Best Concealed Carry Holster for Suit and Tie

[Team Sergeant]

I'd like to hear your thoughts.

I'd like to carry at least USPc .40.

I'm thinking a CrossBreed SuperTuck IWB holster or Smartcarry holster.

[Old Dog New Trick]

I used a Dave Workman tuckable leather custom IWB for a Sig 229 in the past. I think Milt Sparks made something similar. Dave also makes (made me) a pocket mag and cuff pouch that fits nicely in suit pants or slacks - soft leather, no outline and holds the mag secure while staying in pocket.

No experience with the newer stuff but I like what I see with Cross Breed and Alien Gear rigs.

I tried a Kydex tuckable IWB but it was very uncomfortable.

[Go Devil]

I carry a USP C .45 and I've tried an Alien IWB (tuckable) and found that IWB with the HK is uncomfortable as well as problematic with clothing fit and finish.

Galco OWB is my current carry and is still covered by a suit jacket.

[Leozinho]

I'm partial to the Comptac Minotaur. I've used it daily for ~4 years. I like that it's tuckable for when you need deeper concealment.

It has more clip options than the Supertuck.

[craigepo]

Another way I go about this depends on what occasion I'm dressing for. If I can get away with wearing a sportcoat/slack/tie combination, I have purchased some tweed hunting coats from Orvis. They are much more roomy than your standard sportcoat or suit jacket. They also have "billow" pockets, which are ostensibly designed to hold a pocketful of shotgun shells. These pockets hold a pocket pistol rather well. Also, as the coat is cut more for hunting than style, it grants more room around the waist. Obviously, tweed is more of a cool-weather material.

[tonyz]

TS,
Look at N82 - not one of the big boy holster manufacturing companies - I have Crossbreed also - but the N82 professional holster at link below - for comfort and ease of on-and-off - might be worth a look. I have used one almost daily for years.
Just another .02 centavos.

https://www.n82tactical.com/comfort-zone

[Freddy Krueger]

When I was working in the embassy, for travel to and from we were carrying Alien Gear IWB cloak tuck 3.0 with our P226's great on comfort, only recommendation I have is to change the clips out in favor of ones that are full capture.

[Red Flag 1]

I have been using a SafariLand paddle rig for my Glock 17 for over a decade now. It carries rather high, but with some work at the range it is not the problem it might seem to be. For coat and tie wear, it CCW very well. I have both the spring held rapid draw, and one with a snap over to hold help hold the weapon in place. I used the snap over for about a year, but have used the open top, spring held one much more often.

The only problem the high carry has is when I am driving. With a seatbelt on, and having to reach so high, it is a problem. On long drives, and even short ones now, I move the rig to my left hip. This gives easy access while driving. Before I get out of my vehicle, it is easy to slip it over the right hip.

[Dusty]

I'm in the same boat, Team Sergeant. Still lookin'.

[FlagDayNCO]

TS,

First thing I want to say is the SmartCarry type holster will have you adjusting all day long, as the "holster" does not hold the pistol securly. This is common with many similair holsters and especially these that use only the tension of their own belt to secure the weapon in one position. Now I did watch the videos and did some checking, but based on my experience, I personally have had bad results with such holsters. If you have to keep adjusting the weapon in the holster, then carrying concealed is compromised.

I wear a suit and tie most days, or go without the full suit maybe one day a week. I have been using the Galco SkyOps for the last several years.

http://www.galcogunleather.com/skyop..._8_7_1279.html

The reason I have used this is I don't find myself adjusting; it holds the pistol securly and doesn't ride up or down. The clips are small, yet extremly strong. I do find it best to run the belt through, but the clips can be worked over and under the leather belt. It does depend on how flexible the belt is, but a belt that is too flexible shouldn't be used to secure a holster.

The holster is a butt forward design, which has the butt more in line vertically with the torso. This eliminates the butt sticking out and the glaring printing. This angle also helps with draw when worn between the three to five o'clock position.

The clip system is secured to the holster near the bottom of the holster, so you can tuck your dress shirt in for maximum concealment. Only a small part of the plastic from the J hook is visible, and pretty much disappears on a back belt. For further concealment, I wear my cell phone carrier next to it, as it helps conceal the J hooks and draws the viewer's attention to the cellular phone carrier.

Prior to this, I used a Kramer IWB with the FBI tilt for my SIG P220 or P226. Outstanding horsehide, the only issue I ran into was the loops could print against the the wool of a suit jacket. The pistol itself was tight against the body. If I could have the same type of J hooks that Galco uses installed, I'd still be using the Kramer.

[JJ_BPK]

I am also looking.

My default is the SIG P938, it's small enough to fit in a jacket pocket or any of the several pouches & man bags I have.

BUT,, I'm thinking I would like to move to my new SIG P220 carry. The 10rd mags are 10oz each.

Does anyone use a shoulder holster??

[abc_123]

I have the crossbreed AND the smartcarry to fit a Taurus PT145 Millennium Pro (.45) (hey, I'm cheap. What can I say?)

The Crossbreed isn't pretty but it is no-shit comfortable.

The break in period for that cowhide to mold to you given how hot it is where you live would probably be measured in hours.

The smart carry works just like in the video on the web site. 100% sweatproof and comfortable. it rides low on the hips so it doesn't feel heavy on the waist. Get it sized fror the largest pistol that you think you might want to carry in it, then use a large pin to shorten up the pocket if you want to carry a smaller one. No need to buy multiple.

Unless someone is a pro about staring men in the junk, an observer would never know. My .380 disappears. I cold have running shorts and no shirt and you'd never know I was packing. I've actually run with my .380. I'm no track star so it worked fine. A .45 and jeans and a tucked in t-shirt? No problem. The butt of the pistol rides around the front of your hip bone so it's really not noticiable.

[Mycroft]

I'm partial to my comp-tac holster... but that is for my puny kel-tec pf9.

I have a kramer leather holster for my Px4 that I like.

Regardless, of your choice, talk to a seamstress about putting some protective material on the inside of your suit where your pistol will come into contact with it. Daily carry taught me many lessons, one of which is that sitting up and down repeatedly while wearing a pistol WILL cause it to wear through the material lining the inside of your suit if you don't take precautions.

[FlagDayNCO]

Originally Posted by Mycroft

Regardless, of your choice, talk to a seamstress about putting some protective material on the inside of your suit where your pistol will come into contact with it. Daily carry taught me many lessons, one of which is that sitting up and down repeatedly while wearing a pistol WILL cause it to wear through the material lining the inside of your suit if you don't take precautions.

GREAT ADVICE! I didn't think about that, even after I just picked up another set of trousers that had to be repaired.

The inside of your trousers were you carry, and especially the suit jacket lining. Suit jacket linings are very thin and once a small hole appears, it will grow and swallow the pistol grip.

If you will be carrying in a suit daily, also have the belt loops reinforced and a better stitch where they are sewn to the trousers. There will be one time you bend over, turn, or somthing, and the belt loop will pop.

[(1VB)compforce]

I have quite a few different holsters since I'm particular about printing. My carries are all 1911's. You (TS) have had your hands on the Pro Carry. I have all three sizes. I regularly wear a suit so carry with and without the jacket is important to me.

For carry holsters I have

Galco OWB - It's an older model, but similar to the Stinger http://www.galcogunleather.com/sting..._8_4_1301.html
That's the OWB I gave you to carry.
Crossbreed Super Tuck IWB
Tagua IWB http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B008WPAX4S
Foxx Holsters IWB http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0086FXEXQ
Kimber (Galco) IWB http://store.kimberamerica.com/iwb-3...holster-r-hand
Fanny Pack from a little place in South America (You 7th Group guys will know the tailor that made it)
Urban Carry http://urbancarryholsters.com/holste...ter-black.html

Here's my short reviews on each of them

Galco OWB - Standard OWB holster. Reliable, good quality, won't work for concealed without a jacket

Crossbreed SuperTuck - I haven't used this in forever. For us shorter people, the top edge of the backing digs into the bottom of your ribs. Sitting, the holster sticks out at the top. It's also insanely long. You've seen what my waist looks like (36"). This wraps all the way from 1:00 to 6:00 on me with the gun at 4:00.

Foxx - I bought this one because it was the same design as the SuperTuck, but with a much shorter length. I still have the same problem with it digging into my ribs, especially when seated. Both the Crossbreed and the Foxx will probably work fine for people 6' tall and over.

Tagua - I'd never heard of them, but for $28 how could I go wrong? It turns out that this is far and away my most used IWB holster. It's comfortable, good quality leather. The clip is still holding strong after 10 years of being my EDC holster. I have the 5" barrel model, but easily carry my 3" in it with no loss of retention. Definitely a KISS principle holster. I can tuck with it too. I only tried other options because I am trying to find something that eliminates the printing, so far nothing is really better.

Kimber/Galco - Works fine, but not very good concealment. The loops are prominent enough that you might as well tuck behind it and open carry.

The fanny pack... Love it, can carry a full size 1911 in it + 2 magazines and just look like I'm a tourist, not someone that has real firepower in there. The downside is that as someone once mentioned to me: If you see a guy over 40 wearing a fanny pack, you can bet there's a gun in it. This is my carry when I wear shorts, doesn't really work with a suit.

Urban Carry - just got it today. I'm still breaking it in. I'll let you know how it works out after the leather softens. First impression, I'm not impressed.