So my CPL should be here any day, which bring my question to light.
How do you CC? I currently have a serpa and an assortmant of "tall" coats so that would be one way to CC. Also I've thought about picking up a shoulder holster. I've also seen insight the pant holsters but with my body type that might not work.
So what do you guys use, what have you tried, what works and doesn't work. Sitting is also a big one for me I don't like my weapon digging into my side. So feel free to share your experiances.
PJ
What holster and carry will work for you is going to depend on what gun you carry, your body shape, your clothing style, and a host of other factors.
I would not recommend the Serpa holster for concealed carry, not just because of the safety issues with Serpa holsters but also because it probably doesn't hold the gun close enough to your body for effective and easy concealment.
What I use:
I have several holsters, and which one I use depends on the weather and what activity I'll be engaging in. I have a outside the waistband leather holster that gets used when I'm not so concerned about concealment and comfort is more important (for example: going for a walk with my dog in a rural area) When concealment is actually a concern, I have a inside the waistband (IWB) holster from Comp-Tac which I used to carry the gun at about the 4:30 position. If I'm going on a long drive, I've found that a good shoulder holster is easily the most comfortable while seated and also keeps the gun accessible without concerns about seat belts.
For both IWB and OWB holsters, the goal is to hold the gun as close to your body as possible. Yes, you're trading ease of draw for concealment, so some draw practice is needed. If I were open carrying, I'd carry at about 3 o'clock on my strong side hip. For concealed carry, I've found that something more like 4:30 gives both better comfort and better concealment, as the butt of the gun gets tucked up under my ribs.
A shoulder holster looks like it ought to be a great solution, but it's harder to conceal than you might expect and it takes considerable practice to get a safe and fast draw. I also find that when I get home after wearing a a shoulder holster for 10 or 12 hours, I'm awfully glad to take the thing off.
Beyond the holster issue, a lot of concealment consists of finding cover garments that are comfortable, hang in a way that conceals the gun, gives you decent access to draw, and look appropriate for whatever context you'll be in. If you're in a rural area, wearing a sport coat is going to draw attention, but a fleece vest won't raise eyebrows any time of year in the PNW unless it's quite warm. If you're in the city for an evening of entertainment or a date, no one ever looks twice at a casual sport jacket. IWB holsters offer a distinct advantage when it comes to cover garments, as you only have to conceal above the belt (but watch out for cover garments that hike up or lift when you reach over your head).
Watch out for developing 'tells' involving cover garments - I can't count how many times I've realized someone was carrying because I spotted what I think of as the 'tug' - that little tug on the cover garment below the gun that's sometimes needed to keep the cover garment from hanging up on the butt of the gun when you stand up after being seated. Another common tell is constantly needing to hike up your pants - if you find yourself doing that the solution is to get a decent gun belt. The belt doesn't have to be wide, but it does have to be stiff. Don't skimp on the belt - a really good gun belt changes carrying concealed from an uncomfortable pain in the butt to a very minor discomfort and inconvenience.
Your dislike of the gun digging into you is understandable, but I can tell you that after a time you simply no longer notice. I'm not sure whether you just eventually find a way to position the holster so that the gouging is minimized, or you become more tolerant, or both. But it's been years since I felt uncomfortable because the gun was digging into me, and I carry a great deal of the time.
You didn't ask, but I'll answer anyway: the holster manufacturer's I've tried, liked, and found to be good value are: Galco for shoulder rigs and leather OWB holsters, Blade-tech and Comp-Tac for IWB holsters (I particularly like the Comp-Tac MTAC holster, easily the most comfortable IWB holster I've used). All three of those manufacturers offer a variety of holsters for a wide variety of guns, have good quality, can deliver quickly, and do not cost a fortune.
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