Galco Holsters, First time carryin'

[mjs_408]

I am looking for a concealed carry holster. I want an FBI style forward cant, it also needs to be IWB. The only one I have found that I like is Galco's NSAII IWB. This is for my 4 inch barreled Kimber. Another question, This is my first concealed carry rig, and by sticking my pistol in my waistband I cant get it to not give me a tell-tail sign im packing heat. I think part of the problem is that im 6'5" 185lbs, and have a 34" waist. Any tips or tricks from other lanky 1911 carriers out there?

Just sticking a gun in your waist band is "Mexican style" correct.

[Chupacabra]

What kind of cover garment do you plan on wearing? I always wear an untucked buttom-up shirt and the gun almost disappears (I'm 5'11", 160lbs). There is a little printing but in two years of carrying, no one has ever noticed, not even close family and friends who know I always carry. This is carrying a USP40compact in a Galco Summer Comfort or a fullsize 1911 in a Milt Sparks Summer special2.

Cover it up and forget about it. :D

[Zach S]

I carry my 4" kimber in a MIlt Sparks SS-II, purchased from brownells. I was planning on a VM-II, but the SS works well enough at the moment, and I've hit some finiancial speedbumps so the VM will have to wait.

I normally wear a tank top to keep the gun from getting sweaty, and my cover garment is normally a T shirt. Sometimes an untucked button-up shirt.

I'm 6ft tall, and weight about 155lbs.

I worry about printing a little, but like Chupacabra, family that knows I carry cant spot it, so I guess it works.

[Lone_Gunman]

No one should have a problem concealing their gun if they dress sloppy with their shirt tails hanging out.

Don't you guys ever have to pack your shirt in and look respectable? What do you do then?

[Bane]

I carry a Commander 1911 in a Galco leather IWB holster just like you described. I am 6'3" and 215lbs. I wear an untucked polo or button up shirt with no problems at all. If you dress like that and someone is staring at your butt hard enough to notice a slight print you have other issues to address! Just my opinion.

[Zach S]

The way I see it, if you have a problem with my "dressing sloppy," its your problem, you deal with it.

[aguyindallas]

Well, lets not jump on each others tails for the way we dress. Concealment is the key here. Whatever works, works. I do the untucked button down shirt for casual days, jean shorts etc. I feel far from being sloppily dressed. As long as your clothes are not all wrinkled up like they came from the pile and you are not dressed like a thug, what gives? I have a tuckable holster for when I tuck my shirt in, works well.

To each his own, but lets not attack each other for the way we conceal. Thats like telling a person who carries a Glock that its crap and they need to carry a 1911.

Let's play nice folks.

[Chupacabra]

I've been dressing "sloppy" for over 10 years and no one has ever commented or had a problem with it. Jeans, t-shirt, and a print button-up shirt untucked is pretty normal around these parts.

If the occasion requires a tucked in shirt I put on a sport or suit jacket.

[MrMurphy]

While I'm not a fan of untucked shirts, they hide guns well.

A button down untucked shirt, buttoned, with a square bottom and a pattern, will hide your 1911 perfectly. Preferably with a tank top or t-shirt underneath.


I personally recommend a Comp-Tac C-TAC, Comp-Tac rigs are Kydex (no sweaty holster), lightweight and comfortable. I've worn my G30 24 hours straight multiple times in a Comp-Tac holster.


If you're carrying IWB, you DO need a size-larger pair of pants. You are size 34. With a 1.5" wide gun in your waist, now you're a 36. Get used to it. And a good gunbelt (Aker, Dillon, Milt Sparks, Wilderness Instructor) MADE for carrying a gun is a major thing.... without one, a fairly heavy pistol like a Commander will be a serious pain (I speak from experience) whereas a good stiff gunbelt makes it very comfortable.

[JerryM]

MrMurphy gives good advice. Let me add a belt maker that has an excellent reputation. I have one of his sharkskin belts on order.
http://www.raftersgunleather.com/

His belts are made of two equal thickness of leather and are 3/16 thick.
Cost of Cowhide is $45.00.
You might take a look there and also consider opinions given here.

Jerry

[mjs_408]

I have stuck my Kimber in my waist, and I will be able to get away with 34" waist still, I have a hard time keeping pants up the way it is (i dont have much for hips or an ass compared to the average guy. I plan on buying a gunbelt for sure as well, what do I do if want a tucked in shirt, no sports coat (dont own one) and still want to pack heat? Use something like galco's underwraps belly band?

[Mgraff]

mjs-

Having somewhat the opposite problem of you, I can't help you in the tall skinny arena, but.... Here's what I would try..

Try calling and talking to a few of the small shop holstermakers the 1 man type shops where the builder still answers the phone. I have only talked to Gary Brommeland, and Josh Bulman and both had insight and ideas to help me out. Give Gary or any of the others a call (you'll have to wait til Gary gets back to his house, I understand he has evac-ed along with a lot of folks in FL.) Buy something from these smaller makers, the gear you get is superior in every way to the other holsters on the market. I own holsters from DeSantis, and Galco, as well as Bulman and Mernickle and I have ordered one from Brommeland ( for my brother.) I have handled, played with, molested goods from Brommeland, Alessi, Tucker, Sherrick and several others. The goods are usually not much more $$ than the large factory folks but the fit and finish are better IMHO. Besides the 1 man shops will all tweak things to help you and make you happy.:cool: Call them up and tell them what you want/ need.

Good luck

[Double Maduro]

I have one of these and it is great. It is so comfortable I can't believe it.

http://www.tedblocker.com/DA3.html

The picture shows the clips that are not tuckable, but it comes with another set (the dark ones not on the holster) that are tuckable. The tuckable clips hold the gun a little lower and don't abuse my ribs at all. I normally wear an untucked shirt but on those occasions when I have to tuck it is no problem at all.

While I'm not thin, 6'1" and 220, I have lost some weight, I carry a Ruger P90 all day every day and this holster and a belt I got from the same place make it pleasurable.

These are great people to do business with, they added a thumb break to the holster for me, actually redesigned the whole thing, at no extra charge. Give Don and Shelley a call and talk to them about your concerns, they will take the time to figure out if they have the right product for you.

Before I forget, the workmanship on my DA3 and my belt is top notch, I can't imagine any better.

There are some pictures of the DA3 with my P90 in it here.

http://home.comcast.net/~richard_lambert/wsb/html/view.cgi-photos.html-.html

The other pictures show me with a 38 pound Chinook I caught a couple weeks ago, yes I am wearing the P90 in the pictures.

I hope this helped.

DM

[..]

There are alot of solid makers out there that are far better than mass produced Galco. Try Rafter's, Alessi and Bromeland.

[Serpico]

There are alot of solid makers out there that are far better than mass produced Galco. Try Rafter's, Alessi and Bromeland.

So well said I couldn't improve on it.