[JohnSteele]

I must admit that my favorite carry position is at 12:00. After I got over the fear of carrying with one in the chamber and having a ND, I realize that the most comfortable and concealable position for me was at 12:00. I use an el cheopo Uncle Mikes holster for this. I do sometimes carry at 3:00 to 3:15 depending on my attire and which vehicle I'm driving. But I keep coming back to the 12:00 position for its ease of comfort and concealment.
Is there anything wrong with carrying in this position and I would like to get an idea of what position everyone else carries in.

 

[NkmG19]

I must admit that my favorite carry position is at 12:00. After I got over the fear of carrying with one in the chamber and having a ND, I realize that the most comfortable and concealable position for me was at 12:00. I use an el cheopo Uncle Mikes holster for this. I do sometimes carry at 3:00 to 3:15 depending on my attire and which vehicle I'm driving. But I keep coming back to the 12:00 position for its ease of comfort and concealment.
Is there anything wrong with carrying in this position and I would like to get an idea of what position everyone else carries in.

Are you not afraid that you will blow off your :funny
All kidding aside, I primarily carry at the 3:15 position. This only felt comfortable when I got the right holster. Before that my previous holster did not have a cant and so it would print badly. Now it does not. You may want to look into the Crossbreed or M-Tac holster because they are very comfortable to wear. There is nothing wrong with the 12:00 position but I can't carry like that on my motorcycle or when sitting down in a vehicle for that matter.

 

[Sky Pilot]

You mentioned you carry in more than one position, depending on the occasion.
That's the best way to find the carry that suits you the best.
I've come to prefer strong side, handle to the rear, simply because that's what I carried while I wore a badge; your first training comes to the fore when it hits the fan: if I must draw, Old Faithful is right where it's always been!

 

[Glockcarry23]

I carry consistently at the 3:15 position. This allows me to be consistent with my draw technique. Also while driving I can access my weapon by just leaning slightly forward and there is no need to re-adjust when getting out of the vehicle.

 

[Cthulhu]

I prefer to carry consistently in the same position whenever possible, and if I do have to adjust, I try to make the adjustment as small as possible.

For me specifically, I normally carry IWB w/ untucked shirt around 3:15. With my rig, it's the best for comfort and concealment in any position (seated, standing, driving, etc.). If I have to wear tucked, I shift to around 4:15. To me, the adjustment in my draw from 3:15 to 4:15 is relatively minor compared to a change from 3:15 to 12:00 or 1:00.

If I had a smaller gun, I may consider 12:00 or 1:00, but with my current carry, that would just be ridiculously uncomfortable.

-JT

 

[SingleStack45]

Too fat to carry at 12:00...so it's normally 3:15, IWB shirt untucked. (if it's on my belt)

I always laugh...any of you guys remember "Thunderwear"? The "underwear" that provides a pouch to carry your gun at 12:00...completely inside your pants...so OK...one question...how do you pee especially if it's a umm...large weapon...??? :laughing

Ha! They are still around!!!

http://www.thunderwear.com/

 

[UpOn2Wheels]

I'm an IWB 3:15 kinda guy as well. My combos are:

- Glock 36 in a High Noon Public Secret
- Rohrbaugh R9s in a High Noon Mr. Softy (or pocket carry in a Galco)
- Kimber Pro CDP II in a High Noon Public Secret (in case I'm going to a REALLY bad neighborhood. Or WalMart)

 

[OrlandoDriver]

I dont know about 12 O clock Although i dont plan on having anymore kids still like to have fun wit mama I stick to 3:15 :laughing

 

[czlight]

I carry at 3:30 when I wear my shirt untucked and I wearing my OWB or in my pocket. I just picked up a S&W 642 and it fits perfect in the pocket.

 

[Buckeye19]

I carry at 3:15 IWB with a decent forward cant. I've found the more vertical I can tilt the grip the less it prints through my shirt. From here I get a consistent draw and need only minimal adjustment to be comfortable in the car.

Anyone ever try carrying at 6:00 (small of back)? When standing the gun virtually disappears, but I can't imagine this would be practical for sitting and driving...

Also curious about ankle holsters. Seems like a interesting idea but I've never talked to anyone who's tried it. Business casual makes it tough to conceal and this might be better than working with the waistband. Thoughts?

 

[Cthulhu]

As long as you're not trying to conceal a Desert Eagle or something, a Crossbreed Supertuck makes business casual, and even business dress, concealment very easy.

-JT

 

[ron8903]

IWB 4:30 OWB on duty gear 3:00

 

[ECHOONE]

Since I'm disabled with spinal problems I've found 11;00 with a crossdraw owb holster the most comfortable with untucked shirt

 

[Buckeye19]

As long as you're not trying to conceal a Desert Eagle or something, a Crossbreed Supertuck makes business casual, and even business dress, concealment very easy.

-JT

Thanks for the recommendation - I'll be checking one out shortly.

About the Desert Eagle... the thought of concealing one cracks me up. I can't see one of those things without recalling this bad a$$ scene from the movie Snatch. Hilarious...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=s376ZbPG-OM

 

[MamaBear]

Would someone please explain what 3:15 means? Based on the snickering comments about 12:00 and certain pieces and parts being in danger I pretty much figured that one out but the 3:00 and 3:15 are still confusing me.

I'm thinking that 3:00 means on the side but how does the 3:15 fit in? Does that mean closer in the front or the back? Does 3:15 mean 1/2 way between your side and your belly button? Would that make it 2:00? Wouldn't that print or make it difficult to sit down if it were right on your side? If you carry it on your backside what time does that convert to? I'm female and am feeling extremely limited in just how I can conceal in the first place. That is why I'm going to be carrying my LCP instead of my .38. How in the world would someone like me hide a .38 when the LCP is so much lighter and smaller? I know it is probably not the most powerful gun on the market but in order to carry it on me it must be small. I've been looking at the ProStealth with the extra space for another magazine but even that looks a bit daunting to hide on me somewhere.

I can't just slip the LCP in my jeans pocket because I'm good to get a credit card in my pocket. [g] I'm not about to buy bigger clothes (it's a girl thing) so I'm seriously wondering where I'm going to put my little LCP.

You guys have it so much easier.

MamaBearto2

 

[flccnp]

Would someone please explain what 3:15 means? Based on the snickering comments about 12:00 and certain pieces and parts being in danger I pretty much figured that one out but the 3:00 and 3:15 are still confusing me.

I'm thinking that 3:00 means on the side but how does the 3:15 fit in?

MamaBearto2

Okay, 12 is straight in front. 3 is directly to your right side. 3:15 would be just a little further back from the 3 o'clock position, kind of in the gap between pelvic bone and buttocks nestled up against that bone. 6 is along the spine. 9 is smack dab on the left side on top of the pelvic bone.

 

[MamaBear]

Ok, stay with me on this. I'm left handed but primarily shoot right handed. I don't know why. I practice with both hands and can shoot equally as well with both hands but for some reason the gun feels good in my right hand. Go figure.

If I'm going to shoot right handed then would I place my holster on the left front side so I could get to it? I'm thinking at 10:00 or 11:00 on my left side if 12:00 is straight in front. I tried on an Uncle Mike's plain holster and stuffed it to the left of my belly button in the front inside my jeans waistband. It seemed to be a good place and no one could see it at the store. I'm not sure if I could sit down with it right there though. I didn't buy the holster because I was just looking.

Are you saying it is best to keep it on my right side and try to draw from there? I understand 3:00 now and can imagine that 3:15 would make it a bit more practical for sitting down but how does one draw from that position when it seems easier to reach right across my belly?

No wonder we should practice drawing our guns from our holsters. This is a bit more involved and technical than it appears.

I'll get my license some time the first of October. I have time to practice before I start carrying outside of the house.

Thanks for any suggestions. Are there any other women on this site that could offer any insight?

MamaBearto2

 

[Yardman]

Hey mamabearto2, it ultimately comes down to what's most comfortable and effective for you. When you draw your weapon from across the body that called a "cross draw". They do make bolsters for this. The reason most people carry at 3:00 to 3:15 is because it allows you to feel more comfortable either sitting or standing. I hope this helps.

 

[Cthulhu]

From what I've gathered, many women prefer crossdraw carry (holster on opposite side of "strong" hand), mainly because their body shape doesn't allow for comfortable "strong" side carry with most available holsters.

Like Yardman says, it comes down to what you can effectively and comfortably carry, and it's got to be a balance between the two. Effective would entail concealibility along with accessibility.

If your rig is extremely comfortable, but you can't readily access the weapon and/or it sticks out like a sore thumb, bad juju. If you can draw quickly and easily, but the thing is so uncomfortable you can't stand to wear it, bad juju.

If you know people who carry, male or female, try their rigs to get an idea of what will and won't work for you.

-JT

 

[flccnp]

Are you saying it is best to keep it on my right side and try to draw from there? I understand 3:00 now and can imagine that 3:15 would make it a bit more practical for sitting down but how does one draw from that position when it seems easier to reach right across my belly?
MamaBearto2

I think the experts all agree it is a little quicker to draw from the hip of whatever your shooting hand may be.

That being said, I think they will also agree that it is better to lose a fifth of a second (or whatever small time it takes) in order to wear a rig you are comfortable with.

If you're not comfortable wearing it, you will eventually do without. And it takes a heck of a lot longer to go home for your weapon than it does to cross draw.

Wear what is comfortable for you. I'm still trying to figure out what works for me.