Best way to carry your wheel gun

J

jazzjunkie

Inactive
With the approach of summer and a drawer full of holsters, I was looking for the best way to carry a 2.5 inch 686 under a light shirt. Although I love my Kramer IWB, for most carries, it does, like most holsters, present a bulge on your strong side when wearing light shirts. Not much better with a Milt Sparks. Thinking back, I remember a short article on a Mexican string holster. If you are not aware it is a loop of para cord or leather around your belt and the other end with a small loop that goes around the barrel of your revolver. The gun can then be stuck in your waist band without fear of falling down your leg and onto the ground ( not good in many situations). This simple retention system, best used with a stainless finish, allows you to conceal easily and gets rid of having to accommodate for the thickness of the holsters and its straps. System works well for many guns. Just a thought.
 
I've found the CABO holster works great for me whether it is a 3" M65LS, 4" King Cobra or 5" M27. It works well with all of them, conceals well and most of all it's comfortable (even with the big ones).

FWIW, a slightly long barrel might actually conceal better than that 2.5" you have--a longer barrel will be a little more secure, and there would be less tendency for the grip to pitch out. YMMV.
 
I carry my Taurus 85 in a Bianchi KO fannypack. It has a rip cord which opens it with the weak hand while drawing with the stronghand. In the front pocket is a speed loader, small folding knife, and pepper mace. Also has extra pockets for keys,Etc. and does not need a covering garment.
 
if the Kramer and the Milt Sparks IWBs are still making too much of a bulge, you probably need a different wardrobe or a J frame in the pocket. Hey, another reason to go gun shopping!!! :D

I personally carry my Smith 65 K frame IWB occasionally in a nylon IWB. For me, the Nylon is just much thinner and easier to conceal than anything I've tried in leather. I bought mine off of Ebay from the seller barsony (or maybe barsoney). Do a search and you'll see what he has. It's much better quality than the Uncle Mikes stuff and is about the same price, although shipping takes a while 'cause he's in Turkey. About 2 weeks to get here.

Oh yeah, the Cabo holsters mentioned above are nice but they're thick leather too. Much more so than the Sparks you already have. I don't think they'd work well under just a light T-shirt or whatever.
 
One of the thinnest leather holsters I have used is the Alessi Talon. I am waiting for one now for my 3” k frame. They are well made, hold their shape over time and more than reasonable. Their popularity, however, has pushed production time to 12-16 weeks. Four months is a long wait for a $50 holster.
 
I don't mean to steal the thread but: For some time now, I have thought I would like a shoulder holster that I saw in an old (1930s 0r 40s) movie on TV recently. I have seen them worn several other times in old movies. Seems they are generally worn by English types and perhaps in India...........enough.

They are worn with the handgun to the front over the chest. The might be better called "chest holsters"'. Of late, I have begun wondering if they are regular shoulder holsters but worn forward instead of under the arm.

Anyway, I want a secure, comfortable place to carry my 5" 629 on long treks through the mountains. I sense that a quick draw will be less quick but seriously doubt a gun fight :) . I do not want to be constantly pulling my pants up and I want to be as comfortable as reasonably possible while keeping my handgun accessible.

Any thoughts? Anybody know where to find one of these? Are the current production military shoulder holsters (M29 or whatever) what I am looking for but for a different pistol?

Help appreciated.

PigPen
 
Here you go PigPen. I have one for my five-inch Model 27. Like any shoulder holster, they take a little adjusting to get right.

https://secure.aaa-servers.com/epsa...88&PHPSESSID=50ef03f347b00166b64021a5ddb8a65e

Oh yeah, the Cabo holsters mentioned above are nice but they're thick leather too. Much more so than the Sparks you already have. I don't think they'd work well under just a light T-shirt or whatever.
Click to expand...
I'm firmly convinced that when it comes to holsters you never know what's going to work until you find the one that works for you--your build and the way you dress. I've tried many difference brands and styles including the aforementioned Alessi and Sparks with no success (holster hunting can be expensive), but none works as good as the CABO for big revolvers for me.

I definitely agree the CABO doesn't look like it will work, and I was a little disappointed when I first opened the box, but what can I say, it works and works well for me, and what I carry. After looking at it a while and wearing longer, I think it's success when it comes to me and my build is that you wear it considerably farther forward than most IWB holsters--basically the three o'clock position versus the four or five o'clock position with most IWBs, and thas position works best for me in terms of concealment and comfort (and the arms, when they are hanging down by your side also help the mask the weapon). Like anything else, YMMV.

I still part of the original poster's problem could be the 2.5" barrel length not giving the belt/trousers enough to work with for the weight/length of the weapon which causing it to cant out (again for experience and experimentation with carrying large revolvers). Another factor, and it wasn't specified, was the grips. The nice full-size rubber monogrips or combat grips that make for easy shooting generally make for poor concealment--a bad trade-off (shootability or concealability). Shorter wood (preferably smooth) grips generally aid concealability though rubber Hogue Bantums work well on my 3" RB K-frame (but it's not a 2.5" L-frame).

The bottom line, unless he is lucky (as some are), he's probably in for a long (and expensive) process of experimentation to find what works for him and his build.
 
My year-round carry is a 3" Model 65LS or Model 66-2. If I must carry an auto, it's a Combat Commander. It's always either IWB strong-side or cross-draw IWB, dependent on what I'm doing for the bulk of the day.

The issue with the revolver to be overcome will be the cylinder width. Trying to find a holster with the snaps not on the cylinder is a good option to pursue.

That being said, there are a few things you can do to minimize the bulges. First, wear an undershirt tucked inside the waistband to prevent the gun from digging into your flesh. Secondly, the covering shirt should be made of a thicker weave of fabric and be darkly colored or patterned to break up the outline of the gun. Next, be sure to buy a shirt one size larger than you'd typically wear so that it drapes loosely on you. Tight clothing and a CCW just do not mix well.

Depending on your build, the strong-side carry can go from anywhere from appendix type carry (1-2 o'clock), to as far back as 5-o'clock. Most people will have a groove in front or behind the hip bone assembly that lends itself to a smaller bulge profile. Take some time to experiment with different carrying locations on your waist.

A good, solid gun belt will work wonders as it will cinch/pull the weapon in close to your body. Be cheap and buy a crappy belt and I assure that your gun will flop around a lot more because that $19.95 special lacks the lateral stability to keep a full-size weapon stable.
 
Bulldozer wrote:

That being said, there are a few things you can do to minimize the bulges. First, wear an undershirt tucked inside the waistband to prevent the gun from digging into your flesh.

I would suggest that a proper holster should already address this. I have Alessi (Hideout) and Sparks (Versa-Max) holsters for N and K frames (respectively) that have high body shields and can be worn against your skin without any discomfort.

I also have some less well engineered ones (which shall remain nameless) that lack this shield and are painful to wear against the skin. You get what you pay for (or, more specifically, shop for) when it comes to holsters.
 
I carry a Taurus 85 UL in a DeSantis leather 3 slot pancake holster. It tucks the gun flat and tight even with a fairly light shirt over it. As already posted, you will want a thin t-shirt under it. Gould & goodrich also has a similar model.
 
I use a DeSantis OWB w/ thumb break for my 3" GP100. Strong side, and I can slide it from 3oclock to 5 oclock depending on what I am doing. As others have stated, I wear a thin shirt between myself and the gun and a heavier darker shirt on top.
 
Has anyone ever tried one of these by Hoffners? I'm looking for a holster for my 620 and maybe a 60 and this looked pretty spiffy.
inn07.jpg


http://hoffners.com/inn07.jpg
 
Or do like I did leave the revolver at home and carry a Kel-tec P-11 9MM will fit just great in the front pocket.Or even smaller the P-3AT in .380 at 11OZ :) LOADED
 
That honesty DOES look more comfortable! :D

When I carry my snubbie, it's usually either an Uncle Mike's OWB "Pancake-style" holster.

If I have the right pair of pants, the UM IWB holster also seems to work comfortably, albeit I do find myself occasionally having to adjust it here and there until I get used to wearing a gun IWB (again).

I've had the "gun side bulge" before myself until I learned to a) wear a bit looser shirt and b) balance it out (cell phone on opposite hip tends to "even things out").

However, everyone's different. What works for me doesn't necessarily work for others, and vice-versa.

-38SnubFan
 
summer wear in Las vegas

The wife and I, and my Rottweiler are in the process of moving to Las Vegas; we found the only apartment complex that will allow Rotts, but they also allow Pitts, Chows, Boxers, etc. talk about wanting to carry something with some oommph to it, this would be it. they won't let me walk my dog carrying an 870 with 00 buck, so I settled on my 45, or a sp101; I carry it concealed using a milt sparks iwb, and covering it with a lite vest; never drew a second glance; I just hope my Rott will get out of the field of fire so I can take out the bad guy.
 
Put my revolver in a Bianchi hip holster at 4 o clock and put on a light sport coat or blazer when I go out. Granted it does get a little hot, but as long as you aren't wearing a black one and you make it a thin coat you'll be fine. Get a good color that is can be worn in casual settings even with blue jeans. Granted you may be the only guy around wearing a coat, but it will still look fairly casual. It's a lot easier and nicer looking than untucked shirts over your belt, wearing the gun under shirt and all that....not to mention easier to get to if you need it quick. If it is just too inconvienent to wear, I manage to stick the gun under my shirt with it tucked in at 11 o clock and if I see a situation coming where I think might call for it, you can unbutton your shirt a little to be able to reach in and pull it out. I don't usually like doing it that way because it's so hard to get to it, but it looks nicer than untucked shirt. When all else fails, I give up the Colt .38 OP and stick my S&W 431PD .32 Magnum in my pocket. I'd like to have the power of the 4 inch .38 caliber but sometimes it's just too dang hot and too dang casual (like if I'm wearing shorts to a picnic)
 
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