How Do You Cover?

Over the weekend, I was pheasant hunting with a buddy down at Rose Hill Game Preserve. As always, I was carrying my Kimber in my Milt Sparks VersaMax II. The morning started cool, but as it warmed up, I had to remove a layer and ended up only covering with my upland game vest.


When we got back to the main lodge, I took off my vest to help with the birds, which exposed my .45 to the world. Jimmy, our guide, noticed after a little while and started asking me the usual questions about concealed carry, open carry and ways to carry.


The conversation got me to thinking about the many ways we cover up our handguns, such as a shirt, vest or jacket, to keep people from realizing we're armed. Even though it won’t be a big deal until it warms up next year, I’m curious about the various ways to cover a handgun that is carried somewhere on the waist.


Tell me what you have done to make sure no one realizes you're carrying a concealed handgun on your waist. This includes from people like me who are always looking to see something out of the ordinary and have a good idea of what to look for. Come up with the best idea, and I’ll send you a Galco IWB holster for a 3-inch 1911.


Share |

Comments

ADD YOUR COMMENT

Enter your comments below, they will appear within 24 hours


Your Name


Your Email


Your Comment

24 Responses to How Do You Cover?

Paul Rackley wrote:
November 17, 2010

The winner of the Galco IWB holster is MWhitfill for building a home-made IWB holster for personal use. This impressed me to no end. However, I also have a runner up. Lanney Ratcliff carries in the chest pocket of his bib overalls, and that is just awesome. Might have to break mine back out.

AJ Bashiti wrote:
November 17, 2010

I always carry (and yes, that means always), and have for the last decade plus. I found over time, you can't and won't wear the same thing everyday. No human being wants to wear the same thing all the time. We also all have our own individual style. I am partial to IWB and have been for a long time. I am quite impressed by the C-Force from El Paso Saddlery but most quality IWBs work as well. I am scared by the number of SOB supporters out there. Between the potential for a back injury and the difficulties inherent in sitting in a hard back chair, I learned that doesn't work for me. For those that prefer OWB for comfort or due to their build, more power to you. I have not found from experience or the experience of watching fellow gun toters any good way to prevent printing unless you are willing to wear a jacket all the time. Get a good belt. I love the instructor style belts from any maker (Wilderness, 5.11, Blackhawk, etc). They give you infinite control over the snugness and support of the belt. Buy a nice mix of shirts all a size larger then normal. In my case, that's tough being as big as I am, but i'd rather be judged by the size of my shirt then carried by 6... LOL Buy some long T-shirts, golf shirts, Rugby Shirts, sweat shirts, dress shirts that you can wear un-tucked. This gives you the ability to fit into most situations in jeans, 5.11's, khakis,even shorts. I wear a t shirt underneath just to add comfort to keep the gun from rubbing me and keep some of the sweat off the gun. Buy those shirts in your normal size. You have to make the decision if you are going to go armed that you will need to assemble an entire wardrobe around that decision. No one item of clothing will suit every situation.

Paul Rackley wrote:
November 17, 2010

I don't have to carry concealed when hunting. I do so to preserve the element of surprise.

Hank Carlock wrote:
November 17, 2010

Believe it or not, it's actually hard for a fat guy to carry. Things tend to stick out and print and usually at the most inappropriate time. Sometimes I will carry in a small fanny pack turned to the front with a long shirt and my belly to cover it up. Comfortable, pretty accessible, and undetectable! Really works well while on vacation. Nobody thinks twice about a fanny pack at vacation hotspots. And that's if it get seen at all when I carry that way.

Robert Cordova wrote:
November 17, 2010

the 5.11 jeans at the NRA store have two concealment pouches sewn into them. One at the front and the other at the rear. It appears to hold a revolver very low below the top of the jean, also at the NRA store is the Tactical Holster T shirt. Not as easy to get to but well hidden. In Magills catalog is a surgical grade elastic pouch you can sew into any garment, front of pants, rear of pants , inside a jacket, etc.. All you need is a good seamstress or tailor and the proper placement for maximum concealment. Last but not least, there are several good quality leather vest with concealment pockets built in but sometimes they can signal "conceal carry" to a knowledgeable adversary. Sometimes that's a good thing all by itself.

wes oregon wrote:
November 16, 2010

I carry IWB Tex Shoemaker with whatever shirt hanging out presumably because of my big belly. LOL Never been outed in fifty years.

Edward Bornstein wrote:
November 16, 2010

I always carry in the small of my back with the shirt tucked in. In this position I can sit comfortably without having the weapon dig into me. Or I have an ankle holster.

Lanney Ratcliff wrote:
November 16, 2010

I wear bib overalls virtually every day. Although my Commander is too large for the bib pouch, my Ruger SP101 bobbed hammer .357 rides perfectly in the pouch near my right breast. I doesn't print at all.

Ralph wrote:
November 16, 2010

I carry a Glock 36 in a Desantis pocket holster. I naturally wear either dockers or dress pants with polo shirts untucked and found that only 1 pair of pants in my wardrobe makes the gun ride too high to be visible. It takes a bit of practice to draw out of the pocket but I don't have to do anything special to keep it on my person 365.

Joe S. wrote:
November 16, 2010

I always use an IWB with a slight forward cant and a medium to low rise, and a good support belt like the casual 5.11 tactical styles. I wear an untucked shirt with suitable tails (or long straight cut)and keep the holster in the 3-4 o'clock position. Provided you arent trying to conceal a full-sized 1911, it works very well. I think the biggest issue is people not being realistic about what is concealable. I can pull a T-shirt over a backhoe, but its not really concealed, is it?

Mike erdley wrote:
November 16, 2010

I can usually cover my SR9c, sp101, and LCP with a untucked t-shirt... In cooler months i carry my Para Tac-Four under my t-shirt with an unbuttoned long sleeve shirt or a vest over the tShirt. ... If all this fails then buy some underwear 2 sizes to big and wear them OVER your pants and pulled up over your weapon... And a little more cover by adding A superman cape ... HaHa

Anthony R wrote:
November 16, 2010

Wear an undershirt "tucked" over the gun in a crossbreed IWB, then wear nice bowling/racing/camp shirt (square cut bottom designed to be worm loose) over the top.

Roy Forgy wrote:
November 16, 2010

I wear either a xxxl t-shirt (short sleeve in summer, long sleeve in winter) or I wear a Hawaiian shirt. I carry a small 9mm in a Don Hume J.I.T Slide holster OWB on my right hip.

Tim Graves wrote:
November 16, 2010

It depends on the type of weapon you carry. A smaller weapon like Walther 380 or smaller, an over sized shirt would work, tucked in or not. However, I usually don't carry large pistols in casual places, If I put myself into the example given, hunting. I would have a backpack or a fanny pack. A fanny pack might work for casual also but I despise the tourist FANNY pack and walking around the park with a hunting all-day fanny might look strange. Need to come up with a different name for the FANNY pack but that’s another blog.

Peter wrote:
November 16, 2010

As much as I love my VersaMax, I carry mostly with a belly band just under the belt of my pants, in "kidney" position. I can sit, stand, lean over, whatever and nothing shows. I have done this with just a t-shirt, tucked in. I have done this with "snubbies" and medium size semi's for several years, especially in the warm weather.

Scottc wrote:
November 16, 2010

I’m a big guy so I usually can carry my holstered revolver in my front pant pocket, by its self. In the past I’ve used either an in the pants waist holster or a fanny pack style that attaches to my belt.

Graham D. Gregory wrote:
November 16, 2010

I carry my full size 1911 inside my pants cover by a simple tshirt...I'm a big guy so it works. If I have to carry with a more professional look I carry my black glock 30 in the small of my back with a black polo tucked in. I have a black coat that I wear and if it comes up a little the black shirt and gun blend together...It works out pretty well when I'm working.

Don Moran wrote:
November 16, 2010

David Bullard Dual Carry holster with kydex clips. Can be worn outside the waistband on the belt with conventional leather loops or if the situation mandates, you can awap out the loops for kydex clips and it becomes a "tuckable" inside the wasitband holster that can be worn with any lose fitting tuckable shirt. It works very well.

Patrick wrote:
November 16, 2010

untucked shirt. "anything out of the ordinary" will draw suspicion. BTW, why do you have to carry concealed while hunting?

MWhitfill wrote:
November 16, 2010

Here in GA I wear t-shirts a lot. Untucked long tshirts cover a IWB J frame revolver. I have a home made IWB leather holster with a Kydex belt hook. It also works well as an in pocket holster. The Kydex clip keeps it in the pocket while the gun is drawn.

James wrote:
November 16, 2010

I carry a bladetech IWB on my strong size. I wear tall sized shirts and jackets. the occasional sports jersey also helps.

Sweeney Todd wrote:
November 16, 2010

easy... I dont wear a Galco holster. I wear m G20 in a Crossbreed holster and tuck in my t-shirt over it. The sheep never see it. Only the trained eye might see the tell-tale belt loop.

Steve Catania wrote:
November 16, 2010

I generally wear a silk sports shirt, meant not to be tucked it. Looks better than the alternatives, is very comfortable and loose enough to cover whatever I'm carrying nicely. Even if I'm pocket carrying, it covers the top of my jeans front pockets.

mike wright wrote:
November 16, 2010

Simple as carrying it in the center of the back with a draped shirt. With proper upright posture, it's undetectable.