Finally...A Way To Carry a 4" N Frame Concealed!

[SeamasterSig]

I totally understand the shorts and t-shirt thing. There's a very good reason why that's the standard uniform in South Florida. I carry a 4" k-frame concealed in a pancake holster that sits maybe 1/2" lower than the OP's, judging by the photos. It's doable, but "dressing around the gun" can be pretty challenging when you're barely wearing any clothes to begin with

 

[HarrishMasher]

Did you do your tattoos yourself?

Not quite sure how to take that, but no, it was done by a tattoo artist in NYC who specializes in that kind of work. Done over a period of about 10 years starting in my late 30s.

 

[HarrishMasher]

I totally understand the shorts and t-shirt thing. There's a very good reason why that's the standard uniform in South Florida. I carry a 4" k-frame concealed in a pancake holster that sits maybe 1/2" lower than the OP's, judging by the photos. It's doable, but "dressing around the gun" can be pretty challenging when you're barely wearing any clothes to begin with

True, that's why I don't always carry that large of a gun. A J Frame comes in handy on some days. But generally I do carry a pretty large gun daily. I love the FN Five Seven because, while large, it only weighs 28 ozs fully loaded with 21 rounds of ammo. And those rounds exit the barrel at a devastating 2400 fps! Super accurate as well. Dime sized groups all day at 25 feet offhand. Also the cleanest running gun I have ever owned. After a few hundred rounds it is clean as a whistle inside. Crazy. If you have never shot one, you should.

But I love my wheel guns and make sure to work them into the rotation.


For those of you who are interested, here is what the FN Five Seven is capable of offhand at 25 feet.

Another typical group at 25 feet

My two Five Sevens:

 

[Doug M.]

A quality belt is not option when carrying any sidearm, and clearly makes a tremendous difference here.

 

[Brasky]

It seems like it would be an extremely slow draw with the gun riding that high

 

[HarrishMasher]

It seems like it would be an extremely slow draw with the gun riding that high

My thinking is I can't carry it concealed if it rides lower. So better to have it with me and risk a slightly slower draw, then not have it at all.

But honestly I have practiced drawing and it is not bad at all. With regular practice, it should not be an issue.

 

[Warren Sear]

Did you do your tattoos yourself?

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot???

 

[Rick_A]

A Desantis works for me. Once I thinned out the grips it became my most comfortable carry.
20150303_183117_LLS by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr
20140921_222918 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

Did you do your tattoos yourself?

Like reloading. You buy some equipment. Start slow. Get lots of advice online. Pray you don't mess up some small detail and lose an appendage.

 

[chief38]

I have carried OWB against raw skin on rare occasions but just be careful about rusting up a blued gun in short order as you start sweating on those hot days. Body salts and perspiration does not go well with blued firearms. Probably not the best for leather either. I always try to wear at least a thin tee shirt against skin, then another thin shirt to conceal. The tank top over bare skin might be OK in a well air conditioned environment and no physical exertion.

 

[HarrishMasher]

I have carried OWB against raw skin on rare occasions but just be careful about rusting up a blued gun in short order as you start sweating on those hot days. Body salts and perspiration does not go well with blued firearms. Probably not the best for leather either. I always try to wear at least a thin tee shirt against skin, then another thin shirt to conceal. The tank top over bare skin might be OK in a well air conditioned environment and no physical exertion.

With the Galco Combat Master no bluing is exposed. It has a sweat shield. The leather goes all the way up on the inside (the part of the holster that goes against your body). So I am not too worried about that. I also wipe my firearms down very regularly with an oiled cloth.

 

[SuperMan]

I've been carring most of my guns in basically the same holster from DeSantis...the Speed Scabbard. One thing I like about it over the GALCO is that it has wings that protect an adjustable rear sight from damage and ones clothes from hammer or sight abrasion...

Bob

 

[jtcarm]

Nice! I have CC'ed a 5" N frame, but in a shoulder holster and under a loose vest. Vests are seriously limiting unless you want to look like Crocodile Dundee everywhere you go.

And get shot first.

 

[jtcarm]

Hey, hey, hey! No need to get personal! Actually I'm sure you're correct about the lack of belly. I'm just not sure I'll ever find out

Unfortunately for a lot of us, the space where the OP is concealing his gun is already occupied by love handles.

May was well hang a "No Vacancy" sign on my hip[emoji47]

 

[BigBill]

4" concealed no problem. I carried up to a 7 1/2" redhawk 44mag shoulder holstered. I picked up a ruger sbh and the 10 1/2" shoulder holster for it. During the summertime my redhawk 5 1/2"/44 was my wingman. During the wintertime the redhawk 7 1/2"/44 was my copilot.

For fun once I put my python in the shoulder holster. My snubbie ruger six 357 in my pants holster, my 1911 in my belt holster. You couldn't tell I was packing. But that was 40 years ago.

 

[Kid44]

I'm a pretty open minded guy but there's just too many cons vs. pros for me to carry an N-Frame concealed, especially for a self defense situation. The guns are big and heavy, even with the short barrels, excessive recoil and muzzle blast, over penetration not to mention being a bit harder to conceal than the smaller framed revolvers and automatics. I don't think anyone is nuts to carry the N-Frame, just have to wonder why.
If I lived in Alaska, Montana or Wyoming where I MIGHT encounter a grizzly bear I would reconsider, and even then concealment may not be needed. I just don't think any self defense situation involving people would justify an N-Frame, I am referring to the .41 and .44s.

 

[Iggy]

Vests are seriously limiting unless you want to look like Crocodile Dundee everywhere you go.

LOL. Yeah not a good look!

Now wait just a durn minute, I think I may have been insulted!!

 

[Sixgunning]

I carry my 3" barrel 629 more than anything. With lighter loads it's just a little more velocity than a .45ACP.

 

[HarrishMasher]

I'm a pretty open minded guy but there's just too many cons vs. pros for me to carry an N-Frame concealed, especially for a self defense situation. The guns are big and heavy, even with the short barrels, excessive recoil and muzzle blast, over penetration not to mention being a bit harder to conceal than the smaller framed revolvers and automatics. I don't think anyone is nuts to carry the N-Frame, just have to wonder why.
If I lived in Alaska, Montana or Wyoming where I MIGHT encounter a grizzly bear I would reconsider, and even then concealment may not be needed. I just don't think any self defense situation involving people would justify an N-Frame, I am referring to the .41 and .44s.

I wrote this about carrying a particular N Frame, the 22 Thunder Ranch. The 22 TR model was designed by Clint Smith to be a combat revolver. When you think about it the TR, because of its thin barrel profile, is actually lighter than a 1911 and dimensionally smaller. It only gives up a couple of rounds to the 1911 as well. Plus 45acp hardly has much muzzle blast, recoil, or report out of a 4" barrel. I hardly think it is so crazy to carry such a gun.

The other N Frame I carry is a 627PC, an 8 shot 357 with a 2.6" barrel. Which is also a pretty justifiable carry piece.

I would never carry my 625JM, though dimensionally similar to the 22 TR, the heavy barrel makes it prohibitive for carry for me. And I certainly would never carry a 44mag for self defense. But 44special out of an N Frame is an excellent choice for self defense. If I had one with a 3" or a thin 4" barrel, I would carry it too.

 

[Entropy]

Carry whatever you want, are comfortable with, and can shoot. End of discussion. I see very little difference between carrying a six shot .41, .44, or .45 and a 17rd 9mm. You could argue "ethics" all day, but the gun is there to save your hide.

Do a search on "Bob Stasch". Veteran CPD Officer of many gunfights. It might be surprising to learn what they carried in the Windy City back in the day.