Tips for figuring out holster position?

S

sigcurious

New member
Like the title says, I'm hoping to get some tips on figuring out where to place a concealed carry holster. But I'm wondering if there are some good ways to get an idea of what size and where you can conceal before owning the gun you'll conceal. I only have full sized pistols right now, so I'm not sure how much those will help in trying to figure it out. I'm a medium sized guy 6' 180lbs, but I'll be darned...those love handles have crept up on me lol.

I've got a few months before I can get a permit, but I'm hoping figure out the position and size, so I can get the pistol and be proficient with it before the class.
 
I have a galco triton for my mp 40c ,also for my sw m60 .The kydex works better for me .I am a short 5'6" 320 lb so i know what handles are all about .:D Try before you by buy cheap get cheap .Everyone has a box of holsters laying around ask your shooting friends for help.
 
I'm your size and shape I think and I use the "FBI" carry position, ie. 4 o'clock on my belt. The holster is a Tom Threepersons, in other words, it's not real high on my waist. The rear of the cylinder is level with the top of my pants belt...I'm a strong side OWB carry guy by inclination and long training habit, so take my comments with that in mind.

To cover the muzzle of my 3" Chief's Special Smith, I wear a longer shirt in summer, tails out, or a medium length coat when it's colder. That position, with a slight forward cant to the gun, allows a good draw, and does not overly crimp my 'handles' when driving with a seat belt on. And it also does not allow the gun to constantly bang against the seat belt attachment point.

I've tried the IWB types from Galco and others, albeit with a Colt Commander, and found that I needed a size larger pants waist to be successful. Since I carry only occasionally, this wasn't an option...and too, I found the draw from inside the waist band, with a single action auto, sometimes disengaged the safety in the process, and re-holstering involved 'covering' my leg with the muzzle, not comforting...I just wasn't comfortable with it, tho others have found it imminently successful.

The plastic types, worn on the belt at 3 or 4 o'clock positions, extended out from the waist and printed too much for me, to be truly concealed, tho the draw was effortless.

HTH's Rod
 
6' 3" 250ish lbs I prefer inside the waist band at around 4:00 position. I use a Desantis Cozy Partner. It's very comfortable even when sitting
 
6 foot, 210lb myself. I like my Remora holsters IWB at 3 o'clock, almost 3:30 in fact as I have a bit of a hollow there from my hip replacement scar.
 
Depends... My Wilson Combat, BWC in a Ritchie Leather Lightning I wear at 3 o'clock, My WC Sentinel in a Ritchie Leather CQQR I wear at 4 o'clock. And I couldn't disagree more with the "buy cheap"! If you want a comfortable, supportive rig buy a quality holster and a quality belt the first time... and you won't have a "box of holsters" sitting around!!

Holster1b.jpg
 
Here's some advice that's been just crazy enough to work... Take a non-shooting buddy down to the local mall food court and people watch for an hour or so. When you're watching the folks- study on what they're wearing and determine if you can alter your attire or borrow some of their ideas for concealing. While you're doing that, get your non-shooting buddy into shooting sports.

On the actual carry- don't skimp on price. Way too many folks buy the cheapest thing they can drag home. Then they hardly ever carry the firearm because they have a lousy holster that does not hold close to the body in a manageable position. I like the Safariland 586 series paddle holsters and to cover it up, I like the light weight fishing type shirts which look perfectly normal with the tails out and a size or two too large. And, I generally carry at the 3-4 o'clock position.

EDIT: Also, don't get hung up on the idea that what you start out carrying will be what you always have. As you go, you'll discover new holsters, or get new ideas from fellow shooters and such. You can be as flexible as you want.
 
6'2", 185. No handles, so unsure if that would change this. After lots of trying to move things around, the most comfortable set-up that I have found is a slim/single stack auto, IWB, at 4 o'clock. The trick with this position is to make sure that your carry weapon doesn't have an overly long or bulky grip, or it will print a little at the back when you sit.

Currently using a Ruger LC9 with a round chambered, and thumb safety engaged, in a Galco IWB holster.
 
Do you guys have slide shields or body shields on your holsters? Meaning a piece to protect you when you slide your gun out, if you get what I am saying. I am looking at a holster at theholsterstore.com and am pretty set on a 15 forward cant and for an extra $10 you can get the slide shield or whatever it's called, just wondering if it's worth it and a good idea or if maybe it will just be a hassle and get in the way. I don't want to have to cut up a brand new leather holster ya know. Seems the general concesus is between 3 and 3 o'clock. I am also 6 foot and about 185lbs and have unfortunately developed some love handles myself so this thread applies to me as well! Good luck and let us know how you make out!
 
It is really trial and error. What works for me might not work for you at all. Additionally, even if you settle on a method, you will likely change it at some point. With that said here are some tips.

No matter where or how you will carry, you will have to dress around your gun. Loose fitting shirts and or pants for IWB or OWB carry.

Unless you are carrying a small pocket pistol, you will need a good, stout leather gun belt. Do not cheap out on this. The gun belt is the key to supporting your entire rig.

Buy a well made holster. I prefer leather but whatever you end up with, male sure it fits your gun.
 
On the cheap

That's the way I went. I'm 6ft and 160lbs so we're close. I decided to carry IWB at 2 o'clock, which is quicker but can have catastrophic consequences if the weapon ever fires there or nearby. My Kholster was butchered until it hides the gun agaist my ribs. It works very well until I strap it down with the seatbelt.
A 4 0'clock position is nice until I lean back in the car seat. If your muscular you can pretty well hide a gun at the small-of-the-back. A cross-draw position like 10:30 gets the gun free of the seatbelt but may not conceal so well.
All this I worked out about the time I got my first gun and haven't found anything better for me. Your results may vary.
 
Fortunately in the clothes dept, I already tend to wear some sort of sweater or button up shirt most of the time. And I already prefer looser fits in my casual wear for clothes.

I do realize it's going to take some trial and error, but I'm hoping to minimize it and the money spent on holsters that don't work out. Definitely need to go shopping for a good belt though.

A major hurdle still is going to be figuring out what to carry. I did a little testing with my 226 and just tucking it in my waistband in a few different spots.(yes I triple checked it was unloaded) I could pretty much get away with that at the 3-4 o'clock area just wearing a tshirt, the grip was a little pronounced though with some twisting motions.

Once I get settled(moving to a free state, hence the new found ability to get a permit) I'm going to look at the Sig 2022, Walther PPQ, and officer, commander/cco size 1911s. Might look at a Glock 19 also, but while I enjoy my 34 a lot at the range, still not completely sold on glocks as a whole.

The first 3 at least though, I would enjoy having even if they don't work out as a CC pistol.
 
I like the Kramer leather ...horsehide ...IWB ...with the forward FBI tilt...between 3 and 4 O'Clock...

and I use the same spot ....for a Sig 239 / 4" or 5" 1911...( 4" and 5" 1911's use the same holster ). 4" 1911 ..and alloy frame is easy to carry....5" steel 1911 ...is a little heavier - but no big deal. I have the same rig for a full sized 226 ...but my love handles make it umcomfortable inside my belt line for that double stack gun ( but I'm 6'5 and 280 lbs ...) and I paid a lot of money for those love handles...so they aren't going away anytime soon...

I can carry the 226 in a scabbard ...same forward FBI tilt ...outside waist band ...for training or whatever I want...

I tend to have the same holsters IWB and a scabbard...and I use the scabbard for training.../ all Kramer leather .../ he's making a really good product...even for my K frame revolvers...
 
I am 6 ft 1 around 190 or so. I carried a full sized for years. 13 years in fact. I always carried IWB at just behind 9 o'clock. I am a lefty shooter so I carry lefty. For a right handed person that would be at about 4 o'clock. This lets the natural contour of the body pull the gun in closer to your body making it easier to conceal.

I agree with the buy a quality belt right off the bat. It is money well spent, and will last you a lifetime. (Or until you are so round you can not let it out anylonger.) I have had the same belt for carry for over 10 years. It is custom made, and is simmilar to a BeltMan belt.

Ok now if you are doing a lot of sitting carrying in the apendix position will more likely than not be quite oncomfortable. Also if you live somewhere like in Texas tripple digit heat, teamed with high double digit humidity wll take thier toll on you.

If you can shoot them well subcompact guns are great for carry. I have two in 9mm. I also have a P-64 in 9mm Mak that I use as a pocket gun. The pocket gun gets carried more than anything. Usualy I carry the subcompact IWB with the pocket gun for a back up, and for the New York reload. If conditions like heat, and clothes make it not likely for me to carry the subcompact. Then the pclet gun is it.

My advice is no matter which gun, holster combo you go with. Find a reliable small pocket gun, and pocket holster. When the others are either in the car, or left at home. The pocket gun is still there.
 
I like these. I've got one for my Smith 642, and one that fits my 3914/3953. Both IWB, with the leather cut high beside your body to protect your shirt/skin and the metal. I've heard good things locally about his OWB holsters as well, if you don't have a smaller pistol that you can carry IWB.

Anything bigger than the slimmest of autos feels like a brick on my pants, since there's already a lot of me there...

http://sideguardholsters.com/
 
As mentioned a shirt couple sizes big-AND get the TALL shirts. The extra 3 or 4" in length is perfect for covering.
 
I'm about your size and have always had love handles a bit - even when I've been in great physical condition - it's just my body type, so I had to deal with that from the get-go in deciding to carry.

As mentioned by others, 3:30 to 4 seems to be a good carry position with this. I find I'm more comfortable with the gun at 4 but get better concealment at 3:30. I imagine a wide, two-clip holster like a Crossbreed would pull the grip up against the body better at 4 than what I'm getting with the two holsters I use most often: Galco SkyOps and a DeSantis SofTuck. The Desantis is more comfortable as I can adjust the cant but the SkyOps is more concealable and doesn't collapse quite as much if I need to re-holster. Appendix carry doesn't work for me as it's very uncomfortable. Good luck!
 
For IWB holsters, my preference is between 3:00 and 4:00, depending on the particular trousers I am wearing.

My preference for IWB holsters is a minimalist leather holster, such as the Highnoon Bare Asset or the Galco Stow-in-Go. I prefer a soft non-molded holster that adds minimal weight and mass to the gun. I prefer a holster that can shift position slightly as I sit, stand, bend over, climb in and out of cars, etc. I seem to do a lot of bending, crouching, kneeling, compared to other people, and I just can't tolerate a holster system that restricts my ability to bend at the waist.

I do not mind skin-to-gun contact (although there is usually a T-shirt between me and the weapon), and I find a "body shield" on the holster to be uncomfortable.

I do not like kydex IWB hosters, they are not flexible and they gouge me when I bend over. For the same reason I do not like molded holsters, which tend to be pretty stiff.

I also am careful about adding a lot of thickness. My EDC weapon has a 0.1 inch slide thickness. There are some holsters out their that add a full 1/4 inch of leather and hardware, making my slim gun as thick as a Glock or a revolver... That is why I like the minimalist soft leather IWB holsters.
 
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