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Carrying concealed and holster pops up and out of my pants

Sun Apr 14, 2019 10:12 am

TLDR: do I have the wrong holster, am I carrying it wrongly, or doing something else stupid?

I was walking through Lowes yesterday with my semi-new S&W 9mm Shield (thanks John!) in an appendix carry holster (a no-name I found on Amazon for a good price and lots of good feedback, if it's important I can figure out what it is). For those of you who've met me, you know the distance between my appendix & epidermis is lets say...large, but the gun tucks away quite comfortably there, actually surprisingly comfortable and because of the largeness, quite concealed, but still easy to draw. Anyway, I've found that the belt I have on is just a bit too wide for the latch on the holster to always grab it, so I've learned to hitch it up a bit after I get out of my car / truck to make sure it's secure and pop the keeper thingy down over the belt until I can feel it's in place with my fingers. I did this just before walking into Lowes, and again after I was done selecting the lumber I wanted because there was a fair amount of reaching over my head to get what I wanted. I can feel that the notch, keeper, whatever it's called is over the belt and I start pushing my cart toward the fastener aisle to pick up some decking screws. As I'm walking with both hands on the cart, the whole package just popped up in slow motion out of my waist line like a watermelon seed. Fortunately I could feel it happening and was able to catch it before anything happened or fall to the floor, and tuck the gun & holster into my jacket pocket. Very disconcerting.

After we left Lowes, I tucked it back into my waist band, and slid it around closer to 3 o'clock position where it felt more secure and didn't move the entire time we were in the next store, but there was also no reaching or anything like that. It's a lot less comfortable there pushing against my hip instead of tucked in under my belly, but seems like it's more secure.

Has anyone else experienced this, what am I doing wrong?

Edit: I'm used to carrying an LCP in a pocket holster, so carrying the Shield in a concealed holster is pretty new to me.

Re: Carrying concealed and holster pops up and out of my pan

Sun Apr 14, 2019 10:32 am

My first thought is that a J-hook on the holster clip would help keep the rig in place. It doesn't just go over your belt, it actually hooks around and comes back underneath a short way. I'll see if I can find a link with a good visual.

ETA: the 3rd picture down on this page is an example. https://pjholster.com/p/belt-clip-options

I was able to order kydex j-clips for my Foxx holster, maybe you could try swapping out yours?

Re: Carrying concealed and holster pops up and out of my pan

Sun Apr 14, 2019 10:40 am

I had a holster that did that.

Luckily the only thing that ever actually fell was a hi point. Did more damage to the concrete than the gun. LOL

But...

What I did to fix it.

Went and bought a mouse pad at the dollar store.

Cut a piece to match the holster. And sewed it to the clip side of the holster. With the rubber side of the pad exposed.

Now, the rubber of the mouse pad is up against the inside of my pants. The j clip doesn't have to reach all the way down over the belt, it just has to apply a tiny bit of pressure. The rubber doesn't slip against the fabric of the pants, so the holster doesn't move around.

Re: Carrying concealed and holster pops up and out of my pan

Sun Apr 14, 2019 10:43 am

gonna say the no name holster is the problem, shouldn't just pop out.

Re: Carrying concealed and holster pops up and out of my pan

Sun Apr 14, 2019 10:55 am

Never had a cheap holster that was worth a damn.

Re: Carrying concealed and holster pops up and out of my pan

Sun Apr 14, 2019 11:15 am

And if the belt is wider than the holster hook . . . you're gonna keep having problems.

Re: Carrying concealed and holster pops up and out of my pan

Sun Apr 14, 2019 11:25 am

We have certain studdly attributes of our physiques in common. The same cuddliness that is such an aid in concealment also has a tendency to shift around when bending and reaching, which significantly varies the retention pressure on a holster.

While it takes a little while to get used to, and would be slower to draw, I've settled on a SOB (small of the back) holster with thumb break strap. In addition to being more secure than appendix carry, I can also still draw while sitting down, like in a car. Tough to do w/ appendix position.

For maximum retention, I carry a my double stack .45 in my front pant pocket. Of course, any sort of quick draw is a moot point, but it won't ever fall out!

Re: Carrying concealed and holster pops up and out of my pan

Sun Apr 14, 2019 11:27 am

I've never trusted paddles and open hook belt loops like that. Always carried OWB and with a belt clip that encircles the belt.

Re: Carrying concealed and holster pops up and out of my pan

Sun Apr 14, 2019 11:38 am

jukk0u wrote:I've never trusted paddles and open hook belt loops like that. Always carried ......with a belt clip that encircles the belt.

:plusone: This for sure.

Re: Carrying concealed and holster pops up and out of my pan

Sun Apr 14, 2019 1:01 pm

No idea about why your AIWB holster is giving you issues. Maybe the gun isn't comfortable being pointed at your junk? :ROFLMAO:

A bit OT, but a good refresher.

Never point a loaded gun at something you're not willing to destroy.

https://youtu.be/GFUsA5gq1Cw

Re: Carrying concealed and holster pops up and out of my pan

Sun Apr 14, 2019 1:15 pm

I've never had something pop out of my pants in the store.



But I test the heck out of my stuff at home.



That said I've wasted so much money on holsters in the last 10 years, it's embarrassing. I've started at least grasp what works.

Concealed? Pocket is best, but sucks in the summer. IWB, pretty much a snap over palm indent.

Re: Carrying concealed and holster pops up and out of my pan

Sun Apr 14, 2019 2:28 pm

Selador wrote:I had a holster that did that.

Luckily the only thing that ever actually fell was a hi point. Did more damage to the concrete than the gun. LOL

But...

What I did to fix it.

Went and bought a mouse pad at the dollar store.

Cut a piece to match the holster. And sewed it to the clip side of the holster. With the rubber side of the pad exposed.

Now, the rubber of the mouse pad is up against the inside of my pants. The j clip doesn't have to reach all the way down over the belt, it just has to apply a tiny bit of pressure. The rubber doesn't slip against the fabric of the pants, so the holster doesn't move around.


This sounds like a good idea. I thought about something like this using that non-slip stuff you put in drawers to keep stuff from sliding around. We use it all over the place on the boat to keep stuff where it's supposed to be.


mislabeled wrote:My first thought is that a J-hook on the holster clip would help keep the rig in place. It doesn't just go over your belt, it actually hooks around and comes back underneath a short way. I'll see if I can find a link with a good visual.

ETA: the 3rd picture down on this page is an example. https://pjholster.com/p/belt-clip-options

I was able to order kydex j-clips for my Foxx holster, maybe you could try swapping out yours?



I'll look into these, it might be a fix.

Re: Carrying concealed and holster pops up and out of my pan

Sun Apr 14, 2019 4:33 pm

jukk0u wrote:I've never trusted paddles and open hook belt loops like that. Always carried OWB and with a belt clip that encircles the belt.

This is the type of system that I have switched to also. I'm having great luck with a new Raven Concealment OWB system for my Glock 48. I have had holsters pop out in the past too. Not any more since switching though.

Re: Carrying concealed and holster pops up and out of my pan

Sun Apr 14, 2019 6:40 pm

two other options for "frankenclipping" :
https://www.ulticlip.com
https://athenasarmory.com/product/fabriclip-holster/

Re: Carrying concealed and holster pops up and out of my pan

Thu Jul 04, 2019 2:14 pm

cmica wrote:gonna say the no name holster is the problem, shouldn't just pop out.


This.

And also as said above, test your rigs at home or somewhere not "real-world" so you know what works and what doesn't.

Quality gear is worth every penny.

Lots of great makers out there these days.

I use JM Custm Kydex rigs every day, they are great. A Wing-Claw 2.0, riding AIWB, w/ tuckable snap loop. Also their standard AIWB w/ fixed soft loops.

G17 or G19, lately, every day.
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