CCW type vest and jacket experiences???

[Float Pilot]

My buddy down the road bought one of the NRA denim vest made for conceal carry. I have borrowed it a couple times and it works well, even with a 1911.
It only comes in black or blue denim.
Attributes: Solidly put together, Snaps are solid as is the stitching. Weapon does not print, Has a holster of sorts velcroed in place to hold weapon firm.
Detractions: Not very stylish and does not go with much other clothing.


I have noted that there are quite a few jackets and vest made for concealed carry. So I thought why not start up an opinion thread.

Opinions??

 

[Mainsail]

My opinion is that pretty much any vest, jacket, or shirt can easily conceal a OWB holster.

I have a plain black NorthFace fleece vest and it obscures my sidearm from view. It can blow open but that isn't against the law so no worries.

 

[Sam1911]

I don't care for the way that clothing based gun carry systems let the weight of the gun swing. I want a sidearm to be held tightly and precisely on my hip. Not swinging and thumping around against me like I'm carrying a hammer in a coat pocket.

 

[bannockburn]

Float Pilot

One possible drawback that I can think of is that you can't take the vest off should it become too warm to continue to wear it. If I'm carrying with an OWB holster and I'm dressed in layers (jacket, sweatshirt, and maybe a vest), I can still take off a couple of layers without revealing my CCW.

 

[Float Pilot]

Hmmm...
I was looking for folks who had / used them , to review how well they were made and the effectiveness or lack thereof for weapons retention and concealment, within that item of clothing, be it vest or jacket.

For example I own and often wear a custom law enforcement modified horse hide A2 flight jacket that has a holster built into a snap open concealed pocket over the left breast area. I sometimes carry a 38 spcl S&W bodyguard in there. I have used that jacket for about 18 years now. But it was an expensive custom deal. The downside being the cost and how arm it is to wear in certain climates.


A 380 LCP lives inside my Carhart heavy coat.

These two are rather snappy looking: yet rather spendy...
https://www.amazon.com/Outback-Canv...919878&sr=8-117&keywords=concealed+carry+vest

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0106UMCAY?psc=1

 

[.308 Norma]

I have a Coronado Leather CCW vest. It easily conceals my 38 S&W bodyguard in an inside pocket with a sturdy snap. The pockets (both right and left hand) are lined with some kind of rough material that the included Velcro covered holster sticks to very well. The downsides of my Coronado Leather CCW vest are, it was expensive, it is heavy, and even though it looks nice, it's not stylish, at least not in the circles I run in. I mean, when I wear a heavy leather vest I feel like I stick out like a sore thumb. Also, I had to exchange the first Coronado Leather vest I ordered for an extra long because even though I'm only 5'10", the regular length vest made me feel like I was wear football padding on my upper torso, and nothing around my lower torso.
Second up is my 5.11 brand "barn" or "chore" coat. It's brown canvas and has Velcro closed outside chest pockets, both left and right. I wear it everyday this time of year, sometimes over an extra heavy shirt - depending on whether the thermometer is reading plus or minus. The coat is plenty long, so it usually covers the .38 snubby or the Sig M11-A1 I have in a pancake style holster just behind my right hip. However, when we go someplace where I have to take the coat off, like church on Sunday, I take the holster and gun off and drop them into my coat's left chest pocket. The pocket just swallows the holster and gun up and there's no printing. Of course the downside is the holster and gun drop clear to the bottom of the pocket and my gun is sure as heck not readily accessible, especially when my coat is hanging on the back of my chair. Also, I wouldn't want to try to carry a heavier gun (like a 1911) in my 5.11 chore coat's pocket. My Sig M11-A1 is plenty heavy enough for a chest pocket. Besides, there's a bunch of "huggers" in our church - I've gotten funny looks several times as we left church after Sunday services.

 

[klausman]

I have the leather version of the NRA denim one you describe. It is as you said well made and reasonable with dressier clothes. The gotcha is that it is kind of heavy, even without the weapon. I don't wear it as often as I thought I would.

I have been looking for a cloth vest that would cover either a shoulder holster or an IWB holster at 5 o'clock or so. All that I have seen are either obviously tactical, or are too short to cover the top of the belt line properly.

For me, carrying is increasingly important in an urban environment, but that also demands very discreet cover. I cannot afford to offend clients in whose homes and offices I do my work. It seems to me that it comes down a balance between coverage and speed of access.

Like you, my shape does not particularly like hanging the weight on my belt. I wear suspenders all the time, but I'm not particularly fond of the "Red Green" look, so I usually wear some kind of light vest.

 

[Armored farmer]

I have a a Woolrich jacket with built in elastic holsters securely sewn in under the arms. There are elastic magazine sleeves sewn in to the pockets.
This thing is a "home-run". It is discreet, it doesn't look like "gun gear" at all. Of course the holsters (they are sewn in on both sides...ambidextrous) are useful for other things besides guns, like flashlights, AR mags, gloves, and stocking cap.....or electronics or whatever.
I have worn it many times with a 1911 in the holster.
It came from the NRA store.

 

[Old Dog]

You don't necessarily need something purpose-made for concealed carry. My $20 Old Navy fleece vest with car keys/housekeys in right-hand pocket conceals even a large handgun perfectly and draws no attention whatsoever in public.

I've got a number of Banana Republic/Woolrich/5.11 "photojournalist" or "safari" vests I wear everywhere (in the PNW) without raising any eyebrows, but my Columbia hiking vests are invisible as well. I kinda think we all overthink our attire much -- no one is really noticing what we wear -- so we should just wear comfortable stuff with the pockets we need and not worry so much.

 

[Resist Evil]

I had a Coronado leather CCW vest I used for a while. I also had another brand of cotton canvas CCW vest. Both had pockets for carrying a handgun. I ended up donating them away. Even after a lot of practice drawing, I just couldn't draw as smoothly as from a belt holster. Further, they both were sturdily made which then made them heavy and often too warm to wear comfortably. I only wear belt holsters with a loose covering of my choice.

 

[Zerodefect]

Weight swings on me. Pretty obvious red flag.

Pocket carry only works for me in the pocket of a heavy, real, motorcycle jacket. (S&W 38 chiefs special, model 36 or something?)

 

[xXxplosive]

Have a black leather Sig Sauer jacket......love it, wish I could get another, believe they are not available any longer. Well made, good quality leather with gun pockets on each inside seam.

 

[stoky]

I got a leather concealment vest as a gift. Had the sides taken in some, and it works pretty well, but it only "goes with" Western or scooter trash (lack of?) style.
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/leather-concealment-vest?a=1510623

 

[blue32]

I'd get a vest if I could find one that would house a Colt '08 vest pocket. And then I'd get that Colt. Does anyone have a vest with pockets that could accommodate that pistol?

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

View attachment 229453 View attachment 229454 View attachment 229452 I have a a Woolrich jacket with built in elastic holsters securely sewn in under the arms. There are elastic magazine sleeves sewn in to the pockets.
This thing is a "home-run". It is discreet, it doesn't look like "gun gear" at all. Of course the holsters (they are sewn in on both sides...ambidextrous) are useful for other things besides guns, like flashlights, AR mags, gloves, and stocking cap.....or electronics or whatever.
I have worn it many times with a 1911 in the holster.
It came from the NRA store.
View attachment 229451

I have this same jacket. I like it but I do not carry guns in it. There is too much pull on my shoulder for it be comfortable and I don't like how the gun kinda flops around in the inside pocket.
Maybe my P239 is too heavy for this application. IDK.

For mags of any kind, it is pretty sweet.