[Clay1]

I've been using a CB Super Tuck for my G19. Nice holster but wanted a way to carry a second gun. I opted for a Vanguard II by Raven Concealment. Nice, simple holster and I like the security of the "pull the dot" belt loop vs the Zach holster by Dale Fricke which was similar.

Now for the help part. I'm 5' 7". 190 pounds. Sure, I should lose 20 pounds. Standing, the gun is concealable, but sitting when my belly pushes out on the gun it is way too obvious that I have a gun under my shirt.

Bluntly it isn't close to being comfortable, but I believe like Clint Smith, it is not meant to be comfortable, it is meant to be comforting.

I'm not saying that the holster is bad, it's probably how I am using it. Any ideas to conceal better while seated with this holster anywhere between 12 and 2? Wear lower, wear higher, put a cant on it. I'm just a little frustrated. Not enough to put it up for sale just yet, but the CB ST, I can wear for 12 hours with no problems. If I make it 3 hours sitting with this thing, I feel like I just finished a water board treatment. Like I said, it's most likely my ignorance on how to wear this thing. Any help will be appreciated.

 

[roberev]

I have mine set up for zero cant. This is great for walking around or just standing.

When it comes to sitting, I manipulate the gun into a slight reverse cant position. There is just enough slack between the holster loop and my 1.5" belt to do this. This conceals my Glock 32/23 when I am sitting, despite my considerable girth. It also keeps the muzzle from digging into my leg.

Rob

 

[Clay1]

I have mine set up for zero cant. This is great for walking around or just standing.

When it comes to sitting, I manipulate the gun into a slight reverse cant position. There is just enough slack between the holster loop and my 1.5" belt to do this. This conceals my Glock 32/23 when I am sitting, despite my considerable girth. It also keeps the muzzle from digging into my leg.

Rob

I just went on a road trip. Lowered the ride height and made it on a 2 hour, one way trip. On the way back, made it 1 1/2 hours before I had to take it off during the drive. Just couldn't make it the 2 hours.

I have the belt loop size very snug, barely snaps on my 1 1/2" belt. Your post made me want to try to open the loop up to the next level and see if the added play gives me a little more comfort.

Thanks for the response Rob, appreciate your input.

 

[Clay1]

I bought this holster toward the end of September. Almost three months later, all of the pieces of the puzzle have finally pulled together enough so that I can finally wear this holster daily.

While I have tried different positions on the clock from 12:00 to about 2:30 (I haven't tried any weak side positions, but that is still an option for future experiments). I've done different ride heights as well since the Vanguard II allows for this. For me the lower the better concealment but with a very low ride it is also more difficult for me to get a good fighting grip on the gun in the holster. I like the idea of getting a first, final and fighting grip on the gun in the holster so that I don't have to try and reposition my grip during or once I am on target. I still could do some experiments with different cant positions but am wearing it pretty vertical.

Yesterday, the last piece of being able to wear it for more than just a couple of hours sitting finally came together with the help of this video from YouTube: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxdhA0Y1q9Y"]Appendix Carry - Part I - YouTube[/ame] The tip for me in the video that made it bearable happens in the video about 8:19 into the video. Watch it, but I will tell you that the last piece of the major puzzle for me has been to loosen my belt one or two notches. I thought that I could just take off my 5:00 holster and put on an appendix holster with the belt in the same position and be fine. Maybe it has to do with my successful lifestyle body shape (fat guy) but I can sit for twice as long as I could before since the looser belt allows the gun to move some and not apply too much pressure to my leg. It was painful before.

I really do believe that carrying a gun should be comforting and not comfortable, that's why I kept working at it for 3 months. I hope that this will help someone else take a shorter route to a reasonable level of comfort so that they can wear appendix even if they thought that it would never work for them.

Anyone else have any ideas to make this position work better just add them, the experiment isn't over yet.

 

[4Rules]

Unlike the Raven, the CCC Shaggy imparts a tuck (into the thorax) to the pistol's grip. Opinions vary, but the Vanguard ll does not work nearly as well for me as does the Shaggy. (I'm sure I'll find some application for the Vanguard ll, but I haven't identified that yet.)

 

[TurboRocket]

OP, I'm about the same size as you. Thanks for sharing.

I'll share my experience here, if I may. I started with a Dale Fricke Archangel, and am now trying a Raven ACR. On both of them, I temporarily taped a piece of foam to the body side of the holster, under the slide (not the trigger guard) - of course, the foam idea doesn't help for your Vanguard II. This helps to push the grip of the firearm in, helps minimally to push the butt end in, and keeps the end of the holster for digging in. I usually carry a G26 in this position but both of my holsters are for a G19. I think that the extra length in the holster helps stabilize it, and keep it from flopping out as much. And, with the use of the foam, the extra length in the holster adds leverage to push the grip in.

I'll try the tip to keep my belt a notch or two looser. If it helps with comfort, that would be another step in the right direction.

I'm trying to switch from 4:00 IWB primary to appendix. In combatives training, AIWB was so much faster, better for retention than strong-side hip, and better for countering attempts to foil your draw stroke.

I'm also looking to carry a BUG, preferably another G26, off-side on the belt. If I can make AIWB a bit more comfortable to be my primary, then I will look for belt carrying a BUG off-side. Haven't decided whether it will be OWB or IWB. Two IWB might not be feasible but we'll see.

 

[Clay1]

OP, I'm about the same size as you. Thanks for sharing.

I'll share my experience here, if I may. I started with a Dale Fricke Archangel, and am now trying a Raven ACR. On both of them, I temporarily taped a piece of foam to the body side of the holster, under the slide (not the trigger guard) - of course, the foam idea doesn't help for your Vanguard II. This helps to push the grip of the firearm in, helps minimally to push the butt end in, and keeps the end of the holster for digging in. I usually carry a G26 in this position but both of my holsters are for a G19. I think that the extra length in the holster helps stabilize it, and keep it from flopping out as much. And, with the use of the foam, the extra length in the holster adds leverage to push the grip in.

I'll try the tip to keep my belt a notch or two looser. If it helps with comfort, that would be another step in the right direction.

I'm trying to switch from 4:00 IWB primary to appendix. In combatives training, AIWB was so much faster, better for retention than strong-side hip, and better for countering attempts to foil your draw stroke.

I'm also looking to carry a BUG, preferably another G26, off-side on the belt. If I can make AIWB a bit more comfortable to be my primary, then I will look for belt carrying a BUG off-side. Haven't decided whether it will be OWB or IWB. Two IWB might not be feasible but we'll see.

We seem similar in more than body shape. I wanted to carry AIWB to carry a second gun. One is none, two is OK, three - now you have something. I carry a G19 in the Vanguard II and and Crimson Trace equipped G19 in a Crossbreed Supertuck at about 5:00. I would like to off side carry a little single stack 9. I'm working on trying for find a pocket holster for my CW9 with a Crimson Trace laserguard.

The next holster on my list is a Archangel. Can you make some comments comparing the AA to the Raven Concealment ACR? Thanks

 

[TurboRocket]

The next holster on my list is a Archangel. Can you make some comments comparing the AA to the Raven Concealment ACR? Thanks

My trials aren't concluded yet, but the ACR has the advantage of pulling in the butt end of the firearm. The AA does not. Either way, I like it better with the foam attached. The ACR also has the advantage of being adjustable and tuckable - not that I've ever tucked with it. If I had to tuck, I'd go with a belly band, I think. This would be one of my next purchases if I stick with appendix for primary.

FWIW, on several occasions, I've carried the G26 in the ACR, and a G19 at 4:00 OWB in a Raven Phantom. Didn't like it. I think there was just too much on the belt, or maybe too much strong side... it was creating a very uncomfortable pressure spot at 4:00. If the G26 AIWB works out, then I'm probably going to consider either another G26 or Kahr PM9, off-side, in something like this: http://ttgunleather.com/catalog/i40.html

 

[Clay1]

Wearing two G19s full of ammo is a lot of weight and can't recomend it with anything but a REAL gun belt. Now that I like my belt a little looser for the AIWB I think that the second G19 would slide down my nonexistant rear end.

Appendix combined with weak side carry might be a great alternative.

I do like this adjustable cant holster.
http://www.shopleatherworks.com/minimum-adjusta-cant-iwb/ The price is right too. He also does some nice leather work. The reason that I really liked the AA is that I could just order one from Brownells as a stock item and wouldn't have to wait weeks to get one.
I like the "pull the dots" loops and I like that the loops are not directly over the gun.

 

[SCmasterblaster]

Keep on carrying, guys. It is one of our dearest freedoms.

 

[Clay1]

Keep on carrying, guys. It is one of our dearest freedoms.

It's funny, even among so called "gun guys" that many that actually have permits never really exercise their right and really carry. Of those that really carry, most do so only once in a while. It's a dedicated fellow who carries everyday. I try to carry every time I'm not at work. It's a lifestyle change.

There are many that talk the talk and few that walk the walk.

 

[SCmasterblaster]

It's funny, even among so called "gun guys" that many that actually have permits never really exercise their right and really carry. Of those that really carry, most do so only once in a while. It's a dedicated fellow who carries everyday. I try to carry every time I'm not at work. It's a lifestyle change.

There are many that talk the talk and few that walk the walk.

I have been carrying my G17 since 1989.