Posted: 6/12/2012 8:54:03 PM EDT
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I received my CCW last week, yay for me. With the lack of locally to find left handed holsters for myself, i picked up a Blackhawk CQC sportster Ambi holster. The holster is pretty good for a 30 dollar holster. I bought it because i had planned on carrying my FNP9, but realize this holster is made for my 1911 as it prints less due to the wide trigger guard on my FNP and my 1911 sinks deeper. Does anybody have any tips or sources for carrying IWB for summer? Where do you guys usually place for most comfort, I haven't went out carrying except walking my dog but have been carrying around the house to get used to it. What condition do you usually carry? I was thinking of keeping the hammer cocked but nothing in the chamber as all my 1911s have 2.5-3lb pulls and dont feel comfortable carrying in the pipe.
thanks for all input/help. In the meantime i plan on going through a friends company to get a kydex made up for my fnp as they just got a dummy gun to make |
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Speaking to 1911s, if you are not in condition 1, you need to train your way up there. An empty chamber does nothing but turn your gun into a club. Having the hammer cocked on an empty chamber serves no purpose. If you are not comfortable with one in the chamber, you need to become comfortable by going to a professional instructor and learning how to. All of my carry weapons are striker fired and I carry them with one in the chamber and the magazine at full capacity.
As for IWB, I normally carry immediately behind my hip bone. I carried a G17 there all winter in a Crossbreed Super Tuck. Selecting the right tshirt lets me carry a G17 with zero printing IWB. I now carry a PF9 IWB in a desantis soft-tuk, this combo works all the time no matter what the weather. On crossbreedseconds.com there is a used super tuck lefty for the FN FNP. The site is cash only and the holsters are returns, but many here have had excellent experiences with them. I am waiting to see if a PF9 or another G17 super tuck end up on there. |
| I agree with Bill, except that I've found carrying in front of my hip bone at 2 o'clock to be the best combination of comfort and concealability for me. Carrying at 3 or 4 o'clock invariably leads to grip printing for me. I've been carrying my chopped S&W MP9 all spring in a Comp Tac CTAC, whether I'm wearing shorts or pants. |
| I agree will Bill carry condition 0 or 1. If you carry in any other condition then you will need to work that into your training because you may not remember to rack the slide or remove the safety when under pressure. I carry condition 0 and make sure my holsters completely cover the trigger. I too use a CrossBreed SuperTuck Deluxe for my Springfield XD40 Subcompact. I got the horse hide because its more sweat resistant. I have been looking at the Kydex holsters but dont know how that would feel against the skin. Also looking for a different gun for summer. I know I dont want a micro like the Ruger LCP because that thing is jumpy and the sites suck IMO, but the Beretta Nano, M&P Shield and Walther PPS are my top three candidates. Leaning towards the Shield but I dont know when my local gun stores will have them in stock. |
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I either carry my G17, G19 or G26. I'm a lefty too. I prefer the IWB Comp-Tac, M-Tac or the C-Tac. I have tried it in many positions, and I prefer to put it on my belt at about the 8:30 position or so. LOVE the feel of the M-Tac! Before CCW came into effect I carried around the house, without one in the chamber. None chastised me a LOT.  And rightfully so. Either way, good luck to you from another lefty!! |
| Thanks for the input/feedback everyone. I have always trained into my draw the rack the slide, just with the hammer back its smoother. Hopefully soon ill be able to afford sub compact glock. The woes of being a broke college student :) Go figure, 2 years ago i sold all my subcompact guns figuring WI would never get ccw. |
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Quoted: My bro in law is a cop in oshvegas. He couldn't find a decent lefty iwb holster either. So I made him this one. Kind of rough looking but works perfect. http://i1049.photobucket.com/albums/s385/grabagear2/cba4ecc0.jpg That's not rough looking, that is a fine looking holster to me. And you made it??? Awesome! You should think about making holsters. Seriously. |
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Quoted:
Thanks for the input/feedback everyone. I have always trained into my draw the rack the slide... Practiced, not trained (unless you spent time in the IDF, and even then). Not trying to come off as an ass, but you need training to know what to practice. Edit: On topic: I'm a big fan of CompTac (CTAC/MTAC or similar), and a lot of guys have great things to say about Raven. Milt Sparks for leather, though I've found I prefer Kydex. |
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The holsters in the pic below are (all LH):
G19 in Crossbreed Supertuck (I made my own J-hooks... my belt is 1 3/4" wide, and the j-hooks that came with it were too small) Springfield Ultra Compact 1911 in "homemade" IWB holster. Kel-Tec P3AT w/ crimson trace laserguard in "homemade" belt holster. "homemade" paddle for the P11. Kel-Tec P11 in "homemade" IWB holster. I have sold the P11 since taking the pic, and replaced it with a Kahr CM9, so I had to very slightly modify (with a heat gun to soften the kydex) both the P11 holsters to fit the Kahr. I've been carrying the Kahr almost everyday since getting my carry license in early December. I carried the 1911 for two weeks in early May while in the woods turkey hunting. It's noticably heavier than the Kahr, but not too bad after I got used to the differance. The 1911 prints much less than the G19. Whichever I carry, I carry just behind my left hip (8:30ish), and with a chambered round. I do feel a little bit safer with a striker fired gun. I'll probably only carry the 1911 when out in the woods... where the potential threats will more likely have 4 legs, vs 2. The Kahr is easier to conceal in warm weather, and the lighter weight does make it much more comfortable to "wear" while working. My normal work attire in the summer is jeans & an untucked t-shirt (T-shirts one size larger than I need to limit the printing you get from a tight shirt). Nobody has noticed, AFAIK. 
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Quoted:
Thanks for the compliment! Made a few for buddies. New hobby I guess. Don't want to hijack his thread so I'll add a 1911 pancake holster http://i1049.photobucket.com/albums/s385/grabagear2/f2d30814.jpg Nice! Where do you get the leather? I need to get some for making more leather-kydex IWB holsters. I also make them just for friends, and I have a good source for the kydex, rivets, screws, but not for the leather. The stuff I had, I bought at a flea-market (super cheap too  , about 50 cents per holster) but there is no more to be had from that source. Your leather looks nicer too.
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Thanks for the input/feedback everyone. I have always trained into my draw the rack the slide... Practiced, not trained (unless you spent time in the IDF, and even then). Not trying to come off as an ass, but you need training to know what to practice. Edit: On topic: I'm a big fan of CompTac (CTAC/MTAC or similar), and a lot of guys have great things to say about Raven. Milt Sparks for leather, though I've found I prefer Kydex. This. You have not trained. You sorta don't really know what you don't know because you haven't trained, only practiced things you've seen or read about. If you had trained, you'd realize a couple things about the way you're going about it: Attacks are frequently close range. How do you plan on working the slide when you only have one hand, because the other is wrapped up with your attacker in the fight? Or if one of your arms/hands is wounded from being shot or cut? Shooting and carrying a 1911 is generally considered to be for shooters that have a bit of experience around pistols and such. They require increased maintenance and attention, and I'm guessing you haven't done much for reliability testing with the pistol or the magazines and choice of carry ammunition, correct? |