Common Concealed Carry Myths... Solved
Thanks to the innovative hinge design of these Clinger No Print Wonder holsters,
Tom regularly carries larger guns like this S&W M&P and Beretta APX under a T-shirt.
Like many of you, I’ve got boxes of misfit holsters. Mind you, they’re not necessarily bad products, they just didn’t work for me for one reason or another. That’s not surprising, as carry is a very personal thing. We’re all different shapes and sizes, and we have different wardrobe and carry requirements. If I had to wear a suit every day, my carry method choices might be different than they are now given the shorts and T-shirts in my daily rotation.
There is a silver lining to excess holster investment. Hundreds of trial-and-error iterations have brought forth innovative gear solutions to sticky concealed carry problems.
Note how the fixed rear clip draws the grip in tight to the body.
I Can’t Carry a Full-Sized Gun
Yes. You. Can. You don’t need NFL linebacker body proportions to carry a mid or even full-size gun. It may not be as effortless and convenient as packing a pocket mini-sub-micro-compact, but you sure as heck can hide a larger handgun if you want. Unless you live in a cold climate, you’ll need to resort to inside-the-waistband (IWB) carry to make it work. The way I see it, with IWB, muzzle length is “free” since it’s hidden inside your pants. Who cares if the muzzle extends two or five inches? The challenge lies with hiding the larger grip.
Enter a holster solution to help hide the extra bulk. Clinger Holsters came up with a nifty invention called the No Print Wonder. This polymer holster shell mounts to your belt using a clever hinged approach. The front clip attaches to the holster body with a flexible piece of either rubber or leather, depending on the specific model. The rear clip mounts to the holster body via a rigid piece of polymer. When you fasten the rear clip to the belt, it pulls the holster body in tight to the curve of your body thanks to that flexible hinge in the front. Voila! The full-height grip of a large pistol like a 1911 or service pistol tucks in close and doesn’t tent the back of your cover garment. It really works. I regularly carry a 1911, full-size Sig Sauer P320, and other similar guns wearing shorts and a T-shirt for cover. Piece of cake.
Do be sure to order the optional Clinger Cushion. This padded backer attaches to any polymer holster and provides a comfy interface between your body and the holster itself. Just attach the self-adhesive hook and loop dots to the back of the holster body, and you can easily move the padded portion between multiple holsters.
What Tom likes about the 5.11 Tactical Holster shirt is the gun pocket placement. Slightly forward of the side, it’s far easier to reach yet remains hidden.
Tucked-In Shirts?
Some folks are burdened with a “tucked-in shirt” dress code every day. I was one of them for a dozen or so years. No worries, you can still carry a concealed handgun. It just requires some conscious tradeoffs. After trying all manner of “work environment permissive” carry options, I settled on an undergarment approach.
The 5.11 Tactical Holster Shirt is a Spandex-ey compression shirt that makes you feel (and look) skinnier than you are, so that’s one benefit. The other is its hidden holster compartments on both sides of the chest. I call out this particular shirt for good reason. There are some similar designs that place the holster pocket directly in the armpit area. That’s great for concealment, but it’s tough to reach that location with your opposite hand. And if there’s a retention strap, you’re looking at even more time. The 5.11 shirt places the pockets in more of a 3/4 position on the forward edge of your side. Instead of a retention strap that has to be opened, the gun pocket is held closed with hook and loop patches. Just blade your hand right through the opening and you can assume a firing grip before you draw. Access is much easier.
Do take note the “cost” of this ultra-concealment method is a slower draw. You’ll have to get into your shirt first, which may require undoing a button or two. Trust me, they won’t fly off with a vigorous tearing motion like in the movies. If you want to get fancy, you can create some fake buttons and use Velcro or snaps underneath to allow quicker access. It’s not the fastest solution for accessing your gun, but if you absolutely, positively need total concealment, it’s a great option.
I’ll never argue with the convenience of carrying a tiny micro-mini, but I’m a heck of a lot more confident in my shooting capabilities when using a physically larger handgun. With the right gear and some commitment, you don’t have to limit yourself to a mouse gun for daily carry.
For more info: ClingerHolsters.com, 511Tactical.com
