In my opinion (which doesn’t mean much), appendix carry is the best way to go if you can swing it. Probably the most important part of appendix carry or AIWB is your body build. Most people will agree that to AIWB carry comfortably, you can’t carry around a spare tire. I don’t have washboard abs and I still pull it off. As with any method of carry, you need to get used to it.
As for the holster choice from One Source Tactical, they are made by Dale Fricke (www.dalefrickeholsters.com). I believe he is the best when it comes down to AIWB. Give him a call when you get a chance. He can modify the holster and tweak it for you depending on your needs. He can also make it tuckable which might or might not work depending on your build. Most people will agree that the two best AIWB holsters are Dale Fricke and Raven Concealment ACR (www.themalabarfront.com). Both holsters will run at or around $100 each. Good luck with your choice and God Bless.
1- Yes. I would agree that body shape & motivation to carry AIWB both play a role. There’s nothing better for in fight weapon access & defendability in the FUT but they can take some playing around with to be comfortable & concealable. I’m 6’1" & 190lbs & can easily conceal a full size M&P w/light AIWB- because I want to.
2- N/A
3- No, not a fan of the under hooks. I have used the Raven Concealment Systems ACR & CCC Looper. I’ve broken 4 or 5 ACRs but they always get replaced & Jay is constantly trying new things so I expect they’ll get better over time. If you want to run a weaponlight the ACR is the only game in town. Haven’t had the Looper long enough to break it, but I know someone who has.
For those of you who don’t why would you recommend against it?
If you screw up, you’ll blow your testicles off if you’re lucky. If you’re unlucky, you’ll put a big chunk of sharp edged lead through your femoral artery.
I am looking into this holster and company:
Never used it, but I’ll second YM’s dislike of the hooks.
I’m currently using a Looper. I’ve broken two AIWB Loopers. The first was the original design, which had a single thickness of kydex attaching the loop to the holster body. It broke over time right along the point where I’d applied high heat reshaping the cant. The second, newer generation one also broke where I’d tried to reshape it with heat, but because the new version has two folds of kydex between the loop and body, even when the one cracked the holster was still functional … in fact, it’s exactly like the earlier generation.
For the Looper I’m using now, Rich made me the new generation plus thicker (0.090 vs. 0.080) kydex. It seems about as tough as a kydex holster can be, plus I’ve learned not to reshape it with heat. I never make the same mistake ten or twenty times!
I have been carrying AIWB for a bit now. Pretty much everything Todd posted covers it. I carry a Glock 19 and am extremely F’ing careful when I reholster. I very much understand having a firearm with a manual safety or mag disconnect for this application.
I’ve been using appendix carry since around 2004 and it works great for me. I can only speak for myself but if you have the right holster and your body type can handle with carrying in the 1-2 o’clock location then it might be good for you too.
Currently, I carry a Glock 19 in a Raven ACR holster and it been a great combo for me so far.
I’ve played around with A-IWB for a number of years. If it works for you, there are a number of significant advantages to it. The OST/Fricke/Suarez appendix designs are the least evolved/least serviceable that I have worked with.
+1 on the Looper. I’ve had mine for a little over a month now, but hands down the best AIWB I’ve tried FWIW. I’m not a complete fat fuck, but could probably stand to lose 40 pounds, but I still find i can pull of AWIB comfortabley with the Looper. Holsters are very personal things and what works for one person may not work for another. I’ve found this is especially true with AIWB holsters.
If you go with the Looper get the option of leather on the backside of the holster. it’s worth it IMO. As far as the EHUD (and any other design that uses J-hooks) I don’t like it because it puts the weight of the rig on the pants instead of the belt where it belongs.
Well, if you eject the mag before you reholster and then re-insert the mag, there’s a helluva lot less likely of a chance of making a hole in yourself.
I occasionally appendix carry a Glock 19 in a Raven ACR.
The whole nutsack / artery thing is always in the back of the mind
Never tried that holster.
I like appendix carry for the ease of access and quickness of the draw. Depending on the fit & cut of the shirt there are instances when appendix conceals better than 3:30 and vice-versa. One of the biggest deciding factors for me is my expected physical activity for that day… if I will either be sitting or standing for long periods then the ACR is extremely comfortable. If I am bending at the waist a lot, or constantly sitting and standing it starts to feel like a rat is trying to chew his way through my pelvis pretty quickly.
I’ve been carrying a G19 AWIB in a very pedestrian Bianchi model 100 Professional.
One piece of potential advice that I have is to holster the gun with the holster held in your weak hand (obviously with your finger off the trigger and also making sure that you don’t sweep your hand) and only then inserting the already holstered gun into your waist band. This way you avert a potentially catastrophic ND while you are holstering.
I’ve also put an NY-1 trigger (with the spring portion removed) in the pistol as well and this gives me additional piece of mind, although I’ve practiced holstering an unloaded Glock with a “-” connector hundreds of times with the holster already in place in the AIWB/IWB position and I’ve never had the trigger inadvertently activated, but I’d rather be safe than sorry, so I holster a loaded pistol only with the holster out of my pants.
I love appendix carry. I’ve tried a lot of IWB holster with little success. I just couldn’t find a holster that was comfortable for me, and I’ve spent a lot of money on holsters. I ended up getting a deep IWB leather holster for a S&W J-frame from a retired NYPD officer and I could not believe how comfortable it was in the appendix position. It looks just like a holster sold by Bell Charter Oak holsters called the Deep Drop Bandit. AIWB will always be my first choice for carry followed by pocket.
This has been my primary mode of carry( with a g19)since june. I am mostly using an old BT IWB that I have retro fit with some moleskin on the inboard side. I have also used my RCS with a g35/tlr1 combo and it is workable, though much less comfortable.
It is fast, concealable and therby allows a much more expanded non tactical teddy wardeobe. I am 6’ 2ish 200ish. An Addidas soccer shirt over a wicking wife beater and I am good to go.
I would be most intrigued by a workable AIWB with a weapon mounted light solution. Is the RCS ACR the only real game in town?
Re: holstering & removing parts- While it’s all nice & good to be able to holster w/o looking I think it’s much safer to look down at the holster before & during insertion. As soon as the muzzle (or light) hits the holster I stop & double check my finger as well. “I’m missing half my dick but you should see my blindfolded speed reholster videos on YouTube.” is something I never want to be able to say.
Re: light & AIWB- I’ve asked around to every AIWB holster maker I could find about making one for a gun w/light & RCS is the only place that would do it. From talking to Rich at CCC it sounds like he has tried to play with the idea but hasn’t found anything that worked. The response from most of the other places was along the lines of no & not interested.
I’ve been carrying AWIB at about 12:30 for several months. Using the aforementioned Looper holster. I am extremely careful holstering and drawing and do not have any safety worries so long as I keep on worrying about negligent discharges if that makes sense
I used to carry at about 4:30 and find AWIB far more comfortable, faster on the draw, and easier to conceal. Only downside is as Todd mentioned; if something goes wrong, it will really go wrong. I have alleviated what I can with training, practice, and a heavier than stock trigger on my Glock 19.
I strongly recommend the Looper holster from personal experience.
