Best carrying position and holster suggestions

[beads]

New to CHL and looking for help/suggestions on which is the best carrying position i.e. small of the back, in-side the waistband..etc I currently have a Glock 19 which I will carry till I get a better CC gun. I mostly wear jeans or shorts and t-shirts and polos. So probably untuck shirt when not at work when will be carrying. Any brands or models does anyone recommend? Any help would be great. Thanks

[WEC]

Welcome to the forum.

I think it would be safe to say that there is no "best" position or holster, it's just based on your preference. You have to decide which is best for you. I'll admit that when I first considered getting my CHL, I thought small of the back was the method I was going to use. However, I currently carry IWB at 4:00, and I absolutely love it. Then again, sometimes I carry with an ankle holster. Again, it just depends which method is best for you for a particular situation or choice of clothing.

My suggestion is to take some time and read as much as you can about the different carry methods and holsters. This forum and its members are a wealth of information and you would be remiss to make a hasty decision before reading as much as you can and doing research. I also highly recommend getting advice from any friends or family who have a CHL. If you have a local shop that stocks holsters and doesn't mind if you try some on, that would be wonderful.

Good luck in your decision. Most invariably have a few trial and error holsters before coming up with a preferred method.

Oh, and be sure to get a good gun belt.

[WildBill]

Oh, and be sure to get a good gun belt.

The "best way" is what works for you.

[CompVest]

The only comment is about center of the back carry. One is you don't want to fall on your back if you have your gun there and two it isn't the easiest or quickest place to draw from.

[Oldgringo]

The only comment is about center of the back carry. One is you don't want to fall on your back if you have your gun there and two it isn't the easiest or quickest place to draw from.

But it's cool when the TV and movie guys do it.

[DONT TREAD ON ME]

As far as location to carry thats up to you. Whatever feels the best to you. Holster wise I highly, highly recommend the Comp-Tac Minotaur MTAC. It is great. Do a quick search on here and you will find a really good review on this holster. As stated above you will also need a good gun belt. I recommend the Operator belt from 5.11 tactical. Great belt. Extremely durable and very stable. I might also add its pretty easy on the wallet, comparatively speaking. I have both of these product and use them on a daily basis and would not use anything else.

Here is some quick info on the belt...
* Durable, comfortable and functional
* Solid Stainless Steel Buckle (6000lb rating)
* Buckle finished in black matte
* Super strong 1.75 inch nylon mesh material
* Reinforced stitching
* 3 colors


http://www.511tactical.com/browse/Home/ ... 5?keycode=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.comp-tac.com/product_info.php?products_id=95" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Skiprr]

The only comment is about center of the back carry. One is you don't want to fall on your back if you have your gun there and two it isn't the easiest or quickest place to draw from.

And, for safety reasons, few and far between are the ranges that will let you practice drawing from small-of-back; ditto for shoulder holsters.

My two pieces of advice are:

1. Put intended function first, not comfort. Everything about carrying is a trade-off, and when you first start carrying you're always going to be aware of the gun, no matter how you carry it. IMHO, it's far better to get accustomed to carrying to meet your intended function--presumably self-defense--rather than trying to find the most comfortable carry method (and gun) you can find.

2. Physiologists say that it takes about 3,000 perfect-practice repetitions of a psychomotor skill to ingrain it as a technique that can be accomplished with "unconscious competence." The "perfect-practice" part is important because practicing the movement incorrectly not only fails to move you forward, it actually subtracts from some of the good practice that's already in the neuron bank.

Now, that said, think about your combat, or defensive, draw and presentation. The one you'll need to execute perfectly, with unconscious competence, if bad stuff comes down and you really need it. I think you should decide logically on your defensive draw first, then structure your carry tools--gun, holster, belt, and maybe spare ammo, pepper spray, etc.--around it.

I believe most folks, those who don't have prior experience as a LEO or with advanced handgun training, approach this backwards. They start searching for a comfortable way to carry (see the amazing popularity of the little .380 pistols right now) and only later, if they become interested in further, professional training, do they start analyzing the most effective way to carry based upon a sound and solid defensive drawstroke.

If you haven't had any advanced training, and none is on the immediate horizon for you, you can help yourself make a decision about your defensive draw by looking at books or DVDs by folks like John Farnam, Clint Smith, Gabriel Suarez, Kelly McCann, and Ralph Mroz, or by training institutes like Gunsite, Blackwater, and Shivworks.

In my completely-free-and-worth-just-that opinion, I think there are two "best" carry positions: strong-side hip (no further to the rear than 4:30 for a right-hander, with 3:00 being directly at the side of the body), and appendix carry at about 1:00 or 1:30, and both in such a manner that you can obtain a secure, three-fingered grip on the frame without having to reach into your pants or move anything out of the way except your cover garment. You start moving away from either of these positions, and your combat/defensive drawstroke starts to become mechanically, anatomically, and tactically less efficient.

[Wildscar]

The holster resource would be a good place to start. Look in my signature for the link.

[beads]

thanks for all he info! Took my class yesterday so just need to wait 6 months to get my card. I've been looking at the holster resource and like the IWB for best concealment. Looking towards the infindel and I like the 5.11 gear also good price.

[mikeintexas]

http://www.crossbreedholsters.com/beltslide.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Check out Crossbreed's SuperTuck. It is what I use and it is very comfortable. I wear it at about 3 to 4 o'clock position. I also agree with the gunbelt, but haven't bought one yet.

Just my $0.02 worth.

[Pete92FS]

I carry IWB at 9 - 9:30 crossdraw. I find it confortable and easy to get to from a sitting position while you are driving.

[beads]

Checked out the crossbreed just looks big but what's everyone's opinion about tucked IWB?

[KC5AV]

Big is not necessarily a bad thing. It distributes the weight of the gun very well.

[mikeintexas]

Checked out the crossbreed just looks big but what's everyone's opinion about tucked IWB?

I almost always carry a my crossbreed supertuck with my shirt tucked in. You just have 2 black clips showing on your belt. I did see Crossbreed has a belt with velcro on the inside so nothing shows.

[beads]

That sounds cool will check it out. So does majority I everyone tuck or untuck? I can see quicker draw untuck but better concealment tuck. Trying to decide which kind to get