Concealment for Women

Gilesmela

Gilesmela

Joined
Jan 15, 2019
Messages
2
Reaction score
13
Location
South Carolina
Hello, I am a 25 year old female. I am not law enforcement, military, nor a member of the NRA or anything like that. I am merely a full-time college student and employee. I love firearms and appreciate them and everything about them. I have owned guns since I was legally able.

Before registering for an account on this forum, I thought I knew a lot about guns. However, it seems there are many other that know much more than I do.

I’m starting this thread because my fiancé and I go next month to get our CWP. I want to know some thoughts, opinions and tips on women concealing. When I have tried in the past, I found it difficult due to being a female that prefers form fitting clothing.
I prefer to carry IWB and it seems easier to conceal that way wearing tighter clothes. However, I just need more tips on clothing someone might recommend or holsters or a even new place to carry.

I have the new-ish M&P Shield 380 EZ and I love it. It’s a great gun for the price and I love the slim design.

So lay it on me. Any opinions, tips, thoughts on women concealing, recommendations, and I want thoughts and tips from what men think as well.

Thank you!
 
My wife is a newer shooter and recently got her cc. She carries a 380 Tauras revolver. Originally she went with a clip iwb holster but after a short time went to a belly band and wears it everyday. She loves it. She has a 380 EZ that she shoots well although not comfortable enough to carry yet and no doubt it will go right in the belly band.
 
Welcome! You will find lots of good information here and this may or may not fall into that category for you. :)

It sounds you have made a good choice for a CCW. In the training I have done, statistically having quick access to a carry firearm may be crucial to the outcome. Depending on how high a priority carrying is for you and your normal attire you may want to consider how your clothing needs to change for this, such as having a cover garment (jacket, untucked shirt, sweater) or wearing pants with enough room in the waist or in a pocket for carry. This is generically called "dressing around the gun".

I would also strongly encourage training above that mandated for your CCW permit; this is usually good basic information but does not give you the skills and mindset you may need should an incident occur. I would guess there are Forum members in SC who can refer you to a qualified instructor, or who might be instructors themselves. Good luck in your decisions.
 
If you prioritize form-fitting clothing, there will likely be less options carrying concealed, especially in SC where cool weather cover garments are usually unnecessary.

A narrow waist can uncomfortably push an IWB carry into your ribs when carried on your hip. Depending on your figure, AIWB (appendix carry) is sometimes more comfortable.

While your 380EZ is a compact size, common for concealed carry, you may find the subcompact frame size (SIG P238 for example) easier to conceal under form fitting clothes, and offers the option of wallet-style holster carry in your back pocket, like a cell phone.




A holster handbag, with a dedicated zippered handgun compartment is needed for time your wardrobe isn't cooperative.

For waist carry, a good holster belt keeps holsters tucked in where they belong.
 
My wife is a member of 4 "Woman's gun organizations" She also is NRA and a member of 3 gun clubs + has listened to me talk guns for about 50 years. She has profited from all the above and put up with me.:D She has had her CCWP since 1980 but just recently (2 years) she decided to carry.

Joining and shooting with all those gal groups she has learned a lot. From what she has said the "belly band" concept is the way most carry unless they can be dressed very casual. Wife's favorite carry also, she like me does not like off body carry!

One of her friends is a LEO and regularly wears a band both on duty and off duty. FWIW she is very good looking and often gets mentally undressed when not in uniform and as far as she know no one has spotted her band and the gun, knife and spare ammo she carries.:cool:
 
Last edited:
Welcome to the forum from Pennsylvania.
Off-body carry (purse), although an option, is not one I would recommend, nor would my wife. It is quite convenient and doesn't interfere with how you dress, but consider what happens to purses....... If you are being victimized, often it is the first thing to be taken from you, or the first thing you discard in an effort to deflect attention to yourself. There are many good options to be found on the Internet.
I wish you luck in your pursuit.
Please consider joining the NRA in light of your appreciation for firearms.
 
Gilesmela You really need to find a female group to help you git over your problems but I have a wife and two daughters that CC . They simply came to learn that you have to dress to carry and compromise is part of that or you carry a smaller pistol !! I daughter will wear a garter belt holster for a TCP when a dress is needed . The other two my wife includes simple changed how they dress . No more tight to the body clothing . You can still look good and carry . My wifes EDC is a Kimber ultra 9mm with 9 rounds in the Wilson mag and two ten rounders as back up in a comp-tac mtac warn high at 3:00 . The other wears a cw9 kahr in a foxx little hybrid at 2:00 in front of the hip bone canted to the rear . Our smallest girl has 6=7 years CC and mostly carry's a TCP in a Three Speed Holster up front most times .
3 Speed Holster: engineered and custom built holsters for handgun and spare magazine
Check out The Well Armed Women site below for a local group to learn with and shoot with -
Find a Local Chapter - TWAW Shooting Chapters
 
My daughter carries a Bersa Thunder 380 which in my opinion is a great carry gun and has proven to be extremely reliable. Moving forward here in Texas we have the option to carry concealed or open. Therefore if you carry concealed it isn't a violation if your pistol becomes accidentally exposed. Her & I both carry outside the waist however we throw a cover garment over it. For example, yesterday she wore jeans with a blouse. Pistol Outside the waist between her hip and right rear hip pocket and simply threw over a unbuttoned long sleeved sweater.
 
Gilesmela, if you run across a female LEO your shape and size ask her advice on the type of holsters she has found to work best for her. A person can spend a fortune on holsters and never find the perfect combination for them, so good advice can save lots of money.

If you are near Columbia, SC there is a LEO supply store, part of the Dana Safety Supply chain, directly across the street from that huge LE complex located outside Columbia. You should find an adequate selection of gear at the store.
 
P.44 said:
1. Welcome !
2. Here -from a woman- you may find some ideas:
Concealed Carry for the Fashionable Woman | Cornered Cat

P.44
Click to expand...
I'm re-posting this post in hopes that you hit this link. There is a mind numnbing volume of quality info on Kathy's site. An incredible resource that includes on-body carry for a woman but covers a huge spectrum of gun owning/carrying related topics.

An absolutely must read site for women/guns and anyone who cares about women/guns.
 
URIT said:
Here is a YouTube video that provides several options for you to consider...

My daughter loves this lady's videos. She bought several holsters and one was a Remora.
Click to expand...
Faliaphotography was so good, I hope she made a fat stack of cash because she made the "damn difficult" look easy, repeatedly.

I wish she hadn't disappeared and I hope she is well.
 
Congrats. My wife and I both conceal and it depends on a lot. My wife likes a purse that she picked up from the gun store, and in the summer I sometimes carry a pocket .22 in my cargo shorts. At the beach, my wife has a folding chair with a secret compartment. (I fish and she sits and cooks). A good LGS is a great place to find and try what works for you holster/concealment wise.

Gilesmela said:
Hello, I am a 25 year old female. I am not law enforcement, military, nor a member of the NRA or anything like that. I am merely a full-time college student and employee. I love firearms and appreciate them and everything about them. I have owned guns since I was legally able.

Before registering for an account on this forum, I thought I knew a lot about guns. However, it seems there are many other that know much more than I do.

I’m starting this thread because my fiancé and I go next month to get our CWP. I want to know some thoughts, opinions and tips on women concealing. When I have tried in the past, I found it difficult due to being a female that prefers form fitting clothing.
I prefer to carry IWB and it seems easier to conceal that way wearing tighter clothes. However, I just need more tips on clothing someone might recommend or holsters or a even new place to carry.

I have the new-ish M&P Shield 380 EZ and I love it. It’s a great gun for the price and I love the slim design.

So lay it on me. Any opinions, tips, thoughts on women concealing, recommendations, and I want thoughts and tips from what men think as well.

Thank you!
Click to expand...
 
Purse carry is similar to pocket carry in that is has certain distinct disadvantages, but also some undeniable benefits. My wife used to purse carry, primarily when she used to get off work late and had to walk to her car. She would have the purse on cross-body with her hand on her snub revolver inside her purse. There's no faster draw/access method from concealment than that. She could even shoot from inside the purse if need be
 
I'm certain, that after you have spent a little more time on this forum it will become abundantly clear that your knowledge and especially your wisdom outshines that of many that pontificate here.

Read all the contributions, and consider them with a grain of salt.


My wife carries a Ruger LCP in her purse. As she has said on several occasions, she'll have plenty of time to pull it out after my .38 snubby runs out.



Your original quetion included this line: "I want to know some thoughts, opinions and tips on women concealing."

The only experience I have had in concealing women was when one of their boyfriends came knocking on my door one evening . . .
 
Last edited:
Hi neighbor, just one state above you.:)

I hate to give you the bad news but you are going to go through a lot of holsters, and methods of carry before you find what fits. Just the way it is. A lot depends on what you intend to carry, a light sub compact semi auto one of the methods that some women like is the flash bang holster, or neck holster. But if you wear your shirt tucked in it will make draw awkward. Ideally carrying the most powerful firearm you can shoot accurately is the best option BUT that usually means the gun gets left at home. You will probably find more than one firearm may be what best to insure carry. My wife has carried several different firearms but she is never without her NAA revolver, no matter what I carry I also carry a NAA as a bug.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

W
Grip Question for Concealment
Replies
1
Views
681
chief38
chief38
M
New Concealed Carry Gun
Replies
6
Views
958
Marshal Tom
M
P
Red Dot Sight on a Small of Back Concealed Carry?
Replies
19
Views
863
GnarlsR2
G
M
Concealment Considerations
2
Replies
26
Views
2K
BKLooney
BKLooney
BigBoy99
  • Locked
Concealed Carry and Open Carry
2 3 4
Replies
79
Views
5K
murphydog
murphydog

Latest posts

Back
Top