How To Conceal An OWB Holster ?

Carrying OWB means that you will wear a shirt untucked or some kind of over-garment to cover it. If you're wearing OWB and trying to conceal with just a shirt there are some simple rules to use;

  • Shirts should have non-geometric patterns (this is why Hawaiian shirts work so well). This will help break up the outline of a gun if it begins to print.
  • Buy a size larger than you'd normally wear tucked in. Some shirts come with a squared bottom in "long" sizes and those often work for folks with long torsos or those carrying a 4" barrel.
  • If the shirt blows up in the breeze, visit a sewing store that carries fabrics, buttons, etc. You can sometimes get weighted "stays" that can be sewn into the shirt's hem on the gun side to add just enough weight to reduce that Marilyn Monroe wind-up-your-skirt feeling. :o

If you're using a light jacket or windbreaker to conceal, remember that the wind is usually more of a problem here because jackets are often not zipped up and more prone to catching the wind. Carry your car keys, pager or checkbook in the strong side jacket pocket for the extra weight.

While on that subject, for most light cover garments, you'll find it easier to draw if you add the weight of a pager or keys to the strong side pocket. When you sweep the jacket back during the draw, the momentum of the weighted pocket helps clear the holster, even in a pretty good wind. Try it with and without and you'll see. If you can try it in gusty wind that's hitting you at about a 4 o'clock to 6 o'clock angle it'll really prove the point.

The two most important parts of CCW are a quality belt and a quality holster. The belt must be stiff in it's vertical orientation so that it does not allow the holster to "lean out" away from the body, especially with a hi-cap magazine in the grip. If you can bend the top & bottom edges of the belt between thumb & forefinger, it's not stiff enough. A quality holster that keeps the butt snug against your side, with belt slots properly sized to your belt and can contour to the shape of your body is best.
 
I conceal OWB or paddle OWB almost exclusively, untucked t-shirt or hawaiin/polo/button up shirt, just look for shirts that are labeled for "tall" in sizing, the hemline is usually 2-3 inches lower than a standard shirt. Of course, when the weather allows I just wear a windbreaker or other jacket.
 
Here is my P2000sk in a stingray holster from Black Hills Leather. untucked shirt or vest and I'm pretty much good to go.

ORANGESTINGRAY.jpg
 
There is no need to wear a shirt with a crazy pattern. When I'm sporting iron with my paddle-holster I usually just wear a short-sleeved collared, button-up shirt untucked. It hides everything just fine. When it's cooler a hooded sweatshirt will hide a piece well as long as it's long enough to cover completely. As long as your shoulders are wider than your gut the shirt will hang loosely over the firearm with no print.
 
Bill - the "Stays" you mentioned to put into a hem - any idea where I could find some online? I searched for stays at joann fabrics and came up empty...
 
You could sew in a couple of Stainless Steel washers on the inside of the shirt, might make a little noise in the dryer though!:D
 
MADE

If we carry concealed, from whom do we want to conceal?

Since getting my CHL I have taken up the hobby(?) of spotting other CHLs.

Bulging pockets, untucked shirts, or baggy pants are not a definite indication but are a clue that perhaps...

I then look closer, surreptitiously, to spot more details. There are more persons carrying than I had before believed.

Have you ever thought that BGs do the same?
 
I have tried numerous iwb rigs. Spent alot of money. Doesn't work for me.
I now use Alessi CQC-S (owb). I love the holster. I have three of them for three different guns. I can carry a full size 1911 or a Sig 229 and be comfortable all day. Cost is $125. This holster rides high and tight. I don't even have to undo my belt to put it on and take it off.
In cooler weather, I usually wear a button up shirt untucked. I warm weather, I often wear a team jersey (Steelers), they are double layered silky material. Cool and concealing.
IMHO, too many people will spend $500 and up on a handgun, but only wanna spend $40 on a holster. ( Not that there are no $40 holsters that will work for some.)
 
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I wear this holster and belt with shorts and a large Tee in the summer. As it cools off I tuck the T and wear a button up over top it. When it's cold I wear a tucked T with a large Fleece.

This time of the year I just wear a zippered hoodie and a tucked Tee.


I made the above holster, and have made several IWB's trying to get one I liked but found them unnecessary once I made the perfect paddle. I like it, it's right there easy to get to, I can sit down without it digging into my side. It's easy to take off since I have to remove in the parking lot. Another plus is my pant's aren't baggy, I have no a$$ to fill out normal cut jeans.
 
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Depends on where you live

Where I live, I went snowmobiling straight from my house today with a couple of feet of new snow, I don't have any problem concealing OWB year round; then again it is not often that I am not wearing at least two layers on my top half.

When traveling down to the lower 49, I have still managed to CC with OWB with Government and Commander sized 1911s and never had a problem. I have carried IWB down there also, when the thermometer starts really pushing it upwards; and for me that means above room temp! I use simply rugged holsters for my 1911s; have a ton of others, but one of these is on my side daily.

www.simplyrugged.com

The great feature with these holsters, aside from being all that they are named for, is that you can get them in BOTH OWB and IWB with the same holster; additional $10.00 when I had mine made, back when Rob was in Alaska, still may be the same.

Great holsters, with the option of either OWB or IWB in the same holster; what more could you want?
 
I don't carry OWB very often but, when I do, that's the whole reason I bought a 511 vest!
Click to expand...

Whenever I see someone over 25 with a vest (and a t-shirt :eek:), it just screams "I gotta gun!" to me. Maybe it is just me. :D I doubt that the rest of the herd is so conditioned.
 
I never carry IWB, tried it, don't like it. Instead I buy quality holsters and gun belts and (like others) have an array of hawaiin style shirts. They can be had in every color, pattern and fabric imaginable and are good for all occasions. I've never had a problem being "made" or keeping my guns and mags concealed.
 
This is what I wear during the warmer months and they work perfect. I carry either a Bersa BT380 or Taurus M85 in it and they disappear under my left arm. I nomally have a large Harley shirt or button front short sleeve shirt over it, neither of which cause more than a few seconds delay getting to the weapon.

http://www.guntee.com/

There are several companies that make something similar. I've found the ones from guntee wear extremely well and the elastic shows no sign of loosening. Very high quality heavy duty cotton tee does not loose it's shape even after wearing all day.
 
For me, I live in Hawaiian shirts. but then again, I am a big Jimmy Buffett fan so I can always blame it on that. Plus I live in Vegas, so most time people just assume I am a tourist.

However, if the Hawaiian thing isn't for you, try some of the camp shirts from Bass Pro or Cabela's. Most have the same cut as the hawaiian shirts without the loud prints.

Never had a problem with using this set-up, even here in Vegas when it's 115 degrees or more.
 
Hawaiian shirts are OK but don't have to be limiting. I'm 6'2" and buy long t-shirts, long polo shirts, etc. My OWB holsters ride high and tight to my body and I wear my shirts outside the pants now that it is fashionable to do so. I don't believe that one need dress in big floppy clothing to properly conceal. On cooler days, a light vest or cotton wind breaker jacket will do the trick when one wants to wear the shirt inside the pants.

For evening wear, it's easy. I like to look well dressed and will have a sport jacket on. If it is more formal and I wear a suit, I will wear a shoulder rig.

The key to carrying concealed, other than IWB, is to make sure the holster draws the gun close to your body so nothing bulges out to print the outside of your clothing.

I have to tell you guys, I have tried on more than several occasions to adjust to IWB carry, and I can't do it. My shooting buddy and good friend doesn't carry any other way than IWB and he packs a .357 revolver. I don't know how he does it.
 
I hope you tried a crossbreed before giving up on IWB. I too thought there was no IWB holster that was comfortable. I did not find many OWB holsters to be comfortable either.
I know some of this just depends on your body, but a lot of people with different body shapes seem to agree with me.

If you are in a state where printing and showing a little is legal, I wouldn't worry about it much. As many on here will agree, as long as you don't touch the pistol or otherwise draw attention to it, few will even notice if you are open carrying.
 
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