The secret to more than a pocket gun for summer carry, wear a shirt.

[AK103K]

Originally Posted by TXAZ

Yea, right.
I'm not comfortable carrying there. Besides, it's already pretty crowded.

Yea, thats the typical response from those who dont understand how they work.

To bad too. Youre missing out on one of the most versatile and concealable holsters out there. Best thing about them is, you dont have to limit yourself to second and third line back up guns.

[TXAZ]

Originally Posted by AK103K

Yea, thats the typical response from those who dont understand how they work.

To bad too. Youre missing out on one of the most versatile and concealable holsters out there. Best thing about them is, you dont have to limit yourself to second and third line back up guns.

Actually AK,
I have tried one a couple years ago. Too cramped.
But my son in law like you swears by it.

[Bill DeShivs]

Trench coat.

[JohnKSa]

Yea, thats the typical response from those who dont understand how they work.

I've carried using an almost identical method for as long as it's been legal to CCW in TX. It is absolutely, hands down, my least favorite method of carry in every way (comfort, ease of draw, comfort, reholstering, comfort, size of gun I can carry--and comfort) and I only use it when I can't carry any other way.

Did I mention I find it uncomfortable?

It was the first way I ever carried concealed, and I still do it on a regular (though infrequent) basis. Just carried that way today for 8 or 9 hours, as a matter of fact.

I'm carrying a small, sleek, single-stack .380 with that method and I've modified the gun so that the side that's towards me has been melted somewhat. Still uncomfortable.

It is a very useful carry method, but the only way I could see it being comfortable would be if I were wearing pants way too big for me. Absolutely no way I would consider carrying anything bigger than my little .380 that way.

[AK103K]

Originally Posted by JohnKSa

I've carried using an almost identical method for as long as it's been legal to CCW in TX. It is absolutely, hands down, my least favorite method of carry in every way (comfort, ease of draw, comfort, reholstering, comfort, size of gun I can carry--and comfort) and I only use it when I can't carry any other way.

Did I mention I find it uncomfortable?

It was the first way I ever carried concealed, and I still do it on a regular (though infrequent) basis. Just carried that way today for 8 or 9 hours, as a matter of fact.

I'm carrying a small, sleek, single-stack .380 with that method and I've modified the gun so that the side that's towards me has been melted somewhat. Still uncomfortable.

It is a very useful carry method, but the only way I could see it being comfortable would be if I were wearing pants way too big for me. Absolutely no way I would consider carrying anything bigger than my little .380 that way.

Hey, if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. The only way to really know though is to give it a try like anything else. Most of the negative comments come from those who have never used one. Youre actually the first that Ive heard that has, that had a negative experience.

These are not "belly bands" either, and not worn like one.

I wear one mostly at work during the summer, for 10-12 hour workdays, and I work actively outdoors in heavy construction, so Im moving around a lot doing physical things.

I wear my normal pants (Carhartt or Dickies carpenter jeans) of the proper size, and find it to be very comfortable. I dont "upsize" my clothing when I carry, with this, or my IWB holsters.

As with anything, it takes a little getting used to and "break in" so to speak. Anything new is rarely instantly perfect. I didnt find this to be any harder than anything else, but, it is different.

As I said, these days, I normally carry a Glock 26 with a 17 reload in mine. I started out with a Seecamp thinking only a small gun would be possible, which I was wrong. Once I tried the 26, I realized pretty quick, it didnt have to be.

The largest Ive carried has been a SIG P239, and a Glock 19. And yes, the larger you go, the looser the pant the better. A looser office or dress type pant, thats looser, with a more full cut through the front, does work better with near full-size guns.

But hey, if youve given it a try and it doesnt work for you, it doesnt work. I think we probably all have or have had holster boxes full of things that didnt.


One thing here too, dont confuse the Smart Carry holsters with the Thunderwear. Ive owned both, and the Thunderwear is not the same product.

They look similar, but the quality of the Thunderwear isnt there, and I would not carry a loaded Glock or similar handgun in one. They are made with thinner material, and I was able to trip the trigger on my Glock through it almost right away just massaging the holster with the gun in it.

I tried hard to do the same thing with the Smart Carry, and wore one around for about a year with an empty chamber and going about my daily routine, and have never been able to get the trigger to trip with the Smart Carry.

[Cheapshooter]

Smart Carry.

www.smartcarry.com

You can carry handguns that are a lot bigger than you might expect, and you can do it in shorts, without a shirt if you want.

Its also a lot quicker and easier to get to the gun, especially when seated.

Don't see how that can even be easily accessible. If I don't wear a belt, a lot more than my ccw weapon won be concealed. So how in the world do you access your firearm with a belt?

[P5 Guy]

Old, fat, half crippled and retired. I wear black socks with sandals and carry in a fanny pack. Regular folks pay me no mind. Criminal types pay to much attention and I notice they do.

[AK103K]

Originally Posted by Cheapshooter

Don't see how that can even be easily accessible. If I don't wear a belt, a lot more than my ccw weapon won be concealed. So how in the world do you access your firearm with a belt?

Just suck your gut in a little and slip your hand behind it. The gun is right there. Its easily done one-handed too.

[Ed4032]

This is why we can't have nice things... I have to wear a shirt???

[TXAZ]

There's one other point that hasn't been said, so I'll say it:

An accidental discharge in a 3 or 9 o'clock OWB holster might be embarrassing, and possibly ventilate your pant leg.

An accidental discharge in a 3 or 9 o'clock IWB holster might give you a nasty burn on your leg or a flesh wound, and ventilate your pants.

An accidental discharge in a 6 o'clock IWB might make sitting painful for a month.

BUT, an accidental discharge with a smartcarry holster could end your career as an exotic dancer, husband, daddy-to-be, bass vocalist and porn star.

(Did I mention it's already over-crowded down there )

[AK103K]

Originally Posted by TXAZ

There's one other point that hasn't been said, so I'll say it:

An accidental discharge in a 3 or 9 o'clock OWB holster might be embarrassing, and possibly ventilate your pant leg.

An accidental discharge in a 3 or 9 o'clock IWB holster might give you a nasty burn on your leg or a flesh wound, and ventilate your pants.

An accidental discharge in a 6 o'clock IWB might make sitting painful for a month.

BUT, an accidental discharge with a smartcarry holster could end your career as an exotic dancer, husband, daddy-to-be, bass vocalist and porn star.

(Did I mention it's already over-crowded down there )

LOL. NO.

Again, another common and misunderstood thought, and from a lack of experience and understanding.

Your "firearm" in a Smart Carry, never points at your "gun".

[zincwarrior]

Originally Posted by DaveBj

A loud Hawaiian shirt (worn outside the britches) covers a multitude of sins

D

This. Beware the Hawaiian shirt Mafia!

[Bill DeShivs]

No Glock in
my jock!

[zincwarrior]

Originally Posted by TXAZ

Actually AK,
I have tried one a couple years ago. Too cramped.
But my son in law like you swears by it.

I carry an M&Pc. I do not see how that works, nor how you draw from it quickly.

Whats the draw time with that? If it takes longer than 1.5 seconds I don't consider that appropriate IF there are other options.

[AK103K]

Its pretty quick. Not as fast as a belt holster, but faster than drawing from a pocket.

Its a deep concealment holster, and not a race rig, so you need to understand that and address it in how you plan on using it.

What it will do is, allow you to have a realistic gun where you couldnt otherwise.

And the only way to know how they work, and how well they work, is to actually use one and see. Most all the negative comments, come from those who never have.

[zincwarrior]

Originally Posted by AK103K

Its pretty quick. Not as fast as a belt holster, but faster than drawing from a pocket.

Its a deep concealment holster, and not a race rig, so you need to understand that and address it in how you plan on using it.

What it will do is, allow you to have a realistic gun where you couldnt otherwise.

And the only way to know how they work, and how well they work, is to actually use one and see. Most all the negative comments, come from those who never have.

How does it do what an IWB cannot, but much more slowly?

Also how is that better than an appendix carry option, which can be drawn much faster?

[Cheapshooter]

For much of my deep concealment my Kahr CM 9 in a DeSantis pocket holster is quite "realistic". For deeper concealment my LCP would be "realistic" in the eyes of an attacker.
However, in most cases even a T shirt conceals my Sig P320 Carry IWB well enough that nobody notices.

[AK103K]

Originally Posted by zincwarrior

How does it do what an IWB cannot, but much more slowly?

Also how is that better than an appendix carry option, which can be drawn much faster?

You can carry something like a Glock 26 in a pair of shorts and no shirt, and in NPE's. The latter being the main use for mine.

And while it may be a bit slower (and its really not all that slow), it also doesnt look like youre going for a gun, so there are offsets to the speed only thing.

Its not better than AIWB, which I normally use, EXCEPT for those times you cant.

You seem to be misunderstanding the purpose of the holster here. Its not a replacement for what I consider primary/preferred carry(AIWB/IWB), but it does let you carry a realistic gun, when you normally wouldnt be able too carry otherwise.

[zincwarrior]

I am trying to figure out when you normally wouldn't be able to otherwise. Maybe thats the item that needs clarity.

[AK103K]

Originally Posted by zincwarrior

I am trying to figure out when you normally wouldn't be able to otherwise. Maybe thats the item that needs clarity.

Im not allowed to carry at work. Company property and sites are an NPE, as well as many of the places we work.

Winter is no big deal, as I usually have a sweatshirt, and/or a pair of bibs on.

Summer is a tucked-in, and often, untucked tee shirt.

While I do often just wear an untucked tee over my AIWB normally in the summer when not at work, with the type of work I do, it wouldnt work. Im around to many people doing too many physical things all day. The first time I used my shirt to wipe the sweat off my face, or did anything that would cause my shirt to go above my belt, Id be at risk with any holster that puts the gun above the belt.

Using a SC, I could actually take my shirt off if I wanted, but OSHA and company policy (OSHA driven) frowns on that, so thats not happening. But, if I werent working in that atmosphere, I could easily do that, and no one would be the wiser to me being armed.

Another plus to the SC is, it protects the gun from you and the environment, and you from the gun, better than any other concealed type holster Ive ever used, and Ive used most types at some point. I get no dirt, dust, and other assorted crap in the holster or gun, like I do with a belt holster. The backing on it is water/sweat proof, so, if I were to carry a gun that might rust, its not an issue.

[camsdaddy]

What I have found is the Smart Carry allows me to carry a Glock 26 or Glock 19 with a tucked shirt without any visible clips or bulges. I just suck in my gut and slide my hand in and around and remove. If I am able to untuck my shirt I can carry a little higher normally in the belt line.
As for safety. I have inserted an unloaded gun and tried to pull the trigger. I feel very safe.

[Cheapshooter]

I'm not comfortable carrying there. Besides, it's already pretty crowded.

And people are concerned about back injury from a fall with small of the back carry!

[AK103K]

Originally Posted by Cheapshooter

And people are concerned about back injury from a fall with small of the back carry!

Id be worried more about that than any kind of fall with a SC.

And look at it this way, it would act like a "cup" of sorts if you just happened to get kneed there.

[zincwarrior]

Originally Posted by AK103K

Im not allowed to carry at work. Company property and sites are an NPE, as well as many of the places we work.

Winter is no big deal, as I usually have a sweatshirt, and/or a pair of bibs on.

Summer is a tucked-in, and often, untucked tee shirt.

While I do often just wear an untucked tee over my AIWB normally in the summer when not at work, with the type of work I do, it wouldnt work. Im around to many people doing too many physical things all day. The first time I used my shirt to wipe the sweat off my face, or did anything that would cause my shirt to go above my belt, Id be at risk with any holster that puts the gun above the belt.

Using a SC, I could actually take my shirt off if I wanted, but OSHA and company policy (OSHA driven) frowns on that, so thats not happening. But, if I werent working in that atmosphere, I could easily do that, and no one would be the wiser to me being armed.

Another plus to the SC is, it protects the gun from you and the environment, and you from the gun, better than any other concealed type holster Ive ever used, and Ive used most types at some point. I get no dirt, dust, and other assorted crap in the holster or gun, like I do with a belt holster. The backing on it is water/sweat proof, so, if I were to carry a gun that might rust, its not an issue.

Ok, this is a helpful clarification.

[IDisposable]

For deep conceal of my Kahr S9, been very happy with my Urban Carry G2. Very comfortable and quick to draw.