mode of carrying with the broadest application

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i think the type of carry that has the greatest versatility and widest range has to be an iwb holster attached to a "sport" belt with a soft backing that can be worn directly over skin or maybe over a shirt. then you pull your pants up over it.


the reason being this can be used for hot climates and weather where you have minimal coverage.


a "smart carry" jockstrap style concealment holster has the problem of constricting your penis, is designed only to be worn appendix, and has no hard trigger guard, a sharp object can penetrate and activate the trigger, and it has no real retention beyond friction of fabric. if a gun is smaller or slimmer it is loose and will fall right out.


it seems having a hard holster with retension and protection combined with a fast attach cobra buckle is so easy, you can put it on and off without even removing the holster or whatever other attachments you have on it. you can wear it however high or low you want for below waistline concealment if you want, or like a belly band over the stomach. you can also adjust the cant and position of the holster so you are not forced to wear appendix.


is there any reason this isn't a more popular style of wear? do people prefer wearing belts through their pants is that why? i often just wear shorts or pants with spandex wait band. i just wear a comfortable belt underneath my pants.
 
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Personally, I carry with a more conventional IWB Holster attached to a 5.11 nylon belt which threads through the belt loops on my pants/shorts. It works fine all year round whether I'm wearing cargo pants or shorts, so I have no need for another belt.

If for whatever reason I couldn't wear a pair of lightweight cargo shorts as I tend to in the Summer, then I would sooner opt to carry my pistol in a fanny pack, but that's just me.
 
When it comes down to it, whatever works best for the individual.

If you look around, you should realize there are many different body types, where what would work for the skinny guy doesn't for a larger person, and there are plenty of body types in between, where stuff like arm length and hand size are also factors.
 
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I rock it in a pocket.


some guy on youtube said you shouldn't downgrade your defensive capability when you downgrade your clothes ie you should carry a glock 19 or m&p compact all the time even when you're near naked. so the bag solution and the belt strapped to the naked *** and covered up by shorts seems good
 
some guy on youtube said you shouldn't downgrade your defensive capability when you downgrade your clothes ie you should carry a glock 19 or m&p compact all the time even when you're near naked. so the bag solution and the belt strapped to the naked *** and covered up by shorts seems good

Well if a guy on YouTube said it. It most be true. The internet know it alls, know it all.
 
The method outlined by the OP is better visualized as a Belly Band worn at waist level ; over top of underwear , under pants .

Advantage - make really big pistols very concealment. Yes , I have done this with full size 1911 .

Disadvantages- Slow to draw . Reholstering involves dropping your pants . Comfort is variable from person to person.

Biggfoot's musings - I must have a very different concept of Broad Applications , to me the OP's concept is a very specialized niche approach , with significant tradeoffs .

Truly broad application would be strong side high ride , usually a Pancake just behind the hop . That's applicable for virtually every purpose at all .

Even in hot steamy weather , it is common to wear shorts and a loose comfortable shirt . Think Hawaiian , or Guyaberra , or Bowling type shirt .

To slightly rephrase , such attire would blend in with your surroundings , and not stand out as being Armed , or otherwise call attention to yourself .

If your previous , non- armed sense of style runs to speedos; bicycle shorts; and skintight lycra , refer back to the guideline of Dress Around the Gun. And reconsider the idea of dressing like a grown up . ( If we talking being armed while actually swimming or marathon bike riding , those are their own niche .)
 
Or you could get an NAA and just carry it in your hand.
 
Mode of carrying with the broadest application?

I think it's not a question that needs answering in that I think it's a good idea to have several holsters for your carry guns so that you can adapt to your clothing and surroundings.

E.g., for my Colt DS and my 640-1, I have Mitch Rosen pancakes, and a Mika pocket holster and a Smart Carry, both of which work well with either. With that combination I can carry comfortably anywhere.

Usually use a pancake though.
 
Milt Sparks Summer Specials since 1986!!!!!

Great minds think alike..... :)

Have several Summer Specials and used them for most of the years I've carried regularly (since ~1987 when I moved to WA from AK ).... however when - more recently - Crossbreed came along, I've migrated to their IWB SuperTuck, as my regular carry pieces have tended to be a bit bigger while getting "lighter" (i.e., polymer) and the SuperTuck and a robust horsehide belt really works well.

Was going through my holster "bin" lately and pulled out my Summer Special for my M4586(s), really enjoyed that holster over the years, holstered up and enjoyed the feeling of "the old days".... :)

You have great tastes in holsters and grips (Spegels)....!!
 
I find that pocket carry works for me in all seasons and clothing types that I wear.
Disadvantage is that it is hard to draw sitting down, but since I am old, and I am in a restaurant or someplace like that and trouble comes my way I can fake a heart attack and draw while on the floor.
If I were in law-enforcement or forced to spend time in dangerous areas I would probably have a gun on some kind of a belt, but I do not forsee that becoming an issue in my future.
 
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With the 640 no dash, I have a good IWB holster and a pocket holster. The key for me is adapting my clothing for my carry. I wear Wrangler jeans that have a stretch waist. They fit my body fine when I am not carrying. When so am, they stretch to accommodate a weapon and holster. For pocket carry, I had to give up the Pachmayr Compac grips, which I love, and went with magnas and a Tyler T Grip. More felt recoil but in a defensive situation I don’t think I am going to notice. Secondly, I went with abKore ratchet belt. It is micro adjustable. I cut it big enough to accommodate weapon and holster. I deal with the slightly extra length of belt when I am not carrying.

I’ve tried a lot of different grips and pistols over the years trying to find a good and/or comfortable combination. In the end, it was the pants and the belt that made the difference. I’m satisfied with my carry choices that I currently have (S&W 640 & Kahr K9) but think that I can now comfortably carry anything I choose.
 
Indeed, for me, pocket-carry of a S&W 642 in a JW O’Rourke pocket holster is fully “universal.”

Close behind, though, is a high-riding, forward-canted Summer Special IWB (or Barranti’s Summer Classic if carrying a revolver) for a full-sized gun.
 
Great minds think alike..... :)

Have several Summer Specials and used them for most of the years I've carried regularly (since ~1987 when I moved to WA from AK ).... however when - more recently - Crossbreed came along, I've migrated to their IWB SuperTuck, as my regular carry pieces have tended to be a bit bigger while getting "lighter" (i.e., polymer) and the SuperTuck and a robust horsehide belt really works well.

Was going through my holster "bin" lately and pulled out my Summer Special for my M4586(s), really enjoyed that holster over the years, holstered up and enjoyed the feeling of "the old days".... :)

You have great tastes in holsters and grips (Spegels)....!!

Only have one IWB Kydex holster .... one of unknown origin... for my 3" 60-10 micro 686 that I found used in a LGS. (Edit: NOt true Squidsix made me a nice kydex for my FrankenSmith 6915 and 915s)

MY "bigger" EDC carry autos; Shorty-9 and Beretta 92 Compact or Single stack Type-M get carried in Sparks "Executive Companions"; which carry the butt heavy hi-caps a bit lower IWB.

Not long ago I dug out my 1988/89 SS for my W German 220 and later 245s..... While I have confidence in the .45acp I've adopted a philosophy/strategy of "a fast double tap of 9mm"

I started IWB with a Walther PPK and over about 4-5 years worked my way up to carrying the Sig 220 and Beretta 92 Compact..... the rest is history!!!!

Sorry no pictures ....... but really liking the 2" model 15 w/ a set of checkered Spegel Boot Grips!!! :) Holster is a Don Hume JIT slide worn cross -draw ...... as a driving set up!
 
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I can only tell you what has worked for me. I have been totin' for 45 years now and so I do have the experience to answer. Let me just preface this answer with the fact that I've tried ankle, holsters, shoulder holsters cross draw, inside waist band, outside waste band, pocket, you name it - I've tried it!

My most universal carry method is with a Sig P365 in a DeSantis Nemesis Pocket Holster. That pretty much works anywhere, in any weather, any pants type, dress or casual. The Sig P365 weighs in at less than 18 ounces and is very compact so I have no issues with that mode of carry. That mode is probably wha I do 80-90%% of the time now. When the weather is cooler I do use a Kramer Leather Horsehide holster, belt and mag pouch and it is very comfortable and fast. The only downside to that is it needs to be covered - not happening in hot weather.

So if I could only have one holster for concealed carry I'd go with the DeSantis pocket holster AND a pistol or revolver that is conducive for pocket carry. Obviously if you are carrying a 1911, M686, etc - all bets are off with pocket carry. - lol
 
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Pocket carry Seecamp .32 except when driving for a couple hours or more. Then I carry a little .38 ( either CA or S&W )cross draw.






 

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