Help me carry my CW45 (in the car).

[VAguy]

Greetings,

Hoping you guys can help me with the concealed carry of my CW45. Basically I am new (couple of months) to carrying at all, and am trying to figure out what works best for me.

I have a Looper gun belt and a Desantis Cozy Partner IWB holster, and I have no problem effectively and comfortably carrying and concealing when out walking around or riding motorcycles. BTW, I carry at about 4:30 and I'm 6'2", 175 lbs.

But when in the car there is no way I can drive comfortably for more than a few minutes (actually it is never comfortable in the car, but I will accept that for a short ride) with this setup.

Do people really carry medium to large frame pistols IWB while driving?

I don't like the idea of removing my pistol from my person while I drive, but for those that might, do you leave the holster on and re-holster upon exiting the vehicle? Seems sketchy to me.

I'm thinking OWB at 3 o'clock is the only way I could ride comfortably in the car, but that pretty much forces me to carry that way all the time because I don't want to be changing holsters, etc while entering or exiting my car. I feel I would also have to always have an extra shirt to put on over to effectively conceal (not just a t-shirt like I can with IWB carry).

Wondering if appendix carry would work for me for carrying in the car and then out and about on the street? Wish I could try it without buying a holster I might never use!

Not interested in a "car specific" holster carry option. I need something that will work seamlessly when moving from outside the car to inside the car, etc.

Should I just suck it up and be uncomfortable? Maybe a different IWB with a higher or lower position would help?

Any recommendations from real world experience would be very much appreciated.

thanks, great forum!

VAGuy

[Bawanna]

Sitting in a car is very close to sitting in a wheelchair. I've not found any IWB that works comfortably in a sitting position. A crossdraw setup works well for some especially driving as the seatbelt doesn't interfere as bad with access. Many don't like the crossdraw walking around or those like me who have expanded in the mid section with short arms. An ankle rig works quite well sitting in a car and is very accessible in some cases.
Like you I don't want to redress myself everytime I get in the car. I carry OWB at about 3:30 in a high ride Mernickle leather holster. I carry a full size 5" Para and very little is below the belt line. If wearing a jacket etc, I unzip it and let the seatbelt ride under the jacket so it can be flipped out of the way to access the gun. In warm weather I wear a vest to cover my uniform shirt and leave it open in the front while seatbelted. While wearing just a shirt it would be simple to yank up out of the way and access the gun. Since my PM45 is on my ankle I have a second access option. Since I have to use my hands to drive I have to make sure I can pretty much do everything with one hand since one will be required to hold the brake and stuff. It's sometimes multi tasking to the extreme.
I tried appendix carry for awhile and found that not very comfortable and difficult to bend over. It's tough to come up with a set up that works for all occasions.
The main thing is to avoid the tell tale adjusting all the time. Adjusting the holster setup getting in or out of the car or having to keep your arm tight to your side while running all just scream concealed weapon.

[Jeremiah/Az]

I have never found IWB to be comfortable. I use a belt side holster & wear a loose long tailed shirt untucked. If I am not going to be in a large crowd, I OC a lot of times. That is legal here in Az. I have never had anyone say anything or even let me know that they noticed it. I carry at 3:30 with a cell phone in front of the holster.

[n8tureboy]

I carry my CW9 in a Crossbreed Supertuck at the 3:00 position and it works fine with no discomfort (im sitting here comfortably at my desk as I write this). The Supertuck is an awesome holster that can be adjusted to your liking.

[VAguy]

Sitting in a car is very close to sitting in a wheelchair. I've not found any IWB that works comfortably in a sitting position. A crossdraw setup works well for some especially driving as the seatbelt doesn't interfere as bad with access. Many don't like the crossdraw walking around or those like me who have expanded in the mid section with short arms. An ankle rig works quite well sitting in a car and is very accessible in some cases.
Like you I don't want to redress myself everytime I get in the car. I carry OWB at about 3:30 in a high ride Mernickle leather holster. I carry a full size 5" Para and very little is below the belt line. If wearing a jacket etc, I unzip it and let the seatbelt ride under the jacket so it can be flipped out of the way to access the gun. In warm weather I wear a vest to cover my uniform shirt and leave it open in the front while seatbelted. While wearing just a shirt it would be simple to yank up out of the way and access the gun. Since my PM45 is on my ankle I have a second access option. Since I have to use my hands to drive I have to make sure I can pretty much do everything with one hand since one will be required to hold the brake and stuff. It's sometimes multi tasking to the extreme.
I tried appendix carry for awhile and found that not very comfortable and difficult to bend over. It's tough to come up with a set up that works for all occasions.
The main thing is to avoid the tell tale adjusting all the time. Adjusting the holster setup getting in or out of the car or having to keep your arm tight to your side while running all just scream concealed weapon.

Thanks man, I appreciate you taking the time to explain some of your experiences. Good to hear a bit about each type of carry.

Yep I think the car thing is going to be tricky. I'm in the car about 3 hours a day so I have to come up with a good solution. Still don't like the "off body" method much for when in the car. I've been carrying my baby 1911 (Colt Govt Model 380) in a Desantis OWB pancake style holster w/ thumbreak removed, and I think I can slide it from about the 3:30 to 5:00 position, so maybe with a holster like you mentioned (I need to check on the high ride thing) I can do similar with the .45, so when in the car I can be around 3:30 and fit the pistol in the space between me, the seat and the seat belt. And then when I get out, move it back some.

Real good advice about finding a solid carry method and not adjusting or checking on your weapon all the time. Thanks

[VAguy]

I carry my CW9 in a Crossbreed Supertuck at the 3:00 position and it works fine with no discomfort (im sitting here comfortably at my desk as I write this). The Supertuck is an awesome holster that can be adjusted to your liking.

I'm GONNA try one of these eventually, I should just buy one now

[Bawanna]

Thanks man, I appreciate you taking the time to explain some of your experiences. Good to hear a bit about each type of carry.

Yep I think the car thing is going to be tricky. I'm in the car about 3 hours a day so I have to come up with a good solution. Still don't like the "off body" method much for when in the car. I've been carrying my baby 1911 (Colt Govt Model 380) in a Desantis OWB pancake style holster w/ thumbreak removed, and I think I can slide it from about the 3:30 to 5:00 position, so maybe with a holster like you mentioned (I need to check on the high ride thing) I can do similar with the .45, so when in the car I can be around 3:30 and fit the pistol in the space between me, the seat and the seat belt. And then when I get out, move it back some.

Real good advice about finding a solid carry method and not adjusting or checking on your weapon all the time. Thanks

If your in the car 3 hours a day (really 3 hours a day?) it would be well worth doing whatever you have to do to get comfy. There's lots of good paddle options out there now days also. For 3 hours a day I'd probably get a good crossdraw paddle rig, put it on when your in the car, switch the gun to it and just leave the strong side. Or find a paddle that you can just pull off the strong side and put on the off side. Have to sort thru though, some paddle holsters are just as uncomfy as IWB's.
I think you'll find that Mernickle PS6 would work in the car or out in comfort UNLESS you got bum shoulders where the high ride draw aggravates you. He started making mid ride and low ride versions also for folks that couldn't handle the extreme high ride.

[Michael W.]

Greetings,

Hoping you guys can help me with the concealed carry of my CW45. Basically I am new (couple of months) to carrying at all, and am trying to figure out what works best for me.

I have a Looper gun belt and a Desantis Cozy Partner IWB holster, and I have no problem effectively and comfortably carrying and concealing when out walking around or riding motorcycles. BTW, I carry at about 4:30 and I'm 6'2", 175 lbs.

But when in the car there is no way I can drive comfortably for more than a few minutes (actually it is never comfortable in the car, but I will accept that for a short ride) with this setup.

Do people really carry medium to large frame pistols IWB while driving?

I don't like the idea of removing my pistol from my person while I drive, but for those that might, do you leave the holster on and re-holster upon exiting the vehicle? Seems sketchy to me.

I'm thinking OWB at 3 o'clock is the only way I could ride comfortably in the car, but that pretty much forces me to carry that way all the time because I don't want to be changing holsters, etc while entering or exiting my car. I feel I would also have to always have an extra shirt to put on over to effectively conceal (not just a t-shirt like I can with IWB carry).

Wondering if appendix carry would work for me for carrying in the car and then out and about on the street? Wish I could try it without buying a holster I might never use!

Not interested in a "car specific" holster carry option. I need something that will work seamlessly when moving from outside the car to inside the car, etc.

Should I just suck it up and be uncomfortable? Maybe a different IWB with a higher or lower position would help?

Any recommendations from real world experience would be very much appreciated.

thanks, great forum!

VAGuy

VAGuy,

Lots of good info from Bawanna here. But I'd respecfully submit that if it's
THAT uncomfortable to strongside IWB carry your PM45 while sitting in a car
then you may need to be exposed to some better holsters.
The PM45's relatively short slide and barrel make it in fact extremely friendly
to carry IWB while sitting. I'm currently carrying my PM45 in a Comp-Tac M-
Tac holster, similar in concept to the Crossbreed. I can drive around all day
with no discomfort at all. The key is to find a holster that has adjustable ride
and cant and experiment with those two settings to find the right fit for you.

Having said that, carrying IWB while driving does not lend itself very well
to defending against an attack should the need arise. It would take me
some contorting and belly shifting to get my weapon into play.
If I'm feeling a little squirrely like driving in a dicey area, I'll remove
my weapon and store it in the center compartment of my truck
just so I can get to it easier. When I arrive at my destination it
doesn't take much to stretch my body out and re-holster the weapon
in the care before I open the door or if in a relatively remote place
I'll step half out of the truck and re-holster.

Michael-

[jlottmc]

I carry a bit unusually compared to everyone else above. I carry in about the 4-6 o'clock position in an IWB, and over the years, feel funny without a large piece of iron in my back like that. I also carry vertically there, and use a right handed holster (yes I can access with either hand). Yes the butt digs into me but as I've said I feel odd without it. I also usually have my multi-tool on the outside of the belt there for use and for camouflage as well.

[VAguy]

The key is to find a holster that has adjustable ride and cant and experiment with those two settings to find the right fit for you.

I think you are right, I need a new holster

[ripley16]

One holster I've found easy and comfortable to use in most situations is the Mitch Rosen Premier. The snap straps make it easy on and off as well as hold the gun tight to the body. I always capture a belt loop between the two snap straps but I can still slide the holster a bit when changing my position for longer periods of time, (such as while driving). I like the amount of cant and the draw id smooth.



P45 in Mitch Rosen Premier, shown with my Seecamp.

[mr surveyor]

simple solution....

keep the "primary" gun IWB at 3:30 - just behind the hip pointer, carry there until it grows to your body. You will be able to sit in comfort, espeically with a short barrel. But, never depend on drawing from a covered IWB with a seatbelt if you're in an area that makes you think about the need in the first place. Get yourself a cheap car (not Kahr) gun.... well, not cheap as in junk, but a solid used, inexpensive, "leave in the console" gun... like an old S&W or Ruger revo. Something you can leave concealed in the vehicle that will be much more accessable than an IWB gun that you're practically sitting on, strapped under a seatbelt. That eliminates the need for unnecessarily handling your primary carry.


surv