Concealing a bigger pistol?

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My Glock 19 gets the nod for carry about 95% of the time. I've carried bigger guns, and I've carried smaller guns, but for the past couple of years, she's been my favorite.

I have two gunbelts, an Aker B21 and a DeSantis Econobelt. The first is in brown, the second in black. When they wear out, I'll probably upgrade to something a little nicer, but they've served me well at moderate prices. Depending on my attire for the day and what I'm planning on doing, I'll carry the G19 in: (a) a Cross-breed Supertuck, with forward cant; (b) a K-Rounds kydex pancake holster; or (3) a Galco leather pancake-style holster. On the opposite side, I carry an extra mag in a kydex magazine pouch behind a multi-tool. IMHO, balancing the load on the belt is just about as important for comfort as the weight itself.

Going back to the "attire for the day" issue, I should probably note that I'm in a suit and tie at least 4 days out of the week, and a blazer for the other workday. Even on the weekends, I wear a blazer except in the hottest of weather. This is kind of the "uniform" for graying, middle-aged men, so nobody thinks twice about it. That said, I've discovered that it's a uniform that lends itself well to carrying mid-sized or larger pistols.
 
Unless you’re a supermodel or on fire, no one will give you a second look. Hell, they won’t give you a first look.
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+1
I was walking around walmart one time and my shirt had come up and over the gun, it was completely exposed. No one even noticed.
 
It is easy with a good gun belt and decently designed holster. I carry a P226 in a CompTac MTac IWB without issue. Have even done it with a tucked shirt.
 
Believe it or don't I still occassionaly carry a full sized1911-ish pistol or original CZ75 in a "fanny pack" worn just left of center.

People do not run around screaming "GUN! GUN!" and pointing at my marsupial pouch.

Despite all the internet and gunzine ex-spurts I have had police be surprised that the huge pouch contained a large handgun. Current pouch is leather. Earlier ones where nylon. My favorite was Blue and had one of the old "Fighting Gator" patches on it and a first aid patch. Again despite the ex-spurts folks just thought I had first aid supplies and stuff in it. When the first kid came along I had a positively huge one that I carried baby supplies in in the large zippered pouch and a full sized auto in the rip away holster area.

I think the advertising value of a belt pouch as a sign a guy or gal is packing is far less than some would have you believe, especially in hot climes where folks often wear such packs with just stuff in them.

When I was back at "fightin' weight" a couple of years ago I did dig out the ancient Safari land shoulder rig for winter use. Now it is mostly either little bitty pocket guns or the pouch if I go big.

-kBob
 
Used to carry a Colt SAA 5.5" in a shoulder holster, just wore a flannel shirt over it and it stayed out sight no problem.

Switched to a Makarov, either in an OWB holster under a shirt or in a fanny pack depending on circumstances.

Nowadays it is usually a smaller gun in a belt slide. I still carry a King Cobra in a shoulder rig once in a while, usually in cooler weather.
 
I live in FL and wear a t-shirt pretty much year around. I rarely carry anything other than a FS including 1911 Government, CZ 75, and M&P FS and have no problems concealing any of these.
 
I easily carry a mk23 iwb every day. I have a Blackpoint belt holster too, and it carries just fine. A man's gun.
 
I carry a full sized 1911 on a minatuar holsters belt in a galco holster with two spare mags. The important bits are the good belt and mags to counter weight the gun, I also run the belt over the holster so it's tighter against me this helps with the weight and the profile. Now as for hiding it I just wear a unbuttoned light weight short sleeve shirt or a jacket over it
 
The key to CCW a larger gun, IMHO, is a high quality holster and gun belt rig. One of my favorite CCW guns is a Sig SP2022 (which is a fairly large gun, larger than a G19 or Sig P229, but a bit smaller than a G17 or P226). I carry it in a High Noon pancake holster on a BetterBelt 2-layer gun belt with Kydex stiffener strip sandwiched inside. Largely due to the forward cant and the fact that the gun rides high and tight to the body,this rig conceals almost as well as my M&P Shield or Kahr CW45, which are much smaller, thinner guns, with virtually no printing under an un-buttoned shirt.

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I carry my Shield 9 and my Kahr CW45 in Lobo Leather pancake holsters on the same gun belt, but they really don't conceal any better than the Sig SP2022, which is a much larger gun.

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I sometimes carry the CW45 in a Detroit Concealment Kydex holster, which is a good alternative to leather, depending on wardrobe, etc.

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As mentioned above, quality gear makes a heavier gun feel lighter. I'm 5'8" tall, medium build, and can easily carry a S&W 1076 on my right side with two mags on the left- the secret is the holster and belt are both up to the task.

Another consideration is the laws where you live. How 'concealed' does your concealed carry gun actually need to be? You might prefer that it be invisible, but if the law doesn't require invisible then you may be placing too much emphasis on that aspect. Most people don't notice my open carry, so how much less do you think the general public will notice a bulge or lump under your shirt- and even if they do it's a long leap from bulge to gun (for the public, not the cops who are trained to do so).

I place a lot more emphasis on carrying a gun in which I have confidence, even if that means concealment has to take a back seat.
 
I find I tend to obsess about printing, as I was taught to 'make' people carrying by my Dad, who was a cop. I 'make' carriers all the time, so I assume some of them are able to 'make' me. The reality is, not even the cops notice around here, AFAIK. The rest of the populace almost certainly doesn't. I've observed people open carry and no one notices. (Though it's funny when some do.) I still worry less about being noticed when carrying my Bodyguard 38 than carrying my PT1911, though the reality is, I probably needn't worry either way.
 
I think the difficulty is highly overrated.

I regularly carry a 5" barrel double stack 1911/2011, sometimes in draw string athletic shorts and a tee shirt. you couldn't get less "dressed for the gun" looking but it works fine.
Not mine, but similar in configuration:
View attachment 724634

I spent about a month carrying a 6" barrel longslide 1911.
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That actually eventually showed a problem...the muzzle pressing into my car seat was creating its own little dimple in the leather.

I have carried a glock 20 and 22, cz75bd, and so on around and nobody ever notices.

The trick is to use the best gun belt you can, and a good holster (I am fond of the hybrids).
 
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If I carry a midsized pistol, I wear a button-down shirt untucked, a quality leather gun belt and an OWB Kydex holster with a 20 degree cant, worn at 4:00- 4:30.

Depending on your body shape, you may want to wear your shirt one size larger.
 
I CC an XDM and other large frame pistols, and they're a breeze to do so with compared to my favorite CC weapon, that being a S&W M66 snub.

I can get away with very little printing with the XDM any time of year, where as the M66 is almost impossible to make invisible in the summer time. Then there is the weight issue, the M66 will pull my britches down if I don't carry on a separate belt, which I do most of the time.

GS
 
"...some choose to conceal larger pistols...such as Glock 19's"
I find that statement somewhat humourous.:neener:

I regularly carry either a 5" 1911 or a High Power, and for years my EDC was a Sig P220.
I also sometimes carry a 4" S&W N frame revolver (M624) in a Simply Rugged Sourough Pancake on a good belt. Really not any more difficult than the 1911.
I have also successfully carried a 6.5" S&W M29-2 in a vertical shoulder holster. It was a bit uncomfortable, but certainly not impossible. It was really more of an experiment than anything else.
When I need 100% concealment, a J frame, Sig P938 or S&W Shield get pocket carried.
 
medic_guns said:
I easily carry a mk23 iwb every day. I have a Blackpoint belt holster too, and it carries just fine. A man's gun.
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Are you saying you conceal a Heckler & Koch Mk23 .45acp semi auto pistol in a IWB style holster?
That seems like a real stretch. The Mk 23 .45acp isn't a sub-compact or small gun, that is for sure.
I own a Glock 21 gen 04 .45acp pistol. I looked into a OWB kydex rig from G Code; the limited ed MARSOC bloodstripe line. I also like the holsters from Redstone Concealment & T Rex Arms. The new High Noon website offers a lot. The kydex holsters are sharp & I could see buying/wearing the synthetic material horizontal shoulder holster. $89.00 is a fair price for what the High Noon holster offers.
 
"...some choose to conceal larger pistols...such as Glock 19's"
I find that statement somewhat humourous.:neener:
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I always have too.

I think a lot of this is what you learned on and had available to you when you started. For me, Colt Commanders were "compacts" and a 2" J or K frame, or a PPK, was a "pocket" gun.

These days, there are endless choices, and many have never really carried a larger gun, simply because they "think" they cant.

I think the big mistake is, choosing what you think you can hide better, over what you shoot the best. That to me is a bad compromise.

What I do find humorous is, when someone tells me they cant possibly carry what I normally carry as a back up gun, as their main gun, while I have that, "and" a full sized handgun on, while we are talking face to face, and they dont have a clue I have both. What am I doing right, that they havent yet figured out?

One other advantage these days is the availability of good and clever holsters, that make carrying/concealing those bigger guns even easier.
 
I carry a G19 or my TRP in an Alien Gear holster with a wilderness tactical belt. Can conceal either under a t-shirt. As others have said, most people are not observant at all.
 
I made my annual trip to a large Flea Market on Friday, it's about a 2hour drive and because it's out of my normal travel area I carry my .45acp.

5 hours of walking and standing can get tiring for this old man but the 3lb S&W 4566 in a Don Hume pancake was a non issue as usual.
 
Carry what want to carry, most people are oblivious to the thought that someone is carrying. I have turned spotting concealed guns into a game and let me tell you it is really hard to spot someone carrying unless they are really careless.

Friday I spotted a very nice looking, very thin and scantily clad young woman carrying an LCP in a Sneaky Pete holster. I probably wouldn't have given her a second glance if not for the rather large tattoo over her appendix of the Ruger Pheonix peaking up over the waistband of her shorts. Then I noticed she had her cell phone in her back pocket....so what else would be in that thing on her belt? Then I noticed her companion (brother) wearing a similar but larger device on his belt. I created an opening and chatted with them and complimented them for exercising their 2A Rights. Nice folks and they blended right Into the crowd. They said I was the first person to "out" them.
 
If im just standing around, I can conceal a para p-14. But then I get to chasing my 3 year old boy around, and it becomes visible pretty quick.
My BHP i carry in a supertuck-ish style IWB holster that my boss made for me, and it stays hidden pretty well. But again, i have accidentally flashed it when wrestling around with or chasing my boy.
I dont really like agitating the more sheepish parents at the playground, so thats when i carry the p238.
Ive noticed people who think they are concealing their weapon, but they arent.
The attentive eye on the people with good situational awareness do notice these things.
And a lot of times, its not the printing weapon that gives it away...but the self conscious mannerisms of the bearer.
 
I only carry OWB because I refuse to stuff a gun down my pants.

I gave up on those bulky guns (g26,p229,PT145,M&P 9c) but if you want it's not really hard to conceal anything you're willing to put up with.

A tucked in tee shirt, a loser fitting shirt over a slim pancake holster on a good belt, will let you conceal anything within reason.

Myself I'm a Shield person...it's almost perfect. Big enough to shoot at distances, slim enough to conceal easily.
 
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