[The Weasel Squeezer]

Yesterday I tried something new.
My regular mode of carry is a Glock 30 , IWB.
I have tried many other methods and guns for ccw. OWB, shoulder holster, .38 in an ankle holster, pocket, even mexican. But yesterday I carried my .44 Mag. S&W model 29 with a 6" barrel, in a shoulder holster, just to check the logistics of big-gun carry. It was fairly comfortable, never got made. Wore a vest over the rig, then a leather coat.
Probably couldn't pull it off in the summer.
I even removed the leather at the tax mans office and was comfortable that I was not printing or showing.
Anyone else try to conceal a big gun on occassion?

[gggman]

I sometimes carry a full size USP45 under a fleece vest. I carry it in a Bianchi pancake holster. Never been made, and it's fairly comfortable.

[tegemu]

I and a LOT of other guys carry a 1911 year round. I think that would qualify as a big gun.

[DJAteOhAte]

I carry a full size USP .40 every day.

It's no big deal.

[1911 guy]

5" 1911 almost daily. Don't know if that qualifies as "big" compared to a 6" .44 revolver.

[StrawHat]

My daily carry is this 45 ACP with a 4" barrel in the rig shown.

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc194/StrawHat/SW45ACP002Small.jpg

[Vern Humphrey]

I and a LOT of other guys carry a 1911 year round. I think that would qualify as a big gun.
When it comes to big guns, it almost seems like the M1911 was designed for concealed carry.

[big44]

Big guns aren't nearly as hard to carry as many make out. The essentials are a good gun belt and a quality holster like Simply Rugged, Cabo, and the Perfectionist from Krammer.

[Brian Dale]

What kind of holster is that, StrawHat? Nice M25.

[StrawHat]

Brian Dale,

That is a Bianchi 5BH, unlined.

And no that is not an M25. I could not find one back when I wanted it, so a M28-2 was sacrificed. The barrel went to Richard Nickel for a rebore and I fitted a M25-2 cylinder to the frame.

So it is more a copy of the M26 or the Mountain revolver.

I am currently looking for a S&W, 45 Colt, with a 4" barrel. Any got one they would let go?

[Brian Dale]

And no that is not an M25.ka-Whoops! :o Nice Smith revolver.

Thank you, Sir.

[Kind of Blued]

Shoulder rigs do seem to do the trick, especially with large revolvers... Or Mac-10s, or Ingrams, or whatever Chuck is packin' here.

http://blogoehlert.typepad.com/eclippings/images/chucknorristhumbnail.jpg

And, while completely unrelated, I like this one alot too.

http://bp2.blogger.com/_IrVqNKRVrHA/Rgci80hCMSI/AAAAAAAAAC4/5RgO4F77fno/s320/chuck-norris-album9.jpg

I haven't had enough experience, but for me, it seems that a heavy gun is going to stay home before a bigger and lighter one does. Not many good examples, but I could probably make it through the day more comfortably with a Glock 17L or 34 than I could with a Sig P220.

[BozemanMT]

I always have this argument with my wife.
It's much easier to carry a lightweight small gun
BUT
it's much easier to shoot a bigger heavier gun.

Always a compromise.

[littlelefty]

Full size 1911 when I can; kel tec P11 when I can't.

[Sam1911]

I carry a 4" 629 in a Kydex IWB rig made by Hoffner's.

No problems, carries easy, rides very high.

It is a tiny bit more noticeable than my 1911, but not bad.

In jacket or heavy shirt weather it is no big deal. I do wear a 1-3/4" Wilderness Instructor belt with the liner, so that probably helps a bit.

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc184/sam1911/2007_09050015.jpg

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc184/sam1911/2007_09050014.jpg

Yes, I took the pics in a mirror...I don't own a magic left-handed 629!

-Sam

[Treo]

Does a CZ75B count ? I cary IWB under a fleece I haven't seen any evidence that anyones noticed ..... unless you count the day in church that one of the kids came up and slapped me right in the gun

[bpisler]

I spent last summer carrying a 3"
S&W 625-7 chambered in 45 colt.
It helped that i had a stiff belt
and a well build but no name OWB
holster.

I would just use a oversized T shirt
for concealment,it seemed to work
just fine.

[DarkSoldier]

I carry a 6 inch M 29 Smith in an Uncle Mike's verticle shoulder holster fall, spring and summer along with a Springfeild TRP in an IWB over my right hip. No problems with anyone spotting the guns under coats, sport jackets or light jackets. Summer time calls for a 4 inch M29 in an IWB or the TRP (under a shirt worn tail out or a t-shirt) with a M 60Smith as a back up. Its not that hard to hide the guns. Carrying the four speed loaders and two spare magazines is where you have to get creative.

[TimboKhan]

I don't normally carry a big gun, but I have on occasion packed my Ruger P90 with complete satisfaction.

[big44]

Sam1911

I carry a 4" 629 in a Kydex IWB rig made by Hoffner's.


Where did you buy your holster from?

[Mad Magyar]

But yesterday I carried my .44 Mag. S&W model 29 with a 6" barrel, in a shoulder holster, just to check the logistics of big-gun carry. It was fairly comfortable, never got made. Wore a vest over the rig, then a leather coat.


A shoulder rig is nice & distributes the weight of a big handgun where you are the strongest....Summer does present challenges except in the cool evening where you might wear a sport coat...
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q148/veritas2369/ShoulderRigOfficersModel002.jpg

[Sam1911]

Sam1911

Quote:
I carry a 4" 629 in a Kydex IWB rig made by Hoffner's.
Where did you buy your holster from?

[To quote from the PM I just replied to you:]

I ordered it from here: http://www.hoffners.com/products.htm

It is this listing: http://www.hoffners.com/min4a.jpg

Their pics aren't all that great. I've got more, if you want to see what it REALLY looks like, I've got a short album here: http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc184/sam1911/

I had a long write-up on it on S-W forum, I think, but I can't find it now. They must delete old stuff or something.

Good luck!

-Sam

[bakert]

Getting old and need suspenders to hold my pants up but they help with the gun too. Most days a Ruger P97, sometimes a 1911 with a heavier belt. Either one hides well enough under an untucked shirt, vest or light jacket to have never been noticed even in those places with the No Gun signs.:)

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f241/brumanj/Picture341.jpg

[Pumpkinheaver]

I pack a full sized 1911 and a 4" .41 mag regularly in the colder months. Harder to do in the summer.

[BikerRN]

4" .45 ACP in a Milt Sparks Summer Special II.

http://www.defensivecarry.com/gallery/data/500/Small_Snow_and_Milt_Sparks_018.jpg
http://www.defensivecarry.com/gallery/data/500/Small_Snow_and_Milt_Sparks_019.jpg
http://www.defensivecarry.com/gallery/data/500/Small_Snow_and_Milt_Sparks_020.jpg
http://www.defensivecarry.com/gallery/data/500/Small_Snow_and_Milt_Sparks_021.jpg

With a good Belt, Milt Sparks, Mitch Rosen or Bruce Gibson, it's pretty easy to carry.

BikerRN

[BikerRN]

4" .45 ACP in a Milt Sparks Summer Special II.

http://www.defensivecarry.com/gallery/data/500/Small_Snow_and_Milt_Sparks_018.jpg
http://www.defensivecarry.com/gallery/data/500/Small_Snow_and_Milt_Sparks_019.jpg
http://www.defensivecarry.com/gallery/data/500/Small_Snow_and_Milt_Sparks_020.jpg
http://www.defensivecarry.com/gallery/data/500/Small_Snow_and_Milt_Sparks_021.jpg

With a good Belt, Milt Sparks, Mitch Rosen or Bruce Gibson, it's pretty easy to carry.

BikerRN

[armoredman]

My PO1 is a compact pistol, but before that I carried a full size Witness 40, steel frame, both concealed and open. No issues, with good leather and good belt.
Nowadays the only full size sidearm I carry concealed is my Smith 10-8, in a very nice no-name shoulder rig I got from smith-wesson forum. I decided to take a decent pic of it, and my wife commented with the shirt I was wearing, I looked like an extra "villain" from Magnum PI. So, here it is, my acting debut, me doing the "bad guy trying to sneek a peek out the window while Magnum sneaks up behind him to knock him out quietly in 2 seconds" pose.
[theme song]
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b13/armoredman/rightbeforeMagnumknockedmeout.jpg
[/theme song]

[GLOCK45GUY]

I carry my G30 or my Sistema 1911 IWB in the 8 o'clock position (I'm left handed). I've been carrying the 1911 more often since it's much thinner.

Man, the G30 feels as thick as a brick now!!!!

[bigmike45]

I've carried my customized 4" Redhawk in this DeSantis Scabbard on several occasions with a slightly larger covershirt. I realy like the squarebottom desigh of the Dickies plaid workshirts.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/mike_seale/NewHolster1s.jpg

[Joe_m107]

My usuall carry gun is a S&W 1911 pd, which is a full sized handgun. But, just for kicks, i once carried my Ruger Super Redhawk with a 7.5 in barrel that is converted to shoot .45 ACP with moon clips.
I carried it in a Bianchi IWB open bottom holster made for a H&K pistol. Being southpaw, i carried it in a 11 o' clock appendix position.
It was actually somewhat comfortable and didn't print too bad.

[boomstik45]

Hk45, every day I'm not on duty.

[LUPUS]

The smallest handguns that I would carry for self defense are the HK P2K, G19 and P228. I started with full size pistols, turned towards more compact pistols with time, and now I prefer to carry a pistol which offers me the most comfortable, easy to control grip and weight in fast follow up shots, fastest and most tolerant sight radius with a cocked-locked single action trigger.
So the CZ75B and the BHP are the pistols I prefer to carry.

Regards.

[Mac45]

Usual carry gun is a 1911, IWB.
Now and then, I'll carry my 4" M-25, also IWB.
I can get by with just a vest when I carry the 1911, but need a jacket to cover the M-25.

[Flopsy]

bigmike, I use the same exact holster, the Desantis Thumbreak Scabbard to carry my M9. It holds it high and tight and it conceals pretty well under an untucked shirt. If I've been made with it, nobody has said anything.

[yhtomit]

armoredman:

I have never used a shoulder holster, but from that pic it sure looks like a jolt would knock the gun straight out, which would be ... embarrassing. Therefore, I must be wrong.

How is it secured, exactly? Is it just the grip of the leather? If it's not glued in place, then I guess it works, though :)

timothy

[Flopsy]

I have never used a shoulder holster, but from that pic it sure looks like a jolt would knock the gun straight out, which would be ... embarrassing. Therefore, I must be wrong.

How is it secured, exactly? Is it just the grip of the leather? If it's not glued in place, then I guess it works, though

If I'm seeing it correctly I'm looking at a snap thumbreak strap over the hammer for retention. I'd guess that's relatively secure.

[kd7nqb]

I carry my M&P .40 in a cheap uncle mikes holster. I am getting tired of not having the nice fit of a good piece of leather. I have a Fobus paddle that I love but does not conceal well enough for my needs.

[george29]

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l15/avisamuel/pocketwear.jpg

Me with .44 in front right pocket

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l15/avisamuel/2_5mag44.jpg

[Vern Humphrey]

I have a Fobus paddle that I love but does not conceal well enough for my needs.
Paddle holsters aren't really designed for concealment. They're designed for LEOs whose duties require them to frequently take off and put their guns back on -- when entering and leaving a jail, for example.

In my humble opinion, and IWB is the best combination of concealment and convenience, particularly for larger guns.

[notenoughtime3]

USP 45 tac in either a IWB bladetech or shoulder holster.

All day, every day.

Sometimes I carry a G26 too.

[MCgunner]

I pocket carry, never without my little P11 9mm. I don't see the need in a big gun. I'm pretty danged decent with the P11. I don't want to carry something that bothers me all day. Anything over 30 ounces is WAY too much IWB. As far as wearing a coat, I get to maybe 3 weeks a year total down here. Every person and every situation and ever climate is different. What works for one won't for another. I can wear a heavy gun under a T shirt, but when I get home, I will tale it off. I don't take the Kel Tec off, it's always in my pocket. If you're going to carry for defense, better be 24/7. When you have it off is when you're going to need it. That's my philosophy, anyway.

[DawgFvr]

I don't want to carry something that bothers me all day

Comfort carry....ah, the American Civilians are so lazy. The Kevlar helmets we wore in the military were eleven pounds all by themselves...not even looking at the equipment and ammo we carried along with our weapon. I think I can manage to drum up enough discipline to carry a full size weapon so that when I had to present it in my self defense...I would feel the comfort zone then...eh? I have plastic squirt guns made with better quality than the P11 MCgunner. Maybe if I lived in Texas I'd feel differently about carrying...I doubt it though.

[P97]

I carry a Ruger P90DC in a Milt Sparks VM2HS Holster every day year around. I wear suspenders with a loose untucked shirt over the top.