I was curious on others opinions on there preferred level of concealment. I haven’t been carrying that long (I usually just always left it in the truck) and here in Florida we cant open carry. My favorite holster I own the galco cop slot 3. Its comfortable to me. Anyhow my question is how far do you go in relation to noticeable signs of carrying? Do you care about a slight bulge someone may think is just your cell phone under your shirt or do you prefer to be more unnoticeable?
concealment opinion
- Thread starter mike85
- Start date
indiandave
New member
I carry in different ways depending how I am dressed. For example I might pocket carry on my Harley. Around the house I'll OWB carry. I also will IWB carry some times if that is the best way to carry. It's a good idea to dress around your gun. You can get pretty creative.
Kreyzhorse
New member
I carry OWB 99% of the time regardless of which gun I'm carrying at the time. I try to hide the bulge by dressing around my gun and I figure any left over bulge is dismissed as a cell phone or PDA. That's assuming any one even gives me enough of a look to notice I have a PDA or cell on.
I'm in Florida, too. Been carrying daily for over 20 years. In that time, I've learned that "printing" is a complete non-issue. Unless you're packing in an OWB holster under a tight white T-shirt, no one will notice. And maybe not then.
Unless you're a swimsuit model or on fire, nobody will give you a 2nd look. They're all too wrapped up in their own lives to look at you.
I carried a S&W M-29 .44 maggie in an OWB holster for a couple of weeks just to see what would happen. I only weigh 150 lbs and have a 32" waist, so the gun stuck out a mile. The speedloader pouches were almost as bad. To me, it was 100% obvious that there was a big gun under my shirt, but no one noticed a thing.
I went back to my G19.
If anyone ever does ask you what's under there, the correct response is two questions:
"Do you know what a colostomy bag looks like?"
"Would you like to?"
Unless you're a swimsuit model or on fire, nobody will give you a 2nd look. They're all too wrapped up in their own lives to look at you.
I carried a S&W M-29 .44 maggie in an OWB holster for a couple of weeks just to see what would happen. I only weigh 150 lbs and have a 32" waist, so the gun stuck out a mile. The speedloader pouches were almost as bad. To me, it was 100% obvious that there was a big gun under my shirt, but no one noticed a thing.
I went back to my G19.
If anyone ever does ask you what's under there, the correct response is two questions:
"Do you know what a colostomy bag looks like?"
"Would you like to?"
dairycreek
New member
There are two "concealment aphorisms" that apply here. They are, "dress to the gun" and "Concealed means concealed".
They pretty well sum up the correct philosopy of concealment carry in my book. When you carry concealed make sure that, whatever you do, the end result is that nobody knows you carry but you !
They pretty well sum up the correct philosopy of concealment carry in my book. When you carry concealed make sure that, whatever you do, the end result is that nobody knows you carry but you !
In SC, as long as the bulge isn't recognizable as a gun, and as long as "an effort is being made to conceal", you're good to go. A bulge under a shirt could be a day planner, a fanny pack, cell phone, or most any type of device or carrier.
That being said, concealed DOES mean concealed. I carry in a paddle or beltslide OWB under a loose, untucked sport shirt or golf/polo shirt. Dark colors and prints are your friend. A GOOD holster/belt combo is your friend. Galco makes fine holsters, but the best holster is no better than the belt you hang it from. I like the Uncle Mike's Instructor belt. It's comfortable but stiff enough to hold the holster in place tight against your body.
As had been said, you will learn to "dress around the gun".
Check the gun laws in Florida concerning "flashing" and "printing".
That being said, concealed DOES mean concealed. I carry in a paddle or beltslide OWB under a loose, untucked sport shirt or golf/polo shirt. Dark colors and prints are your friend. A GOOD holster/belt combo is your friend. Galco makes fine holsters, but the best holster is no better than the belt you hang it from. I like the Uncle Mike's Instructor belt. It's comfortable but stiff enough to hold the holster in place tight against your body.
As had been said, you will learn to "dress around the gun".
Check the gun laws in Florida concerning "flashing" and "printing".
Echoing Japle...
No one seems to notice.
In our society, people are taught "Don't look!" from an early age. In the very long time - upwards of thirty years - I've carried, I've been made four times; once by a six or seven year old kid who simply looked and processed what he saw, twice by ladies at church who were 'huggers', and once by a guy who was helping me change a tire.
Having said that, always prepare for the worse condition. Make sure your holster fits properly and rides snug to the body. Make sure your shirt (whatever it may be) is long enough to cover properly. Wear a decent belt that keeps your trousers (pants, shorts, whatever) up where they belong. Plan for the activities you will be doing that day. If you're going to be playing basketball, you'll dress kit out differently than if you were going to a movie.
But like Japle said, most people won't see you unless you're on fire.
No one seems to notice.
In our society, people are taught "Don't look!" from an early age. In the very long time - upwards of thirty years - I've carried, I've been made four times; once by a six or seven year old kid who simply looked and processed what he saw, twice by ladies at church who were 'huggers', and once by a guy who was helping me change a tire.
Having said that, always prepare for the worse condition. Make sure your holster fits properly and rides snug to the body. Make sure your shirt (whatever it may be) is long enough to cover properly. Wear a decent belt that keeps your trousers (pants, shorts, whatever) up where they belong. Plan for the activities you will be doing that day. If you're going to be playing basketball, you'll dress kit out differently than if you were going to a movie.
But like Japle said, most people won't see you unless you're on fire.
Dex Sinister
New member
I was raised in the East and always tucked my shirt in - so even though I moved to CA I kept the habit. So I either use a Lightningwear or Cell Pal holster. Both are below-the-waistband, so printing really isn't an issue.
I was in a local park this past weekend walking trails with the family. Came to a cross trail where a guy carrying a back pack was standing. Noticed his hand partially covering something in his pocket. 99% sure it was a black round butt of a revolver. He never moved his hand from it. 
concealment opinions
In most states that I know of that have a CCW, It's very inportant to keep you handgun covered at all times ( concealed carry ) and as far as I know one could loose his or her license for flashing there weapon In pubilc and everyone knows or should know how John Q public will always over react to any thing, " case In point " I was in Wal Mart the other day In Custermer Service which I refer to as an oxymoron, I had to return something and this girl/woman? could not get the box open It had a small hunk of of scotch tape and she could not cut the tape with her ball point pen??? and with out thinking I put my hand Into my pocket and took out my money clip pocket knife with It's very big 1" blade and she saw this 2 foot long blade Machete and then she screames In a very high voice " Knife " and every one froze In ear shot and here I was standing with my tiny money clip 1" blade machete!
So needless to say I'm very happy that this sweet little girl didn't see my great big Bazooka that I had under my shirt, they would have had to call the EMT people and the national Guard at the same time!!! So in my ever so humble opinion I think that concealed means make very sure it's covered!!!
And as we all know people like this vote, that's really scarry!:
Semper FI to all, Hank D.
In most states that I know of that have a CCW, It's very inportant to keep you handgun covered at all times ( concealed carry ) and as far as I know one could loose his or her license for flashing there weapon In pubilc and everyone knows or should know how John Q public will always over react to any thing, " case In point " I was in Wal Mart the other day In Custermer Service which I refer to as an oxymoron, I had to return something and this girl/woman? could not get the box open It had a small hunk of of scotch tape and she could not cut the tape with her ball point pen??? and with out thinking I put my hand Into my pocket and took out my money clip pocket knife with It's very big 1" blade and she saw this 2 foot long blade Machete and then she screames In a very high voice " Knife " and every one froze In ear shot and here I was standing with my tiny money clip 1" blade machete!
So needless to say I'm very happy that this sweet little girl didn't see my great big Bazooka that I had under my shirt, they would have had to call the EMT people and the national Guard at the same time!!! So in my ever so humble opinion I think that concealed means make very sure it's covered!!!
And as we all know people like this vote, that's really scarry!:
Semper FI to all, Hank D.
Brian Pfleuger
Moderator Emeritus
I wear a Crossbreed Supertuck IWB at about 330 with nothing more than a one size too big t-shirt. The "sheople" will never notice and I've had more than one interaction with LE and they either didn't notice or didn't care. Even people who know I carry and know where it is on my person have asked me more than once if I was carrying. I've been carrying for about 5 months and after about the first week I haven't given "printing" a second thought.
Same in Texas.
I do try my best to keep my gun concealed, but frankly I don't give a flying foo foo who knows I'm carrying.
I have been carrying for about 5 years. I carry a Glock 19 or a 26. The 26 gets carried about 75% of the time, just because it is more concealable.
Weekdays, when I have to go to the office, I pocket carry the 26 in a DeSantis Nemesis. Most of the rest of the time I carry in a Glock Sport Combat holster under an un-tucked T shirt, or a Hawaiian shirt. When I want to deeply conceal, such as at a party or the like, I use a Kholster IWB.
Somebody watches WAYYY too much TV. Just about every guy I know carries a knife of some sort. I know a lot of women that carry one in their purse. They are just so incredibly useful. A day rarely passes that I don't use mine.
+1 to japle
I've only had my permit for a month or so but have carried wearing shirts that made it seem very obvious around the in-laws that know I carry. just to see if they noticed. I even asked some later in the day. they had no clue I had been carrying all day around the house.
I've only had my permit for a month or so but have carried wearing shirts that made it seem very obvious around the in-laws that know I carry. just to see if they noticed. I even asked some later in the day. they had no clue I had been carrying all day around the house.