Seeking advice about holsters for j-frame

[Goffman]

Hi All:

I anticipate receiving my concealed pistol license in the next week or so, and I am trying to sort out some holster options for my S&W 340PD (j-frame centennial) that will require minimal adjustment in my manner of dress. I have on order two of Robert Mika's holsters: one pocket holster and one IWB holster that actually is for my wife's j-frame, but I am going to try it out to see how it fits/works for me (likely at the 1 o'clock position). I also am looking at a Galco SOB holster (to be carried at roughly the 5:00 or 5:30 position or thereabouts), which I understand to be controversial due to concerns about safety. However, I suspect that the SOB "style" of concealed carry (or something similar) may work well for me in the long run.

The downside of the outside-the-waistband SOB style of carry was that, in tests conducted last night, it appeard to me that I will be "printing" most of the time, which defeats my purpose. It did seem to me, though, that if I could find an IWB holster that is canted severely (like the SOB holster), that I can position much like an SOB holster (at roughly the 5:00 or 5:30 position), and that I can draw like an SOB holster, the pistol would be nearly invisible through much of my routine activity.

That said, would anyone have any suggestions about where I might find such a holster, that is IWB, canted severely, and that can be situated at roughly the 5:00 or 5:30 position?

In addition, I would welcome any and all suggestions or advice about other types of holsters that I should be considering? Concealment is a high priority to me, although anything that is too uncomfortable will wear on my nerves eventually and be left at home (an unwise choice, I know).

Any time that you can spare to offer advice on these questions would be appreciated greatly.

By the way, I am what I would consider to be fairly average in size, shape, and manner of dress: just under 6 feet, approximately 200 lbs., jeans, t-shirts or polo shirts, etc. I live in a colder climate, but I can't get away with wearing coats or other "covering" outer garments when I'm inside someone's home. I seem to know an inordinate number of people who love the phrase "take off your coat and stay awhile".

 

[flop-shank]

Goffman, if you wear your shirts untucket, my guess is that appendix carry will work well for you. I like it when I wear a J frame size gun IWB. Bell Charter Oak makes some nice deep drop, no cant IWB holsters that might be perfect.

As far as SOB goes, it goes without saying that you're thinking right by giving your spine a little fudge room, just make sure it's plenty. It would really suck if you got hurt.

As time and money allow, adding a P3AT, or similar small auto, to your line up will give you an option for even deeper concealment, as well a BUG. A second piece can also fill in if your primary is out for repair ect.

Keep in mind that as a new carrier, it feels like one's piece is sticking out like a sore thumb, but people just don't notice. A J frame can be hidden all over the place and almost all the time for most men.

One trick many of us use is to carry any new set up around the house before we hit the streets with it. It gives us a chance to figure out anything that's wrong with the system without anyone else figuring it out.

Good luck, and don't go anywhere that your mother wouldn't want you to go.

 

[gregintenn]

Pocket carry works as well for me as anything I've tried.

 

[Goffman]

Thanks for your reply, flop-shank. Like you, I live in Michigan, and I imagine that concealment won't be an enormous problem during the fall and winter. It's the warmer spring and summer months, when I may be wearing jeans and a t-shirt or polo, that I think might be challenging.

I tell you what...I hadn't given much thought to getting my CPL, but the recent turn of events in the economy and the seeming associated rise in crime has me a little bit concerned. (Or maybe I'm just reading the newspapers with a new sense of paranoia.) My wife had a CPL when I met her a few years ago, but she let it expire, which is one reason why I now do the paperwork/bills in our household. I got us both into a CPL class last month, calling it an "opportunity to spend some time together" and an "activity that we can share" (practice at the range)...true on both points by the way, although it pains me somewhat as a man that she can outshoot me with her eyes closed. (Truth be told, I'm glad that she can defend herself and quite proud of her, particularly when the CPL instructor holds up her target as the exemplar of "how to do it" for the rest of the class.)

At any rate, I appreciate your input a great deal. I will give the "appendix carry" a try around the house and see how it works. Maybe this will be the incentive I need to reverse the trend of my expanding gut. I will look into the Bell Charter Oak holsters as well. Likewise, as you suggested, I have my eye on a couple of small semiautos, which I'm gathering is one consequence of buying a first firearm: like power tools, no matter what you have, you always want/need one more.

Thanks again!

 

[Goffman]

Gregintenn, have you had any trouble with drawing your pistol when wearing jeans? I thought pocket carry was going to be the right option for me 99% of the time (Lord knows that the 340PD is small and light enough), but I'm finding that I'm a little slow on the draw from my front pocket. Maybe it's the jeans, or maybe I just need more practice.

 

[elcruisr]

Carrying that far back can result in a draw stroke that will sweep your hip and leg with the muzzle unless you train a lot and watch the motion.

Andrews makes a J frame McDaniel II IWB that is infinitely adjustable. But I still find 3:30 IWB is the fastest draw of all.

 

[P&R Fan]

I've had an IWB J-frame holster from Galco for a long time and have been very pleased with it. I've also used a Bianchi belly band quite a bit and have worn small and large handguns in total comfort, often under a tucked in shirt. I've never done SOB carry and have read some things about it that concern me, mostly the fact that if you were to fall on it you could really screw up your back. The other thing that has occurred to me is what if someone were to pat you on your lower back our put their arm around your waist? I'm around a lot of touchy feely people, women of course, and a gun carried SOB would be felt. When I'm carrying inside or outside waistband strong side at the 4:00 position I can keep my right arm low if I'm going to get hugged, their arm just goes shoulder high, no problem. When you're carrying you have to think about this stuff. I've been carrying for almost 25 years, and nobody has ever known.

 

[tbone2]

Might I suggest the Barami Hip Grip. I am almost identical to your proportions(minus 10 pounds) and mode of dress. It hides my 642 very, very well. Some folks like to add a Tyler T grip to it but I like it just fine by itself.

Check it out: Barami Hip Grip Concealed Pistol Revolver

 

[snowdog]

Well, I've got a galco summer comfort and I like it a lot. A have a S&W 642 Airweight and hardly know it's there 98% of the time. The draw is quick and good. Conceals very well, it's an IWB with snap around the belt for easy on and easy off. I also use a pocket holster, but let another person said, it's a little slow on the draw. Also, had/have a Blackhawk Serpico (SP?), it's an OSW holster, very quick draw and good retention. But printed easy, and scratched the finish on my 642 badly. Heres a tip for the galco summer comfort, to keep your gun in the same position all the time, put the holster belt snaps on either side of your pants belt loop. That way it doesn't slide around as much.

See ya,

Snowdoggie

 

[Iggy]

Elastic Bottomed (Banded Polo) shirts are a great aid to CC.

I use to use an IWB most of the time. I carried a Govt Model 1911 that way for years. As age crept up on me, I found that my chest had dropped to some extend and that OWB was more comfortable.

Even so, I can comfortably conceal a snub nosed K frame or a Commander sized 1911 with no problem.

J-frames literally disappear with a pancake style OWB holster, such as those from Simply Rugged.

Being a cowboy in Wyoming, in cooler weather, a western vest is just part of life and conceals most any reasonable gun in an OWB hoslter with ease.

As has been previously mentioned, when you first start to carry, you feel like everyone in the world can see that huge tumor on you hip.

But if you think about it, before you began to contemplate CC, how closely did you observe those around you with the thought of detecting a gun?

People just don't notice things like that, unless they are specifically looking for a gun.

I've been packing various guns in a concealed mode for over 40 years, and unless I have told them about it, even my friends and family are totally unaware that I have ever carried a gun in their presence.

Give it a couple of weeks and you too will become comfortable and confident in carrying a concealed weapon.

 

[gregintenn]

Gregintenn, have you had any trouble with drawing your pistol when wearing jeans? I thought pocket carry was going to be the right option for me 99% of the time (Lord knows that the 340PD is small and light enough), but I'm finding that I'm a little slow on the draw from my front pocket. Maybe it's the jeans, or maybe I just need more practice.

No sir, but I don't wear tight jeans. I used to wear Levi's, but someone turned me on to the CE Schmidt jeans sold at Tractor supply. They are much more comfortable, have slightly larger pockets, and are less than half the price of Levi's. I've had no problems with my 642 in my front pocket inside a $5 Uncle Mike's pocket holster.....and I make holsters!

 

[PDL]

You may want to take a look at Kholsters. They can be adjusted to a wide variety of cants etc. Don't be put off by the large leather on the bigger ones. Usually, once you find the angle/depth that works best; simply trim the excess if it's in your way.
Kholster

 

[zercool]

I carried my Bersa in a tuckable IWB from JMG HOLSTERS, and was very happy with it. Have the same model on order for my 642. I carry around 5:00 also; it's worked out well for me. If you don't need tuckable, they make a pretty strongly canted model that may work well too.

 

[flop-shank]

Goffman, don't worry about being able to hide that J frame in the summer. I have a muscular and slightly pudgy build of 5'7"/200 pounds. During the summer I often carry a 5" 629 (N frame .44 magnum) IWB at 3:30, an El Paso Saddlery belt slide with six more shots at 1:00, a Taurus 605 (2 1/4" J frame size .357) in the left front pocket and a NAA Black Widow .22 magnum in the right front pocket. I use busy patterned button down shirts (heavier fabric is better), carpenter's jeans, appropriate holsters and a 1 3/4" dual layer bullhide gun belt. No one notices, and the beauty of it is, the people who hate guns would be the last ones to spot one. While we're at it, there is no way I could carry all that stuff without a good belt, but a 340 should be fine with most any decent belt when carried IWB so long as the holster and the belt work well together.

Regarding pocket carry. There are situations that we as carriers sometimes see developing, I had one such incident at the end of September, where casually dropping the hands into the pockets allows us to begin the draw (aquiring the gun) before it is actually time to do so. Such a draw is the fastest there is. The knucklehead I ran into this past September, like pretty much all street people, knew exactly what those disappearing hands and stern look meant. He left for greener pastures. That's one reason I like a big powerful belt gun and a small hard hitter in the weakside front pocket. I use whichever one the situation calls for.

 

[Goffman]

Elcruisr, I am digging that McDaniel II IWB. Why don't all IWB holsters have an adjustable cant??? It's such a simple solution. Thanks for the suggestion!

Snowdog, does the Galco Summer Comfort holster place the cylinder above the beltline or below it? The picture on the Galco website leads me to believe that the cylinder is above the beltline, but the revolver pictured there is rather large (compared to a j-frame).

Iggy, thanks for your advice. I have been thinking about how I never noticed motorcycles until I started riding one about nine years ago. Now, I see them all the time (and note the make, model, etc.). If my perception were accurate, I would have to say that motorcycle ridership has grown 100-fold in the last nine years, which, of course, is ridiculous. It's just that I am interested in motorcycles, and have a schema for them, so now they "register" in my perceptual framework. I imagine firearms are pretty much the same.

Flop-shank, you are a one-man walking armory. I hope that you and I are living in the same MI city. I would like to think that my fellow residents and neighbors are armed...well, most of them anyway.

One last question: does anyone have both a j-frame with a 2.12" barrel (e.g., 60, 640) and a j-frame with a 1.87" barrel (e.g., 340, 642). I'm wondering if anyone has encountered instances in which a holster will fit one but not the other (given the 0.25" difference in length).

 

[gregintenn]

Yes. There are holsters that will not fit both models. Some of the J frame Smiths not only vary in barrel length, but have differently shaped ejector rod housings. Also I believe the cylinders on 357s are longer than the 38s.

 

[elcruisr]

Elcruisr, I am digging that McDaniel II IWB. Why don't all IWB holsters have an adjustable cant??? It's such a simple solution. Thanks for the suggestion!

One last question: does anyone have both a j-frame with a 2.12" barrel (e.g., 60, 640) and a j-frame with a 1.87" barrel (e.g., 340, 642). I'm wondering if anyone has encountered instances in which a holster will fit one but not the other (given the 0.25" difference in length).

You're welcome! I also use a K&D Thunderbird convertible IWB/OWB with adjustable cant for IWB. Both holsters handle both barrel links easily. I use them with bot a 638 and a 649.

 

[Electraclyde]

I also live in Michigan. Most of the time appendix carry in a AMBI holster works just fine. In the summer when it is shorts and T-shirt weather, I use a smart carry for the J-frame or pocket carry a .380 Kel Tec. Sometimes both. I have never been able to pocket carry a J-frame without it printing.

 

[Guevera]

Iggy on the first page mentioned holster maker Simply Rugged, and I'd like to second his recommendation of their pancake belt holsters. Perhaps even better for summer carry (providing summer ever gets here) is their pocket holsters. Many of these holsters I have tried are thick in their own right, just making the pocket seem more full. Simply Rugged makes theirs out of durable, think leather that conceals, but does not add to the bulk of the pistol. I find them absolutely the very best for a J frame in the front pocket of any pants. They're reasonably priced, too.

 

[cjw3]

I use a Galco for my M36:

Galco holsters; Holsters; Gun holster, pistol holsters, western holsters, shoulder holsters, leather holster and Glock holsters

I carry a Kel-Tec P3AT in a DeSantis Nemesis, which also is made for a J frame. I like it, too.