New to CHL--Need Help

[DaveHD]

Hey Everyone,
Just joined the site after reading a lot of good info, but I need some serious help. I recently went through the CHL course (still waiting on my license) and need advise. Before I went to the course, I bought a Beretta Storm .40 and absolutely love it. By far, it is the best shootong pistol I have owned. The problem is that I think it is too large to conceal.

Two weeks after the class, I bought a Glock 27. Much easier to conceal, but very awkward to shoot. I think more trips to the range--if I can ever get my grubby paws on rounds--would cure that. I have a belly belt that conceals the Glock very well, but honestly don't know what my other options are. I'm a scrawny guy, so concealing a cigarette lighter can be difficult sometimes! I've looked at thousands of holsters and don't know what I'm looking for. I think I have pinned it down to an IWB holster, but don't know what kind. Here are my questions:

1) Is the Storm to large to conceal?
2) If not, anyone know who carries holsters that fit them (have only found 2 so far)?
3) If I carry with an IWB holster, I can't carry on my strong-side hip (prints too much)...any suggestions?

The Glock feels good in the old belly band, but not for long periods. Anyone know of a comfortable IWB holster for Glock 27, as well as the best location to carry it??

Sorry for the 20 questions, but I'm totally lost...and if I buy one more pistol, the old lady will have me sleeping in the truck!!! Thanks in advance.

Dave

[longtooth]

Your Storm is not too large to conceal. Piano Player at our church has one & carries it all the time. Key is quality gear. My 4 rules for carry are:
Quality Gear
Put it on
Cover it up.
LEAVE IT ALONE.

It aint broke so dont fix it all the time & no one will know.

He has a CrossBreed Super Tuck & love it. There are several reviews & a current thread on that holster for you to read.

I carry a Commander size 1911 & no problem w/ conceal. I carry Outside my wastband vast majority of the time.

Storm is not too big to conceal.

[longtooth]

I am soooooo soooorrry.
Welcome aboard & we are really glad to have you.

[Greybeard]

Welcome to the forum!

Quote: "I have a belly belt that conceals the Glock very well, but honestly don't know what my other options are. I'm a scrawny guy, so concealing a cigarette lighter can be difficult sometimes!"

Don't feel lonesome. Some of us "scrawny guys" may never get acclimated to carrying a chunky "double stack" pistol and decided long ago to "compromise" in order to actually "carry" all day every day. Even with a buddy's custom made "high quality" holster and my new XD-9 subcompact I've been "testing" together for the last 24 hours, it still feels like I've got a small brick in my pants. I plan to start out with the same rig in the morning, but by noon may very well go back to a (single stack) PM-9 in the pants and airweight .38 on the ankle ...

But what works for me, may not be a "fit" for you. Lots to learn here. Others will chime in shortly. Again, welcome aboard.

[Skiprr]

Depending on your body structure and, just as importantly, how high you wear your pants, don't rule out appendix carry (1:00 to 2:00 position for a right-hander). For one, Gabe Suarez of Suarez International is a big proponent, and he makes some good tactical arguments for appendix carry. This is a position guys with flat abs (and many women due their narrower waist-to-hip ratio) can pull off that heavier guys (like moi) can't.

If you are slim and don't wear your pants low on your hips, appendix carry may work well for you. The holster cant changes as you move around the body, and a fixed-cant holster designed for carry at 3:00 to 4:00 probably won't work for you at the appendix position. At 1:00 to 2:00, you'll probably want a positive cant with the barrel forward of the hilt. We're all taught not to let your muzzle sweep anything you aren't prepared to shoot, so the notion of appendix carry may take some getting used to. But I agree with Suarez: if you can pull it off, it has several defensive advantages.

There may be a temptation to consider small-of-back carry if you're svelt and flexible. But in terms of defensive positioning I believe that's the worst place to carry a primary gun on your torso. Explained here: http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... 53&t=21342.

All the best wishes on your research and training.

[WEC]

Welcome to the forum. It's an indispensable resource.

I'm not a skinny fellow but I know a couple of skinny friends who are CHLers who have no problem concealing larger framed handguns. As Longtooth stated, quality gear is important. In my experience, if you see something that you feel would be perfect but it's just a bit out of price range... save up for it. Don't fall for the trap of buying something "close but not quite" at a lower price because all you do is pine for your first choice. After some time, you decide to go with your original instincts and buy your first choice but you already have your compromised item. Again, this is just my personal opinion!

People who are slight of frame have a difficult time carrying at 3:00 on the hip. May I suggest rotating it back to 4:00 or 4:30? I think it conceals much more effectively than at 3:00. As for myself, I absolutely love the Comp-tac Minotaur MTAC. Wildscar probably will soon post that his review of the MTAC is in his signature. But for good reason - reading his review is what drove me to purchasing the MTAC and I am amazed at how great it is on a daily basis. So much so that I've ordered two spare bodies for other guns that I intend to carry.

Get a good gun belt. I cannot express how important this is, especially for IWB and for a thin body type. Get a good gun belt. Get a good gun belt. Oh, did I mention to get a good gun belt? I think you get the drift.

I have a feeling that like many of us, your "holster" drawer will soon fill up with some hits and some misses. See if you can find a local gun shop that will let you try on a holster or two. Read some reviews and make a smart choice. Best of luck in your search!

[glocklvr]

Don't feel lonesome. Some of us "scrawny guys" may never get acclimated to carrying a chunky "double stack" pistol and decided long ago to "compromise" in order to actually "carry" all day every day. Even with a buddy's custom made "high quality" holster and my new XD-9 subcompact I've been "testing" together for the last 24 hours, it still feels like I've got a small brick in my pants. I plan to start out with the same rig in the morning, but by noon may very well go back to a (single stack) PM-9 in the pants

Greybeard I carry a subcompact XD-40 in a uncle mike's iwb holster and depending on the length of my shirt I either carry it between my belt and my pants or inside my waist band which patterns less. I have been carrying that way for years with no problems and at 6'2" 140 lbs I am as skinny as they get. The weight may be awkward at first but after a few days of carrying I was very comfortable with it and now I feel naked without the "big gun". I also have a 32 keltec for the rare occasion that I wear shorts.

[bdickens]

In case no one else mentioned it: get a good gun belt.


Oh, and get a good gun belt, too.

[longtooth]

Thanks for the emphasis guys.
Gunbelt is the 1st place folks want to "trim a little expense."

[tfrazier]

I have a PX4 Storm .40 that I carried concealed for a couple of years. It is a little bulky, but the quality and dependability (along with the very fair price) kept me happy with it for a long time.

I carried it in a shoulder rig during winter, a SmartCarry rig when I was wearing overalls, and in a Galco SkyMarshall IWB the rest of the time. I didn't mind it's bulk much...until:

I finally got my hands on a slender 1911 (Kimber Eclipse Ultra II), then I retired the Berreta and now carry the Kimber full time. The slim profile and smooth shooting make it perfect for concealed carry, IMO.

[Keith B]

....Piano Player at our church has one & carries it all the time. .....

I guess he doesn't want to trust the old phrase 'Don't shoot me, I'm only the piano player!!'

Welcome aboard DaveHD!

[longhorn_92]

I am soooooo soooorrry.
Welcome aboard & we are really glad to have you.

What's wrong there, Longtooth?....don't you Love Glocks?....

[DaveHD]

Holy crap. Thanks for all the info...seriously. I am new enough at this and probably would have made alot of bad purchases. I know finding a holster I like that is comfortable for long periods of time is trial and error, so I'll begin filling up that holster drawer. Seriously, Thanks to all for the good info.

The G27 definitely shoots diffrently than the Beretta, so I need to get used to it. With the current ammo shortages, anyone know where you can buy .40 rounds in bulk??

[longtooth]

Any of it is hard to find. I was in Academy yesterday afternoon & they had NO FMJ practice ammo. Hollow points & official PD ammo was all they had. I know one of the mgrs there real well. He said no relief for them in site yet.