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January 3, 2013, 10:24 AM | #1 |
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Staying concealed while being very physically active
Hello all...I just want to see what new methods I can maybe pick up from various other people on the net. Ideas entirely new, ideas to incorporate into others to form my own. etc.
First off, I only carry full sized guns. Smallest I have is a Glock 19 and I mainly carry the following in no order. Glock 17 & 21 and SIG P226 & P220 at 4:00 IWB. When I'm running, bending down, moving, picking up something, etc. I cannot print. I can't begin to stress how much I cannot be printing. No small guns. They serve me no purpose, unfortunately. So what do you guys think I should do? New carry position? New holster included? A massive shirt doesn't help much and is like a musical curtain to lift up when drawing. I'm in Miami, so it is hot. It would look out of place with a sweater on. On the regular, I've always carried full sized and never had a problem in regular, average activities in public. But for this, it's entirely different. Any ideas? |
January 3, 2013, 10:50 AM | #2 |
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no go bro.
something's gotta give. either you need to go with a tiny gun, or you're going to have some printing.
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Favorite range gun for the money - CZ 75B or STI Spartan V 9mm Go-to carry setup - Walther PPS or PPQ in FIST kydex holster 1AK Favorite semi-auto design - HK P7 "A Sig is like a lightsaber - not as clumsy or random as a Glock." |
January 3, 2013, 11:04 AM | #3 |
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Damn...I had a feeling that was the case. Still hope someone has an alternative. I don't want a small gun.
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January 3, 2013, 11:05 AM | #4 |
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I carry a 642 or LC9 and it's a pain under some conditions. No way I could do a full size gun unless they start allowing open carry.
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January 3, 2013, 12:00 PM | #5 |
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Belly band or fanny pack.
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January 3, 2013, 12:03 PM | #6 |
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What is a smal gun?
I have a Sprinfield XDs which is a SMALL gun, but has a really big hole on one end. I feel very confident carrying this for its intended purpose. I would not envision a need to engae someone at 30 + yards, so this will work very fine for me.
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January 3, 2013, 12:28 PM | #7 | |
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January 3, 2013, 12:35 PM | #8 |
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January 3, 2013, 12:37 PM | #9 |
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it doesn't matter. you're still printing with a big gun. i used to use one while running, but i only had a pf9. i tried carrying the p-07. even that was way too big not to print heavily.
http://www.pistolwear.com/
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Favorite range gun for the money - CZ 75B or STI Spartan V 9mm Go-to carry setup - Walther PPS or PPQ in FIST kydex holster 1AK Favorite semi-auto design - HK P7 "A Sig is like a lightsaber - not as clumsy or random as a Glock." |
January 3, 2013, 12:39 PM | #10 |
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unless you want to wear dress shorts while you exercise...
http://www.ccwbreakaways.com/shorts/ these aren't considered legal holsters in most states where a holster is required.
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Favorite range gun for the money - CZ 75B or STI Spartan V 9mm Go-to carry setup - Walther PPS or PPQ in FIST kydex holster 1AK Favorite semi-auto design - HK P7 "A Sig is like a lightsaber - not as clumsy or random as a Glock." |
January 3, 2013, 12:40 PM | #11 |
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I too was going to suggest a belly band. Fanny pack would work too, but they're dorky, and basically scream, "GUN!" to anyone else who carries.
Is there a reason a small gun serves you no purpose? I am an advocate of carry the biggest gun you can conceal, but at times, that means a small gun. There are plenty of small guns in good defensive calibers, that are pretty easy to carry. Just a small list: J-Frame Revolver Ruger LCR Ruger LC9 XDS Glock 26/27/30/36/etc Kel-Tecs (many) Kahr's (many) ...and the list goes on and on. All on that list are at least 9mm/.38 SPL, and a few are even bigger, .357 Mag, .40, .45, etc. As far as what a Bellyband is, just do a Google search for Belly Band Holster. There are a bunch of companies that make them. I don't have one right now, but have used in the past. They work pretty well. Since I plan to start jogging again soon, I think I'm going to pick one up again since it'll be the easiest way to conceal something while running, I think. Massad Ayoob talks about them in several of his books. Their biggest drawback is they are difficult to reholster. But beyond that, they're very concealable, very confortable (relatively speaking, anyway) and usually relatively cheap ($20-$30 range). EDIT: By the way, what you're asking for is the holy grail of CCW. A full-size gun and holster combo that can be worn with basically any type of clothing, with any type of activity, without printing. If you can figure out a way to do that, you'll be a rich man. If not, *something* has to give. |
January 3, 2013, 12:45 PM | #12 |
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The ONLY method I've found works for me in active situations (concerts mostly..complete with "mosh pits") is pocket carry of a small gun.
My p-64 slips into my pocket and thats all she wrote...unless someone literally feels me up there's no way to tell I'm carrying.
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January 3, 2013, 12:58 PM | #13 |
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I am going to go out on a limb and assume you have difficulty shooting small guns, either due to hand size or lack of practice.
If so, you can get larger grips for many small guns (I have Altamont grips with little finger rest on my 442) that will still conceal well, and/or dry fire (with snap caps) is your friend. Can most of us shoot small guns as well as big guns? No. If nothing else, they will be slower for follow up shots. But some small guns are better than others. In my personal collection, the 442 and MK9 are easy to hide, yet still shoot well; the PPS may be the best compromise between deep concealability and shootability; and the P7 conceals pretty easily yet shoots amazingly well. I use a Mika pocket holster for the 442, a belly-band or IWB for the MK9, a Soteria Leather IWB for the PPS, or an Andrews Leather MacDaniel IWB for the P7. For your activities, given my guns, I would go with the MK9. If its weight were a problem (though that weight is a big advantage in recoil control) I would consider a PM9 or CM9. Then again, you might find a PPS comfortable in a belly band - I do not. But if I did, that would be the choice - it is much easier to shoot than the other small 9s, and easier to deep conceal than the P7. |
January 3, 2013, 01:47 PM | #14 |
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clothing items, constraints....
You seem to have a lot of constraints to put on members for selecting a holster(s). You may find a good system here; www.kramerleather.com www.glockstore.com www.usgalco.com . Lenny Magill sells a few items that could conceal a Glock 19 size pistol. 5.11 & a few other brands now have active wear garments too.
Clyde |
January 3, 2013, 03:18 PM | #15 | ||||||||||||||||
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Not to mention, I don't shoot them as well as I do a full sized gun. I only see them as BUG's. Quote:
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I'd much rather try the bell band with my P220 or at least the G19. Maybe even consider a commander style 1911 with an alloy frame. Quote:
I'll check out those sites after I hit "Sumbit Reply" here. 5.11 might have some good pants..But I don't know about my smallest G19 fitting anywhere in there. I saw one once with a pocket that was knee high. |
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January 3, 2013, 03:23 PM | #16 |
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I played a little softball last week with my J-frame 637 in a pocket holster in my cargo shorts (top pocket). I wouldn't like to slide on that side with the gun there, but other than that I didn't really notice it much at all.
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January 3, 2013, 03:28 PM | #17 | |
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I had a Model 642. Couldn't warm up to it. |
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January 3, 2013, 03:38 PM | #18 |
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I guess one question is how fast do you need to draw or is more just to have a gun with you. Check out Thunderwear. I have used this product and really like it. One draw back is trying to get it out of the way to well...drain the snake.
I carry sig 229 in thunderwear w/ no printing. |
January 3, 2013, 03:51 PM | #19 | |
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Depends on the situation. But if it's worst case scenario and I need to draw fast, I want to be able to deploy as fast as necessary. Draining the snake sounds like a pain with that thing in the way. This thing can easily be on for 12 hours + I'm seeing a tighter and tighter tunnel on what I have to stick to... |
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January 3, 2013, 04:38 PM | #20 |
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Just stuck this in my pocket. Wasn't bad at all.... |
January 3, 2013, 05:05 PM | #21 | ||||
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Just going to reply to your replies to me.
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I don't know exactly what you are going to be doing that will require you to have a lot of physical movement, etc. But, a BUG gun is better than no gun. I carry an LCR as a BUG, but I've carried it several times as a primary (for various reasons, that aren't relevant). Even with my huge hands, I actually really like this gun. I can get two fingers solidly on the grip, with my pinky curled under the grip. The Hogue Tamer grip it comes with is very large. It's smaller than I'd like, but then again, this is a purpose bought "compromise" gun. No one shoots a small gun as well as a large one. That is a given. But ask yourself, how much worse of a shot are you? At 15 yards, my 5 shot groups with my LCR are more or less an inch bigger than my G19. At 5 yards, you can't really tell a difference. If I have to engage at 15 yards, I'm not worried about that inch. Everyone is different, but I can only go off of my own experiences. Quote:
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What do you mean exactly that you can't do anything not full sized? Do you mean that you go from 3 inches at 15 yards to 12 inches at 15 yards? Or something else? I know a lot of people that feel a difference of a half inch at 15 yards is just too much. But in a defensive situation, that half inch means nothing. I guess I just want to know where your standard is here. Quote:
List everything that is important to you in this gun/holster that you want to use in the situation you're talking about. Then prioritize. Put a 1 next to the attribute that is most important, a 2 next to the next important and so on. This can really help you narrow down what you need to get. If not printing is the #1 priority, then you've basically knocked all larger framed guns off as a possibility. If having a large framed gun is #1 priority, then you will have to compromise on concealability. I wish there was a perfect solution, but reading what you're writing, I think you see there isn't and something is going to have to give. |
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January 4, 2013, 04:08 PM | #22 |
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Some of the larger Kahrs might work well. The smallest series probably not, but they have 3-4 different sizes. If I wanted to carry a full size gun my T9 would be just about the easiest of those i have handled.
There are the conversions of Glock compacts and full size to use the sub-compact slides and barrels. Always thought they were interesting and my fit your bill if you want a full size grip with a short barrel. The barrel length is never a concealment problem for me though. Would be interesting if Kahr made a full size grip with a short barrel as slim as they are. Of course, I think Beretta already has a few guns with grips that seem large for the barrel length. Not sure on their exact dimensions, only basing that comment on memory of their appearance. The only good way to conceal while active for me is a fanny pack. I used a runners pack with a little water bottle for a while. It had better support than most fanny packs so the gun didn't bounce as much and didn't look quite as dorky. Of course, I was using it while running. |
January 4, 2013, 04:46 PM | #23 |
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http://www.gunblast.com/Kangaroo.htm
http://www.gunblast.com/Badger.htm These may suit your needs....
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January 4, 2013, 04:50 PM | #24 |
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IMO when you're talking about carry guns generally you can look at the following 3 categories and pick any two:
If you absolutely cannot print, then you need a gun that can disappear. By definition, you're talking about a pocket gun like the LCP, (maybe) LC9, or similar size. If you can't accept a small gun, then you're going to have to accept some risk of printing. One of life's little trade-offs. |
January 4, 2013, 05:05 PM | #25 | |
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You may want to take a look at the following (each has + & -) - Ruger SR9c - Ruger LC9 - Kel Tec PF9 - Kel Tec P11 - Glock 26 If you are a larger guy, the LC9, PF9, & P11 can easily be back pocket carried in a DeSantis holster. Zero printing and fast draw, but it depends on the depth of your back pocket. It also gives you a slight diversional advantage. The SR9c is probably one of the thinest full-size capable pistols out there. It might be good for 5 or 7 O'clock carry IWB.
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