summer carrry

[sawlog]

hello, I was wanting to know what and how you cc in the warmer weather. in the summer I wear untucked tshirt and jeans. am I going to be able to cc iwb on my hip?
if im just walking you cant see my gun, shirts just falls over it.
but if I bend down to pick up my son then you can see the grip outline and the bump out in my belt from gun and holster.
is pocket carry a better option for summer?
thank you

 

[wittmeba]

IWB or OWB carry should work with the right over-shirt.

You may need to experiment with holsters to determine which won't print or print the least by wearing and have someone advise you if it prints. I'm having a similar problem with the grip heal sticking out too far and looking for a holster that turns the grip more toward my body.

Problem - Most stores I've seen have their holsters wrapped in this new modern plastic and to try one on might require destroying the packing (I hate that stuff). Unless you can find a place where they have several out on display that you can try.

There are Tuckable IWB holsters if you wanted to tuck in your t-shirt. Don't know if that might help or not - might keep it from actually being seen but may still print.

I can't speak to pocket carry...never tried it. That will likely depend on what gun you plan to carry.

Here is a list of most holster mfgs sites:
http://gotnarcosis.com/brucewittmeier/technical/Holstersjs.html

 

[Protected One]

Pocket carry is an option (depending on what gun you carry), and one that I exercise regularly with a bodyguard 380. But there are times when my pockets are not as deep as I'd like, or I'm carrying a larger gun so I switch to IWB.
No reason you can't carry IWB in what you wear. A darker shirt helps keep the printing to a minimum, and wearing a shirt a size bigger won't hurt. You might want to "stoop"(think, lift with your legs) instead of bending over at the waste. In any event...people aren't paying as much attention to us as WE think they are, so relax, and enjoy your "protected" life.

 

[Packard]

It depends upon what kind of concealment you are seeking.

I saw a young woman carrying (probably a Glock 19) under a skin tight lycra top. It complied with NY's carry concealed requirement (it was concealed) but it let everyone looking at her know that she was carrying a pistol. That was her choice.

A tee-shirt is a poor choice if you want to keep the gun unknown to the public.

A golf shirt is too.

A camp shirt can be very effective in concealing if left un-tucked.

Hawaiian shirts too, but they tend to have shorter tails.

I am always amazed that people spend so much effort (and money) trying to find the ultimate concealment holster and then sabotage that effort by wearing a tee-shirt.

A camp shirt is nearly as casual as a tee shirt and will conceal a weapon on the hip nearly as well as an inside the waistband holster.

If I wear a tee-shirt I also wear a summer vest from Duluth--it has plenty of pockets and it will completely hide any gun that is covered by the tee shirt.

But if all you want to do is comply with state law, then an UnderArmour skin tight will work fine. (And we can all try to guess what brand of gun you have under that UnderArmour.)

Here is my summer vest: Men's Lightweight Working Man's Utility Vest - Duluth Trading

Here is UnderArmour shirt: http://www.essentialapparel.com/images/detailed/1236228_black__1.jpg

 

[soccerguy83]

You also need to not stick out in my oppinion and the only people here in Va that wear a vest like that are CC. Sticks out like a sore thumb.

 

[BaaBaa]

2 Comments:

On the bending over, get used to squatting down first keeping your back straight, better for your back and weight lifting in general and also prevents inadvertent printing.

Second on the vests or other cover garments, IMO the key is not significantly changing what you wear. If people are used to seeing you in one style and you make slow modifications to that to accommodate your new protection they won't see it as a significant change. Key is do it slowly.

For example I went from wearing t-shirts and a thin over shirt to t shirts and a slightly thicker light shirt, to one that is darker colored to one that is patterned. Now it's hard to tell if I am carrying and the change is not so significant. Plus I wear that all the time, no matter whether I am carrying or not. (I can't carry if I have to go in to the post office for example)

 

[Hodgin]

Good suggestions. My primary carry is a 9c in an owb holster. When concealment is an issue (often in summer) I'll normally carry my BG 380 in a pocket holster but occasionally in an IWB or OWB holster. OWB is my favorite but I have to have enough bagginess in my shirt to allow it. With my gut that's a problem more than not.

A primary disadvantage of pocket carry, aside from difficulty of getting it out of the pocket when setting, is that I lose the use of my strong side pocket. I always use a holster and never put anything else in my pocket when carrying.

 

[The Big D]

Easy.

Remora IWB and a j-frame...or reasonably sized auto loader.

I carry a j-frame in the summer (fall, winter, spring, too) and a j-frame damn near disappears when wearing ANY shirt tucked or not.

Be safe.

 

[sawlog]

thanks for the comments, the j frame I have is a model 60 pro. if I decide to pocket carry I was thinking smaller da j frame or a kahr 9mm

 

[OldAFVet]

Every time I think I see someone's gun, it starts ringing.

 

[shouldazagged]

I've pocket carried for about sixteen years, nearly all that time a 640 in a pocket holster--DeSantis Nemesis or Uncle Mike's pocket model. If anyone has ever spotted that I was carrying nothing has been said about it. I'm not constructed well for IWB to be comfortable, and can't afford all new pants anyway.

 

[franzas]

I wear jeans and a buttondown shirt pretty much all year round. Untucked will cover anything IWB or a snubnose in a high ride OWB. Sometimes I wear a t-shirt. Usually when I bend over or get out of the car the t shirt will get tucked behind the butt of the revolver. I just fix the shirt. Exposing the butt of your gun for a second Isn't a big deal to me. Chances are no one will notice.

 

[islamoradamark]

practice see what works for you i just dont bend over . bend your legs and not your back to pick things up. Y stay covered up a little bit better just my opinion

 

[mikey98e]

In the summer I carry a 638 AIWB and have no problems using just a tee shirt to cover. Since the gun is in front, bending poses no problem. I've carried this way all day in the car and at the movies without any pain.
-mike

 

[Iron]

I'm 6', 175 lbs; so I don't have a lot of "padding" on my hips. My EDC's are a Glock 23 or one of my 1911s. Sticking one of them inside my pants & cinching a belt tight over them is not comfortable for me. I have a whole box full of IWB holsters that I've tried to tolerate to prove it.

I've been using OWB Raven Concealment Phantom holsters for years. A black Harley t-shirt covers them well in the Summer. Patterned shirts work even better. If you're into Hawaiian shirts, you can hide a Remington 870 under them & nobody would notice.

I'm retired LE, so I don't much care if my handgun prints or even fully reveals itself. People are so immersed in texting or other ****, that they don't even notice. My wife tells me it's because I look so unfriendly that nobody wants to confront me, but I think it's just that people have no situational awareness.

 

[Philadelphia Patriot]

Just remember that a good gun belt can make or break your concealed carry technique. You can have a small firearm and excellent holster, but if you have a poor quality belt then the whole system can fail. There are many options out there, but I personally use a Jake Belt by Theis Holsters. I recommend any leather belt that is made with two pieces of leather sown together, and a piece of polymer in between those two pieces of leather if you are carrying a heavy (metal-framed) firearm. If you are like me and wear your t-shirts untucked, then look into buying size tall t-shirts. Not all tall-sized shirts will make you look gangsta. I'm 6'0" and the tall sized Cabela's t-shirts conceal my firearms perfectly, and I look normal. I don't find iwb holsters too comfortable, so I usually carry owb. I never had my firearm exposed while wearing one of these shirts. Also PA is an open carry friendly state so it really doesn't matter if my firearm is accidentally (or purposely) exposed while carrying...even if it's not sociably acceptable.

If all else fails, just get a S&W Bodyguard 380 or Ruger LCP. Everybody can comfortably pocket carry those in just about any pair of pants.

 

[snubbyfan]

I carry a 442 year 'round either in my pocket or on my belt.
In the summer it's usually in the pocket of my Dollar General cargo shorts.

 

[NCW Ray]

Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall, same weapon, same holster, same carry location. I don't play the musical gun/holster/position game...same way all the time.

Oh and my carry is a M&P40c in a Bianchi Model 135 at about the 3:30 position.

 

[Biggfoot44]

All together now , "Dress Around the Gun" . You don't have to look exactly the same as everybody around you , or what you wore last week. You have to look not substantially out of place for your setting. That might involve dressing either one step dressier , or one step more casual than you did last week.

If you are packing heat , presumably you are a grownup over 21. Grownups don't go about in public in gym shorts and T shirts.

Even in the middle of summer a pair of cargo shorts , and an untucked if not unbuttoned sport shirt , Hawaiian , short sleeve work shirt , etc doean't look out of place.

My usual preference in general is for shirts on the loose side, so I'm halfway there. Regular people can use Tall shirts. The already tall need to search for the really long tails . ( Hint - Dickies brand ) .

"Just" a tee shirt is tricky. It really depends on one's body shape. Some can do it , others are inherently out of the question.

 

[oldguyshoot]

Save yourself the worry and hassle. Constantly having to check or worry if your carry weapon is showing reduces your situational awareness. You should be aware of everyone BUT yourself.

If it's warm enough for a tshirt it's warm enough for shorts, and shorts will get you decent pocket carry. If it's cool enough to need jeans, don't wear a t-shirt. This simple wardrobe combo rules will leave your mind free to think of better topics, like the family fun at hand