more on fat lady holsters

Feeling kind of foolish, for all the struggling I’ve done, with different holsters, spending beaucoup $$$, making adjustments, shifting things around, struggling with wearing jeans (hate jeans, especially in the summer), when a belly band does the job.  Yes, they will stretch out eventually and have to be replaced more often than a good leather holster and belt, but comfort is what allows you to carry day after day.  Although, definitely recommend a good quality belly band, and a wide one if you are going to go with a full size gun!  Have done two decent hikes in the heat, with mild humidity) wearing the belly band and it was just fine, no discomfort what so ever.  That was with hiking up hill and down, climbing over rocks.  Just under 3 miles this morning. maybe after 5+ I might say something different, but don’t think so.  And with the belly band am not worrying about the gun dropping when satisfying that need to pee – whether in the woods or in a store!

Today got out the CanCan thigh holster and garter I bought awhile back, and also the 1911 to try out with both that thigh holster and the belly band

 Tucked that thigh holster up as far as it would go, without the garter. Hardly see the print, but this won’t work with a pencil skirt!:)

wanted to try it out today while I was home, gardening, working, so if it fell, it was on the carpet. Yes, its set up for a cross draw.  Tried it on the right leg, but the printing was worse, so never mind that.  If I need it, won’t be worried about modesty.  And this is only for those times when I’d be wearing a dress and couldn’t use the belly band.  Someone needs to make up a real pretty belly band that we could wear like a belt over a dress with just a jacket or sweater to conceal.

 strangely, the 1911 seemed to print more.  And was as bad as the revolver on the right leg.  Am using the garter attachment too as the thigh holster is only designed for 16oz, and with either the 1911 or the revolver am well over that. Better to be safe.

 As you can maybe see, the semi-auto sits low in the elastic and is actually harder to draw than the revolver.  Also, the safety digs in uncomfortably.

 Think the 1911 is also a little more obvious when worn in the belly band and is nearly impossible to grab and draw! Because of the safety, its a must to have something between the gun and the skin.  The revolver is more rounded and more comfortable.  To protect the metal, its better to wear something underneath, but if it rides up, you won’t be as uncomfortable.

Its true the revolver only holds 6 shots, but most 1911’s are just 7 – though this Ruger is 8. So its not much different and the .357 is, in my opinion, almost as good as the .45 for power.

Found my laser sighter today, so want to sight in the revolver.  Couldn’t find a laser target “bullet” for the .357 to practice aim, but figure the .45 will be a good substitute for weight and trigger pull practice.

women’s carry options

Further to yesterday’s blog, am finding the belly band with my big honking 4″ barrel revolver (they have MUCH more prominent grips than semi-autos) does A-OK as a cross draw.  With my weight, the belly band sits higher than I’d like for using as a strong side draw.  Cross Draw, that height is less of a factor

Yes, the revolver grip does print, but with a loose (not sloppy loose, just not snug) knit top, it doesn’t look that much different than just a wrinkle in the fabric.  Of course, people also see what they expect to see . . .And now I can wear my skirts, or even yoga pants, as the belly band can sit either under (which is how I have it in the photos), or over, with a long enough top!

Woo Hoo!!

have lightened up the pictures A LOT so you can see the bulge of the grip.

carrying for women

STILL looking for that comfortable way to carry.  As I’ve worked my way up from a Ruger .38LCR to my Ruger 1911 and/or GP141, its become more difficult.

Have found a nice carry purse that works for me.  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F2DJ32K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It has a nice size open pocket for holding many things, which I augmented with a fancy large make up bag to hold all those small things like nail file, chapstick, eye drops, pen, tape measure, etc.  The holster area accommodates either my 4″ revolver or my 5″ 1911. Using the usual Velcro held holster, which is relatively small, it takes either of the above without any printing, and comes with locking zippers. The bag comes brown with black, or black with brown.

but ultimately, want to be able to on body carry.  Summer in AZ with 100+ temps!!  Want to wear skirts or loose light weight pants rather than jeans.  None of the first two allow waistband carry of a full size heavy gun, and jeans with a tight belt are just not comfortable.  So that leads to a belly band, or a CanCan hip belt.

Then, with any on body carry, the grip is against the skin, so that was another dilemma which has been solved with the discovery of camisoles with underwires.  Some of these are touted to be like SPANX, but are cheap and have very little trimming effect BUT that snugness (NOT tightness) helps these camisoles act as bras without the binding of bands and wider shoulder bands.  There are also lacy concoctions with underwires that support and are pretty too. they all can replace bras, and are long on the torso keeping the grip off bare skin.

The Belly bands sit a little high on me, but with my stomach size, its either going to sit high (maybe an under arm cross draw may work better than on the hip), OR it has to set really low on the hips so it doesn’t just roll back up to where it is now.  Also, being heavy, the closest fit is wearing it between 4 and 5 o’clock on the body.  And I’m loathe to wear it like that in the car and have the metal pressing into the leather seats on his new car! which means the cross draw might work better again.  I’m not ready to invest in the CanCan yet.  Am using cheaper belly bands in a variety of configurations until I’ve got the method and manner down.

So right now, its the band in and around the house and back to the purse when out and about shopping and running errands.