A concealed carry question...

Hey kids. Getting a holster for the PPK/S. Actually I got one, but it was too small so I've got to take it back. Actually I got one over a decade ago, but that one was too big. So I finally got the second one. An Uncle Mike's inside the pants rig that said it would fit a .380.

When I got it home I found it was too small for a PPK/S. It also was on the "wrong" side. I explicitly bought a left hand holster, but the way I was planning to carry it--in the small of the back--meant that I should've gotten a right hand holster, even though I would be drawing with my left hand.

Then it occurred to me that the small of the back may not be the best place to carry even a relatively small pistol. The minute you sit in a car seat or any other chair with a back it seems the pistol is going to dig into your back. Which brings me to my question.

Where do you like for concealed carry? Front of the pants? Crossdraw? On your hip?

It seems to me front of the pants is way too visible. Same with square on the side of the hip. I suppose if you wore the holster on the hip, just behind the pelvis, it wouldn't be as uncomfortable seated as the small of the back but it wouldn't stand out like one right on the side. What do you like?

I was going to take this holster back tomorrow and get the right size but I also need to decide where I'm going to wear it so I can get the proper "hand" for the side I want to wear it on.

I pocket carry with my P3AT. If not, betwen my full right side and right ass-cheek IWB.

Anything forwards of that and you can't sit down without your jewels getting squashed or your holster hitting the seat and popping off and clattering on the floor, imho.

For concealed carry, since I'm right handed, I either go with my pocket or a spot somewhere between the 4-5 o'clock position depending on the weapon. 3 o'clock is great, if you're not worried about concealment. I've never, ever, seen the point in cross draw or drawing with your weak hand. But, to each their own.

Edit: And let me throw something out there. I can't praise this enough. It's the only IWB holster I've ever been able to wear all day and I've owned three Milt Sparks holsters including the VM2. I keep going back to this holster.

Wow. Better than the VM2? Interesting g.

Good to know. You've helped me avoid buying the wrong holster yet again.

RE: Elwood's comment on weak hand draw, since most of my autos have a right hand safety I suppose some people would draw right handed to manipulate the safety. I practice sweeping the safety as I grab the gun. Or for the double actions if I'm expecting trouble I'll take the safety off in advance. I'm really happy the 1911 has an ambi safety.

Re: My rep comment to Volpone that wouldn't fit.

I specified weak/strong hand particularly. If you're a lefty, you need to adjust accordingly. Such as: Buying a 1911 with an ambi-safety even though I'm so very loathe to admit it.

I typically carry IWB above my wallet pocket, either that or I just throw my piece into my right front pocket.

I do.

I carry a Sig Sauer P-250 in a Blackhawk #6 inside the waist at about 4-5 o'clock. I don't have any real problem with it digging into my back.

My only complaint with the Blackhawk holster is that the weapon's picatinney rail has started wearing a small hole in it. Time to get a new one.

Picked it up. Got it set up. Yeah. There's probably no way I'd be a daily concealed carry person. Sure the Walther is a lot bigger than the small .380s they have these days, but it is a pretty small gun. And I still don't find it particularly pleasant to wear concealed. Add to that having to dress in such a way that the gun is out of sight and it makes for a real pain in the butt. (Pun slightly intended.)

Since the initial question was asked and answered, I'm going to bloviate on weak hand and cross draw a bit.

Weak hand is common as a military and/or logistic thing. I wear and manipulate my sword right handed. I do rifle drills right handed. Because a sword is a ceremonial weapon these days so they favor having everyone wear it on the same side over having it so it is easy to use. Same with the rifle. That is still a practical weapon but drill is largely a ceremonial thing now. So everyone carries and operates the rifle like they are right handed.

My converted Webley holster for my .357 is for a right hander for two reasons: Indy wears his holster as a right hander and it is impossible to find a left-handed Webley holster. (It is converted in that about 2" are sawed off the bottom of the barrel cover.)

This segues into having two weapons. Like The Lone Ranger or someone else with a two gun rig, you can't practically have both guns on the same side. So one has to be either weak hand or cross draw.

Which, in turn, segues into cross draw. When you think about it, a shoulder holster is cross draw--because it isn't very practical to reach up to your armpit and then try and clear a weapon. So if you have a longer barrel or are working in cramped space, a cross draw could make it easier to clear leather. Or if you're carrying a backup weapon, as mentioned above.

Finally, the case for cross draw could be made if you tend to wear sportcoats, shoot Weaver, and need to keep a gun concealed until the last possible moment and brought quickly into play. Of course if you're shooting Weaver, you're presenting your weak side with your strong side back. Instead of sweeping your coat back and then bringing the gun clear across your body to present it, you reach under your coat (hopefully it isn't a nice coat because in a pinch you might shoot a hole in it) and voila! The gun is pretty much pointing at the target as soon as it clears the holster. If need be, you could get off an unaimed hip shot much more quickly than if you're drawing all the way across your body.

I like to carry in the small of my back. I have no problems sitting down or driving. It's quite comfortable. Sig p232