Best Holster For 9c CCW W/ A 3-Piece Suit?

[Bedrockk]

I'm new to firearms & don't have enough experience yet so I wanted to know what people recommend for a CCW holster to use w/ a suit (& typically a 3-piece suit at that)? I guess when I ask 'best' I'm asking in terms of practicality as I want to get a holster or otherwise conceal in a place or in a way that it's still readily accessible (I don't really want to carry around the ankle). Also, since I usually wear 3-piece suits I'm thinking some holsters that might've worked in a 2-piece suit might otherwise be rendered less effective. I own an M&P9c so that's what I'd be looking to carry (I'm a southpaw & REALLY like & am comfortable w/ my full ambi 9c so I'd rather not have to swap it for a right-handed Shield or Bodyguard 380 [even though I do like those firearms too but I get all clumsy when my left thumb starts lookin around for the slide lock &/or mag release]).

 

[Robby3006]

Sorry couldnt tell you i wear jeans a tshirt and some boots. Only time i wear a button down shirt is when i go to a funeral and i dont even do that i perfer my camo sweater. Its comfy. You ever seen a camo suit? Id wear that if they would make one. But i got both BG380 and the shield and they are both great guns. I carry my shield on my hip and my BG380 on my ankle. If you were a suit an ankle holster for a 380 wouldnt be bad idea. Plus it has built in laser that is dead on. I like the BG380 so much i bought 2. Great little gun and its
Made really well. Are you a wall street guy?

 

[Bedrockk]

Are you a wall street guy?

No, just a guy who's gotta wear suits for work & prefers them to be 3-piece.

 

[Maddmax]

You might consider a shoulder holster.

 

[Bedrockk]

You might consider a shoulder holster.

I was initially thinking that but wasn't sure if that was just me having a newbie impulse or if shoulder holsters were more reserved for LEO-related occupations.

 

[growr]

I too am a suit and tie guy and my solution depending on what circumstances are...is to use a high quality IWB holster...ie Milt Sparks VM-2, Kramer #3, Alessi etc and a sturdy but dressy belt.

Next thing to ponder is how often will your jacket go on and off? If it is frequently then I switch to my M36 J frame and use a Kramer pocket holster.

If I am doing a good deal of driving then my Galco shoulder holster is my choice....might work well for you also.

Most often I carry a 3913 in the shoulder holster and the IWB.

My last solution in the suit and tie world is the use of the Dillon Planner B which looks like a day planner and no one is the wiser.....

Don't know if this helps you out or not....they are my solutions.

Randy

 

[ttyndall]

I have an M&P9c and was carrying it on an OWB made by Ryan Grizzle. It was a Georgia Snap and loved it. It held tight and is made from Black Elephant. I wore it with a dark undershirt and a loose fitting short sleeve shirt with the tail worn out. If it worked like this it should work for a suit with a coat.
I added an RM02 Red Dot Sight so it does not fit in the Grizzle holster properly now. So now I use a Kydex OWB made by Dale Fricke.
Any good OWB tight fitting holster with a good gun belt should be fine.
I was in a McDonald's this morning with a uniformed officer in line right behind me and he never seemed to notice. Or at least did not say anything.

 

[Bedrockk]

I too am a suit and tie guy and my solution depending on what circumstances are...is to use a high quality IWB holster...ie Milt Sparks VM-2, Kramer #3, Alessi etc and a sturdy but dressy belt.

Next thing to ponder is how often will your jacket go on and off? If it is frequently then I switch to my M36 J frame and use a Kramer pocket holster.

If I am doing a good deal of driving then my Galco shoulder holster is my choice....might work well for you also.

Most often I carry a 3913 in the shoulder holster and the IWB.

My last solution in the suit and tie world is the use of the Dillon Planner B which looks like a day planner and no one is the wiser.....

Don't know if this helps you out or not....they are my solutions.

Randy

Thanks for the advice thus far. I think a[nother] problem of mine is that - up to this point - I'm just so wed to my 9c (& am an admitted S&W fanboy in general [I have my 9c, a 15-22, & just bought the wife a BG380]) that I may be limiting myself. My strife is due in part to the fact that I'm a southpaw & REFUSE to use a firearm that is not a full ambi but hate the idea of going non-S&W for a smaller, more practical firearm for suit purposes.

 

[mlapaglia]

Thanks for the advice thus far. I think a[nother] problem of mine is that - up to this point - I'm just so wed to my 9c (& am an admitted S&W fanboy in general [I have my 9c, a 15-22, & just bought the wife a BG380]) that I may be limiting myself. My strife is due in part to the fact that I'm a southpaw & REFUSE to use a firearm that is not a full ambi but hate the idea of going non-S&W for a smaller, more practical firearm for suit purposes.

Then perhaps you should decide which is more important. Your pride in being left handed or being safe and keeping your family safe. Bite the bullet (no pun intended) and get a Shield. Its a great weapon. An amazing weapon. I am a lefty as far as shooting goes and I decided safety was more important than my lefty pride. Its your call. If you cant let it go then get another manufactures weapon. No offence intended but is it really that important that S&W, in order to make the firearm thinner, didnt keep it Ambi?

FYI the 9C is not AMBI on the mag release. Its one or the other. The slide stop is ambi. So the 9C is not full ambi either.

Just my opinion.

 

[Bedrockk]

.... perhaps you should decide which is more important. Your pride in being left handed or being safe and keeping your family safe.

It's not 'southpaw pride' that drives me but, in fact, safety - safety in properly using a firearm I'm comfortable w/ in a way it was meant to be used. I've tried using a right-handed firearm but get all clumsy when my left thumb instinctively looks for the mag release or slide lock. Quite frankly, I don't like (or believe in having) to use my left long index & middle fingers to control the mag release &/or slide lock. That's not the way it was intended to be operated & I'd rather use a gun made to my specifications (hence my affinity for my 9c) than have to use it improperly.

FYI the 9C is not AMBI on the mag release. Its one or the other. The slide stop is ambi. So the 9C is not full ambi either.

The 9c is absolutely considered a full ambi as is its mag release. True, it's not an external switch/lever option, nor is it a simultaneous ambi mag release. However, you can open her up, take the mag release out & swap it around. This is not considered a mod but actually how it was designed. My dealer switched mine for me the day I bought it from him. I don't think (but could be wrong) that it has to be a simultaneous option to be considered 'ambi' but just that it has the option in general.

All that being said, much appreciated for the input. I don't mean to seem soutpaw-cocky but just believe I should be able to properly/safely use a firearm the way it was intended & the same way right-handed shooters do as well as in a way I feel most comfortable and hence more safe.

No offence intended but is it really that important that S&W, in order to make the firearm thinner, didnt keep it Ambi?

No offense taken, & please don't feel me quarrelsome for anything in my retort. I enjoy this dialogue & think it's constructive. As a final digression from the theme of this thread, it is important to me that any firearms manufacturer produce a great ambi (or, God forbid, a true left-hand [which, i presume, is not fiscally practical though I'm sure there would be a niche market for if they simply made them is fewer quantities]) firearm, mainly for the safety/comfort reasons stated above. If they could do it w/ the 9c I have to believe they're sophisticated enough to do it w/ the Shield, even if it meant adding less than a cm for an ambi slide lock or removing the external slide lock altogether, but even more importantly allowing the mag release to be swapped out & flipped over w/ the same methodology as the 9c.

 

[mlapaglia]

It's not 'southpaw pride' that drives me but, in fact, safety - safety in properly using a firearm I'm comfortable w/ in a way it was meant to be used. I've tried using a right-handed firearm but get all clumsy when my left thumb instinctively looks for the mag release or slide lock. Quite frankly, I don't like (or believe in having) to use my left long index & middle fingers to control the mag release &/or slide lock. That's not the way it was intended to be operated & I'd rather use a gun made to my specifications (hence my affinity for my 9c) than have to use it improperly.



The 9c is absolutely considered a full ambi as is its mag release. True, it's not an external switch/lever option, nor is it a simultaneous ambi mag release. However, you can open her up, take the mag release out & swap it around. This is not considered a mod but actually how it was designed. My dealer switched mine for me the day I bought it from him. I don't think (but could be wrong) that it has to be a simultaneous option to be considered 'ambi' but just that it has the option in general.

All that being said, much appreciated for the input. I don't mean to seem soutpaw-cocky but just believe I should be able to properly/safely use a firearm the way it was intended & the same way right-handed shooters do as well as in a way I feel most comfortable and hence more safe.



No offense taken, & please don't feel me quarrelsome for anything in my retort. I enjoy this dialogue & think it's constructive. As a final digression from the theme of this thread, it is important to me that any firearms manufacturer produce a great ambi (or, God forbid, a true left-hand [which, i presume, is not fiscally practical though I'm sure there would be a niche market for if they simply made them is fewer quantities]) firearm, mainly for the safety/comfort reasons stated above. If they could do it w/ the 9c I have to believe they're sophisticated enough to do it w/ the Shield, even if it meant adding less than a cm for an ambi slide lock or removing the external slide lock altogether, but even more importantly allowing the mag release to be swapped out & flipped over w/ the same methodology as the 9c.

With a good iwb holster it is possible to carry the 9C with a suit. I have done it. You could also get something else that you could pocket carry or shoulder carry the 9C. My son carries a Glock 19 iwb in a suit and it does not print. I believe that in this case it's more the holster than the gun. Get the right holster and carry the 9C. It is a great firearm. Get the vest taylored to have the side seem Velcroed so you can pull the 9C out of the holster easily. Then get a good fitting tuckable iwb holster and you will be set. Just practice drawing it a lot.
let us know how you go with this.

It can be done with the 9C and a three piece suit.

 

[growr]

Using a high quality IWB holster and belt is paramount to concealed carry success. However, the whole tuckable thing is vastly over-rated....
Your 9c is a great choice and will serve you well...do give consideration to adding a J frame Smith to the herd for pocket carry.

Randy

 

[mlapaglia]

Tuckable is a good idea when wearing a suit. Why mess up the lines of a good suit?

 

[marshallartist]

I've never worn a three piece suit so I'm not sure how the vest fits around your mid-section. It there's a little room and the hem of the vest is low enough to overlap with the waistband of your trousers an inside the waistband might be your best choice. It would allow you to take off your jacket and still stay concealed. If your vest fits snugly you could still go IWB just make sure your vest doesn't "capture" the grip of your pistol. You don't want it tangled up in your vest when you go to grab it.

In a three-piece I would stay away from tuck-ables because you have to "dig" them out and with a vest that's one more garment to get through. In a two piece it would probably work a lot better.

There are many great manufacturers out there but with the top-notch holsters but you'll have to be prepared to wait. Their stuff is in high demand and you usually have to get on a waiting list. A high quality, comfortable holster than can be had in a reasonable amount of time and for a reasonable amount of money is the Comp-Tac Minotaur MTAC. It's very comfortable and conceals great. I've had a couple and they are among of my favorites. Others worth mentioning are the Blade-tech Nano (the one I currently use) and the Crossbreed holsters.

It can't be overstated how important a good quality belt is. You need one designed for carrying a pistol. If you use an unsuitable belt you will find carrying any gun uncomfortable, hard to keep concealed and hard to keep your pants up. I would prefer to have a mediocre holster and a good gun belt than the other way around. Again, don't underestimate this components importance.

As for shoulder holsters, they are great if you spend a lot of time sitting, don't move around too much and keep your jacket on from the time you leave the house in the morning until you return home at night. For someone who spends a lot of time behind the wheel of seated at a desk they're fine but otherwise I would go for something worn on the belt on your strong side.

Off the body carry methods like the day planners make me a little nervous. It's just to easy for someone to separate you from your gun. An unsuspecting thief/purse snatcher could be half way down the block with your gun before you know what's going on if you are caught off guard.

Just my two-cents.

 

[growr]

Having CC's since 1987 in suit and tie I respectfully disagree on tuckable holsters. Way over-rated.

The few people that I know that have actually ordered and used them have all gone back to a high quality IWB like a Milt Sparks, Kramer, Alessi, Del Fatti, etc and are much happier.

The same thing goes for ankle holsters in my book.

Randy

 

[Dean1818]

Pocket carry...... A revolver

 

[MichiganScott]

Having CC's since 1987 in suit and tie I respectfully disagree on tuckable holsters. Way over-rated.

The few people that I know that have actually ordered and used them have all gone back to a high quality IWB like a Milt Sparks, Kramer, Alessi, Del Fatti, etc and are much happier.

The same thing goes for ankle holsters in my book.

Randy

I wear my Galco King Tuk as an IWB holster with a cover garment. There's just no way you are going to be able to claw out a tucked in dress shirt in short order if you need the gun. It's very comfortable that way.

Since I usually wear a dress shirt and tie without coat, I carry a 642 in a Mika pocket holster.

 

[Simmy952]

I usually don't wear a suit but do wear a shirt and tie. I like the Crossbreed supertuck or a Theis IWB (crossbreed clone). Usually carry the M&P 357c in a CBST or my Sig 1911 compact in the Theis. Can wear them all day long with no discomfort.

Might another reason to get a Shield or P238 for pocket carry in the vest pocket.

 

[ttyndall]

Bedrockk, like some others have said the starting point is a strong gun belt.
Then the rest depends on if you button the coat and if so how tight is it?
If it is too tight around the waist and hip area, no comments guys, then if it was me
I would have the coat altered to fit looser in that area without affecting the rest of the coat. I have done this.
If the coat fits right I put the vest between me and the holster and the coat on top.
A tight hugging and higher fitting holster with a good belt should not show.
I have no association with any holster makers. But I think I would start with someone like Fricke and get
on the phone with him and maybe one other and get advice. The reputable makers will be honest with
what their product will and will not do.
Don't just talk to all of us that don't wear a suit everyday. The forum and a couple calls to the right vendor
should help you feel comfortable with what you get.
If you are a lefty, I know I would alter my suit and not compromise the equipment I feel comfortable with. I am 5' 7" and 180 lbs.
As soon as my RMR comes in for my 45c I will carry that with a Dale Fricke holster.
Good luck. This is actually the fun part. Once you finish researching and buy what do you do next?

 

[Bedrockk]

Bedrockk, like some others have said the starting point is a strong gun belt.

Thanks for everyone's input thus far. You guys hit not only all the questions I had in my head but also brought up factors I hadn't even thought to consider.

I guess my next question would be: does anyone have a good suit/gun belt they would recommend CCW purposes? Or any manufacturers that make good suit/gun belts?