Talk to me about IWB

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win-lose

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Hi Folks,
For the most part, I pocket carry my 2" sp101 and owb my larger guns. As I have a good bit of pants/shorts that really don't work well for pocket carry, I've been playing around with iwb. I'm wondering how others typically carry iwb. Assuming that 12 o'clock is directly under your belly-button and 6 o'clock is directly behind your spine, what position do you mostly carry and why. So far, I'm kinda leaning towards 2:00 for the sp101. It doesn't feel very natural but seems to provide for good retention and concealment control. Unfortunately, this would not work with a tucked in shirt and sport jacket.

Also, I'm thinking about expanding my holster collection to another drawer :cool: What makes and models of iwb do you folks prefer and why? So far, i'm having the best results with a galco summer comfort iwb, but I'm not married to it.

Thanks!
 
I'm a big guy and like my belt tight, so IWB is really uncomfortable for me. I carry OWB at 9 o'clock (I'm a lefty) in a Fobus, Uncle Mike's, or XD Gear Kydex paddle. I like the small size and light weight of these little plastic jewels, and I love the "click - click" of holstering/drawing. I've modified all my holsters so there is no cant, the gun is straight up. Works for me. A loose, untucked sport or golf/polo shirt conceals my XD9SC with no problems. Dark colors and patterns are your friend.

Desantis and CQC Blackhawk make some nice leather for snubbie revolvers. I have a Blackhawk OWB beltslide for my Taurus 85UL that tucks it in nicely. Even I don't know I have it on. I also have a Fobus OWB paddle for it that I like for it, too.

You'll probably try several before you hit on the right one. Good luck.
 
Belt holsters, whether inside or outside the waistband, should always be aft of one's hip: using your numbering system, not less than 0300 or more than 0900. You can be injured if your holstered firearm is captured by an unintended sharp forward bend.
 
I carry IWB at about 4:00. I'm not exactly svelte, and it works fine. Out of the way, and stays covered by shirttails and jackets, but right at hand. My daily carry holster is a DeSantis Inner Piece, but there are lots of good IWB holsters for common guns.
 
At 6-1 and 200 lbs in a 36 waist, . . . I am not exactly "svelte".

I carry a full size, all steel, 1911, C & L, . . . and it is in an all leather IWB/OWB combo holster that is also tuckable.

Yeah, . . . it is less comfortable than wearing my jammies, . . . but when I am out in the village or down in the city, . . . comforting is more important to me than comfortable.

Depending on how much driving I will be doing, . . . the holster rides from 3:00 to 4:00, . . . 3 for more driving, . . . 4 for more walking (it is just a tad more comfortable here for walking).

The holster is also on a slight cant forward, . . . making it more comfortable anyway.

May God bless,
Dwight
 

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I like a pretty steep rake on my concealment holsters, and use a Kramer #3. If I were right-handed, I'd wear it at 4:00. I have generally not found it necessary to buy pants in a larger size to accommodate IWB, but I do buy larger belts; add two inches. I also like to use a wide belt, 1 3/4" where the gun rides, tapering to 1 1/4" at the buckle. That can cause some problems, as not all pants loops will accommodate a 1 3/4" belt. Depending on the holster style, you may also have to shop for pants with loops in the correct location for your desired carry position.
 
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This is my SP-101 and a 2 O'Clock Carry by Comp-Tac and is expressly made for the so-called appendix carry. It is an IWB style holster and for concealment purposes I have purchased a variety of vests and sweaters that are all appropriate for wearing in the office. I wear the vests/sweaters under my suits and sportcoats such that when I remove them the vest/sweater acts as my concealment garment. Actually prettly stylish and I have never been made. FWIW!
 
I'm a lefty and carry my gun IWB at about 8:30. That would be 3:30 for a righty.

I even carry a 3" SP101 in that position at times. Holster of choice for that gun is a CompTac CTAC.
 
I absolutely cannot stand IWB holster carry, it just hurts too much.

After I got my KelTec P11 though, I noticed the factory makes a belt clip for the gun and discovered it works very well.

So when I bought my Kahr K9, I bought a Clipdraw for it and find the thin profile of the gun to be perfect for this way of carrying.

Once winter rolls around I'll switch to OWB and a larger gun, but this is how I carry with just a t-shirt and shorts. Oh and this is about the 4 o'clock position.

Don't get the 'universal revolver' Clipdraw for your SP though. I had one, the clip is only about 1/2" long and is too easy to pop off your jeans.
 
Commander or CCO (Commander top and Officer grip frame) in a Milt Sparks Vera Max 2 at about 3:30. Whatever holster you settle on, a good, stout belt will be a big help.

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As to why. Well it works for me and is comfortable. The thing is that holsters are a lot like shoes. What works for me might not for you, and pretty much the only way you can really tell is to try.
 
simply rugged holster and belt at 4 o'clock IWB or OWB, whatever I feel like it because it has inside out straps. works great, comfortable enough to drive in, walk in, sit in, even lay around in. oh yea the gun is a Ruger P345
 
3:30-4:00 for me depending on if I'm driving or not, one notch of forward cant in a Supertuck on a quality Beltman belt. I totally believe that a quality belt is more the secret than the holster, don't go cheap on the belt.
 
Been wondering about this, so than I guess that according to what you guy's say, I'm carrying around 6:35 SOB. Hummm wonder if anybody carry's at 12:00 ? :rolleyes:
 
I'll second the Smartcarry holster. its at 12 o'clock but paralell to your body so it wont hit anything ;)

I would advise against carrying against your spine. Ive read too many stories of people falling or getting in a car accident and because that piece of steel is against the bone, it basically shatters...
 
I really like IWB, so much so I lost about 15-20 lbs so I could do it with more pants. I set it about 3.30 or 4 o'clock then usually cant it more forward so the butt is more vertical at about 3-3.30.
I use the Milt Sparks Summer Special that came with my wonderful new Kimber CDP.
Also for the second string: A Simply Rugged Silver Dollar Pancake with my Ruger SP101 2+", a Simply Rugged Cuda for my Glock 27 or S&W CS45, and my Keltec P11 goes in a soft side Uncle Mike, or on it's side clip.

I just started IWB this year, I had some baggy waisted shorts, but now I might carry through the winter. But I'm more likely to wear the Glock in its Galco Jackass shoulder rig under a sweater or light jacket and take the Inside/Outside straps off the Simply Ruggeds and wear them OWB when it gets to coat weather. There's a DM Bullard OWB that came with the Kimber I'll use if I like it, probably will, haven't gotten it yet the seller needs to ship it to me with some other misc paraphenalia he didn't have with him when I got the pistol. But it looks beautiful in the picture and I like the cant.

Bottom line the IWB snugs a short gun right up under my dunlop and it pretty much disappears, but it's a little harder to dig out than in an OWB or shoulder rig. Carries higher and quite tight against my love handle.
cb
 
I really like IWB, so much so I lost about 15-20 lbs so I could do it with more pants.
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Whatever motivates you bro! And I love the username haha!

Crossbreed supertuck at 4 o'clock seems to be pretty common, that's me. Also have a gunbelt from gunners alley that has been superb. I got it at a discount because it was made for a customer who didn't measure correctly and it was a leftover. I live about a mile from their shop in Cary and I can't speak on their customer service enough. Great guys in there.
 
Thanks Folks. I'm not so sure iwb is for me. My love handles are too big for 3:00 carry. I don't feel that I have good concealment control (or retention) at 4:00 or >. Using appendix carry, 2:00, the barrel really digs in hard when sitting. So much so that I even started to wonder if the pressure would change the alignment of the barrel:eek:

I'm going to try some more, but it's noy looking very good.
 
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