Middle age guys and Holsters

I am in my seventh decade. I use a Comp Tac Flatline holster which has item elements provided for three mounting options. Most ever day I walk three to four miles and occasionally longer distances in the double digits (on average 22 minute miles) we are not flat landers plus I work on the property. The warm months of the year S&W-MP9c and the cold months MP9. Persons get complacent entering into the state of fat, dumb and happy. It helps if you maintain a reasonable state of physical condition. If one becomes lazy and indifferent then you limit your concealed carry weapon options. the previous sentences not meant to be demeaning but rather a statement of fact.

I bet I'm larger than most reading this thread.
I wear light shorts and a pocket T shirt In the summer. I have a holster attached to the interior of my car under the steering column. There's another in the pouch where I can reach behind the passenger seat.
I actually grab a small military surplus canvas shoulder bag and stick my piece in there to take on the boat or into another persons car, and they are used to it..
It's not a purse but I ain't proud, it holds some stuff like my wallet, cigs and a lighter and phone. Maybe a bottle of water and I can fit my gun in there too.
I can't wear a holster in summer without jeans, Perry hook-on suspenders and a belt.
In colder weather I wear a T shirt, and a XXXL tall man button collared heavy cotton shirt with the tail hanging out.
This way I can carry a small light holstered pistol and get away with it. The suspenders hold up the works pretty well.
Other times, I just have a loose firearm in my coat pocket, one that is fairly small. I usually walk around with my hands in my pockets and one is on the gun.
The good thing about getting old and round and lumpy is I could care less about fashion, and another is I don't walk sidewalks or malls or get in crowds very often.
I would like to maybe get a shoulder holster that doubles as suspenders, maybe and find a good spot under a roll that it isn't so conspicuous if I have to be a man about town.
There really isn't an easy way, if you know one that's comfortable, I'd like to know.
Back when I was younger it was so easy. Such is life.

C5 Leather IWB for me. I'm 6' 225. This rides high and with the excellent gunbelt from A&G Custom Gunleather, I have all day comfort. Well, as comfortable as one can be carrying 2lbs of steel around all day. This holsters wide back and leather belt loops hold the pistol firmly in place and comfortably. The only drawback for me is an occasional leather squeak. Y'all have heard it.
I've tried all the poly holsters and for me they're okay for a few hours. Sticky types? Meh. And unfortunately, if I buy a holster off of a peg in a gun/sporting goods store, it'll end up being a dust gatherer. I really wish I learned that lesson a lot earlier in life.

Shoulder holster has worked for me the last 20 yrs.

I'm still on the comfortable side of 40 but I have the same issue.
If I lost 50 pounds I may have an easier time of it.

I do sit at a desk 90% of the time at work, so ankle carry is a viable option for me. I do not like it generally, but for a desk jockey like myself, it works well.
A single stack in a nice Galco ankle rig is comfortable, does not show and carries my compact 9mm very well.

If my job didn't require sitting all day, the ankle holster would be a poor option though, as it would be hard to get to with any speed if standing.

Gosh looking at some of the ages I feel like a spring chicken. Okay amid 60's spring chicken but there you go. The vast majority of the time I carry OWB crossdraw. When it's warm (hey that's normal this is SoCal) a loose fitting button down covers it nicely. I'm short so most shirts run long on me. When it's cold (okay cold for SoCal is warm most places) a lightweight jacket does the trick.

One of the nice thins about cross is the cant seems to do away with anything "digging in". That and it's easily accessed by either hand.

jeepnik said:

Gosh looking at some of the ages I feel like a spring chicken. Okay amid 60's spring chicken but there you go. The vast majority of the time I carry OWB crossdraw. When it's warm (hey that's normal this is SoCal) a loose fitting button down covers it nicely. I'm short so most shirts run long on me. When it's cold (okay cold for SoCal is warm most places) a lightweight jacket does the trick.

One of the nice thins about cross is the cant seems to do away with anything "digging in". That and it's easily accessed by either hand.

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I was just about to suggest the OP try crossdraw, I think it's way more comfortable.

Where in SoCal are you that you can carry? (I'm in L.A. County, no such luck here.)

george burns said:

I know this has been covered, but really how do guys over 50-60 carry a full size or hi cap gun. The OWB needs an outer garment and FL makes that hard other that in the winter.

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51 here.

The only set up I have that can carry a larger gun is with a shoulder holster rig, which I can only wear in the winter months down here on the Gulf Coast. Even then, it is rare.

I almost always pocket carry. The holsters I actually use are two of the leather Hunter pocket holsters (trimmed as needed), a pair of gun show nylon holsters with stiff reinforcement, and a Recluse TS.

I've never adapted well to IWB carry. I would like OWB carry on occasion, but my clothing doesn't conceal it to my liking.

george burns said:

Soon I am just going to hire a guy to carry my stuff.

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I'm going to try that in a few more years. Only so I can truthfully tell people I keep my gun on my "person".

old lady new shooter said:

I was just about to suggest the OP try crossdraw, I think it's way more comfortable.

Where in SoCal are you that you can carry? (I'm in L.A. County, no such luck here.)

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L.A. County.

6'1"/280 and no issues carrying all day in a good pancake. I also like the DeSantis Mini-scabbard. An LC9 conceals easily under an untucked T-shirt or, what I usually wear when it's warm and totally applicable to FL where I lived for 32yrs, a Tommy Bahama silk camp shirt.

jeepnik said:

L.A. County.

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So you are LE (or retired LE)?

old lady new shooter said:

So you are LE (or retired LE)?

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No.

I carry IWB on a stiff belt and, when necessary, use a pair of Perry suspenders. They have plastic hooks that clip onto your belt, and you can adjust exactly where they hook on. I'm 61 years old, and weigh 250.

I find that my current carry, a J frame 637 S&W works well in a Alien Gear Cloak tuck. I'm slightly overweight and in Fla. so shorts and untucked shirts are the norm 10 months of the year.
I can change off weapons in a few minutes by swapping replacement shells, about $7.00 each. I've gotten rid of some weapons and acquired new ones. The old shells go back to the Alien Gear and a new shell is sent for the cost of postage 1 way. I've been carrying over 45 yrs. not always as small as the J frame and have probably 40 holsters, Leather, Kydex and fabric for all my collection. With a good belt Alien gear has, in my opinion, been the most versatile for every weapon I choose to carry.

I'm 63 and share the mature physique of my father at this age. The issue is that the waistline now is an funnel profile with barely enough hip structure to hold up pants. If that describes the problem then picturing a whole bunch of nice IWB or OWB holsters hanging off a belt with $200 in the rig doesn't solve any of the problems, it makes things worse.

Belt carry doesn't work on that kind of figure. At all. It's the typical male ego side of the brain which refused to accept the fact and keeps shelling out more money for another solution that can't fix the problem. They don't even begin to address it. A gym membership would be a better choice.

I went shoulder holster using one of the fabric pouch types and wore it for a week traveling and on the beach in SC. They work. You get concealment and you get to carry, the gun isn't trapped under a seat belt or banging around against tables eating out. If you don't want a slower draw ( with years of experience being completely caught unaware is a tactical problem first) then buy shirts with snaps or install them.

Shoulder carry removes the pressure points and also the 38 oz weight which causes our pants to be even more controlled by gravity. So, don't wear belt holsters and problem solved. Or, like it's been said about a peculiar form of mental illness, we can keep trying to make something work that hasn't yet. Belt wear on the mature waistline is that kind of psychosis.

Once you reach a certain level of rotundity, suspenders become very useful.

But I'll add that a strong-side (sic) shoulder holster would be an interesting idea.

I snagged an Occidental iwb holster made of that heavy tool carry leather. With a good belt it is fabulous for carrying my Commander my Officers. I have found the High Noon holsters to be really well made and they tuck nicely too, also iwb.

But I can sure empathize, I have a drawer full of all the holsters I tried and they were either uncomfortable or made the gun stuck grip stick out. Let us know if you land up on something that really works well for a full size 1911 or Glock.

Nowadays I carry an XDs with a high noon iwb. .45 power in a reasonably light and small package.

Here in the Pacific Northwest it rarely is hot and never is humid (two qualities that I can't live without). Anyhow, I carry my 9mm S&W Shield in a A.E. Nelson IWB leather holster made in Scio, OR along with a couple of nylon magazine pouches I picked up at a gun show. Works for me as an old toot.

I gave up on IWB all together I seriously need to lose my belly fat that is the problem more than anything. I retired a couple of months ago, I got tired of looking at my weight bench and decided to start using it about 3 times a week also cut down on bread and sweets. things are starting to shape up. I was trying to concei my sccy cpx2 after a while it just cut into my side, now I'm thinking about the ruger lcp gen2 380. Anyway I got off track I just ordered a holster from Masc holsters for my Tristar s120 I herd their quality is great and there prices are way better than a lot of others, but they are made in Turkey, so is 2 of my pistols that I love.

55 yrs old, 6', 270 lb. Glock 17 or preferrably 19 in Alessi Talon Plus IWB at 4 o'clock position, right behind hip bone. The Talon clip does NOT go over your belt, just the waistband of your pants where the belt will cover it up.
http://www.alessigunholsters.com/alessi-holsters-talon-plus-holster-for-glock-guns/

I have the same holster for a 1911, but the 1911 is too heavy and drags my pants down. For 1911 I much prefer a shoulder holster like the Alessi Bodyguard. The bodyguard for the 1911 has a "pull-through" release so you don't have to fumble around with a thumb release etc.
http://www.alessigunholsters.com/alessi-holsters-bodyguard-holster-colt-guns/

5' 6", 68 and let's just say that I love to eat! I used to carry IWB with a 938, then had to add the suspenders. Summertime, it was untucked shirts only. Recently left the 938 in the drawer and switched to a 642 in my pocket. Only wardrobe change was that I now wear cargo style pants or shorts, and can tuck my shirts.


As someone else said - "A man's got to understand his limitations."

Im 2 years short of 70. 140 lbs, 5'6" lots of maladies and boo-boos, but I never had a problem finding a comfortable way to carry.
Im like the Folgers commercial " best part of waking up is deciding what gun and holster to carry. Usually it is a 1911 in a kydex paddle.

george burns said:

<snip>
I know this has been covered, but really how do guys over 50-60 carry a full size or hi cap gun. The OWB needs an outer garment and FL makes that hard other that in the winter.

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You simply find camp shirts and wear them over the gun. Otherwise, wear a vest or opt for a smaller gun on that occasion. Dressing to conceal may not be as vain for someone proud of their appearance, but CCW should be a priority.

So far, the SuperTuck has done the best job for me, but my Kimber is 4" and has an officer grip. The full size 1911A1 Springfield, all stainless, has never stuck me as anything I could conceal or want weighing me down.

Actually I have been carrying revolvers for the last three years, favoring modified western style with a second gunbelt or high and tight OWB with the smaller guns. I wear camp style shirts in warm weather and a vest in long sleeve shirt season. I am not comfortable wearing a shirt untucked unless it is straight bottomed like a camp shirt. That is hard to find in a long sleeve.