Lots of people think they need to find a carry gun that fits their style of dress. IMO, that's Back-Asswards. One could probably carry just about anything on the market if they only new how to Dress to Conceal. If you google it, you'll probably find a few good sites about it.
Any Concealed Carry instructor will tell you to dress for concealment, rather than trying to force your carry system into what you wear now.
Concealed carry is not about finding a pistol that fits your style of dress... It's about SLIGHTLY modifying your style of dress to conceal your pistol and it doesn't mean one needs to wear fatigues or camo to carry concealed. My Concealed Carry Instructor was able to conceal at LEAST 5 different pistols within his 'Business Casual' attire.
There are multiple articles on the web dealing with dressing to conceal.
Here are a few Bullet Points:
* If you end up carrying IWB, you'll probably need to increase your pants by one waist size (Form Fit pants are out).
** If it's a "Tuckable" IWB holster, you need to learn to 'blouse' your shirt a bit.
**If it's not a Tuckable, you may need to start wearing untucked Polos/T-shirts made of thicker/heavier (non form fitting/tailored/clingy) material.
* Heavier material doesn't print like light/clingy/form fit shirt material
* Dark Color shirts hide printing better than light colors.
** Prints hide better than solids (like camouflage distorts hard lines).
** Untucked shirt tails need to be long enough to still cover when you reach for something up on the top shelf, or bend over to grab something from the bottom shelf.
Wherever on your body you decide to carry, you need to NOT be self-conscious about it.
* People acting self-conscious gets them 'Made' more than printing.
* People DON'T actually look for printing, but they DO notice people who act self-conscious.
Also... As far as Fanny Packs go... Others that Conceal Carry (and probably LEOs) may think "GUN" right off the bat, but those unfamiliar with Concealed Carry will (still) be clueless.
Things that you do not want to do while carrying (aka: Tells):
* Continually checking/adjusting your cover shirt
* Swinging your strong side (gun side) arm differently (or NOT swinging it at all) when you walk (to avoid sweeping your pistol)
* Constantly adjusting/hiking your Belt (usually due to NOT getting a good strong GUN belt)
* Constantly touching your pistol, making sure it's still there (sounds stupid, but newbies do it all the time)
There are more newbie 'tells' that I can't remember right now. (try googling Concealed Carry Tells)
A term I haven't heard lately is 'The Wally Walk'.
*Once a person gets their carry permit, or starts legally carrying and finds the 'system' they will use to carry, it's an unofficial tradition to head over to Wal*Mart, walk the isles, check items on both top shelves and bottom shelves, Buy some Ammo (if they have some
)and basically practice NOT looking obvious. *
Why Wal*Mart?
*They're close by, they're gun friendly to those who are
Legally Carrying, most of the people there are sheep and will be more oblivious to if you're carrying than other places. (Baby Steps)
= = = = = =
You will learn not everyone can see the outline of your gun and not every movement flashes it.
You will learn not everyone is pointing at you - "He's got a gun!"
You will learn that the more you wear it, the more comfortable you will be with it. If you have a truly GOOD holster/belt combo, you will hardly notice it.
You will learn to "dress around the gun". Dark colors and patterns are your friend, as are loose-fitting shirts.
You will learn to not tug on the hem of your shirt every 5 minutes to assure yourself you're still concealed.
You will learn to stop constantly adjusting the holster. In fact, if the holster/belt is the proper fit, you won't need to.
You will learn to stop touching the butt with your elbow just to assure yourself that it's still in place.
You will learn to give a little extra clearance on your carry side.
You will learn to reach overhead with your weak-side hand.
You will learn to stoop or kneel rather than bend.
You will learn to move through crowds with your strong side to the rear.
You will learn to embrace low, to force your counterpart's arms/hands up, away from your piece.
