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oljames3 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 14, 2018 12:15 pm

Liberty wrote: ↑Fri Sep 14, 2018 10:51 am How we carry is a "system" there isn't a one method suits all. While some folks might not be comfortable with certain parts of the system, its how the carry works together along with how we train ourselves. For me my carry consists of parts that some might feel doesn't meet conveniontal wisdom.

My most often carry is a pistol taco. Nylon, inside the waist. DeSantis JIT. The carry gun is a subcompact Beretta storm. Nylon holsters are often criticized for poor retention and it's floppiness could activate the trigger. The advantage of this carry for me is that it is small lightweight and very concealable yet with a fairly accurate gun. I believe that it is a very safe, comfortable carry. The gun is DA/SA requiring a lengthy first shot trigger pull. It also has a manual safety. The weapon security is that it would require a substantial tug to un-release it and works well with just about any belt. I always remove the holster and rest my thumb on the gun to hoster the weapon

Another carry I use is my Beretta 92. carried in the infamous Blackhawk Serpa. The 92 FS is also DA/SA with an exposed hammer. It's a heavy gun and the holster carries it well. The gun is carried relatively high and conceals with just about any untucked shirt. The weight of it requires a substantial belt or a real gun belt. The Holster is plastic, although I don't believe it's technically Kydex. The Serpa is controversial if not hated by many in the gun community. My trigger finger naturally falls to the ready position (a take down button) and is guided by ridges on the holster. As in the above I always reholster on safe with the thumb on the exposed hammer. To me this is a safe and comfortable carry for such a heavy weapon.

My point is that there is no one carry method or gun for all. Mouse guns aren't for everyone, no one holster works for everyone.

The decisions we make in deciding what and how to carry usually involve criteria that are unique and personal. I agree that "there isn't a one method suits all." Having said that, I also feel that there are some objective considerations that can inform our decisions. For instance, John Correia's Three Critical Qualities of a Decent Holster:
1. Covers the trigger guard completely. (and prevents access to the trigger)
2. Holds the gun securely.
3. Allows reliable, quick access to the gun. (safely)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox7GrdjqRXk

My system works for me. It probably would not work for Liberty and Liberty's would not work for me. My preferred carry method is to carry openly. I use a Kore Essentials leather gun belt to carry my S&W M&P M2.0 9mm 5inch Flat Dark Earth in a Safariland 7TS ALS with QLS and Guard. I also carry two 16 round magazine, pepper gel, phone, and a SOFTT-W. The ALS meets Correia's criteria and my needs.

My backup up gun is a Ruger LCR .38 with Crimson Trace in a Remora RFT pocket holster. The Remora does not meet Correia's criteria but it does meet my needs.

My system allows me to comfortably carry what I want to carry. Your mileage will vary and that is OK.

Be safe and carry.

Winston wrote: ↑Fri Sep 14, 2018 6:08 am My expertise is from buying, owning, and shooting firearms for at least 15 years. I've purchased a lot of firearms and firearm related items over a long period of time. Just because I don't carry on a daily basis doesn't mean I can't have an opinion about holsters. I've owned many of them because I use to carry on my person around the house, driving, and at work where it was legal for me to do so without a license. I have preferred carrying my pistols in operator style bags ever since. I even Mexican carry sometimes and do own trigger guards to do that safely. My experience with holsters are.......

Leather holsters = gets sweaty and smells bad because we live in Texas where it's hot and also tends to rub the finish on your pistol the wrong way. It scratched some bluing off one of my 1911's. Threw that holster in the trash! Also they're not very comfortable (especially when you start sweating) and they're not good for drawing and re holstering your weapon quickly. I do however like the leather holster I have for my .45 Colt Revolver.

Soft Holsters = not enough retention to be safely carrying, and also not easy to draw and re holster your weapon quickly. These are probably the most comfortable but I don't trust carrying anything in them other than revolvers. It 's easy to hide a small revolver on your person with these. I don't recommend them with other guns. Maybe a small compact glock but I don't own, shoot, or carry any of those. I prefer have mid size and large frame pistols and kydex works the best for those in my opinion.

With that said I prefer Kydex. Every pistol I've carried in a kydex holster has treated the finish on my slides well. This may not be an issue to most people but I prefer keeping some of my pistols looking new. Especially my 1911's. Some others not so much. My striker fire and other hammer fire pistols that have been carried in kydex holsters still look brand new. Yes kydex can scratch the finish over time but that depends on how many times it's used and how much retention you set the kydex to secure the gun. That's another pro for kydex! You can set the retention. This makes it easy to draw and easy to re holster quickly. Also for IWB and OWB holsters they are fairly comfortable and safest ones to use.....IN MY OPINION! Of course everyone has their own. I also own one Kydex OWB holster and that was purchased to be used with my Viridian green laser/light combo. It activates the laser and light as soon as you pull the gun out of the holster. It's heavy on my belt but I trust using it at the range when training.

With that said anyone can use what they want and what works for them. I was just stating my opinion and I'm pretty sure a lot of people would agree that kydex is the way to go because it works well. Especially when you purchase a kydex holster for a specific pistol! Just my opinion!

So to sum things up....Leather and Soft Shell holsters = revolvers and small frame pistols ; Kydex Holsters = everything else!

Winston wrote: ↑Thu Sep 13, 2018 1:58 am I wouldn't worry about it Dcastrojr. I'm pretty sure everyone with a CHL or LTC is able to legally open carry a handgun as long as it's properly holstered. Someone correct me if I'm wrong about this? Does it matter whether you have a CHL or a LTC? Is that the same thing here in Texas now since open carry is legal? I would just think that a long as you're carrying in legal areas that printing underneath your clothes wouldn't be a big deal as long as you're licensed and carrying legally. Also don't feel bad about not carrying with a round in the chamber. It's also better safe than sorry. Sometimes getting use to handling your gun and learning more about gun safely before carrying a loaded weapon is ideal. Sometimes time is what's needed to become more confident in your abilities. I didn't keep a round in the chamber for over a year after purchasing my first pistol because it didn't feel safe. But once you start practicing carrying around the house and have more experience handling firearms then that fear will go away. I think every new persons fear with carrying a gun is that it will just go off all of a sudden. Once you practice and do it long enough that fear will go away.

With that said I only practice carrying with kydex holsters. I don't trust anything other than kydex and personally think anything else are trash holsters. Especially the soft ones! I don't have my license yet but when I get it and start carrying I will probably also feel nervous about people seeing me carry. With that said I'm glad we have legal open carry now for licensed holders. I'll probably choose to open carry my pistol anyways since I hate IWB holsters. I'll just wear a hoodie or bigger shirt to cover up my pistol and OWB holster. Or I might go with one of those shoulder holsters and wear a jacket since I like carrying full size pistols. Carrying a full size Glock 22 or 1911 with a IWB holster doesn't really work. It's just not very concealable or comfortable.

Dcastrojr wrote: ↑Sat Dec 10, 2016 7:14 pm Im still very new to the concealed carry scene. I received my CHL in Feb. So I haven't even been carrying a year yet. Im so new, that the first week or two I didn't even carry around in the chamber till I was comfortable with my weapon and setup. I think I got lucky though because it was still a little chilly when I received my CHL, so I got to wear my hoodie often and that helped me get comfortable with carrying regularly . I do wear clothes that are a little more fitted to my body. So I was always concerned about "printing". Until today...

I'm buying some things from my local hardware store. I place my items on the counter. The cashier starts ringing my items up and right about the time she finishes she says "I see nobody is going to be robbing you anytime soon". At first I kind of gave her a puzzling look(I had no idea what she was talking about). Then she goes on to say "I see your package in the front". So I kinda just smirk and say "No I'm not". By this time she had finished ringing me up and I grabbed my things and left the store. As I'm leaving I didn't know what to think. I thought it was kinda funny the way she had mentioned "my package" but then on the other side she saw I was printing, but didn't really care too much because it was concealed and I wasn't breaking any laws.

From what I have read from other peoples experiences, most people won't catch you printing because they're so focused on what they have going on. Sometimes I myself have to do double takes when I see people open carrying cause I wasn't really paying attention. I know part of me says I need to be more tentative to how I'm carrying. Then the other part of me thinks as long as its concealed, and I'm allowed to be there while its concealed, who cares if I "print" every now and then. I guess it just comes with time. Has anyone else been called out?
Now I have to get back to my chores that I got from the hardware store. Just thought'd I would share. Thanks for reading.