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I enjoy watching the Concealed Carry videos for my CHL class, but it always seemed like the best concealment they were showing integrated the wearing of a light or heavy jacket, a blazer sport coat, a men's business suit, or a sweatshirt or sweater....all of which we Houstonians can wear comfortably maybe 1-2 weeks out of the year.

Texas weather would seem to present some unique challenges to concealed carry and I'm wondering what some of you have found to be the best practice to combine concealed carry defense with comfort in Texas's great outdoors during our two seasons---Summer and August.



For me, I'm thinking Ankle holster, at least for my nicer "work" clothes (khakis and short sleeve shirt or long sleeve shirt w/ tie), since not tucking my shirt in is a fashion faux pas. Otherwise Jeans & untucked T-shirt or untucked Polo shirt and an IWB holster, I suppose. Anyone have any experience with BDU-style pants and their big pockets? Good place to carry or is that a tactical "no-No"?

Also in the Texas heat, do you sometimes compromise and carry a smaller piece (like a Taurus PT22) than you would otherwise for ease of concealment but also relief from the heat? These are things I've been thinking about; I was mainly getting my CHL to be able to carry a revolver in my car without breaking the law; but since my CHL class I'm seriously considering actually carrying most of the time.

Be grateful to hear what your experiences are--or your plans, at any rate, if you're still waiting on your CHL like I am.

There are a number of different ways to carry and you will do well to listen to them but find what works best for you. Size and shape do make a difference.

As for me, I carry OWB @ 4 oclock with a shirt that is cut to be left out (square cut) or a vest. There are times although not many that I pocket carry. But that is what works for me. I'm 6'3 and 230lbs.

Others carry IWB, Ankle, pocket, shoulder or any one of 100 different ways. Thats why some of us have dead holster drawers.

Good luck.

Many folks realize pretty quickly they have to "compromise" sometimes to carry more frequently - or everywhere it is legal to do so. My "top 2 carry guns" are S&W airwight j-frame and Kahr PM-9. IWB much of the time with shorts and untucked shirts - alaslobovia to some.

I've carried a SP-101 in a Pager Pal when I can't wear an untucked shirt in the heat.

JJR1971 wrote: Texas weather would seem to present some unique challenges to concealed carry and I'm wondering what some of you have found to be the best practice to combine concealed carry defense with comfort in Texas's great outdoors during our two seasons---Summer and August.

That's the truth!

JJR1971 wrote: For me, I'm thinking Ankle holster, at least for my nicer "work" clothes (khakis and short sleeve shirt or long sleeve shirt w/ tie), since not tucking my shirt in is a fashion faux pas. Otherwise Jeans & untucked T-shirt or untucked Polo shirt and an IWB holster, I suppose. Anyone have any experience with BDU-style pants and their big pockets? Good place to carry or is that a tactical "no-No"?

Are you thinking of using the side pockets? They may be too big and allow the gun to flop around in the pocket. You should seriousely consider a pocket holster. I kinda like the front or rear pocket carry.
Remember to practice with what you carry, of course unloaded first.

JJR1971 wrote: Also in the Texas heat, do you sometimes compromise and carry a smaller piece (like a Taurus PT22) than you would otherwise for ease of concealment but also relief from the heat?

I like Greybeard's suggestions on the 642 & Kahr PM-9.

JJR1971 wrote: I'm seriously considering actually carrying most of the time.

Make the commitment, and followthrough.

I have a P-3AT in a Migl's pocket holster, I wear loose khakis and wear my billfold in the left front and the Kel Tec in the right.
So far, no one has commented about it, even 3 police and 2 deputies I have talked to lately.
So far, so good, but I am going to a light weight snubby as I ,personally, cannot hit the side of a barn with the Kel-Tec, even if I am in the barn!

I simply use an IWB tuckable holster (Tucker Texas Heritage, I believe the name is), and a slightly oversize button-down shirt, with a t-shirt underneath. It also works with knit polo shirts.

My normal carry is a Springfield Champion (1911, 4" barrel, full-size frame). Unless someone already knows what those two little plastic clips on my belt are, it's invisible (and even those can be hard to spot, as not only do I use black clips on a black belt, but my tucked-in shirt usually "blouses" over-top of my belt).

It gets a little hot in the summer (okay, very hot), but as I dress this way year-round anyways, it's bearable. Keeping a quart-size water bottle handy is also good.

I carry a FN Hi Power year round in a Comp-Tac C.T.A.C IWB-tuckable holster, using the "V" (velcro) clips, which really aids in concealing the holster as well as the gun. I generally wear polo shirts and T-shirts tucked in (I hate untucked shirts), and I favor darker colors for them, as I think it aids in concealing the butt of the pistol (plus dark colors are slimming! ahem! ) The Hi Power is a nice flat pistol, and it works out well. I don't wear an undershirt with this because an extra shirt is just too dang hot in the summer, altho I have been thinking of trying out one of those sports/tactical shirts made out of new-fangled sweat-wicking material.

Living here in south Texas, it is HOT with jalapenoes on it, and I fiddled around with pocket carry snubbies, Thunderwear, shoulder rigs, leather IWBs, etc. I found the C.T.A.C to be the best for me. The kydex holds the gun securely, the holster itself is very thin, and it does a pretty good job keeping the sweat off of the pistol, even tho I don't wear an undershirt. It is not the most comfortable holster to wear, (and I am thinking of trying out the new Comp-Tac holster that looks similar to the C.T.A.C but has leather next to the wearer) but I found the C.T.A.C to be the best all around solution for me.

The C.T.A.C can be found here: http://www.comp-tac.com/catalog/product ... ab9cb7c2a2 (a Texas company, by the way.)

I would not recommend carrying a gun in the cargo pocket of pants like the BDUs. I wore BDUs for 20+ years, and found it very uncomfortable and annoying to have anything heavy in the cargo pockets. Plus the pocket is so big you would need a special holster arrangement to keep the gun from flopping around and turning over. A Kel-Tec might not be too bad, but then you might as well put it in your regular pants pocket or back pocket. Or on a neck chain. http://www.stellarrigs.com/gun_neckchain_rigs.html This might not be too bad for wearing with light weight shirts.

As a bonus, altho you didn't ask - I have found painter/carpenter-style pants to be very handy to go with my pistol, because the ruler pocket or whatever you call it on the left leg is very handy to put a Hi Power magazine in. I found a large leather sheath for a utility knife to be the right size to hold the mag, and the whole thing slides in to that pocket, just out of sight, but within reach. Not as fast as having a magazine on your belt, but much more concealable, especially for a large magazine like the Hi Power uses.

Good luck with the hunt.

elb

There are a number of shirt tucker holsters on the market that work really well. Tucker makes one and comp-tac makes a nice kydex one if you aren't into leather.

Some men find carrying in a high-riding OWB holster to be the most comfortable and accessible. Most wear a box-cut shirt untucked with this, and I've never been able to tell.

If you will be at the forum day, members there will likely have holsters to try on. This is the best way to find something good.

I'm strange. I have to be warm (hot) at all times otherwise my sinuses start going wacky, I get headaches, and am generally uncomfortable. So I'm the oddball you might see wearing a hooded sweatshirt and shorts in 95+ degree weather. For me, it's comfortable and better than laying in the house feeling like my face is swollen from my sinuses.

When I have to dress like a respectable citizen to go out to a restaurant or something, I find a polo shirt covers my OWB with a HK P2000 SK fairly well. Button up shirts work just as well, but also accomodate my Kimber Compact in a shoulder holster. Obviously the sweatshirt covers anything and surprisingly I don't hear too many comments other than, "Aren't you hot in that thing"...."Nope".

My little S & W 642 is with me always.

Around the house or a trip to town this un' will fit in my front or back

pocket with a minimum style cover only holster.

If I travel to Wichita Falls or DFW I use the Smart Carry rig.

http://www.smartcarry.com

If I happen to carry the Sig , it goes in the Kangaroo rig from

Houston, Texas.

Yes , I have a drawer full of holsters, and these are the 3 types and

styles that I use.

Keep diggin'. You'll find what works for you---------

------------tho it might git 'spensive'.

it is all in the holster. I carry a 1911 year round everyday always...
Tucker makes some great IWB holsters. It is worth the money.

On those really hot and humid days, I tend to pocket carry a Kahr PM9 9mm. I carry in the right rear pocket using a DeSantis Nemesis holster.

Works well and appears only as a large wallet to anyone checking out my butt.

TIN BENDER wrote:
If I happen to carry the Sig , it goes in the Kangaroo rig from Houston, Texas.

I would be interested to see how many use the Kangaroo.

I have a friend who uses one with his PM9 and really likes it. Do you use it with a polo or t-shirt tucked in, button down shirt, etc? How hard is it to draw?

I carry in my right front pocket with a pocket holster.

When I have pants(usually Khakis) with deep pockets I carry a S&W 340 Titanium Scandium J frame in .357 mag(loaded with .38 SP +P) in a Uncle Mike's pocket holster.

When I have shallow pockets I carry a Beretta Tomcat .32 Auto in a Galco pocket holster.

I feel safer carrying the Smith, but a .32 is better than nothing.