i am here to learn: what was your process for concealed carry gun/holster selection?

C

checkmyswag

New member
Someone recently wisely told me that choosing a CC gun and holster is a process by which different guns and holsters will be gone through. What was your progression in this? What did you start off with what did you try along the way and what did you end up with? Or if you'd like to answer more generally...how did what you value change and why? Im focusing on semi-autos here. Thanks!
 
Well, to be honest it took years for me to settle into a carry gun. I went alot of different ways before I settled on two guns that I can comfortably carry. The holsters were pretty much the same thing; there is a whole draw full of them in my bedroom to atest to that. I could have been smarter with my gun selections but the holsters are pretty much hit or miss. It looks great online or in the store but then after a day of carry you find out otherwise.
 
Same here.

When I got my CHL I qualified with what I owned--a G23. When I tried to carry it, and realized it was not optimum for me, I started a process which has led me through a bunch of holsters...and then decided I might be better off with a different gun. And then another, and another, and so on.

I went through a bunch of guns and holsters in the next 5-6 years. My best advice is: if you see a holster you might like to try, check eBay or similar. If you have a holster that does not suit you, put it on eBay or similar, and recoup some of your money.

As far as buying/selling guns goes, there will be plenty of others who will give you advice on that. I generally buy used, and keep my eye out for a good deal. That way, if I end up not liking it and have to sell, I am not out too much money.

Enjoy your quest. :)
 
I think you're asking a brilliant question. Let me give you a few of my thoughts in no particular order. I am no expert, but I have been carrying daily for 18 or so years.

1. Try to shoot friends' guns or rent some. Otherwise you can easily spend $400 on a gun that doesn't really appeal to you. I have done it. Pay attention to how well the gun points for you... grip angle etc. Some will fit your hand better than others.

2. You will save money if you buy quality first. That goes for guns as well as holsters. If you buy the cheap stuff, you'll just wind up going back later and buying again.

3. Continue doing what you've just begun: Ask questions on this forum and on its sister site, The High Road. The wealth of knowledge on these sites is huge. Keep in mind that there are differences of opinions but usually by weighing them, you'll get the info you need. Also use the search function here.

4. Ask specific questions about specific guns/holsters. You will get specific answers.

5. Consider a gun belt to supplement your holster. They really do make a difference. Yes, it sucks that they cost $50+ but they are worth it and they will last a lifetime.

I know others will chime in with good info.

My personal experience was buying cheap guns and cheap holsters before moving to the better, mainstream ones I have now. I wasted money doing so. I am a bit of a collector so I have several pistols I alternate for ccw. Many recommend against this, but it is what I do. I now buy mostly used guns because I've learned most function pretty well or can be repaired... often free

As for holsters, once I found a type of holster I liked, I stuck with it. I have bought 12-15 Fist kydex holsters... so many that I get a pretty good discount now when I call Fist. I learned early on that IWB was the only way to go for me. YMMV.
 
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You will probably lose a lot of money in guns that didn't quite work out. I think I'm on at least seven main carry guns in three years. That may be a little extreme.

One way to avoid that is to pick one that's pretty good, and then just get used to that one instead of always looking for a better one. Don't get too caught up in whatever the latest interwebs advice is on caliber or platform.

Holsters are trickier... it's hard to tell what will work for you, your lifestyle and your wardrobe without some experimenting. The only real advice there is if you find one that doesn't work, instead of just buying another random holster to try, think carefully about why the first one didn't work.
 
I chose my first carry gun by picking the minimum caliber I was comfortable carrying (.380ACP) and looking for the smallest gun I could find that had a reasonable reputation for reliability. I also wanted something that was available in stainless steel. At the time the gun that filled the bill was a Walther PPK.

I carried that gun inside the pants in a loop holster for awhile, then went to a belly band, then to a strong side IWB. I carried like that for awhile and then realized that I could carry a larger gun IWB if I had a holster with a forward cant. So I switched to a Kahr CW9. It was bigger, but it was also in a more potent caliber and held an extra round.

The best tips I can offer are:

Go small on the gun choice, at least to start. You can upscale later as you get more experienced with concealment if you feel that carrying something larger will work for you. Starting too big will make it too hard to conceal and may result in your becoming discouraged and giving up. The only qualification is that you shouldn't go too small/light for the caliber you choose or you can end up with something that isn't really practical to shoot and that will be more likely to have reliability/durability issues.

Get a holster that is made specifically to fit the gun you choose, not one with a long list on the back of the blister pack it comes in that tells all the guns that it will work with. You can experiment to see where the gun needs to sit, what cant it needs to be concealable, etc. and then buy a holster that holds it where you want it to be and how you want it held.

Get a good belt. It's the foundation of your CCW scheme and you need a good foundation.

The holster should be made specifically to fit the width of the belt you pick, not a range of belt widths.

Your cover garment needs to hang down about 6" below the lowest point that the gun/holster is visible. For IWB, belt-loops that are the same color as your belt give you an extra couple of inches of leeway.

Dark cover garments conceal better than light colors, patterns & prints conceal better than plain colors, heavy material conceals better than light material and looser conceals better than tight.
 
Definitely start with something small to get yourself used to having something there.
The smaller and lighter, the easier the transition will be, then move yourself up to a heavier gun later.

I bought a LCP and fooled around for a few hours figuring out exactly where I wanted the .380 to ride - placement, cant angle and depth - then I worked on the loop placement and finally sent the design to Doug at Bearcreek Holsters (in Texas) and he whipped it out exactly as drawn up.
It turned out great and I dont think I could improve on it, nor could he have done a better job with it.

I repeated the exact same process with my PM9, based largely on the LCP holster.

I mostly forget either are there - not too shabby for iwb cc.

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It's really all trial and error and what works for me won't likely work for you. Here is a stab at it from what I learned though.

1. Settle on a firearm you are comfortable with. The smaller the gun is the easier it is to conceal. I wouldn't go with any thing smaller than a .380.

2. From there, where do you want to carry, IWB or OWB?

3. Buy a good leather holster from Galco, Bianchi, Kramer ect.

4. Buy a good leather gun belt. The Beltman makes great belts.

At this point you are ready to try your rig and see how it works real world for you. You will likely tweek it for a while. Some other points to keep in mind are that you will likely have to dress around your gun. That's normal if you carry any thing larger than a small pocket gun. Shirts with patterns really help to cover up any outlines you might have. If you carry IWB, you might have to wear pants one size larger to accomodate your gun. My final bit of advice is that you shouldn't cheap out on your belt and holster. You don't have to buy the most expensive rig you can find, but a good gun belt and a good holster are vital. The belt in my opinion is the most important part of your rig next to the gun.
 
For me concealed means concealed, no buldge, no printing.

This is my version of concealed: If I had a law enforcement officer (good at spotting CCW pieces and they hobbied themself by actively looking) standing behind me while I got a drink from a fountain or got something from a shopping cart, that person wouldn't notice.

Basic level: A LCP 380 or P3AT is easy to carry in pocket and is essentially an always gun, easy to always have with you. This is sometimes all I have, I won't elaborate on the details of why. It's better than nothing.

I still carry the 380 in pocket even if circumstances allow something more substantial. No, I don't think I'll need a 2nd gun, if I knew I needed a gun at all I would avoid the situation in the first place. My reason for keeping the pocket 380 even when I've got something bigger is the ability to have my hand on a pistol without having to reveal that I've got a pistol. Best example I can think of where this is an asset is if you are in a parking lot (local Mart for grocery shopping) and you see someone walking toward you as if they are going to ask for directions; my hand casually slips into pocket as person approaches and I am one step ahead if needed, but no one is the wiser.

The next step up from pocket carry is a Glock 26/27/33 carried IWB appendix. The short length of the Glock allows true concealment with just a untucked t-shirt and I don't have to worry one bit about printing if I lean over. This pistol would be totally adequate year round and is easy to conceal.

If clothing allows, my preference is a full size 1911 carried 3:00 strong side IWB in a modified Blade-Tech UCH. I will only carry strong side 3:00 IWB with a generous forward cant, so that the butt of the pistol is tight against me and concealed well enough to pass the sceneario I gave above, no telling buldge can be seen if I lean forward. The Blade-Tech UCH has adjustable cant (and carries the pistol low), so I can get the pistol tilted forward enough to prevent printing even with a full size pistol. I believe there are few (if any) other holsters that would satisfy me for strong side IWB, enough so that I ordered another UCH just to ensure having one for the long haul. The only other holster I've liked for strong side IWB is the Mitch Rosen ARG, but I used it with Officers size pistols; I've never tried it with full size guns, but it would be a possibility had I not discovered the UCH.

Another option for hot weather: if I wear sweatshorts the pocket is not suitable for my 380; however, with sweatshorts I have found sonething that's just the ticket: Smartcarry. With the Smartcarry I can easily hide the sub-compact Glock and a extra magazine with only a untucked t-shirt. This combination offers a great level of protection with minimal clothing and is so stealth is unbelieveable.
 
Sorry, but the "next step up" from a LCP is certainly not a G27/26, those fat heavy little things are much bigger/heavier than a PM9, CM9, CW9, PPS, and several others.

If you have any sort of belly or sit/drive much of the day you can forget appendix carry.
Lastly, I love my G27, but that one will not be pointed at my junk all day.
 
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I carry AIWB (appendix inside-the-waistband). After trying a number of holsters for my S&W M&P9c (tried single-stack 9's but didn't care for the loss of mag capacity & increase in perceived recoil, YMMV) including a custom Kydex I was pleasantly surprised to find something effective, comfortable & affordable: http://www.highnoonholsters.com/Product_Line/_Mr_Softy/_mr_softy.html
http://www.highnoonholsters.com/Product_Line/Upper_Cut/upper_cut.html

I actually prefer the Upper Cut for a faster draw but the Mr Softy conceals a little better.
Tomac

ETA: You definitely need a good belt for comfortable CCW.
 
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Pistol choice for me was not a problem: Colt Combat Commander. I tried inside waistband carry and didn't like it, so it was a matter of shopping for a leather holster that was comfortable and worked. A friend put me in contact with Horseshoe Leather (in England, Andy Aratoonian), and the quest was ended before it began.

My state is not open carry friendly, so I had to make some wardrobe adjustments. Basically, I picked up a variety of non-"tactical" looking vests to wear as cover garments. At my age, I need to carry eyeglasses, sunglasses, cell phone, and other "stuff" anyway, so the vests are easily explained to anyone rude enough to ask why I wear it: "pockets."
 
Dashunde: I figured it was implied that I ment my next step up. I agree, appendix carry is not comfortable if you will be seated for a long time. However, if you are going to be taking the pistol off, or putting it on after being somewhere it could not go, then a kydex clip on holster is quick. I had a Kahr PM9 for several years and it is thinner than the Glock, but height is the same and height is harder for me to hide appendix carry than thickness. Also, the Kahr just could not compare to the Glock in timed double taps. I agree it is disturbing to have the muzzle pointed toward priceless body parts. Ponder my actions when I carry a cocked & locked Defender in that location. :eek:
 
This is definitely an area worth exploring

My compliments on bringing up the matter!

When I first started carrying, I alternated between two semis---an S&W 4506 (.45 ACP) and a Glock 19 (9mm). I quickly found that I could easily conceal the Glock 19 inside the waistband, but had to carry the 4506 off-body, in a shoulder bag. It was simply too big and heavy on the waist.

Now that I know better, I have a Glock 23, an S&W M&P9 full size, and (don't laugh) a Taurus Millenium .45 on rotation. Always accompanied by a Ruger LCP in the pocket, as backup. I prefer de Santis synthetic holsters for IWB carry. Plus a custom-made pocket holster for the LCP.

My preferences also extend beyond gun and holster, now. I insist that all my carry pieces are laser-equipped (Lasermax on the Glock, and CT for the LCP and M&P9). The Taurus has one mounted on the accessory rail. (Glock 23 also has the big Express dot with tritium inserts, for nighttime duty.)

The posters who have stated that it's difficult (if not impossible) to get it right the first time are absolutely correct. The conditions under which we carry change. Our personal preferences change. And, thankfully, technologies improve.

Hope that this helps...
 
When it comes down to it, carry is a series of compromises unique to each individual.

IMO, the place to start is with the right gun, and the "right" gun is the most powerful gun you can shoot fast, accurately, and are willing to carry EVERY SINGLE day. Once you find the right gun for YOU, then you can look at carry options and holsters.

Holster selection can be a big pain in the arse simply because minor adjustments can make a world of difference due to the unique physical characteristics of each individual. Some holsters can be too high, too low, have too much cant, not enough, etc... IMO, the best course of action is to simply make your own in accordance with YOUR specs. That's what I did.
 
Speaking for me, . . . personal experience: I bought a 1911, .45 ACP on the streets of downtown Saigon back in the spring/summer of 1966. My first handgun,...................

Want to guess what I carry?

I have never found anything else I am as "comfortable" with, . . . as satisfied with, . . . and feel as "secure" with.

I've also carried double stack .45's, . . . double stack 9's, . . . revolvers, . . . pocket guns, . . . single action cannons, . . . double action cannons, . . . and I always migrate back to the 1911.

Love at first sight????

I carry it in an IWB, flat back holster leather, . . . and have just about forgot that I have it on at times, . . . including the times when I also have 2 or 3 extra mags with me.

In reality, . . . it really boils down to what do you want to carry, . . . and are you willing to make the life style changes that will allow you to do that?

May God bless,
Dwight
 
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The first factor to take into consideration when carrying is the size of the pistol. Decide what size/type of pistol you wanna carry first based on your personal preference and go from there.

I highly suggest a semi-auto that is slim and compact in size. I made the mistake of purchasing a full size auto for carry and it was a burden to bring everywhere with me. It was too heavy and plainly just large to conceal in some outfits (dress shirts, summer wear, etc).

Pick the gun as you can always find holsters to go with any pistol. you can even get holsters custom made.

If you pick the right gun, you might not make the mistake of buying so many holsters like some of us.
 
CDW4ME, sorry to be persnikity about it, but I figured someone new to carrying might also take that literally, and I felt compelled to point out the large leap from a LCP to a G26.

Yea, back to that appendix carry... not only is having it pointed at my crotch unsettling, its also pointed at a great big artery and several other important bits.
Too risky as far as I'm concerned.

I disagree with those who say that finding the right gun/holster combo is trial and error.
It completely depends on how far you push into the discomfort range with a large or heavy gun.
I nailed it first time with the LCP and PM9 by studying myself, my pants and my gun(s).
I did the same thing with the G27, and while its tolerable for a few hours at a time it simply exceeds my own personal threshold for extra weight and general discomfort within the realm of IWB in ordinary street cloths.

You can either buy a gun that makes all of this easy, or you can go big and spend hundreds in trial & error and still only be marginally comfortable and far from being truly concealed to anyone who knows what they're looking for.
 
My experience is similar to Dwight55. Years ago, I had shot enough auto's just plinking and target practice, where I had a favorite that I could shoot better than most others. It was a full size Auto. When I got my first CCW permit, I started to looking for a way to carry it. I went through several holsters, until I found one that I liked. If anyone has an Auto of a reasonable size, that they really like, they can find a means to carry it comfortable, if they try. Whatever means you pick to carry, the quality of the holster, and belt, is just as important and the quality of the gun you carry. I carry all the time, even at home, from the time I dress in the morning, until I undress at night, and have for years.
 
Start with a small frame gun and work your way up. Eventually, you'll want carry options based on your activity, season, part of town you'll be visiting, mood, etc... but you'll want to start with something small enough that you'll feel comfortable carrying all the time. Today, I carry three types of guns (S&W J-frame, CW9, M&P 9c) but started with the j-frame.

There are many parts to the process - platform, caliber, gun options (safety, lock, sights, etc...) that all come into the process. Do your holster research prior to purchase; don't buy holsters on impulse 'cause you'll never wear them if they don't work well.

Good luck!!
 
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