Vest Or Other Pistol Carry, If No Belt?

[jyl]

Has anyone used those vests that have holsters built in?

I often don't wear a belt, which makes standard holsters kind of tough. I've been carrying a snubnose in a pocket holster, but doesn't work for a larger gun, e.g. Glock 19.

Looking for a carrying solution. Not in love with the vest idea (why are they all styled for the Village People? How about a non-descript one that looks like a tree-hugger's fleece?). But can't think of anything else.

[jyl]

P.S. I have found so-called "tactical" vests which basically have lots of pockets for your tactical iPhones. They don't seem to have anything to do with gun carry that I can tell.

[jyl]

And then there's shoulder holsters meant to be worn under a shirt, like below. Looks like you have to undress to actually get the gun out.

Concealed Carry Holsters | Shoulder Gun Holster | Concealed Gun Holsters

[Rick Lee]

I have a SIG Tac vest and a SIG Tac jacket. Both have ambidextrous holsters built in and are excellent quality. I don't wear the vest much anymore, but wore the jacket in Vegas last week. It easily covers up my large P226 with the SCT mag.

In this photo I'm carrying a heavy P229 with 13 rds. of .357SIG and the vest doesn't sag to one side at all.

[porsche4life]

I'm sorry but if I see a guy in a vest like that and we aren't out fishing.... Well I'm checking him for a print, I know he's carrying. Same goes for dudes with fanny packs....

[stogie25]

I have a vest like that. I mostly use it if I am going off road.

I also conceal in my fanny pack holster sometimes, mostly if I am wearing sweat pants.

Mostly I use a pocket holster if I am wearing jeans or cacky pants.

[jyl]

Rick, I'd like a vest like yours, but without all the pockets and "tactical" stuff and "I'm packing a gun" look. I don't need to carry flashlight, radio, handcuffs, suicide pills, etc. Just a gun. And I don't want a vest that looks like I'm carrying.

[Rick Lee]

Well, I have to confess that that photo was taken in Bryce Nat. Park before the law changed to allow CCW in national parks. But the only people who notice such a vest are those who also carry and are looking. Since CCW is legal now in many nat. parks, I couldn't care less about being made. I don't mind keeping people guessing. I used to wear that vest on the Metro on the way to work in DC because it had so many pockets. I had an iPod, pens, Blackberry, etc. on me and didn't need some ******y European carry-all. One time I did forget to take my gun out of it and almost got on the train to DC, but caught myself at the last minute and took it back to the car.

I'm sure you could get some other kind of vest at Cabela's or whatever and have your wife sew a holster on the inside for you. I really like the one in my SIG Tac jacket. It's a big elastic loop that goes around the barrel and trigger guard. And you can't tell at all that I'm carrying unless you happen to own the same jacket and bump into me.

[Tim Hancock]

I wear a tactical vest (EOTAC brand) for concealment of my Glock 34 when "competing" in IDPA, with a standard Comp Tac kydex holster, but it looks ridiculous to wear with normal clothes. I recently bought an inside the waistband shirt tuckable holster for my FEG PA-63 (smallish auto like a Walther PPK), but I decided I simply am not comfortable wearing that type of crap shoved inside my jeans. Next week I am getting my CCW and will likely just buy another Taurus TCP .380 like I bought for my wife and carry it in my front or hip pocket in a Desantis Nemesis type pocket holster.

"Every day" carrying anything other than these new mouse guns (Ruger LCP, Taurus TCP, Diamondback .380) simply is not going to happen for me. I am 5'8" with a 32" waist..... carrying a full size gun concealed wearing tucked in shirts with no jacket is just not happening for me and I am too set in my ways to start dressing in baggy punk clothing.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by jyl

And then there's shoulder holsters meant to be worn under a shirt, like below. Looks like you have to undress to actually get the gun out.

Concealed Carry Holsters | Shoulder Gun Holster | Concealed Gun Holsters

Yep, a few different makers of "belly bands" out there for concealed (sky-marshal style) carry. Only downside is that access can be bit harder/slower in some situations and/or clothing configurations. They make button-up shirts with faux buttons and velcro closure to facilitate "ripping" your shirt open rapidly. Those are kinda cheesy though. You can just wear a t-shirt and practice the "lift/un-tuck and un-holster" method. It you know something is about to go south, you can lift your t-shirt up and tuck it behind the grip to be ready to go in .5 seconds.

[ZLP]

I use a Galco belly band for carrying my G19 and extra mag. It's my favorite conceal holster by far.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I have a SIG Tac vest and a SIG Tac jacket. Both have ambidextrous holsters built in and are excellent quality. I don't wear the vest much anymore, but wore the jacket in Vegas last week. It easily covers up my large P226 with the SCT mag.

In this photo I'm carrying a heavy P229 with 13 rds. of .357SIG and the vest doesn't sag to one side at all.

Yeah, this from the guy who thinks fanny pack carry looks bad...

JYL: One thing you can do is wear a belt with a OWB holster, under your clothes. Works like a charm. This works really well with one of those nice supple leather holsters...Make sure it covers the safety...oh wait, snap, there are no safeties on Glocks! If you carry a 1911, make sure the holster covers the safety. It can be painful against the skin, over time...

[Rick Lee]

What's wrong with that vest? At that time, I worked in the Nat. Press Bldg. in DC and there were photographers there all the time dressed like that. Those pockets are very useful for more than carrying spare mags, knife and a Surefire.

Now that I'm in AZ, I don't have to worry about being made or printing or even OC'ing unless I'm CCW'ing in a forbidden zone, which I don't do too often. It may look obvious, but it's still not as cheesy as a fanny pack.

[red-beard]

just yanking your chain Rick...

[Racerbvd]

This guy knows how to dress...

YouTube - The Night Of The Inferno (2)

[jyl]

The idea of a belt with holster, under the clothes, makes some sense. Gotta think about that.

No-one, but no-one, wears a tactical/photog vest around Portland or anywhere I've lived. Banana Republic vests were fashionable once but no longer. So I do think those vests make one stand out like a sore thumb.

Anyway, it is often chilly enough here that I actually need a vest for warmth, so a fleece thing would be useful as well as normal-looking.

I'm allergic to fanny packs.

I guess what I'm thinking of is basically a shoulder holster that is integrated into the lining of an otherwise normal fleece vest or windbreaker/light jacket.

Being sewn into the lining, the rig can be sturdy and stiff enough to support gun and magazines without sagging, but without restricting the visible exterior/shell part of the garment from moving, shifting, etc as a normal fleece or windbreaker would do. Even if the vest/jacket is unzipped, blowing around, riding up, etc, the gun shouldn't be visible, as a normal shoulder holster would be. You could take the vest/jacket off, without exposing the gun.

Hmm. Problem is, I'm not a seamstress. Still, maybe I can get my wife to experiment a bit on an old lined fleece.

[jyl]

Here's a question: anyone make a fabric or nylon shoulder holster that will carry a G19 and magazines, is cheap enough to buy and promptly start cutting up, and probably end up throwing away?

[slodave]

Worked for Crockett.

[Rick Lee]

I wore a shoulder holster many years ago. They're not quite as comfy or hidden as they look on tv. They're great for car carry, but I'd not wear one unless in cold weather with winter clothes on. LEO's who have to wear suits go through jackets a lot because of the wear caused by their sidearm. I'd rather be carrying inside the lining of a jacket or vest than underneath it where my movement would rub the gun against the inside of the jacket or vest.

[esample]

How about this:

Amazon.com: Deep Concealment shoulder holster #234 White-X LARGE 45"-50"-RIGHT HAND - Comes with Cool Max material to minimize sweat - Fits small to medium frame semi-autos and revolvers up to 7 inches overall length: Sports & Outdoors

Although, personally, I just use an IWB holster with a clip. No belt necessary with jeans.