Woman's Input: Holster for Pocketbook carry?

[Rockrivr1]

Some things have come up in my wife's work world that she is considering starting to carry a small handgun in her purse. Before anyone starts saying she needs to carry on her person, it's just not going to happen so no need to post that. Her purse is the next best thing and that's what my post is concentrating on.

She has small hands and for now we are going to the range to have her shoot my Colt Mustang in 380, my S&W 642 J Frame in 38 Special and my G26 in 9mm. We want to see which one she feels more comfortable with. I'm hoping the J Frame, but it's up to her.

Either way I'm not sure what kind of holster would work best for any of them in a purse. So I'm looking for some input on what the ladies or the wives of members are currently using for this kind of carrying.

Thanks for the input.

 

[FL-NC]

If she chooses the G26, make sure that trigger is well protected.

 

[herrwalther]

Believe it or not, women's fashion has caught up and there are purses made with holsters built in. The downside? Many of them are expensive. And if your wife is like mine, there is no such thing as just having one purse.

Start here:
https://thewellarmedwoman.com/product-category/ccw-purses/

Also, there are holsters that are designed to go into an existing purse. These are always a cheaper option, if the purse is big enough to hold a firearm to begin with. When my wife still carried a firearm she did purse carry. She used a Galco Carrysafe, just like this one without the magazine pouch.

https://www.galcogunleather.com/carrysafe-gen-2_8_149_1372.html

 

[labnoti]

There are really two functions of the holster. One is to protect the trigger by covering the trigger guard in order to prevent unintended trigger pulls from fingers and other objects. The other function is to orient and present the gun for consistent drawing without interference or obstruction.

The first function can be accomplished with a simple trigger guard cover:



But this does not serve the second function in any way. It doesn't really matter if the holster is a pocket or pouch that covers more of the gun -- if it still doesn't position the gun for drawing. I cannot expect to slide a gun into even a full-coverage kydex envelope and dump it into my purse with my wallet, make-up, phone, keys, checkbook, hairbrush and so on and then draw it readily and consistently. I'd have to fish around in there to find it first. A lot of the Galco pouches are like that. Some of them come on larger backer-boards to facilitate positioning, but then they still come with thumbbreak straps, velcro and other lame impedances that make drawing too complicated.

Conversely, I could put the gun in a separate zippered pocket of the purse with no other items in that separate compartment. But if that compartment does not cover the trigger guard with rigid kydex or other material, it's risky. What's more is I don't want to stick my hand in there with the trigger exposed. The Wellarmedwoman and Galco purses are all like that. They're just overpriced purses with a zippered pouch for a gun.

So both functions need to be served. The gun should be in a well-fitting separate compartment with no other objects so it is maintained in a consistent position with no obstructions. And the trigger guard should be protected by rigid material. I don't mean to imply these two functions have to be served by separate components. However, lets say the dedicated pocket is sufficiently rigid. I still don't want to stick my hand inside there to grab the gun without the trigger guard being covered. I don't want to expose the trigger until I start pulling on the gun with a full firing grip with my index finger above the guard. I don't recommend the type of trigger guard pictued above either because it requires a second hand to remove it and the string can foul.

What I would want is to open a flap with a magnetic closure (not zippered or velcro). The grip would be exposed under the flap but the gun would be retained in a kydex sheath by a tension unit. I obtain a full firing grip with my trigger finger on the outside of the kydex and draw.