirt -- pull out a couple of inches of material all around and let it hang down naturally.

Vern Humphrey said:

Go here: https://tuctite.co/products/annex-appendix-holster

Those Kydex clips on the holster illustrated are called "Reverse J-hooks." They're easy to make from Kydex and will transform any reasonably flat holster into a "tuckable." The holster is stuck between body and pants, and the clips go outside, hooking onto the belt. You can now tuck your shirt into the space between the hooks and holster, then "blouse" your shirt -- pull out a couple of inches of material all around and let it hang down naturally.

Click to expand...

My main appendix holsters are "tuckable" and they don't work at all for me. Maybe it's my body type (6' 170 lbs), but the only way I can carry with a tucked in shirt is in a pocket with something like an LCP.