HOW to carry?

[TxFig]

Forgive me if this topic has been talked about (I suspect it has been a recurring theme)

I completed my CHL course last July and received my license back in Oct. I do not yet carry because, well.... I don't own a handgun yet.

I am saving up the $ to get a Kimber .45 (probably an Ultra Carry II, but not yet sure of the exact model). My mom has several carry guns of the .32/.380 variety which are nice and small, but I just like the feel of the Kimber .45 (and I shoot them MUCH better). I give this information so you know the size of gun I need to conceal.

I am somewhat unsure of just how I am going to be able to carry, given:

(a) I NEVER wear an untucked shirt (I just think they are tacky looking)
(b) I never wear vests or coats
(c) Having been in the military, I never put things in my pocket.


I am very open to any and all advice here (well, other than changing the gun I carry - I am pretty well sold on the Kimber).

[WarHawk-AVG]

The one thing that is constant in this world is change

I was the same way (USMC trained...wouldn't smoke and walk, field stripped all my cigs)

I now carry w/ an untucked shirt, and used to carry a loose mag in my pocket till I got a doubletuck from crossbreed

"If you do what you have always done, you will get what you always got."

[ELB]

I am somewhat unsure of just how I am going to be able to carry, given:

(a) I NEVER wear an untucked shirt (I just think they are tacky looking)
(b) I never wear vests or coats
(c) Having been in the military, I never put things in my pocket.


I am very open to any and all advice here (well, other than changing the gun I carry - I am pretty well sold on the Kimber).

1. I hate untucked shirts too. I use a CTAC "tuckable" holster by Comp-Tac (http://www.comp-tac.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) to carry a Browning Hi Power in, and it works very well as a tuckable. Others make tuckable holsters too, just google on it, but I really like the Comp-Tac folks.

2. I wear a vest in the winter time so I can stay warm. Then I skip the tuckable option on my CTAC and just wear it as an IWB. I just found a regular, light leather vest that looks good to me, and am happy. I do the "tuckable" stuff in the summer or when I can't wear my vest. Give it a try.

3. Learn to use your pockets. I spent 23 years in the military, and I even knew guys who sewed their pockets shut so they wouldn't absent mindedly put their hands in them. However, when you are in civilian mode, learn to take advantage of all your options! Pockets are handy for extra mags (altho you can get tuckable mag holders too), small flashlights (you do have one, right?) pepper spray, money, wallets, pocket knives etc. It's a whole new world! Heck, 5.11 makes pants with dozens of pockets in them for stuffing stuff into.

Some hints tho: if you pocket carry a gun (unlikely if you are using a 5" Kimber), dedicate that pocket to the gun ONLY, no other stuff except a pocket holster for the gun. I recently helped treat a gunshot wound of a guy who shoved a Kahr in his pocket, whereupon the pocketknife already there contacted the trigger, and boom. Use a pocket holster to keep the gun oriented correctly and help protect the trigger from objects encroaching on it, like leaning up against something, e.g. a fence, door handle, etc.

Good luck, hope you like your Kimber!

[mr.72]

Check out the beginner's guide on my blog (signature). It has some info that may be of help to you.

Like you, I don't like to carry things in my pockets. I do wear untucked shirts though, so IWB works for me. I am sure IWB "tuckable" may work for you or some other people. I don't think it works nearly so well for people who are slim or wear slimmer-fitting clothes (hopefully not if they are not of a slimmer build). Otherwise off-body carry is perhaps a possibility... I mean if you don't put things in your pockets, you have to carry those things somehow, right?

SOB carry or Smartcarry might work better for you if you are going to go with tucked-in shirt and you are not "fluffy".

[Luggo1]

One of the things I had to come to terms with when I chose to carry daily, was that I had to "dress around the gun". If I chose to carry, that had to be the priority, to both be legal (properly concealed) yet to carry the gun in a fashion that made it accessible in the need ever arose. Frankly I carry in the event that need arises...so I think I have to carry optimally for that event. I had to compromise and change how I normally dress. I also dislike untucked shirts, vests etc... I fought it...I'm damn near a GQ model so it was hard... Now I utilize both methods, in addtion to jackets... There just was no other way for me to accomplish what I freely chose to do (i.e. carry a handgun). I occasionally carry in an ankle, but it is usually just a BUG. I have a pocket sleeve that I also occasionally use. However it is almost always a waistband holster.

[Bunkins]

Go with the Stainless Ultra Carry I love mine..


I dont have my CHL yet ( still waiting ), but I bought a Don Hume IWB tuckable holster. I like it a lot.
http://www.donhume.com/index.php?main_p ... cts_id=762" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Though it's up to you to decide what you like and what you dont. Just take the plunge and order one.. I got lucky and ordered this one and I love it.
I live on a ranch, so I carry quite often, but it was either a rifle or a pistol OWB. Now I carry my Kimber in the IWB holster and sometimes forget it's there. So one of these days when I get my CHL I just wont have to remember to take it off and put it in my console before going somewhere.

[flb_78]

What's the military have to do with empty pockets?

[longtooth]

I am very open to any and all advice here (well, other than changing the gun I carry - I am pretty well sold on the Kimber).

You have chosen a good gun. You are very open to advice from us who are old & have some experience.

I would never try to change your mind on the gun. I will try to get you to change your mind on dress.
Learn to dress around your gun. You will never gun around the way you dress w/ a 1911.

[.45mac.40]

Your not alone...we've all been there, done that !
This question has been asked ...so many times...BUT..in different ways .... Members here have all the right answers..well, they did for me.
Now...Me ???
I was stuck on the Springfield XD tactical ( 5") .45.....Love this pistol, and I can shoot it well ... BUT... after the novelty wore off, and I got tired of the weight and it pulling my pants down; I just decided I had to carry something alittle lighter ... !
Like you ...I Love the full size .45 and found it hard to down size to a smaller handgun ... BUT .... ya' gotta' check out tha' Kahr CW40 (.40 S W) you also, might find this a sweet CHL carrying pistol !!??!!
The Kahr won't become a Holster Queen and the price is right !
Good luck in your decision .... welcome to tha' club
Mac

[Stupid]

Read my blog shown in my signature about the Kimber CDP II.

I would recommend other guns before the Kimber. Currently i am eying on CZ RAMI. I also have Sig 239 that i can carry. I don't buy the 45 hype.

On the good note, Kimber conceals really well. I often dress in tight-fit designer party shirts with my Kimber. I have no problem concealing it.

[bdickens]

What's the military have to do with empty pockets?

I was wondering that myself. I spent 9.5 years in the Army and I never heard of that.

[kd5zex]

Pockets!? I never had any pockets, all I had were Air Force Gloves...

[troglodyte]

The tuckable holsters work well for me. I usually carry under a sweatshirt, campshirt, or sweater so the tuckable option is rarely used. I also didn't like untucked shirts but the camp shirts worked well. I can't carry to work (teacher) so almost all my carry is more casual. Sweatshirts and sweaters in the winter, camp shirts in the summer. I'm moving to wearing sportscoats to church on Sunday AM so that is also a suitable option.

I have carried with the tuckable tucked but most of the time I just carry it IWB. My frame causes the 3:30 carry position to look like a tumor if I'm not careful just wearing a tucked in shirt. If my shirt is a little big around the waist (I'm pretty thin waisted) then I can blouse the shirt so it distracts from the bulge a little better.

Tucker Holsters is out of Houston and make a fine tuckable, Texas Heritage. I use it for my Defender and really like it.

I went with a Minotar from Comp-tac for my XD. It's OK. Nothing to comment on one way or the other.

[atxgun]

What's the military have to do with empty pockets?

I was wondering that myself. I spent 9.5 years in the Army and I never heard of that.

(not about being in the military but just why are pockets "bad")... Anyone? Buller?

[Abraham]

TxFig ,

I'm very familiar with your dilemma.

I too prefer a tucked in shirt. I detest cover garments, but I finally threw in the towel and wear one to carry my preferred model.

The one thing few mention is you can wear a tucked in shirt and go the pocket holster - small caliber pistol route. You're no longer in the military and using your pocket is a choice you can make. This is a relatively comfortable carry method and you can wear a tucked in shirt without a cover garment or suffer the discomfort of using a Smart Carry, but you have much less gun.

It's a trade off.

And looky here, you didn't have to be wheedled to my "baaaaa-log" to find out this info!