I dress like this about once a month and I always wear a black belt so the belt clip from my holster is hardly noticable. I carry a G19 AIWB and a spare mag in an IWB holster. Its quite comfortable for me and conceals well with well fitting clothes.
Thread closer right there!
Man good on ya because I read this three times and still can’t picture what it is or how it helps…
Glock 19 with a CTAC or MTAC tuckable holster.
I’ve been there done that and while in Florida.
Tuckable holsters only slow down the draw a little. A bigger shirt makes it easier to blouse it over the belt to hide holster clips. Put spare mag in a pocket gun holster or glock mag pouch and drop that in your support side front pocket.
Or like others mentioned go for a J-Frame or Ruger LCR in a Nemesis holster in the front pocket.
Still too big? Then consider a pocket pistol or huge folding knife. Even a big folding knife (4 to 5 inch blades) can be carried easily in a pocket holster (Like an Uncle Mikes #2) and stay properly oriented. They also weigh only 5-7 oz depending on which model you get. Check out something like the Cold Steel Voyager or Recon series. They aren’t that expensive at all.
I went to a big LGS yesterday to investigate these options. It was difficult without having a CTAC and other good holsters in front of me but there is just no way with my body type and clothing fit I can carry a G19. I think I will be going the J Frame route in the pocket as everything reliable is too big for pocket carry and IWB is really no good in these situations due to the amount of hugging and moving around.
When my G43 shows up I’d like to look into ankle carry. This isn’t anything I have ever considered, but I like that it is completely out of the way. Does anyone have any ankle carry holster suggestions/tips?
FYI This is all great info and advice. I am not concerned with drawing speed or awkwardness. The point is getting a gun on my body. Even if it takes 90 seconds to draw, it’s better than leaving it in the car.
I have been using a Renegade ankle holster for 10+ years now daily. The lambswool-ish padding and all elastic design make it infinitely adjustable and comfortable. I have upgraded my current LCP rig with a kydex holster and mag/knife pouches as well.
One tactic for drawing from ankle for a very close threat is to fall/roll to your back and draw with your leg slightly in the air. It is quick and disorienting to your target (hopefully) but does limit your mobility. Just one possibility to keep around!
Probably a PPK.
As somebody who has done it a couple times, I have come to learn draw speed is everything. “Having a gun” is almost meaningless when you are facing a drawn gun, it might as well be in the car. And don’t kid yourself that your situational awareness is so great you’ll never get caught off guard. If that were the case cops would never get shot.
Sooner or later you won’t be paying attention. It will be because you just accidentally spilled gas down the side of your car, dropped and broke your cell phone or something like that. And the next thing you know you are in a situation that has already started without you and you are late to the game playing catch up. This means your option is to somehow create a diversion or distraction and use the “moment” to run or go for your gun. I don’t run as fast as I used to so access is everything.
Won’t be an issue in the office (probably) but once you step into the parking lot you are on your own.
I tried the ankle thing for the same reasons you are considering it. You will probably dump it for the same reason I did. If you are a responsible CCW person you are constantly aware of your weapon and constantly verify it. This makes you look like a retard and people constantly ask you if you just hurt yourself. You will walk funny and it never goes completely away. These things draw attention to your weapon which is exactly what you are trying to avoid. And it never becomes 100% natural and you bang it into things constantly like door jams. When you are in the heat and start to sweat it becomes even more uncomfortable and feels like you just did a couple miles with ankle weights on. Then you need to focus on what you are doing at the office with one sweat saturated sock.
Front pocket carry isn’t quite as bad. First thing you do is turn your pants inside out and run about 5 heavy duty wide and tight stitches around the bottom of your front pocket. It should go without saying but never put anything else in the same pocket as your firearm. Use a pocket holster that covers the trigger guard. And you probably want a bobbed hammer. Consider going one size up as even a J frame takes up some space and makes your pants a little tighter and a little more uncomfortable. Keep in mind you have to do 8 hours, probably much of it seated, without doing what looks to everyone else like “constantly attending to your crotch.” Put a dive belt weight in your front pocket and go out to dinner for an idea of what regular front pocket carry will be like. Sadly it’s one of your “less crappy” options that all kinda suck.
There is the briefcase / satchel / man purse option, and this does blend well into an office environment but you need to have 100% control at all times and that comes across as odd and many suspect you have “drugs” or something else in there that makes you act so strange. It can also be slow to access a weapon given various designs but probably not as slow and awkward as drawing from an ankle.
If you are willing to go ultra compact, you might want to consider a Sneaky Pete holster.
I have two Galcos. One for the 36 and one for a Shield. I mostly carry the 36. The Shield’s grip prints too much for my liking even for ankle carry.
These holsters are well made and have held up really well. Whatever you do get one with the lambs wool lining.
The way I practice my draw from a standing position is to drop to one knee (non-holstered leg). It is slower but not so bad.
A draw from the sitting position is not near as slow.
Come on Steyr, ankle carry is not that bad.
Ankle carry is a little awkward at first and makes you feel like your body is out of balance.
You do have to make adjustments occasionally. When you go from sitting to standing sometimes my pants leg will go over the top of the holster. Adjust before you stand. Everything becomes second nature with time and use.
On a sweltering summer day you’re right, it can get a little muggy down there but, I’ve never found it to be so uncomfortable to give it up.
It’s like anything else, you have to become accustomed to it.
As much as I wear mine I nearly forget it is there.
Ankle carry has it’s advantages and disadvantages. I pocket carry most of the time, but If I am going to be driving a car most of the day I will carry a J Frame on the inside of the left ankle. Pocket carry while seated in a car can make it difficult to make a presentation.
If you carry in an ankle holster, have a plan for drawing during a struggle. We had an officer fighting with a suspect who was trying to take her service pistol. Every time she bent over to grab her PPK out of an ankle holster, the suspect kneed her in the face.
Ankle + Pocket gives you options as well. As others have pointed out you aren’t always standing up straight…
Also much like a fanny pack screams gun, this screams pocket carry to me:
I carry my keys in this manner whether I am carrying in the pocket, a belt holster or not at all. I got tired of hearing the car alarm go off whenever I sat down or bent over to pick something up.
The creases on the pocket are what gets my attention.
Some are saying Thunderwear is a no-go with a tucked-in shirt.
I thought it was supposed to be worn OVER the tucked in shirt, but under the pants.
I do not have one, so cannot confirm this. Anyone have one that can try it?
I tried wearing the Thunderwear over my shirt tail after I got chaffed on my anchor and anchor chain. With my belt tight enough to hold my pants up in a scuffle or while running, it was still a little slow on the presentation. I am not knocking the Thunderwear, it’s just not my cup of tea.
A snubby in the pocket and either a G26 or G19 in an ankle holster.
I’ve been using one since the late 90’s for running. Works great IME.
In SC you get four seasons, in FL we get BS HOT and 2 weeks of normal. Another thing that drove me crazy about ankle carry was driving. I’d bang against the center console all the time. For whatever reason I never got to “normal” with it.
Pretty sure those creases came with the pants from the factory. Much like the new jeans pre-ripped a couple decades ago, they now come with “trendy” creases and fade marks.
Desantis Apache…I’ve had mine for 12 years now and it is still gtg, and comfortable too.