Maximum Concealment

ninjamin7

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I am considering legally carrying on a college campus. It is important that my carry method print as little as possible. In your experience, which is the better way to carry—pocket or holster shirt? IWB/OWB is out of the question, as well as ankle carry; too easy to print or accidentally expose.
 
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Maximum concealment comes from minimum firearm. Choose a small enough firearm, and you can carry it any way you want.

My Sig P238 came with a wallet holster.

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My Ruger LC9 and a CrossBreed IWB holster works fine for me. I wear my shirts outside my pants and NO ONE has yet to discover I'm carrying.
 
Maximum concealment can be achieved with a Smart Carry "crotch" holster. Pants must be worn a bit loose to allow for quick access. It works great because few people are going to stare at your crotch.
 
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Barami "Hip Grips" on a J-frame will solve your problem. Stick the gun in a pocket, cover with a tail-out shirt. Completely invisible, available in an instant.

John

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I carried a Colt Commander all over campus (cargo shorts & fishing shirt) and also a J frame in a front pocket. Nobody even looked twice and I was never 'outed'.

Get a Ruger LCP or similar....they are inexpensive (great for broke undergrads), they are reasonably reliable, and will cover the bases when needed.
 
ninjamin7:

Welcome to the Forum. You'll find that carrying a handgun is a series of compromises. When I obtained my first CCL (Concealed Carry License - now known as a LTC - License To Carry), I planned on carrying either a 4.0 inch barreled .357 Magnum, or a Colt's Government Model in .45ACP. That didn't last very long as both of these handguns were simply too large to carry concealed - plus they were heavy.

I eventually evolved to my present day EDC (Every Day Carry) - a S&W Model 38-0 and a Model 638-1 both chambered in .38 Special. I almost exclusively pocket carry using DeSantis Nemesis holsters. (By the way, in case you didn't know, carrying a second, loaded handgun is known as a "New York Reload".)

Because of my back and hip problems, I'm having to off-load more weight, and am now exploring ways to reduce down to 1 revolver, and still have a reasonable back-up - probably a small, fixed blade knife or dagger. See, once more, compromises.

Good luck,

Dave
 
I've been carrying IWB since the mid-80s...... first a Walther PPK today a S&W 3913NL...... with out any issues....... from 3 piece suits to jeans.

Good belt ..... Milt Sparks holsters and a 4 O'clock carry!!!

GTG
 
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There is always a balance between concealability, accessibility and effectiveness of the firearm to be carried. The pocket holster probably prints the least but might be difficult to access while seated, as would a way-inside-the-pants style. Inside the shirt would be slow or impossible depending on your style of dress. Perhaps a good option is a belt holster that looks like a phone case? Everyone at college has a phone and you would look no different:). Good luck in your decision.
 
I 2nd the recommendation of the Ruger LCP...great little guns. I carry one occasionally. It is the only gun I pocket carry and still feel like it's not obvious I have a gun.

Don't be too quick to throw out ankle holsters. I wear one every day with a j frame. With jeans and work/hiking boots it is completely invisible. Nobody stares at your feet...
They are slower to get a gun into action but with practice one can get pretty quick at it.

And if you ankle carry a Ruger LCP you will all but forget it's there.
 
Maximum concealment can be achieved with a Smart Carry "crotch" holster. Pants must be worn a bit loose to allow for quick access. It works great because few people are going to stare at your crotch.

last part not necessarily true on a college campus these days.......

Pocket holster works just fine, especially if you wear things like plaid shorts or similar where there is a pattern to break things up.
 
I thought I posted early today but it seems to be missing. I'll try again.

As someone that can NOT print several days a week I have found that pocket carry of a weapon like an LCP is the easiest way to have the weapon available but be certain it won't show. IWB can print, your shirt can come undone, it can ride up, or you can bump into someone in a crowded hallway and they feel it. Pocket carry in pants that are not tight with a good holster (I use a DeSantis that I am very happy with) eliminates those issues in my experience.
 
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When I need maximum deep concealment it's my LCP in a pocket holster in my L/F pocket (I'm a leftie). Otherwise my EDC is a 340PD, also pocket carried the same way.
 
I agree that an LCP of whichever generation will conceal as good as or better than anything else.
I also have an LC9 in a crossbreed IWB that won't be seen until it is too late.
With the right holster a S&W 442/642/638 etc. will carry well in a large enough front pocket and be very comfortable, easy to draw and hard to see for anyone who doesn't know you have it.
You're probably going to have to play the gun/ holster game until you find what works for you.
Just remember, nobody will be looking at your waistband or pockets as critically as you will.
 
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While I haven't been in your situation, I have given a lot of thought to what I would do if I needed to carry for maximum concealment.

I normally carry my 642 IWB at around 3:30-4:00. Under my typical clothing it is practically invisible, even if I have to bend over to pick something up. However, there is the possibility that I might not be able to wear an untucked shirt. Then again, if I can't wear an untucked shirt, chances are I'm someplace that prohibits carrying a gun.

I haven't tried Smart Carry, but I'm not comfortable with its accessibility (or lack thereof).

I have similar concerns with ankle carry, although it does offer some advantages if you spend much of your time sitting. I carry a small trauma kit in an ankle holster, and with my usual jeans it disappears. I never cross that leg. But accessing a gun quickly can be a problem in any non-sitting position.

I've never tried a holster shirt, so I can't comment on that, except to say that unless you have a lightweight gun and wear the shirt very tight you may have to deal with the gun bouncing against you as you move. I would have similar concerns with something like an upside-down shoulder holster worn under a shirt (something I have considered). Something like a belly band or Kangaroo holster may be an acceptable alternative.

For me, at least, if I couldn't get away with carrying my 642 IWB under an untucked shirt, my first choice would be something like a LCP in a pocket holster. I think that combination would give me the best balance between concealability and accessibility, while acknowledging it has its weaknesses, most noticeably drawing while seated. YMMV.

As has been said, whatever carry method you use will involve compromises in one way or another. You may just have to experiment to find the compromise that works best for you.

Just my opinion.
 
Ditto the small gun in a pocket carry holster. I have a Seecamp .380 that I carry in a DeSantis pocket holster when I absolutely positively can't take a chance on printing.
 
Unless you're into skinny jeans, I'd go with a 442 or 642 in a pocket holster. My 442 in a Mika holster is always there.
 
I carry my newly acquired 380 in a pocket holster in my back pocket. No one knows I am carrying a gun. If I had it OWB, everyone would know, abs if it were IWB most people who see details would know. It also avoids the problem if hiding waistband holster I guess when you remove a coat in cooler weather. I have a holster that converts from IWB to OWB for those times when full concealment is not an issue.

This is my carry set up
IMG_1702.jpg
 
I like and use the iTuck by Tuff Products. It holds my Samsung S7 in an Otterbox Defender case and .45 XDs nicely. I've been using the iTuck for over two years.

[Yt]wozBEclh6HI[/yt]

Sent from my SM-T377V using Tapatalk
 
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