Waistband carry and Public Restrooms

[DaltonSpringfield]

As a Truck Driver I have to use public restrooms almost every time. I was recently rethinking my carry method, based on personal experiences and those related by other forum members I concluded that the best position for carry is on/in the waistband just behind the hip. I have purchased 2 good holsters for this purpose and thought I had everything figured out. Then nature made it's daily call. As some of you may know, truck stop/rest area restroom partitions are poorly designed to provide the minimum amount of privacy that one could expect in such a place. Some even have 3 or 4 inch gaps between wall sections. Others are so high off the floor that the guy next to you can see your knees. That brings me to my question. How does one maintain concealment with waistband carry while answering nature's call in a public restroom? I do not wear a suit style jacket, and doing so would be out of place. My concealment garment is usually a flannel shirt or sweater worn untucked, removing it to use the restroom may prove awkward, but I haven't yet tried. Until I figure this out it's back to *insert moan here* shoulder holster carry for me.

 

[clt46910]

After many years of carry, I still don't have a answer or seen one that really worked. Best I have been able to do was to keep the pants high on my thighs so people will not see my holster and take out my gun and keep it in my hand or lap while seated. Not real sure there is a good way...LOL

For just using the urinal I wear suspenders so I can just unbuckle and the suspenders hold everything up. I like the suspenders that hook under your belt over the ones that clip onto your pants.

 

[John Wesley]

I don't think you'll like this since you don't like shoulder holsters but I sometimes wear a belly band. -Conceals very well. Bathrooms are no problem.

I also like clt46910's idea about the suspenders except that if you need nature's other call it makes things even worse for you when wearing OWB since they have to come off the belt and you still have the problem of the gun.

Guess I haven't helped much.

 

[DaltonSpringfield]

The best idea I have had so far is to roll the waistband down into the pants to somewhat cover the weapon. However, that is by no means a failsafe way to conceal it. This becomes something of an issue particularly when the gaps at the door are wide enough to let an elephant pass through unscathed, such as those you find a a Pilot truck stop or a dumpy Wal-Fart.

A word of advise for other traveling CCW'ers, Most "Flying J" travel centers restrooms have a solid wall between commodes and a real door, but most metro area Flying J's are posted no guns.

 

[PzGren]

I guess the daily call of nature comes as no surprise .Why don't you take the gun out before thatcall and put it into a little bag where you can also have a tooth brush or a razor in? I've seen truckers using them, looks inconspicuous.

When I was in Sales, I used an empty leather planner, the kind that is sold by Dillon.

They might catch you with your pants down but ready to rock 'n roll

 

[sixgunner455]

If I made my living driving, I would probably carry cross-draw or shoulder holster all the time, with maybe a bug in the dominant hand front pocket.

It's really hard to get a pistol out from under a seatbelt when carrying at 4 o'clock on the waistband.

 

[Nitrogen]

I have a comp-tac infidel.

Standing at a urinal, I just tuck my cover garment in the extended clips. It's a game that takes getting used to.

If I have to do "Number Two", I pull the pistol and holster out of my pants, and either place it on top of the TP Dispenser, or place the pistol in my hanging jacket pocket, or, at worse, in my pants around my ankles.

 

[roo_ster]

I wear a baseball cap lotsa times and when nature calls for an extended chat whilst out in public, I drop trou, take off my cap, & place the cap over my IWB holstered 1911 for the duration of the encounter. Total exposure of CCW is measured in fractions of a second.

A handkerchief or bandana could also work.

 

[gyp_c2]

well...

...sometimes it might be easier to just wear a jacket everywhere...sucks if there's no hook, but at least you don't have to move it around and take the chance of it being seen or worse... There are some pretty stout jackets made now that are comfortable and don't print much...

...gotta' stay clean fer' the lot lizards...in case they attack on the way back to da' rig

 

[Eyesac]

Sad to say, I just pull it out and set it on the TP dispencer. Never had any problems. I like the hat or rag idea though...

 

[Caimlas]

A word of advise for other traveling CCW'ers, Most "Flying J" travel centers restrooms have a solid wall between commodes and a real door, but most metro area Flying J's are posted no guns.

That shouldn't be a problem - most Flying Js I've seen are highly populated by Hipos.

As for what I do - I carry IWB rear hip: basically, it depends. For the most part I don't have to enter public restrooms, but the ones I do generally are of the nicer variety which have toilet roll 'covers' so sh*t splatters and other nasty public restroom things don't get on the toiletpaper. The top surface of these is generally large and sturdy enough to use as a small 'table'; but, you do have to be cautious that you don't leave your piece behind. I stay holstered at home, so practicing at home for a bit beforehand gets over the 'awkward' stage; and, if you're strapped 24/7 anyway, missing 2lb of metal on your belt will likely make you realize something is missing too.

Also, in the winter, I'll take my jacket into the restroom with me, and hang it up on the hook behind the door securely, then clip the pistol into one of the large front pockets (it's a Filson wool jacket so there's plenty of room for a 3" pistol). I've also tried, on occasion, putting the whole pistol in my front jeans pocket - that works OK with a Taurus pt111 pro and the generously loose (not ghetto baggy) pants I wear, but I don't imagine it'd work too well with a larger framed pistol and tighter pants.

Other things I've heard others have tried or considered myself:
- Put the pistol in your lap (heard)
- Shove it down your pant leg and into your sock; it should be sufficiently tight (tried)
- wear a laniard around your neck with a fast-clasp, or a heavier leather/metal necklace; fasten either the gun (via a laniard loop) or the holster (via the clip, if there is one) to the laniard (considered)
- if it's an open toilet (ie no door), wrap it in a newspaper or shove it down your pant leg into a sock

With my process outlined above, I tend to like to move as slowly as possible while leaving the comode and mentally/physically check several times that everything is AOK and ready to go.

 

[shotgunkevin]

I carry IWB, and what I typically do is remove the gun and place it, hopefully, onto the toilet tank or toilet paper roller. If neither is appropriate, then I'll drop it down into a pant leg, though I'd rather not. You have to do a bit of juggling when you're finishing up the festivities.

With the weapon itself out of the way, it's time to conceal the holster and spare mag. I'll simply pull up my skivvies over them, and kind of roll the waistband up over things. I guess it would look sloppy if someone took note, but then again, you're not supposed to look around in the men's room. That's rule #1.

 

[saltydog452]

Caimlas, what is a 'hipo'?

salty.

 

[carebear]

Don't take the thing off your body, it's possible to leave it behind.

For number one, don't undo your belt/button, you have a fly for a reason.

For number two, take it out of the holster, check safety, and put it deep in your front pants pocket.

There's room in most jeans and slacks front pockets to swallow a full-size 1911. Now it cannot physically tip out (like it can a belt mounted holster) as you lower your trou with two hands due to the physics.

You can go the bathroom just like you were unarmed.

Try it at home, the center of gravity in the pocket is below the beltline and anyway the pocket can't rotate around the belt like a holster can. The big "flipping" of belt holster problem is due to the heavier handle with loaded mag out-balancing the now unrestrained and lighter slide.

It also won't be sliding off of the paper dispenser, the back of the tank or be stolen off the door hook with your jacket. You can then use two hands just like normal to unbutton your pants and lower them normally, the gun can't be grabbed from your pocket and if you want, you can, once seated, move it to the tactical crotch pouch for use if needed.

To stand up, repeat the process. It cannot flip out of your pocket shoved down in there and you can use two hands like normal to lift trou and fasten. You can even tuck in your shirt around the holster knowing the gun can't go anywhere. Just reholster when all is arranged.

If you carry a striker fired or are concerned about an ND, empty that pocket first.

 

[Warren]

What I do on the rare occasions I go IWB or OWB is before lowering my pants all the way I take my underwear and pull it over the gun.

The elastic from the underwear waistband pulls the gun in and prevents "tip-out" and covers the gun so if anybody does steal a peak the gun is not visible.

 

[OrvilleYertleson]

I usually just 'roll' my pistol into my pants leg. If I knew I was going to have to use public restrooms I would probably just bring a backpack to put the pistol in.

 

[Gocart]

I used to unholster and let it rest on the TP dispenser or some other suitable spot. Until I walked off and left it in a restroom while traveling

Now I either leave it in the holster and let the weight of the pistol roll into the inside of my pants, or I unholster and drop the pistol into the nice little basket formed by my dropped trou.

I'm happy to report that there is a good cop in Small Town Alabama who kept up with my pistol for me and returned it with not too much drama after I got about an hour down the road and then went back.

My apologies to the nice folk in the Small Town Alabama convenience store...

 

[jeepmor]

This situation has me considering a smaller CCW

I have a Taurus PT145 and thought it was quite small. However, it doesn't fit into my pants pockets very well unholstered unless I'm wearing my Carrharts that have more generous pockets. Fortunatley, I wear my carrharts a lot since it provides the illusion that I'm a rougher cut blue collar worker instead of an cubicle dweller. Until they see my soft, callous free hands

I've put it in my lap before, but being it's currently winter, I usually have a wool beanie cap with me. When this is the case, I'll pull it out of the holster and keep it out of sight in the hat should the stall lock be less than secure. I make a habit not to set it down on the TP dispenser. I don't have the faith in the common man to see to it that my pistol is returned.

A friend just purchased a Kahr PM40 and showed it to me the other day, man are these things small, like Kel Tec small. I was quite impressed and now it's got me considering one simply due to the size. It would easily be moved to a pocket from a 4:00 IWB position unnoticed.

 

[peacemaker45]

Step 1. Remove pistola from holster.
Step 2. Using off hand, unbuckle belt, unbutton, unzip.
Step 3. Insert pistola into front of britches, secure briches around pistola w/ trigger finger.
step 4. Lower britches normally, with pistola coming to rest in boot top, covered by britches.

The only way anyone is gonna be the waiser is if the recognize the kydex clack for what it is.

~~~Mat

 

[rustymaggot]

what about a man-purse?

 

[Iggy]

Second the pulling the elastic waist band of your underwear up over the grip of the gun.. Keeps it in the holster and easily accessible if you have unexpected guests!!

 

[Imaginos]

Lanyard Ring

Attach a small lanyard ring to the butt of your piece and wear one of those name tag holdes or lanyard that an athletic coach uses for his whistle. before you sit down take the gun out of the holster and clip it to the lanyard, then relax and tend your business.

 

[pax]

Deleted a couple posts. If yours was among them, my apologies. I think this topic can be handled without ... ummm ... too much too much information.

Try to keep it reasonably clean and reasonably on topic, please.

Thanks.

pax

 

[hankdatank1362]

Sorry... I just thought I could help.

 

[Kimber1911_06238]

Quick question, do you carry through several states? I sure wish they would come out with a national concealed carry permit...things would be much easier. Anyone else know the legality of this? or do you have to get permits in every state you are carrying in?