Winter vs Summer Carry
I've been carrying for about 3 months (g19 in a custom owb holster with a wilderness belt at 2-2:30) and it's been easy to conceal due to the sweatshirt I've been wearing. I really like this position because it's an easy draw with the sweatshirt, and it's comfortable to sit with it in that position.
I'm concerned about t-shirt only concealment when the summer comes up. It appears that a tshirt make it print pretty badly. Should I try a 4:00 position with the summertime tshirt only?
I don't like the idea of a season specific carry position, but I don't see what else to do.
I have a IWB holster on order, but I'm not too excited about it because I don't want to buy a wardrobe for carrying.
BTW, I'm 6' 2" and 200 lbs- medium build.
Any thoughts?
I carry a G19 at around 3:30-4 o'clock in a Comptac Minotaur. I do this both during the winter under comfortable layers and during the summer under as little as a T-shirt. I do tend to stick to non-fitted shirts and usually wear a tank top under them, but I'd to that anyway. I have not had anyone except my grandmother say anything or look at me funny, and she noticed when I was digging a bush out of her yard so I was bending and twisting and not really thinking about keeping things concealed.
That said, I do feel much more covered with a light button up since they flow a bit more. I've considered an OWB holster to wear with stuff like that and\or during the winter, but I've gotten use to the slightly tighter beltline from shoving a pistol down my pants and I can always swallow my pride and let my belt out a notch or two.
I was pleasantly surprised by how well a T-shirt hides things with a decently angled holster. I printed pretty badly on the corner of the magazine until I adjusted the cant a little bit, but so long as I don't bend too much at the waist, or sweat the shirt out to the point that it is clinging to me I am good now. The undershirt seems to help, it seems that it makes the transition between the gun\holster and your body more fluid.
I didn't have to change anything about my wardrobe to start carrying, but I did always wear relaxed fit pants. I am just less likely now to tuck in my shirt when in a casual setting.
t-shirt or long sleeve, it's covered either way

I usually carry my G19 in an MTAC at 8 o'clock (i'm lefty) under a light button up (light weight flannel or something) and my glock dissapears.
G23 year round, even the hot summer months, IWB around 3:30-4:00 in a CTAC. I wear the correct size shirt for me. Not muscle man tight, but also not swimming in it loose.
Originally Posted By bags533:
I'm concerned about t-shirt only concealment when the summer comes up.
I have a IWB holster on order, but I'm not too excited about it because I don't want to buy a wardrobe for carrying.
Depends on how you like your t-shirts. If you like them skin tight then you'll probably never find the right combo of holster, holster placement and cant.
If you can live with them a little looser, push your holster from 2:30 to more like 3:00. I carry forward of the hipbone also and find that moving the gun back that little bit tends to flatten it out more and reduce printing.
I had an Raven Phantom set up for IWB and found that with normal sized T-shirts, summer time carry was easy. Unfortunately, I switched from TLR1 to x300 and and now have to wait 15 years for another Raven. Ive got a Kaluban Cloak to hold me over but it simply isn't comfortable IWB and has to be worn OWB.
That's a long-winded way of saying I'm stuck in the same OWB boat as you right now. Like I said, try pushing it back somewhat.
P220 or Colt Stainless Commander year round.
BUG is a Sig P232SL.
I can carry almost any Pistol under a Tshirt
I carry a G17 year round. I carry a BUG in my coat pocket when it's cold.
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Thanks guys.
I'm going to give the MTAC a shot, and also, lose some weight- so the pants will fit with a iwb holster.
Originally Posted By bags533:
Thanks guys.
I'm going to give the MTAC a shoot, and also, lose some weight- so the pants will fit with a iwb holster.
Buy a size larger
tight jeans aint in style
Originally Posted By FMJ:
Originally Posted By bags533:
Thanks guys.
I'm going to give the MTAC a shoot, and also, lose some weight- so the pants will fit with a iwb holster.
Buy a size larger
tight jeans aint in style
But all my shorts/jeans are a bit loose already.
I really don't want to buy a new wardrobe for iwb carry- but I will if I have to do it.
i dont really understand the "winter"/"summer" carry thing...i carry the same rig (g19 w/ tlr1 +G26 or SW 642) in both

Originally Posted By bags533:
Originally Posted By FMJ:
Originally Posted By bags533:
Thanks guys.
I'm going to give the MTAC a shoot, and also, lose some weight- so the pants will fit with a iwb holster.
Buy a size larger
tight jeans aint in style
But all my shorts/jeans are a bit loose already.
I really don't want to buy a new wardrobe for iwb carry- but I will if I have to do it.
Try it before bothering to buy anything new. That way you will know what it is you like or want before shopping.
As for losing weight... my XL's are starting to get a little too "fitted" for my liking. It probably couldn't hurt.

There is no distinction for me personally- 5" 1911 or compact 9mm it makes no difference.
Dark shirts and shirts with patterns break up printing the best.
Untucked button ups are the best followed by perperly fitting T shirts (dont buy them at baby gap)
Get a good stiff belt and make sure its properly cinched down.
And then there is the whole holster issue

Originally Posted By ALPHAGHOST:
i dont really understand the "winter"/"summer" carry thing...i carry the same rig (g19 w/ tlr1 +G26 or SW 642) in both

Same here. Long polos and t-shirts year around. 4 O'clock.
Originally Posted By SS109:
Originally Posted By ALPHAGHOST:
i dont really understand the "winter"/"summer" carry thing...i carry the same rig (g19 w/ tlr1 +G26 or SW 642) in both

Same here. Long polos and t-shirts year around. 4 O'clock.
Some of us lack the necessary "mid-section profile" to conceal a larger pistol under light clothing. Hence the need for seasonal carry weapons/methods.

I'll just quote myself from the thread next to yours.
I have a line-up of carry options for summer, winter, pocket and ankle. It took me a little time to find them all but whatever the situation, I got it covered. All of my carry guns (minus ankle / bike) is of the same configuration, so they're all second nature.
My set-up also allows wearing normal shirts and pants without the need to alter clothing, wear lamp shade style shirts or clothes that makes me look 50lbs heavier. Having a variety of options means no worries about printing or how your going to carry that day.
I just got this
one (rm holster works low rider), and thus far I like it a lot. Easy to conceal with just a tshirt, and fairly comfortable (2:30 position).
ETA: Argghhh!! post 1911
I like to carry my Glock 26 in the summer or when I'm Florida mainly because it doesn't print in tshirts and shorts. I can't carry in my home state, so I carry a glock 19 in the winter/fall when sweatshirts or longer clothing will cover just about anything. You will find the combo that works best for you. Unfortunately, you WILL end up with the proverbial box of holsters. I really like the Crossbreed supertuck.
I carry OWB 99% of the time, winter and summer. In the summer, I normally wear an undershirt and either a polo or a Hawaiian shirt. Conceals my G27/23 just fine.
Winter is a G30 in a Crossbreed at 330. Summer is a G19 at the same location
if you're not willing to make some minor concessions in order to dress around the gun there's not much else you can do except pocket carry a J frame or a small pistol.
I find myself carrying a full size 1911 all the time these days. Other than the weight, it carries better than any other handgun I have tried. I have a G19 and I can carry the full size 1911 better in the summer than I can the Glock. Recently I did buy a Khar CW9 for very hot days or days when I just don't feel like carrying the 1911. The Galco King Tuk I bought for my 1911 has helped a ton, it carries the gun so well and spreads out the weight so it's much easier to carry all day. The bonus is that the King Tuk for a full size 1911 will also fit Khar 9mm pistols perfectly so it's a win win for me
While I can and have carried a 1911 or Glock under just a tshirt, I will usually use a regular white tshirt for an undershirt and put on a lightweight button up over that because I can't stand things to be touching my skin so I need and undershirt. and with a button up you can carry pretty much anything with very little effort.