Older eyes had me thinking about trying to EDC with a dot optic.

I purchased an EPS carry, mounted it to a Canik MC9 LS to prove / disprove the concept for my eyes and brain. I practiced my draw and acquiring a good site picture with good results. I have taken it on several range trips and I have to say, it’s a big improvement from a threat assessment perspective. I think I’d like to move that direction.

My issue now is carry. I do not carry AIWB, so 3:00 - 5:00 is what has worked best for me in the last 35 years. When carrying a gun with an optic in the same position with a muzzle rear rake, the corner of the optic seems to print quite badly.

I am looking for suggestions on holsters, angles, ride height, etc to facilitate a flat and concealable carry rig. The gun I’m looking to carry is an FN Reflex XL, almost identical in size to a G48.

For my Echelon (More or less G17 sized) with a Holosun, I carry at 3:00 with a straight drop Bravo Concealment OWB holster.. This brings the optic closer in line with my body. Works for me!

I’d look at a JM Kydex IWB 3 or Tenicor holster at 10-15* cant. I’ve had good luck with both with a Glock 19 and Holosun 508t.

Depending on gun, Milt Sparks Summer Special II for some guns with optics, but straight drop only.

I carry two different handguns with optics. First is an Sig XTen Comp carried OWB in a Kirkpatrick red dot holster. Second is an Sig 365 Legion in a Galco Hawkeye IWB. I like the Hawkeye because it covers the optic.

I carry around 3 and more “deep” carry so I can’t cant the gun forward because the optic and belt interfere with each other. Only thing I’ve been ok with so far is Vedder light tuck with wing and no cant, but sure any similar holster will work, if you carry it with a “higher” position that allows can’t without the optic interfering with the belt. Or maybe that’s just me

I carry IWB at 4:00 with a slight cant, in a kydex holster I made myself. Basically an identical setup to my iron sight guns, with a little more relief in the sweat guard and top strap of the holster to accommodate the optic.

I find OWB much more comfortable. Just can’t get used to the thought of AIWB and one of the foundations of firearm safety: never point your firearm at something you don’t intend to shoot Werkz Holsters makes a wide selection to fit most any optic/pistol combo. I use their holster configured for my P365X w/EPS Carry and Streamlight TLR7 Sub.

In general terms I like Vedder Light Tucks with a fairly aggressive forward cant. 3’ish O’Clock. I only run one gun for CCW with an optic, a Hellcat Pro with a Vortex Defender on it and I don’t find any real printing at all but I wear fairly loose cover garments.

As an aside my general take on printing is 25 years ago I could have walked around with a bright yellow shirt with pink bold letters that said “Hi, my name is Chris and I have a cocked and locked .45 caliber pistol at my side nice to meet you” and the VAST number of people wouldn’t have noticed.

Today with cell phones and social media I could run around damn near waving guns above my head like Yosemite Sam and folks would barely take their head out of there phone.

What I am putting down here is nobody knows you are carrying even with only a modicum of care at concealing. Don’t dress like a gang banger or a meth head and you are good to go.

quote:

Originally posted by cslinger:
In general terms I like Vedder Light Tucks with a fairly aggressive forward cant. 3’ish O’Clock. I only run one gun for CCW with an optic, a Hellcat Pro with a Vortex Defender on it and I don’t find any real printing at all but I wear fairly loose cover garments.

As an aside my general take on printing is 25 years ago I could have walked around with a bright yellow shirt with pink bold letters that said “Hi, my name is Chris and I have a cocked and locked .45 caliber pistol at my side nice to meet you” and the VAST number of people wouldn’t have noticed.

Today with cell phones and social media I could run around damn near waving guns above my head like Yosemite Sam and folks would barely take their head out of there phone.

What I am putting down here is nobody knows you are carrying even with only a modicum of care at concealing. Don’t dress like a gang banger or a meth head and you are good to go.

I’m sure I’m being paranoid. When we lived in California, printing could get you harassed by police, and stripped of your carry permit.

But there is a tactical advantage staying concealed, especially for those criminals that DO notice.

I’m a fairly large guy (6’2” 321 lbs) so I’m not a huge fan of IWB/AIWB. 99.9% of the time I carry OWB strong side 3 o’clock. I carry a Glock Model 45 with a Holosun SCS in a Wright Leather Works Marshal ROR holster under a camp shirt over a t-shirt. I’ve never been stopped/questioned by police or anyone else. If anyone has ever made me, nothing ever came of it. I also carry 2 mags in a Wright Leather Works double mag pouch on the off side.

To reaffirm what others have said about people being oblivious, probably 10-12 years ago I was in a Village Inn and as I got up from my chair, somehow my pistol at the time (P239 IIRC) was pulled from the holster and fell to the floor. I was carrying IWB and I think when I sat down the pistol came up out of the holster but was held in place by my polo shirt until I stood up. Anyway, I looked around at the other tables expecting to see either angry or horrified reactions, but no one noticed. Even when I bent down to pick it up and reholster! I believe they probably just thought I was putting my wallet away.

If you don’t pay extra attention to it no one else will either.

G-43X, Shield Arms mags, Holosun EPS Carry,
G-Code IWB holster, around the 3:30 / 4:30.
DeSantis leather OWB, same- 3:30 / 4:30.


Not really printing with the IWB, the OWB, it prints slightly more.

The key isn’t totally with the holster; wearing baggie shirts helps a lot!
You don’t have to wear something huge, and look like you’re in a tent, but go one size larger, and look at different shirt brands.
One brand is making their stuff slightly larger or smaller than another.
I know Vertex runs a little smaller.

https://vertx.com/products/ss-...hEAQYAyABEgJqRPD_BwE

I've moved my guns all over but my current preference is somewhere between AIWB and 3. Probably best described as just forward of 3 oclock. I have a Nexbelt, IncogX, G48 typically but recently a Sig Fuse with EPS carry and TLR7sub. CPD nailed the bigger shirt, I'm actually a L but I wear a XL untucked. For the summer stuff, I've taken to those UPF anti-sun fishing hoodies, which also, it turns out, are good for sun protection on long trips.

quote:

But there is a tactical advantage staying concealed, especially for those criminals that DO notice

I hear you and I totally agree/ fall into the CONCEALED carry camp.

I would suggest tinkering with your wardrobe.

I’ve been carrying a 365 Tac Ops with a Holo Sun in an Upper Hand OWB for a few months. I don’t notice the optic printing any more than normal.

I have the Cuda model holster from Simply Rugged for several different pistols that work well. You can specify how much cant you want with some of them, depending on the size. They have several other styles of holsters too. I can carry full size 1911s, P320, and Glock 23 fairly easily. It's also good for smaller pistols. I have optics on my Glock 23, one of the full size P320s, and a Ruger Max-9, none of the optics is a problem.