duty size gun carry for ccw

[357smallbore]

Do you belive that a duty size carry gun can make a good ccw if you can conceal well and manage the weight?
I sure love my Springfield SA-35 and have carried it a few times with my IWB holster for it. I am 6'4 and 285
It doesn't weigh me down carrying it for a day. My main ccw is my Hellcat Pro but I sure like the feel of that
all steel old school gun.

 

[GRIZ22]

I've carried a full size 1911, S&W 659, Beretta 92 and Glock 17 concealed for years. I'm smaller than you and had no issues. I suggest a DeSantis Speed Scabbard.

 

[trackskippy]

Absolutely! Find a good holster and a sweet spot on your body for it and you'll be fine.

Ive carried full sized handguns every day my whole life and never had any problems. AIWB makes things even easier.

 

[Riomouse911]

If it can be hidden, sure. Always a good idea to carry the gun you shoot best, and a duty-sized gun shoots better for me than a micro.

When it’s 115 in the shade here, I must admit that my LCP II sure disappears easier on my bod than larger guns do.

Stay safe.

 

[.38 Special]

I carried a K frame .357 (S&W Model 19) IWB for many years. A good holster and good belt make all the difference.

Having said that, age and lower back issues make compacts and micros more attractive, and the old S&W has largely been replaced by a Glock 29 and an S&W 340PD. When younger and healthier, though, the 19 was perfectly comfortable, and I was always happy to have such a useful gun with me.

 

[.308 Norma]

Do you belive that a duty size carry gun can make a good ccw if you can conceal well and manage the weight?

Of course. It's not up to me what you (or anyone else) carries for a CCW.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Of course… but as always- the Colt Vest Pocket in your back pocket beats the 1911 Gov’t in your glove box. If you have the dedication to actually carry it ? Sure, have at it.


Most however… do not.

 

[Ethan Verity]

Do you belive that a duty size carry gun can make a good ccw if you can conceal well and manage the weight?...

I believe everyone would opt for a duty size carry gun if they could conceal it well and manage the weight. The smaller guns are a compromise on performance, for the ease of concealment and comfort. If you don't need that compromise, that's good.

 

[Kleanbore]

I believe everyone would opt for a duty size carry gun if they could conceal it well and manage the weight. The smaller guns are a compromise on performance, for the ease of concealment and comfort. If you don't need that compromise, that's good.

I don't think the anyone can disagree with that.

In my case, carrying full-size duty gun all day is uncomfortable, however.

 

[JERRY]

I'm 6'4" 260 and carry a G17 iwb at 4 o'clock in the summer if my shirt is loose enough. If wearing a tshirt it's the G26 because of the shorter grip the same location. Occasionally I'll do the G26 at 1 o'clock appendix iwb.

Today a did the G26 iwb at 4 and a 351c at 1 just to see how it would feel all day. The trick is to wear pants one size up for iwb comfort.

Check out muddy river Tactical for simple and inexpensive leather iwb rigs. The clip draw works well for my j frame airweight.

 

[sgt127]

I carried a 1911 on and off duty for years.

Off duty, I carried in a Milt Sparks Roadrunner. And, two extra mags.

Always wore a cover garment. In the summer, a camo BDU top with the sleeves torn off.

A few things happened. One, I wasn’t getting in many shootouts off duty. None actually.

And finally, my right shoulder took a beating over years of fighting. Ramming doors etc. now, it’s extremely difficult for me to draw from a super high riding holster. Actually, anything near waist level from my right hip is difficult.

Smaller gun. Appendix works better for me.

And, I can conceal under a T shirt.

 

[bannockburn]

I use to carry a Colt Government or a Colt Combat Commander, and sometimes a Browning Hi-Power, because full size guns like these were about all we had to choose from. A decent number of OWB holsters and shoulder holsters concealed the larger guns really well along with a cover garment like a sports jacket or coat. In warmer weather it was time to get out the .380s and the snubnose .38s.

 

[Husker_Fan]

I've carried my Hi Power in a Galco N3 very comfortably at 4 O'clock. It's best for jacket or sweatshirt weather as the grip tends to print when leaning over or twisting at the waist. In the warmer months, it's a flat latch S&W Model 38 in a pocket.

 

[OS/N]

Walk the property with a SAA or 1911 in a outside crossdraw under a long coat which feels better and safer than a pocket gun. In summer the same w/o a coat. A crossdraw is about the only full size rig I can ride without taking off. I'm not over large or small at 6' and 195#.

When I have to ride, walk, and get around in public its a cheif IWB on right hip. Anything else winds up in a glovebox or under the seat. If there is a risk of it showing in public I don't call it CC and rather not have it on me to draw unwanted attention.

 

[jar]

Today it was my Sig P220 with one spare magazine. OWB holster from Andrews Leather and magazine in a 1995 AKAH carrier.

 

[Gun-Reck]

Like the lightest, most comfortable pistol, the biggest bullet, and adequate power, preferably 400 ft-lbs.

Want to forget it's even there, unless running.

The Glock G36 is slab-sided, carries nice in a thin suede IWB holster, produces service pistol 400 ft-lb w/ .45 ACP P+ ammo, and weights 27.5 oz. loaded.

 

[Space Ghost]

1. Good quality gunbelt.
2. Good quality holster.
3. T-shirt 1 size larger, untucked.
Done.

I promise you that 90% (or better) of the people in the world are too engrossed in their stupid phones to notice a slight bulge in whatever outer garment you have on, should it happen to print.
I have many a time packed a 1911 or a Glock 45 (with a light) in an OUTSIDE the waist holster, and never had anyone freak out on me... or even notice that I was packing that I was made aware of.
Unless I was dressed nice and had my shirt tucked in, so as to OC. (You can do either in my state.)

 

[Rodfac]

Do you believe that a duty size carry gun can make a good ccw if you can conceal well and manage the weight?
I sure love my Springfield SA-35

I carried a K frame .357 (S&W Model 19) IWB for many years. A good holster and good belt make all the difference.

I carried a 1911 on and off duty for years.

I regularly carry a duty sized handgun concealed in an OWB holster of my own, or commercial make. And like many here, I find that I'm better with them at any distance than the sub-compacts usually recommended for defensive carry. I find that a bigger framed gun is easier to manipulate, handles recoil for 2nd shots better, and has a greater inter-sight distance which is a boon to better accuracy.

I've used all of the types handguns mentioned above for CC....and I'll readily admit, that it's probably a lot easier to accomplish in a well designed OWB holster, than an IWB or AIWB.

In my experience, the holster with a good heavy gun belt are keys to comfortable success, but note that you need to make sensible wardrobe choices. Speedos with a wife beater t-shirt will no doubt make 'Duty' size guns extremely hard to conceal. But if you can manage a loose fitting t-shirt with a moderately long tail for summer use, most any Duty size gun can be hidden. Here in Ky, fall, winter and spring weather makes CC easy.

My summer wardrobe for daily wear is usually jeans or cargo shorts and a t-shirt, and I buy my "T's" extra long to allow use as a cover tor my holstered CC piece. I've found that holsters of the Askins Avenger type offer good concealment; especially the butt of the gun, which is pulled in by the aft belt loop. I build or by them as high as I can get them and still allow a speedy draw without extravagant body contortions.

Below are my BHP & Springfield Hi Powers, and front and back views of an old Bianchi version of the Avenger. Note the belt loop locations and the gap allowing a full firing grips to be obtained while the gun is still fully holstered. If interested there are several other commercial makers that offer quality built rigs of the same type. Best regards, Rod

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[The Night Rider]

I carried a Glock 19 at work for several years and as my Carry gun in retirement

 

[tommy.duncan]

I carry a P226 in 357sig daily.
If you can conceal it, carry it!!

 

[Mauser lover]

Do you belive that a duty size carry gun can make a good ccw if you can conceal well and manage the weight?
I sure love my Springfield SA-35 and have carried it a few times with my IWB holster for it. I am 6'4 and 285
It doesn't weigh me down carrying it for a day. My main ccw is my Hellcat Pro but I sure like the feel of that
all steel old school gun.

Which do you shoot better? No cheating, use a clock!

I'm taking a risk in my assuming the result of that test, but here we go...

Then of course, a duty size gun is better! You wearing that Hi-Power is probably actually smaller proportionally than me wearing my little Ruger Max-9. It's a nice slim gun, and I'm 5'10 and 150.

 

[Hangingrock]

MY EDC is a S&W-MP 9mm Shield along with a second magazine.

 

[Spats McGee]

It is 100% possible to cc a full-sized pistol, especially if you use a proper belt, holster, and perhaps a spare mag or two to balance the load. For my lifestyle, it doesn’t make much sense to, though. I can cc a 13-round Shield+ much easier than a 15-round G19, much less a 17-round G17.

 

[jmr40]

Climate matters. I can do it a lot easier in winter than summer. I managed to carry a G21 without being noticed once, but that was in the winter while wearing a jacket. During the summer when it's in the upper 90's a G43 is a challenge.

 

[jstert]

a young cousin’s ccw is a glock 17. i couldn’t spot it until he displayed his rig. but he is fit, a farm manager in rural new england, almost always wears an untucked outer shirt or jacket, neither he nor anyone around him there gives a rat’s dupa if he is “made.”

for physical and social reasons a j frame 38sp snubbie is my biggest ccw.