Sav .250
Member
20 years in the Coast Guard and you need help. Hard to believe but if you say so.
Air Force vet.....
Air Force vet.....
Talk A Noob Through Concealed Carry 380s
- Thread starter dranrab
- Start date
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dranrab
Member
Sure, carrying a full compliment of LE gear on a belt is a completely different animal than concealed carry. I learned long ago not to pretend to be an expert where I am not. I am not too proud to ask for guidance.
dranrab
Member
Unless I am at work I never wear a belt. I know it will take some getting used to.
dranrab
Member
herrwalther
Member
- Joined
- May 1, 2013
- Messages
- 8,130
Thanks to the internet you can research something to death before actually buying anything. When I was starting to carry I started with cheap, off the shelf nylon holsters. With a cheap woven nylon belt. Using these I hated carrying. Research led me to better holsters and better belts. I can drive comfortably while carrying a firearm and I can even nap on the couch or bed with my holstered firearm.
Part of my holster research was looking at Crossbreed. And I did not like how their holsters and clips looked. I spent a little bit extra money for a horsehide White Hat Maxtuck holster. And it is by far more modular and comfortable, to me, than a Crossbreed holster.
http://www.whitehatholsters.com/
Part of my holster research was looking at Crossbreed. And I did not like how their holsters and clips looked. I spent a little bit extra money for a horsehide White Hat Maxtuck holster. And it is by far more modular and comfortable, to me, than a Crossbreed holster.
http://www.whitehatholsters.com/
Tallball
Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2014
- Messages
- 7,814
The sad fact of the matter is that there is no "one size fits all". That includes, people, clothing, activities, etc.
The bad news is that I have five different carry pieces to fit various weather and situations.
The great news is that I have five different carry pieces!
Being that I am lazy and live in a hot climate, I carry something like an LCP or P3AT more often than anything else. But when it is coat weather I am happy to carry a CA Bulldog, LC9, G43, etc.
The bad news is that I have five different carry pieces to fit various weather and situations.
The great news is that I have five different carry pieces!
Being that I am lazy and live in a hot climate, I carry something like an LCP or P3AT more often than anything else. But when it is coat weather I am happy to carry a CA Bulldog, LC9, G43, etc.
.308 Norma
Member
My wife loves the little G-42 she carries in her purse. However, when she first got it, I swear it jammed (stove piped) at least twice for every 10 rounds she put through it. Yet it performed flawlessly for me. I'm pretty sure most of you more experienced handgunners are saying "limp wristing" right now, but that wasn't it. The facts are, Mrs. .308 Norma has literally sent tens of thousands of .44 Magnum bullets downrange in metallic silhouette competitions, and she developed a habit of releasing a handgun's trigger too quickly after the gun went off. I'm not sure, but I think she may have developed that habit as the result of learning to deal with the recoil from at least 40 full-house .44 Magnum handgun rounds fired in every silhouette match. That is, she learned to not fight it, just let the gun kick - sort of "roll with the punches." Anyway, the owner of the LGS where we purchased the Glock saw the problem right away, and I don't think that gun has malfunctioned once in the last 200 rounds or so my wife has run through it. She just had to learn to keep pressing the trigger for just a moment after the gun went off. It's become natural to her now.
But getting to the question of how to carry if not in a purse or bag, I'm old-school myself, and carry a .38 snubbie OWB at 4:00 o'clock. I'm 5'10", and significantly overweight right now (I'm working on it). At any rate, in the summer I wear shorts most of the time with a loose fitting, untucked, button up shirt. It works fine, even on long road trips. I often forget the gun is there except when I get around a bunch of "huggers" at church on Sundays.
This time of year I could easily carry a larger gun. The weather guy said it's going to get up to a balmy 2 degrees below zero here in SE Idaho today - that kind of makes moot the argument about wearing clothing bulky enough to conceal a handgun.
But getting to the question of how to carry if not in a purse or bag, I'm old-school myself, and carry a .38 snubbie OWB at 4:00 o'clock. I'm 5'10", and significantly overweight right now (I'm working on it). At any rate, in the summer I wear shorts most of the time with a loose fitting, untucked, button up shirt. It works fine, even on long road trips. I often forget the gun is there except when I get around a bunch of "huggers" at church on Sundays.
This time of year I could easily carry a larger gun. The weather guy said it's going to get up to a balmy 2 degrees below zero here in SE Idaho today - that kind of makes moot the argument about wearing clothing bulky enough to conceal a handgun.
unclenunzie
Contributing Member
A good belt will help a great deal. The Hank's amish belts are popular and I have a few that work for me. Inexpensive but not "cheap", keeps the holster and gun secure to the side so the grip doesn't tilt out and "print".
As to holster, I'd recommend a mitch rosen clipper for a low ride and secure clip on leather holster. Very comfortable. For anything under 2 pounds loaded I find dual-attachment holsters not strictly necessary, but the hybrid types (Crossbreed, etc) work very well. Kydex works great for clip type, but not as comfortable as leather.
Pocket carry is good with the really tiny pistols, I find rear pocket most useful because I like my front pockets for money, keys, wallet, etc. So I tend to go IWB mostly, which gives me 9mm in smaller but not tiny pistols.
Good luck.
As to holster, I'd recommend a mitch rosen clipper for a low ride and secure clip on leather holster. Very comfortable. For anything under 2 pounds loaded I find dual-attachment holsters not strictly necessary, but the hybrid types (Crossbreed, etc) work very well. Kydex works great for clip type, but not as comfortable as leather.
Pocket carry is good with the really tiny pistols, I find rear pocket most useful because I like my front pockets for money, keys, wallet, etc. So I tend to go IWB mostly, which gives me 9mm in smaller but not tiny pistols.
Good luck.
LAH
Member
You can basically carry on a belt or in your pocket. I do both depending on how I'm dressed. A flat auto inside the trousers is my CCW belt gun & for a pocket gun I'm using the LCP.
gbran
Member
Just picked up the Sig P238 and couldn't be happier. I will carry in an OWB pancake holster or pocket carry, I'm just not built for IWB.You can basically carry on a belt or in your pocket. I do both depending on how I'm dressed. A flat auto inside the trousers is my CCW belt gun & for a pocket gun I'm using the LCP.
LAH
Member
BTW I don't use a holster when carrying IWB. Let us know how it goes with the Sig.
I always have a KelTec p32 in a little leather holster in my pocket. It prints like a wallet, and the whole rig is so slim and light I forget it's there.
The LCP is one of the most popular guns on the market now for good reason. This size class of firearm is just super convenient.
In the cooler months I carry IWB, size varying between a colt 1903 .32 to a full size GI 1911. I like leather with a solid clip, tuckable is nice, but a good belt is really the main thing to look at.
As far as holsters, don't wear yourself out too much trying to pick the perfect one your first go around. They market holsters like they market fishing lures, and I'm sure I'm not the only one on this board with a drawer full of the next-greatest-thing that got worn only once. You'll probably go through a few before you find the one that woks best for you.
The LCP is one of the most popular guns on the market now for good reason. This size class of firearm is just super convenient.
In the cooler months I carry IWB, size varying between a colt 1903 .32 to a full size GI 1911. I like leather with a solid clip, tuckable is nice, but a good belt is really the main thing to look at.
As far as holsters, don't wear yourself out too much trying to pick the perfect one your first go around. They market holsters like they market fishing lures, and I'm sure I'm not the only one on this board with a drawer full of the next-greatest-thing that got worn only once. You'll probably go through a few before you find the one that woks best for you.
huntsman
Member
I always carry an LCP in the pocket and sometimes a G-23 IWB together they cover all my CC.
Armored farmer
Member
How to carve a pumpkin in 10 seconds from 35 ft.The LCP is effective if you practice. This is seven rounds. All hits.
Is this what I would take into battle or on a raid?
No.
SigP229R
Member
If you are dead set on a 380 , don't forget to give the Beretta Cheetahs a look. I'm 5'9" and 200 and routinely conceal a H&K P30 and a Sig P229R or a Sig P6 depending on the mood I'm in. Also the Bersa Thunders are fine little 380's for the money. I carry OWB with all my carry guns and a good belt and holster combo do make a difference.
guyfromohio
Member
I would agree. I don't carry a .380, but I really do like many of the models. Out of all of them the Beretta 85 is my favorite with the 84 right behind. Up there with them are the Sig P230/232 and the Walther PPK. All excellent shooters. That being said, my wife has a Bodyguard and it actually isn't too bad at the range. Has real sights.
My wife's pistol is a Browning BDA .380 ACP and it's basically a Beretta 85 with a slide mounted safety rather than a frame mounted safety. Beretta actually manufactured it for Browning and stamped their name on it for them.
It's a pretty good gun, but there are currently 9mm Luger's that are quite a bit smaller. It's just a little too large to fit into a pocket.
You can find Browning BDA's for less than you can a Beretta 85. Mags, grips and some other parts are interchangeable.
It's a pretty good gun, but there are currently 9mm Luger's that are quite a bit smaller. It's just a little too large to fit into a pocket.
You can find Browning BDA's for less than you can a Beretta 85. Mags, grips and some other parts are interchangeable.
dranrab
Member
I held a Bersa Thunder last weekend at the gun show and loved the way it felt in my hand. I need to take time to go to a gun shop and try some guns/holsters on to see how they feel.
huntsman
Member
Actually it's the 84, the 85 is single stack. My avatar is a BDA
Delford
Member
Some day I may get an LC9S pro but since I began shooting/got my CCL I've felt most comfortable shooting .45 ACP and practice with it in my first and third handguns. My second is rimfire. I carried a Ruger which is slightly smaller than a G30, and lighter too. I wanted something a bit smaller and my third is a Kahr. I bought two holsters for the Kahr: the first is a High Noon Split Decision and the second a Black Dog kydex. The first is IWB EDC. The kydex goes to The farm where I shoot so reholstering for mag changes is easy. I also bought Uncle Mike's #4 also and can carry in my cargo pockets, though the .45 Kahr is heavier than the nine.
You'll get a lot of "my gun is best," when what you might better concentrate on is which style trigger and safety you prefer.
Double action, with no safety, a longer and higher effort pull of the trigger every time, vs. Single action, with a safety, a short light trigger every time.
From there does it have second strike capability - can you revert back to double action to strike the primer again if needed? Striker fired guns generally won't do that, hammer fired guns will.
Striker fired guns generally have longer slides which overhang the hand, hammer fired tend to be more flush with the back strap. That can influence how it's drawn from a pocket depending on the size of the hammer and how sloped the back of the slide is.
Both can have a slide hold open on last shot, which all duty and combat guns specify. You want the gun to expedite the act of reloading - not deceive you into pulling the trigger and getting no warning the gun is empty. This is also one of the things that makes practice with the gun more enjoyable on the range because you cycle the slide far less and it's not the onerous obstacle some high weight recoil springs can create. If it locks back - you don't have to fight it.
Sights are next, if you can't pick them up easily then you will find it harder to hit what you aim at, and again, in practice, a gun with better sights is more pleasant on the range. If you like shooting the gun, you will, and if you shoot it more accurately, you have more confidence in it's use. Conversely, some fans of one gun in particular tend to discard that notion and base their ownership on the singular characteristic that the gun is easy to carry. Not easy or confidence inspiring to shoot.
For the most part we are talking a .380 for pocket carry, which by and large are all DA guns with minimum 6 pound triggers. The real issue is how long is the pull and is that reasonable for your hand. Not 150 other guys on the internet who wear a glove size two numbers different. Same with the next size up guns which are commonly 9mm, both DA and SA, and still six pounds. The difference in trigger pull is what you need to experience for yourself. A trigger pull lighter than 6 pounds isn't wanted - it's the minimum for a gun that may be used close enough for the other person to grapple with you.
There are some who declare that either the absence of a safety, or it's presence, are both a recipe for Death! It's more a situation of which you prefer, and in a lot of ways, that is entirely an emotional assessment for each person. I have run the gamut of both - one gun which was DA I found to be difficult to use and I didn't trust it with a round in the chamber, another DA I have no issue with loaded at all. Entirely a mental issue of perception inside my own head. We each decide what our answer is and if that specific gun crosses a threshold better you try another than deal with the issue. Save the mental gymnastics for later when you have experience and can deal with contrasting features and can weigh them. For now you need to have something you can work with.
Go shoot some and see what you like.
Double action, with no safety, a longer and higher effort pull of the trigger every time, vs. Single action, with a safety, a short light trigger every time.
From there does it have second strike capability - can you revert back to double action to strike the primer again if needed? Striker fired guns generally won't do that, hammer fired guns will.
Striker fired guns generally have longer slides which overhang the hand, hammer fired tend to be more flush with the back strap. That can influence how it's drawn from a pocket depending on the size of the hammer and how sloped the back of the slide is.
Both can have a slide hold open on last shot, which all duty and combat guns specify. You want the gun to expedite the act of reloading - not deceive you into pulling the trigger and getting no warning the gun is empty. This is also one of the things that makes practice with the gun more enjoyable on the range because you cycle the slide far less and it's not the onerous obstacle some high weight recoil springs can create. If it locks back - you don't have to fight it.
Sights are next, if you can't pick them up easily then you will find it harder to hit what you aim at, and again, in practice, a gun with better sights is more pleasant on the range. If you like shooting the gun, you will, and if you shoot it more accurately, you have more confidence in it's use. Conversely, some fans of one gun in particular tend to discard that notion and base their ownership on the singular characteristic that the gun is easy to carry. Not easy or confidence inspiring to shoot.
For the most part we are talking a .380 for pocket carry, which by and large are all DA guns with minimum 6 pound triggers. The real issue is how long is the pull and is that reasonable for your hand. Not 150 other guys on the internet who wear a glove size two numbers different. Same with the next size up guns which are commonly 9mm, both DA and SA, and still six pounds. The difference in trigger pull is what you need to experience for yourself. A trigger pull lighter than 6 pounds isn't wanted - it's the minimum for a gun that may be used close enough for the other person to grapple with you.
There are some who declare that either the absence of a safety, or it's presence, are both a recipe for Death! It's more a situation of which you prefer, and in a lot of ways, that is entirely an emotional assessment for each person. I have run the gamut of both - one gun which was DA I found to be difficult to use and I didn't trust it with a round in the chamber, another DA I have no issue with loaded at all. Entirely a mental issue of perception inside my own head. We each decide what our answer is and if that specific gun crosses a threshold better you try another than deal with the issue. Save the mental gymnastics for later when you have experience and can deal with contrasting features and can weigh them. For now you need to have something you can work with.
Go shoot some and see what you like.
ThusEver2Tyrants
Member
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2013
- Messages
- 23
The pocket gun will give you more freedom with carry...what I mean is if you are running out real quick you can throw in the pocket and roll. You're armed, but not well armed haha.
The single stack small Auto will give you a bigger gun meaning most likely better velocity, accuracy, and handling and just in general easier to shoot. More combat effective, if you will. BUT you will probably need a holster in whatever carry you prefer, meaning for me atleast, a bit more aggravation with having to take holster on and off. The degree of this concern will obviously vary depending on your personal habits ect.
Bottom line: it's a give and take
But if I was gonna have one without the other the single stack Auto (shield, xds, ect) would be my choice
The single stack small Auto will give you a bigger gun meaning most likely better velocity, accuracy, and handling and just in general easier to shoot. More combat effective, if you will. BUT you will probably need a holster in whatever carry you prefer, meaning for me atleast, a bit more aggravation with having to take holster on and off. The degree of this concern will obviously vary depending on your personal habits ect.
Bottom line: it's a give and take
But if I was gonna have one without the other the single stack Auto (shield, xds, ect) would be my choice
rskent
Member
I used to have a LCP. It was an OK gun, but it was very hard to keep a hold of.
And I need sights. I also don’t pocket carry, so…..
I have a Glock 42 and Sig 238. Both great 380’s. Both great shooters.
Both carry very easy. I carry the Sig OWB in a leather holster and the Glock IWB
In a Kydex holster. Not at the same time. I wouldn’t want to have to decide
between them. I like them both. I do think I carry the Glock more often.
huntsman
Member
I was planning to replace my early LCP with the LCPII but now my state had a law change and my wife will be able to have a gun in her car so I'm thinking a pair of G-42 Glocks might be the way to go.
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