Hello, I am new to concealed carry and have been practicing this week with my Glock 26 in an inside the waistband holster. I make adjustments while walking around and wearing larger clothes but it feels terrible on my love handles when I hop in my truck and drive away with my seat belt on (and I am not a really large person).
Question- do you folks take off the holster when you get into your vehicle and place the firearm in another area then re-holster when you arrive at your location? I understand things may get more complicated state to state but wanted to hear your feedback and thoughts. Thanks for your time, I appreciate it.
No, my gun stays in place when I'm in the car. You'll eventually find a holster and position combination that works for you. It's part finding that combo and part getting used to it.
Nope. It stays inside my waistband and holstered at all times. It took me a while to figure out which position was the best compromise between comfort and accessibility.
I suggest you experiment with different positions to see which fits you best. I carry a G19 btw, I hardly notice it anymore unless it's not there.
I try and have the gun on me at all times. The car makes a bad holster. In an accident everything goes flying. When I can't keep it in a holster, I'll put it in the center console in a scabbard-covering the trigger.
I leave it alone but carry iwb / owb just slightly behind my hip bone. I am also left handed so less seat belt issues. Are you carrying slightly behind your hip? Are you carrying appendix carry? Overtime it will feel more natural or just keep trying different spots. I would not want to mess with it for normal driving around town. On a road trip I might remove my gun and holster when in the car.
Do you have a good gun belt and holster? That can make a big difference.
A lot of trainers I'm into these days are carrying appendix (right up front, a little to the side of your buckle). It has the benefit of being as quick to access as any position from a standing position, yet is the most readily accessible when seated in a car as well. Carrying behind the hip isn't for me, as if you are knocked on your back, you will land on your gun, potentially injuring yourself. If you're pinned on your back, you can't access your gun. Appendix may take some work to get it do-able, comfort wise, but it's the way It seems to be going in a lot of concealed carry training circles. That's my thoughts.
I put my pants on in the morning and on goes the holster and remains there all day until I take them off before bed. If I'm wearing pants I'm wearing a holster and gun. SJ 40
I am curious what kind of IWB holster are you using? If it is comfortable when wearing outside your vehicle it should be pretty comfortable when sitting in your vehicle. I am left handed and carry a Glock 17 and 30 Gen 4 in a Nate Squared Professional IWB holster - a very comfortable holster. When I sit in my car I "settle" into the car seat and the holster shifts a little because I am now sitting instead of standing but it is still comfortable. A good gun belt is also very important to support the weight of the gun and holster. Don't use a "regular" belt. Hope this helps.
I'm new to ccw and despite my best efforts, I'm falling victim to the never ending quest for the perfect holster for me. Right now, I have one I am very happy with, but it shifts(cant wise) when I drive, but only when I drive. Just about everything else about it, I am happy with. I find myself looking at hybrid holsters, but I'm thinking I'll solve one problem and possibly create another. Should I keep looking? Does the perfect holster exist?
Most seats have lateral bolsters that interfere significantly with strong-side access and comfort, so when you include the activity of driving, especially for extended periods, the only position that really works for me is appendix. The stability issue, for me, is best addressed with a solid Kydex loop (rather than soft loops). (The better holster makers offer the customer the option of fixed loop, belt clip, or soft loops.) The Kydex loop - which is sized to the belt - really helps keep thing on an even keel.
No doubt, the potential risks associated with appendix carry scares some people, and no doubt, some poorly designed (so-called) "appendix" holsters are no more comfortable than anything else, but the proper AIWB holster is a joy to carry, all of the time, everywhere, including long hours riding in an automobile.
Appendix carry is not for everybody; it is only for the serious student who is willing to take the time to do it safely.
I put my pants on in the morning and on goes the holster and remains there all day until I take them off before bed. If I'm wearing pants I'm wearing a holster and gun. SJ 40
This is my approach too. If I am going where I feel it needs gun access while in the car, I bring my G27 in a side door pocket with a 15 round magazine. But I always have the CCW on me.
I carry in or out of the vehicle the same way, however, on long trips I use a De Santis Apache ankle holster, or even a fanny pack for long rides where I wont be in and out of the vehicle much. I can re pack or re adjust as necessary and change holster position options at the end of the ride and put the fanny pack or ankle holster in the trunk until I need it later.
G27 stays in its IWB holster, on me at 3:30, all day, even when getting in and out of my Vette. ND's don't happen to a gun that is left alone, sitting quietly and secured in its holster. ND's happen when a gun is handled. Getting accustomed to the gun back there is like getting accustomed to wearing a tie. I got used to it, now it's a part of me, and I feel naked without it.
I carry in a pocket holster. The LCR always stays with me in the car. Since it is impossible the remove the revolver in an emergency situation I will put my G26 or S&W 4516-2 in the center console.
Bucket seats are the worst. The sides of the seat wrap around and put pressure on the butt and press it into your side. Try moving the holster forward about 1/2" to 3/4" and drop it a bit lower if possible. Also, a little forward cant seems to make it work better for me.
The only time I ever remove my pistol in my vehicle is when I am about to enter somewhere where it is illegal to carry. Then it goes in a lock box, cabled to my seat frame/track.
Several reasons for this:
1) I am always armed, everywhere that such is legal.
2) A pistol loose in a vehicle become a "missile" in an accident. I do not want my skull cracked or windshield broken because of 2 lb of flying steel.
3) If I am in any kind of accident or see some reason to stop quickly and get out, I do not want to be fumbling around trying to get my gun in a holster or put my holster on my belt. I want to be able to exit my vehicle immediately, and armed.
4) If I get pulled over by a cop, I do not want him to get nervous and take all kinds of extra precautions because he/she sees a gun on my seat (or anywhere else).
I have never had a real issue with comfort or other problems, in any style of vehicle seats, including "wrap-around" bucket seats. If I need to, I just shift my holster forward or backward a little, to fix the discomfort, etc.
When I need a gun, my instinct and muscle memory automatically make my hand go to my waist. I do not want to have to think about where to reach and find my gun (which may have slid out of reach).
Your preferred method of carry will come with trial and error. Dont rule out OWB carry while you look for the most comfortable spot. I have fat handles also and could never get used to IWB carry. I would suggest that you try several different OWB paddle holsters, preferably at a store without buying them first. When trying them on see if you can shift them from your preferred location, say 3oclock to 2oclock position without having to loosen your britches. Depending on which vehicle I drive Ill sometimes have to move the holster to a 2oclock position. My gun stays in the holster, even when I take the holster off. From a safety standpoint, the less I remove and replace the gun from the holster the better.
Hello, I am new to concealed carry and have been practicing this week with my Glock 26 in an inside the waistband holster. I make adjustments while walking around and wearing larger clothes but it feels terrible on my love handles when I hop in my truck and drive away with my seat belt on (and I am not a really large person).
Question- do you folks take off the holster when you get into your vehicle and place the firearm in another area then re-holster when you arrive at your location? I understand things may get more complicated state to state but wanted to hear your feedback and thoughts. Thanks for your time, I appreciate it.
Like so many others, I carry IWB all day, including in the car. You might have to adjust the position a little in addition to a good belt and the right holster.
The only thing I can add is that for long trips I find a fanny pack very convenient and comfortable. Access is excellent, with the pistol laying right in your lap, and it is completely comfortable. As for the fashion aspect: I don't really care much what people at rest stops and fast food joints care of my sartorial acumen. When I get where I am going I switch back to my IWB holster and toss the fanny pack in the back seat; takes maybe 3 seconds.
Bucket seats are the worst. The sides of the seat wrap around and put pressure on the butt and press it into your side. Try moving the holster forward about 1/2" to 3/4" and drop it a bit lower if possible. Also, a little forward cant seems to make it work better for me.
As others mentioned, with practice and the tips mentioned above, you can find a position that is comfortable to leave your gun on your belt in the car.
But for me that is not the issue, so it looks like I will be the contrarian on this.
Bucket seats, my seat belt strap and buckle, and my center console all converge right where I carry, at about the 3 or 3:15 position. I am carrying CCW a micro pistol (PM9) in a leather OWB belt looped holster most often. With a shirt untucked over the gun, the seat belt and other things in the way, there is no way I can access this quickly or without an awful lot of gyrations in a bad situation.
So what I do is remove the gun from the holster VERY CAREFULLY and put it in another holster with a clip (like an IWB). Then clip it on the the driver's side door map pocket. Then when I get where I am going I reverse this before opening the door of the car.
Advantages of this are easy accessibility (albeit weak hand) for me to deploy, but not accessible to anyone else in the car, secured in the door and not loose, not visible outside the car, and comfortable on any length drive.
The second (and even better) way to do this is to just carry with the clip IWB holster. Remove the holster with gun in it and place in same door map pocket. This avoids taking the gun out of the holster. But IWB carry is not as comfortable to me.
I am not discounting all the great advice on minimizing gun handling. Just above works best for me to keep my gun accessible in the car and I am very, very careful.
Thanks everyone for the feedback, I do appreciate it. Since I posted this I have gotten used to the holster and losing some "winter weight" has helped! Man it sucks getting old.... Have a great day and be safe.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Glock Talk
21M posts
185.2K members
Since 1999
A forum community dedicated to Glock firearm owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, troubleshooting, accessories, classifieds, and more!