Daily carry? How?

[Dashunde]

I'm doing some planning and need some help. (I'm a Mo. Resident)
I'm just about to buy a Taurus PT145 Mill Pro in stainless. Nevermind the gun though... I'm interested in holster and carry options for a gun of its size (6.0"L x 5.125"H x 1.25"W).

I'm thinking I might like a small-of-the-back holster (OSW) or a forward canted side holster (cross-draw?), and I'm curious about shoulder rigs as well. I just dont know.

I'm 6" @ 205LB with a small amount of a spare tire, 36" waist size.
Through the winter I wear 2 different black leather jackets, one reaches below my arse, and the other cuts across it. (Bomber type)
I'm even thinking of having a holster sewn into the linings of these coats, both are heavy weight Bostonian's.
Having the gun stay with the coat(s) might certainly be handy for eating out, and any other time the coat would need to come off, thus exposing the gun otherwise... any thoughts here?

For those of you who carry every day, what are some of the pro's and con's or do's and dont's with the different systems?

 

[P95Carry]

Dashunde

Interesting ... we are all but same height, weight and waist!!

Well .... for me season and dress dictate all . and I carry effectively 24/7 .. (or 16/7 as maybe more accurate!).

In summer, I sweat buckets and dress light .. most I can manage usually is OWB small leather holster at about 4.30 with snubby. Sometimes even resorting to that gun in a fanny pack. I do now intend to be able to use a 380 Bersa and later when i get it .. a P-3AT .. as true pocket pieces - as firther alternatives for hot weather.

In late fall and thru to later spring .. it is generally one of my P series (Ruger P95DC or 97DC) .. quite large size guns. I vary between Fobus paddle, at around 4 o'clock .... or Bianchi sho rig ... again this is very dress dependent. The sho rig tho does exhibit quite a lot of leather ''creak'' ... irritating at times!

I doubt I'd go for coat pocket deals .... too awkward for when coat has to come off .. prefer piece right close to body.

I have some pics of various rigs and can post if so wished.

This is often a very personal thing ... choice of rigs etc ..... but I think you could consider most options ..... possibly having to get more holsters than you might need - to find what suits you.

 

[matsaleh]

I, too, am just about the same dimensions as you

I've been carrying now since May, not 24/7, but every moment I'm out of my house, at work, play, or going to the corner store.

Currently I carry a S&W 6906 double-stack compact 9mm two ways:

1) Uncle Mike's belly band with body armor holster, in the same position as if the gun were in a vertical shoulder rig (i.e. under my left arm).

2) Same body armor holster from above, but tucked inside the waistband of my pants in the small of my back, upside down with the slide horizontal to the ground and the grip toward my strong side (right).

My choice of the above depends on my clothing, mostly. Option 1 offers deeper concealment in almost any garb. Option 2, however, is usually more comfortable, and the weapon is more readily accessible.

Surprisingly, in option 2, the body armor holster has no clips and is not attached to my belt or pants in any way, yet it retains well with just friction. This holster is made for the belly band, and has velcro attachments to it, but without the band, the holster alone fits the small of my back well.

I want to try a more traditional IWB configuration, at about 4 or 5 o'clock, but so far anything I've tried has eventually caused printing under my usual attire (t-shirts) when I assume any posture other than standing or walking.

I carry at work, and work closely with folks who know me pretty well, but who do not know that I carry at work. I've never been "made" so far with either option 1 or 2. I had a friend at work who also carries check me out and he couldn't tell me where I was keeping my piece.

FWIW, I just bought a new Steyr S40 and that thing tucks under my waistband in the small of my back as described in option 2 without any holster and retains just fine. Not sure if I want to carry that way, but so far I think it would work. No movement at all unless I withdraw the gun.

Hope this helps.

 

[Majic]

The SOB (small of back) will be a pain in the ... real quick. Those holsters are definately not made for any sitting. A handgun held tightly to your spine all day is not comfortable. A behind the hip strongside or a crossdraw holster will be a more comfortable.

 

[vertigo7]

Edit: After I posted this, I checked the search engine and see you've gotten these opinions from others already in other threads. /me stops beating dead horse.

 

[Dashunde]

Yea, sorry 'bout the second thread on this, but I am newly interested in the coat-carry idea. And, I wanted to be more specific about my size and attire.

 

[tech]

I carry a makarov daily in a Milt Sparks VM II. Most of the year I wear a t-shirt and jeans or shorts. I am a network admin and have to climb under desks and such and have yet to alarm a co-worker. I have tried a few different rigs and the Sparks works best for me. Sometimes in the winter I will carry a Kimber Pro Carry in a VM II but that requires a flannel or some other over garment.

HTH,
Mike

 

[Gary G23]

I have carried for years and I have shot competition for years. I always use a Blade-Tech belt holster on my strong side hip with a heavy 1 1/2" gunbelt. There is no sense carrying if you can't access your piece in a timely fashion.

 

[VG]

I always wear a vest with IWB holster. I bet it would be difficult to modify a jacket so it was both secure and accessible. A fanny pack is a lot easier to accomodate, but cerainly not fast.

 

[Soap]

Buy a good GUNbelt and a good IWB holster. Carry it at 3:00-4:30. Strap it on and forget the slight discomfort.

 

[Keith]

Check out Coronado Leather for various jackets with well designed carry features.
Even if you don't want to buy a a new leather, you can certainly copy their concept for your own coats.

http://coronadoleather.com/

Keith

 

[jercamp45]

I second what Mr Flory said above.......

I have tried nearly all the other stuff at one time or another...but the IWB with a good belt....I like my Milt Sparks VM2H too...keeps the weapon close and accessible...under your control. A jacket does not afford this option easily. You can get the tuckable clips for the VM as well, I have them, but never have used them yet. I seldom need to dress up.
Sometimes I carry a airweight Jay in a pocket holster, but mostly it is a officer's sized .45 in the VM.....
Jercamp45

 

[Kentucky Rifle]

I have a SOB holster for my G27...

...but I'm scared to wear it. You're a tall guy too. If you hurt your back, that's IT! It'll be hurt forever. I'm scared some doofus will plow into the back of me (again) while I'm walking OR driving. A LEO who I think a lot of had to take early retirement because he had his 'cuff case in the small of his back when a drunk hit his car from the rear. He too, has constant pain. I just received an e-mail from him this morning. His back, like mine, is getting worse not better. He and I both had the surgery. I really believe that most of the time, the surgery doesn't work. IWB carry works well for a lot of people on the board. Look at the picture of Tamara (moderator here) with a 1911 stuffed down her pants. Maybe women can carry IWB better. But for us...ahem... porky people, IWB is REALLY uncomfortable. I'm 6'3" and weigh 224 lbs. Not really "all out fat", but IWB HURTS!! A vest, good belt, and "OWB" holster is best for me.
Also one on the ankle and another one in a vest pocket works well. ~Plus one in a pants pocket works well. (For me.)
You've just got to keep trying 'till you find~~"your way" and join the rest of us with..."The Drawer Of Unused Holsters".

KR

 

[Bob F.]

SOB's are a bad idea-Milt Sparks Holsters won't even make them. Ever fall straight back? Sure don't want any lumps on my spine to fall on!

I carry just behind the strong side hip in a Dillon Master-Glock 19. Sometimes carry a Makarov "Mexican-style" same location. That's one reason I like autos. I think the IWB's give the best concealment, by far!
But they do bother my old back sometimes, therefore the Master. Holds close. IN IWB's like Spark's Summer Special or VM, Bladetech's IWB prolly good un. I use a Fobus paddle at the range sometimes.

In cold weather outside with a heavy coat, often carry additional in outside pocket. The Mak, PA-63, Beretta .25.

Shoulder rigs or cross draws are nice if you spend a lot of time seated, as in a vehicle. Tried drawing in your vehicle? Ankle's even pretty good there too.

In the woods once got startled and reached to draw strong-side only to realize I had a shoulder rig on. "One gun-one carry", Jeff Cooper.

Lots of good advice above! Love this site!

Incidentally: 6'2", 210#, 38", old. Aahh, that's waist size!

Stay safe!
Bob

 

[denfoote]

Carry Methods

I carry almost exclusively IWB year round, covering the gun with a loose t-shirt. This works here in Arizona, where even in the winter, it usually gets up into the mid to high seventies. I almost never wear a jacket and even when I do, it is just a light windbreaker!!

I do however have specialty holsters for different types of dress. I have pocket holsters for my mouse guns and an ankle holster for discreet social occiasions.

Guns are tools. You don't use just one type of hammer when you build a house, so why would you try to fit just one gun to all situations????

Trust me. You will end up with a box of "experimental" holsters just like the rest of us. As time goes by, you will also feel the need to get one or two of those small sub caliber guns that everyone laughs at if you admit to owning. Mine is a Kel-Tec P32. I'll also admit to owning a Taurus snub nose revolver!!