If you carry concealed, how?

[LMH]

I would assume you carry on you and not in a saddle pack.

If you do carry, what sort of carry do you use?

Fanny packs seems huge and like they will bounce, belly bands, etc seem like they would sweat like mad.

Has anyone tried a large pocket Spibelt?

Looking for suggestions please.

[Kyzteke]

Before even discussing this you might want to find out if the “venue” even allows guns. Most parks don’t and many private properties may not.

[lawndart]

Shoulder holster. I don’t want it on my hip, or back, since if you fall on it, it could do serious damage. They do have holsters that tuck into a boot, but it will not work with my riding boots, Ariat Terrains.

I know Woolrich has just come out with a new line of clothing with a special pocket for handguns, under their tactical gear.

http://www.woolrich.com/woolrich/browse/subCategory.jsp?icCategory=MM_cat240010

Unfortunately, so far they only make them for Men I’m going to try to get over there this week to see if a Mens polo in small would be practical. I will be sure to give them my opinion that we need them in Womens sizes also.

[LMH]

thanks lawndart.

Which shoulder holster do you have? There are so many and some look to not be very comfy.

[Lurkmaster]

Actually, carrying on your hip might not be too bad. I bike with a full size weapon on my hip, worn on the outside of the shorts. Its on the meatier part of my hip, just behind the hip joint area. I’ve fallen on it numerous times and while there were bruises, no serious injuries (obviously falling off a horse would be a harder fall, but i don’t think it would be devastating as long as it wasn’t on something important, like vertebrae). Since it’s on the outside of my shorts, sweating isn’t a problem. My shirt hangs over it so it stays concealed. You could just as easily wear an inside-the-pants holster that way. You could also consider a tactical thigh holster. That would not be concealed, but I’ve found most people in this region (especially out in the woods/big land areas) don’t mind a bit, and in some states that is perfectly legal.

[katyb]

Here in TN, you don’t have to conceal, so that’s easier. It’s a carry permit, not a concealed carry. We are, just recently, allowed to carry in many parks.

Still, I have only carried in my saddle bag. I just don’t have a holster arrangement that feels secure enough to me. My only reason for carrying on the trail so far has been coyotes, and concerns for my dog. My husband likes for me to carry, based on concerns about “bad guys”. I’m not particularly worried about that issue - my horse is fast, and I think both she and my dog would let me know if I needed to be concerned about anyone. It’s something to consider, of course.

[Guilherme]

Concealed carry on horseback is problematical. It’s really problematical if the device is a fanny pack or other object where access is already difficult.

One possible compromiss is a shoulder holster under a shirt or jacket. It’s quite easy to reach accross the body and draw the weapon. If a shirt is worn, make it a Western shirt or some other style where the closure is a snap, not a button. As you reach in to draw you can “pop” a couple of snaps loose by just opening your hand a bit and draw the weapon with a reduced risk of “snagging” the shirt material.

While astride I don’t like to carry concealed. With concealed carry there is always a risk of snagging on clothing. Add a possibly jigging horse and a rider who has not practiced using the weapon and you’ve got a real recipie for problems.

Since I’m left handed I’m modestly ambidexterous and can shoot with either hand. I have more carry options. My preferred way is a left handed cross draw. The pistol rides one belt loop to the right of the belt buckle, just in front of the point of the hip. This puts it far enough off to the side that I don’t get jabbed by the butt yet is not too far to comfortably reach.

Before you even think about carry while mounted GUN BREAK YOUR HORSE!!!

Then figure out how you want to do it and practice, Practice, PRACTICE!!!

Carring a weapon means carrying moral responsibility.

G.

[Guilherme]

Since many readers here are women I thought I should add these alternatives, even though I’m not so sure that they would work astride as well as a simple shoulder holster.

http://girlsguidetoguns.com/2011/08/23/the-bra-holster/

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/05/flashbang-bra-holster-is-sexy-fast-and-practical/

http://www.thewellarmedwoman.com/apps/store/default.asp?view=profile&itemid=39378

http://www.gungoddess.com/the-marilyn-bra-holster-under-arm/

G.

[hank]

The Flashbang looks very doable for riding. Must have one! Far better than fannypack.

[lilitiger2]

I think if you have a concealed carry permit, you can now carry in National parks. And national forests (don’t need a CC for this). One does not need to carry concealed on a horse trip, though. Most people are pretty comfortable with seeing guns on horseback riders! Out here (for sure check your state regs, New York is awful), if one is hunting or hiking or plinking things on your property you do not need a CC permit. And thankfully, the good people of Montana are not required to have a license to get a handgun (or any gun!). Nice to have for other reasons (no 3 day waiting period for gun purchase and so forth).

Mounted, a shoulder holster, a nice custom one we got from a guy at a gun show, that hooks into the belt and does not bounce. The army navy stocks a bunch of different holsters, but there are several custom makers out here who make nice shoulder holsters for all sorts of calibers.

[SwampYankee]

I carry a 6" Cold Steel boot knife in a hard plastic sheath, which is legal in my state because I have a valid fishing license, strange as that sounds. Top of the knife sits nicely at the top of a standard tall boot, and would work with half chaps though I don’t wear it that way. No one can see it from the ground unless they’re really looking, and no way it would hurt you if you fell off. Appropriate training a must, though if they saw it in your hand nearly any damn fool would back off. Read the books the cops read for further details. . .

I also have a wicked-good fly whisk made from a WWII swagger stick, the business end of which is very pointy since it’s an old high-power bullet. It’s hidden by the hair of the whisk; but if anyone was stupid enough to take a grab at my reins, they’d likely find that regrettable.

More than anything, I rely on my horses’ instincts; the one time I’ve encountered someone really scary in the woods, the horse was on to him way before I was . . .

[lilitiger2]

[QUOTE=SwampYankee;6297192]
More than anything, I rely on my horses’ instincts; the one time I’ve encountered someone really scary in the woods, the horse was on to him way before I was . . .[/QUOTE]

Boy is that ever true. Our horses are WAY more intuned with whats in the woods. We have gone trail riding around our house in the evenings, and they have been jittery, generally antsy and upset all the way, and then we find out that there have been cats (as in Mt lions) seen around our neighborhood. They sure know!

[didgery]

Crossdraw, in a custom holster from Simply Rugged, suits my taste best. It’s very steady and comfortable for me (a woman, in a dressage saddle, with a small .357). I used to ride with it often just for plinking purposes. I didn’t conceal but could have easily with this arrangement.

[LMH]

what about something like these?

http://www.runningwarehouse.com/descpage-NATHRB.html

http://www.runningwarehouse.com/descpage-AALRP.html

Seems a little sleeker than a traditional fanny pack.

[Guilherme]

[QUOTE=LMH;6297418]
what about something like these?

http://www.runningwarehouse.com/descpage-NATHRB.html

http://www.runningwarehouse.com/descpage-AALRP.html

Seems a little sleeker than a traditional fanny pack.[/QUOTE]

As a carry method? No. They look sleek but also look small. And you’ve got to use a zippered pocket.

If you ever really need to draw a weapon you don’t want to have to be fumbling with a zipper. Even if it were Velcro you wouldn’t want to be fumbling with that, either.

G.

[Foxtrot_s]

Canadians - are your eyes bugging out at these posts???! :0

[chicamux]

Gotta love the land of the free! Or leave it

[lifesabreeze]

[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;6297598]
Canadians - are your eyes bugging out at these posts???! :0[/QUOTE]

Why do you assume all Canadians feel the same as you? If you have an issue with cc why not address it on an off topic day?

This thread was started to gain information for those of us who can or may want to, carry concealed while riding.

[lifesabreeze]

[QUOTE=Guilherme;6296978]
Since many readers here are women I thought I should add these alternatives, even though I’m not so sure that they would work astride as well as a simple shoulder holster.

http://girlsguidetoguns.com/2011/08/23/the-bra-holster/

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/05/flashbang-bra-holster-is-sexy-fast-and-practical/

http://www.thewellarmedwoman.com/apps/store/default.asp?view=profile&itemid=39378

http://www.gungoddess.com/the-marilyn-bra-holster-under-arm/

G.[/QUOTE]

Thanx for these links.

I have not tried this cc undergarment yet but I do love 511 boots.
http://www.511tactical.com/All-Products/Shirts/Undergear-Shirts/Holster-Shirt-V-Neck.html

[JumpQH]

I use a Tommy’s Gun Pack and wear it behind me. Works great. I tried wearing it in front of me at first, but it kept hitting the saddle horn. Now, it doesn’t hit anything, and I can very easily slide it around to the front to access the gun if needed.