Help I dont carry because my holster shows imprint

[The Annoyed Man]

camarowithbass (does that mean a car that smells like a fish, or a car with bass pipes? ), I carry a Springfield XD(m) Compact .45 3.8 and have no trouble with it at all, carrying in an OWB holster. (OWB = Outside the Waistband, IWB = Inside the Waistband.....these are terms you'll hear over and over again among the concealed carry crowd.) I also successfully conceal a full-sized 1911, and a full sized M&P 45.

One of the big mistakes that people new to concealed carry make is to not buy a for real gun belt. It doesn't have to look like an old school police Sam Brown belt. There are plenty of holster manufacturers who also offer quite stylish gun belts. A gun belt is made out of extra thick, and often reinforced, leather and it keeps the weight of the gun that is carried above the belt-line from sagging outwards, which is what it sounds like is happening to you.

So before you invest in a holster, invest in a gun belt. Personally, I don't even use a dedicated gun belt. I use a Wilderness Tactical Instructor's belt with is made from reinforced ballistic nylon (http://www.thewilderness.com/storepinna ... parent=142). Get your belt in a 1-1/2" width, regardless of the material.

Here's why you need a gun belt (a picture being worth 1000 words)


Once you got the belt, then get a holster. Or get both together. Either way, you should have no trouble concealing a subcompact pistol in an OWB holster.

Next, dress right. Make the clothing style changes that will minimize printing. Slightly larger untucked shirts....shirts in darker colors with patterns......hawaiian shirts, etc.

[Teamless]

Getting a proper gun belt is important.

it is equally important as getting a good holster and a reliable weapon.

As others have said, the XD Gear is not the right holster for carrying concealed.
at most, maybe on the range with that holster.

Comptac
Crossbreed
White Hat
Desantis
Galco
Many other manufacturers of GOOD holsters.

Don't look at the holsters and say "I cannot afford one of those", as really, you cannot afford NOT to have a good holster.
For a belt, you can go pretty cheap ($30) for http://www.blackhawk.com/product/CQC-Pi ... 794,61.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I have 2 of these, they work very nicely and for me, better than my $90 Crossbreed belt.

Spend the real money on a Crossbreed http://www.crossbreedholsters.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, or a Crossbreed "second" http://www.crossbreedseconds.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Oldgringo]

I recently got a CHL i *try* to carry a springfield subcompact 40 with an out of the wait holster
(came with the gun)

How ever the top of the gun leans away from my body and you can clearly see an imprint of the gun through the shirt.

Thus far i hardly ever carry

This has been the reason i haven't been carrying since ive gotten my gun/CHL.
I purchased another holster today at the gun show and it still shows the imprint, same problem. The gun leans away from my body

Any one know who makes a out of the wait holster that wont show an imprint?

Get a bigger shirt....?

[C-dub]

Be careful ordering anything from Blackhawk. Call first to verify if it is in stock or back order. The first thing I ordered from them didn't say it was on back order until after I ordered it and then they told me it would only be about 4 weeks. After four weeks I called and they said another 4 weeks. After another four weeks I called and they said another four months. I cancelled the order.

[stealthfightrf17]

http://www.comp-tac.com/product_info.php?products_id=68" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is what I carry with. Works great, but is IWB. I have the belt loops on mine. Can conceal both my xd9sc and my xd 40 very easiley.

[MoJo]

I'm not going to tell you what brands of holsters to use I'm going to tell you what style holster to look for after you get a good belt. Look for a pancake or Akers style holster they are designed with concealed carry in mind. You want a holster that pulls the butt of the gun close to your body when you cinch your belt up. A forward cant helps to flatten the profile of your gun. If you are considering an IWB holster the leather/kydex style is the most comfortable again, wide belt spacing and a forward cant will help both with comfort and concealability.

Good luck in your search and carry always.

[Jim Beaux]

Supertuck or Akers style IWB. With the right jeans I can carry without a belt. Wear bigger shirts untucked...and yes a couple of posters above hit it right, new CHL's are sensitive about printing.

[barstoolguru]

whatever holster you chose you are going to have to wear your pants up a little higher. When you are shaped like a webble you have to address the curve. Love handles are the same way they will push the gun handle outward. if you don't want a wardrobe change then get a kangaroo carry type or a pager holster

[xb12s]

Here's why you need a gun belt (a picture being worth 1000 words)

Great picture. I'm going to go try that tonight with my belts! I use a Wilderness Tactical Instructor belt 5 stitch model. In leather I use a Hank's Amish Belt. I have each in two colors. the hanks belt is outrageously thick and won't fit in some of my dress pants. In those cases I use a Tucker Gunleather 1.25" belt.

IWB is the way to go as everyone else has already suggested.

[SewTexas]

I'll poke in here with a quick hint. Sometimes it helps to shift your position, maybe you're carrying say at 3 o'clock because that's where your instructor told you that's where he carries, and maybe your body just isn't quite shaped right for it there, but maybe 1.30 would be perfect. I could never get anything on my right side to feel right, I finally went to 10.00 and it's perfect.

[Phoenix6410]

I'm betting outside the waist band, OWB, riding a little low on the hip, and the same size shirt he has worn for years before getting a CHL and trying to conceal a gun.

Camaro, I would suggest maybe tightening up that belt one more notch and bring it up a bit so that the grip of the gun is tucked into that little space between your hip and lower ribs. And either one size larger shirt or another button type shirt that is one or two sizes larger than what you would normally wear. Then tuck in the first shirt to keep the gun from rubbing directly against your skin and cover it with the larger over shirt. This has worked well for me for over 10 years, but it is not the only method.

I carry a CZ 75 .40 IWB with the "button up untucked shirt method" (BUUSM?) Has worked great for me!

[WildBill]

I'll poke in here with a quick hint. Sometimes it helps to shift your position, maybe you're carrying say at 3 o'clock because that's where your instructor told you that's where he carries, and maybe your body just isn't quite shaped right for it there, but maybe 1.30 would be perfect. I could never get anything on my right side to feel right, I finally went to 10.00 and it's perfect.

That's a great hint. I haven't had a problem with printing. I move my gun to the position that gives me the best and fastest access - about 3:30 for me.

[C-dub]

I'll poke in here with a quick hint. Sometimes it helps to shift your position, maybe you're carrying say at 3 o'clock because that's where your instructor told you that's where he carries, and maybe your body just isn't quite shaped right for it there, but maybe 1.30 would be perfect. I could never get anything on my right side to feel right, I finally went to 10.00 and it's perfect.

I haven't tried cross-draw yet. I keep thinking I will, but I keep my spare mags on my left side. I don't want to have everything on the left side. I could move the spares to the right, but then I couldn't reach them with my left hand.

[SewTexas]

the holster I got has a spare mag in it, it's a great little holster....'course I do carry an LCP so it's little, but I love the holster, it seems to ride lower than some.

[ffemt300]

I wear loose/long fitting Tshirts 95% of the time

Magellan/Columbia fishing shirts one size too big. Baseball Jerseys work great too.