Problems Concealing

[dafobbishon3]

I recently received an Old Faithful Holster in the mail and I put it together, it looks great. I tried it on at 4 o'clock and 5 o'clock. it's much more concealable at my 5 o'clock, but it prints really bad from the back and the side. Any other ways or pointers you use to conceal that have holsters with this kind of style? I know it would be more easily concealed with a jacket on or what not, but living in Texas,, I can't wear a jacket out, it's way too hot.

EDIT:
Firearm: Glock 19/23
Holster: Old Faithful Hip
Height: 5'10
Weight: 190#


This is what it looks like it. It's pretty obvious I'm carrying.





Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

After I get this settled, I'll post up a review on it!

[Dave2]

I'd try a tighter belt or a looser shirt. Or both.

[dafobbishon3]

I'd try a tighter belt or a looser shirt. Or both.

Shoot, that's the tightest hole I could fit it on before getting an anurysm.

Any baggier shirt, I'll look like a gangster!

[cbunt1]

I'll try to help a little bit here. First, let's talk about what pistol you're carrying--it helps to know, since likely someone around uses it for an EDC. Full-size double-stack duty pistols, while concealable in an EDC context, are harder to hide than J-Frames, 1911's, and baby glocks.

I'm not familiar with the Old Faithful, but a quick look on the website says it's comparable to the Comp-Tac MTAC, and the Crossbreed...a very popular and workable style.

FIrst things first...one size larger shirt can help. Also, a shirt with a pattern makes a difference--it breaks up the outlines. Personally, I prefer shirts of thicker materials as well...my lighter weight knit-material polos will print a gun easier than my slightly heaver weight shirts will. And my button-downs are starched...you'd be amazed what a difference it makes...the more the material tends to hold its shape, the less it drags on the gun. On that note, textured/rubber grips are notorious...I dumped a RTF Glock that I loved to carry because it was like velcro on the back side of my shirts.

Second: Cant of the gun helps break outlines. I tend to carry in a very radical cant, almost to the extremes of the holster's (MTAC) clip capabilities. The standard "guideline" is to go for a straight line between the muzzle and butt, perpendicular to the ground, and parallel to your midline...more or less...and it's only a starting point.

Also: What you (and I) see as clearly the grip of a pistol could just as easily be a cell phone, insulin pump, pager, PDA, tape measure, etc...of course the environment you're in makes a difference, so take this with a grain of salt...but remember, the average person sees a bulge and thinks "junk on his belt" not "pistol, knife, and extra mags" like we do :) Also, back to the cant thing--a pistol grip pointing at a 45* angle under a shirt doesn't telegraph "gun" like one at 90* to your waistline...something about the eye seeing what it expects to see..

Experimenting in front of a mirror tells me that it's easier to prevent printing (for me) at a 3:00 position with a radical cant. Of course, it's not easy to draw from this position, but you can work through that. The problem at 3:00 is that even wearing a jacket, it's obvious I'm wearing a saddlebag :). 4:00 puts the frontline of the pistol behind the wide-part of my midline...breaking the outline, and it's my general "best spot" location. 5:00 is most invisible from in front of me, but if I bend wrong, is glaringly obvious from behind me.You'll find the "right" spot, and it'll be fine.

As I've moved through the various stages of concealed carry, I've also moved through the stages of body changes (I've lost about 60 pounds in the last 4 years...doing it reasonably slow, and so far,keeping it off). As I lose weight, it's harder to hide a full size pistol...that said, I've still been able to carry a bobtail grip commander-size 1911 without being "outed"...so it can be done.

The thing is, at least for me, if you don't draw attention to it, nobody will notice it. If someone notices the "maybe," as long as you act like it's as normal as carrying your wallet, they will too (for the most part). That doesn't mean don't worry about it, but it does mean don't focus too much on it.

If you're in one of those situations where you simply can't afford to be "outed," or even have someone question it and get to thinking about it (I'm thinking about "at work" and similar here) use the tuckable feature of that holster...blouse the shirt out a bit, and it makes a world of difference.

I don't know how much real "help" I'm offering, but hopefully sharing some of my experiences will give you some ideas. Trust me, it'll come.

[cbunt1]

I'd try a tighter belt or a looser shirt. Or both.

Shoot, that's the tightest hole I could fit it on before getting an anurysm.

Any baggier shirt, I'll look like a gangster!

Ah-Hah. Now we're on to something....my experience with IWB is that the belt can't be TOO tight...perhaps a stronger belt would help. A good gun belt is the foundation for any carry system. It's not as critical with IWB as with OWB, but the difference is still night and day. 5.11 makes some good belts for about the same price as a good dress belt. Beltman, Comp-Tac, and others make excellent double-layer leather gun belts too....but the upgrade will be noticable.

And from the pic, you can get away with one size larger shirt, or a slightly different cut in the same size.

[Chris]

Go get some cheap white t-shirts to wear as undershirts. I bought a ton of white McCain t-shirts for like $.50 apiece after he lost (so that's a possibility soon). You can get them to fit you snug, then when you throw a t-shirt on over it, it will be less likely to bunch up on top of the gun. I have carried a lot with big guns like 1911s and Beretta 92s just stuffed into my pants, and that's how I did it.

[dafobbishon3]

First off, cbunt1, thank you very much for your input! Now let's get down to business.
First, let's talk about what pistol you're carrying--it helps to know, since likely someone around uses it for an EDC. I have a Glock 19 and a Glock 23, but they both have rubber pachymar grips on them.

FIrst things first...one size larger shirt can help. Also, a shirt with a pattern makes a difference--it breaks up the outlines. On that note, textured/rubber grips are notorious...I dumped a RTF Glock that I loved to carry because it was like velcro on the back side of my shirts. I supposed I'll try taking the grip off of the gun and see if that helps much. With a polymer frame, and I have fairly large hands, the pachymar grip is almost a necessity for me when shooting though.

Second: Cant of the gun helps break outlines. I tend to carry in a very radical cant, almost to the extremes of the holster's (MTAC) clip capabilities. What i love about the Old Faithful Holster is that I can very easily change the cant and the tightness of the screws. I'll switch it up. What do you recommend the cant be for a 4-5 o clock hold? There are 3 holes on the front and back end of the holster. I will for sure put the front hole on the lowest setting so that it'll have a forward cant. As for the rear hole, should I love that in the middle setting or put it on the highest setting where the gun is in an extreme forward cant?

As I've moved through the various stages of concealed carry, I've also moved through the stages of body changes (I've lost about 60 pounds in the last 4 years...doing it reasonably slow, and so far,keeping it off). As I lose weight, it's harder to hide a full size pistol...that said, I've still been able to carry a bobtail grip commander-size 1911 without being "outed"...so it can be done.
Congratulations on the weight loss! but that's impressive on still being able to carry a 1911! I see a lot of people on the ar15.com forum with G19s and have the same build as me and conceal it fairly well, but then again, it's also the gear. it's probably the belt that everyone is talking about.

What do you think about this belt? I know it's very inexpensive. But I've heard great reviews on it.
http://www.hanksclothing.com/amish_belts_brown_buy.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm actually going to try academy or gander mountain to see if they have any belts. I don't want to order online, only because their sizes could differ. I prefer to try the belt on rather than to order online. I tried doing the whole "wear your old belt, measure from the beginning of the belt to the hole used mostly, and add 1-2 sizes up, and that'll be the belt to order". I tried that with 3 different old belts that i have, and I got 3 different sizes for each belt... So... To be on the safe side, I'll try some on at those outdoor sports stores; does anyone know if they hold good belts there?

Thanks again for your help!

[dafobbishon3]

Go get some cheap white t-shirts to wear as undershirts. I bought a ton of white McCain t-shirts for like $.50 apiece after he lost (so that's a possibility soon). You can get them to fit you snug, then when you throw a t-shirt on over it, it will be less likely to bunch up on top of the gun. I have carried a lot with big guns like 1911s and Beretta 92s just stuffed into my pants, and that's how I did it.

I'll try this! I have plenty of Hanes White crew shirts I can fit under that grey shirt I work in the picture. it's a real thin crew shirt, so hopefully it won't give me sweating problems, i'm one of those people who sweat very easily.. I sweat in the snow, it's ridiculous.

[Teamless]

I have to second a comment below.
You need a good gun belt.

Do NOT think that you have a nice leather belt around the house and it will work.

I think most everyone on here thought that, until they got a gun belt.

interestingly, I bought a Crossbreed Gun Belt, and while it held my gun, it certainly didn't act the way a good gun belt should have and for about $90, I was surely disappointed.

Then I was steered in the direction of Blackhawk
http://www.blackhawk.com/product/CQC-Pi ... 794,61.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
For $30, I tried, and now I have 2 of them.
They work great. the gun is held straight up, and since the belt is not flimsy, the grip of the gun does not push away from the body and conceals so much nicer.

For where to conceal.
I originally started carrying about 3:30.
As I got fatter, I had to move the weapon back, and it fit nicely about 4:30-5:00.
So for location, you just have to practice what works best for you.

[dafobbishon3]

I have to second a comment below.

Then I was steered in the direction of Blackhawk
http://www.blackhawk.com/product/CQC-Pi ... 794,61.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
For $30, I tried, and now I have 2 of them.
They work great. the gun is held straight up, and since the belt is not flimsy, the grip of the gun does not push away from the body and conceals so much nicer.

That's a really good price! I wish they had my size though... but like I said, I tried on a few belts, and they all measured differently. One was a 36. One was a 37. With the plus 1-2 rule, Should I go with a size 38 belt or a 39? I think a 38.. But maybe even a 37... I still wear some shorts/pants that are a 34 and I fit them well.

[Teamless]

I cant say what size you should get, most of the concealment belt manufacturers have a rule on how to measure your belt.

That being said, when I bought my blackhawk belt, I bought 1 size larger than the belt I wore without a gun/holster.

[chasfm11]

I cant say what size you should get, most of the concealment belt manufacturers have a rule on how to measure your belt.

That being said, when I bought my blackhawk belt, I bought 1 size larger than the belt I wore without a gun/holster.

This

I bought my gun belt from Comp-Tac and followed their instructions for sizing. I was really skeptical. It was exactly right for me

For me, the gun belt changed everything. The gun melts into my side now.

There are also many different styles of shirts. Some make you look worse than others. I suggest going to a reasonably priced clothing store and trying on several of those types. You really don't need a gun to be able to look in a mirror and see if a particular style will conceal well, now that you are familiar with what doesn't work. You could also pick up something cheap that looks like it came from "Omar the tent maker" to allow you to get your gun into that clothing store to try on those different styles. I've found a couple that work for me.

[jayinsat]

I recently received an Old Faithful Holster in the mail and I put it together, it looks great. I tried it on at 4 o'clock and 5 o'clock. it's much more concealable at my 5 o'clock, but it prints really bad from the back and the side. Any other ways or pointers you use to conceal that have holsters with this kind of style? I know it would be more easily concealed with a jacket on or what not, but living in Texas,, I can't wear a jacket out, it's way too hot.

EDIT:
Firearm: Glock 19/23
Holster: Old Faithful Hip
Height: 5'10
Weight: 190#


This is what it looks like it. It's pretty obvious I'm carrying.
[ Image ]
[ Image ]
[ Image ]
[ Image ]

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

After I get this settled, I'll post up a review on it!

We are the same height/weight. I use a Crossbreed supertuck with an SR9c (not full sized like the Glocks) and have no problem concealing. Maybe try higher rise. Gun belt is UBER INMPROTANT! I think the Amish belt will work. I use the Blade-tech looper leather,kydex reinforced belt.

[MoJo]

dafobbishon3. You are a new CHL aren't you. From your pictures a normal head in the sand person would just think you had some electronic devise or think nothing.

We all have gone through this problem at sometime during our carry lives. It's impossible to put your gun into your usual clothing. You will learn to dress around the gun. The belt advise is spot on if your daily dress is jeans/dockers look at an instructor type belt my favorite is the Wilderness. Shirts need to be the next size larger they don't have to have room for yourself and four of your closest friends just big enough to conceal your sidearm.

A Tee shirt or polo shirt is my least favorite cover the shirt gets in the way of presentation and the fabrics tend to be "clingy." I prefer woven fabrics with buttons some of the best cover shirts I have are some of the Hawaiian shirts with big print and the Magellan or Colombia shirts sold for fishing/outdoors use. In the cold weather it's easier. A plaid flannel shirt untucked and unbuttoned works wonders to conceal as do camouflage patterns if you are into that.

[urnoodle]

If you're looking for a good gun belt, check out this site; http://www.daltechforce.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. The price was right so I bought one $47 with free shipping. I am very impressed with the thickness (nearly a 1/4" thick) and the stiffness. I has solid construction too. Being female, my hips made it difficult to conceal. I had the same issue with the fabric of my shirt bunching on the butt of the gun. The belt made a big difference in how my EDC conceals. It sits in the proper position and the shirt doesn't bunch as much. I also where a tanktop under everything which also helps. Keep trying different cants you'll find the one that works for you.