I know there's a very long thread about your primary CCW piece but what do you carry in the summer? Here in the northeast your options change with the weather, the bulky, heavy pieces in the colder months are realistic when you wear enough clothes to cover it. My summer carry piece is the Walther PPK/S .380 auto. In either a Fobus or a belly band. It's a nice flat pistol.

NAA Guardian in 32 in SS. Great pocket gun, so even when it is 99degrees and 99% humidity you can carry a pistol. Glock 23 most of the time also.

Sig P239, .357 SIG, in a Milt Sparks Summer Classic II, w/ 2 spare mags

In the summer, fall and winter, I carry the only weapon my permit says I can-- my Sig 228, only I wear it with a custom inside the waist leather holster. The leather retains moisure, and is smelly at the end of the day, but I think it works better than plastic tupperwear stuff.

It's always summer where you live! Are you allowed 3 on your license?

Well your simi right we also have a Spring that is really nice!
Mine just says Sig 228 9mm -- In my state I'm lucky to just have the one I have. I don't rock the boat-- I don't bother anyone down there-- I donate to the encombant (sp?) and my application gets rubber stamped every 5 years.

I'm happy-- besides there are worse hand guns to have to carry.

Its always wayyyyy summer here. I can always be found carrying a .32 in a pocket. Works well with shorts. I can put my hand on it, aim it, and shoot it in the pocket if necessary. I have NOT tried it and i doubt I'd get a second shot because it would probably jam in that condition, but I don't plan on needing more then that

5" 1911 in a Blade Tech belt scabbard, all year. Have several short sleeve shirts that are designed to be worn outside of trousers, actually cooler than some crummy cotton T shirt Why do you think all the locals in Manila wear those loose, short sleeved shirts in that humidity ? It ain't for the cool breeze

Take care...Jim

Same thing I always carry, a Colt Commander in a Galco IWB holster in the small of my back. The T-Shirt tucks in nicely around it.

Usually a sig p239 9mm and 2 mags or my USPc with my shirt untucked.

Shep,
What holster is that your using for your P239?

Milt Sparks Summer Classic 2. It's a rough-side out, inside the pants. http://www.miltsparks.com/

Sometimes I use a belly band, sometimes a belt slide, and sometimes a DeSantis nylon inside the pants with a steel clip. Depends on what I'm wearing, what I'm doing, and where I'm going.

I'm buying all my leather holsters from Rusty Sherrick from now on. My duty holster I bought is a Rusty Sherrick, and it's awesome. The best $125 I ever spent on a holster (the only $125 I ever spent on a single holster!). http://www.c-rusty.com/

Shep,
That is a nice looking holster. How does it wear with a shirt tucked in over it? Does the shirt bunch up, or does it wear smooth and pull away freely?

I've never tucked a shirt in over this particular holster. I've always worn a loose shirt or other covering garment over it.

I also have one of these same holsters for my larger duty weapon.

Got ya... thanks bud.

Depending on what I'm wearing...tucked or untucked. I carry either a G36, a Kimber Ultra CDPII, a full size 1911, a Bersa Thunder or a KelTec P3AT.

Tucked I use a C.T.A.C. from Comp Tac http://www.comp-tac.com/

Untucked or covered I use a VM2, Galco Royal Guard or and IWB from Rafters http://www.raftersgunleather.com/holster.htm

If I need more concealability I put my Kel-Tec P3AT in my "Holdster" http://www.artofthehide.com/ This is great because it prints like a wallet and you fire while in the "holdster".

Last resort is my fanny-pack

I've tried the Sky-ops from Galco but IMHO they did not feel as stable. Also have used the Pager-Pal..in my opinion it's a little awkward.

5" 1911 year round. In a Tucker gun leather holster called the answer IWB. Keeps it close to the body and you can adjust the cant if you want to or need to. Two extra clips as well. The other 1911 is usually in my tuck in the fold down. If im working its in a meter bag that I made into a pistol bag.

I may get a fanny pack for those hot shirtless days.

Hey Guys,
I carry my Glock 35 seven days a week, 365 days a year. The only time it takes something more then my Bladetech, is going down the shore with a shirt off. Then, I wear baggy shorts and carry the pistol in a belly band worn like Thunderwear. No other issues...
Respectfully,
Harry
PS
I'm a pipsqueak at 5'8" and somewhere around 175 lbs. in my cleaned up summertime weight. Unfortunately, I'm not quite down to that yet ...

fanny packs are a dead give-a-way out here. When I see one I ask what kind of hand gun he's carring.

.45 LC Wheel Gun all year.
Steve

JP, I agree with you on fanny packs but sometimes they are the best option.

Sometimes, like running to the store real quick in the summer, I use a fanny pack.

I bought one in bright blue. Then I sewed patches all over it; "I Hiked the Appalachian Trail", "Occoee River Outfitters", "Margaritaville Cafe", etc. I hung a Jimmy Buffett keychain from the ripcord. That not only gives me a larger target to grab for to initiate the draw, but it fits in with the theme of the fanny pack. I put no patches on it that were firearms related.

To me, it just doesn't look like a holster anymore, not like a plain black nylon one. Kinda the "hide it in plain sight" theory.

I'm a surveyor so a fanny pack might look natural

Don't ask don't tell

LOL

Whatever gives me the upper hand..............

9X18 Makarov. I prefer my combat commander but the Mak is a real heavy duty beater. Like a PPK but 1/2 the price and mine shoots better than any PPK I have owned. The Mak does not slide bite my big hand either. I added some novaks and it's a nice packer.

In the summer I go to an Airweight in a Wild Bills pocket holster and a spare speedloader in a cargo pocket.

So, canavar, do you carry that G36 with the stock folded, or?? And how many reloads?

JK. I carry a Smith and Wesson Scandium 1911 in a Safariland OWB holster all the time. Loose short sleeve button up over a decent t-shirt. 2 reloads.

Sig 226 .40 all year round, am getting a 239 soon so I might migrate towards that. Havent shot one yet but it felt good and Ive never come across a Sig I didnt fall inlove with after shooting

During the warmer months I carry an HK P7M8 in a Matt DelFatti IWB covered with a t-shirt. I sometimes sweat on it pretty heavily, so corrosion prevention is a full time job for me during the summer.

When it cools off, or if I have gotten too fat to wear my IWB, I pack an M9 in a DeSantis OWB.

In tee shirt weather I mostly carry my SW 442 2" .38+p. with a blade-tech holster. It weighs 15 ozs. If I'm wearing a loose button up shirt I have the G-23 in a Blade-Tech. I Love those Blade Tech holsters. They aren't cheap, but worth every penny.

PA get hot, but not AZ hot. I can usually still stash my glock 19 in a Milt Sparks IWB holster. If it does get super hot though, i just picked up a SW 642 that i need to figure out a rig to carry it in.

Shep, you ever heard cries of "OMG that hippie is gonna shoot me!"

Rgith now? It's a makarov or a Smith and Wesson J freame with CT grips on it. Mostly the Smith though..............

Glock 27 in IWB Holster or Fanny Pack w/ 1 spare mag and a Kel Tec P3AT in left hand front pocket.

All year I carry a Kimber CDP pro, with two spare mags in a Wilson Combat Summer Companion. http://wilsoncombat.com/l_summer_companion.asp

I have a Glock 26, no grip extenders that I keep in a Blade-Tek paddle holster withe the PADDLE Removed. the holster then has enough bumps and ridges on it to gbreak up the outline of the gun. I can carry this in the front pocket of a pair of shorts, even with no shirt on, or in the front pocket of a business suit, and it looks like you have something in your pocket. But I have never had anyone, even my regular instructor, figure out what it is.

You have to tighen the holster on the gun pretty tight, so that the gun comes out with the holster on it; and you have to do a bit of practice pulling the holster off to make sure you don't laser your hand. Anyway, it works for me, it's not as fast as a belt holster, but it beats a fanny pack every time.

I carry a Glock 23 in an inside the waist band Milt Sparks and a American Derringer M-1 O/U .410 in a back pocket in a wallet holster I made for it. Depending on your build you can hide most any flat automaitc inside the waist band under a loose untucked t-shirt.

Kahr P9, IWB. Spare mag in my pocket. In the winter, Kimber Custom Compact. I'm a little guy, so it has to be a single stack with a short grip.

No Katana?

This probably wont help much, but due to my frame size I carry either my glock 21 or my Springfield armory 5" custom 1911. IWB Holster at about 3 O'clock. I carry it all day in my suit and when I get home I smash on a t-shirt and shorts and head out. No problem. I'm usually even able to carry a spare mag.

Try some Lotrimin or Tinactin solution, or a spray can. Rub it into the leather when it is dry. It will keep the fungus from ruining the leather. These are oily and preserve the leather like neatsfoot oil.

dihedral

Unfortunately, I'm hindered by my department's policy that our off-duty carry must be a Sig. I'm a larger guy, so I decided on the Sig P239. One note of caution, it is wise to stick with one particular piece due to "muscle memory", especially for those in law enforcement. Many departments (mine included) require you to carry the same operating action as your duty weapon. The last thing you want to happen in a high stress encounter is realizing you can't pull the trigger because you carried a model with a safety today instead of your normal carry.......FUBAR!

Hey, I have a few off duty weapons that I can rotate with depending on what I am wearing. If I am wearing hot summer clothing or going running, I carry my North American Arms .22 mag. I bought the larger handle that folds over and covers the trigger and has a belt clip. Great for swim shorts and a t-shirt or if you are on a PT run. Best case scenario if I am unable to carry my Glock 22 .40 cal, I like the sub compact version. Adam

95% I go untucked, so what works best for me is my Glock 36 in the center of the back. Galico makes a great leather holster that even feels decent when driving.

I like to carry my Glock 27 in the summer time. Its small and easy to conceal. I usually carry it in an inside the waistband holster made out of neoprene. The holster molds to the contour of the gun and doesnt add any width to the firearm.

+1 to small of back, however i go with a sub-compact XD40

I live in Houston, where it is hot (80-105 degrees) and HUMID (60-80%) at least 7 months out of the year. T-shirts are a way of life here, even for going to church.

What do I carry? Anything I want. For many years, a full-size Government 1911 in a IWB holster (Sparks VM2). Or sometimes my Sig P229, and occasionally the Sig P239. I'm 5'10", 175 lbs. Average build.

As long as YOU are comfortable with the gun on your hip, you will act naturally as if the gun isn't there. When that happens, you could practically have a Desert Eagle .50 caliber on your hip, and most people wouldn't notice. Why? Because you are not drawing their attention to it.