a carry dilemma

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coondogger

coondogger

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Of all my guns, the one I best like to carry is the Walther ppk/s. It's small, easily concealable, and fairly lightweight. Alas, I'm not very accurate with it.

Of all my guns, the one I least like to carry is the 1911. It's big, cumbersome, heavy, and not easily concealable. However, I'm extremely accurate with it.

Is there a holster that would make the 1911 more comfortable and concealable? Preferably an IWB.
 
Sure. I make a tuckable holster for the M1911 that solves many problems. I'm not a commercial maker, but my holster has the following features:

1. High leather back. This puts leather between the gun and your body. You can carry under a T-shirt on a hot day, and the gun will not abrade your skin, your sweat and body acids won't get on the gun.

2. A leather cam or "button" which engages the safety lock. With my holster, I can take an empty gun, cocked and unlocked, shove it in the holster and it will come out locked -- the cam will force the safety lock to engage and keep it engaged.

3. Tuckable. I use Kydex reverse J-loops, and can tuck my shirt between the holster and the J-loops to completely conceal the gun. As an added benefit, this makes the holster as easy to put on and take off as a paddle holster -- and a lot more concealable.
 
carry gear can make a huge difference
but... if that PPK just don't "hit for you", you could think some about trading it in on any of the dozens of candidate in-betweens
if it doesn't throw 'em where you want 'em at the range, it won't throw 'em where you want 'em under stress, no matter how nice the gun

in the meantime, do work on carry choices for the 1911
 
Curious about your PPK/S, is it German, Interarms (U.S. made) or S&W? I am certainly in favor of carrying all you can manage in a given circumstance. But there are times when a smaller piece is preferable to none.

I own a PP, PPK and PPK/S. The PP is German, the others are Interarms. At the 7 yd. line I think they are finer. In fact, potentially a fixed barrel blow-back of quality manufacture with decent sights should be very accurate.
 
If you just carry it LOTS,it will get easier to EDC.

I carried for the past 35 years and now feel it is a part of my dressing.

I carry a Kimber CDP II "mexican" style,meaning inside the waistband with no holster.

It stays put and I am comfortable with it.

You can also try the Fricke holster as that will cover the trigger guard and stop the gun from sliding down.

btw,I am 5'4" and weigh about 190 with a 46" chest.

If that gives you an idea about wearing a larger gun on a smaller frame.
 
I am in the same boat. I was late to the party (finally moving to a Free State just shy of eight years ago at the tender age of 45). I got my CHL and started carrying.

I experimented with a variety of handguns within the first five years...we're talking 50+ different handguns. I would own five or six at any given time and was always selling this and buying that. I settled on the Kahr PM9 and carried it for 3 1/2 years, although I continued to buy-and-sell, always looking for something "better". I quickly realized that I shoot a 1911 better than anything else, followed closely by an S&W N-frame. I also have a lot of confidence in the .45 auto /.45LC cartridges.

A couple years ago, with the change of seasons (winter) I started carrying an S&W N-frame. Next summer I started carrying my Kahr P45. The following winter I carried the N-frame again. The following summer, a 1911.

I've been carrying the 1911 since, although I still carry an N-frame during the winter.

My favorite holster for the 1911 is an old Alessi Watch Six. Milt Sparks makes a Watch Six these days, althoug I prefer the Kydex clips of the Alessi. Milt Sparks also makes the Versa-Max II, which I also own, and while it is an excellent holster, I don't find it as comfortable as the Watch Six.

I also own a Striker One made by Nate at UBG (www.ubgholsters.com). It is for my P45, and is is exceptionally well made, fits perfectly and is very comfortable. I need to order one for my 1911.

There is also a hybrid kydex/leather holster (I forget the name, but hopefully someone will chime in soon). It uses a large piece of leather that sits against your body. The Kydex portion holds the pistol. There are Kydex clipt that attach to your belt. Ah yes, now I recall...Crossbreed SuoperTuck. http://www.crossbreedholsters.com/S...efault.aspx?SortField=ProductName,ProductName

I'm going to have to try one of these one day soon.
 
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Is there a holster that would make the 1911 more comfortable and concealable? Preferably an IWB.
Click to expand...
Yeah, some holsters make carrying a 1911 a bit easier, but there's just no getting around it....the 1911 is a big and heavy pistol.

In fact, the 1911 was never intended to be a concealed carry pistol.
It was designed for warfare, to be carried on a soldier's thick belt and harness rig.

I like the 1911 as much as the next guy, but I decided long ago that the full-sized all-steel 1911 just wasn't practical for everyday concealed carry.


I advise just practice more with the Walther.

Good luck,
Easy
 
As many "better" options as there are for concealed carry (I own a G26, a small .25, and my commander 1911), I find myself carrying the 1911 the great majority of the time. It's an all steel gun, not a lightweight.
 
I have to agree -- I've carried a full-size, all-steel, M1911 for more years than I care to remember. A good IWB and a good belt go a long way to making you forget you have it on.
 
It wouldn't hurt to get in some more practice with the Walther PPK, too. Shooting a pocket auto with tiny sights is not as easy as shooting a full size pistol with large, well-defined sights, but the PPKs are usually pretty accurate, once you get used to them. They make good backup guns.
 
Waidmann, the Walther is an Interarms. I've had it for years and have done a fair amount of practice with it but I will never shoot it the way I shoot the 1911. I was thinking about putting some light-emitting dots on the sights; perhaps that would help.
 
a 30 dollar reinforced belt changed my carry life

sell the Walther... too impotent of a caliber and inherently inaccurate.

Sell it.

What to buy?

A Kahr P9 is a lot more gun in the same size package.
XD9 Subcompact is a size up and easy to shoot well.

Heck, there are dozens of better choices.
 
Well, everything that has been mentioned is good advice, and any of those options should probably work. I look at you as having 2 ways to solve your dilemma. On the one hand you could do as most have suggested and find a way to better carry the 1911 better. It is a larger firearm with longer sight radius and better grips. It should be the one you shoot better. On the other hand, you could always learn to shoot the PPK better. Sure it takes practice and probably a whole lot of humility improving from 10" groups at the range to 2" groups, but if you are going to carry, you owe it to yourself and the rest of us to put in that practice.
Now there is a third option, and that is get a different gun. If you like the PPK size and caliber, might I suggest a Sig P230 or P232. They are relatively easy to find on the used market and rather cheap to buy. It is actually smaller in some dimensions than the PPK, it has a fixed barrel, not tilting, much better sights, and was for me, the most accurate handgun I had ever owned. If Bond wasn't such a nationalist, he would have carried a sig. Lastly, don't let anyone convince you that .380 is "impotent." It is a fine man stopper if you put it where it needs to be. For many years it was the choice of LEOs all over Europe and still works well today. And it is what I carry.
Good luck with your decision and God Bless.
Doc
 
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Alas, I'm not very accurate with it.
Click to expand...

Define not very accurate. You may be good enough, assuming you can land COM hits. You don't need a target pistol for ccw.

Your other option is to go rent other small ccw guns and see if you're more accurate with any of them.
 
A sturdy belt - a purpose-built gun belt - and a quality holster will carry a 1911 well.

I prefer Outside the Waistband holsters because they're more comfortable to me. But anything IWB from Milt Sparks will be comfortable. The best of comfort and protection is their Heritage Limited. Might still be special order. I used it before I got sick and it's my favorite IWB in their entire line.
 
I cannot get over all the responses stating the 1911 is hard to carry concealed. I did for many years. A 5" Kimber to boot! They are slim and flat. They ride VERY nicely in a Galco Summer Comfort IWB. Even when seated in seats much like airline or buses use.

Its not a pocket pistol by any means, but with a good belt/holster combination its not hard at all. A full-size 1911 is more comfortable IWB than a 3" XD.
 
Coondogger, I am surprised, always had good luck at fairly short ranges. My out-on-the-town gun is a Kahr P-45 with Meprolite sights. Its a very comfortable carry IWB or on the belt.
 
If you carry for self defense, most shootings occur inside of 7 yards I believe, practice with the Walther and load it with good ammo. If it's lighter and more easily concealable for you chances are you will actually carry it. If you need it whilst carrying you won't be target shooting for scores.
 
I have other smaller-caliber guns that I'm more accurate with than the Walther. For instance, I'm pretty competent with my S&W model 49, Colt Detective (.32 S&W Long), and even with my mousy Bobcat 21A. It's only the Walther I have trouble with, which is a pity, because for reasons explicable only to myself, it's my favorite gun. And no, it's not a 'Bond' thing.
If it's any help to those who might be analytically inclined, my shots always group low and to the left with the ppk.
 
At SD ranges the Walthers is more than accurate enough If not accurate then you need to practice more. While not target pistols more tha accurate enough for SD .
If you go to 1911 make sure have good belt
 
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