First IWB carry

[LikesShinyThings]

So I've been carrying in my purse or a fanny pak for years. I decided to try a new method, and today I got my first (Comp-Tac) IWB holster. Of course I had to immediately try it out. Fortunately, apparently my pants are sufficiently oversize that I had no problem fitting the bulk of my Kahr E9 inside along with the rest of me. Of course, I've been a habitual shirt tucker for probably 15 years, at least, so tucked went the shirt. I had my husband take a look, and he confirmed that I truly was not printing. Just like a newbie, I had trouble believing it. Guess my t-shirt was loose enough to rumple nicely for good cover. Even so, I really appreciated the fact that the day was cool enough to be comfortable with an additional loose unbuttoned shirt over the top.

Anyway, properly assured of concealment, I decided to stop thinking about it and go about my day... including errands off to Office Depot, Home Depot, and a couple other stores. No incidents or "almost shows" - everything went smoothly. It's actually quite comforting to have the pressure there against my ribs - or maybe I just like the extra warmth held there by the mass.

Once I figure out exactly how to position it, this may well become my preferred carry method. Going to have to develop new habits for getting into that pocket, though - the Kahr sure does take up a lot of the opening into the pocket. Oh, the sacrifices we must make to be safe.

I do have a question, though - is it just me, or do other folks have issues with the weight of the gun making the pants sit lopsided? The side with my gun is significantly canted lower than the other side. Or is it that I'm not using a real gun belt, but rather one that used to be quite rigid, but over time has lost a little of the stiffness it had when new? I never noticed this problem when I used my OWB holster (not really for concealed - it squeaked too much).

LST

[Excaliber]

So I've been carrying in my purse or a fanny pak for years. I decided to try a new method, and today I got my first (Comp-Tac) IWB holster. Of course I had to immediately try it out. Fortunately, apparently my pants are sufficiently oversize that I had no problem fitting the bulk of my Kahr E9 inside along with the rest of me. Of course, I've been a habitual shirt tucker for probably 15 years, at least, so tucked went the shirt. I had my husband take a look, and he confirmed that I truly was not printing. Just like a newbie, I had trouble believing it. Guess my t-shirt was loose enough to rumple nicely for good cover. Even so, I really appreciated the fact that the day was cool enough to be comfortable with an additional loose unbuttoned shirt over the top.

Anyway, properly assured of concealment, I decided to stop thinking about it and go about my day... including errands off to Office Depot, Home Depot, and a couple other stores. No incidents or "almost shows" - everything went smoothly. It's actually quite comforting to have the pressure there against my ribs - or maybe I just like the extra warmth held there by the mass.

Once I figure out exactly how to position it, this may well become my preferred carry method. Going to have to develop new habits for getting into that pocket, though - the Kahr sure does take up a lot of the opening into the pocket. Oh, the sacrifices we must make to be safe.

I do have a question, though - is it just me, or do other folks have issues with the weight of the gun making the pants sit lopsided? The side with my gun is significantly canted lower than the other side. Or is it that I'm not using a real gun belt, but rather one that used to be quite rigid, but over time has lost a little of the stiffness it had when new? I never noticed this problem when I used my OWB holster (not really for concealed - it squeaked too much).

LST

A belt designed to support a gun should resolve the "canted pants" issue.

[Weg]

I used to have that same problem, pants dropping down slightly on the side I carry ( right ). I ended up buying a well made gun belt and it solved the problem.

[Dave2]

It's actually quite comforting to have the pressure there against my ribs - or maybe I just like the extra warmth held there by the mass.

Yeah, IWB is more comfy than OWB for me. It conceals better, too.

[LikesShinyThings]

Update: Started wearing a 511 Tactical belt. Not an official gun belt as such, I don't think, but it is big, thick, and rigid. Several challenges to wearing it (and nobody wants to hear me whine about it, so I'll resist). I'm working at adjusting to it. Mostly the "canted pants" thing is history now. I definitely have to figure out how to work this all out (being nominally OCD and trying to change old habits - oh what fun), but eventually I think it will be a good solution.

[RPB]

T shirt and additional loose unbuttoned shirt over the top.
That's exactly how I do it. I have light colored short sleeved Summer T shirts and shirts, dark colored long sleeved ones for Winter.

loss of pocket room ... My Glock 19's longer slide takes more than my Glock 26 does, so I can conceal a long grip, but prefer shorter slides for that reason. This can be improves with experimenting with position and cant.

I used to carry at 5:00 now I carry at 3:00 with a pretty severe forward cant so the grip angles upward and the slide towards my back pocket more, but not too much so I don't "clunk" on wooden church pews, metal chairs etc. ... just have to see what works.

Good gun belt is a necessity.

[lonewolf]

Lopsided? Carry one on each side.......

[Teamless]

Lopsided? Carry one on each side....

but then your pants just fall all the way down

[LikesShinyThings]

Lopsided? Carry one on each side....

but then your pants just fall all the way down

So wear TWO gun belts to hold them up.

[RPB]

Lopsided? Carry one on each side....

but then your pants just fall all the way down

So wear TWO gun belts to hold them up.

Or, buy Insurance:

[terryg]

Or, buy Insurance:

I'm confused ,

So you think we should hire a skinny model to walk behind us and hold our gun belt up???

[RPB]

I'm confused ,

So you think we should hire a skinny model to walk behind us and hold our gun belts up???

Well, with unemployment high they should work cheap, but wearing suspenders and a belt might work better if the model insists on taking too many breaks

[LikesShinyThings]

I'm confused ,

So you think we should hire a skinny model to walk behind us and hold our gun belt up???

Gee, and here I thought RPB was just observant and noticed that in my OP I mentioned purse carry and correctly assumed I was a woman. Although, having one of those models following me would sure take guys' eyes off of me, so my carry would definitely be concealed by distraction! Hey! I like that!

[terryg]

Although, having one of those models following me would sure take guys' eyes off of me, so my carry would definitely be concealed by distraction! Hey! I like that!

True. Everybody would be so busy trying feed them a sandwich or two they would pay no attention to whether or not you were armed.