I also carry a Hi-Power in an OWB holster (at about 3:30), though it is high-riding ( http://www.usgalco.com/HolsterPG3.asp?P ... 5&GunID=23" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ). I also carry 2 mags in an OWB mag carrier ( http://www.safariland.com/product.aspx?pid=73" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ) on the weak side at about 8:00. This particular gun has been my carry for well over a year, and the only person to ever notice it was someone who already knew it was there, while I was squatting in an awkward position. I have taken friends who see me nearly every day shooting for the first time, and were shocked at what I had on, and that I had carried that gun in that position for nearly a year (at the time). All of the friends not in the know who I take shooting for the first time are surprised when I pull out my pistol from the holster on the firing line.BTin wrote:I just started carrying, and am still very nervous. However, I just tell myself, no matter what you carry, unless it is a small revolver in a pocket holster, it is going to print to some degree. I don't think anyone can totally avoid printing. Please let me know how if you know!
HOWEVER, there is a difference between printing, and printing so that someone knows you have a gun. I suspect that the latter is incredibly rare, even with full size 1911s, double stack, or any gun, really. This is assuming that you are doing a reasonable job concealing, of course.
I was a non-gun person a few months ago, and never-ever noticed a single person carrying a concealed weapon in public. We know that I most likely saw someone carrying because of numbers, but I did not notice. Now that I am a gun person, I look, and I have STILL never seen anyone with a gun that I could tell. How often do you guys pick someone out of a crowd because of printing?
I carry a Hi-Power on a relatively low sitting OWB hip holster, and have not had problems yet. This is a relatively long gun, with a double stack.
I say pick the gun you need to protect yourself and others, and then dress around that. I don't mind wearing a coat when I am hot, because I know I can protect my family.
By the way, is a revolver really more reliable than a good semi-auto? That is a serious question, because after I heard about gaps, and timing, and firing mechanism breakages, I started to question that personally.
To each his own, though. That is the beauty of America! Thank God!
Part of it is what I wear. Before I started carrying, I tended to wear work shirts over the top of t-shirts, and this went to an every day practice when I started carrying. Dickies work shirts are good, and I have recently found that the 5.11 button up shirts ( http://www.511tactical.com/browse/Home/ ... 01/I/71152" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ) do an excellent job as well. They are designed to drape over a shoulder-holstered gun for concealment, but I have found that they do a great job for my high-riding OWB rig. I add in a 5.11 holster shirt ( http://www.511tactical.com/browse/Home/ ... 01/I/40011" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ) a good amount of the time instead of the t-shirt, which gives me a good place for my BUG and its extra mag (Ruger LCP).
Below is a couple of pictures of my carry setup last year just after I started carrying the Hi-Power. This was before I got a good gun belt ( http://www.thebeltman.net" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ) and stepped up my cover shirt one size (because of length/fit concerns), but you can get the idea.
