warm weather CCW

J

Jack Straw

New member
Carrying concealed is pretty simple this time of year, but summertime in Georgia can be rather brutal. I would like to find a good carry combo (gun and holster) for hot weather. What guns and carry methods do you use when comfort dictates nothing more than a pair of shorts and a shirt?

I currently keep a Sig 228 with me, but I'm considering one of the Taurus titanium revolvers (I really like the idea of toting 5 shots of .45LC). Between these two which would be easier to conceal? I know the answer to that one depends a lot on the individual, but I would still be interested in the various opinions.

Jack
 
Jack;
Wouldn`t it be better to have a lightweight .38 in a pocket holster? I`m not familiar with that Taurus but it sounds kinda big for what you want unless you use a fanny pack.
 
I'm originally from way up north where it was usually cold enought that I could just about carry anything concealed. Living on the southern tip of Florida, it's usually in the 80's even in the 'cold' of winter.

Therefore, I had to drastically change my CCW and method of carry. I decided to go with a Kahr MK40 in an action direct defender belly band. (http://www.action-direct.com/defender.htm)

The MK40 gives me 6 rounds of .40S&W plus the belly band has a magazine holder where I can carry a spare clip with another 5 rounds. The MK40 is smaller than my Taurus (I own a model 85 in .38 special -- the smallest of the Taurus bunch) and I'm able to carry it concealed all year long even in this hot, humid weather (I sure miss the cold north).

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Share what you know, learn what you don't -- FUD.

[This message has been edited by FUD (edited February 10, 2000).]
 
India can be brutally hot in the Summer. I've tried this and this works for me:

A very light shoulder holster, with a 3.25 in barrel Revolver worn over a white T-Shirt(Hane's,Fruit of the Loom,etc)
and a very light shirt with buttons open at the front & untucked(when casual).
And a 'snap' button dress shirt(formal).
(When wearing a T-shirt inside, leaving the external shirt untucked and unbuttoned will keep you very cool)
I do not usually tuck my shirt except when attending to business so I have also tried a small of the back carry(SOB) & I love it.

But the SOB will not work when seated in a car... and the shoulder holster in formal attire ( even with 'snap' buttons is quite slow. So there is a trade-off between concealability and speed of presentation.
But for most situations this works for me.
 
Dinosaur,

One of the reasons I was considering the Taurus was so that I could have something a bit more potent than .38 or 9mm. That particular gun is on their compact frame (thus the 5 shot limitation) so it is a fairly small gun, though I haven't actually physically compared one to my 228 in terms of size.

FUD,

Doesn't that belly band get hot and sweaty? It looks like it would. I've worn one of those back support braces, and after a while it gets pretty wet and clammy. That band looks like it would have the effect, which is very irritating to me.

What about those Pager Pal holsters...anyone use one of those?

Jack
 
Jack Straw,

This particular band is made out of light weight material (similar to what's on our underwear but 3 inches in width instead of half an inch) and while you do feel some added warmth, it isn't as hot as some other higher quality bands which are made of better construction. (http://www.atozinaz.com/inspect/un_mike/belly4.htm)

I tried the pager pals but I disliked them for two reasons: (1) I had trouble keeping the gun positioned -- getting in and out of the car, chasing after the little one, etc., would cause the gun to move around either an inch here or an inch there and it was either uncomfortable or caused a bulge. In either case, frequent adjust was required. I don't have that problem with the band. While it isn't as comfortable as the pager pal, I don't have to be constantly readjusting it. I position it once, and there it stays. (2) The band had a built in magazine slot which allowed me to carry a spare clip without having to carry it in my pocket.

By the way, the defender model also comes in two width sizes, three inches which is perfect for the Kahr micro guns (the MK40 and MK9) and four inches in width would should fit the Taurus revlover that you are interested in (my model 85 is slightly small for the 4" model so I'm assuming that the .45 model would fit just right and you can load five spare bullets side-ways into the magazine holder -- granted, it will not be a quick reload, but it will give you a place to carry spare ammo).

[This message has been edited by FUD (edited February 10, 2000).]
 
Im considering finally getting my ccw here in fla., and I was considering using a lightweight 38spl in the right front with a slightly loose untucked shirt, Ive a bit of a belly now and it conceals well. It might work with a small light weight semi auto as well. Its has the advantage of keeping the gun to your strong hand side and if using both hands one to pullup the shirt is reasonably quick...and still can be accessed one handed.......fubsy.
 
Both my Glock 23 and a J-frame .38 conceal well with an IWB and an untucked shirt. My wife bought me five wild-print Hawaiian-style shirts for FL summer CCW when I don't want to wear a polo or tee shirt.

You can't see a thing.
 
My brother in law in Texas is fond of Thunderwear when it's hot.

I'd probably go with a pocket gun/holster for extreme heat.

Though I prefer IWB carry, so would make the necessary concessions.

Erik
 
I'm in Arizona, and it is quite warm of course.

I use Thunderwear,with a Kahr K9 - it must be completely concealed, and it is with this arrangement. I'm so used to it, I don't even think about carrying - it's always there, and not uncomfortable. I don't wear the holster the way they instruct - keeps slipping down and becoming uncomfortable or ruining pants. I wear the holster to my left side - the center of the holster is really at about the middle of my thigh (right to left), just below the belt.

Access is not great, and I would like to try a belly band, with carry under the left arm, high. However, I tend to think that will slip down as well, and also be uncomfortable. We'll see. For now, if I have a concern, I pull the pistol higher in the holster to improve access temporarily. For me, it seems to be a tradeoff - better to have it with less than optimal access, than to not have it at all.
 
I carry a 26 in a belly band high on my left side and under my left arm. To me it is very comfortable,doesn;t move around any and is very easy to get to . I wear western shirts and leave the top two open and can get it out and put two shots in the target in less than 5 seconds. I don't find it sweaty either.I've tried fanny paks,iwb's,paddle holsters,you name it. In fact I,ve got a drawer full of all kinds of holsters I'd like to get rid of,but I guess every body goes through this trying to find something that works.
 
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