CCing a Large Frame Pistol +

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BobbyQuickdraw

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Does anyone here CC something large frame or full size? 1911s (I'm sure someone here does!) or full size XDs, etc etc.

And if you do, how does it compare to CCing something smaller? How do you carry? What type of holster and where on the body do you wear it? What's it made of?

Also, semi-related - does anyone use a shoulder rig? Are they just for movies these days or are they good carry options? I'd figure they're a bit harder to use every day considering you need to either wear a shirt or jacket over it constantly, but might be better suited to holding large frame pistols.
 
I usually carry this, an alloy framed, 4" barreled Colt CCO with thin Alumagrips.

CCO2.jpg


Sometimes I carry this, a steel framed, 5" barreled Govt. Model, also with Alumagrips.

Govt.jpg


Both are carried IWB in the same Milt Sparks Summer Special holster with a good quality leather gun belt. They feel about the same actually, except the Govt. Model is much heavier. It gets to be a drag after a while so I rarely carry it for longer than 4-6 hours. The CCO isn't bad at all. I forget it's there. Both are good shooters.
 
The only gun I used for carry that wasn't full-size was a para-ord p-12. I carry only a full-size 1911, regardless of weather or wardrobe.

The barrel length isn't the noticeable difference, it's the grip.

I roll my eyes a little bit at the industry and the magazines that seem to have a lot of people convinced that it's impossible or uncomfortable to carry a full-size auto. Comfort is relative. If you aren't a gun person, having a sub-compact in your waistband is going to feel big to you. If you are 61 days past your 21st birthday, just got your permit in the mail, and you've been waiting years to be able to carry, you can hand a Desert Eagle under your left arm and tell your buddies; "Nope, feels fine."

Larger guns have more weight to dampen recoil, and a longer sight radius for better accuracy. CARRY WHAT YOU SHOOT BEST.

I do have a Galco Miami Classic shoulder rig, I use mostly under heavy coats. I have used it in summer, with an open shirt covering it. I use a fanny-pack a lot, you can throw it on over sweat pants, and it has a good place for your wallet too. I have a Milt Sparks IWB holster, but I avoid using it if I'm going to be driving a lot. (All leather.) I have a Fobus paddle holster, but I've found it's really only good for open carry.
 
I carry a full size EAA Witness .45 @ 4:00 OWB. I have never had a problem concealing it. It is comfortable and feels just fine. I am 5'9" and 175 lbs. If I can do it...most any one can.
 
does anyone use a shoulder rig?
Click to expand...

This is the season.....Full-size Colt .45 or Officer's w/2 full mags for balance & extra ammo...Of course, for concealment: sport's coat or jacket...:) The one shown is a Galco..My other rig is a black, Safariland...
Nice comfort and when adjusted properly; excellent concealment...Since I'm a cross-draw aficionado; going across my body is a natural....:)
ShoulderConcealed003.gif
 
I carry a birdshead vaquero in .45 Colt. It is no big deal to carry with a good belt. I actually use a Don Hume IWB holster which inexplicably has fit a Ruger Sp101 and a Glock 19 as well. Carry it at about the 8:00 position (I am left handed)

With a good belt, it carries nice and tight next to my body and a light cover garment does the trick.

Love that gun. Carries great and is accurate as well. I shoot it enough to not worry about hitting what I want to hit. I shoot it enough that I don't even notice cocking the hammer - it has become second nature.
 
I carry a fullsize, all steel 1911, usually one with a magwell as well. It rides in a Don Hume pancake holster, Model 721 OT, on a 1 3/4" double thick leather belt, made for me by local leather guy Stan Nichols. It rides at about 4 o'clock. I've found that one of the keys to carrying a heavy gun comfortably is to balance the load. That's why I carry 3 reloads on the other side. I hope I never need all that ammo, but it's a useful thing to carry, and it keeps me from listing to one side.

As far as comparing it to carrying a smaller gun, it depends on how small you mean. If you're talking about a P32 in the pocket, then the little gun is obviously easier. If you're talking about a baby glock, or P11, or XDSC, or other such "compact" gun, then I find that once you've dressed around the smaller gun so that it's hidden, you've probably just dressed around a big one, as well. There's really not that much difference in carrying a little gun on your belt, and carrying a bigger one, so long as the width is kept down. 1911s are a natural, for that, IMHO.

~~~Mat
 
In some instances, I carry my Les Baer Thunder Ranch 1911 in a Kirkpatrick
Undercover Rig at 4 o'clock on the strong side. It shields the firearm well,
yet allowing for fast access in case of emergency; while minimizing a perp
grabbing the weapon. I have NO problems with this form of CCW; as its my
preferred method of carry for not only the 5" 1911's, but the 3" Kimber Sts
Ultra Carry as well. The 3" weapon is carried in the same manufactuer's
Compact Undercover Rig, in the same position~! :scrutiny: ;) :D
 
The Mystery of carrying a fullsize gun.

Two words. Belt and holster.

Buy the best you can afford, buy them made to your handgun and waist size.

I use a Wilderness Instructor Belt most of the time, the 5-stitch model, and a Galco Concealable for OWB, Scout (with minor modification to belt attachment since theirs sucks) for IWB.

A well made belt and holster distributes the weight so it's not an issue.

Ever seen a carpenter hang his hammer from a five dollar discount store belt? Didn't think so.
 
I carried a full size Witness 40 for years, concealed, in AZ heat. I used a Galco Hi-Jak pancake rig under a large loose t-shirt, and it worked well. Gun's long gone, still have the rig. Currently carrying a CZ-PO1 in a Bianchi M-100 IWB, works just fine. Tailor your clothing, holster and belt around what you want to carry.
 
I carry a full-size 1911 often.

And if you do, how does it compare to CCing something smaller?
Click to expand...
It's not much different with a good holster. Taking an inch or two off the barrel helps with mobility, but I don't really feel limited with the 5".

How do you carry?
Click to expand...
IWB.

What type of holster and where on the body do you wear it? What's it made of?
Click to expand...
Comp-Tac CTAC, ~7:00. It's a kydex/plastic holster. I made my own leather strut to increase the cant for a little better concealability.
 
I carry a 4" N-Frame revolver in the desert heat, and it's well concealed too.

Like someone else said, the "secret" is in the Belt and Holster. My OWB Matt Del Fatti hides better than an "off the shelf" IWB, if that tells you anything. There are many good holster makers out there, I use a select few, Matt Del Fatti, Milt Sparks and Mitch Rosen are my favorites.

When you pay for an exspensive Holster, take the time to buy a Belt from the Holster Maker, as Belts and Holsters are designed to work as a "unit" and I believe each maker cuts their leather just different enough to warrant doing so.

For Example: My 1.5" Ted Blocker Belt is loose on my 1.5" Del Fatti but my Bruce Gibson Belt is a "precise" fit.

Biker
 
I have regularly concealed the following full-sized handguns, most of which were my duty handguns at the time: S&W 4" N-frame, 1911, P220, GP100, BHP, S&W K-frame, 1911 again, Glock 22, P229, Speed Six. Yeah, I know, the P229 may be "compact," but it's easier to conceal a full-sized 1911 than a P229. Most important is the BELT. Next in importance is a holster that is COMPATIBLE with the belt. Time has marched onward, and holsters I have favored for some of these weapons are no longer available. I currently favor the Milt Sparks PMK for the Speed Six, and for the P229, a Bulman FDS and an Alessi vertical scabbard type, exact model name unknown, as I got it like-new but pre-owned. In my 1911 days, from the mid-80's to 2002, I used a Davis IWB rig similar to the Milt SParks Summer Special, but with just a bit less tilt. G. Wm. Davis was ahead of his time, using a sweat guard and double belt loops before Sparks. The other excellent 1911 holster I used was a Galco Avenger, though I took a bit more of a covering garment than the IWB rig.
 
Regarding shoulder rigs, they can be OK for concealment, if you have a really deep chest and very long arms, or else a compact pistol. For large pistols, a bulky cover garment is needed to make it work well. Unless you are female; many women are shaped in such a way that a shoulder rig works well for them.
 
Regarding shoulder rigs, they can be OK for concealment, if you have a really deep chest and very long arms, or else a compact pistol.
Click to expand...
Primarily the horizontal shoulder rigs fall under that heading. I'm a skinny guy and I can tote a 4" square-butt K-frame in a vertical shoulder holster - under an oxford shirt, under a suit coat, etc. Ken Null's SMZ is what I use - very nice rig with very good retention.
 
in the winter i love the shoulder rig it keeps the jewels warm without opening the pants up But i can never say i have carried my glock 17 but if i did it would be in a sr
 
I carry a P220. It's pretty big. Untucked button-down does the trick just fine. If I have to wear a golf shirt, I have to bum the G26 off the wife. It just prints like crazy through the smaller, tighter shirt.
 
I carry a full size Cz 75B, IWB @ 4 o'clock in a Comp Tac Ctac holster. I've worn it in shorts with just a t shirt no problems.

I'm about 5'10, approx 200lbs. Medium build.

It's my only carry gun and holster. I was lucky to have chosen well after a lot of research but I do want to get a shoulder holster at some point though. I did get to try my friend Galco Jackass for his Beretta and it fit well.
 
1911Guy hit it on the head , I carry a full size M&P40 with a IWB Bladetech Kydex holster with no problems . Do NOT skimp on your carry rig , it will make all of the difference in the world .
 
Sounds great. If I should ever get the occasion to CC, I won't worry about making it a full size. I'm still a legal CCW holder in Pennsylvania (where I spend about a month or so every year) but in California the odds of me getting a CCW permit are just above zero point zero.
 
I've taken to carrying a full sized XD recently in a XD gear paddle holster. Not the best holster, but we don't have to worry about printing laws here, so I don't. Just pull a sweatshirt or sweater over it and go, or just open carry it. After carrying my wife's G-19 a bit, in a three slot pancake holster I've ordered one like it for the XD, which should be even easier to conceal. I carry at 3:30 or so, and my arm is over any bulges and such most of the time.

Around here I don't think most people would notice if you had an AK slung over your shoulder. If they did, they'd figure you were some kind of government LEO or spook. About every third person you run into seems to be.
 
My order from Milt Sparks is due this month

for a S&W 1911 5" Bbl. Len.
Axiom - OWB and has two metal
loop reinforced loops that snap on or
easy off. FBI cant with a matching
cordovan 1.5 inch belt

I also ordered the Mirage - an OWB
that only covers the trigger guard, FBI
Cant but it is also Ambidextrious for LH
side carry. I also have the DFS owb
double mag pouch and IPB iwb single mag
pouch in the order Different options.

I have also been considering the Alessi
Field Master SHoulder rig for my S&W 625
w/5" Bbl. Len. at 45 oz. it needs a good rig.
 
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