accidental exposure today

[PaJ]

I was trying something new today...carrying OWB with a cover tshirt and unbuttoned cover shirt. At some point both shirts got caught on the gun fully exposing it. I was walking around in a retail store when an employee saw it and pointed it out. I quickly covered and thanked him. Fortunately he informed me he also carried but didn't want other customers to freak out.

I really liked carrying this way because it was very comfortable. But I need to be more careful about my cover.

[C-dub]

I carry OWB with a button cover shirt all the time. It is much more comfortable than IWB and does require more attention. I have at least 2 and usually 3 buttons fastened when walking outdoors and sometimes indoors, but will unbutton all when indoors sometimes. It kind of depends on the t-shirt and cover shirt colors. Since my holster and gun are both black, if my t-shirt is black I will be a little more relaxed about the buttons on the cover shirt.

I don't think I've ever used two cover shirts. That you had both of them fail makes that even more odd.

[DevilDawg]

I tried this with a 1911 in Bullard Dual-Carry last weekend as well. Given my ample waist line, I quickly determined I need a better shirt as well. More like a camp shirt than polo. I had a few "exposures" of the barrel while dipping down to get items off lower shelves. I tried squatting/dipping versus bending, but might have drawn more attention this way.

More time in public with it in this manner might also help me overcome the paranoia. Your results may vary.

[The Wall]

Hopefully in a few months accidental exposure won't be a problem.

[boxermoose]

Solution is Duluth long tail T shirts

[JSThane]

Pearl-snap shirts with long tails also work. Bonus with them is, you don't need to hold your shirt up with your off hand while you draw; just grab the shirt front, rip it open and back to your firearm, and draw.

Bonus points if you have a Superman t-shirt on underneath! Although don't go acting like him in the after-action police report...

[RetNavy]

I carry IWB 90% of the time, the times i do carry OWB i have three shirts that are the most comfortable for me to carry that way.... funny thing is all three shirts are from places that dont allow you to carry...

[C-dub]

Hopefully in a few months accidental exposure won't be a problem.

Accidental exposure already isn't a problem. However, I think I know what you mean as long as OC is passed.

[SkipB]

Very nice of the clerk to be so respectful. I think we all try our best to keep it covered but sometimes we fail. I'm glad our laws have changed to protect us with that. Nice post Paj.

[PaJ]

so others may learn, I think I know what I did. I was going into the barbershop and knew i was going to remove my overshirt since it had a collar. so i disarmed for fear the act of going that would create an exposure. Ironic huh? when I rearmed, my shirts must have hung on the gun. i thought i had it covered but i was carrying at the 5 o'clock position so couldn't visually verify.

As a conservative, I learned i need to take more care when holstering and concealing. If I were a liberal, I would stop getting my haircut.

[WildBill]

Pearl-snap shirts with long tails also work. Bonus with them is, you don't need to hold your shirt up with your off hand while you draw; just grab the shirt front, rip it open and back to your firearm, and draw.

Bonus points if you have a Superman t-shirt on underneath! Although don't go acting like him in the after-action police report...

Pearl-snap shirts are great except after a few washes the dry cleaner smashes the snaps when they press them!

[Abraham]

Accidental exposure is also a topic I posted on another current thread - the gist of which is: Someone STILL may phone in a "man with a gun" call if they see your carrying and you may still take a ride, spend time in the pokey and ultimately pay a lot of moola to prove your innocence, accident or not...

So, work diligently at NOT EVER accidentally exposing.

It's in your own best interest.

[PaJ]

Accidental exposure is also a topic I posted on another current thread - the gist of which is: Someone STILL may phone in a "man with a gun" call if they see your carrying and you may still take a ride, spend time in the pokey and ultimately pay a lot of moola to prove your innocence, accident or not...

So, work diligently at NOT EVER accidentally exposing.

It's in your own best interest.

!!!

[VMI77]

I used to carry IWB with a Polo Shirt cover. Now I carry OWB with a Polo Shirt cover. Can't really tell that much difference in exposure. The main distinctions seem to be how high the holster rides on the belt, type of holster, and how tightly the holster keeps the gun against the body. The Serpa style rides a little further out. The pancake style seems to keep the gun in tighter. Obviously you need a larger looser shirt than what you might wear tucked in.

[karder]

I like the Bullard Dual carry too. I prefer holster designs that fully cover the barrel of the gun for OWB. If the shirt pulls up while stooping or reaching, all folks see is a leather squared bottom rather than a gun barrel. It seems most folks are carrying a phone or multi-tool or something on their belts these days and I don't think a leather "case" under the shirt causes a second look. While a knowledgeable person would recognize it as a holster if they saw it at all, the kinds of people most likely to panic wouldn't recognize it from an iphone case. At least it makes me feel better

I had a few "exposures" of the barrel while dipping down to get items off lower shelves.