A CCW thread for the skinny guys

[Zach S]

6ft, 155lbs.

5" Kimber, carried IWB about 4:00, in a milt sparks summer special II.

Winter is easy. In summer I wear a wifebeater under a t shirt. If it prints, oh well. You may see it, LEOs may spot it, but other people wont unless they see an exposed grip, even with a big flashing neon sign above my head with the word gun on it.

Half the people dont see the 8x10 signs on gas pumps that say "pay before pumping."

 

[littlelefty]

5'5" 135lbs.
Full size 1911 when I can.
Kel Tec P11 when I can't.
1911 OWB in a Don Hume 721OT (pancake) or IWB in a Galco Summer Comfort.
P11 in a Hume 715M IWB or Desantis Nemesis pocket holster.
Wilderness Tactical 5 stitch as the foundation
A couple of guns with a couple of holsters each to suit what I'm wearing at the time.

 

[Commander Guineapig]

Half the people dont see the 8x10 signs on gas pumps that say "pay before pumping."

LOL, Ain't THAT the truth! I work in the tech biz, so I see all kinds of dumb stunts linked to lack of observation.
Many of you have said "a good belt" ...
what IS a good belt? What are your requirements?
I wear a leather belt that's decently thick. I hate cloth/office/dress belts..
I like big, thick, dog-beater belts. I don't beat dogs with them, but I still like them. Is there something more to a good CCW belt then that?
GP

 

[BikerRN]

I'll give you my personal list of good belt makers, most of them also make good holsters too. I own a belt or a holster by the various makers.

The Beltman
Mitch Rosen
Milt Sparks
Ted Blocker
Bruce Gibson
Matt Del Fatti

That's it, that's my personal list.

 

[Bowwave]

5' 11'' 175

+1 Bullseye10x. I can tuck a BHP as he describes using a quality IWB and belt. I have somewhat large shoulders and the weapon disappears with most shirts, even t-shirts. Not all t-shirts work, but I have several wide in the shoulders and waist that hang just right and don't cling. I think the one time I was in doubt was walking on a beach boardwalk with a 25-30 mile tailwind. But that IWB holster was so well designed that I doubt the printing stood out.
Bowwave

 

[jad0110]

6' 7", 200 lbs

Yes, I am a beanpole .

I agree with Biker and AZ: dress around the gun and don't be so self-conscious. And a good holster and belt are musts.

However, I also agree with Polish Pounder's statement:

I can tell you that for skinny guys width is the most important factor.

I would say if anything is going to be a problem, width/blockiness is it. Read through this thread and you'll notice a large percentage of us prefer single stack guns (particularly 1911s) and revolvers, with their rounded easier-to-hide contours. I'm not saying that a thick XD or Glock can't be done (some on this thread do it successfully), but you are going to have to select your carry rig MUCH more thoughtfully.

Ive been trying to figure out what holster to order to carry my XD9 4". Like posted above the barrel aint the prob, its the grip. Definitely no concealing it on my hip.

I ran into the exact same problem with my XD9 4". All guns print from time-to-time (the tiny mouseguns may be an exception), but on me a S&W 642 carried IWB does not scream "GUN" on the rare occassions that it does print, unlike the XD. However, my 5" single stack 1911 conceals very readibly. And I don't even have an IWB yet (I've ordered a Brommeland Max Con V, but they are very backed up right now), but I tested by putting it in a cheap OWB holster in an IWB position. Almost totally disappeared, and I know the Brommeland will work even better. Heck, I could even conceal that 1911 OWB, if my shirts were long enough to cover the bottom of the holster.

 

[Scanr]

Remember one thing, with everyone carrying cell phones and PDA's there are going to be some bumps on peoples hips under their clothing. If your set up blends in, then you have concealed your weapon. Just so long as you are not printing.

I have been carrying only since Oct., so I am still a little self conscious. My wife had told me she couldn't tell when she has watched me from a distance. While waiting for my license, I started looking at shirts to hide my carry. My wardrobe changed, your's may too. I wear button-down shirts that are not meant to be tucked in, about 1 size larger than I would normally wear. I have not ventured into the realm of Hawaiian shirts, yet.

 

[IDriveB5]

Are the 3" SP101s pocketable with a Mika or similar?

 

[Rexster]

If you are a skinny guy, which I am, the important thing is WHERE you are skinny. A skinny guy with wide shoulder bones can conceal canned hams on his hips. Wide shoulders enable the fabric of the covering garment to drape over the weapon without touching it.

 

[Black Majik]

I'm 6'1 165 lbs, so I'm kinda skinny. For t-shirt carry, I always have to go IWB. Any OWB holster will print on a double stack pistol.

I can conceal a fullsize 1911 no problem with a Milt Sparks #1 Heritage IWB on a M.S. belt. For the P2000, which is a double stack that I have problems printing wearing OWB, I can conceal all the way with a Comptac Infidel IWB holster.

 

[Commander Guineapig]

If you are a skinny guy, which I am, the important thing is WHERE you are skinny. A skinny guy with wide shoulder bones can conceal canned hams on his hips. Wide shoulders enable the fabric of the covering garment to drape over the weapon without touching it.

would having wide shoulders lend itself to carrying in a shoulder holster as well?

..love the canned hams remark....

 

[EShell]

Carry IWB, wear an untucked shirt and forget about it. 98.5% of people don't notice, even if the grip is making your shirt stick out.

and

I don't carry often, but when I do I don't worry too much about a print, it's called concealed, not invisible. As long as you make a good effort and it's not obvious, I figure it's concealed. . . .

Yeah, probably true, but even having a CCW 6 years and not worried about LEO recognition or the soccer moms, I'm still a bit concerned I might be saying "shoot me first" if I print at all . . . IMO, there is a different way you inspect people when you're thinking in terms of armament, or lack thereof . . .

. . . I can't count the Goobers that continually "feel" that their pieces are hidden, or look at themselves in every window/mirror they pass to see if they're showing. Dead giveaway!

LOL, not *that* concerned.

 

[still442]

6', 160. No body fat around the middle. I refuse to buy pleated or oversize pants - they're tight enough that pocket carry is uncomfortable for me.

I carry a J-frame IWB at about 3:30. Liger Gun Belt for dress up, most days its a Wilderness 3-stitch. I was using a homemade IWB holster made from a Desantis Nemesis, and that did work, but when I upgraded to a nice Kramer it made all the difference.

I can wear a T-shirt and shorts and be just fine. Untucked button down and jeans is my typical outfit, and that works well.

When you're skinny and your pants fit you, there is a small bulge where the gun is riding IWB. But, as most have pointed out, absolutely no one is noticing. I was walking arm-in-arm with my girl the other morning, and her arm was resting on the butt of my gun. She had no idea until I mentioned it.

I will say that I tried to go the compact-auto route, to save thickness, thinking it would help. But the nice curvy shape of a J-frame conforms to my body far better than the squared-off auto grips.

 

[Rexster]

With shoulder holsters, some depth to the chest is important, or the weapon's barrel and/or grip will poke outward if the weapon is large. Building those pecs and lats will help make a shoulder rig more workable, though really big pecs give the weapon hand a longer reach to the weapon.

 

[B yond]

I'm 6'2" 200lbs. Most of the time I carry a Ruger P345 in a cheapo leather universal slide holster I got for >$15 bucks from cheaperthandirt.com or sportsmansguide.com. I usually wear it IWB at 3, canted foward as far as far as possible. This holster has a clip for IWB and slots for OWB, so once in while I'll carry OWB between my belt and pants to keep the profile down. I've found that pulling my pants up just a little bit higher than I used to wear them helps to angle the grip in towards my body to prevent printing IWB or OWB. I commonly use a T-shirt as a cover garment.

When I know I'm going to be doing a lot of physical activity I use a Pro Outdoors belly band at 3. It holds the weapon closer to my body and prevents it from shifting.

Other than that I pocket carry a very small auto in RF pocket with an Uncle Mike's pocket holster with my laminated CCW as the only other thing in that pocket, covers the pistol's outline and makes it print like a wallet.

 

[gp911]

6'2" 165-174lbs on any given day. I carry a Glock 21SF in a Comp-Tac C-TAC and it disappears under pretty much any shirt. It tucks that fat grip right against my ribs, and you know how most shirts kinda blouse out on a skinny guy anyway... The only thing that prints is the extra mag holder on the opposite side. It prints like a mofo in some shirts, but I figure around here people probably think it's a folding knife or something. Regardless, the gun itself disappears, and it is a chunky full size gun. If I were to pick an ideal setup, I'd run what I have but in a 30SF (which isn't out yet, but is allegedly in the works) or a regular Glock 30, as the extra barrel length of the 21 setup is more "pokey" than a shorter barrel would be. I don't have firsthand knowledge but I think it is probably easier to carry as a skinny guy, as a heavier fellow has more bulges and less hollows, as it were.

My 2 cents.

gp911

 

[BRASSM]

I'm 5'10" and at 150# , with a 28" waist so I'm really skinny. I normally carry a Browning Hi-Power in an IWB and a two extra magazines, and a maglite. I usually wear a sweater or a vest. Perfectly concealed with no problems. The holster is normally just behind my right hip.

 

[target1911]

I love these threads...........It just means I get to post pics again. I think that when this type of question is asked, it helps to show pics of how you carry so the OP has a visual reference.

...........I know the trigger is exposed very little with this holster. I still feel VERY safe with it due to the safeties. So Please no comments about it.........

5" Kimber 1911 in a ........
www.andrewsleather.com This is the Mc Daniels II


Same set up under a different shirt.