Best way to carry revolver concealed.

M

MP Freeman

New member
Don't know if this has been posted before, but it propably has.

I own and plan to carry a 4", stainless, Ruger GP100. I live in Indiana and have a CCL.

I usually dress in jeans and a T-shirt at work and play. I'm 6'2" and about 200 lbs if that matters in the equation.

My question is: What is the best way to carry this gun concealed, and what is the best holster to carry it with? And how to carry one or two speed loaders concealed?

I think SOB with an inside the belt leather holster will be best, but I would like some other opinions before I purchase a holster. Should I keep the speed loaders in my front pocket?

Thanks.
 
I carry a Ruger Security Six, a gun with roughly the same dimensions as your GP100, in an inside the waistband holster. The difference with me is that I wear a jacket daily, so concealment is quite easy. I can say, however, that speedloaders are extremely bulky in the front pocket. May I suggest a couple of Bianchi speedstrips? They lay flat, you can carry another two quite easily with the only drawback being that it takes a little more time to load the weapon. Get some dummy cartridges to practise reloading and in time you can get quite adept at it. Good luck
 
I'm a little ol feler, round 140 lbs. Carry 686 snub or 696 snub 0r 6" 19 owb just behind hip points. Wear shirts a size large with the tail out. Back up is J frame in front pocket holster. With a LOT of practice speed strips work fairly well and hide in the pocket of your choice. Use sacrificial shirts for practice, sometimes the buttons are swallowed by aliens, also close in drills will occaisionaly burn the shirt.

Sam...follow me, the road is just over that next ridge.
 
Lots of luck. I have carried a 4" Security Six in a Sparks #200 AW (strong side, forward angle, friction retention) for over 20 years, normally with at least a light jacket. Spare ammo has been Comp II speedloaders in single/double Safariland 'Split Six' as a rule.

I would have reservations about being able to do this with a GP-100. I have one set up to carry in the same basic rig, and it is a whole different ball game. It is a noticeably bigger and heavier gun in comparison, and the grips, while very good, tend to drag on fabric. My carry gun has smooth wood grips to preclude this. While the GPs are excellent guns, they are best suited for open carry, not concealment. I suppose nothing is impossible, especially if you have enough size to make it disappear. As to the SOB holster, don't plan to sit down for long; and for heaven's sake don't ever fall on it.

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$" seems like an awful lot of barrel for a T-shirt. My favorite method for carrying concealed is with my snub nosed j-frame and a Barami hip grip. This is by far the most comfortable means that I have found to carry.
Like xxero said, the clothes have to be appropriate for the location, situation, and the weather.
Like others have said, the Bianchi speed strips work well and with practice can be used fairly quickly. I feel that they make a better alternative than a speed loader for one simple reason. To use a speed loader, the gun must be completely empty. This means you've either shot yourself out of ammo or you've fired a few rounds and have emptied all of tem out of the gun in order to load in the new rounds with the speed loader.
The bad part is that, in the mean time, you are stuck holding an empty gun. It is far better to fire two or three rounds, then if possible, retreat to cover and remove and replace only the fired cartridges. This way, should the bad guy move in and surprise you in mid reload, you can still swing the cylinder shut and have at least a couple of rounds at your disposal.

This is only my opinion of what works for me. Others have their own ideas of what works best for them.

Good luck.
 
MP FREEMAN:

Your choice of a T-Shirt and Jeans surely adds to the problem of concealment of any service size handgun. It surely helps if one dresses to facilitate CC and, I assure you, it can be done after a life spent in tropical climates. For really stripped down dress such as jeans and a T-shirt, it's hard to beat a S&W J or Colts D in a good pocket holster by Null, Alessi, or Andrews.

You might give some strong consideration to an inside the pants rig such as those offered by Ken Null, Milt Sparks, or Lou Alessi.

Note that despite film popularity, the SOB rigs are easily "made" when bending and stooping, sitting on stools, or simply being patted or clasped by friends or others--as well as having a tendency to catch on chair backs with resounding clunks and being a bit of an danger if one falls.

Your weight and height do make a difference and any given maker's rig(s) may NOT be suitable for your build and weight distribution. Tends to make an expensive exercise to sort it out and no one can tell you what's absolutely best for you--though you can get parameters which will serve to weed out grossly unsatisfactory rigs.

Consider speed strips as has been recommended or some concealable speedloader pouches by Sam Andrews, though the latter probably require more than a T-shirt cover. Much to be said for 2X2 belt pouch carriers like those made by Null.

Fanny packs in CONUS urban areas scream handgun to me, though I know they're convenient and they certainly have their supporters. The Thunderwear rig IS a viable option if you insist on your stated method of dress, though it requires some getting used to and a fair bit of practice to be functional.

The key is first, to select a well-designed holster (and all too many are NOT despite the prices and advertising puffin') along with a first rate pistol belt and then to make sure that the holster will conform to YOUR particular body frame to tuck the butt well into the body. A well-designed concealment rig does require a good bit more practice than holsters designed for range wear and comfort.

Personally, I find can carry an N-frame in a Null Gibraltrar with one of Ken's 1.5 inch belts comfortably and well concealed, but I'm seldom without a jacket of some sort or at the very least, in the hottest weather in casual conditions, a vest.

Good luck, hope this is helpful, and let us know what you select.
 
i carry a Ruger Speed Six with Eagle Secret Service grips on an almost daily basis to and from work. that way if anyone breaks into my car (i have to leave it in the car at work) i do not lose a $500.00 plus gun. my standard rig is a Kramer horsehide vertical belt scabbard with an Uncle Mikes Mirage gun belt. i carry my reloads in a Galco 2X2 belt pouch and a couple of extra speed loaders in my truck.
i can conceal this rig under a T shirt if i wear the holster forward of the point of my hip. this puts the grip next to my side, not sticking out when i bend over or sit. also draw from this rig is SUPER fast.
good luck

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Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what is for lunch.
Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the outcome of the vote.
Let he that hath no sword sell his garment and buy one. Luke 22-36
They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night. Song of Solomon 3-8
The man that can keep his head and aims carefully when the situation has gone bad and lead is flying usually wins the fight.
 
Bianchi Speed Strips. Always, I say again, ALWAYS carry at least one reload!!

As Mr. Murphy says, "Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong."

J.B.
 
Needless to say, a 4 inch GP100 isn't the ideal carry gun. That being said, I think your only viable option is to wear an overshirt over your t-shirt, and carry the gun either in an IWB or shoulder holster. While I personally don't care much for the shoulder holster, it may work for you, particularly because some allow you to carry one or two speedloaders under the strong arm.

Other possibilities are Thunderwear and fanny packs, although I don't care for either.
 
Make or buy a rig, similar to a single pocket THUNDERWEAR, to fit your THIGH.Cut the pocket out of your pants.Best concealed place I know to carry any size gun.I don't know why THUNDERWEAR never moved the thing away from the vital parts to begin with. An ACE thigh brace with a kydex holster attached also works. :D
 
If you insist on wearing jeans and a t-shirt the only practical way to hide any duty sized handgun is a fanny pack. If you will alter your life-style and wear a vest or over sized shirt, the Milt Sparks PMK is the most hidable belt holster I've ever used for a revolver. They also make the best "Summer Special" around. It's copied from the Bruce Nelson original.

Dave T

[This message has been edited by Dave T (edited August 18, 2000).]
 
My Kahr MK40, when I'm wearing pleated slacks or shorts, fits quite nicely in a Thunderwear rig. When going the jeans/t-shirt route, I am much more limited, especially since I don't have all of the extra padding that so many people seem to have nowadays (I'm 5'7"/145 pounds).

With jeans and a t-shirt, at least in the summer, I usually can only carry (don't laugh) my NAA .22 Magnum, unless I want to look sloppy and leave my t-shirt untucked, a look my wife hates. With an untucked t-shirt, I can use my belly band to carry my S&W 642, my aforementioned Kahr, or my wonderful Makarov, but I think the sweat is a little hard on the finish of the last one.

Judging from your description of yourself, you probably have a few more options available than I do. Of course, if you can't find anything to your liking, there's always the fanny pack. I, personally, wouldn't be caught dead wearing one of those things, except on a hiking trail, but to each his own.
DAL

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Reading "Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal," by Ayn Rand, should be required of every politician and in every high school.
GOA, JPFO, PPFC, CSSA, LP, NRA
 
I have to agree with PreserveFreedom. I have often wanted to recommend my favorite carry mode for summertime, but most gun folks claim that you "might as well wear a sign saying Gun on Board". But after some serious thought, I realized something. The people who would know you're carrying are people who carry! Non-gun owners would have little or no knowledge of such things, and if you're a legal CCW permit carrier, you have no reason to fear the law enforcement officers, who WILL know you're packing.

The absolute best fanny pack I have EVER owned can be found at D & S Enterprises (I'll get the URL and add it momentarily)for around $29.95.

Be safe!


[This message has been edited by Onslaught (edited August 21, 2000).]
 
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