New Handgun Owner

[Rob_F]

Just picked up my first handgun, Smith and Wesson M&P 9. I also obtained my permit to carry from my home state of Indiana (only took two weeks). I got a blackhawk sportster from Walmart just to test it out and start to get a feel for carrying, not a huge fan of it feels pretty bulky. I am wanting a OWB holster, any suggestions? how else do people carry their full size pistols?

 

[Rocketgeezer]

Just picked up my first handgun, Smith and Wesson M&P 9. I also obtained my permit to carry from my home state of Indiana (only took two weeks). I got a blackhawk sportster from Walmart just to test it out and start to get a feel for carrying, not a huge fan of it feels pretty bulky. I am wanting a OWB holster, any suggestions? how else do people carry their full size pistols?

Find yourself a well stocked sporting goods or gun shop, and go ck them out, depending on there rules you may or may not be able to take your gun and try it for fit, just one thing, do your best to find one you like or you will end up with a box full of them, LOL

 

[MilShooter]

Find yourself a well stocked sporting goods or gun shop, and go ck them out, depending on there rules you may or may not be able to take your gun and try it for fit, just one thing, do your best to find one you like or you will end up with a box full of them, LOL

Do you mean to say that everyone should NOT have a box full of holsters in their closet? (smile) Like you (probably), I have bought dozens of holsters only to find later that they did not meet my needs. Into the box they go.

For the OP, if you live in an area like me, without a big store that has a good assortment of holsters, I encourage you to read the thread on this site wherein there is a long discussion thread about "What is the most popular Concealed Carry Holster?" It is located under "Concealed Carry Discussion" and is a "sticky" post near the top of the listing. There, you'll get a really good idea of what many people consider to be their "perfect" holster, sometimes based on gun size, sometimes based on body type, and sometimes based on sex.

Congratulations on your gun purchase and concealed carry permit. And welcome to the forums.

Here's a link to the thread I mentioned:

What is the most popular Concealed Carry Holster

 

[Nick Marra]

do you know if indiana issues out of state permits?

 

[MilShooter]

do you know if indiana issues out of state permits?

Take a look toward the top of this (and every) page. You'll see a button called "Concealed Carry Permit Info". Click on the button and select the state in question. You should be able to find the information you seek.

Welcome to the forums, Nick.

 

[Firefighterchen]

Just picked up my first handgun, Smith and Wesson M&P 9. I also obtained my permit to carry from my home state of Indiana (only took two weeks). I got a blackhawk sportster from Walmart just to test it out and start to get a feel for carrying, not a huge fan of it feels pretty bulky. I am wanting a OWB holster, any suggestions? how else do people carry their full size pistols?

Congrats.

As to OWB holsters, do you prefer leather, kydex, or hybrid? Paddle vs belt slots? Level of retention? What position on your body?

I open carry my full size firearm OWB, paddle plastic holster (fobus), level 2 retention (trigger finger release), at the 2 - 3 o'clock position.

 

[MilShooter]

Congrats.

As to OWB holsters, do you prefer leather, kydex, or hybrid? Paddle vs belt slots? Level of retention? What position on your body?

I open carry my full size firearm OWB, paddle plastic holster (fobus), level 2 retention (trigger finger release), at the 2 - 3 o'clock position.

That's what I love about these discussions. So many different solutions to a shared issue.

Rather than your choice, I prefer a custom leather OWB holster, carried at about the 4 o'clock position, just rear of the side pocket on my pants.

Not that either answer is correct for the OP - he/she must try and try solutions until finding one that is comfortable and accessible for him/her. I use Kydex OWB for competition, but I like leather for daily wear. In particular, I like the OWB holsters built by UBG Holsters (Ugly Bald Guy Holsters).

Your mileage may vary...

 

[cmj0968]

I carry an XD45 in a Bianchi carrylok, OWB at 4 o'clock, have been for a few years now. Might change in the future as I haven't tried the Kydex options. Everybody's different, good luck in your search and welcome to the group...

 

[squirrelhunter]

Welcome to the forums you two from a fellow Hoosier. I still haven't found a setup I like other than my ankle holster and I've been looking for years. Don't let that discourage you though,a lot of my problem is cash flow. But like said before,try them out if you possibly can.

 

[MilShooter]

Welcome to the forums you two from a fellow Hoosier. I still haven't found a setup I like other than my ankle holster and I've been looking for years. Don't let that discourage you though,a lot of my problem is cash flow. But like said before,try them out if you possibly can.

While the ankle holster works for many people, the OP is going to carry a full-sized gun. I would hate to carry a 24 ounce gun (empty) that holds 17 9mm rounds on my ankle. I would probably break my other ankle getting into my truck!

Everyone has different needs, to be sure. My closest female friend - just a friend - carries a 4 1/4" barreled Ruger .357 revolver (I think it is a GP100 double action revolver that weighs 40 ounces empty) in an ankle holster. She is 5' 11" tall and weighs no more than 110 pounds. Her problem, as she described it to me was simple. She was so skinny and bony that there weren't a lot of places to hide her gun. And she refuses to change guns. Not that I can blame her - she shoots the center out of every target at up to 25 yards - so why change? Lately, however, she carries in a custom-built shoulder holster (vertical carry) and chooses to wear a jacket. The reason? She moved to Florida and finds that ankle-carry while wearing shorts is impractical.

Let's agree that today, we have an enormous variety of choices in holsters. Just 10 years ago, we were severely limited. Now, with such innovative designs as the Super Tuck (and its copies), we really have no excuse for not having a comfortable way to carry concealed.

Again, my advice to the OP is first to read the sticky thread on What is the most popular Concealed Carry Holster?

And then, after doing this research, begin to narrow-down his choice. At least it is a good starting point. We can't collectively tell him that "this holster is best for you" because we aren't him.

And so it goes...

 

[Rob_F]

Welcome to the forums you two from a fellow Hoosier. I still haven't found a setup I like other than my ankle holster and I've been looking for years. Don't let that discourage you though,a lot of my problem is cash flow. But like said before,try them out if you possibly can.

Since you live and carry in Indiana I was wondering if Indiana has carry rules posted on a government website somewhere? I have read the rules on this website just want to make sure I am not missing anything.

 

[squirrelhunter]

While the ankle holster works for many people, the OP is going to carry a full-sized gun. I would hate to carry a 24 ounce gun (empty) that holds 17 9mm rounds on my ankle. I would probably break my other ankle getting into my truck!

Everyone has different needs, to be sure. My closest female friend - just a friend - carries a 4 1/4" barreled Ruger .357 revolver (I think it is a GP100 double action revolver that weighs 40 ounces empty) in an ankle holster. She is 5' 11" tall and weighs no more than 110 pounds. Her problem, as she described it to me was simple. She was so skinny and bony that there weren't a lot of places to hide her gun. And she refuses to change guns. Not that I can blame her - she shoots the center out of every target at up to 25 yards - so why change? Lately, however, she carries in a custom-built shoulder holster (vertical carry) and chooses to wear a jacket. The reason? She moved to Florida and finds that ankle-carry while wearing shorts is impractical.

Let's agree that today, we have an enormous variety of choices in holsters. Just 10 years ago, we were severely limited. Now, with such innovative designs as the Super Tuck (and its copies), we really have no excuse for not having a comfortable way to carry concealed.

Again, my advice to the OP is first to read the sticky thread on What is the most popular Concealed Carry Holster?

And then, after doing this research, begin to narrow-down his choice. At least it is a good starting point. We can't collectively tell him that "this holster is best for you" because we aren't him.

And so it goes...

Sorry if you misunderstood what I was saying but I wasn't trying to say that the ankle holster would be best for him,I was just saying that that was what I'm using at this time.That's why I said to try them out if possibly can,meaning all holsters or at least ones he thought he might like,not ankle holsters.Again sorry I wasn't more clear.

 

[squirrelhunter]

Since you live and carry in Indiana I was wondering if Indiana has carry rules posted on a government website somewhere? I have read the rules on this website just want to make sure I am not missing anything.

You might try IN.gov: Home here's a link in that site that might help. Link Removed . Hope it helps and works.

 

[Rob_F]

Thanks everyone for the links and the advice, been a big help.