CCW pants/belt

checkmyswag

New member
I am having a really hard time comfortably carrying. My 9mm is incredibly tight against my body and when i drive i have to constantly reposition my rig and sometimes take it off. I have an IWB holster. I am wearing the same pants as before which are not skin tight wranglers but are not baggy and using the same belt (wore out leather). Do i need to wear looser pants and get a better belt to more comfortably carry? I need to figure this out because I don't want to go back to carrying a 380 in my pocket.

Sorry to interrupt the macho gun chat w my fashion show.
 
You need to move the gun around to a more comfortable position when driving. You can either fight the holstered gun and the belt loops on your pants or you can do what I finally did after years of dealing with this problem. Get a crossdraw rig. It works standing up and sitting down. It keeps your gun in front so that if you fall on your back you won't cripple yourself and no one is going to grab it unless they're standing facing you. It allows you to keep the gun on you in comfort when seated in a vehicle but still allows you to draw it quickly if you need it. It doesn't get tangled on seatbelts. If you never drove a car this problem wouldn't be such a drag but as you've seen, it is. And baggy pants are "tactical' even if they're not fashionable.:D Definitely spend some money on a real gun belt. It makes so much difference you will not believe it.
 
A crossdraw is a good answer to the problem when sitting in the car.

I just don't prefer it when I'm out and about walking. I mostly pocket carry a J-frame in the warmer mos. and carry Para 7.45, IWB or OWB in the winter. Regardless of which mode I carry in, being seatbelted in can be problematic for a quick unholstering. Its just become a habit when I get in the car to unholster my ccw and stick it in a holster that's affixed to the center console.
 
Being comfortable while CC'ing helps cover the fact that you are armed. Constantly readjusting and fidgeting telegraphs that you're hiding something. Finding the right set up can take some time. Be patient. It may not be the position of the gun but the holster and a good belt. After several years and many different holsters I finally found the one that works for me and I can carry a full size 1911 IWB all day, every day with casual fitting[not baggy] clothes. I'll bet the right holster will be the answer,however, it's likely a try this one, try that one, try the other one .
 
Need to go to a ccw fashion show. This is ridiculous. Might just have to pocket a 380 (in a pocket holster) until I reach enlightenment.
 
I've carried a mid sized Sig 9 iwb in a Don Hume holster for four years. I wear Wrangler jeans and have found that the holster clip is strong enough to clip onto the waistband of the pants without going over the belt. I has never come off when drawing. As to position, you just have to find the spot and get the right cant. It was uncomoratable for about a month untill I got used to it.
 
I've found that when I carried IWB, larger pants than I'd normally wear really helped. Additionally, make sure you have a good, well made leather holster. The most important part of your rig is a good leather gun belt. It supports both your gun and holster and really the key to successful concealed carry.
 
If you're going to carry IWB your pants and carry belt need to be upsized 2" from what you wear without the gun. The gun/holster take up space. Without upsizing you're now trying to stuff 40" of body and gun into 38" of space.
 
Ruger LC9 in Galco Stow N Go (I think). My belt is older and I should definitely replace it with a sturdier one. Regarding upsizing the pants I really hate to do that but see where it would be helpful.

I definitely need to be patient and try to figure out what works for me.

I hate to go back to a 380 pocket pistol but I'm tempted to reduce the difficulty in carrying.

Those of you carrying full sized guns, awesome!
 
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My number one ccw is a 9mm cougar. IWB at 3 O'clock in a bianchi holster, with the muzzle tilted to the rear and the grip tilted forward. I use a bull hide belt for support. I find it comfortable to carry all day. But you have to know I have a little extra weight around the middle that cushions it also. :D
 
If your belt is worn out & floppy, in order to support the weight of the gun you have to cinch the belt too tight for comfort. When you cinch the belt that tightly, it drives the gun into your skin and makes a very uncomfortable day.

If your belt is worn out & floppy, no matter how tightly you cinch the belt you will have a hard time concealing the firearm because the gun will tend to flip out as you move around.

If your belt is worn out & floppy, you will find it difficult to carry securely no matter how good your holster is.

Belt holsters are designed to attach to a good, solid belt designed for that purpose. If you don't have such a belt, you can fiddle around buying new guns, new holsters, new clothing all you want -- and you will still have a comfort & concealment challenge that's apparently unsolvable. Buy yourself a good belt designed for the purpose, and be amazed at how much better your holster suddenly becomes.

pax
 
Ditto what others have said about a solid belt & holster. Also I find that some cant in the holster helps as well.

For driving in the car I find 3:15-3:30 just about perfect and anything else is pretty uncomfortable.
 
i carry iwb with jeans one size up. i carry either a glock 27 or a full size 1911. both are in a crossbreed holster. i use a 4 stitch nylon gun belt and have no issue with comfort. I wear on my right side past hip but before my ass so i would guess the 4 or 5 o'clock position. seat belt is infront of the holster and even with a tucked in dress shirt my hip pulls the shirt out past the grip of the gun so it remains hidden. I am so comfortable with the holsters and the guns i CC that i put them on and other than the weight i dont notice its on my person at all.

As mentioned if you fidget or aren't comfortable your going to be miserable carrying a firearm all day.

go to a good size gun store that has holsters and ask if you can try them on.

for a cheap gun belt look at one of the mass market brands like an uncle mikes.
 
I upped my waist size one inch (34 to 35) when I began to CCW daily. That, and to this day if I'm going more than down the block, I take my Glock out and put it in the door of my truck while I'm driving.

For me, my seatbelt latchgets in the way more than anything.
 
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