Am I missing something?

[hondo44]

So I have had my CHL for about 5 months and regularly carrying over the past 2. It looks to me like the vast majority of folks carry at the 4 to 6 o'clock position. I have tried this and found it to be uncomforable, especially while driving. I carry IWB at...ahem...12:01 and find it to be comfortable while walking and driving. I also don't worry about my gun because it's right there, and I know it's concealed - I felt like I kept "checking" my 6 to make sure my gun was still securely in the holster, and still concealed. When it's in the front I know where it is, know it's concealed, and don't think about it. I also have 0 concern about someone trying to snatch it. Now "concealed" for me means covered by my shirttail - I am definately "printing" in that the gun pokes out, but since it is covered I honestly don't think about it.

So anyway I was wondering for those of you CHLers - what is the appeal of IWB carry in the back? Is there something tactically I am missing here, or is it more like I'm just a rare case that is more comforable with IWB in the front?

Thanks for your input.

[Medic218]

I think is a "to each his own" situation.
Do what you're comfortae with.
Personally I like 3:00 on the hip when possible. If not then I usually carry between 3:00 and 5:00 IWB.
I think it also comes down to your body mass. I'm a bigger guy and small of the back or cross draw carry itsn't as easy for me as it would be for a more slim person.
Before I got a pocket holster for my .380 I used to carry and about 1:00 all the time with an IWB slide holster.

Just do what's comfortable and concealable.

[USA1]

Just do what's comfortable and concealable.

We're all different. I've tried all positions and 3 o'clock suites me best.
To me it's the most comfortable while sitting and driving (I do a lot of driving)

It also depends on the gun. I can tuck my .38 at 4 or 5 o'clock and not even know it's there.

[gigag04]

I try to carry at 3 everytime to keep things consistent between on/off duty. Sometimes its ankle only but rare.

[Baba Brad]

I carry a S&W Sigma in a Crossbreed Supertuck at about 4-5 o'clock, it's where it's most comfortable and most accesible. If I'm wearing one of my OWB, it's still at about 5. Only exception is my FEG PA-63 in an IWB I made, I carry it @ 3 o'clock, because that's where it feels right.

I too am of a fairly stocky girth (we used to be called husky when I was a lad ) so SOB or crossdraw is not for me.

But, as has been pointed many times on this board, you dress around the gun. Slightly larger shirts, go up a size on your pants if you IWB carry and so on and so forth. Find what works for you and don't worry what works for others.

[ELB]

If it works, use it. I tried various things -- shoulder holster, Thunderwear, and all that, and in the long run having a pistol at 3 to 4 o'clock seemed the best combo of access and carry-ability/concealment.

Gabe Suarez is a big advocate of "appendix" carry, which I guess would be about 1 or 2 o'clock, which is close to what you are doing. A lot of photos of the old west gun fighers -- or at least gun carriers -- shows them open carrying in the appendix position (and btw Gigag04, I have seen uniform cops carry appendix style as well). I can see the advantages in terms of speed of access, and may give it a try myself. I see some problems in that I can't go around with an untucked shirt 100% of the time as a cover. With 3 or 3 oclock I can use a vest or jacket, and if all else fails I my holster is tuckable. But I may see if I can work around that some.

But back to you -- as long as you have a quality handgun in quality made-for-that-pistol holser, press on. Go to some serious self-defense shooting courses and see how it works under pressure.

[The Annoyed Man]

Be particularly vigilant when holstering the weapon. I used to work in an ER, and I've personally seen several contact range gunshot wounds to the family business suffered when someone was careless. In addition to the incredible pain, the embarrassment is near terminal, and I have yet to hear someone tell the truth as to how it happened. But given the powder burns inside the pants and underwear, entrance wounds on top and exit wounds below, and no exterior entrance holes in the pants, the facts are as plain as day.

[Teamless]

Baba Brad,

I am also a "husky guy", ok, ill admit it, im over 40, almost 6' and 270.. so fat... ok, I said it... with that, I have been worried about my Sigma (9mm) on an IWB or OWB as it would be forced to stick out more.

I have been curious as to what holster worked best, and you have the first post I see showing the Sigma and any specified holster.
Is yours the standard crossbreed supertuck or anything special about it?
I haven't yet bought a holster pending finding the right recommendation on holster.

Also, from looking at the Sigma vs a smaller "carry" weapon, I have been pondering trying to find a smaller 9mm to carry, for better concealment.

How concealed do you think you are with the Sigma in the Supertuck and are there any tricks to being 'husky' that you have learned that I should know?
thanks

[Baba Brad]

Teamless,
I use the standard Supertuck. The only thing I've done is replace the clips, the original ones were of the older style (cut out cross) the new ones, the cross is embossed. Reason, those clips bent out. The new ones seem stronger.

I wear it at about 4-5 o'clock as I said. I buy my pants one size larger and use a 5.11 gunbelt from LA Police Gear (hey, it came free with my pants and works great).

Shirt wise, I buy one size larger and look for loose fit styles. No "slim" fit or "fitted" shirts. Those hug too tightly at the waist. I always wear a t-shirt between the holster and the skin, usually an Under Armour or similiarly tight fitting T, I find that the outer shirt slides around th ebody easier, instead of bunchin up or riding up around the waist, thereby exposing the gun. Cool weather we've been having, a flannel or chamois shirt over it and I'm good to go. As the warmer weather comes in, I've some dressy camp shirts from REI I find that work out very well.

If it's too hot and I'm worried about whether my shirt will properly conceal, I carry my FEG IWB, it's a smaller, slimmer gun and conceals nicely.

[Teamless]

Thanks Brad, good info!

[fm2]

So anyway I was wondering for those of you CHLers - what is the appeal of IWB carry in the back? Is there something tactically I am missing here, or is it more like I'm just a rare case that is more comforable with IWB in the front?

Appendix carry is a lot more dependent on body type, holster selection, pistol length, etc.. than strong side carry. So it's usually harder for people to get a comfortable fit with their gear with appendix carry.
For 3-4 o'clock carry, people can usually carry a longer gun more comfortable, than they can carry in appendix carry. Sometimes, depending on position, the gun is more defendable if carried @ 3-4 o'clock, like grounded or in jammed the corner. Many, not all, training classes & IDPA? require you to use a strong side carry.