How do you conceal your L-Frame in the Summer?

[RetLawman590]

Hi,

I'm planning on buying the 386NG. Do you think it's possible to CC in the summer for an avg sized guy? What would you use? Would it be too thick for IWB?

Thanks

 

[USAF385]

I'd say the Night Guard wouldn't make the best IWB CC gun for the summer.. a bit big and bulky. But that is just my opinion.

A 640 would make a better IWB .357 in my opinion.

 

[flop-shank]

Hi,

I'm planning on buying the 386NG. Do you think it's possible to CC in the summer for an avg sized guy? What would you use? Would it be too thick for IWB?

No, absolutely not. You will have to decide what you are comfortable with, but when I got started carrying, it was a 4" 586 IWB year round. Then I moved up to a 6" 686. Eventually I started carrying a 5" full underlug 629 (read 3 lb. gun) IWB. Keep in mind that as the gun gets bigger, your set up (belt, clothing holster, ect.) gets more and more critical. I'm 5'7" 200 lbs. and lately I've been carrying the 629 to church under untucked button down shirts with a busy print and a full power .357 in the weakside front pocket. As Evan Marshall says, "You can carry whatever you want, just dress around the gun". I say carry the guns that you would want with you if the SHTF.

Oh, and the holster I prefer is a FIST 1A IWB kydex/leather hybrid with a body shield.

 

[WC145]

I don't carry IWB but I do carry an L-Frame concealed, it's all about the belt. This is my 586 L-Comp in a DeSantis Thumbbreak Scabbard -

 

[dirtygrunt95]

I carry my night guard in either a FIST OWB holster under a polo shirt or my LOBO gun leather IWB no problem really. Didn't change pants size but belt went out an extra notch.

 

[oldman45]

Spend money. Spend more money. Money is your friend and will buy concealment. I am serious on this.

I often carry a Glock 22 concealed. The same with both a S&W 66 and a 1911. This is with me living in the south where it gets well past 100 degrees many times during the summer. It will be in the low 90's today.

Find the right holster that works inside the pants will take some trying and patience for many days. If a holster is not comfortable, you will not wear it long. Keep trying until you get one that works for YOU. What works for someone else may not work for you. Then get the right shirt to wear.

I wear western shirts and buy them one size to large so the excess material hides any bulge.

Also you might want to consider a belly band holster. I have one and use it with some summer shirts. Any gun will fit in them.

 

[jimonfly]

325NG

I just purchased a 325NG (N-frame) and have been using a Galco Summer Comfort. It rides high enough that the cylinder is above the belt line and hides well under a polo type shirt. An easy carry. Haven't tried a t-shirt yet. I am 6'1" and 185 lbs, in Central Florida. Get a good belt!

Edit: Forgot to mention, I changed out the grips for a shorter Hogue laminate. Doesn't print near as much!

 

[WoodsCustom]

Missouri Summers are HOT & HUMID!!

What I do is buy non tapered shirts that are designed to NOT tuck in. I buy them where they fit loose and are very comfortable untucked.

Shirts like these create a lot of air flow keeping you cooler, and they are long enough to conceal a S&W 327 M&P R8 in a Galco Dual Position Phoenix.

I am 6'3 and 250 A little bigger than the average Dude.

WC

 

[xrmattaz]

I'll carry my lightweight N-frame (329PD, 4") in it's Milt Sparks VM2 or the Comp-Tac CTAC, just like I did last summer. I actually prefer the cylinder to be directly behind/under the belt, my pants/shorts are sized accordingly.

I go for the lighter tank top style undershirts (will actually try one of the UnderArmor type shirts this summer) with my ever-present Hawaiian print shirt over top, untucked, naturally.

If I'm not carrying the 329PD, I'm usually carrying my G21SF, also in a Milt Sparks VM2 holster.

(6'5", 225 lbs.)

 

[P&R Fan]

I have carried my 696 in IWB and OWB holsters many times in the manners mentioned previously, often in warm weather. Usually it is under a button up shirt left untucked. Access is very easy as the shirt "flows" over the gun and doesn't print. As a previous poster said, you dress around the gun. I've been carrying for over 25 years and when I buy clothes it is often with concealed carry in mind.

 

[The Highlander]

I have the twin L-Comp to WC145's. Carry it all year round in a Don Hume JIT Belt-Slide. I also have a cheapo Bianchi nylon with thumbreak that I carry it in when woodswalking where I might slip and fall. Either is extremely comfortable (and even more comforting).

My daily carry 90% of the time is a full-size Glock of either 9mm, .357 SIG, or 10mm flavor. Yep, I carry a G20 all day sometimes.

I'm 5'7, very broad, and overweight at 230 lbs. I buy shirts one size too large to help cover and because I hate tight clothes. Lots of black polo's to hide a black gun in a black holster. Also busy prints, in any color, although darker colors hide better. I like the old Cuban style shirts that are square-cut and not meant to be tucked in.

I firmly agree with Clint Smith, "it's a big gun when I put it on, and a big gun when I pull it out."

 

[flgolfer29]

I'm 6' 0", 175 lbs. Carrying a 686, 3" barrel

 

[pawncop]

I carry my 2 1/2" 686 in a simple IWB pretty much as flgolfer29 does without any issues at all.

 

[borntoraisehogs]

Hi,

I'm planning on buying the 386NG. Do you think it's possible to CC in the summer for an avg sized guy? What would you use? Would it be too thick for IWB?

Thanks

If the barrel length is 4" you should be fine . I carried my 4 " model 19 and my 4" inch model 25 for years and when I changed my every day carry to a 1911s , there was really not much difference . They are not really much thicker at their thickest point than an auto loader and in some places they are thinner like the business end of the barrel . I used to use a Summer Special style , like the ones you still see in use a lot for auto loaders . If you can't find one , get a picture of one and make it . The genius of a simple design .

 

[biggs357]

Though i don't carry this as much as i used to but i still pull out my 4 inch barrel 686 and head for town with the wife and kids.

 

[Hook686]

I use a belly band ( Jagwear Concealment Holsters ) for carrying my 686 4" revolver.

 

[rg9350]

I own a m620,love it,what do you think about it compared to the 686,4 or 2.5" 7rds,like my 620. Thank you. rg9350.

 

[Krull]

While I don't have a revolver as big as the 686,I do have a little'ol 642,I will say this:

I just bought a 4506-1,I also bought a cheap-arsed $9 Gun Mate IWB clip on job,know what? I stick that hunk of stainless in my pants and ether wear an untucked shirt or a vest and I challenge you to tell I've a pistol with me.
It really is about working around the gun but it isn't hard,and I'm about 6'0 and all of 175lbs soaking wet.

 

[MTKTM]

No, absolutely not. You will have to decide what you are comfortable with, but when I got started carrying, it was a 4" 586 IWB year round. Then I moved up to a 6" 686. Eventually I started carrying a 5" full underlug 629 (read 3 lb. gun) IWB. Keep in mind that as the gun gets bigger, your set up (belt, clothing holster, ect.) gets more and more critical. I'm 5'7" 200 lbs. and lately I've been carrying the 629 to church under untucked button down shirts with a busy print and a full power .357 in the weakside front pocket. As Evan Marshall says, "You can carry whatever you want, just dress around the gun". I say carry the guns that you would want with you if the SHTF.

Oh, and the holster I prefer is a FIST 1A IWB kydex/leather hybrid with a body shield.

Jeebus, flop, that church you belong to must be a dangerous place!!!!!

 

[flop-shank]

Jeebus, flop, that church you belong to must be a dangerous place!!!!!

The Devil hates it. Seriously, I try to always have as much gun with me as possible at all times, period. So there you have it. Since I find that I can hide "Frida", I take her with me. FWIW, my church isn't in the best part of town (there were a couple gang shootouts a few weeks ago in that part of town, one was a block from my church), but generally "those who party with guns" aren't active early on sunday mornings.