This is the best piece of advice here. Start carrying a larger framed handgun with a higher capacity if the shit has gotten that bad in your area.
TH Moxy,
So, I wrote up a reply, but I forgot to post it up. So take two:
I get exactly where you’re at. I’m 21, and while I’d prefer to carry my 19 all the time, there are just some times/social groups where I can’t swing it. Basically, when I’m hanging out with friends that see me all the time, and know I don’t have an insulin pump on my hip or colostomy bag, I carry like I’m in a NPE. So while I can and have carried a 19 while hanging out with friends, the effort/mental game of constantly trying to not move in a way that prints just isn’t always worth it to me. So I bought a shield.
I know there are recommendations to “carry a real gun” and to just dress around the gun, and I love the concept. But it just doesn’t fit me. For me, I’ve got 24 rounds of Gold Dot 124gr +P 9mm ammo in a gun that I can shoot well, and conceal with almost no effort, in normal 21 year old clothes. I practice at distance, and last week pushed out to 60 yards on a reduced B/C zone steel hitting it with every round in a magazine. I can’t find my times, but the shield has similar speeds at bill drills as my 19 does when shooting at 10 yards.
I’ll agree that you should carry a bigger caliber. DocGKR has posted about the failures of 380acp defensive rounds, so I really would recommend bumping up to a 9mm. Check out a shield or Glock 43, better capacity than a revolver, easier to shoot, easier to reload, and better caliber than the bodyguard you’re carrying. For me, the shield is my answer to dressing like a normal person and hanging out with fellow 20-whatever’s without printing. Low-ride appendix is amazing. Try renting the shield and 43, try out low ride appendix, and let me know how it goes.
Good luck, hope something here helped,
BK
BK,
Thanks for that post. Nice to hear I’m not alone in my situation. The shield has been on my radar for a long time. Will post more when I get home.
Thanks again everyone for all the insight. Really like this site.
Have you ever tried appendix carry? Seems like those who do prefer it to anything else, and guns almost disappear with the right holster
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Not to speak for TH Moxy, but I carry exclusively appendix when I’m carrying concealed. I love it. I couldn’t see carrying on or behind my hip under most circumstances unless it was the winter and I needed to carry a gun with a light. I’ve tried a range of appendix holsters, from the vanguard 2, up to the Dale Fricke Archangel, and a few inbetween. For me, I need to have a lower riding holster to experience the " even my desert eagle disappears" effect that people rave about. I can comfortably carry my 19 with a good chunk of my shirts without printing. In this heat though (AZ) I’ve been opting for the shield, especially when with social groups.
I just started chuckling out loud when I saw a guy carrying at 4:30 today at lunch. The poor guy thought he was concealed, but his Glock 17, with zero cant, and tight shirt just weren’t cutting it. For me, with the right holster, appendix means I can carry a decent sized gun most of the time, and a single stack all the time. I’m going to be posting up a review here soon-ish on the holsters I’ve tried, and maybe try and get a “how I carry” thread going through that where others post up there style, location, needs, and environment.
- BK
I have tried, albeit limited and with a double stack. I carried a xdsc .40 in a HSP INcog holster. To me it was very uncomfortable, especially bending, sitting or driving. Also taking a piss mean I had to use a stall since it would want to fall. However with a lighter, single stack smaller caliber it may work better so I will have to try again.
Anybody ran the sig p238 much?
I too live in south Florida and summer carry is always a challenge. Weather and clothing permitted I usually carry a glock 19 or commander 1911, but when it’s really hot and the clothing of the day is shorts and t-shirt (sometimes no shirt), I carry a kimber solo. I know kimber doesn’t get much love, but my solo has been perfect…
Anyone else carry on the 3-4 o clock have issues with their mags ejecting pre-maturely?
With what gun/holster?
Bodyguard 380 and raven kydex IWB