Conceal carry during winter

[pjsabella]

What if anything do you change about how you conceal carry during the winter?
I’m asking because this is my first winter carrying and it just hit home that additional clothing layers and especially coats (on for few minutes vs long time) add some scenarios I’ve not thought though well enough yet.

[bigwheelzip]

Nothing different. When I committed to EDC, I revised my wardrobe to accommodate my preferred EDC choice and method, regardless of season.

Where I live, I don't require long winter coats that obstruct the waistband.

[URIT]

If you feel uncomfortable, practice drawing an EMPTY gun from the holster wearing your winter garb.

You should feel more confident and secure when you're able to get a positive combat grip on your gun and draw without getting tangled in your clothing.

[Borderboss]

My EDC is completely different when it gets cold out. My warm weather EDC of an S&W 469 in an Elite Survival Systems fanny pack gets put away.

When I can wear outerwear, I start carrying my Colt 1911 in one of a couple of different setups. I will either carry it in a Galco Miami Classic II shoulder holster, or I carry it in a Berne concealed carry vest or coat (depending on the outside temperature).

I highly recommend the Berne concealed carry outerwear. It's well made. They have both a vest and a coat. For me, the vest is good from the upper-40s down to the mid-20s. When it gets colder than that, I switch to the Berne coat. The coat is bulkier, which is why it's also warmer.

[4thAlabama]

When winter arrives, the heavier clothing allows a change from the 3" M65 to full size 1911 .45

[serger]

Don't know where you're at but you might have to
think about shooting the gun with it in your coat
pocket. That is a thing that makes you go hummm.

[serger]

Don't know where you're at but you might have to
think about shooting the gun with it in your coat
pocket. That is a thing that makes you go hummm?

[ISCS Yoda]

It's 67 degrees here and the low will be 61 later tonight. Not exactly a place where consideration of winter coats is a major factor for EDC except for a couple of days in February. And then we all stay home.

[Valmet]

Nothing different for me. Aside from a 442 Airweight that I’ll carry during the handful of hottest days in the summer, but aside from that it’s a Glock 19 in a Foxx IWB.

[sigp220.45]

If its really cold and I have to button my coat I may move my .38 from my waistband to my coat pocket. I usually don’t bother.

[OLDSTER]

I don't need to change anything based on the seasons of the year. I pocket carry a Seecamp .32acp in a Jackson Leather holster, so it disappears in any pocket.

[Glashaus]

Wintertime in Houston means that I can change up and where some of my shoulder holsters and some bigger handguns because now I can wear a vest or a light jacket. Rest of the year it’s a G26 or a 442 or 640 in a pocket holster

[Slicktop]

Start carrying my ar15 legal pistol concealed.

[cracker57]

bigger clothes bigger gun, summer in wisco 9mm shield in a IWB, winter cz 75bd IWB, as has been mentioned, you MUST practice getting to your gun.

[Rustyt1953]

Welcome to the forum.

I pocket carry so nothing really changes much for me seasonally.

[STCM(SW)]

Winter it's a 1911 in 38 super Buffalo Bore or .45 ACP......

[Slicktop]

Originally Posted by STCM(SW)

Winter it's a 1911 in 38 super Buffalo Bore or .45 ACP......

Amen Brother,
Got to be able to get through a Buffalo skin coat.

[Slicktop]

Winter is cross draw season.

[Smoke]

I live in Colorado.

I worked for several years as a security guard. I had to be outside in all weather conditions and I had to balance comfort with being able to access things on my Duty Belt.

I've said this before but I watched what the cops did and I copied them. I never saw a cop in a big heavy winter coat unless they were working a traffic accident.

When they were just doing normal patrol duties where they were in and out of the heated car all night they tended to layer up under the uniform and wear a mid weight Fleece as an outer layer.

I NEVER carry my gun in my coat pocket unless I know I'm not going somewhere where I would look out of place with my coat on inside.

I usually dress the way I saw the cops dress,thermal underwear, normal outer layer and a medium Fleece that doesn't look out of place if I wear it inside.

I carry either a Glock 19 or 26 OWB all year long.

[Marshal tom]

I don't change that much but sometimes carry one of my bigger guns, 1911, BHP, M&P 2.0 Compact, Glock or a CZ P-01 Omega instead of my Shield or M&P 340. No matter what season or dress, best to practice drawing from under whatever clothing you have to defeat in order to get to your gun quickly! Think about things such as getting to your gun while seated in a car or in a restaurant with a cover garment on. Those of you who pocket carry, which is fine, will have a very difficult time getting to that gun quickly while seated for instance. Consider moving the gun to another more accessible location while seated or if wearing a long cover garment.

[stansdds]

I do not change firearms or calibers just because it is winter. During really cold weather when I am wearing a heavy coat and maybe even a sweater under the coat, I may switch from my IWB holster to a pancake or even a paddle holster for quicker access, but the sidearm remains the same.

[Echo40]

Not much, I simply swap out my M&P40 Shield for my SW40VE because it's easier to carry/conceal a larger pistol when wearing Winter Clothing.

[jerry52]

Carry my normal but add a hammerles j frame to coat pocket. Also pick up a cheap overcoat at goodwill and try firingfrom pocket then you know what to expect

[dave1918a2]

Originally Posted by jerry52

Carry my normal but add a hammerles j frame to coat pocket. Also pick up a cheap overcoat at goodwill and try firingfrom pocket then you know what to expect

Just be sure a fire extinguisher is present.

[rogerwnuss]

642-1 in right coat pocket, speedloaders in left ....
Prior to this winter, 36 in right coat pocket....

[jag1954]

Come the colder weather about the only thing I do is go from AIWB to OWB, simply because I'll have multiple layers of clothing on.

[haywood]

When wearing a jacket I will move my pocket or waist gun to the jacket. I will also carry an extra pepper spray in my jacket so I can have it in my hand in a pocket while walking.

[Ivan the Butcher]

When I carry 32 or 380, Summer was Winchester STHP's Winter was FMJ's for heavy jacket penetration, 9mm same thing 45 ACP FMJ year round.

Ivan

[BigBill]

In the winter I shoulder holstered a Redhawk 44 / 5.5” barrel. Under my leathers we rode when no snow and in the snow on a street legal dirtbike with ice screws. During the summer it was a 7.5” 44 Redhawk.

The only problem was late at night some drunken fool told me he was going to slap me and take my bike I just smiled.

[BC38]

Originally Posted by bigwheelzip

Nothing different. When I committed to EDC, I revised my wardrobe to accommodate my preferred EDC choice and method, regardless of season.

Where I live, I don't require long winter coats that obstruct the waistband.

^^Ditto this^^
I carry the same gun one of 3 ways - depending on how I am dressed - 95% of the time.
1) IWB@4 o'clock
2) in a pocket holster in my right front pocket, or
3) in the inside left breast pocket of my CC vest.

[fatcat3]

Same gun, same location,same, same, same. I chose not to dress around a gun, but a picked gun that would fit into my life & that includes how I dress. Variety is NOT the spice of life. JMHO When your world goes south, enough adrenaline has been dumped into your system to stagger a horse, you got 10 thumbs, poo in your pants, nerves jumping like a long tailed cat, your brain is locked up, and your reacting on instinct and ingrained training, the last thing you need is variety. I.E. where is my gun? Worse still is do I even have it with me or is it too.........whatever? How dose it operate, how much ammo ( though I think this is vastly over rated but I could be wrong)? I don't expect to ever be in a situation where I need a gun ( I wouldn't be there if I did) But should the need arise I don't want to reach to the four o'clock position where I carried it all spring, summer, and fall, only to find nothing there because it's winter and I'm now carrying it in a shoulder holster under my coat. YMMV

[BAM-BAM]

I'm now retired............ normally carry a 3913 in a Sparks Summer Special at 4 O'clock

If I'm going to be "in and out" of buildings I layer with a light weight fleece vest over a light flannel or oxford cloth shirt..... with base layer/t-shirt or thermal. Generally wear a "Bomber" style leather jacket.

Extended outside activities..... a Sig 245/220 or Beretta 92 compact in a Miami Vice shoulder holster..... just half unzip and the gun butt is right there!

[bearfoot]

have been leaveing the bottom 2 buttons of shirt unbuttoned, as per another thread. noticed the other day sitting in the suv, access to owb holester was tight. change made. vest / flannel **** worn unless really cold, if i wear a jacket i always remove it in doors.

[SMSgt]

Winter clothing should have little bearing on what you carry or what you load it with. What you do need to be aware of is--winter clothing is bulky and may make the target bigger than what it is. Aim center mass regardless.

[SF VET]

I only carry just behind my right hip. In summer here in SC, IWB with a light wt summer vest, in the cooler times, like at church, OWB under a sport jacket. Or if just out and about, a loose sweat shirt sort of overgarment. My carry is either a H&K 2000, or the SC of same, a mid-sized 9mm, or more likely a 365. I don't carry extra mags. My car seats are rather snug, so It just isn't very comfortable with any firearm bigger. I shoot my carry guns a lot, and usually chose them for my IDPA events.

I am careful about "printing", esp at church, being on our security team at a large church. So just before we take our seats, I go into the mens room, and look in the mirror one last time, just to be sure all is well, as I am in front of our congregation part of the service.

When I holster up, and make a final check of my firearms, I do not touch them in any way until I take them off later. No fingering the safety, or patting them. Once secure in a holster, I leave them alone.

I take carrying very seriously. If I or one of our team somehow has a ND or AD in church, it will be a real disaster for us. We know that some of our church goers, are very anti-gun, anti-self protection, so our team keeps a very very low profile.

I think some folks who routinely carry can become complacent and risk an inadvertent experience. Not me, I am not causal at all with my responsibility. But it is more complicated in the heat and humidity of SC. for part of the year.

SF VET

[johngalt]

I just got my carry permit so I am still figuring out what works best for me. Right now I carry a holstered 642 in my jacket pocket (big pockets). I've asked family members, they can't tell I'm packing.

[ruger 22]

I pocket carry a 649-2 all year around.

[zeke]

To be out in colder weather up here requires a heavy coat/jacket, in addition to layering up. And am not taking just getting in and out of a heated car. Change from belt holster to pocket carry so as to be able to access pistol with a coat on. Easier to do when wearing overalls all winter with specially enlarged/reinforced front pocket. 45 acp in front pocket gives me a more secure feeling.

[steelslaver]

Go from holster to pocket holster in coat pocket. Actually like it better. Easier access, and if need be having your hand in a pocket is a lot more normal than on the butt of a holstered gun.

[Puller]

Originally Posted by 4thAlabama

When winter arrives, the heavier clothing allows a change from the 3" M65 to full size 1911 .45

^^^ I agree.

In the summer I'm often struggling to find the smallest firearm I can carry with the lighter clothing I'm wearing for effective concealment. In winter, I can pretty much carry whatever handgun I want.

[smoothshooter]

No change for me.
Pocket carry 365 days a year with a .22 LR in an automatic or revolver. A .22 will shoot thru any clothing anyone wears in the winter anywhere.

[rogerwnuss]

Warm weather, pocket carry a 380. Currently a Springfield Armory 911.
Cold weather, a J frame in right coat pocket, couple speedloaders in left.

[Edcnh]

I carry a 9mm Shield in an OWB holster in the colder months of the year. As others have stated I sometimes wear a fleece garment over my shirt to aid in concealing the firearm. If I know I will mainly be indoors I carry in an IWB holster. Getting a firearm out of an IWB is definitely challenging in a vehicle. But I don’t live in a combat zone. I am in Northern New Hampshire less than an hour’s drive from Quebec.

[1911turbo]

I've thought about this question a lot and I've tried many methods. If I'm going to be outside long enough to need a coat, belt carry is out of the question - I can't get to the gun under my jacket. Instead I tend to move a snubbie from my pants pocket to my jacket pocket. Then you also need to consider gloves...

[Motorsporting]

Whatever you decide, particularly for "unique carry" positions (pretty much anything beyond the strong-side hip), get training on and be consistent. It cracks me up when people say I go from a j-frame in my pocket to a 1911 in a shoulder holster depending on the season...

[Chief Wiggums]

Im not a pocket carry kinda guy....
never felt comfort , that I feel when its on my hip....
yes I do change EDC when the cold Ohio winters act up, and I have options, all that are in the practice rotation.....
92FS
2.0
or PX4 Storm

[diyj98]

Winter the same as summer, a j frame in my pocket.

[LCC]

Change the ammo in my pocket carried LCP from JHP to hardball Fiocchi that goes 1000fps. No changes to my 365 going to town gun, as I only carry it OWB under shirt or jacket.

[heeter3]

When I lived in Illinois I changed from an IWB in the summer to OWB or ankle holster in the winter.In Az my carry method stays the same all year long which is pocket carry in cargo shorts with some IWB and rare OWB or ankle holster.

[CS45Fan]

I usually carry a larger pistol because its easier to conceal with a jacket. Where I live we have 4 seasons so it does become a challenge. Spring and fall I usually wear a waist line jacket (that I either keep unzipped or is loose enough to pull up and draw) for easy access to my firearm.

In the winter it becomes more of a challenge when its very cold and I'm bundled up. I normally have some type of parka that has big pockets so I can put my pistol in a pocket- of course inside a holster that fits tight so when I draw - the holster doesn't come out with the pistol. I made my own open top leather holster years ago to accommodate my needs. Recently I purchased a 5.11 parka on sale that has several big pockets and zippers on the sides (designed for that purpose) to allow easy access to a pistol.

My guess is you will need to experiment to find the right clothing, holster setup and weapon combination for winter carry.

Good luck
PS don't forget about thin gloves that you can shoot with - and practice at the range wearing those gloves. I like the Mechanix coldwork fastfit gloves - they work well for me to about the 20 degree mark