Concealing in Business Casual?

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I have to dress in business casual every day, but work in Bullhead City, Ariz., where summer temps frequently to 120 degrees.

It just is not possible to conceal anything bigger than a mouse gun when you have to deal with that heat.

I have a Kahr MK40 that I sometimes carry in a Pager Pal during the summer, but I have settled for a KT P32 in my back pocket for everyday carry.

I keep a .45 under the seat of the car, but it just is not realistic to try and carry anything any larger concealed on my person.

For six months out of the year I can wear a vest or sport jacket and carry a compact version of something larger, but when the heat is on all I can handle is the KT in my back pocket.

I carry my wallet in the left pocket and the KT on the right. If I'm robbed I can make a call, do I go for the mouse gun in the right rear or the wallet - and then the mouse gun.

There is a plus side. If you pull out a little teeny gun and it makes big noise it will probably shock the assailant so much you can empty your mag before they realize they're being shot.

Eight rounds of .32 is a lot better than unarmed.
 
I have one of the 'concealed carry' vests and strongly recommend them. They look better than the pictures on the site and you can hide a full size rig under them. The vests can go with jeans or business casual and they don't have that 'shoot me first' look that some vests have. I wear one pretty much every day.
 
I'm sorry if your wearing a vest in summer, in the southwest... Every one will know you have a gun on.

For me light 38 in the front pocket actually hides very well, but it all depends one your body type, cut of the pants, what your doing... etc, etc. What works for me, might not work well for you.
 
I'm sorry if your wearing a vest in summer, in the southwest... Every one will know you have a gun on.
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I haven't heard anyone say anything yet and if there is no 'print' they truly can't know. I only wear the vest when I'm shopping around town. I'm in Nevada, so I can open carry whenever I want--which is anytime I'm not running around town. The stores and car are air-conditioned so there's no problem there. I don't see what the fuss is over wearing a very lightweight vest in the heat. The vest drapes so well that, unless there is wind, you don't even have to close it up and yet the gun stays concealed.
 
Funny, but DH hates to wear an untucked shirt unless its worn as an overshirt on top of another, tucked shirt.
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+10,000. I refuse to go out into the street looking like a hobo.

A customer once asked me to sit in on sales pitches for a very expensive document scanning system she was considering. One guy came in looking like one of the "Lone Gunmen" with his shirt tail out. He was crossed off of the list INSTANTLY.

I'll open carry before I wear untucked.
 
Thanks everyone.

Smaller gun and a deep concealment holster of one kind or another seems about right. It will be a while to get that onto the list, but fortunately these meetings are fairly rare.
 
How about an "informal" sports jacket? I nice light, unpadded linen or poplin jacket that wouldn't be out of place with jeans, surely wouldn't be too formal for any busines type setting. OR a shirt designed to be worn untucked - a hawaiian shirt, or a mexican wedding shirt, bowling type shirt.
 
The key is that the gun must be low in the holster, not riding high.
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Yes, a good low-ride IWB is the way to go for me. Or how about the M&P9c? It is still a "big gun" but the slightly shorter grip will make it soooooo much easier to conceal when clothing starts to work against you. I'd rather carry my Glock 27 than a pocket gun any day. Actually, in a couple of my pants/shorts the 27 IS my pocket gun! A really heavy pocket gun, but it works and is a "big gun" still, despite being chopped up.
 
When you say "business casual" can you pull off a Fendi or Gucci Fanny Pack?
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I might be able to.

DH wouldn't be caught dead in one. He used to have a fanny pack that he carried his diabetes supplies in and not only never once actually put it on but refused to carry it in his hand in a public place too. :D
 
I don't recommend one for daily CC, but in this particular situation, I'd recommend an ankle holster.

He could possibly print with an IWB, since the clothing is casual and it's not cold enough to be wearing heavy clothes yet.

Since it's a business luncheon, he'll be sitting down most of the time. So an IWB or something similar might print, the grip might accidentally poke out completely from under his shirt if he moves the wrong way, or he could bump against a chair and make a revealing noise.

A quality ankle holster when worn properly, is one of the easiest holsters to conceal well. Presuming he'll be sitting at a table for lunch, it'll be virtually impossible to see when it's covered by his pants, as well as underneath the table.
 
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have you checked out this very similar thread?
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=82848

My CCW is on its way so haven't tried it out completely yet...I have the crossbreed supertuck. Also can't beat the lifetime warranty. I've been very pleased with it and I've been able to try it out with business casual like you describe (around the house!). Chinos and a non-oversized shirt (tucked). Seems to work fairly well and worth a shot if he doesn't want to try mouse or pocket guns.
 
I'm in outside sales and have to wear dockers and a dress shirt daily, and still like to carry when I can. I tried a couple different options but have finally settled on my Rohrbaugh and a quality pocket holster. It fits comfortably in my front pocket and with the holster doesn't have the typical "gun" print. It looks more like a wallet or folded cash look of a money clip.... if you're looking closely, and most don't even look, let alone notice it. No one to date has ever mentioned it even once. It works for me anyway.
 
The "Business Casual" can vary from place to place

Higher end Business Casual then sportscoat is the best choice.

If, as you say, a sportcoat sans tie with a nice turtleneck is 'too dressy' then go for cargo pants and a nice shirt, and pop a light gun in the cargo pocket
 
You might try a belly band. This will hold the butt of your weapon closer to your body and can be worn higher than a tuckable holster (think right under your ribs) so printing isn't noticeable.

If you've got a bit of "overhang" appendix carry in a tuckable holster might work for you.
 
Belly bands are one of the slowest carry methods to access, and also one of the least comfortable.

Seated at a table or in a car, an ankle holster would be noticeably faster AND more comfortable than a belly band. You'd also have to be careful how much you eat and drink, with a belly band wrapped tightly around your stomach. ;)
 
For me it is a S&W Titianium, Scandium lite or something like that, hammerless, double action only so nothing to snag in 38spc+P.. Definetly not the most accurate thing going and it is so light recoil is bad especially with the hot loads. Plus is that weight is so low it does not pull pants down, this thing weighs about the same as my Palm pilot which I carry at work in pants pocket( work in hospital and cannot carry there), giving me the advantage of having a gun of similar size and weight as the item I carry there most of the time. I use one of those little leather/Kydex pocket holsters with a tab so you can push the gun loose while in pocket, and break up outline of gun, so I am unconcerned about a bulky rectangular shaped object in my front pants pocket.
 
Belly bands are one of the slowest carry methods to access, and also one of the least comfortable.
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This is simply not true.

A belly band worn strong side where an IWB holster would sit is just as accessible as an IWB, and no slower to draw from.

Worn crossdraw under a button-up business shirt the shirt can be torn open with the weak hand (buttons will pop off) and the weapon can be drawn with the strong hand.

A belly band is one of the most versatile holsters I've ever used. They can be worn strong side, weak side, crossdraw, appendix, SOB, under the arm, on the waistline, center of stomach, basically anywhere on your torso you need to put it. It holds the weapon close to your body and conceals well.

Speed of access is just a matter of practice.

Comfort is a matter of finding what works for your body type. Personally, I can carry 2 full size autos, 2 spare mags, and a wallet in my belly band very comfortably. I use the ProTech Outdoors deluxe model.

Belly bands are also one of the best options for concealing a weapon while wearing sweats, athletic shorts, or other pants without a belt capable of holding up your weapon.
 
While I agree with the versatility and accessibility of belly bands over ankle holsters, I personally do not find them very comfortable. Quite the opposite.
 
I'll suggest something here, and probably get flamed for it, but there are times that off body carry can work.

You have to be SO careful to keep control of the weapon and not forget it but sometimes it does work.

dpyi4.jpg

18193_concealed_carry_tote_m.jpg
 
I've been using off-body carry in the office for the last seven years, and I haven't lost it yet. :)
 
Yeah I've been doing it for years too but every time I bring it up some self righteous person loses their mind over it.

I pretty much stopped talking about it, but it works. :)
 
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