Carry position for fat men

[WisBorn]

@Atavar is pocket carry an option for you. I carry in my pocket all of the time and find it comfortable. I also carry a variety of different handguns.
I also like OWB with the right holster. I'm currently working on taking some weight off so IWB is more comfortable too.
But pocket carry works for me!

 

[BobWright]

OP is talking about CCW, Bob.
One more thing - judging by the picture you provided, your membership in the Fat Boys Club is suspended...

This photo was made to show the holster. It is concealed carry when I wear my vest of sport coat. Summer time its a western vest, winter time a sport coat of heavier.

Bob Wright

 

[Bazoo]

I'm a large individual, but not quite as much as you. I find comfortable carry with a simply rugged sourdough pancake at the 3:00 position, carrying a 4 5/8" blackhawk.

 

[Bazoo]

Also, I say, consider back carry if it's comfortable for you, and disregard that it's slow. It's a whole lot quicker than going to the car to get your gun. With practice, it will become faster, and you'll be able to do it smoothly and from any position.

 

[Lo-Profile]

OWB about 4:00 worked best for me back when I weighted almost 60# more than I do now.
T-shirt over it worked just fine.

 

[gwpercle]

Fat Man Here ... the rig isn't going to work shoved down you pants inside your pants ... I don't care how you try it ... there just isn't enough room inside you pants for everything we have to carry ,
On the outside of the pants / belt ... yeah that's the next logical step .
But my midsection is alraedy too big , I dont need moore stuff strapped onto the widest part of my body .

Start thinking outside the box (waistline) .
I now pocket carry .
Summer cargo shorts ... front right
Blue Jeans ... front right or rear right pocket .
Fall ... I wear a lined vest with inside pockets and outside pockets ...depends on firearm which pocket it goes in .
Winter ... winter coats have large deep pockets and inside pockets to choose from .
I have pockets modified to become holsters , like the inside pocket of my vest...a tailor can do the work .

On Business ...I have a nice leather Day-Planner , one side is a planner the other is a holster with an Air-Weight 38 special or 45 acp .
I keep the day planner in my hands , under my arm and take it where ever I go .
Dillion used to sell one in Black Leather ...
Sneaky Pete ... has cell phone holsters that conceal guns and other cool ways to have a gun on you but not shoved down the front of your pants .

Take to carrying a Man-Purse ...they make Leather Mens Shoulder Bags that look rather manly ...like a saddle bag out of the old west ... you can carry a full sized 1911 and 12 spare magazines and have them right there under your arm at your finger tips .

Us Fat Men ... we have to get creative ...and inside your pants isn't the answer ...Think , get tricky ...
Remember ... Where there is a will ... There is a way !!!

I like the fact that in Louisiana open carry is perfectly legal ... you can strap on your six-shooter and fancy leather rig and go to a BBQ as pretty as you please ... if you want to .
Gary

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

If concealment is more vital than accessibility, my choice has been a holster shirt. I wish it looked this good on me:



I started using these about seven years ago after some wardrobe malfunctions using wasitline carry. My first was a shirt from 5.11, then I bought from Tru-Spec when I couldn't find any more at 5.11, and now my current shirt is from CCW Tactical via Amazon. All three offerings are basically the same product, though the Tru-Spec version didn't feature velcro closures on the holster pockets.

Being mostly spandex, the CCW Tactical 3XL is a snug but comfortable fit for me (275@6'2".) S&W 3" M60 Pro Series goes into the reinforced left armpit pocket, speedloader pouch into the right. Worn under a loose Aloha or Guayabera with a couple of buttons done up. The handgun bulge is completely hidden, the gun is out of the way when driving and the combo is about as comfortable as anything you can wear in the 110F summer weather here.

 

[JTQ]

... my choice has been a holster shirt.

I'm intrigued by the logistics of this concealed carry shirt.

Assuming you concealed carry every day, I'll assume you don't wear the same shirt every day, how many shirts do you end up owning to cover daily concealed carry?

What is the lifespan of these shirts when washed regularly.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

I'm intrigued by the logistics of this concealed carry shirt.

Assuming you concealed carry every day, I'll assume you don't wear the same shirt every day, how many shirts do you end up owning to cover daily concealed carry?

What is the lifespan of these shirts when washed regularly.

I only carry when I leave my property, which these days (I'm retired and widowed) is around 2-4 times/week. Call it around 24-30 hours of intermittent wear per month.

I wear a regular cotton T-shirt under it. In summer I rotate the carry shirts about once or twice a month (I have five at present), and in winter I usually just wear the same one the entire season. Undershirts absorb my sweat and the spandex doesn't hold odors like other fabrics.

I've yet to truly wear out one of these shirts. I have worn a hole near the neckband on one of them that I need to darn, but even that shirt is still useable.

The elastic fit begins a gradual loosening around the 6-8th washing. My oldest shirts are hanging pretty loosely now.


Downsides:

Drawing from the velcro pocket is slow. A loose shirt worn tail out seems to work best for me.

Avoid the cheap no-nameo cotton versions -- make sure to get one made of reinforced spandex.

Usually the velcro is sufficient to hold when leaning deeply forward, but I have a habit of automatically bringing my left arm inward a little to trap the gun as I begin bending at the waist. I don't think the maneuver telegraphs anything, and it seems safer to me than risking a wardrobe malf.

There is a distinct upper weight/size limit to suitable handguns. It works well with a 3" J-frame or my Glock 19 with the neutered 10-shot mag, but a Glock 21 of roughly the same size proved too heavy due to the greater weight of .45 ACP ammo -- shirts would stretch and sag on that side. On the other hand, with something like an Airweight or LCR, I've frequently been so unaware of the handgun that I had to run my hand over my shirt to confirm I hadn't forgotten the gun at home.

If I want access, I can't wear my "Will work for ammo" or Sociedad Largo T-shirts on top of it!

 

[gwpercle]

The spandex holster shirt looks like it would be hot .
Here in South Louisiana staying cool is vital to staying out of heat stroke for us older , overweight guys .
I don't think it would fly in summer heat but winter wear might be doable .
Gary

 

[Mizar]

I wear a regular cotton T-shirt under it.

Ummmm, better don't - spandex has the ability to wick away moisture and quickly drying out, which you block with the cotton layer underneath that is holding your sweat. The "holster" sections on most of them are padded, so sweat is not much of a worry - after a day of carry just wash it under running water with a little bit of soap and you will be fine till "washing day".

The spandex holster shirt looks like it would be hot .

It depends... Spandex, by itself, is great for regulating body temperature for the reasons I stated above. You will not feel cooler in spandex, but it's much, much better base layer than cotton in the summer heat. So, if you're used to wear undershirts in the summer, try a spandex one - you might be pleasantly surprised.