[Meta4]

I'm currently preparing to take my Michigan CCW class and thought I'd solicit some opinions on carry options.

Due to the nature of my usual clothing, I'm having trouble figuring out how/where I should carry. I wear `business casual' clothing 99% of the time when I'm out of the house, which consists of a dress shirt, slacks, belt, and tie. I don't wear a coat outside of two or three minutes of transit here and there, so I seem to be pretty limited as far as holster options.

Can you reasonably conceal and IWB holster with dress slacks? Can you still draw reasonably well with a dress belt on?

One of the local gun shops carries a product called "Pager Pal," which is an IWB holster that sits completely below the beltline. A fake pager sits at the beltline that is used to "pull up" the holster and make the gun accessible.

I've never met anyone that has used such a thing, nor can I find any reviews of the product online or in print, and I'd hate to drop $40-$50 on a product that I won't like or isn't constructed very well.

Being a computer geek, I spend most of the day sitting down. Will an IWB holster be comfortable? I can't imagine how it would be comfortable after sitting for so long.

I know ankle holsters aren't good in defensive situations, but I'm wondering if that might not be the best option for me?

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[DigMe]

Tuckable holsters can vary in the effectiveness of concealment according to the specific pants and shirt you wear. Some of my shirts conceal a tuckable holster very well while others make it looks like I have a large waist tumor at 4 o'clock. I like my tuckable holster a lot and it does work well with the right clothes...I just have to know which shirts to wear or not wear with it. If you want to carry every day and have to tuck-in every day I'd consider other options such as a belly band, a smartcarry holster (www.smartcarry.com), a Kramer Confidant shirt holster or a small pocket gun with pocket holster. Belly band or smartcarry (if it works for you) might end up being your best option. Smartcarry didn't work for me but it does seem to work for most people that try it. They have a 60 day trial period.

I've heard of people having problems with the pager pal. Do a search for "pager pal" over at www.thehighroad.org or www.thefiringline.com and you'll find multiple discussions of it.

brad cook

 

[wJAKE19]

I would have to recomend a belly band like the one made by Galco. I have never used one but I do have other galco holsters and they are one of the best.
keep looking and I am sure other people one here will have more ideas.

 

[Eric Larsen]

Wearing Casual Dress and carrying is a toughy. You have your shirt tucked in all of the time...so you need deep concealment.

The Pager Pal works for 5% of those who try it....simply put, its a good idea in theory but not in practice. At least not with me or alot of people I know who have tried it. Personally Ive broken 12 or so, pagers just practicing drawing with the damn things.....you must practice with your carry as it must become second nature to you. In a STRESS/BG situation the last thing you want to do is forget where your gun is...........!!!!!!!!!

Pocket carry/Belly band/Tuckable holster is the way, IMO, you need to think about this.

IWB carry will show the butt of the gun above the belt line....It is very comfy while sitting as long as you have the right holster in the right carry location.
MOST or 80-90% of the holsters I make for people carry Strong side right behind the hip or right at the side..this creates comfort while sitting/standing/walking etc. There is no rule..just what works for most people and its likely to work for you too, just for that reason.

A tuckable holster is just an IWB that you tuck your shirt around. This does increase the draw time but deeper concealment is a trade off. Its all in the practice time you dedicate to carrying in YOUR SPECIFIC situation.

Good luck.......BTW, you never stated what gun you are gonna carry..this would be helpful.........

Shoot well and good luck.......If you need "in depth help" you can get my contact information and Ill do my best to help you sort this out. Even if you dont get a holster from me.......fair enough?????? Eric

 

[cybrus]

I too am a computer geek - spend 90% of my driving a desk. I wear Dockers every day with a standard dress belt from Sears. I wear standard dress button-down shirts, but I do NOT tuck them. I also carry my subcompact every day with a CTAC IWB holster at 3 o'clock. For the first week or so it was a bit uncomfortable, but after that, I barely even notice that I have it on anymore. If you can get away with not tucking in your shirt, the CTAC holster is what I would recommend. Or, if you want leather, get The Answer from Tucker - almost an identical holster.

 

[ssmithfam]

This is a good topic for me as well. I'm a new member of the forum, and glad I found it. I've been wanting an XD for a couple years now, and finally sprung for a (slightly) used XD Tactical in .40 S&W at a very good price. It's a little long for easy concealment, but slightly shorter than a stock 1911, so I'm hoping I can get something to work.

I've discovered that the 5" barreled Tactical can fit in a Fobus belt or paddle holster if you adjust the tension screw. It does leave about 1" below the bottom of the holster, and, in my case, it hangs too low below jackets, etc.

I'm a pretty big guy (read "fat") 6' tall and 275 lbs. I've used belt holsters with some of my other guns-- a S&W 410 namely, but the shape of the lower side of my abdomen doesn't lend itself to keeping a belt up. It sounds like a belly band might be the best for me.

As for the Pager Pal, I only know one fellow that uses it, and he likes it, although he carries an H&K .380. He's also slender and broad shouldered, and it conceals and draws fairly well... FWIW

Regards,

 

[mermaidchaser]

I have carried my XDSC in a Kramer confidant shirt holster many times, it's comfortable and concealed, only drawback is it is not designed for quick draw or presentation, but i figure if i need my weapon, i'll sacrifice the buttons on my shirt to get at it quickly(pull open Clark Kent style). Better to have the weapon and not need it than need it than not have it. Good luck with whatever you choose. (additional advantage to teh Concidant, can be right or left handed and opposite side can carry spare mag)www.kramerleather.com

 

[bgf]

I'll have to find out where he got it, but a buddy of mine has a 'daytimer 'holster.It looks like an organizer, but hollow & padded. Carry in you hand, no one the wiser,,,,,,as long as they don't ask to borrow paper,,

Mine, I carry IWB and let the shirttail "puff" over the handle,,but I'm casual 99% of the time..


B.G.

 

[DigMe]

I'll have to find out where he got it, but a buddy of mine has a 'daytimer 'holster.It looks like an organizer, but hollow & padded. Carry in you hand, no one the wiser,,,,,,as long as they don't ask to borrow paper,,

Mine, I carry IWB and let the shirttail "puff" over the handle,,but I'm casual 99% of the time..


B.G.

Many people including myself don't like the idea of off-body carry. There's a much greater risk of leaving it somewhere, getting separated from it when needed, having someone else discover it, etc...

brad cook

 

[bgf]

Oh, I agree, Brad. I changed the way I dress to accomodate.
Can't do the fanny pack thing , either,, has to be ON me.

B.G.

 

[bgf]

BTW,,, cool pup!

B.G.

 

[HVAC-TEK]

Im a small woman, but I am able to carry a service 40 on me using a tuckable and the gun basically disapears. My tuckable seem to tilt the back of the slide inward to the body. this digs the gun into the ribs. Im going to get a belly band next week to see if thats more comfortable for all day carry.

 

[DigMe]

BTW,,, cool pup!

B.G.

Thanks! She's bigger now but still cute as ever. We're probably going to get a male boxer this summer.

brad cook

 

[bgf]

The Pager Pal works for 5% of those who try it....simply put, its a good idea in theory but not in practice. At least not with me or alot of people I know who have tried it. Personally Ive broken 12 or so, pagers just practicing drawing with the damn things.....you must practice with your carry as it must become second nature to you. In a STRESS/BG situation the last thing you want to do is forget where your gun is...........!!!!!!!!!

Someone gave me one last week,Itried it once, breifly; it did not feel right.
I'm not impressed with the construction, and for me, it is way too hard to get to my weapon.


(Brad, mine died about 2 yrs ago,, I'm ready for another)

B.G.

 

[Meta4]

I'll be carrying an XD40 in 4". Thanks for all the insightful replies! Since IWB isn't really an option (because I don't wear anything that would cover it), it appears I'm mostly limited to a belly band or something similar.

I'm not familiar with "tuckable" holsters. Are these similar in concept to the "Pager Pals" in that they're fully concealed without a cover garment?

-James

 

[DigMe]

I'll be carrying an XD40 in 4". Thanks for all the insightful replies! Since IWB isn't really an option (because I don't wear anything that would cover it), it appears I'm mostly limited to a belly band or something similar.

I'm not familiar with "tuckable" holsters. Are these similar in concept to the "Pager Pals" in that they're fully concealed without a cover garment?

-James

yeah, they're like a pager pal but without the pager. It just has a clip that goes over the belt and you tuck your shirt in over the holster...between the clip and the holster.

Don't forget to look into smartcarry. It seems to work for a lot of people and they have a 60 day trial. You'd only be out the shipping cost. I still think that possibly the best option for you..the one that would probably always work regardless of dress is a pocket pistol in a pocket holster. Some kind of .380 maybe like an NAA Guardian or Kel-Tec P3AT.

brad cook

 

[scottie4183]

How's the smart carry work for a xd40 tatical? Would that be really too big or has anyone tried it? How comfortable would the smartcarry be when driving or sitting down?

 

[DigMe]

How's the smart carry work for a xd40 tatical? Would that be really too big or has anyone tried it? How comfortable would the smartcarry be when driving or sitting down?

It all comes down to each individual and the exact shape of your body I think. That's why they have a 60 day return policy. It didn't work for me but I still sometimes recommend that people try it because it works for more people than it doesn't work for based on the various threads I've seen here and at The High Road over the years. The guy who owns the company conceals a full-size 1911 in his.

brad cook

 

[scottie4183]

Thank for the info...i think i may try it. I mean you can't go wrong with the free trial period.

 

[mavisky]

I'm thinking about trying the Smartcarry since I wear mostly t-shirts and jeans. 6'1" 180 and broad shouldered so an undershoulder might work for me too. I would like to get this figured out soon as I'll be going for my ccw within the next few months.

Does anyone know of a laser compatible holster out there for a Tactical?

Oh and off-topic, meet Dawson De-LaHoya he's about 10 months now.