How To Conceal An OWB Holster ?

R

ReserveCop

New member
I usually carry a S&W J-Frame in my front pocket (in a DeSantis holster) as my CCW.

I'm thinking of adding a compact HK P2000sk for CCW use.

I've never liked carrying using an IWB type holster (too uncomfortable for me).

Questions:

Any ideas as to a good quality OWB holster for the P2000sk?

Any ideas for a good mode of casual dress to conceal a P2000sk in an OWB holster (in a warm climate)?

Thanks.

:confused: :D :confused:
 
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I carry OWBon occasion and usually wear a "busy" patterned untucked shirt. Make sure the shirt is a little big and you are ready to go.
 
There is absolutely no way that an OWB rig can be concealed as easily as an IWB rig. Period. The main difference is that the IWB setup smooths out all the lines of the holster and pistol so it doesn't print as easily, and even though the grip is above your belt, it is pulled into your side much better and flatter than any OWB rig can.

So my first suggestion is to "get used" to an IWB rig. The people who have the most trouble with doing so is because they don't want to change the way they dress AT ALL so stuffing an IWB rig down your pants is sort of like shoving a thick paperback book in the same place.
To be comfortable with IWB wear, you should start buying your pants one size larger in the waste as well as to get belts that are about 2" longer than you have been. The moment you add the little extra space you need INSIDE your belt for the IWB rig, you'll hardly notice that it's there.

My second suggestion if you simply refuse to even try to accomodate IWB wear is to make sure that you have the very best OWB holster you can buy. Leather is the only material you should consider it be made of because it can be made to be very "stiff" for pistol support, but will also blend better to print less than any of the plastic ones. One I like a lot because I like how they slant the belt slots inward at the top for better support is the Brommeland:
http://www.brommelandgunleather.com/Products/def-con.htm
I don't carry OWB, but if I did, that would be the one I'd go with.

There are several holster makers that make good ones other than the one mentioned above, but what you need is secure holster that will pull the pistol in and keep it there.
Also with an OWB holster, the belt you wear is every bit as important as the holster itself because it's the belt that keeps the holster securely where it is and should stay. And I'm not talking about an "expensive" belt from a department store, I'm talking about a REAL GUN BELT of the kind you can get from most high quality holster makers. For IWB wear, a 1-1/4" belt is fine because it would be plenty stiff to keep everything in place, plus I like that size because it doens't "look" like a gun belt.
But if you're going to wear OWB mostly, you NEED to go with a 1-1/2" belt because, again, with OWB wear, it's the belt that does ALL the supporting of the holster and pistol to keep it pulled in and in place. A 1-1/2" gun belt with the Brommeland Def Con would be a perfect setup (but again, there really are some other good holster makers around nowadays).
A cheap holster and/or belt will allow the pistol to lean outward where the grip will look like you have a telephone pole sticking out your side.

Then after you have a good holster and belt, go buy an entire wardrobe of oversized Hawiian shirts with the loudest, tackiest prints you can find. :D

Carter
 
I wear Hawaiian shirts over a nice Tee shirt. The shirts are very light weight, have a busy print usually and appropriately fill many "dress code" requirements.



TACKY!??
 
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I've got a desantis mini-slide OWB coming today or tomorrow so I'll let you know how that conceals, but I have a Kydex Paddle for my XD subcompact that under a baggy shirt, loose button up, or jacket you can't tell it's there unless you're really looking for it. IWB may be the best concealed, but unless you want to conceal as deep as possible or it's just comfortable for you, I would just find what works for you. Most favor IWB, but I hate it. 1. I don't wanna have to buy all my pants and belts bigger just because I wanna conceal my gun. If I wanna carry IWB I'll buy 1 or 2 pants for the occasion. 2. IWB is just uncomfortable for me. Find whatever works for you and the gun that works for you and go from there. Obviously take into consideration these things. Size of gun,weight of gun,your body size,you're manner of dress, and what level of concealment you want. Good luck.
 
CDH is right that, "There is absolutely no way that an OWB rig can be concealed as easily as an IWB rig".

Doesn't really matter. People don't pay any attention to what you're wearing or what your waistline looks like.

Follow PSP's advice. I wear a G19 in an OWB holster daily with untucked aloha shirts over tanks. Never a problem.

John
Cape Canaveral
 
The best OWB holster I have found for my P2000 is a Kramer. It has the belt loops positioned right to keep the grip of the gun tucked in as much as possible, and at the right height. It also has a leather 'guard' between the slide and your skin.
As Carter said - a good gun belt is a must. As for concealing - oversized Ts at the min., but a long vest works great - in warm climate a photog's vest works, as does any un tucked and open button shirt ( I like denim Levi's)...something you can partially secure if it is windy, or if you are moving around alot - but still allows 'easy' access.
 
There is absolutely no way that an OWB rig can be concealed as easily as an IWB rig.

So my first suggestion is to "get used" to an IWB rig.
Click to expand...
I too agree with CDH. You really have to give the IWB a good try, and if necessary, make a few adjustments in pant/belt sizes. I wear my normal size, and while slightly snug, it helps hold things in place even more. You also still need a good gun belt. If you can get away with it, the Wilderness Instructor type belts are the most comfortable. They are infinitely adjustable through their size range and you dont need to hit a hole, you can be anywhere in between. This allows for day to day changes.

Once you get used to IWB, you wont be comfortable with any other method. It is absolutely the best way to easily conceal a large handgun. With the right belt and holster, it can also be very comfortable. At this point, the only time I notice it, is the few times a year its not there.
 
I usually where a paddleback holster or slide with a loud ugly print shirt and nobody will want to look long enough to notice if you are carring or not.
 
Reserve Cop, . . .

I have a very high riding OWB that I occasionally wear. I usually have either a light jacket or a leather vest to conceal it (sometimes the 511 vest also).

I had a problem with it in that sometimes it would just come down where it could be seen, . . . so I decided to camoflage the thing somehow.

Since I am in my Wranglers just about always, . . . denim seemed to be the way to go, . . . and I did just that. I cut up an old denim pants leg, . . . got out the contact cement, . . . and covered the outside of the holster with good old blue denim. Now, when it does sometime protrude below the vest line, . . . or my shirt rides up, . . . the viewer sees non-threatening denim, . . . in stead of a 1911 barrel out the end of a leather holster.:D

Works for me.

May God bless,
Dwight
 
Dwight,

You should become a fashion designer specializing in CCW attire.

There are times when I know that I will be wearing a jacket or some type of cover shirt. At these times, I will carry my Sig in an OWB holster. I'm not worry about concealment at these time, but when I know that I must conceal, I will use an IWB.

It all depends on what your needs are.
 
Well, it depends in part on your build. A pancake holster is more likely to "smooth out" the contours than a regular OWB rig. I have a DeSantis OWB for my Kimber that I use when I'm in the woods, but there's NO WAY, short of a suit jacket, that it's going to not print somewhat. Today, on my way home from the woods, I took off my belt and holster before going into Gander Mountain rather than be so obvious about printing.

I agree with Carter...an IWB just IS the way to be most concealed.

Of course, you could consider a shoulder holster, but that too is going to require some sort of overshirt.

Springmom
 
If it's that uncomfortable to carry IWB, you have the wrong combination of gun, holster, and belt. Most often, I carry a Kahr CW9 (el cheapo P9) in a Sparks Watch Six, with a relatively cheap ($40) but stiff leather gunbelt. Whenever I leave the house (and I'm not headed to work), I have the above combo, my wallet in my right rear pocket, and my cellphone on my belt clip on my left side. Of the 3, my cellphone and my wallet are more bothersome than the gun! If you try to put a handcannon in an Uncle Mike's supported by a J.C. Penney belt, it will annoy the hell out of you. In your case, I think the size of the gun would be OK, but you need a quality rig to make it carry right. My combo is thin enough that I don't have to buy my jeans or shorts a size bigger. I have them just a tad loose without the gun, and a tad snug with the gun on.
 
I carry IWB, but that doesn't answer the question, of course. More on-target, though, I'd rather suffer the effects of an attack than to be caught in public wearing an Aloha shirt! ;)
 
I'm one who had a hard time trying to wear an IWB holster. I found a rather comfortable solution. I purchased a belly band and carry it low on the waist just above the belt. The barrel of the weapon I let hang on the outside of the belt. A shirt easily conceals it. You can even blouse a shirt over it and tuck it in. By having the barrel over the outside of the belt and the rest of the weapon above the belt the weight is supported by the belt rather than completely by the belly band. This is the manner in which I carry off-duty and it works well.
 
allright just for update's sake.. I got my Desantis mini-slide in today for my XD sub-compact. With a 13.99 Sportsman's warehouse thick leather belt pulled tight the gun rides very close to body for me and barely prints with a tight t-shirt. Here's a pic



Like I said earlier whatever works for you the best is the way to go.
 
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There you go. Dark shirts are good for concealment, as well as the dreaded Hawaiian shirt. Just don't stretch an Underarmor tee over it and you're good.

Springmom
 
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