Concealed carry options

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makman1297

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Hello everyone i am new here and have recently started carring. I have had my permit for years but never carried often. What do you all use for carring. I have a shoulder rig, really only good in the winter when i can wear a coat, and i have a IWB holster for my Bersa thunder 380 plus, but i feel like it may be noticable. I am shopping for some newer clothes to try and get a better concealement for my pistol. I have recently seem the smart holster that puts it over you private area, and seems like a decent idea. Guess i am looking for some good ideas and tips from those that actually carry on a regular basis. Thanks.
 
makman1297 said:
Hello everyone i am new here and have recently started carring. I have had my permit for years but never carried often. What do you all use for carring. I have a shoulder rig, really only good in the winter when i can wear a coat, and i have a IWB holster for my Bersa thunder 380 plus, but i feel like it may be noticable. I am shopping for some newer clothes to try and get a better concealement for my pistol. I have recently seem the smart holster that puts it over you private area, and seems like a decent idea. Guess i am looking for some good ideas and tips from those that actually carry on a regular basis. Thanks.
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I carry all the time, everywhere I go. Have been for many years now.

I teach CC, and carry that way when necessary, but I think you need to seriously consider a LOT of extra training if that's the only way you can carry. See if you can borrow one of those "smart carry" rigs and then see how long it takes you to actually draw and present the gun. I've watched a lot of people try it, and did it myself in a tactical class, but that's the very LAST place I'd carry myself.

IWB with a good, solid holster that covers the trigger completely. That's my best suggestion. But you need to train with it seriously and accept the fact that fooling with your clothing and "cover garment" is going to cost you precious time if you ever need to use it. Good luck.
 
Thanks, I do like the IWB idea, perhaps a better fitting holster would help, i have a universal one and its a little loose for my bersa, guess i can see if they make a better fitting one. I dont want to be printing in public and have some super sensenative person call the cops on me when i am trying to be leagal.
 
I think with a good fitting IWB you can easily conceal your bersa, as it is not a large handgun. Almost everyone I know that carries has felt that everyone new they were carrying when they first started carrying. That feeling goes away quickly as you realize nobody really looks to see who is carrying. If people see a bulge they most likely think its a cell phone or some other device. So find a good holster and gunbelt and carry everyday, then you will always have it if you need it. I use a Mitch Rosen ARG IWB holster (all leather), they are not the cheapest, but are high quality and very comfortable. The comp-tac minotauer IWB is a highbred leather/kydex holster that is also very nice and less expensive. It is also tuckable.
 
I CC a Bersa Thunder 9 UC Pro on my right hip OWB at 3 o'clock in a Vega holster with a thumb break and wear loose fitting shirts with the shirt tail hanging out. I don't worry about if I print or not.

Now days people are so busy playing with their cell phone, talking or texting on them, they don't even know you're there - must less if you're printing or not.
 
I have a Blackhawk IWB holster. Also a Taurus tcp 738 for conceal carry. It's not an expensive holster, but it works. I've found that I had to go clothes shopping, to find the right shirts, pants belt etc. once you find the right clothing everything starts to fall into place. Big mirrors help also. Once you start to carry everyday, you become more comfortable. I had to try a few different holsters as well. Tried pocket holsters. They just didn't work for me. My Blackhawk is slightly uncomfortable. But for $12.00 it's expected. Eventually I'll invest in something more comfortable.
 
With a good holster you can conceal almost any pistol and not be noticed. I carry a Ruger SR9c IWB with a Makenzie holster. I typically wear a white undershirt and some kind of button up shirt. Even without the undershirt I have never had anyone notice. I've been in many situations were I'm clearly visible to many people sitting, standing, bending, kneeling, etc...

In a way I have purposely pushed myself to see just how oblivious most people are. The fact is that 99.9% of the people around you will be too wrapped up in their daily lives to notice anything under your shirt and even if they do notice a bulge they'll likely think it's a cell phone or similar device. Even if you have to tuck your shirt in, with a decent holster it's still easy to go unnoticed.

A good rule of thumb is to wear clothing that is not too snug. I'm a large guy and tend to buy shirts and pants that have some room because that's what I'm comfortable in. The tighter your clothes are the harder it will be to conceal and easily get away with it.
 
I have been carring around town the last few days, i defiantly need a better holster, mine rides a little higher than i like and likes to move around a bit too much. I also need to buy some longer shirts, need a medium long, my shirts are always too short. No one has noticed at all i am starting to get used to it too.
 
makman1297 said:
Thanks, I do like the IWB idea, perhaps a better fitting holster would help, i have a universal one and its a little loose for my bersa, guess i can see if they make a better fitting one. I dont want to be printing in public and have some super sensenative person call the cops on me when i am trying to be leagal.
Click to expand...

It's legal to OC here in OR so it's not a legal thing to print but I try not to. I lost some weight and went from a 38/40 waist to 34 and I had to change holsters to be comfortable and reduce printing. I went with an IWB tuckable for my CZ-82 and CZ-75B. I got a Homestead Holster (HomesteadHolsters.com) for the CZ-82 and an Old faithful Holster for the CZ-75.They are a less expensive version of tuckable and I can't believe I waited years to get this type holster. The Old Faithful is a kit you put together to keep the price down. I love them both.
 
I'll echo much of what was already said.

I bought a SmartCarry early on. The concealment was great but it was impossible to draw quickly and easily from it.

Slightly oversized clothes are good. Be aware that loose clothing can be blown around in the wind, potentially revealing your gun.

For untucked shirts, buying tall sized shirts on the internet can be a good option for some. I do that for all my shirts now.

Hawaiian shirts are fantastic for concealment in the summer. They're made to be worn loose and 'frumpy', which hides all manner of bulges. I think whoever invented them must have carried a gun. I'm wearing one as I type this.

Truly good holsters are worth the higher prices.

Crossbreed makes the best IWB holsters in my opinion.

A real gun belt is better than a store bought belt, and is worth the extra money.

Whatever you buy, practice with it.

You notice your printing (bulges and outlines) because you're looking for it. Other people aren't looking for it. This is quite common when people first start carrying. It feels like everybody can see your gun. The reality is that your gun would have to be able to sing and dance before most people would know it was there. If anyone is ever going to notice it printing, it will most likely be another concealed carrier. The general public isn't likely to notice your gun until the printing gets to the point that it is extremely obvious that the outline is a gun, which isn't going to happen without great stretching. The only other way they'd notice would be if your gun becomes uncovered. If you've taken care to buy a good holster and dress appropriately, all you really need worry about is avoiding those two things, which really isn't all that hard.
 
I agree that a good gunbelt along with a good holster is very important. Now that I have a true gun belt I would never use a regular belt again. TuckerGunLeather.com has some good belts. Also check out N82Tactical.com their Pro holster is awesome.

:big_boss:
 
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