Does everyone use holsters?

[gunnut2u]

Being a 686 fan,I find it comfortable to me not using a holster at all.normally just slide it in the back of my pants.using a belt of course!Just curious if anyone else finds this comfortable also or has other options to carry with out a holster?gunnut2u

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Comfort is an important factor in deciding how to carry a sidearm. Unless the method is comfortable, eventually the user will stop carrying, then not have what is needed if/when needed.

Comfort is not the only factor. The others are concealability, accessibility, and security (weapon retention).

Every holster selection (or in this case, carry method) is a compromise among these four factors. You have selected a carry method that suits your comfort needs, provides good concealability, is reasonably accessible, but compromises security more than many would be willing to accept.

Best regards.

 

[Big Foot]

Having had a 686, it is one heavy revolver. Not sure how you manage it. The politically incorrect term, "Mexican carry" has been discussed at great length on most forums. You might use a Search and see what others say..

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I used to occasionally carry a Charter Arms Bulldog in my belt without a holster. Its stock grips (is that redundant?) lent themselves to that method. A Barami works, and is quite secure, but a bit low and slow for my desires.

Holsters are usually best, but just as we do not all find the same grips or holsters best, we will not all have the same answer to your question. Experience at all-day carry will eventually tell you what is best for you.

 

[Iggy]

It may never happen, but just for giggles and grins, empty that 686 and let it slip past your belt and down your pants leg.

Have someone videotape the efforts required to retrieve it. Now do it fast!!!

 

[Andy Taylor]

Did you watch Cops this Saturday? Officer stopped a subject. The subject sat on the curb. The officer had him stand up. The RG .22 revolver the subject was carrying in his wasteband, without a holster, fell to the ground.

 

[Farmer17]

There's been several times over the years that I just stick a gun down my pants, but I never walk very far with it that way. In public I never use a holster that does not have a thumbreak retention strap because I don't want my gun coming out until I'm ready, even if I roll down the side of a hill.

 

[mississippi revolverman]

During my narcotic undercover days we always carried bare. I used a model 19 2 1/2", Did find out streach several rubber bands around the grip this will keep it from sliding through thewaist line

 

[Andy Taylor]

http://www.baramihipgrip.com/

Use the Barami Hip Grip, with a Tyler T-Grip adaptor. This makes a good combination. I sometimes use it with a 342Ti.

 

[USAF385]

I can't imagine a 686 in the back of my pants being comfortable. I prefer a holstered gun in a location where it's comfortable AND secured no matter what position I'm in... standing, sitting, running, jumping etc.

BUT.. to each his own as they say.

 

[Pasifikawv]

Originally posted by Big Foot:
.... The politically incorrect term, "Mexican carry" has been discussed at great length on most forums...

Hmmm, How about Plaxico carry - rather than Mexican carry??

.40 Glock in the waistband of sweat pants for a night of dancing at NYNY clubs... Real smart...

 

[Firehouse]

Only way I'd carry without a holster is pocket carry with a J-frame or smaller. Also without anything else in the pocket with the weapon.

 

[flop-shank]

Originally posted by Pasifikawv:

Originally posted by Big Foot:
.... The politically incorrect term, "Mexican carry" has been discussed at great length on most forums...

Hmmm, How about Plaxico carry - rather than Mexican carry??

I'm on board with that! Consider it stolen.

A 686 in the back of one's pants must look like the guy who put the potato in his speedo, but didn't know it was supposed to go in the front.

I carry L frames occasionally, but never without a holster. Are you carrying a 2 1/2"er in your back pocket or something? The handful of times I "Plaxicoed" an L frame around the house were very brief and even more uncomfortable.

 

[walkin' trails]

I carried my duty 686 that way years ago when I was out of the academy and that was all I could carry, as well as J-frames and semi autos. Never had an incident, but noted that it will wear out the backside of your jeans a lot faster than simply sitting on your behind.

 

[Frizzman]

In my LEO days, I found that having to run, jump and fight tested the limits of whatever method one used for weapon carry. I bought a cheap shoulder holster to carry my Colt Combat Commander when I was a rookie that I frequently wore under my cold weather jacket on patrol. After a violent fight with a subject one night I bent over to place him in the back of a patrol car and it fell out right in front of me on the pavement. That made my face red and banged up a nice pistol. Ever since then, I want a very secure carry method. That is usually a well made and secure holster with retaining strap or tightly boned.

Besides that, I don't like the bare gun against my skin. It is uncomfortable and I tend to sweat all over it. A proper holster that is well fitted shouldn't be uncomfortable.

 

[GatorFarmer]

I've used ClipDraws on J frames with mixed results. I've also used an NAA with the flip grip that has the clip on it and the clip that went on a Kel Tec P32 with better results.

While I toted a Glock 32 OWB in a proper holster during my Memorial day trip to NC, during the drive down, I did simply carry a 5903 stuck in my waistband for a cross draw without incident save for it being annoyingly pokey.

 

[Munsterf18]

In Georgia, to be legal you must conceal carry "in a holster", so that makes it an easy decision for me.

Munster

 

[arkdweller22]

Personally I have had to go through a variety of "carry systems" before I could carry comfortably all day.
At first I had a hard time toting a Beretta Tomcat around.
After much hit and miss, I find I can comfortably carry a Glock 20 or even a Ruger Redhawk .44 mag all day; in jeans and a guayabera (kinda like a Cuban version of a hawaiian shirt, not as loud).
I only needed to have a commander sized 1911 slide down my pants once to decide that "Plaxicarry" is not the system for me.

A secure holster is always best. It takes some getting used to, but once you find a system that works for you, you won't even realize you're carrying anymore.

YMMV.

Best Regards,
Arkdweller

 

[Big Foot]

Hmmm, How about Plaxico carry - rather than Mexican carry??

.40 Glock in the waistband of sweat pants for a night of dancing at NYNY clubs... Real smart

What does that say about the Glock? Well, LULAC wasn't too happy about using the term "Mexican Carry", now not sure if the NAACP will like this new moniker. You just can't win anymore and everything is "sacred".

 

[Shooter10]

Munsterf18: I thought I remembered that requirement from previous licenses, however, when I first encountered this thread, read the back of my latest license, and that requirement is no longer on it. I phoned the propate judge's office, and the clerk did not know of this being a current requirement, but obviously would not state that it was not.
Not that it makes any difference to me, as I always use some sort of a holster, even for pocket carry.