Body Type and Concealed Carry

[Plan2Live]

When carrying a concealed weapon fashion goes to the bottom of your list of priorities.

Not everyone has that luxury. Some of us still have to find a compromise.

I'm 5'10" and fluctuate between 185 and 200. Thankfully I have broad shoulders and a narrower waist (not waste) which makes it easier to hide a gun with a darker colored untucked shirt.

I carry an XDm 3.8 Compact in a Galco Avenger OWB holster at 3:30. Today I bought my son a Sig 239 for his birthday in November and carried it around half the day and it conceals just as well as the XDm using the same holster. The turning point for me was getting a really good belt and realizing no one is looking and if they are and see something they think is a gun they aren't going to confront you about it.

 

[stantheman1976]

I'm 5' 10" and a bit over 300lbs. I carry a Ruger SR9c IWB in a Mackenzie holster at about 3-4:00. I typically wear button up or polo shorts and always wear an undershirt and I rarely tuck my shirt. It's very easy for me to conceal this way.

As far as printing I think almost every single non-gun person if they do see a bulge will think it's a cell phone or some device clipped on your belt. People who don't carry guns don't go around looking for them typically.

 

[GRIZ22]

You can conceal any handgun no matter what your size if you are willing to modify your attire. There is a. 4'9", 85 lb agent I worked with who carried a Glock 17 concealed well and she always dressed well. She also is a good shooter with anything but really needs a short stock shotgun to avoid getting hurt. There are some issues with size as appendix carry doesn't work well if you're small as you get the barrel shoved into your leg or crotch. It also doesn't work well if you have a gut as it will always be digging in it.

Size may dictate where and how you carry but has no bearing on carrying up to a 1911 size auto or 4" ) frame size revolver. Those who say they can't carry something just don't want to.

Just my opinion.

 

[spikedzombies]

I'm 6'5 and 450 and carry my size really proportionate. my usual carry is front pocket lcp.

I also carry a g19 in a owb at 9/10 o'clock and or small of back.

just ordered my first IWB a supertuck clone by old faithful holsters ...

"Sent via my own personal defense satellite"

 

[9mmfan]

Currently, when I carry, it is a Glock 19 in a Minotaur MTAC. Stupid comfy. The progression was SP101, first butt-forward, no holster, wedged twixt my hip bone and the curve of my belt, strong side. Then TT Gunleather Mike's Special, worn 'bout 4:00. Got heavy, considering just 5 rounds of .38. Switched to 637, then .38 Bodyguard, then 642. Same holster, belt pressure kept it tight. EMP 9 fit in there somewhere, won't cycle HP reliably. Annoying for such an expensive gun marketed as more or less the ultimate CC piece. Occidental version of the TT GL holster. Then discovered the G19 and Minotaur. Very happy. 642 still pulls pocket duty from time to time. I am 5' 9", bout 235 lbs. Solid, with a gut. The trick for me has been to find the sweet spot just behind the curve of my hip where the grip lies just shy of parallel of my back behind my spare tire. If I bend over, there is a slight tell of the grip. Nobody seems to notice. I wear this setup while bartending 13 hours at a time. Odd positions, bending over, lifting heavy stuff. I have been made once at work, when a friend slapped me on the hip. He was surprised. I normally wear Carhartt painter type shorts or jeans at work depending on the outside temp. as far as shirts, loose fitting button-downs, untucked. I am somewhat broad shouldered, but as has been mentioned, as long as you make an honest concerted effort, most folks will not notice. Hell, I even once concealed a Beretta 92FS. Was responding to an alarm call at work, jammed it directly in my waistband, butt-forward, 'bout 4:00. T-shirt with an unbuttoned shirt over it. Met the police, if they noticed it, they never said a word. Wouldn't want to try that every day, but pulling it off once gave me some confidence. I will say that I have often thought that if I lost some weight, not only would my knee stop hurting, but my pants would stay up better, and the gun would be easier to hide. Reader's Digest version is that it might take some work and trial and error, but you will find what works for you. Buck up little camper, it's gonna be OK.

 

[Kaeto]

I just wish I could find a decent holster that would fit my C.A. Undercover Snubby.

 

[Quoheleth]

I'm a big ol' boy - 6'4" and plus/minus 300lbs. Anything I carry directly on the side of my hip, 9 o'clock, looks like I have a goiter or something. That's from Colt Detective Special, to Kahr CW9, to 1911, to SR9c. So, I roll it further back, so it's behind the hipbone - between 7 and 8 o'clock, so my "width" isn't any greater than it already is. I blouse my shirt a little bit and it's really not noticable.

I also pocket carry a small Taurus 738 .380. My daily slacks have rather big pockets and are somewhat loose so the gun just disappears.

Q

 

[Gunnerboy]

tyeo098,

Enlighten us as to your carry methods?

when i carry i have the 1911 tucked a little sideways on the small of my back.

 

[Hunter125]

I am a big guy as well, 6' 2" 320 lbs, though that is coming down now. I have neither a good belt or good holster yet, so I'm sure that would help, but I have found it is a combination of factors that allow me to conceal.
I used to cinch my belt as tight as I could to make sure my cheapo IWB holster didn't sag. This made my XDsc tilt away from my waist and print pretty badly regardless of the position, plus it was really uncomfortable. Forget about trying to conceal my XDm.
Then I was looking into holsters and gun belts and found out that you are supposed to wear a gun belt a couple inches looser than normal. I began loosening up my admittedly terrible belt a notch when I carried and now I can conceal pretty well. I also used to carry at 4-4:30, thinking behind my hipbone would be best, but I actually found that 3:30 is best with a forward cant.
I think it's all trial and error what holster/belt/position/clothing works best for you.
My next gun related purchase will be a good holster and gun belt.

 

[ldsgeek]

I'm 6'5 and 450 and carry my size really proportionate. my usual carry is front pocket lcp.

I also carry a g19 in a owb at 9/10 o'clock and or small of back.

just ordered my first IWB a supertuck clone by old faithful holsters ...

"Sent via my own personal defense satellite"

You'll like that holster a lot. I got the kit as my carry gun (Arcus 98DA) wasn't covered by the pre-made designs. It' similar to a BHP but the trigger guard is squared off. The holster, with a good belt, tucks in nice at about 4:00 and with the full sized pistol is comfortable even driving. I'm also a heavy guy, 5'7" @ 270 (on the way down) and even my son can't tell when I have the shirt tucked over the gun, and I know he looks as he carries as well.

 

[JERRY]

its not body size, its body shape. 250 pounds is fine if your chest and shoulders are broader than your waist. however 250 pounds on a pair shaped body will cause anything around the waist to stand out.

once you see what your body shape is, look for that area where a gun can blend into your natural shape. that is its best placement for concealment though not always for ease of draw or comfort.

i know a guy that has a huge gut and regular legs. his pants have a large waist line obviously and his legs do not fill out the rest of the pants. he can pocket carry a glock 26 without bulged while most other folks look like they have a box of cereal in their pocket, espcially when seated.

again, its about body shape, not your weight or even your height as many here from 5'07" to 6'07" have stated....