Posted on 08/30/2015 9:35:06 AM PDT by rktman
Plastic frame guns can be sensitive to that.
I carried a G19 for many years. I gave two of them to my wife and daughter. But I know they work because I've shot (well) over 1000 rds in each.
I just wouldn't start with a new one. I went with my P2000SK and 38 snubbie. I'm now trying out a LCR in 9mm, have 250 rds through with no probs.
Carrying a piece daily, doing errands, also biking, walking, running offers different challenges for concealment. Also the desire not to sacrifice firepower/accuracy/handling etc for a more concealable tiny firearm that some have a tendency to treat as a magical totem that defends against evil is another issue.
Carrying appendix inside waist band 1 or 2 o’clock (I’m ambidextrous with handguns) I usually go up in pant waist and shirt size...also concealment is easiest with guayabera or hawaiian shirts. Would work for any belt carry position really with these shirts. Such a shirt with patterned design like flowing lines one could hide a very large pistol easily, normal printing is camouflaged and disappears. I had a plain guayabera today and hid a Glock 20 full size 10mm easily with shorts.
A thick wide belt is necessary. Loading pockets with items for myself can feel weighty, while in contrast securing items on belt line — mags, fixed blade, flashlight — one feels lighter. Of course it depends on what type shirt being worn as it effects concealability...too many items, too many potential bulges.
If moving around all day, driving car to stores, walking, back to car, etc do I want items jabbing me in back sitting in car seat? Typically I’ll go over a belt loop at the 7 or 4 o’clock position when putting on a belt to allow movement so the extra mag(s) carrier can be slid to the side of my body to comfortably drive. Exiting vehicle the mag carrier is slightly moved back behind the hip bone. I don’t want back issues from sitting against a mag or flashlight jabbing me.
With AIWB carry it’s always a trade off between speed of access and concealability. For example running I use Dale Fricke Archangel, mounted high, excellent retention with the body/leg movement. Can do sprints, no issue. It does print so extra large sport shirt worn plus I normally run at night. Also biking with AIWB is intrusive with leg position, so I carry at 9 o’clock OWB American from One Source Tactical hugs body closely under shirt.
Otherwise normally carry Blade Techs Klipt kydex types or Galco Sto n Go leather. The bottom line is if people carry daily you’ll need several different holster variations.
Another issue I’ve had with a compact or subcompact firearm, such as Glock 19 or 26, printing is an issue with tighter shirts for variation (summer heat, dressing up, etc ...not into wearing a bed sheet all day) Normal holsters with clip will print, depending on shirt design, etc. Going to a smaller pistol isn’t something I want. However last week I attended a summer fair in tight t-shirt and shorts, and successfully concealed Glock 19 AIWB with extra mag in pocket. It was a matter of using a blackhawk or uncle mike’s nylon holster, not using the belt clip but sliding the pistol down until the grip was even with belt. A deep carry, pistol disappears, though harder to access quickly. Really it’s a thumb grab and pistol flies into palm of hand as moving upward.
I’ve noticed the sticky holsters mentioned here and will try them, as I want an option for wearing tighter shirts on occasion and a holster without a clip should work for that deep deep concealment, just have to make sure belt is tight per usual for retention, and the holster isn’t holding onto the gun in a draw... holding a piece with a sock over it one would look like a darn fool.
Once you start carrying, you tend to look for other people who are also carrying. Trying to spot other concealed carriers is a great way to pass time. Better yet, make this activity a self-improvement drill. If you can spot others carrying, consider what tipped you off to their armed status, and don’t make the same mistake yourself. For example, my daughter spotted a motorcyclist on the highway the other day using an inside the waistband holster covered by a long shirt. Cruising along with the wind in his face caused his shirt to ride up to his chest, leaving his gun exposed for all to see.
Bad example for CC. The biker was hardly carrying concealed. Sounds like brandishing to me.
Old... That’s what my Dad says. Says he’s to young to die and too old to fight, so he’ll just shoot you to end it quickly.
In my case, which involved four armed robbers [one was driving] who decided to rob the business where I worked, two died on the floor, their *doorguard* fled right out the door [and dropped his stolen handgun] and the driver abandoned his surviving accomplice, eventually *rescuing* him after circling the block to flee in the direction opposite the way he'd been seen to leave.
The good news: it was a smallish town, and I knew most of the cops who worked the scene and interviewed the witnesses, of whom there were two besides me. Both statec that I had saved their lives, expecting to be killed to prevent identification of the criminals they'd never before seen; neither had I. Both had multi-page arrewst records and one was a convicted ex-felon.
They were just a little salty about my phone call to 911 in which I directed the dispatcher to send the responding officers in uniform to the front door *because I'm not going to set my handgun down until I see those uniforms,* and neither did I release the electric security lock on the front door until I was real certain who it was. That taken care of, they knew the right questions to ask [it was around October and we'd had about a half-dozen similar robberies or attempts, unclear if it was the same goofs or one or two *core* robbers with differing accomplices. But I knew two that wouldn't do it again.
Real conveniently, my attorney was out of town on vacation about a thousand miles away. The only part I was especially worried about was that the local prosecutor was up for re-election and liked to brag about how crime stopped when he got the criminals in court. I had fired four shots total, and one cop asked my why I'd emptied my pistol into the two bodies, not realizing that the crime scene tech had pulled out the magazine; I thanked him for pointing out that they had altered the evidence; he wasn't real happy about that.
I was NOT cuffed or told I was under arrest but I'm pretty sure I couldn't have strolled off to get a sandwich. I was driven- by a cop I was on a first-name basis with- to headquarters to wait for their detectives and the local chief to arrive, which all total took about 3 hours after my last shot had been fired. The goods news: they knew I hadn't eaten, and brought me a couple of cans of coke, two burgers and half a pizza. It saved me from having to leave and go find that sandwich shop.
The questions were pretty much clear cut: very little about motive or intent, other than Why Had I Fired?
[Pay attention to this next bit!]
There were two armed men, one with a shotgun, who were pointing or had pointed their weapons at my employees, and I feared for their lives and my own. The only way I could stop what was going on was to shoot.
I was never placed in a cell, but waited in the detective's interview room until late the next morning. Eleven hours, more or less, after my last shot after repeating my testimony under oath to the local grand jury and was given a *no bill* clearing me of any wrongdoing in connection with the incident. I got my handgun [.45 Colt Commander, used because my Browning Hi-Power was in the shop getting new sights] back that afternoon, along with my magazine and leftover ammo. A couple of the cops asked me technical questions about the shooting, which I really figured was picking my brain to help work out how they'd have handled something similar, and over the next couple of weeks made a few trips to look at mugshots of various previous known associates of the two dead ones, which was how I found out about their criminal records. My lawyer said he figured I had handled it about as reasonably as could have been done, and deeply regretted not getting his usual hourly fee for legal advice- which I would have happily paid.
Things I'd have done different? Yes. Any big deal. Nope.
Lost my pistol for about 15 hours. And yes, they had cleaned and oiled it.
Might it be this one?
Yup, that’s the one. Thanks
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