Carry without Holster

CHL discussions that do not fit into more specific topics

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longtooth
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Post by longtooth »

Liberty, Looks like a Don Hume JIT belt slide. If so that is a plenty good OWB holster. I have one for 1911. You should get good service out of it while you decide on what you really like.
Talk to a lot of folks at the forum day. Try some different ones that folks might let you wear for a while.
Ruger makes a good gun. You have got a very good defense rig. Don't get frustrated. ;-)
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jbirds1210
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Post by jbirds1210 »

Look me up at the forum day.....I will throw a P95 OWB Bianchi holster in my bag for you to try. The P95 was purchased for me as a gift somewhere around 1996....it is a fabulous gun! Before the P95 introduction I was a wheelgun only fellow.....guess I got that from my father.

Needless to say.....the little Ruger started an obsession :grin:

BTW, I think you will like the Hume slide....My wife has one for her P239 and I have worn it a couple of times...

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MrDrummy
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Post by MrDrummy »

Well, since I've had my plastic, I've been waiting for my holster. I ordered back in May, and it was supposed to be here in July, and I'm still waiting for it. This is on the verge of ridiculous! I just know that it's going to be great once I've got the thing on me!

I've been carrying Mexican since then. While I do agree with the others that a holster would definitely be the most ideal way to go, I have had zero problems with carrying in this fashion. My safety has never been pushed off or anything. I carry a 3" 1911, and it tucks deep down into the belt line, and hasn't ever even budged from where I put it. I'm honestly hoping that my holster will be able to conceal this well!

I took a trip to Corpus Christi a few weeks back that DID put a little dot of rust on the barrell (I keep the thing wet with oil! What gives!?) and the safety side of the hammer has gotten a little discolored, but nothing else has gone wrong.

Mexican is better than nothing. From what I've read/heard, there have been some well-respected folks who've carried that way.
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Post by KBCraig »

Mexican is arguably better than nothing. But there are many solutions that are unquestionably better than "nothing", which are cheap and readily available for almost any pistol.

Granted, folks in Bugtussle don't have ready access to Gander Mountain, Bass Pro, Academy, etc. But almost everyone has access to some type of gun shop or pawn shop, which will most likely have a bin of used holsters. They'll all be OWB, and most will be for .38 revolvers or 1911s, but there will be a variety of others available.

The very worst holster I've ever seen (which I've also owned and worn) is a generic Uncle Mike's IWB. Flimsy foldover flannel job with a plastic clip, and reholstering is impossible with two hands, much less one.

I think I paid five bucks for it. Full retail is about $12.95 or so.

As horrible as that holster is, it's better than Mexican carry. It covers the trigger, and keeps the gun from falling down my pantsleg. (Not that I've worn it in years!)

If you're anywhere but Bugtussle, you've probably got one of the afformentioned stores within your monthly shopping range. If your carry handgun is among the top 20 or so in terms of popularity, you'll almost certainly find an Uncle Mike's, Bianchi Accu-mold, or various generics.

Any holster that covers the trigger, and clips to your belt, is better than Mexican carry. Good holsters are much better than either, but you don't have to wait on that $125+ holster to arrive before carrying in public.

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Post by AV8R »

I have carried a G17 "Mexican style" when there were just no other options available. I found it fairly easy to find comfortable, yet well-concealed positions for carry. Carrying empty-chamber, though, is a necessary disadvantage, but better than no gun at all.
4t5
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Post by 4t5 »

My fear would be to have my handgun slide down in my pants or worse, go skittering across the floor. Both, of course, would happen at the exact worst time. Mine is always securely holstered.
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Post by txinvestigator »

4t5 wrote:My fear would be to have my handgun slide down in my pants or worse, go skittering across the floor. Both, of course, would happen at the exact worst time. Mine is always securely holstered.
I know a guy that happened to. He was in Blockbuster with front Mexican carry and it slid down his shorts and crashed to the ground and ended up several feet away from him.

Talk about not being in control of your firearm.
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Also ...

Post by TraCoun »

Going to the restroom in a store or restaurant while carrying can be a bit challenging WITH a holster. :shock: Without one, welllll, seems like that would be even more challenging ... :shock: :shock:
JM .02
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EricS76
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Post by EricS76 »

I on occasion mexican carry a kimber pro carry or S&W 642. To tell you the truth, I like it. Both those guns seems to fit perfectly. You're not going to accidently fire a 1911. You'd have to somehow get the safety to go off, then have the grip safety depress, then have something depress the trigger. The smith may be a little less safe, but with a close to 10lb trigger pull, it's not too worrying to me. When I carry this way, I carry a little left of center because I'm a lefty. I've checked inside the beltline of all my pants, and there's nothing in there that could even get inside a trigger guard.

I've walked, walked fast, and even ran a little while mexican carrying. Neither gun moved, and they haven't ever come close to falling down my pants leg. Maybe me being a little generously proportioned in the belly helps hold the weapon in place, I don't know.

I carry most of the time with a holster, but for me mexican carry has a place, and is plenty safe. To each his own I guess. I might not do it with a Glock with one in the chamber, but I feel safe with the two guns I mentioned. Mr. Drummy, I don't know how it will work for you, but I don't own a holster that conceals as well as mexican carry.
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Post by KBCraig »

EricS76 wrote:Maybe me being a little generously proportioned in the belly helps hold the weapon in place, I don't know.
Different holsters: IWB, OWB, EWB (Excessively Wide Belly!)

I don't Mexican carry, but I fall into the EWB class, myself. :grin:

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Chris
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Post by Chris »

i've carried my pistols and revolvers mexican style a bunch. i've never had any problems. no guns falling out or down. as long as you have a belt on your pants, you can adjust the tension on the gun. the most common way i carry like that is in the small of my back. the only downside is you have to be mindful of it. if you go out and eat, request a booth. you don't want your gun getting caught, or sticking out, on a chair.

my cheapo uncle mike's holsters work good.
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carlson1
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Post by carlson1 »

I have carried 1911's for years without holsters. It has only been in the last three years that I have used holsters. I have always carried about 3:30 using my belt as a tension adjuster. I have never had a problem. Most LEO's I worked with years ago when off duty always carried without hoslters. There were not many holsters for concealed carry before the CHL.
lrb111
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Post by lrb111 »

I still carry my Bersa UC 9 w/o a holster on occasion. Two secrets to it though. One is that i use a soft foam earplug in the barrel, to keep the garbage out. (good for all pocket carry)
Second is that i wear infinitely adjustable web belts. Different colors available in the hunting dept of Walmart.

Stick the muzzle under the belt, and then into the watch pocket. The tension gets adjusted by the belt. pretty simple..

Wear a cover garment.
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EricS76
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Post by EricS76 »

KBCraig wrote:
EricS76 wrote:Maybe me being a little generously proportioned in the belly helps hold the weapon in place, I don't know.
Different holsters: IWB, OWB, EWB (Excessively Wide Belly!)

I don't Mexican carry, but I fall into the EWB class, myself. :grin:

Kevin
I keep it for the tactical advantage! :grin:
Madsmiley
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Post by Madsmiley »

An embarassing but true carry without a holster from yours truely..

A couple of months back,the wife,niece and nephew and I were headed out to a local MX track for a day of riding.We were running late so we didnt have time to feed the little ones.Decided to stop at a McDonalds on the way for breakfast.Another thing that happened while we were running late is that I forgot a holster for my 1911.I figured not big deal,I'll just stick it in the small of my back.Worked out pretty well for about the first 5 minutes we were inside.Then the combination of chasing kids,no belt and no holster quickley revealed its flaws..

As the 1911 slid completely down my shorts and into my crotch area,it made it pretty awkward to walk to the restroom after it appeared to that I had just had a very unpleasant 'accident" in my shorts.The one good thing that came out of this situation was that the other patrons gave me a very wide berth thinking I had just soiled myself.
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