I carry a compact 1911 owb every day in a Brommeland Def Con holster under a slightly too large button down or t shirt.

Mostly invisible, and unseen when coupled with good awareness. Of who might see it.

 

If you have an OWB pancake, you probably already have your answer. Does it work for you or not? The IWB vs OWB argument is usually about cover garment length. An IWB holster allows you to carry a gun with a longer barrel that doesn't require an excessively long cover garment. A short barreled gun like a P365 carried OWB, may not require a very long cover garment to conceal.

Regarding the holster with the integral mag pouch, unless it is worn forward of the hip, in the 10:00 - 2:00 area depending on whether you are a lefty or righty, the mag may be difficult to access. There is a reason most wear their holster on one side and their mag pouches on the other.

 

JTQ pretty much hits the nail on the head, as usual. High ride OWB holsters easily conceal short barreled sidearms with a short length cover garment. Although there are strongside holsters available with integral mag pouches, I have not seen one that I personally consider viable for concealed carry use.

 

I have a low pro OWB kydex pancake style that carries a 5" 1911 better than the IWB kydex I have on right now with a P365XL. I perceive that there's less bulk or "printing" there. There's tradeoff's with either.

 

There’s no way an OWB can conceal as well as an IWB. It’s a simple matter of exposure. That’s not to say some OWB don’t conceal very nicely and are likely adequate. If you really need it to stay concealed, the IWB is the best bet. Most people prefer it be concealed, it’s not a hard requirement. When I think people who “need” to keep their stuff hidden, I think undercover law enforcement and those law abiding who live in places that are not firearm friendly (and they will lose it all, if the wrong person freaks out over the presence of a firearm). If you live in an open carry State/locality, and aren’t officially looking for trouble, keeping it concealed is a preference (legal standing, not tactical advantage).

 

The OWB is completely adequate. A good pancake like the Simply Rugged Cuda will make it disappear. They also offer inside out straps that will allow you to use the same holster IWB. I'm not saying we shouldn't pay attention to the holsters or garments we wear but the bottom line is that 98% of the people walking down the street or sitting at the table next to you in restaurant or standing in line at the grocery store are absorbed by their cell phone and you could have bazooka on your shoulder and they wouldn't notice, The other 2% as long as it isn't visible or printing you're fine.

 

www.simplyrugged.com
The cuda with inside out straps.

 

I prefer the OWB with a good belt. As a retiree I wear Hawaiian shirts and carry full size 1911s and BHP in the past. Now its a Glock 19.

 

Just to complement the suggestion of my good ol' cohorts mdell49 and Frank Vaccaro ...

Cuda - Store - Simply Rugged Holsters

Cuda - Leather Concealed Carry Holster High ride pancake design for auto loaders, easily concealed Open top for easy draw and reholstering Can be worn IWB (w/our inside-the-waistband straps) or OWB Belt slots are 1.75" and can be worn on our Chesty Puller Straps Strong side or crossdraw...

www.simplyrugged.com

 

Thanks Brian I'm not picture literate.
These holsters REALLY do both IWB & OWB well. A lot of gear will do two jobs, but one or the other is a bit of a compromise. This holster is not a compromise, it really does both jobs very well!

 

All my holsters conceal equally well.

Wear the gun and holster you want, and dress to conceal--Me

 

The only thing I would add to this is: a good quality gun belt and holster.

 

Yes, Kevin. Dress to conceal. Good thought on your part.

 

A top quality leather belt is very important. Galco makes some nice ones. If
the belt doesn't do its job, the holster can't do its job.

 

I have a Don Hume pancake holster that conceals my 5” 1911 extremely well. It stays tight to the body and somehow angles the grip inward into my body. The leather is adequately stiff and good for reholstering. It’s one of my most comfortable holsters. My only complaints are that its retention isn’t as strong as I’d like it to be and its 1.5” belt slots won’t fit through thick belts.

I also have a kydex Black Rhino Concealment and leather 1791 pancake OWB holsters. They both have good retention but don’t conceal as well as the Don Hume holster. The 1791 uses a thicker and stiff leather that comes somewhat curved. I’m guessing the curvature is to aid for strong side carry at the 3:00 position where the hip curves. Because of this, it manages to stick out more than the others, at least on my body, and the grip also sticks out more than I like. It’ll take awhile to break in, but it looks and feels like it’ll last forever. Like my Don Hume holster, its 1.5” belt slots also don’t fit thick belts. But because the 1791’s leather is somewhat thick, I had no qualms with taking a file and opening the belt slots to fit.

My kydex Black Rhino OWB holster has the best retention out of the three - not as tight as the 1791 and not as loose as the Don Hume. Its plastic belt loop “wings” easily fit through my thick belts. It doesn’t stick out as much as the 1791, but it’s also not as snug to my body as the Don Hume. The grip also sticks out a bit to my liking unlike the tight-to-the-body grip of my Don Hume.

I’m really impressed at how well my Don Hume conceals my fullsize 1911. It keeps the gun and grip very close and snug to the body. If it had better retention and wide enough belt slots to fit through my thick belts, it would be the perfect holster for me. Since I’m still looking for that “perfect” OWB holster, though, I’m hoping this thread will give me some ideas.

 

I find that on me iwb holds the gun tighter to my body than owb. I like a belt comfortable though, not overly tightened. Im 6ft 3 and wear 2xl tall tee shirts and have no problems with owb.

 

Before I retired I wore OWB holsters from Blade Tech (the newest and best from them are their Eclipse because they tend to pull your weapon closer in towards your body (reducing the printing of your firerarm). I continue to use them and will switch between the Eclipse and the StealthGear Flex OWB holster. I have used loose fitting 5.11 and Hawaiian shirts to cover my full size pistol and two double magazine belt pouches for 30 years with great success. After I retired I continue to use this combination. Besides being completely concealable, OWB holster and double mag pouches covered by 5.11 and Hawaiian shirts (in hot weather) are the most comfortable way to conceal carry for me.

This is my EDC and conceals nicely and comfortably under 5.11 or Hawaiian shirts. The main thing to comfort is a good belt that can hold the weight. I use a 5.11 Apex Gunner's Belt for my EDC, It works great and looks great, even when wearing suits for formal occasions such as court appearances or funerals, weddings, etc.

5.11 Apex Gunner's Belt (1,500 lbs tensile strength)

 

Before I retired I wore OWB holsters from Blade Tech (the newest and best from them are their Eclipse because they tend to pull your weapon closer in towards your body (reducing the printing of your firerarm). I continue to use them and will switch between the Eclipse and the StealthGear Flex OWB holster. I have used loose fitting 5.11 and Hawaiian shirts to cover my full size pistol and two double magazine belt pouches for 30 years with great success. After I retired I continue to use this combination. Besides being completely concealable, OWB holster and double mag pouches covered by 5.11 and Hawaiian shirts (in hot weather) are the most comfortable way to conceal carry for me.

This is my EDC and conceals nicely and comfortably under 5.11 or Hawaiian shirts. The main thing to comfort is a good belt that can hold the weight. I use a 5.11 Apex Gunner's Belt for my EDC, It works great and looks great, even when wearing suits for formal occasions such as court appearances or funerals, weddings, etc.

View attachment 610763

5.11 Apex Gunner's Belt (1,500 lbs tensile strength)
View attachment 610764

Are those mags different capacity or funny angle in the picture? Different capacity would make counting shots difficult unless you shoot to slide lock.

 

No is my answer to owb ,I like to carry here when outer wear is ok . Iwb with a light glock 43 is best on my old back it has belt clips on the gun.

 

Three are 10rd and one is 8rd.

 

I ended up ordering a Sig IWB holster for warmer weather and an Urban Carry OWB with attached ammo pouch for winter environs and heavier clothes. Both will be for my new Sig P 365XL. Anxious to try them all out.

 

The old (Bruce Nelson inspired) Askins Avenger and holsters patterned after it conceal very well for me. The way they are designed, the butt of the gun is pulled into the body pretty closely. I have carried a BHP and Commander in holsters of this style with a shirt tail over them without any issues.

 

In my experience, there is no OWB that will conceal as well as an IWB. The fact that your belt goes over the pistol with a IWB allows you to pull it in tighter. Barrel length doesn't matter with IWB. Grip size matters with both, IMO. As much as I prefer OWB, it just doesn't conceal as well. I'm pretty much 100% IWB these days.

 

While I prefer and predominantly wear IWB holsters (with my preference there being for Summer Special-style holsters), I’ve found the Milt Sparks Roadrunner to come mighty close to offering the same level of concealment for a five-inch 1911. Though technically out-of-print, the no-longer cataloged Roadrunner (aka on a Sparks order confirmation as an “Old Style 60TK” in reference to that cataloged OWB) can still be had on-request, though I don’t know for what models beyond 1911s.

The Roadrunner rides high with a forward cant that, for me, allllmost replicates the carry-position of my Summer Special IWBs.

As with all holsters and as noted prior, a good belt is still a must.

 

I have a Hume pancake for a 4" L-Frame, conceals very well but very uncomfortable. Might be great for a 642.

 

OWB pancake is the way to go. I carry 1911 officers in Wilson combat OWB pancake and also have custom Kramer horsehide OWB pancake for a micro9. Look for the belt loops as close to the bottom of the holster and as narrow so it doesn’t force you to thread around belt loops.
Oh, springfield emp 3” also works nicely in the Wilson. Safari land 123 horizontal belt Velcro mag carrier, since I’m really fat, doesn’t poke me.
I wear oversized fishing shirts which are common in Fla. no one can tell.