Warm weather climate and concealed carry?

Question

Okay, so I'm finally 21 and going to get my CCW permit soon. I live in sweltering Texas, where it is hot and humid practically year-round. Now, my body type is pretty lanky (6' 145 lbs).

What type of pistol do you think would be the easiest to conceal given my frame? I currently own a Smith & Wesson 3953, but am considering trading it in for something smaller and lighter (possible a Springfield XD Subcompact in 9mm).

Answer 1

When it comes to sweltering heat and soaring humidity, the Mississippi Delta doesn't have to bow to Texas in any respect, and we have more skeeters than most of you Texicans have to cope with.

Before I threw my pants away and started wearing kilts full time, I always wore guyabera shirts, aka Mexican Wedding Shirts. Haband sells them at a good price as does Big and Tall.com. Buy them a size or two larger than your regular shirt size.

With a guyaberra shirt and a good belt and holster, it is no trick at all to conceal handguns up to and including 5.5" Super Blackhawks.

It is much easier to conceal a handgun than most people think. You merely have to think before you move and give consideration to your cover garment.

For example, when packing a pistol on your belt, NEVER, but NEVER reach for anything on a high shelf with your gun hand, it will raise the cover garment and flash your gun. Never bend over to get something off the floor, always kneel with the gunside knee on the floor. Otherwise, even if your cover garment doesn't rise, the butt of the pistol will print through.

Don't be a cheapskate when it comes to gunleather. You've spent several hundred bucks on your pistol, and a couple hundred more on the CCW Permit and training. Don't try to skimp and get by with a $10.00 holster and a Wal-Mart belt.

Buy the best holster you can find and afford. You will probably end up with a drawer full of them over the years, most of us gun cranks do. And purchase a good solid, firm belt that fits snuggly in the belt loop or tunnel. A good belt and holster combo will pull your pistol in close to your body and it will prevent the butt from waggling around like a dog's tail. More concealed handguns are given away by a waggling butt than anything else.

As for gunleather, check out Bianchi's Pistol Pocket if you can find one, and drop by Simply Rugged's website. Rob Leahy makes come great concealment holsters, including some IWB holsters and some great pancake style holsters.

I generally go with a high ride belt holster with a thumb-break safety.

As for handguns, I highly recommend Smith & Wesson DA revolvers, such as the Model 19, Model 66, or Model 686 with 2.5", or 4" barrels. They might not hold as much ammo as one of the fancy pants flatguns, but they hit with a lot more authority. I'd rather have six .357 Magnum rounds in hand than ten 9mmP rounds.

In addition to belt guns, you should also consider pocket pistols, and by that, I suggest S&W J-frame revolvers in .357 Magnum or .38 SPL. My Always Gun is an M-640, even when I have a belt gun, the M-640 rides in a pocket or sporran pocket, but an M-49 or M-649 Bodyguard would be a great alternative as well. If you go with a J-frame snubby revolver, you need to get a pocket holster to keep gunk our of the barrel, and to prevent the front sight from rubbing holes in your pockets.

Whether you stick with the flatguns or go with revolvers, all you need is good leather, a good belt, and a bit of thought and practice to make packing iron second nature to you.

Good Shooting,
Doc

Answer 2

Is that a doublestack ? Those midsized Smiths are fine weapons. I would stay away from the subcompact. Some people say a small hard to shoot and unreliable gun is better than no gun but I say if you ever need a gun you will really really really need a gun, You want one you can fight and win with as well as hit the badguy and not a bystander. Change your wardrobe and invest in a high quality inside the waste band holster. Something along the lines of a MILT SPARKS summer special. Make sure it has a sweat guard to keep the gun off your skin. Dont get suckered into a cheap holster. Quality makes a world of difference when you carry all day every day. Your pants need to be a size bigger and say hello to tank top undershirts with an untucked lightweight button down print shirt. Dont stop at the minimum education keep learning, find an IDPA or USPSA club and get some trigger time.

Answer 3

It depends on your threat model. If all you're worried about is a couple muggers, get a Smith and Wesson .38 with a 2 inch barrel or a Rohrbar Arms. You can practically hide those inside a speedo.

If you need a "real gun", I know people who routinely conceal a Glock 19 under shorts and a t-shirt. As long as you're willing to drape the fabric a little an IWB holster + untucked t-shirt will do the trick.

There are a LOT of ways to hide a gun, it's more important that you have a gun you shoot well than one that hides well, but you miss when you have to shoot some dirtbag.

Get a gun you like, and then re-frame the question as to how to hide it.

Or carry a satchel/messenger bag around and keep the gun in there.

Answer 4

Smaller and lighter is the way to go. A semi-auto, being flat, is more easily concealed. I'd opt ofr one of the polymer guns because of the resistance to corrosion and their being lightner than all metal guns.

In Texas you MUST keep your gun concealed in such a way that no one can tell that you are carrying. This is difficult in summer and some women are tempted to carry their handgun in their purse. Bad idea. If the purse is snatched away or dropped during an attack, you have no gun with which to protect yourself. This leaves the option of carrying your handgun on your person in such a way that you are legal under Texas laws. There is a company in Houston, the name of which I have forgotten, that makes shirts with a concealed access to a shoulder holster. They also make an undershirt with a handgun pocket so that you can carry your handgun in a fashion similar to a shoulder holster. They are often at gun shows but you may be able to do an internet search or check with a uniform shop that sells to police. They may know the name of the company since they sell their shirts for undercover police.

Answer 5

In Florida, I even have carried an entire sized 1911 for 18 years. sometime additionally a compact .forty 5 and characteristic the two. confident, this is slightly uncomfortable at circumstances yet, i'm actual gentle with them :) ( sorry certainly one of my sought after. " me-isms" ) i began out and for some years have continuously used an interior the waist band holster. certainly one of those skinny clip on variety. With the unmarried clip over the belt i replaced into consistently adjusting the gun with the aid of fact it would continuously pivot around. final Christmas I have been given a perfect extensive interior the waist band holster, with 2 belt loops, extensive unfold. What a super distinction. I now like my holster as much as my trusty Colts. For the two gun days I also have a custom rig. On one gun I stick a pair extra magazines in my pocket. the right holster is somewhat gentle, and retains the gun against you plenty extra effective. AND it does not flow. I purely then purchase one T-blouse length larger then i want, this is likewise advantageous in a warm climate. It my life relied on the Colt, ( i desire that it on no account does ) i does not want the rest. properly, no, fairly i might plenty want a shotgun, yet Florida does not do open carry. i might have a heck of a time pulling that element out my pant leg.

Answer 6

Hot Texas summer "shorts" weather has me carrying my revolver, S&W 640 Centennial Stainless. I don't like to get my Hi Power sweaty and it's too heavy with shorts.

You know, out here in west Texas, it ain't never humid and it's only hot a couple months in summer. Darn cold right now, though.

Answer 7

On those warm weather days I carry either my old S&W 940, J frame, or my Taurus 745 semi auto, in a pocket holster.

Answer 8

That's a GREAT gun, and in my opinion, more concealable than a blocky XD. I have a S&W 39-2. As other posters said, it's more important to have a gun you're confident, comfortable, and familiar with, than just something that's tiny.

Answer 9

They have a In-pants type holster that goes on the inside on you waist band.