On the Waist or Under the Arm

I wouldn’t want to have to draw from a shoulder holster in a rapidly unfolding close contact situation while fending off an attack with your weak hand. Cops carry strong side for a reason.

Plenty of off-duty cops carry in a shoulder holster for a reason too.
 
I should probably stick with a shoulder while working, ...... and find a waist holster that works for me for when I'm off work. I've tried a lot of uncle mikes and really don't like them too much. .

You don't want to be changing where you carry. Your reach for your firearm should be a reflex, not an occasion to wonder where it is first. BTW, shoulder holsters are frequently referred to as "bras". You'll understand why many women hate their undergarments quickly.

Secondly, the nylon gun bags labeled as holsters by many makers aren't worth the money.
 
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Comfort is absolutely a secondary concern. Important, but not primary. Fast access to the securely holstered concealed hand gun is primary. All carry of a gun is going to involve some degree of discomfort.

If you don’t have a good belt and holster, you’re wasting your time trying to discover what will work for you.

Cheap/incorrect equipment = undesirable results.

Try AIWB. Plenty of info online.
 
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You'll end up with a box full of holsters that you've bought because there the next best thing ..

I wear IWB at about 4 and use a Garett Industries Single clip holster which I carry a Beretta PX-4 Sub Compact 13+1 ..

Pretty easy to carry with a t-shirt or light jacket covering below the waist line .. I'm retired so no dressing up any more .. A non gun logo t-shirt I find works very well because everyone is trying to read the logo across top of the shirt across one chest ..

Even in shorts as long as a sturdy belt is used my carry is invisible to all but the most observant .. During a class I took where 2 police officers were there neither realized I was carrying till told .. one asked what I was carrying and then to see how I was carrying when told I was carrying a Sig P229 Legion that day .. not a compact ..
So it can be done very easily .. If new to CC most are very sub conscious of the fact they have a gun on the waist .. while most people are too wrapped up with what hey are doing to even notice even if printing accidently ..

In Illinois our law states concealed or partially concealed but NO open carry .. so if you accidently show your weapon for any reason for a few seconds your not in violation of printing .. ..
 
Also dark colors conceal better than light colors.

...and clothing with a print or pattern, rather than just a solid color.


I have adequately concealed everything from a S&W Bodyguard to a Browning Hi Power under a loose fitting shirt, OWB.

If you are new to CCW it's most likely more YOUR self-consciousness than anything else.
Carry on. You'll be fine.
 
Since you said you like the size/weight of your J-frame, and you sit a lot, an ankle holster will work well. Slow draw if you're not seated, but comfortable and accessible (unless you're not very ambulatory). You could put another one in a pocket holster in your suit pocket as well. Personally, though, I'd get used to IWB and find the right place for you. The Crossbreed Bellyband is very comfortable, adjustable, quicker than expected, and concealable. I wear it frequently, especially under dress clothes.
 
Thanks for the info. I'm 5'9 about 200. I usually wear a suite for work. When off of work I typically wear jeans and t-shirt or a loose jacket when cold. The 9 was too heavy, so no point in going with that. I have a .38 J frame that's fairly heavy and fat. I was thinking of using my .308 Bersa. It's light and slim, but the handle still pokes out.

You don't say the 9 you have but if its too heavy you either have a bad holster and are not carrying it properly or the worst belt you can buy !! or both and some other reasons ..

I carry a Beretta PX-4 Sub Compact in 9mm 13+1 with spare mag off side .. I believe the pistol loaded with 14 rounds is 34 ounces .. worn at 4:30 on a 1 3/4 inch gun belt in a Beretta Summer Comfort Leather holster with adjustable cant ... No sag .. carried 24/7/367 .. if my feet are on the ground there is a pistol on my person ..
 
LOTS OF TRIAL & ERROR.

It's been my exp that "most" people don't notice squat. What with the phones & all the other claptrap people carry around today, a bulge could be from many things. Also IMO those that can & do "know" are other gun people. Here in the Gunshine state it's more a matter of, "oh it's probly just a gun". :D You may just be a bit overly self conscious about it. Don't keep patting yourself down, that is a big giveaway. You will very likely have to kick it up a notch (or several) from uncle Mikes for both belts/holsters, & end up with the BOX-O- HOLSTERS like most of us. Good luck.
 
Try the Simply Rugged pancake style holsters or slides, I use these for my 44 special with 4 in barrel and occasional my 45 acp worn at 4 o'clock. In summer a loose fitting t shirt or aloha shirt work well to conceal and I go everywhere with this combination.
I vote against a vest in summer. As soon as I spot one on a 101 degree day like we had yesterday I think the guy may as well wear a sign that says, I'm packing.
 
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I carry a J frame size Taurus M85 or S&W 360J in quality nylon holster with sweat guard (Cardini holsters) in Appendix position at 10-11 o’clock with 2 speed strips in pocket or in console tray when driving.Comfortable in all positions and great for car carry (put seatbelt behind grip). This is Three season carry with shirt cover. Winter is coat/pants pocket carry with jacket.
If suite or sport coat is required or desired a cross draw may work. There are ALOT of good suggestions on Google or YouTube.

Congrats on your Cal CCW!
 
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I've carried a sidearm of one sort or another for the last 38 years. Like most other people here, I've got dozens of holsters that were great in the store or in the catalog, but in real life they were a pain, sometimes literally. I discovered side snap holsters a few years ago, and that's pretty much the only holster I will wear anymore. Easy to put on, easy to take off, and comfortable. As in wear it all day and never notice comfortable. I've got one for a 4 inch N-frame that makes my Model 29 feel like a J-frame snubby. But, the best holster in the world ain't worth two hoots in a windstorm if you don't have a quality belt to wear it on. A quality holster, worn on a quality belt, will hide most any handgun under an untucked shirt or lightweight vest. I have a few different vests that I wear, none of them are the "tacti-cool" variety, just simple casual or dress type vests. I think the most expensive one I wear cost me a little less than 30 dollars and a thrift shop. Looks good with jeans or casual slacks.
 
Comfort is absolutely a secondary concern. Important, but not primary. Fast access to the securely holstered concealed hand gun is primary. All carry of a gun is going to involve some degree of discomfort.

If you don’t have a good belt and holster, you’re wasting your time trying to discover what will work for you.

Cheap/incorrect equipment = undesirable results.

Try AIWB. Plenty of info online.



Use enough gun. Leather by Bucheimer, Don Hume, Bianchi. Good, heavy belt increases comfort. Tough to go wrong. More uncomfortable to become a victim.

Right after I got my concealed carry shortly after it became legal in my state, my family and I went to a restaurant and were seated in a booth right near a table where four police officers were finishing up their dinners. My daughters and my wife were already in the booth when I sat down accompanied by a loud “thunk!” as the butt of my revolver hit the backrest through my jacket. I didn’t realize how loud it was until one of the officers leaned over, saying, “Happened to me my first time out, too. You’ll get used to it.” I thanked him and later re-evaluated how I carried. I don’t carry IWB or AIWB, so I moved my holster further forward to almost 3 o’clock, still concealed under my shirts or jackets, but less likely to “thunk!” or tent when I bend.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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To me the vests and fanny packs just scream "gun". Especially when the wearer has a Glock hat and/or Molon Labe t-shirt on as well!

I live a pretty low risk lifestyle, so I've always felt o.k. with a pocket gun of some sort.
 
Here is the way I carry. The leather holsters are from Wright Leather Works and are called the "Predator". I carry them on a Wrights leather gun belt or for shorts or cargo's I wear them on a Wilderness Instructor Belt with 5 rows of switching. With the proper belt these holsters will hug your body. A button type shirt left unbuttoned and un-tucked is all it takes.
Leather Concealed Carry Holsters & Belts | Wright Leather Works LLC

S&W Shield 003cf3 by Jerry Jaynes, on Flickr


S&W 442 OWB by Jerry Jaynes, on Flickr

For pocket carry that's a Mika' pocket holster. Great with cargo pants or shorts.
https://mikaspocketholsters.com/

Mika Pocket Holster by Jerry Jaynes, on Flickr
 
I'm going for my CA CCW and I've tried various CCW holsters; under the arm, outside the pants, inside waist band. The only one I haven't tried yet is a pancake holster. I've tried with with .22 semi, .38 revolver and 9mm simi. Everything still stands out like a soar thumb, you can tell I'm carrying. The only thing that seems to work is a 22 in my pocket. I'm not too happy with using a 22 for concealed carry for its lack of stopping power, and trying to pull from my pocket in an emergency can be a bit problematic. I would like some suggestions on this. Is there something I haven't tried? Thanks for the input.

S & W .380 Bodyguard or the small Taurus pop-up barrelled .22 auto in a good leather pocket holster is what works for me.
Buy pants with deep front pockets with wide openings, that are made with good medium or heavy duty pocket drill material. After a few days carrying like that you will forget you have it on you.
Don't worry about the smaller calibers. They do better than many would have you think.
Nobody wants to get shot with anything.
 
I carried a S&W Model 36 2 inch for 50 years! Now I went to pocket carry of a S&W Bodyguard. Absolutely fantastic carry piece.

Now for under the arm or on the belt question, both places are fine and practical. Never carry on the ankle!!!!! No way to draw quickly, especially if you are running!

You should see the shock and awe look on a bad guys face when that BG 380 comes put of the pocket and that laser hits them in the eyes.:eek::eek: PRICELESS!
 
Find a gun that you can shoot effectively repeatedly and dress around the gun. It may take a while for you to find a method of carry that suits you but don’t give up. You may end up with a drawer full of holsters like the rest of us but that’s how it goes.
 
FWIW I carry my LC9 in a Galco pocket holster a lot in the summer when I'm wearing loose shorts & T-shirts.

I carry the LC9 in a Targus brand hybrid holster (leather base with a kydex shell) IWB @ 4:00 most of the rest of the time. For any holster a good belt is essential, just as others have said.

I own a few shoulder rigs, but I am so barrel chested that they don't work very well for me. Th gun causes my arm on that side to "hang" farther away from my body on that side - kind of gives me a one-sided "gorilla" stance.

I've ankle carried with a holster inside my cowboy boot, but most ankle holsters are uncomfortable IMO.
 
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