i have a 4 inch barrel service six, it is my only handgun i have. i recently got my cc permit, i have bought a holster and will be using this gun. i shoot it extremely well and just love the way it feels, but i have a question that i would like answered. does anyone carry a similar size gun concealed? the reason i ask is on several other forums i have asked about holsters and ways to carry, but instead of getting answers i asked for on some forums i get this.( get rid of your current gun, it's too big to conceal, trade it to a smaller gun or sell it and buy one. use it for open carry while in the woods but for everyday carry get a small pocket size gun). now i'm keeping my gun that i know, but i would just like to know if anyone else carries a gun the size of mine? if so, what holster do you use?, and how do you carry like iwb or owb? thanks for any help
conceal carry a 4 inch??
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MedWheeler
Member
I do it quite a bit, and with the same gun. It was my dad's service weapon during a brief stint as a deputy in the eighties.
When I do, I carry it in an IWB holster which is worn between the belt and pants. This setup requires as long a cover garment as OWB-carry does, but the belt pulls in and smoothes over the gun's profile.
If I had the figure I did when I graduated high school, I could actually carry IWB. I was so skinny then I had to "add weight" to get into the Army..
When I do, I carry it in an IWB holster which is worn between the belt and pants. This setup requires as long a cover garment as OWB-carry does, but the belt pulls in and smoothes over the gun's profile.
If I had the figure I did when I graduated high school, I could actually carry IWB. I was so skinny then I had to "add weight" to get into the Army..
RealGun
Member
I have the gun and holsters for the Service Six but have never carried it yet. I prefer to carry the Security Six. I find that the fit for the half lug Service model can be equated to S&W K-frame, which is how holster fits are typically specified for a whole group of guns that will fit.
What to avoid would include holsters to fit full underlugs or taller front sight blades for adjustable sight models.
My holsters for Ruger Single Six fit well, although molded for a small frame SA.
Finding a holster with a strong forward cant is not so easy. The CME Border Ranger SA has an excellent forward cant and a good fit. Mine at 3 1/2" barrel size fits the Service Six beautifully. The ride is "high and tight".
In a retention holster, all of mine being OWB style for 1 3/4" special gun belt, I strongly prefer the DeSantis Thumb Break Scabbard, which I have for a number of guns. The fit is "S&W K frame, 4 inch".
What to avoid would include holsters to fit full underlugs or taller front sight blades for adjustable sight models.
My holsters for Ruger Single Six fit well, although molded for a small frame SA.
Finding a holster with a strong forward cant is not so easy. The CME Border Ranger SA has an excellent forward cant and a good fit. Mine at 3 1/2" barrel size fits the Service Six beautifully. The ride is "high and tight".
In a retention holster, all of mine being OWB style for 1 3/4" special gun belt, I strongly prefer the DeSantis Thumb Break Scabbard, which I have for a number of guns. The fit is "S&W K frame, 4 inch".
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bikerdoc
Moderator In Memoriam
I have carried mine for years in a owb paddle holster covered by a t shirt or jacket without a problem.
I have a iwb holster also and carry at 4 o clock quit comfotably.
Forget getting a smaller gun you will find a comfortable solution for your favorite gun.
I have a iwb holster also and carry at 4 o clock quit comfotably.
Forget getting a smaller gun you will find a comfortable solution for your favorite gun.
seaboss
Member
I have an MTR dual carry holster from Gunners Alley.
I have no affiliation with either company. I'm very happy with the holster and the service from Gunners Alley.
I have no affiliation with either company. I'm very happy with the holster and the service from Gunners Alley.
You can carry that 4in. revolver very comfortably and concealed easily with a sturdy gun belt and IWB or OWB sturdy holster with a large sweatshirt or light jacket. An option that I often use is a Safariland 101 leather shoulder holster for a 4in. K frame. Very comfortable and concealable with an over shirt or light jacket.
R.W.Dale
Member
In cooler months when I'm doing a lot of outdoorsy stuff I regularly carry a 6" scandium L frame smith.
It helps that I'm 6'-3" 188 lbs but with the right holster, cant and belt it's entirely doable
It helps that I'm 6'-3" 188 lbs but with the right holster, cant and belt it's entirely doable
woodwrkr
Member
I've carried a 4" model 19 and I still would if I still had it. I used a hybrid IWB holster with a strong forward cant but unlike most other people I carried mine slight ahead of the 3:00 position. This way I could bend, stoop or kneel with very little printing. I carry a full size semi-auto the same way now.
I gotta get myself another model 19 or a six series!
I gotta get myself another model 19 or a six series!
bikerdoc
Moderator In Memoriam
Btw I am small 5 6 145lb no problem with the above rigs.
VA27
Member
Back in the late 70's I carried a model 29 Smith IWB in a Safariland clip pouch. Never had anyone question it.
SlayerOfBunnies
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I carry a 4" S&W 66-3 all the time. Carries fine just inside the waistband.
Bear in mind that Colt Official Police and S&W Military & Police (Model 10) guns were FBI standard for generations and agents also often bought M-19 and M-66 guns. I think the agent who ended the 1986 Miami shootout killed the perps with a Model 686, even larger.
I don't know your build or your budget. I don't know your mindset, but here you are, asking this question. That says something. Don't let your body language telegraph that you're armed.
I once worked a security job for several weeks where I wasn't supposed to be armed, although I was supposedly protecting a pharmacy that had been held up repeatedly and had bullet holes in the wall over the pharmacy.
I wore a S&W Model 64 with four inch barrel under the short uniform jacket in a Bianchi Shadow holster. It rides high. No one ever suspected that I was armed. I later transitioned to a Model 66 .357 for that holster. (Yes, I changed jobs ASAP.)
Really, I feel pretty comfortable with an appendix carry in an inside the pants holster. You need a sweater or long, opaque shirt to cover it. When you're wearing the gun, stand in front of a long mirror and study how the clothing drapes or rides up. Does the gun "print"? If not, you're good to go.
Remember, the casual public won't study you to see if they think you're armed. A shrewd cop may, so you want to avoid telegraphing the presence of the weapon and be sure to always carry your license, of course.
This does not mean that you can always hide the gun as well as a smaller one, but a medium-framed .357 is the best all-round handgun, I think. If you can later buy a smaller .38 or a .357 Ruger SP-101, do. But don't sell this present gun to do it. Oh: don't load Magnum ammo if you're likely to fire the gun indoors. You probably already know that a .357 is LOUD!
Good luck.
I don't know your build or your budget. I don't know your mindset, but here you are, asking this question. That says something. Don't let your body language telegraph that you're armed.
I once worked a security job for several weeks where I wasn't supposed to be armed, although I was supposedly protecting a pharmacy that had been held up repeatedly and had bullet holes in the wall over the pharmacy.
I wore a S&W Model 64 with four inch barrel under the short uniform jacket in a Bianchi Shadow holster. It rides high. No one ever suspected that I was armed. I later transitioned to a Model 66 .357 for that holster. (Yes, I changed jobs ASAP.)
Really, I feel pretty comfortable with an appendix carry in an inside the pants holster. You need a sweater or long, opaque shirt to cover it. When you're wearing the gun, stand in front of a long mirror and study how the clothing drapes or rides up. Does the gun "print"? If not, you're good to go.
Remember, the casual public won't study you to see if they think you're armed. A shrewd cop may, so you want to avoid telegraphing the presence of the weapon and be sure to always carry your license, of course.
This does not mean that you can always hide the gun as well as a smaller one, but a medium-framed .357 is the best all-round handgun, I think. If you can later buy a smaller .38 or a .357 Ruger SP-101, do. But don't sell this present gun to do it. Oh: don't load Magnum ammo if you're likely to fire the gun indoors. You probably already know that a .357 is LOUD!
Good luck.
zxcvbob
Member
That's exactly how I carry my 4" Security Six.
RealGun
Member
An accompanying question could be whether one dresses to conceal. I believe that those who cannot picture carrying a gun like yours don't wear pants/shorts at their waist, where holster weight can be supported, and they don't wear much of a shirt or one selected for much concealment. It's all about dressing to conceal. Otherwise, you're down to these pocket guns and rationalizing why you are properly armed. The exception would be when you can't dress to conceal much and are lucky to just be able conceal what amounts to a bug gun. That's necessity, not multicultural fashion.
With the right holster and the correct cover garment, its more than doable. While its not my EDC, on occasion I carry a 6" L frame in a modified Bianchi X-15. I am not a huge person (5'8" 200#) and it disappears under a suit coat. Its as much about the clothing as the gun.
BLU
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I often carry my S&W329PD in a belt holster. Never had a problem. In summer, I dress light so go with the 642, Bond Arms or NAA .22 Mag but feel far more secure with the 329PD. You can hide it if you want to! I hid my 6" Service Revolver, (my Dad gave me his from his police days), for a year in a shoulder holster while I was saving up for a J frame. (Rookies don't earn much!) You can get inventive with your clothing!
Lucky Derby
Member
Proper holster/belt/cover garment and it isn't an issue. Fairly often I carry a 4" S&W M624. This is an N frame revolver and is quite a bit larger than your Ruger.
tomrkba
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I carry a Ruger Alaskan IWB either strong side or appendix. I carry a Ruger GP100 IWB strong side in a Milt Sparks Versa Max 2. I build a kydes IWB holster for an S&S 327 TRR8 with 5" barrel.
The tricks to doing so are:
1) Dress around the gun.
2) Boot grips
3) Quality holster for strongside: lots of forward cant with loops on the ends rather than on the cylinder. I find a four inch barrel to be too long for appendix carry. I can get away with 2 1/2" on a K-Frame because it is the same size as a Glock 19.
4) Carry a speed loader/moonclip in front of the holster and two on the other side. Slip a speed strip into a pocket (inside a protector). Use Safariland COMP I or II loaders in Safariland #371 split belt holders.
Milt Sparks VM2 with rubber rear strap to increase forward cant. The Hogue grips are difficult to conceal and need to be replaced with Badgers or Spiegels.
Ruger Alaskan in appendix carry holster. The grips needed to replaced with boot grips.
The tricks to doing so are:
1) Dress around the gun.
2) Boot grips
3) Quality holster for strongside: lots of forward cant with loops on the ends rather than on the cylinder. I find a four inch barrel to be too long for appendix carry. I can get away with 2 1/2" on a K-Frame because it is the same size as a Glock 19.
4) Carry a speed loader/moonclip in front of the holster and two on the other side. Slip a speed strip into a pocket (inside a protector). Use Safariland COMP I or II loaders in Safariland #371 split belt holders.
Milt Sparks VM2 with rubber rear strap to increase forward cant. The Hogue grips are difficult to conceal and need to be replaced with Badgers or Spiegels.
Ruger Alaskan in appendix carry holster. The grips needed to replaced with boot grips.
When you carry a 4" do you carry in the small of the back, Crossdraw and I think the Appendix would be the most uncomfortable!
SHolder holsters are gret in Jacket weather!
I use the same one I bought for my CAS 4" vaquero to carry my HB Model 10. The holster is very pliable and fits well even though it's shaped for the Vaquero.
Gotta admit, a 4" is a large revolver to hide!
A Chief is Sooooo much easier to carry!
ZVP
SHolder holsters are gret in Jacket weather!
I use the same one I bought for my CAS 4" vaquero to carry my HB Model 10. The holster is very pliable and fits well even though it's shaped for the Vaquero.
Gotta admit, a 4" is a large revolver to hide!
A Chief is Sooooo much easier to carry!
ZVP
A 4" may be a little harder to conceal but not that much. I've carried 4" k and l frame revolvers for years. Appendix carry IWB is fine if you're going to be standing all the time. Best OWB concealment holster for anything is a DeSantis Speed Scabbard. I prefer the one without a thumbsnap.
I would never consider SOB carry. It conceals the weapon from the front and is harder to get at. Impossible if seated. If you bend over you will at least print if not unconceal your pistol. It also complicates weapon retention. If someone comes up behind you, you will probably lose your gun.
Last but far from least if you land hard on your back you will most likely damage your spine. I took a fall on my right hip once. No damage to the gun but I had a bruise and pain that lasted a few weeks. I have no doubt I would have seriously injured my spine if I was carrying SOB and I had landed on my back if that had been the case
I would never consider SOB carry. It conceals the weapon from the front and is harder to get at. Impossible if seated. If you bend over you will at least print if not unconceal your pistol. It also complicates weapon retention. If someone comes up behind you, you will probably lose your gun.
Last but far from least if you land hard on your back you will most likely damage your spine. I took a fall on my right hip once. No damage to the gun but I had a bruise and pain that lasted a few weeks. I have no doubt I would have seriously injured my spine if I was carrying SOB and I had landed on my back if that had been the case
stubbicatt
Member
Maybe this will help. I carry a 4 inch Model 22-4 appendix style in an inexpensive Uncle Mike's "scock" type holster. I find it works just fine. I've had my permit for many years and have tried many different pistols and methods of carry, and I will likely try something new again at some point. However, I have found that I have used this method and combination the most other than a LCP in my pocket.
The issue I haven't resolved is where to carry spare moon clips, which is in my opinion the greatest detriment to this combination right now.
The issue I haven't resolved is where to carry spare moon clips, which is in my opinion the greatest detriment to this combination right now.
GBExpat
Member
FWIW, in the mid'70s I carried a 150 Model 4" Security Six for awhile in a leather pancake holster @ ~4 o'clock under a sport coat.old fart said:
steveracer
Member
I am about 6' tall and about 200 pounds. I can easily carry a 4" revolver from N-frame on down concealed all day. Get a nice thin rough-out IWB holster and don't look back.
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