Concealed carry revolver - need advice

ColbyBruce said:
Ankle holsters are a great way of carrying a gun that you have no need to access in a hurry.
Desantis_ankle_holster.jpg
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Looks so uncomfortable and ridiculous.
 
sawlog said:
im a plumber and I carry a model 60 everyday. I use a iwb leather holster without a reinforced mouth. that makes it as thin as it can get.
my job is very active and I never have a problem hiding it. I wear jeans and a untucked t shirt at work. works great for me
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I thought you were going to say you carried it in your plumbers crack. Sorry couldn't resist.
 
Arik said:
1) presentation will be slow with ankle carry. I consider that style of carry more as a backup gun

2) Proper IWB holsters make all the difference, along with pants and belt. For OWB ...again belt and holster. There are holsters that ride high and close to the body.

3) it's a comprise. Less mass = more comfort.

4) Steel is more comfortable to shoot longer which translates to more practice. Unless you're very weak and fragile 4 or 5oz (.25lb) isn't a lot. That's a weight of a cell phone. It's not exactly "lugging around"

Don't take this personally. I was like that once. Wanted the lightest possible gun cause they were too heavy and pulled my pants down and so on. Until I finally gave in and spent money on a gun belt and tried a few holsters to see what I like and what's comfortable. I found that with a iwb hybrid holster the weight is dispersed by the two clips that are wide apart and a gun belt actually kept my pants up. Now instead of carrying some small ultra light gun that doesn't fit my hand I carry a Glock 19. But also a full size Sig and a full size all steel 1911. All carried with no issues. The reason I stick with the Glock is because the other 2 have full size grips that tend to rub holes in my shirts
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Arik wrote briefly about gun belts. Make sure you have a stiff belt made to carry a gun. Even if you pocket carry, it gives you a solid foundation. I bought a Wild Bill's Concealment Leather double thickness 1.5 inch wide leather belt and it made a remarkable difference in comfort and concealment of compact and full size Glock pistols. I carry a full size Glock all year eighteen hours a day in any weather with this belt and a Galco IWB holster. A flimsy department store belt will allow the gun butt to smack you in the ribs with every step you take and you will be cinching it uncomfortably tight to pull the butt into your body. A stiff belt is much more comfortable and forces the holster to stay upright instead of tilting away from your body.
I sometimes pocket carry a 442 or an old M60 and the belt supports the extra weight of the M60 and one speed strip in my pants pocket nicely.
 
I never saw the value in a belt costing considerably more than a cheap Walmart belt but I may try one.

Does it hold your pants up any better?

I was thinking about getting suspenders.
 
fixitfred said:
I never saw the value in a belt costing considerably more than a cheap Walmart belt but I may try one.

Does it hold your pants up any better?

I was thinking about getting suspenders.
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It holds your gun up, tight and more stable without having to over tighten it
No different than a tool belt...cheap ones roll up and let stuff flop around
 
I have a 442. I didnt notice too bad of a recoil with it. It was fine for me and extremely accurate. I have an OWB Holster but may buy an IWB one since it with be cc. I dont think Ill ever pocket carry,just not my thing.
 
Ruger has recently come out with a 327 Federal LCR in the 2" format. It will shoot 32 H&R as well as 32 Long also.

I have an LCR in 9mm and that's another good option if you like moon clips.
 
When I was with the PD I Concealed Carried my 36-1 with factory targets IWB (Bianchi) under just a sweater. I was thinner then. The 3" barrel was no impediment to concealment. I think the extra inch of verticle barrel length actually stabilizes the carry.
I really love my 3" M66 (or the 3" M13 I bought for my GF but couldn't talk her out of when we broke up)... but CC is harder under varying conditions...

However, if I had to choose one revolver for all year under all conditions... and could find what ever I wanted... I'd look to a Centennial type.
 
M.Cunningham said:
Looks so uncomfortable and ridiculous.
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Ankle holsters are indeed uncomfortable, even with a light weight gun. I had one made by Thad Rybka that had a sheath for a Gerber Guardian on it. That was fairly comfortable, considering it held a PPK.

Ridiculous? Yes, on a bare leg, but there are few options for carrying here at the nudist colony.
 
I've never met a single person who carried a gun in an ankle holster and had a positive experience with it, unless they strictly had a desk job and never once needed a weapon. I can't count the number of people I know who have tried an ankle holster for a BUG only to realize what everyone else had told them all along...it doesn't work. You can't access it when you need it, it will become community property the first time you try to run, hop a fence, or push through brush, it will fill with lint and dirt so fast you will lose any perceived reliability advantage a revolver gives, your pant leg will catch over the grip, the list goes on and on. Just don't do it. If I could make a public service announcement it would be to tell every felon who chooses to carry a gun while committing crimes to carry it in an ankle holster. Show me a person who "carried an ankle gun for 30 years and never had a problem" and I'll show you a person who never drew their gun in 30 years.

OK, off my soapbox now.:D Airweight J-frames are ideal for pocket carry. Go that route and you will never leave home without it again. On the other hand, they are no fun to practice with at the range. Life is full of compromises.
 
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Ankle carry is of limited utility, but I did it for years with a Colt Agent. The limits are these IMO:

1) Decidedly not a quick-draw proposition when walking, standing or lying on your back BUT from a sitting position (such as in a car) is a different matter.

2) A support strap above the knee is essential.

3) Unless you completely misunderstood the concept and wear shorts (Sorry ColbyBruce) concealment is excellent. Combined with boots, mine was missed in a pat-down.

I now pocket carry a 642 in a Galco horsehide holster. For long car trips I move to either a Bucheimer paddle when a cover garment is appropriate, the lower pocket of cargo pants/shorts or the same ankle rig I used with the Agent. The maker's tag has been illegible for 20 years and I'm sure they are out of business, but at this rate I'll never need a replacement and my heirs are on their own.

A J-frame, steel, stainless or airweight (I have no personal experience with the Unobtainium models where the ammo outweighs the revolver) would be my recommendation if you found the Ruger too heavy. I use full bore defensive ammo for familiarization only and wadcutters for 95% of practice and qualification. With appropriate grips 50 rounds per month of wadcutter shouldn't be intolerable unless your arthritis is a lot worse than mine. The other 5% is a biennial run of 3 cylinders of carry ammo to maintain familiarity and rotate to fresh loads. Old habits die hard.
 
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I generally wear wranglers, carhartt carpenter jeans or khaki pants. In the summer carhartt shorts all with a Filson double belt. Using an El Paso Saddlery C-force IWB holster and a 4" model 10-5 (standard barrel) , 4" 10-8 (heavy barrel), or 2" 10-5. In the fall when I will be wearing a jacket I might use the El Paso Saddlery #88 OWB. Never had a problem with the weight, or been made. Will say that the 4" 10-5 is probably the most comfortable of the bunch. Beats the 2" 10-5 or my 640 pro series .
 
In the cooler temps, here in Michigan, I carry a M19-6 in 2 1/2" riding in a pancake holster, with two speedloaders on the belt. It hides pretty well under a t-shirt. When its warmer, I carry a M36 appendix IWB with two speed strips inside an old leather dump pouch from a police duty belt (perfect fit).

The grips for each, are Pachmayr Grippers on the M19, and Pachmayr Compacs on the M36. Both are amazing at mitigating recoil and helping to stabilize the guns in my hand during rapid presentation/double-tap drills. For ammo, I load both with 125gr 38 Spl Remington SJHP +P's. Very accurate round, with plenty of "thump".
 
When not carrying in a pocket holster, I prefer an OWB crossdraw for my J frame and sub compact P290RS. Either mode of carry gives me easy access to my firearms while seated or driving. IWB holsters just never worked for me.
 
S&W 638s and 642s answer the mail for me. I go way back with wheelguns, so the manual of arms is familiar. Speer Gold Dot 135 grain SB +P is my ammo of choice. An El Paso Saddlery horsehide pocket holster or Street Combat OWB holster carries best for me. I prefer smooth wood boot grips for easy concealability, repeatable presentations, and acceptable control. Great carry guns...
 
66snub said:
In the cooler temps, here in Michigan, I carry a M19-6 in 2 1/2" riding in a pancake holster, with two speedloaders on the belt. It hides pretty well under a t-shirt. When its warmer, I carry a M36 appendix IWB with two speed strips inside an old leather dump pouch from a police duty belt (perfect fit).

The grips for each, are Pachmayr Grippers on the M19, and Pachmayr Compacs on the M36. Both are amazing at mitigating recoil and helping to stabilize the guns in my hand during rapid presentation/double-tap drills. For ammo, I load both with 125gr 38 Spl Remington SJHP +P's. Very accurate round, with plenty of "thump".
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I've got my eye on a 36 and I may go for it. I can't resist the classic look and feel. Anyway, what sort of IWB holster do you use for yours?

I use .38+p 158gr LSWCHP if I can find it. I've got a little stored up. I have tried your ammo and it is very accurate indeed. I really like the heavier bullet though.
 
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wrangler5 said:
I have both 2" and 3" K frames with a good holster and belt, and agree with others that they're a LOT to carry concealed on a regular basis.
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Short barreled K frames, are a good alternative to J frames for EDC. Whether in .38, or .357, they offer excellent balance, typically smooth DA, & for me at least, are much easier to shoot accurately. My personal favorite is the stainless 3" HB / RB M65, or as far as that goes, the comparable M64 - in .38spl.

As aptly pointed out though, "they're a lot to carry concealed on a regular basis". Especially around town - or in polite company, where full concealment is preferable, or legally required.

The perfect solution for me at least, is the quality construction, Miami Classic II shoulder system, from Galco. With comfortable horizontal carry, it provides full, short barrel K frame concealment, optimal weight distribution, & fast access - even when seated. As an added benefit, the MCII K frame holster component, can be swapped out for an L frame holster component, to accommodate a 2.5" - 3" M686. Very easy to slip into, & out of, as well.

No "plumber's butt", or printing issues - what so ever.

Here are a few pics of one of my MCII shoulder systems, my favorite M65-3, & also, a really special M10-8, that I let go a while back.













 
Good Advice!

hittman77 said:
Wow .... lots of good advice here. Part of the fun of a hobby is also how different things work for different folks.

I have a M60, a Colt Cobra and a Ruger LCR. The LCR gets carried the most. Why? Lighter weight, shrouded hammer, fiber optic front site. Mine is a 38 Special but they're available in 357, 9MM, 22LR and 22 Mag too if you look in that direction.
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Agreed that lots of good advice here. I also carry a Colt Cobra and a Ruger LCR. Right combination of size and power. If you choose a larger platform, you will get tired of carrying everyday. I have larger revolvers that I do carry occasionally, but not everyday.
 

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