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I didn't want to further hi-jack the rant thread about Fisherman's Marine, but I know that at least one person in the thread hadn't tried a tuckable holster yet, and that might be beneficial for him and a lot of others in that it can allow the carry of a larger concealed gun than some pocket rocket, and still be able to dress professionally and comfortably.
I've been using IWB tuckable holsters for most of my carry for a few years now - starting out with crude contraptions and eventually settling on my current appendix style rig.
I make my own holsters and have for some time, so this has allowed me to refine my holsters and make something that fits me. The holster I carry in now is a straight drop IWB only setup that utilizes snap straps with one-way snaps to anchor to the belt, the snap straps are attached to injection molded struts that allow for carrying while tucking your shirt in.
Be warned - I've only been doing the Atkins thing for a about two and a half weeks/three weeks now, so I'm still a big'un. Try not to hurl when you view the pix below. Also, I apologize in advance for the MySpace like mirror-posed "selfies" - but I didn't want to bother my wife to try to take the pix.
The holster I carry my Glock 19 in is the prototype of this design for me. Subsequent holsters have had some refinements done, but the concept and overall size/shape are the same.
The gun stays put all day, doesn't shift around, and for me and my size/body shape this works great. I don't get jabbed in the balls or the leg crease when carrying a G19 size gun, and there's just enough muzzle/holster to lever the muzzle out and keep the butt of the gun close in, instead of flopping over as smaller guns tend to do for me (and if I loose the weight I want to, that may not be an issue, but I"ll still opt for the mid size G19 size guns for carry)
I also have some single point of attachment holsters that I carry in, and this style of holster can be utilized with one or both attachments. A single point of attachment allows the holster to shift a bit - some folks find this more comfortable, I find it to be a pain in the bubblegum (well, actually abdomen) and I don't like having to constantly nudge and adjust my holster throughout the day. The point is NOT drawing attention to my waistband and the gun.
Here is the wife's SD9VE - which is almost identical in size to the Glock 19, in a newer version of the above holster style, utilizing only one strut/loop attachment.
Throughout my work day I am in and out of vehicles several times, accompanied with lots of crouching, kneeling, bending, and rolling around on my back. Almost sounds like a prostitute, but I don't get paid nearly as much as they do, and my legs are too hairy to attract anyone except for maybe Playboy Penguin/Yankee Marshall's attention.
I keep my shirt tucked in to present a professional appearance, which is sometimes lacking in the industry in which I work, and I try to give the best impression to my customers as possible. I also want to be armed while I'm bouncing around all over the metro area and the state.
As you can see in the pictures, the only thing you can see of the whole gun/holster system are the two snap straps around the belt. These can be had in rubber, leather, or nylon depending on holster maker or accessory supplier. They come in multiple colors so if you opt for an IWB holster like this, and you're fashionable or want the most subtle appearance, you can pick the snap straps to match the color and material style of your belt.
Leather is not my friend at work, except for my gloves. I've destroyed leather belts, and so I choose nylon. I wear a Wilderness Frequent Flyer inch and a half, and the black rubber straps work just fine.
For a long time I often left spare mags either at home, or in a bag/back pack in the truck - a non optimal solution since I carry an auto loader. So borrowing some lines from PhillyEDC/Phlster holsters Glock 42 mag carriers, I created some full size mag carriers that allow for on-body concealed magazine carry.
One version I made to allow for tuckable IWB carry of the magazine, utilizing the same injection molded strut and loop setup as the holster.
I made these with adjustable retention screws to get mag tension "just right" and because M&P mags and Glock mags can use the same carriers, if it's made for a Glock and then torqued down tight for an M&P mag. The photo below demonstrates the idea with my wife's Smith SD9 mag.
I don't find IWB mag carry terribly comfortable at work, and my left side belt realestate is already taken up by my outside the waistband belt carried flash light and multi-tool, so I opt for a pocket carry method for the magazine - but having had a magazine fall out of a pocket (unseen by anyone but myself), and out of an early prototype non-tensionable mag carrier in front of a customer once - I elected to make a pocket carry version of the above. I keep the mag tension pretty tight, figuring on a grip & rip if I need the mag, it'll pop free of the carrier. For pocket carry, I fashioned a lanyard out of paracord, which gets looped to my belt directly over the pocket, and the magazine sits base-down, bullets forward in my pocket. This allows me to grip the magazine body easily, and rotate the mag into position for removal and insertion into the gun fairly easily, although not nearly as quickly as a belt-carried mag would. It does keep the magazine in place though, which is most important. Should the magazine ever fall out of my pocket (hasn't yet) it is still retained to my person and the weight of the mag slapping my leg will be immediately felt.
As I mentioned above, I also carry a light and multi tool at work. I opt for OWB carry for these - as they don't scare people. The light is a Mag Lite XL50 LED, it has high beam, low beam, and strobe. Comes in very handy, only cost $30, and takes AAA batts. I made a kydex sheath for this, and use injection molded OWB belt loops.
I won't bother to show the leatherman, because everyone knows what they look like and the black leather case is a Leatherman factory case.
I carry all day, every day, and the gun only becomes annoying after 10-12 hours of driving or sitting. Note I said annoying, not uncomfortable enough to make me want something else or a different carry method.
When I'm not working, I carry much of the same stuff - it's just become natural so it's part of getting dressed. I find I use the flash light and multi-tool as much when I'm off as I do when I"m working. The gun goes everywhere I go. If I'm not working I typically won't tuck my shirt in, but I carry in the same holster almost exclusively - the only times I don't are when I carry OWB while I"m fishing or otherwise playing in the woods. Then I slap the TLR-1 on the gun and run a kydex OWB rig, and I carry the hand held flash light in my backpack or fishing kit.
I've worn this rig with dress shirts, polos, and the button up denims pictured above and unless your shirts are worn huggy and tight, the gun won't print. The butt disappears where the shirt naturally blouses at your waist. The only tell tale is the snaps, and 99% of people don't see them, or don't realize what they're attached to. They're less assuming and noticable than a shiny metal clip (see a lot of Crossbreed clips and the knock offs - the glint of metal on the belt is a lot less subtle and natural than leather rubber or nylon, especially if you're wearing a brown or tan belt as opposed to black.)
So that is MY carry system and what works for me. Lets see how the rest of you carry, and please explain how and why you chose the gear you chose, it might just help other members find a better carry solution for them, and benefit new shooters/gun carriers figure this stuff out without a lot of expense and headache.
I've been using IWB tuckable holsters for most of my carry for a few years now - starting out with crude contraptions and eventually settling on my current appendix style rig.
I make my own holsters and have for some time, so this has allowed me to refine my holsters and make something that fits me. The holster I carry in now is a straight drop IWB only setup that utilizes snap straps with one-way snaps to anchor to the belt, the snap straps are attached to injection molded struts that allow for carrying while tucking your shirt in.
Be warned - I've only been doing the Atkins thing for a about two and a half weeks/three weeks now, so I'm still a big'un. Try not to hurl when you view the pix below. Also, I apologize in advance for the MySpace like mirror-posed "selfies" - but I didn't want to bother my wife to try to take the pix.
The holster I carry my Glock 19 in is the prototype of this design for me. Subsequent holsters have had some refinements done, but the concept and overall size/shape are the same.
The gun stays put all day, doesn't shift around, and for me and my size/body shape this works great. I don't get jabbed in the balls or the leg crease when carrying a G19 size gun, and there's just enough muzzle/holster to lever the muzzle out and keep the butt of the gun close in, instead of flopping over as smaller guns tend to do for me (and if I loose the weight I want to, that may not be an issue, but I"ll still opt for the mid size G19 size guns for carry)
I also have some single point of attachment holsters that I carry in, and this style of holster can be utilized with one or both attachments. A single point of attachment allows the holster to shift a bit - some folks find this more comfortable, I find it to be a pain in the bubblegum (well, actually abdomen) and I don't like having to constantly nudge and adjust my holster throughout the day. The point is NOT drawing attention to my waistband and the gun.
Here is the wife's SD9VE - which is almost identical in size to the Glock 19, in a newer version of the above holster style, utilizing only one strut/loop attachment.
Throughout my work day I am in and out of vehicles several times, accompanied with lots of crouching, kneeling, bending, and rolling around on my back. Almost sounds like a prostitute, but I don't get paid nearly as much as they do, and my legs are too hairy to attract anyone except for maybe Playboy Penguin/Yankee Marshall's attention.
I keep my shirt tucked in to present a professional appearance, which is sometimes lacking in the industry in which I work, and I try to give the best impression to my customers as possible. I also want to be armed while I'm bouncing around all over the metro area and the state.
As you can see in the pictures, the only thing you can see of the whole gun/holster system are the two snap straps around the belt. These can be had in rubber, leather, or nylon depending on holster maker or accessory supplier. They come in multiple colors so if you opt for an IWB holster like this, and you're fashionable or want the most subtle appearance, you can pick the snap straps to match the color and material style of your belt.
Leather is not my friend at work, except for my gloves. I've destroyed leather belts, and so I choose nylon. I wear a Wilderness Frequent Flyer inch and a half, and the black rubber straps work just fine.
For a long time I often left spare mags either at home, or in a bag/back pack in the truck - a non optimal solution since I carry an auto loader. So borrowing some lines from PhillyEDC/Phlster holsters Glock 42 mag carriers, I created some full size mag carriers that allow for on-body concealed magazine carry.
One version I made to allow for tuckable IWB carry of the magazine, utilizing the same injection molded strut and loop setup as the holster.
I made these with adjustable retention screws to get mag tension "just right" and because M&P mags and Glock mags can use the same carriers, if it's made for a Glock and then torqued down tight for an M&P mag. The photo below demonstrates the idea with my wife's Smith SD9 mag.
I don't find IWB mag carry terribly comfortable at work, and my left side belt realestate is already taken up by my outside the waistband belt carried flash light and multi-tool, so I opt for a pocket carry method for the magazine - but having had a magazine fall out of a pocket (unseen by anyone but myself), and out of an early prototype non-tensionable mag carrier in front of a customer once - I elected to make a pocket carry version of the above. I keep the mag tension pretty tight, figuring on a grip & rip if I need the mag, it'll pop free of the carrier. For pocket carry, I fashioned a lanyard out of paracord, which gets looped to my belt directly over the pocket, and the magazine sits base-down, bullets forward in my pocket. This allows me to grip the magazine body easily, and rotate the mag into position for removal and insertion into the gun fairly easily, although not nearly as quickly as a belt-carried mag would. It does keep the magazine in place though, which is most important. Should the magazine ever fall out of my pocket (hasn't yet) it is still retained to my person and the weight of the mag slapping my leg will be immediately felt.
As I mentioned above, I also carry a light and multi tool at work. I opt for OWB carry for these - as they don't scare people. The light is a Mag Lite XL50 LED, it has high beam, low beam, and strobe. Comes in very handy, only cost $30, and takes AAA batts. I made a kydex sheath for this, and use injection molded OWB belt loops.
I won't bother to show the leatherman, because everyone knows what they look like and the black leather case is a Leatherman factory case.
I carry all day, every day, and the gun only becomes annoying after 10-12 hours of driving or sitting. Note I said annoying, not uncomfortable enough to make me want something else or a different carry method.
When I'm not working, I carry much of the same stuff - it's just become natural so it's part of getting dressed. I find I use the flash light and multi-tool as much when I'm off as I do when I"m working. The gun goes everywhere I go. If I'm not working I typically won't tuck my shirt in, but I carry in the same holster almost exclusively - the only times I don't are when I carry OWB while I"m fishing or otherwise playing in the woods. Then I slap the TLR-1 on the gun and run a kydex OWB rig, and I carry the hand held flash light in my backpack or fishing kit.
I've worn this rig with dress shirts, polos, and the button up denims pictured above and unless your shirts are worn huggy and tight, the gun won't print. The butt disappears where the shirt naturally blouses at your waist. The only tell tale is the snaps, and 99% of people don't see them, or don't realize what they're attached to. They're less assuming and noticable than a shiny metal clip (see a lot of Crossbreed clips and the knock offs - the glint of metal on the belt is a lot less subtle and natural than leather rubber or nylon, especially if you're wearing a brown or tan belt as opposed to black.)
So that is MY carry system and what works for me. Lets see how the rest of you carry, and please explain how and why you chose the gear you chose, it might just help other members find a better carry solution for them, and benefit new shooters/gun carriers figure this stuff out without a lot of expense and headache.
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