Help with concealed carry

[KFields]

I just got my carry permit and I'm going to be helping out with security at church. My question is, how and where should I conceal my J frame? I don't wear a suit every Sunday, mostly dress pants and a polo shirt tucked in. I would like to hear everyones opinion on where to carry. Thank in advance.

[MSteele]

What church do you attend that requires security and a CCW?
There are several holsters on the market that allow you to wear you holster IWB and still be able to tuck a shirt over it. I know that Galco has quite a few of them or you could also go with a Raven and purchase their IWB loops that allow you to tuck your shirt. Since it is a J-frame you could also use a pocket holster and keep the gun at the ready in your pocket. I personally haven't had good experience with pocket carry. I carried a Seacamp 32 and it was difficult to properly grip the handgun, then again a seacamp is really small could possibly work better with the J-frame. Then their is always the ankle holster but wouldn't recommend that as a primary weapon holster.
Whatever you choose just make sure that it's a high quality holster, Raven or similar would be a great option due to the fact you can use it IWB or OWB by swaping some hardware. After you have the holster practice practice practice and then practice practice practice some more. Especially if you have to clear a tucked in shirt.

[LowSpeed_HighDrag]

Which model is your J? Is pocket carry out of the question?

[KFields]

What church do you attend that requires security and a CCW?
There are several holsters on the market that allow you to wear you holster IWB and still be able to tuck a shirt over it. I know that Galco has quite a few of them or you could also go with a Raven and purchase their IWB loops that allow you to tuck your shirt. Since it is a J-frame you could also use a pocket holster and keep the gun at the ready in your pocket. I personally haven't had good experience with pocket carry. I carried a Seacamp 32 and it was difficult to properly grip the handgun, then again a seacamp is really small could possibly work better with the J-frame. Then their is always the ankle holster but wouldn't recommend that as a primary weapon holster.
Whatever you choose just make sure that it's a high quality holster, Raven or similar would be a great option due to the fact you can use it IWB or OWB by swaping some hardware. After you have the holster practice practice practice and then practice practice practice some more. Especially if you have to clear a tucked in shirt.

HAHA my church doesn't require security or a CCW. We have a few members that volunteer to carry and help secure the congregation if needed. Our church services are on TV so they reach more people than those in the sanctuary. My J frame is model 438, it's the bodyguard without the laser. I hope you all don't think I'm crazy for wanting to carry while in church. Thanks for the input.

[El Vaquero]

What church do you attend that requires security and a CCW?

In Texas for example, most large churches employee off duty officers because of situations like this

Odds are you will have time to react if there is an incident in a church so your draw time from a holster doesn't have to be super fast. I would probably use a pocket holster and just practice a little with it.

[LowSpeed_HighDrag]

I am a certified armed guard in CA and I am in the process of offering my services as a volunteer security guard at our church. While in the states that accept my FL, UT, and CO permits, I ALWAYS carry at church. There are spiritual shepherds of the flock and there are physical shepherds, and I believe anyone with the ability to be an armed first responder is a shepherd. If I were you, I'd buy a pocket holster and carry it like that with a speed strip in the opposite pocket.

[MSteele]

In Texas for example, most large churches employee off duty officers because of situations like this

Odds are you will have time to react if there is an incident in a church so your draw time from a holster doesn't have to be super fast. I would probably use a pocket holster and just practice a little with it.

After reading that I guess it makes sense. I guess it doesn't matter where you are grocery store, movies or even church if it's gonna happen it's gonna happen.

[MSteele]

HAHA my church doesn't require security or a CCW. We have a few members that volunteer to carry and help secure the congregation if needed. Our church services are on TV so they reach more people than those in the sanctuary. My J frame is model 438, it's the bodyguard without the laser. I hope you all don't think I'm crazy for wanting to carry while in church. Thanks for the input.

Definitely try the pocket holster for the S&W bodyguard. Just make sure you get a good one that will stay in one place in your pocket. Some have a rubber material on the outside or ruff suede. A buddy of mine had his wife actually sew his pant's pocket around the holster so that it fit snug with no movement. She didn't actually sew the holster into the pants just outlined the pocket to the shape of the holster. I did that for my spare mag in a pair of shorts, reach in your pocket and it's always there.

[F-Trooper05]

Sorry to get off topic, but you might want to suggest to your church that they hire some off duty cops and/or a professional security company if they're dead set on having armed guards. If church members wants to carry concealed for their own protection, that's one thing. But letting a bunch of average Joes pack heat and provide security without any security-related training is just a bad idea IMO.

[ImBroke]

You're not crazy for wanting to carry in church. It's been proven in past church incidents that they don't have an invisible forcefield around them.

Carry methods in your method of dress could be a pocket holster or tuckable waist holster where the shirt tucks around the holster.

But...if you are taking it upon yourself to protect a large number of people... how confident are you that you can successfully engage a shooter with your 5 shot J frame?