SD9VE shadowing through t-shirt

[Eviltwisted1]

I have a Sd9ve with 16 in clip 1 in chamber and I live in florida, always in a tshirt and jeans, the problem I am having is simple, I always shadow( think that is technical name( my weapon can Always be seen through my shirt. I am currently using a Blackhawk serpa sportster with paddle( with the belt sleeve it hangs to low and can be seen even more so)
So I have a cple of questions on this subject
1st is it still considered conceal carry if it shadows such as is does? I mean pretty much anyone who looks at my side can tell im carrying, so is this still legal
2 how can I get around this problem? I don't want to switch to a smaller pistol or with single stack mag,i know this would slim it out some, but I feel that this defeats the purpose of carrying, if I am limited on weapon style or numbers of rounds available.
I know there are a lot of different thoughts out there and I need some feedback on those 2 questions, I appreciate it

 

[XD40scinNC]

First let's clear up the technical terms!

Shadowing; the dark outline of the gun can be seen through a light colored t-shirt?
Printing; the shape of the gun creates a similar raised image in the t-shirt?

Either way, a darker colored t-shirt, perhaps even one size larger if you wear snug fitting shirts should solve the problem.

 

[Fallschirmjäger]

1st is it still considered conceal carry if it shadows such as is does? I mean pretty much anyone who looks at my side can tell im carrying, so is this still legal
2 how can I get around this problem? I don't want to switch to a smaller pistol or with single stack mag,i know this would slim it out some, but I feel that this defeats the purpose of carrying, if I am limited on weapon style or numbers of rounds available.
I know there are a lot of different thoughts out there and I need some feedback on those 2 questions, I appreciate it

1) SERPA's aren't known for being 'low silhouette' holsters, you might investigate something that hugs the body a bit more closely.
2) As much as people make of 'printing' I haven't run across anywhere that a legal carrier has had a problem caused by the shape of something beneath his shirt. Most state laws say "... concealed from ordinary sight" where concealment is required.

Without knowing what state you are inquiring about, it's hard to give a definitive answer.

 

[r1derbike]

Welcome to the forum. As noted before, wear a size larger shirt, with designs to distract the human eye. Most any printed designs will work. I wear the square-cut bottom shirts, so I don't have to tuck them in.

It is not hard to conceal a sidearm.

 

[indyyy]

I carry a SD9VE as well, and recently got a Uncle Mike's 'inside the waistband' holster. The belt goes on the outside rather than the inside of the holster, and you can have the holster either inside or outside the waistband.

I usually wear sweatpants and a tshirt, so don't have belt loops on my pants. The holster conceals a bit better inside, but I wear it outside my sweatpants with a fairly tight belt and have my tshirt over the gun and holster. I'm 5' 7", 150 lbs - so not a big guy. My tshirts are a little loose, but not baggy (most are medium size tshirts).

I've found it helps to try different positions around the waist too - if i have my gun and holster at the 9 oclock position (I'm left handed) it prints more than if I have it between 10 and 11 o'clock.

Finally, if you started carrying recently - I was very self conscious the first few months that i carried and thought everyone would notice. After awhile I realized that no one notices if there's a little bulge under my shirt when the wind blows on it

 

[Eviltwisted1]

1) SERPA's aren't known for being 'low silhouette' holsters, you might investigate something that hugs the body a bit more closely.
2) As much as people make of 'printing' I haven't run across anywhere that a legal carrier has had a problem caused by the shape of something beneath his shirt. Most state laws say "... concealed from ordinary sight" where concealment is required.

Without knowing what state you are inquiring about, it's hard to give a definitive answer.

I am in Florida

 

[Eviltwisted1]

I am approx. 215lbs and stand 5' 11" none of my shirts are by any means tight fitting, most are medium to large pending on how shirts run. I have been carrying or almost 1 yea so far, the reason I carry OTW is most of my jeans are tighter fit as I have gained weight due to injuries and I do want to go buy whole new wardrobe just to carry( not mention I don't have funds for that, and new clothes I buy ( which is rare) I make sure there is extra room especially shirts. Most times people don't notice or atleast don't say anything, but my neightbor saw me other ay and questioned it saying he could tell I'm carrying, also when I am at less ay walgreens or something and they have the huge mirrors on back wl, I see it plane as day( but be me cuz i know its there.
I have herd ouncle mikes holsters but I livee in tiny town and not much section when it comes to that, most times I have to order from online or something like that if I want something and hate to spend money on something if it wont work or there is delay it returns or no returns at all.
I appreciate the info and comments, Thank you

 

[indyyy]

I almost always order holsters and ammo online even tho I live in a big city - don't like spending the money but they're part of owning a gun. It doesn't have to be an uncle mike's - but if you get an IWB that has a loop or clip and isn't real wide, you can wear the belt on the outside of the holster with the holster between the belt and outside of your jeans. The gun's handle stays closer and flatter against your body that way rather than sticking out.

 

[Fallschirmjäger]

For Florida the statutes you need to concern yourself primarily are in Chapter 790.
790.001 Definitions
790.01 Carrying concealed weapons
and, lastly
790.053 Open carrying of weapons

My personal synopsis (I'm not a lawyer, I'm a Jethro Bodine style Sixth Grade Graduate if anything) is that 790.01 makes it a misdemeanor to carry a concealed firearm but sub-section (3) says that does not apply to a properly licensed individual.
"Concealed" is defined as "...carried on or about a person in such a manner as to conceal the firearm from the ordinary sight of another person..."
As "ordinary sight" is not defined otherwise, the law defaults to the dictionary definition which would mean 'to see with the unaided eye'. The law doesn't say conceals the shape, nor does it define just how closely fabric must conform to a firearm's shape before it's no longer concealed. In fact in the two cases that are listed in Florida's jury instructions Ensor v. State, 403 So. 2d 349 (Fla. 1981) and Dorelus v. State, 747 So. 2d 368 (Fla. 1999) in both cases the firearm or a part thereof was visible to the naked eye.
Ensor: "... one officer spotted a portion of a white object protruding from under the left side of the passenger floormat. From squatting and looking into the already-opened passenger door, the officer determined the object to be a derringer pistol..."
Dorelus: "...Thus, the undisputed facts are that the gun was located in an open console underneath the radio and the officer observed the shiny silver butt of a gun sticking out of the console..."
Neither Ensor nor Dorelus were exempt from 790.01 by virtue of being licensed (790.01 (3)).

Bottom line, Does 'printing' matter?
All I can say is that it's been debated for at least the last 15 years on various firearms forums and so far as I'm aware no one has presented a case where a conviction has been obtained because a firearm printed.

 

[bernardbarker]

Excellent response.

 

[XD40scinNC]

I am approx. 215lbs and stand 5' 11" none of my shirts are by any means tight fitting, most are medium to large pending on how shirts run.

I'm 205 5'11" and I wear XL's or XXL's depending on how the shirt fits. I can't get a medium on, regardless of the brand/quality, large is snug to tight, and I'm not talking gut, but chest/shoulders.

 

[indyyy]

Following up on Fallshirmjager's post - this is from the open carry section of the Florida code that he posted:

It is not a violation of this section for a person licensed to carry a concealed firearm as provided in s. 790.06(1), and who is lawfully carrying a firearm in a concealed manner, to briefly and openly display the firearm to the ordinary sight of another person, unless the firearm is intentionally displayed in an angry or threatening manner, not in necessary self-defense.

So, you can briefly and openly show your gun as long as it's not in an angry or threatening manner. You would think if someone noticed a gun printing or shadowing, this would cover the situation - but who know's with laws. If a policeman notices, hopefully he's a good cop and knows this. And if you wind up in court over it hopefully you don't get a whacko judge lol.

Having said this, open carry is legal in my state - I try to conceal in such a way that other's won't notice that I'm carrying, even tho the keen observer might notice. I also observe other's to try to see if they're carrying or how they might be carrying. It's interesting when you notice someone looking you over in the same manner - most people are caught up in their own world and don't take much notice of others around them.

 

[Fallschirmjäger]

Excellent response.

Thanks, it earned me a lifetime ban for being a ""recidivist blowhard"" when it disagreed with a senior member on another forum late last week. He thought that being able to see a completely covered shape was sufficient if it could be surmised to be a firearm instead of needing to be seen by ordinary sight. :cray:

Still, he couldn't point out anywhere that a conviction had occurred because of shape and not because a firearm had been seen being carried by an unlicensed individual.

 

[SR9]

I find it hard be prints in t-shirt. I prefer a summer button up collared shirt, even better if it's in a plaid or print pattern that breaks up any gun print lines.
I wear a cotton tank t-shirt under it to keep my gun from rubbing my skin or getting sweat on my gun. Works great.

 

[RJT CCW]

If you have the funds OP go with a holster that fits closer to the body (it can still be OWB). This will help in the printing department.

 

[Trugrit]

Two thoughts: 1) try an XL or preferably an XXL - anything smaller for your size is to body hugging to conceal even the smallest pistol. 2) the new "wicking" T-shirts of microfiber (read polyester) are too thin and stretchy to conceal anything (put your hand under a single layer and you can read your fingerprints). Use 100% heavyweight cotton t-shirts. I am 190 lbs and 5'10" and wear XXL 100% cotton - once washed and then dried in a hot dryer they are just loose enough to fairly easily conceal my Kahr PM .45

 

[indyyy]

I find it hard be prints in t-shirt. I prefer a summer button up collared shirt, even better if it's in a plaid or print pattern that breaks up any gun print lines.
I wear a cotton tank t-shirt under it to keep my gun from rubbing my skin or getting sweat on my gun. Works great

I agree that button up shirts conceal better than tshirts and also shirts that have prints better than plain shirts. I have a couple of hawaiin flower print shirts that I wear now and then, but am really a tshirt and sweatpants kind of guy.

 

[TroutKing]

I have a similar problem. I'm 6'2" / 195 lbs with little fat. Seems every OWB rig prints unless I wear baggy shirts. One would think being a big guy it's not a problem. I went to IWB carry and it was much less obvious. I even went to a Ruger LC9 for pocket carry. Try an IWB rig.