Vanity - Need advice on concealed carry "rig."

Me | 12/23/2012 | Me

[MarkL]

I could use some advice on the purchase of a concealed carry holster, but I have some major physical disabilities.

[MarkL]

Just a note on my "history." I used to compete in USPSA and bowling pin competition, and actually have both an "Ernie Hill Speed Leather" rig for a Beretta 92/99, and a Safariland 1911 rig. So drawing from a holster and rapid reloads are not new to me. However neither of these is the least bit useful for concealed carry.

To complicate matters A BUNCH, I have severe crohns disease, which has left me with a belt line colostomy and a massive hernia at the site: What that means is I can NOT wear a belt of any sort. My pants waist size is actually 6-8" larger than it would need to be without the hernia - It's about the size of a volleyball. And severe arthritis combined with the hernia means I can't use an ankle holster.

So I guess that means I need a shoulder holster. I've never used one, and really don't know much about them, but I've been told by a number of people that I'm big enough to conceal a full size sidearm under a jacket (I'm 6' tall, 240#).

And if things weren't complicated enough, I don't think that any gun store in the country has a holster for me to try, since I'm left handed! ARGH!!!!

So any advice on the matter would be very much appreciated.

Thanks!

Mark

[CodeToad]

Buy one of these rigs and you can conceal it just about anywhere inside.

[Libloather]

Wouldn’t the Secret Service have the coolest stuff? Give ‘em a ring!

[Joshua]

I'm also left handed. I carry a Taurus PT 738. I use an inside the pocket nylon holster (size 3)and it is ambidextrous. Carry it all day with no problems

[gorush]

http://www.bluestonesafety.com/

[Farmer Dean]

I’ve carried a S&W model 19 in a cross draw shoulder holster,I’m 6’4” and weigh 235.Works well for me.

[MasterGunner01]

Check out the rigs at KangarooCarry.com.

[gorush]

I have a vest from the link at #5. I love it for concealed carry.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

If you can wear long sleeves, my first thought would be a forearm holster. This would likely mean a small gun, like a Bond Arms derringer, which should be a consideration no matter where you cc.

http://bondarms.com/

[umgud]

I wear 5-11 Tactical shirts. Can get them long or short sleve, light or heavy weight. They are pleasant to look upon. They have two breast pockets with a velcro’d access to a pouch behind both pockets, so left v right doesn’t matter. I usually carry a Glock subcompact, but can actually carry larger. No sense of lopsided sagging either.

I’ll go try to get you a link.

[caveat emptor]

http://www.shoulderholster.us/

[umgud]

http://www.511tactical.com/All-Products/Shirts/Tactical-Shirts/Taclite-Pro-Long-Sleeve-Shirt.html

[Bryanw92]

I would go with a fanny pack, messenger bag, or a tablet case. A bible case is my favorite choice. I modifed a large one to hold my handgun behind a bible that’s about half the thickness of the case.

[Marie]

If you go to youtube and search ‘concealed carry for women’ you’ll find a series done by a woman that’s quite comprehensive.

Women have unique issues with CC due to the clothes we wear. She offers a variety of solutions.

The BEST one is to buy a bag with a zipper on the side. You don’t even draw from the bag. You just stick your hand in, grab the grip and shoot through the fabric.

Nothing to get caught on. No slide issues. Just shoot.

Here’s my site of choice: http://www.guntotenmamas.com/

Women have been dealing with CC issues much longer than men have. If you have you’re own problems, look to us! I really think that a bag might be your solution. As I said, find one where you just shoot through the fabric. There are plenty made of black leather that don’t look like a purse. (I wouldn’t be caught dead with a ‘girly’ purse, myself!)

BTW, my daughter is also left-handed. I’ll see what’s she’s come up with for a quick draw. (Last I heard, she was only interested in a gun for a small-handed, short-fingered, lefty. That’s a tough enough order. I think she went for a S&W Bodyguard.)

[Carriage Hill]

I used to carry my 6” Colt Trooper Mk III .357 Magnum in a Bianchi X15H, under a 3-piece suit, in NYC. Still have the rig in my gunsafe with the other toys.

http://www.bianchi-intl.com/product/CatList.php?numSubCat=5

[Marie]

I think you might find some help here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogGBPVk5GQk

[PapaBear3625]

In cold weather, I tend to carry a .38 in my jacket pocket. Walking the street on a cold night, nobody thinks it odd if you keep your hands in your pockets. And the fastest draw is to already have it in your hand.

In other weather, if you can wear cargo pants, maybe with suspenders instead of a belt, keep in in a cargo pocket using a pocket holster.

[Marie]

Check this out:

http://www.guntotenmamas.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=GTM0099

Here is a review of the unisex leather bag from SWAT magazine:

” ... The clear winner during this test was the GTM-99 from Gun Tote’n Mamas. This flexible purse design allows the user to choose between a zippered horizontal, zippered vertical, or ripped vertical draw. When set up to allow the vertical rip, the purse provided the fastest and most certain draw of all the products we tested and readily allowed our user to get the firearm out before being overwhelmed by the rushing attacker.”

[ansel12]

I think that the Derringer is an outdated relic of the past.

Today one can find 9mm in the same size, weighing much less, and holding 7 bullets.

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/2-DB9

[military cop]

Also correct-handed.

Try this link. I’ve got one for a SW 342 “Unobtainium”.

http://www.klnullholsters.com/

If you’re carrying an automatic, I’d suggest any number of quality jackass rigs from makers like Don Hume, G&G or Galco.

RLTW.