Can you carry a full size pistol IWB?

Comfort is pretty much a matter of your belt and holster. With a good setup I can carry a 5 in. 1911 all day with no discomfort. Spend good money on your belt and holster. Depending on how snug you like your pants you may have to buy a little larger waist size for carry purposes.

Comfort is a product of body, pants, belt, holster, and mind.

I carry a Combat Commander IWB (Sparks VM2), and it's comfortable. . . you'd probably find it really awkward until you got used to it. It's impossible with tight pants, or a crap belt.

I carry a Glock 23/32 IWB all day long, which may not be considered full size.
But, I've carried full size 1911s IWB quite a bit, so yes.

I carry a G19 GEN4 all day, everyday. And sometimes i run a G17 with no issues in comfort. Printing is the thing with the G17. Otherwise I would carry that 24/4

bikerguy302 said:

... should I only consider OWB due to the gun size?

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If your goal is concealed carry, IWB is always going to be an advantage, especially with a large gun. It allows you to hide a longer barrel with a shorter cover garment.

Gun Trainer Tom Givens carried a Glock 35 for many years IWB, and JM Custom Kydex even offered a "Quick Ship" option for a G34 IWB carry pack for the set-up.

https://www.jmcustomkydex.com/p/TOM-GIVENS-PACKAGE-G19.html

Here's the CZ P10F version https://www.jmcustomkydex.com/p/IWB3-CZ-P07.html

The guy behind Keepers Concealment used to carry a G35 AIWB and now carries a Beretta 92 the same way.

http://keepersconcealment.com

Or is it possible to carry IWB for a full size gun like this and not be totally uncomfortable?

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What's comfortable is up to you.

bikerguy302 said:

Hi guys. I have a CZ-P10F full size pistol that I use in IDPA matches. If I decide to carry with this gun, should I only consider OWB due to the gun size? Or is it possible to carry IWB for a full size gun like this and not be totally uncomfortable?

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I carried a Glock 26 with G19 15R magazine for a long time, IWB..at about 3:30. Width and length of grip same as G19..barrel at 3:30 no big deal..I think you could do it. Biggest issue I had was weight and how it pulled my pants down.

FFGColorado said:

I carried a Glock 26 ... as G19

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Using the Glock family as an example, from the G26 to G19 to G17 to G34 to G17L, they are all the same thickness and would all pretty much have the same comfort IWB. The difference is you could probably carry the G26 OWB in something like the Mitch Rosen Upper Limit https://mitchrosen.com/products/holsters/belt-holsters/ because there is very little that would extend below the bottom of the belt, and the slide is so short, there would probably not be an issue with drawing from such a high riding, straight drop holster.

Conversely, in an OWB holster a G17 or G34 would extend below the bottom of the belt quite a bit and require a much longer cover garment. IWB, those bigger guns could be conceal carried much easier.

Sure you can. Have carried a Glock 17 and a full sized 1911 IWB for quite a number of years, longer barrel I liked them at 2-3 o'clock with a slight forward cant to let the barrel ride along my hip. Smaller guns I shift more towards 1 o'clock.

Come to think of it, I've also carried a double stack 5" 1911 (2011) and Glock 21 a fair amount in the past as well.

Location and quality belt/holster are key. I prefer a single clip holster for most of my carry guns, but the bigger ones I really liked something with a wider footprint to spread the weight. Milt Sparks Criterion, Crossbreed, Comp Tac Minotaur, etc. At around 3 o'clock he wider holster doesn't hinder my movement and spreads the weight nicely.

I've carried a full-size 1911 IWB; a 4 o'clock carry gives best access, IMO, but for me gets uncomfortable after a while. Carrying in the small of the back is more comfortable for me, it's a natural depression the gun fits better, but drawing as quickly takes a bit of practice. Only time I do IWB carry is summer when all I have to conceal is a tee-shirt. Rest of the time I do OWB with a holster that rides higher, to keep the muzzle hidden with a shorter cover garment.

Yup. Full size (mostly 5946) for years, now even bigger. An M&P 9 with WML and RDS. No problem even just with a t-shirt as cover garment while chasing the toddler around the playground.

Holster and belt matter more than the gun, as stated above. Also, positioning. You are not me, so tips on wearing are just tips. Move about and tilt as needed to match your body shape.

I wear a belt to hold up the holster! I wear suspenders to hold up my pants when carrying a P14 in the winter when clothing will hide it ! Lighter sidearm and belt only in the warmer months with a Kimber compact 1911.

in my experience a full size wears fine on a pancake under a hoodie or coat, but feels like a cinder block IWB

I’ve been carrying a browning hipower IWB for over a decade.
Like the pervious gentlemen have stated, you need a good belt, and a good holster that fits your body well.

after several styles, I settled on this simple outfit from Bianchi.


it’s comfortable (enough), and lets me sit in bucket seats without it bugging me.

I like my Galco King Tuc for my 1911, but I agree with mlankton, feels like a millstone; a good solid belt is a must.

Done it for two decades. 1911s, GLOCKs, S&W 3rd Gens, Hi-Powers, 4" K-Frame Smiths, 4" Ruger GP100s, USPs, Beretta 92/96s, etc....

As already said. Yes you can carry a full size pistol in an IWB holster with the proper holster and a good gun belt. I'm skinny and have no problems concealing a full size 1911 with a good IWB holster and belt.

Suspenders, a good belt, and an IWB CrossBreed holster will allow you to comfortably carry a full-size sidearm concealed. Personally, I have gone to an officer-size 1911, but that is due to my personal preference for the smaller guns.

BOARHUNTER

Ive carried a full sized handgun IWB on a daily basis for about 45 years now. Fat, skinny and everything in between.

Ive always found IWB to be comfortable and easily done. As has been mentioned, a proper holster and belt and your normal sized clothes for your size, and once you find your "sweet spot", your good.

Dont expect instant gratification though, as its likely going to take you a bit of experimenting with holsters and location, and give your body time to get used to the gun being there.

Once you do that, things will fall into place, and I doubt youll go back to OWB carry.

These days, I really like AIWB, and wish Id switched years ago. Just as, if not more comfortable, hides the gun better, protects it better, and its a good bit quicker to get it out and going.

No holster, IWB, OWB with any size gun, is ever comfortable without a good belt.

Is it possible--certainly.
The debil is in the details.
You need a good holster.
You need a good belt.
You also need to commit to wearing the combo enough to find the right fit, and to get comfortable with it.
If you get comfortable with the combo more than half the concealment 'battle' is won. Other are not going to notice what you, yourself, don't notice.

Ya know what’s weird? I can carry my BHP more comfortably than my iddybiddy sig238!

Ironicaintit said:

Ya know what’s weird? I can carry my BHP more comfortably than my iddybiddy sig238!

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Not weird at all.

Ive always felt more self conscious with something like my itsy bitsy Seecamp in one of my pockets, than I do with my 17 AIWB, with a reload and knife next to it in my waistband.

As almost everyone has said, the belt and holster make all of the difference. I get my pants and belt 2" larger as well. After many tries I settled on this type of IWB:

I'm sure you can. Many do. I hate IWB carry. It does not agree with my nerves at all. I can sometimes carry a Shield 45 IWB when wearing my stretchy jeans, but I'm more of a pocket pistol kind of guy.