Any big (around) guys carry concealed?

Hi, Joe.

First, my qualifications: 6'4", 300lbs (give/take a bit), 50" waist.

Excellent choice of a CCW. I do that every day, except Sundays. My SR9c rides in one of two rigs, both are IWB: 9 times out of 10, I grab my High Noon Split Decision http://www.highnoonholsters.com/Product_Line/Split_Decision/split_decision.html - it's inexpensive, holds the gun very well, and is tuckable. I've been made only once wearing this rig, and I count that on my laziness --- I was in a hurry after riding around in the car all day and didn't square myself away before entering a meeting. Fortunately the guy who made me is also a CCL and he simply suggested I go get squared away before starting.

My other rig is a Durham Concealed technology holster, an older version of what he is doing now (mine is sans belt loops) http://www.concealedtechnology.com/en/content/comfort-carry-bodyguard-tuckable-holster. I'm still struggling with this holster. While it allows the gun to ride a bit lower on the belt thanks to the adjustable loops, in my dress pants it looks like I have a honking goiter on my side. Looks fine in jeans, though. Like I said, still trying this one out. It's comfortable enough, though.

I keep the gun in either holster about 7:00 (lefty), that way it's not riding on my hip bone and protruding even further off my side and making my pants look even wierder. Keeping it behind the hip lets someone face me and not see a bulge on my side.

I do not have an OWB holster for the Ruger. Quite frankly, I don't know if I will get one. I had a OWB for my 1911 and SP101 (both of which I know are considerably heavier than my SR9c) and was constantly pulling my belt and pants up. This is with a 1 3/4" gunbelt, too. The Ruger rides so nicely IWB that I'm not worried about an OWB rig.

Good luck and keep us posted,
Q

If you don't have to tuck in your shirt, an OWB holster will be alot more comfortable.

Get a good gun belt, the widest that will fit your loops on your pants. Warning: us big ol' boys pay a premium for the extra leather. Seriously - you're talking $75 or more. It's worth it in the long run. Don't cheap out with a wally world special. It won't last and it won't hold the gun tight against your side. It'll flop around and leave you grabbing for your side and holster - a sure-fire give away.

Search for gun belt manufacturers here and you'll find a whole slough of recommendations.

Q

Good Advice

You got a lot of good advice already, in my opinion the advice regarding a quality belt was very good, a good belt is just as important as the holster it supports. I have some "big" friends, CrossBreed seems to be a popular and well suited choice.

I am 5'10", 300 lbs. I carry either a Kahr CW9 IWB in a High Noon Mr. Softy or a Charter Arms Undercover in a generic Quest nylon IWB holster. Both are comfortable and well concealed. I appendix carry and usually don't tuck in my shirts.

I'm 5'10" and 300lbs., and I use a 1-3/4" Beltster to carry a 1911. I don't tuck in my shirt tails, I use that for cover. It works very well for me, and is a helluva belt too. I highly recommend removing the rivets from your jeans on the carry side though, they'll mark up the pistol. The Beltster is made to order for you, very quickly, and for most any pistol you want. And it's actually very secure, although it may not look like it.

Yeah, it carries better, is more comfortable, doesn't print as much, and is easier to draw. Everyone has their references, but look at most modern holsters and most street cops, they nearly all cant forward.

Dear Joe,

Suspenders under untucked shirt help me keep everything up and in!

LBS

I am 6'1'' and 210 and have no trouble whatsoever concealing a XD40 SC or a commander sized 1911 in a crossbreed supertuck. Have you considered pocket carry? It works for my father who is 6'2'' 270.

I'm pretty big myself, around 260 and 5' 9" (stupid desk job). I've had the best luck with a Kydex/leather hybrid Comp-Tac Minotaur (I prefer the cheaper Spartan) and a good Beltman belt.

The big leather back seems to hold in place well and distribute the weight of the pistol as well as keeping any sharp edges (the SR9 is already pretty smooth, unlike the 1911 that I carry) from wearing on you. Likewise the stiffness of the kydex seems to keep the butt of the pistol from "rolling out" from spare tire pressure.

It's pretty adjustable as well so far as cant is concerned, so you can play around until you get what's comfortable for you.
(I see no reason that a Crossbreed wouldn't do just as well, but the Minotaur was availible here in a brick and mortar store w/no wait).

I carried an SR9 in a Galco Summer Comfort for a while, and it was "ok", but not nearly as stable as what I use now. While you're certainly welcome to give OWB a shot (and I do sometimes) the IWB's not too bad with a good holster.

I am 6'5, 340lbs, and I am lucky enough to have a job where I can wear jeans and shorts and Tshirts for work 99% of the time (remote satelite office, only dress up on days big Whigs/clients come for a visit). I carry a G26, extended Mag in a Supertuck holster most days, and it works great, and i forget its there. I usually carry around 4 o-clock area. I really love this holster, and recommend it to everyone.

My buddy is about 350 and 6'9

He pocket carries a FS 1911

InkEd said:

If you don't have to tuck in your shirt, an OWB holster will be alot more comfortable.

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Amen! I even started making adjustments to how I dress for that reason.

Carrying a firearm means either making concessions on how you dress or making a compromise in caliber and carrying a .22, .25, or .32. I know several lawyers who carry a Seecamp rather than ruin the look of their suits. I have carried most of my adult life, got my first permit about 6 weeks after my 18th birthday. (I am 52 now) In all that time I have carried a "full size" gun with just a few exceptions. One was while working at Wal-Mart with their very strict rules...then I carried a Seecamp myself.

In all that time I use an OWB 98% of the time. If it meant wearing a sports jacket despite it being a little warm I did so. Most of the time I wore polos or camp shirts that did not require tucking in. Today I have what is probably the finest collection of authentic (meaning made in Hawaii) Aloha shirts in Indiana with close to 85 in the collection. I also have camp shirts from other companies as well and several very light weight sports jackets. For holster I use the Don Hume J.I.T. for the most part with a Ken Null for my P7M8 and a Davis for the 1911. These are all worn in the 4:00 position for the most part.

My J.I.T.s ...

i am 6'1" 280. i find that carrying my 45acp in about the 5 o-clock position (further back than at my side, but not quite in the middle of the back) on my right hand side (i am right handed) in a LEFT HAND iwb holster is the most comfortable for me. works whether standing/ walking/ or sitting. even when seatbelted in the car it is comfortable. try it, you'll like it!

I'm 5'10-1/2" tall and a 33" waist. I always thought the big guys had an advantage over me cuz they have bigger clothes and more room to stash stuff. This thread makes it sound like the big guys have a disadvantage.

6'4 275lbs. LCP in the cargo pocket or jacket pocket.

i am 6'1" 280. i find that carrying my 45acp in about the 5 o-clock position (further back than at my side, but not quite in the middle of the back) on my right hand side (i am right handed) in a LEFT HAND iwb holster is the most comfortable for me. works whether standing/ walking/ or sitting. even when seatbelted in the car it is comfortable. try it, you'll like it!

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This has been done in the past and many think it works, I also know of 2 people who shot themselves in the leg trying to draw from this set up. It is virtually impossible to draw quickly without sweeping your right side with the muzzle unless you swing your arm very wide around your body while twisting your wrist outwards...makes for a very obvious and slow presentation. Not something i would want to try when scared with adrenalin pumping, especially with a single action gun.

+1 to the JIT slide holster

I'm 6'3" and ~400lbs and carry a CZ P-06 in a comp-tac minotaur IWB at about the 4:00 position and hardly notice that it's there

While I am not very big, 5'2". I am kind of big around, 200 lbs, and have a rather large belly. I carry several different weapons, all IWB. My biggest problem was not concealing the weapon. I just started wearing my shirt untucked. I also started wearing a undershirt with a larger t-shirt over or a larger button up type shirt. My problem was keeping my pants up!

I got a good gun belt. I currently using a Wilderness Instructor Belt with stiffener. It did not matter how tight I put the belt my pants still wanted to south on me, and I found myself constanly pulling them up. My wife said it was because I wear my pants below my belly, and I suffer from a disease called "No-axx-at-all".

What I did was start wearing suspenders. I tried several different brands and style, but finally settled on the Perry brand http://www.perrysuspenders.com/ . They don't use the standard clips the go on the waistband of your pants (which kept coming loose on me). They use plastic hooks the actually go under the lower edge of your belt. They work very well for me.