Carry. IWB or OWB?

[Captain Bill Burt]

I almost always carry a Colt Commander OWB in a Wilson Combat Lo Profile II (pancake style). I’ve had this holster for about 25 years and it’s given great service. I also have one for a full sized 1911. 
 

Variants are available that accommodate optics and shorter barrels.

[Rye Miles #13621]

30 minutes ago, Eyesa Horg said:

I like the "Sticky" holster for pocket carry when I am carrying my LCP .380. OWB Bianci with my Officers model 45, and  DeSantis OWB with my Micro 9 Kimber. The Kimber also works in the Sticky holster, but is somewhat more obvious.

I have one of those too and I use it occasionally. Great idea!

[Doc Shapiro]

I'm sure I'll end up with a box full of the things, but need somewhere to start.  Love all the suggestions, please keep them coming!

[Texas Maverick]

14 hours ago, Doc Shapiro said:

Now that I live somewhere that I can carry, I need holsters!  Inside the waistband, outside?  What's more comfortable and why?

 

While you're at it, if anyone has a suggestion for a 1911 holster for a Springfield ronin EMP with a 3in barrel, I'm open.

 

Thanks in advance.

It depends on your physique. I am 6'2" and weigh around 260 and have found the IWB holsters when pants are pulled tight to keep it in place gets very uncomfortable after an hour or so. I wear a 1791 OWB holster and wear it from when I get dressed in the morning to when I take it off getting ready for bed. I don't realize it is there most of the time it is that comfortable. I spent over 12 years in law enforcement and just don't feel dressed until I have my firearm with me. 

 

TM

[Joe Cross, SASS #13848 L]

OWB for me. Wright Leather Works "Predator Pancake" for my SR1911 Officers model 9mm.

[Dantankerous]

Generally OWB for me. On occasion IWB.

 

Some years back, however, after a hernia surgery I took to a shoulder holster as I did not want any extra weight on my belt line. I found that that has more uses and a comfort level that I was pleasantly surprised by.

[Sedalia Dave]

For sub-compacts I love my Uncle George's Wallet Holster.  Been using one for my EDC for over 10 years. Unfortunately the proprietor retired a couple years ago. 

[Doc Shapiro]

7 hours ago, Boggus Deal #64218 said:

I’ve worn a Milt Sparks Summer Special with a full size all steel 1911 for nearly 25 years. 
Pics of that Devel would be mighty interesting to see!

 

Here ya go.

 

[Doc Shapiro]

19 hours ago, J-BAR #18287 said:

If the gun is small enough, pocket carry may be an option.  More comfortable for me, and easy when changing clothes.

 

I'm not big enough...

[DeaconKC]

22 hours ago, Buckshot Bear said:

Do you pards carry your 1911's cocked & locked?

Yup, either one of my 1911s or my HK USP45

Edited February 10, 2025 by DeaconKC

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736]

Hey Doc. Tried IWB but for my body shape, no good.  I use Mernickle medium ride holsters. I have several. Full size 1911, CZ Compact and a Shield. They pull in nice and tight with a Kore ratchet belt. Good luck. They have one that rides higher too.

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736]

I like the Duluth firehouse flex pants and shorts that they sell. If I'm just running down to the store I'll often pocket carry. I was surprised to find that my all steel CZ Compact fully loaded carries so easily in those pants. It is not a lightweight. If I'm going out for most of the day I use the holster.

[Capt. R. Hugh Kidnme]

I sweat, lots........OWB

[watab kid]

i have both and have used both , ive settled on OWB im not very big 

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

I'm going to go a different direction than everybody else: I open carry. It's perfectly legal and done often enough that it doesn't bother anybody. In fact, I almost always get complimented on it. I'm not trying to start the Open Carry Vs CCW argument, just adding to the conversation.

I'm a fat guy, at 5' 10" and nearly 300lbs. As you can imagine, unless I wear a tent, CCW is not easy OR comfortable, (the much vaunted Appendix Carry would probably Gut me), so I rarely do. When I do, I carry a Taurus 85, (.38, J frame size), pretty near Small of the Back, butt facing outward. This is under a vest, and it works well for me. Sometimes a simple Pocket Carry if I'm just running a quick errand.

[John Kloehr]

2 minutes ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

I'm going to go a different direction than everybody else: I open carry. It's perfectly legal and done often enough that it doesn't bother anybody. In fact, I almost always get complimented on it. I'm not trying to start the Open Carry Vs CCW argument, just adding to the conversation.

I'm a fat guy, at 5' 10" and nearly 300lbs. As you can imagine, unless I wear a tent, CCW is not easy OR comfortable, (the much vaunted Appendix Carry would probably Gut me), so I rarely do. When I do, I carry a Taurus 85, (.38, J frame size), pretty near Small of the Back, butt facing outward. This is under a vest, and it works well for me. Sometimes a simple Pocket Carry if I'm just running a quick errand.

There was a day when I took my truck in to Firestone for some work. I brought my laptop. Wanted to get some work done while waiting.

 

Forget my cover vest.

 

Spent most of the hours representing well for the carry community, explaining carry law and permits (pre permit-less carry in my state). How to get a permit (I am a certified instructor, not now currently active), and otherwise not getting done what I wanted to do.

 

Much more conscious of having a cover garment since then.

 

Other than that, when the temperature and humidity both go above 90, I care less about it. Still remember some lady taking a sharp turn away from me when coming out of Kroger as she realized there was a gun on my hip. I was just there to get some milk and burgers, geez.

[Rip Snorter]

When I lived in a Blue state and had a carry permit, in hot weather, a T shirt with a Hawaiian shirt open over it or a Guayabera shirt worked well and were comfortable. 

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736]

I OWB carry with t shirts that are roomy enough and long enough making it no more difficult to carry concealed as opposed to open carry. But that doesn't make an obvious statement to others.

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

4 minutes ago, John Kloehr said:

Still remember some lady taking a sharp turn away from me when coming out of Kroger as she realized there was a gun on my hip. I was just there to get some milk and burgers, geez.

Here in Arizona, in 30 years of Open carrying, I've only had one or two people act negatively toward me when they saw my gun. I caught more crap for not wearing a mask during the Zombie Apocalypse. Yesterday at a Walmart, I had two people compliment me on my gun, and another lady came up and THANKED me for carrying it.

[G W Wade]

A box full of them.  Mostly OWB leather.  IWB are Kydex.    Galco  Bianchi    Crossbreed  Safariland   No specific loyalty    Depend on the season and what I decide to carry      Really like the NEX belts         GW

[Waimea]

Pocket .380.

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736]

1 hour ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

Here in Arizona, in 30 years of Open carrying, I've only had one or two people act negatively toward me when they saw my gun. I caught more crap for not wearing a mask during the Zombie Apocalypse. Yesterday at a Walmart, I had two people compliment me on my gun, and another lady came up and THANKED me for carrying it.

 

I'm curious. How common is it to see people open carrying in Phoenix for example? I'd guess it's much more common in smaller towns in rural areas. Do most open carriers use something with more retention then regular open top holsters?

[DeaconKC]

Here in Arkansas when I open carry, I usually get more compliments or friendly questions about what I am carrying.

[Sawhorse Kid]

I find that OWB is more comfortable, but IWB conceals better under clothing.

 

Material:

OWB - Whatever suits your taste

IWB -  Kydex

 

Holster style: 

For a 3 inch barrel  - Center of gravity should be on the upper 1/3 of the gun.

 

 

Edited February 10, 2025 by Sawhorse Kid

[Sawhorse Kid]

33 minutes ago, Smokin Gator SASS #29736 said:

 

I'm curious. How common is it to see people open carrying in Phoenix for example?...................Do most open carriers use something with more retention then regular open top holsters?

Very common site to see.

Every manner of holster can be sited if your looking.

 

 

 

Edited February 10, 2025 by Sawhorse Kid

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

9 hours ago, Smokin Gator SASS #29736 said:

I'm curious. How common is it to see people open carrying in Phoenix for example? I'd guess it's much more common in smaller towns in rural areas. Do most open carriers use something with more retention then regular open top holsters?

 

8 hours ago, Sawhorse Kid said:

Very common site to see.

Every manner of holster can be sited if your looking.

While I wouldn't say it's common, it's not unusual, if that makes sense. I don't see it every day, but often enough that it doesn't raise any eyebrows. Well, except for the tourists. But even they don't get upset, they just want to know what the legal status is, (are you a  Cop?, do you need a permit?, etc.) As for holsters, Sawhorse Kid has it covered, I've seen cheap nylon, leather, kydex, just about anything you can imagine.  

[Dantankerous]

On 2/8/2025 at 11:09 PM, Buckshot Bear said:

Do you pards carry your 1911's cocked & locked?

 

100% of the time.

 

When I carried a 1911 it was an all steel 5 inch full size model. And I preferred the Milt Sparks Summer Carry inside the waistband holster with it. The 1911 is thin enough that it carries quite comfortably that way.

 

Currently I am down to only one 1911 model, and that is a wild bunch gun. A couple different 1911 models I'd love to have for CCW though but l have not been able to find them in quite some time.

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736]

4 hours ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

 

While I wouldn't say it's common, it's not unusual, if that makes sense. I don't see it every day, but often enough that it doesn't raise any eyebrows. Well, except for the tourists. But even they don't get upset, they just want to know what the legal status is, (are you a  Cop?, do you need a permit?, etc.) As for holsters, Sawhorse Kid has it covered, I've seen cheap nylon, leather, kydex, just about anything you can imagine.  

 

This is the answer I expected.  If someone makes 5 trips to a Metropolitan area like Phoenix and sees one or two people total open carrying, some people will describe that as being very common. If on those same visits making several stops per visit you saw people OC at nearly every stop you made I'd describe that as very common.

 

It's similar to when people say they put some clay birds on the 100 yard berm and they can routinely/regularly/consistently hit them with their handgun. Is it 5 out of 10 tries, 1 out of 10, 1 out of 50 or 1 time per range trip. Without some clarification the initial claim is meaningless.

[ShadowCatcher]

I mostly carry 1911's or my 92 compact.  I have both inside and outside the waistband holsters, depending on how I'm dressed.  The IWB is the most concealing since the only part visible is above the belt line, whereas the OWB is more comfortable but more exposed.  I have Kydex and Horsehide holsters, and for most of  my summer carry I use a Kramer horsehide OWB for my Ronin EMP 9mm (3").  It took about 90 days to get this holster, but it's worth it - horsehide like cow warms up to body temp and feels very comfortable, unlike Kydex.  I also have vertical shoulder holsters for all my carry guns, and when driving they are much more comfortable.  I occasionally use my Bianchi X-15 with all my full size 1911's and I'm shopping for a rig for my 92 right now - but as it has a red dot sight it is a harder buy.  So far it looks like Ares Tactical is the only one who can do a vertical for a 92 compact with SRO red dot.   I have Bladetech and Clinger IWB kydex holsters, they're worth the price.  Once I decide that the gun in question is he one I want to carry aa lot I tend to buy a Kramer Horsehide holster for it, at that point I'm willing to commit the $150 or so and wait that long.

[Whitey James]

As far as IWB/OWB, for me it is situational.

I don't like to open carry in public places. There are a number of reasons I don't:

Don't want to give some bad guy the advantage of knowing and possibly targeting me first.

Don't want to draw attention to myself from busy bodies.

Most of the people I do see open carry at Walmart and such are not what I want to be affiliated with.

 

If I'm just going to get groceries or out to eat, I generally pocket carry a Smith J-frame.

If i'm going somewhere that is crowded or less confined, I carry IWB.

If I'm on my property or out in the woods, I will open carry.

 

[Utah Bob #35998]

On 2/8/2025 at 10:09 PM, Buckshot Bear said:

Do you pards carry your 1911's cocked & locked?

Yes. Condition one is the only sensible way to carry a SA auto.

[Chantry]

There is no definitive yes or no answer, all of the following can impact your choice: your state's politics, the climate, your body style, the gun you chose to carry, your covering garment and probably a couple of more.

 

Also don't go cheap on the holster or the gun and buy a GOOD belt, many holster makers also make belts.

 

Milt Sparks is a good starting place for a holster.  I've have a couple and the quality is very good.

[Utah Bob #35998]

IWB is more concealable. OWB is more comfortable . I got over my dislike of Kydex years ago and have several of each. I do not pocket carry. I want a quality holster that is easy to access and retains the firearm securely
Both methods take getting used to.

I carried both ways for 30 years both on and off duty. As an instructor I’ve examined dozens and dozens. Now I carry IWB almost exclusively. I won’t bother to recommend one as there are so many of very good quality on the market now.

 

Carrying will probably never be completely comfortable. The human body just isn’t designed for it. But with research and trial and error you will find a holster that is effective and more comfortable than the others.

I never open carry. Never.

Edited February 11, 2025 by Utah Bob #35998

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736]

You can carry concealed or open with IWB and OWB. Generally IWB still has the grip and back of the gun visible without some form of concealment. Some seem to think that OWB means open carry by default. 

[Whitey James]

1 hour ago, Utah Bob #35998 said:

IWB is more concealable. OWB is more comfortable . I got over my dislike of Kydex years ago and have several of each. I do not pocket carry. I want a quality holster that is easy to access and retains the firearm securely
Both methods take getting used to.

I carried both ways for 30 years both on and off duty. As an instructor I’ve examined dozens and dozens. Now I carry IWB almost exclusively. I won’t bother to recommend one as there are so many of very good quality on the market now.

 

Carrying will probably never be completely comfortable. The human body just isn’t designed for it. But with research and trial and error you will find a holster that is effective and more comfortable than the others.

I never open carry. Never.

Agreed!

Carrying a gun is supposed to be comforting, not comfortable.