CCW method for a woman

S

siggygirl

New member
I have my Ruger LCR and I'll have my CHL shortly. I'm working my way through www.corneredcat.com to figure out how to carry. I'll get a carry purse for when I have no other options. However, I'm female, curvy, and my pants don't generally have belt loops. I know they're some women out there, so how do you carry concealed? I'm overwhelmed by the options on cornered cat. Maybe I just need to eat dinner and look again. And given this is a 5 shot revolver, should I carry extra ammo and where?:confused: When I get to work, the firearm will go into the drawer right next to me because if a client sees it on me, I'm in a heap of trouble, even if it is legal. Just trust me on this one. Can't talk about it openly because of privacy issues. PM if you care to persuade me otherwise.
 
I'll get flamed for this I'm sure, but the Clipdraw has worked very well for me over the years. I had the factory KelTec one on my P11, then put one on my Kahr K9. No belt needed, heck...I even used it with swim trunks once (don't ask).

Just have to be very mindful of anything snagging the trigger when 'holstering'. It keeps it more secure than you think.
 
Those of us with curves can often hide the grip of a handgun better under our bra area than along the waistline. I use a good custom-made leather holster attached to a belly band or support bra -- both work quite well under a moderately loose top.
 
Sakeneko, that's what I'm thinking now that I have enough blood sugar to think this through. If they had a cleavage holster, I could just about hide that little Ruger in there. I'm looking at the belly holster. How'd you get the custom stuff made?
 
Siggygirl,

I read your post and chatted with my wife about it. Her thoughts:

- She likes purse holsters. They're convenient, nobody thinks twice about seeing a woman with a purse, and she can take one anywhere and it won't look out of place. The one caveat is that she has to keep her purse on her at all times when carrying. Keeping a small lockbox in the car can make it easier if we have to go to a pub or someplace else where she can't be armed; gun goes in, handbag goes with her like normal.

- She doesn't like the idea of having to change her wardrobe to work around a holster. Too many other concealment methods didn't appeal to her because of that.

Personally I think extra ammo isn't really necessary. Of all the news stories I've read or seen involving someone shooting in self-defense, the fight was over in a couple shots. I mainly carry more ammo if I have a jacket pocket for it, and I usually keep the ammo in a speedloader. You can try speed strips too. I think speedloaders are quicker, but the strips are easier to hide.
 
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Thanks for asking your wife! I'm giving some thoughts to getting a few types of holsters and a purse and trying them out. I'll have to check return policies. I can definitely see the appeal of carrying on me but may need to use different methods given different situations and outfits. Not a big deal. If I can pick earrings, necklace and shoes, I can pick how to carry that day. I like options. Anybody see a downside to this other than me needing to be aware of where my gun is that day?
 
My wife currently carries her Smith 637 5 shot with a pr of Crimson Trace Laser grips in a belly pack when out walking or hiking. For town use, it's in her purse....and that's always with her and within arms reach. (In Krogers' I've been cautioned to, "Watch my purse" as she searches for items....hell, I've been watching that bloomin' purse for over 40 years now and it's never done a damn'd thing....no tricks, no music, nada...so what's with that?)

All kidding aside, the piece is in the belly pack, in her purse, or the glove compartment when she's carrying.

Best Regards, Rodfac (Pleasantly and unrelentingly supervised by 'She who must ultimately be obeyed' for over 40 years now.)
 
Almost everyone who carries concealed has to make wardrobe comprimises.

I don't think purse carry is the nightmare that some other folks do, but I am wary of it. Are you like 99.99999999% of women who have to dig around through 10 pounds of crap in your purse before you find what you're looking for?

I think you'll have to go through this like the rest of us -- trial and error. You too will end up with a drawer full of holsters. If you do try out some hip holsters, holsters that have the pistol ride lower on the hip than most may work out for women. I'm a guy, but I also carry a 5-shot revolver and like the Don Hume IWB "pocket" holsters (#715 I think, the snap-on one for revolvers) as it tends to ride fairly low for me. I don't advocate carrying on your hip without a belt, but you may want to consider a paddle holster in that case.
 
Sakeneko, that's what I'm thinking now that I have enough blood sugar to think this through. If they had a cleavage holster, I could just about hide that little Ruger in there. I'm looking at the belly holster. How'd you get the custom stuff made?
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The "custom stuff" I have is a holster that is custom-made to fit my gun, not a bra-holster or suchlike. I got mine from Rob Leahy at Simply Rugged (http://www.simplyrugged.com); it's the "Silver Dollar pancake holster". Then, I bought a bellyband separately, to which I attach the holster using sewn-on tough/industrial strength velcro strips. I also added some strong velcro fastenings to a sturdy, but quite normal, support bra that fits me well. That gives me two methods of carry that both work well, albeit with different clothing and in different circumstances, while using the same custom-fit holster.

I wear the bellyband the most, with the gun almost directly under my arm and above the waistline. The grip of my S&W Model 60 hides nicely in the hollow against my side and is invisible unless I'm wearing a tight top. (Rare, in my case; my usual style tends towards modest, with comfort taking precedence.) It's also *very* easy to retrieve and shoot from that angle; I practice rapid draw-and-shoot when I'm training.

When I'm wearing a tighter top, even one with a low neckline, I switch to the bra carry. I'm not Vegas-stacked by any means, but with bra carry the gun is completely invisible under most of my dressy tops and dresses. Unless the neckline is extremely high and tight (again, rare in my case), it's also easy to draw the gun if I need it.

I don't know if these methods will work well for you. Somebody who is thinner/has a narrow waistline will probably find it easier to hide the gun along the waistline than I do. And a friend of mine who is fairly flat up top can't do what I do at all. The "secret" to good concealed carry is experimentation, because the "right" answer tends to be different for each person. If you can afford the time and money, I'd suggest trying out several methods.
 
You know, I was getting ready to make some suggestions in this thread, but upon giving it a little more thought I realized just how unqualified I am to offer any useful advice. Interesting thread, though - I just never really gave it much thought how a woman would conceal carry.
 
^
I realized just how unqualified I am to offer any useful advice
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Skans, maybe you could wear women's clothing for a month while carrying. Then you can start a new thread with your observations and advice.:D
 
You know, I was getting ready to make some suggestions in this thread, but upon giving it a little more thought I realized just how unqualified I am to offer any useful advice.
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Skans,

Bless you!

You do realize you just broke the First Law of Internet Communication though, don't you?

pax
 
Extra Ammo

Don't.

You've indicated that you've got to be very discreet about CCW.

Extra ammo (and personally I like speed strips for a revolver) are just another possibility for an equipment malfunction that apprarently would cause you major headaches.

You are much more like to have major problems continuing to carry CCW at work, than you are to need extra ammo for self-defence.
 
@Stargazer, thanks for posting your wife's thread. It was useful. Also, it wouldn't count to just wear women's clothes, though it would be fun for us all to enjoy with you, you have to have a women's curves. I've got several ideas and I'm going to try a few things. I'll let everyone know how it goes in case another woman wanders in here or the men want feedback on CCW for the women in their lives. Yes, I carry a ton of stuff in my purse. Probably 80% of it I don't need. When I switch to a carry purse (which I'll use whether I put the CCW in there on not) I'll pare it down. There is not one chance I would leave my gun floating around in my purse with all the other stuff. I've put my hand in my purse before and gotten bitten by something before :rolleyes: so I'll be doing some much needed de-cluttering of the purse.
 
This is the outfit my wife uses to carry her PPK, but you got to be a dress wearing type of lady.

Put out by Nevada Leather, they have other types for ladys.

Nevada%20leather.gif
 
Stargazer, I think that would be great. We'd have to add some hips on the side and back as well. That would be a fantastic experiment. Please, if you do this, post pics. For any firearms instructors out there, this person hit on a good idea!:D You want to know how a woman can carry? Simulate and woman's body and clothes and then hide that gun all over the place and try and get to it.
 
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