CCW and sitting

[happycamper374]

I know many of you carry when you go out shopping, to the movies, etc. I'm looking to get my CCW soon and I was wondering how comfortable it is to carry and be seated. I suppose I'm really asking those of you who carry on your waist. Does the gun dig into your side? How long can you stay seated before it becomes just too uncomfortable? Do you remove it when you drive? Can you make it through an entire movie?

Thanks.

 

[Mudinyeri]

Lots of factors here like what gun, what holster, what position, etc. Personally, my preferred carry gun is a Kahr CW40 worn in a CrossBreed SuperTuck at about 3:00 - 3:15 position with one less notch than a full-forward cant. I sometimes forget that I'm wearing it, especially while sitting.

Can I make it through a movie? That depends on the movie!

 

[Zundfolge]

Sitting and bending over (and thus printing) are the two main reasons I carry at 3:00 instead of the often recommended 4:00.

Carrying at 3 also has the advantages of being able to draw while seated in the car and your arm covers the gun so you can keep your cover garment from blowing up more easily and less obviously.

 

[Gryffydd]

Steps for comfortable belt carry:

1. Get a good holster
2. Get a god belt
3. Keep your waistline in check

My 5" GP100 is more comfortable in a good setup than my XD9sc is in a bad one. I can easily carry all day, including lots of sitting. I do tend to take it out while I drive, but that's because it's almost impossibre to draw with the seatbelt in the way.

 

[Sam1911]

Different guns have different characteristics and those often add up to unexpected positives and negatives.

A great many folks find a full-sized 1911 to be very comfortable to carry, even though that is a "big" gun. It is flat/slim, most of the edges are somewhat rounded, and the magazines are very slim and comfortable to carry.

Some guns -- even quite a few mid-sized or compact/subcompact models are more angular and chunkier and folks don't find them comfortable to carry.

In the end, a good belt and a good holster are just about the most important facet of your gun comfort.

 

[Old John]

I carry a ruger SP101, 2", .357, in a high-ride, strong side, pancake holster. It has a slight forward cant, and it is pretty comfortable, after you get use to it. Easy to cover with a loose T-shirt or loose button down shirt. I don't think I have been "made", at all, over the years.
I carry at the 4:00 position, most times. But, sometimes It's more comfortable at 3:00, especially sitting in the car or in a movie seat. On a Regular straight chair, or most other times it's fine at 4:00.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

If worn in the conventional location behind the right (for right handers) hip, sitting can get on your nerve as the gun is pressed into your flesh. Whether you can sit through a whole movie (typically 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 hours) depends on your tolerance for discomfort. You will probably find yourself fidgeting or trying to find a different position about halfway through. Two things on your side, in a movie theater, are that it is dark and people will be concentrating on the movie, so they won't be watching you. If you are going to spend a lot of time sitting, an "appendix" or crossdraw carry is more comfortable as well as more accessible.

 

[LHRGunslinger]

Like I said in another thread if you're looking for a better way to carry try wearing a kilt with a sporran. the sporran hangs below your waist so it moves with you instead of remaining static.

 

[oboe]

Two questions: (1) Cross draw? (2) Thunderwear?

 

[steven58]

I wear a Milt Sparks VMII at the same 3:15 with a 3" 1911 in it. sitting is no problem. I have driven 8 hrs non stop like that with no discomfort.

Re Thunderwear / Smartcarry. I have the smart carry. While it is a great deep concealment system when standing, its very difficult to access your weapon in the seated position as your pants tend to be hooked over the rear of the gun.

YMMV

 

[oboe]

So, it would seem that while driving or other sitting, cross carry/shoulder holster would be the way . . . right? or not?

 

[zombienerd]

I carry my Bersa Thunder .380 in a High Noon split decision tuckable IWB holster, with shirt tucked in and pulled a "touch" loose over the gun.

I carry at 9 o'clock (Lefty), and unless I lean to the left, I usually can't even feel it there.

I agree with the rest that you gotta have a good sturdy belt, and don't try to tuck a gun IWB if you wear really tight pants, that can be painful. If it is digging in to you while sitting, you need looser pants

 

[TexasBill]

For sitting, I carry a Beretta 84FS Cheetah in a Beretta shoulder holster that is quite comfortable. Of course, I can OC at work since I work at home. In colder weather, I wear the same rig while driving. I also have a Smith & Wesson M637 in a Blackhawk CQC angled muzzle-forward for crossdraw.

I also carry a Beretta PX4 Storm F in a Fobus paddle holster at 3:00 o'clock if I am wearing a jacket or the M637 in a Bianchi Kydex high-ride holster if I am wearing a light shirt. The rest of the time, I just stick the M637 in a pocket.

For IWB, I have a Walther PK380 that works quite well, but needs a better IWB holster.

 

[RoostRider]

I wear a ultra light .38 spc. at 2 o'clock in an Uncle Mikes holster that is nothing but a fabric sleeve with a belt clip on it.

I can sit for many hours with it on and not notice... but sometimes it does need to be arranged a little... in the car I wedge it between my seat and the center console... mostly because I want to be able to get at it, and on the waist under the seatbelt is pretty hard to reach

 

[ultradoc]

I either carry a bersa in a crossbreed holster or an XD-9 s.c. in a kholster at church. I wear a leather belt and sometimes when it's really quiet in church when I am breathing I can hear the leather 'creak'. But it's a comfortable carry [for me] at about the 4:00 position.

 

[Drail]

After having driven limos for several years now I found that a crossdraw rig is the most comfortable and practical rig to use. It also allows an quick easy draw while seated. Try one.

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

I carry my Glock 19 in a Safariland kydex OWB holster. I had a custom belt made by a local leather maker made of double stitched saddle leather and has a double layer of leather around the back to prevent curling. My gun doesn't poke into my side and I can sit for long periods of time without having to readjust it (as long as the chairs don't have wrap around arms, otherwise my guns digs into me).

 

[Nasty]

An appropriate CCW carried in a suitably deep front right pocket essentially sits on top of your thigh while seated...but of course, cannot be easily drawn while seated, so is best used for upright occasions. Appendix , side or back positions fall into the same zone when seated...with the addition of a lump to dig into you.

Crossdraw is pretty much always out of the way and easily drawn, but requires that you dress for concealment.

Strongside carry (for my uses and lifestyle) is best for open carry, duty and competition.

You have to go with what works for *you* I guess...

 

[ichiban]

I carry a 1911 commander IWB at the 4:00 position and have no problems with it at all. I have a bobtail model and that makes it more comfortable to carry as the tail of the grip is not digging into my side - not that I noticed it that much to start with but I do notice its absence. I found that when I carried a government length (5") 1911 the muzzle makes it to the seat before I do and tends to push up on my belt when seated.

 

[Fumbler]

I carry a J frame at the 1:00-1:30 position.
One of the reasons is it's easy to sit with the gun at your appendix; the other being it doesnt print on me.

One thing I want to note:

I know many of you carry when you go out shopping, to the movies, etc.

In NC you cannot carry in any place that charges admission. The theater is one of those places.
It's a little silly...

 

[JoeSlomo]

Comfort is a relative term, and depends on the individual.

I find that carrying a full size 1911 at the 3:00 using a leather Slomotactm neener IWB holster is very comfortable. Others may not.

You'll have to experiment to find out what works best for you.

 

[beeenbag]

I carry a glock 19 in a bagmaster iwb holster at 3:00. It is there right now as I type this.

I have no problems whatsoever sitting or driving with it there. I can't hardly stand a seatbelt so very seldom have it on.

 

[archigos]

I find that with many grips (in particular, the grips on my M&P), if I don't wear a shirt between my body and the grip, it has a miniature suction cup effect that pulls at my skin and becomes very painful over an extended time sitting. Solution: Wear a beater between my skin and the holster.
I'm also careful about where I sit. I can get away with most backed chairs, but sitting on bleachers or barstools makes it very obvious that I'm carrying.

 

[gearhead]

I usually pocket carry and it's not an issue. Recently though I made a 5 hour drive with my Taurus 24/7 .45 Compact in a Supertuck at 2:30-3:00 carry. It wasn't uncomfortable at all.

 

[klash545]

get an mtac