Who daily carries a full size?

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Space Ghost

Space Ghost

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There are a lot of options out there for times when you may want to carry something smaller. That said, I never seem to want to. In fact, I never seem to keep a small handgun very long as they just don't feel right in my hand. My Glock 19 is the smallest I own, and it seldom gets carried because of the way my pinkie hangs off the end of the grip. I would like to hear from those out there who carry a full size on a daily basis like I do.

For years. my daily was my trusty 1911, but I wanted a gun with a light mount, and decided to give some of the new polymers a try. At first it was an XD in .45 ACP. Very nice gun, but the double stack .45 grip was just a bit big for my short fingers. Decided to give Glock a try. I found a Vickers edition Glock 17. I instantly liked the feel of it because the normal Glocks are made of a different plastic that I don't like. Being a 9mm, it wasn't quite as fat in the grip either. This is now my daily carry gun. I carry it with a TLR1 in a Bravo Concealment holster with the pancake loops.

I've found that with a lose fitting T-shirt and the Bravo Concealment holster, I never have a problem with anyone noticing it. In fact, I think that even it it did print a bit, the worry of the general public noticing it is probably overplayed. They generally are oblivious to their surroundings. Maybe another gun owner, or a trained LEO may notice, but I'm not worried about them...

With the full size gun I have a very good grip on the gun, a good sight radius, a mounted light, the best reliability, and excellent ammunition capacity.

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I still carry the 1911 from time to time, but it's a stainless S&W, so I reserve it for those times when I have to dress nice, and have my shirt tucked in, and open carry is my only option. It's heavy, can't mount a light, and has limited ammo, but at least it's pretty.

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I'm a big weight baby. I have tried numerous times to carry a full size gun, but dealing with the weight, dressing around the gun, and just having one more piece of daily kit I needed to conscious of has kept me from carrying a full size for long.

I will say that I sometimes tuck a 1911 IWB at 4 o'clock using a clipdraw. However, I would say the largest full size gun that I carried the longest without issue was my SIG P320. I still carry it in the winter months when my jacket hides it best.

The trick for me is carrying OWB. I have a holster made for the P250 that obviously fits it and carries it at a slight cant. I also opted for the small compact frame. I like a thinner grip, so the small fits my needs best. Plus the 15 round grip hides better. I had an old compact mag from a 250 compact I owned years ago, so I was only out about 50 bucks for the frame.
I carry it at 2 o clock and keep a 17 round magazine on hand for a reload. This set up gives me a gun that is a bit easier to conceal but still sports the nearly 5" barrel. I also like the fact that I can slap in a 21 round magazine if need be.
 
Ive pretty much always carried full sized handguns, and never had a problem doing so. At the start, it was Government Models and Commanders and sometimes a 4" Smith Model 10 or 19 . Mostly the Colts though.

Moved on to SIG's in the late 90's, and it was mostly P220's and P226's. For a little over a decade now, its been a Glock 17.

Ive carried fat to skinny, and never found it to be an issue. If you use the right gear, and dress properly for the weight, as well as the gun, you shouldnt have any trouble.
 
The holster with a USGI 1911A1 for the better part of 40 years.
The Kimber Det-1 in it here for some 16 years.
I don't mind the weight much at all as I since up my belts quite tightly.

I am however looking at switching to my Kimber Pro Aegis II in a cross-draw. Still, mostly full sized..... mostly.:) IMG_1002.JPG
 
I did for several years until I bought my Glock 19 but I don't see the point now that I'm limited to 15 rounds anyway.
 
When it gets cool enough to wear a jacket. I sometimes carry a Kimber Custom 45 ACP in a cross draw holster when I am out driving and not planning to get out of the car.
 
I started out with full size pistols (1911’s, Beretta 92FS, Sig 226, BHP’s) in the 90’s, went to compacts (Glock 19 size / late 90’s early 00’s), then subcompact (Glock 26 / late 00’s), then subcompact single stack (Walther PPS, G42, S&W Shield / mid 2010’s) ... now I’m back to compact (G23 and CZ P10C).

Large enough to hit with easily, can attach a light without a problem and with 15+1 in 9mm and 13+1 in .40 S&W the capacity isn’t far behind and I have 2 rd extends or I can use G17/G22 mags for reloads. That’s where I stand now.
 
I EDC a Walther ppq m2 .45 in a Remora no clip iwb holster. A good thick leather belt makes it possible no matter what I'm wearing. I used to front pocket carry, and still do occasionally with a S&W shield .45, but I wanted my pocket back for other things. Theirs just something comforting about having a full size gun with 13 rounds on me.
 
Been carrying for about 25 years, I have had the odd Commander-sized. But most of my carrying has been a G-22, a full-size Kimber Custom II, and currently a RIA double-stack 9mm 1911. I have a double-stack .45 1911 that's identical in size but with a rail, but I don't often carry it. If I can embezzle enough from my grocery store leftover change, I may get a Dan Wesson DWX in the near future.

I use a Stealthgear IWB and a fanny pack in summer, and a Blade-Tech OWB and a Galco Miami Classic in non-summer. It's all about a good belt.

I just want to carry what I shoot best.
 
Ruger SR 9 IWB in a Alien gear holster, like the 17rd mags and the sight radius along with a full grip, and 2 extra mags I,m good to go.
 
I'd been carrying a Glock 23 for awhile, previously carried a Glock 35 and a 1911 before that.
Like you, for me the grip on the 23 is cramped, even though I've removed the finger grooves. The Glock 35 (and 22) has sufficient room for my hand.
I'm back to the 35, I like it: the grip, capacity, caliber, ease of shooting, and comparatively soft felt recoil. :)
 
Some nice looking carry rigs on the thread. I will wear my full size S&W M&P .45 when it's cold enough to cover it with a jacket. I just can't carry IWB (can't find any way to comfortably do it) so it's either a sub compact in the pocket or something OWB under cover.
 
Summer (under a tee shirt).....

Spring, fall, and winter.....under a tee, sweat, or fleece, sometimes, but rarely, "tucked" under an Oxford type shirt.

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Holster.....

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I carry full size 1911s or revolvers because the way I dress allows me to conceal them. It really is a matter of dressing around the gun, and after doing it for 18 years, I am used to it.

I do keep an LCR snubby for backup or deep concealment, but rarely carry it by itself.
 
Sig P220, BHP, 1911, K, L & N Frames and lately a P226. I carry OWB mostly. Proper belt & holster with loose fitting shirt/jacket it really isn't an issue. I always have a smaller option available (currently a P365 & a Colt Cobra) if I need to be more discreet, but that is rare.
 
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