ccw tummy discomfort: anyone else?

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badbadtz560

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I carry a p2000sk 9mm somewhere b/w 3 and 5 o'clock w/ a comp-tac mtac but I find that the weight of it really pulls down on the belt; this results in the belt tugging on my tummy area - this is particularly uncomfortable when I want to eat. Am I doing something wrong here? or am I just too skinny to be carrying somethin this heavy?

I found that adding a mag on the other side doesn't quite help... and it's probably b/c it's not nearly enough to counter the weight of the firearm

I'm not very fond of the appendix carry idea... is there anyone else that has this problem or thinks they have a solution?

I'm about 5'8 and 140lbs (they say i'm very skinny). I basically have a flat structure when it comes to the waist. My belt typically lies around 2 inches below the belly button. I've tried all types of pants/shorts including 5.11 tactical pants and my belt is a galco 1.5" .. I think I've atleast invested in the proper tools... I'm wondering if there's any way to a more comfy carry apart from changing the firearm to a lighter gun or just swapping to pocket carry. BTW I did try relocating to the appendix, which allows the belt to pull on the back instead of the stomach area - much more comfortable.. but there's that mental discomfort of having a firearm in that area.. and it prints quite a bit... and doesn't let me sit down lol
 
I'd try a wider and thicker belt that spreads the support. If that fails there are always shoulder and undergarment rigs that may do you well.
 
That's a pretty good setup, actually... light-weight gun, good holster... what's your wardrobe like? For know I'd say use a thicker belt, something gun specific.

I get the tummy discomfort. I have a bit of a pudge, so a belt pulls on me in a weird way anyway.
 
wardrobe is typically an undershirt and a button up or polo... I think my 1.5" galco was made specifically for carry - it's pretty thick... I guess the pants would be 50% chance of 5.11 tactical cargo pants (those $5 ones that went on sale), 25% chance of jeans, and 25% of something more dressy... and when I go dressier, the belt turns in to a 1.5" .. probably ralph lauren or calvin klein type of thinner but still tough belt. It actually seems to hold as well as the galco even tho there's less for the mtac clip to grip on to

If it's a bad belt, are there any other ones that you guys recommend? I'm gonna go ahead and buy like 2 more mag pouches to see if it can balance the weight better -__-'

What is this undergarment rig that you speak of?
 
get a 5.11 reinforced instructor's belt

changed my life

Very strong, infinitely adjustable and cheap

You will be able to perfectly tailor the tightness of the belt and a reinforced belt is amazing for owb carry
 
Carrying a gun in your pants is anything but comfortable.

Pick a different mode of carry. Shoulder holster underneath a large buttoned shirt would do fine. You don't need a jacket. Then you can sit down as long as you want, enter an eating contest, whatever. The gun won't bother you. There's nothing jabbing into your sides.

You also don't have to do anything when you get into your car. its a crossdraw and will be up and away from the seatbelt.
 
I wear a 5.11 leather belt. It doesn't have to be tight to hold up either a g19 or a commander size 1911. It's also cheaper than Galco by a long shot. It wears faster, but I hate having a belt with a new finish. I like mine to look broken in.

On another note, if you're approaching 30...what you eat will finally start catching up to you and you'll have to adjust your diet to solve odd stomach aches.

If you're like me, 5'10" 170 without a belly or rear end to speak of...belts in general are a problem since there isn't anything to hold the belt up. Even with a great belt, I sometimes have to tug at it to keep it in the right spot since there aren't any hips to hold it there and I don't care to have it so tight that it hurts. I'm not ready to give up and get suspenders yet because I detest them even in a suit, I just don't like wearing them. My setup works for me. YMMV.
 
hmm.. actually shoulder carry would make sense to me as I'm accustomed to carrying a backpack around - and the perry suspenders would be doing a similar thing (weight to shoulders) but allowing me to keep my accustomed method of carry....

it's just that they're... suspenders lol... I guess at that price I'll have to try it out :D and if it works I might have to strongly consider a good shoulder holster. Keep the suggestions comin if you have'em :D I'm atleast glad nobody mentioned fanny pack XD

BTW, are perry suspenders the most comfy type of suspenders? I'm definitely considering putting them inside my outer shirt :D
 
wife beater, perry suspenders. button up shirt. Feels strange but works.

Perry suspenders used only with steel guns, because of weight.
 
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Maybe an off the body when sitting down, esp in a car, not only is more (much more) accessible, but also MUCH more comfortable, for just walking around, your rig should be comfortable, either you need a new setup, a new gun, consider a KT or Ruger LCP type pocket pistol.
 
Maybe it's just me, but I seriously can't tell there's any weight difference between a glock 19 and a commander sized 1911 with a good belt. In my hand, yes...on my belt...negligible unless the holster clip doesn't go over the belt.

your rig should be comfortable
Click to expand...

I agree, somewhat. I know mine is there, no mistake about it. It's not uncomfortable, but I would be more (physically) comfortable without it.

I'm somewhat of a minority, though. I tried a 380 ( a buddy's sig p238) carried in an appendix rig and I find appendix carry IWB very, very uncomfortable. A compact or even full size weapon is much more comfortable and just as easy to carry/conceal for me at 3,4 or 5 o'clock. Of course that could be due to a surgery in that area several months back.
 
I'm not saying not know it's there (thats why they make the P32)

But a decent rig should not cause you PAIN
A good rig should be comfortable to wear all day, geez man would wear a pair of pants that rode up your butt and chapped your thigh and caused your feet to swell, just cause the are 'pants, good ones at that...

Explore your options and find something that doesn't hurt.
 
I'll agree with everyone that's saying the belt is the problem. It sounds like we've got roughly the same body type, at least horizontally, and recently I've been carrying a gun that weighs roughly three times more than your HK in the same spot you carry yours with a IWB holster very similar to yours, and I've never had the problem you describe. I use a Galco gun belt. I can tell there's a bit more weight there than my typical fullsize 1911, but that's about it. I can wear it all day with no comfort problems.
 
wait i'm confused on that last point.. you're sayin the belt is the problem.. but the belt you use might be the same one I use.... b/c I use a 1.5" galco as well... or did u mean that you use something else? something thicker or a different model perhaps?
 
I can carry a commander sized 1911 all day long, sit and a car for hours and I have no discomfort.I carry at the 3:30 position IWB just behind the hipbone
A good quality GUN BELT as well as a quality holster is a must. You only get what you pay for.
MVC-019S.gif
 
When I started carrying eons ago I carried in a belly band ... I swear the darn thing gave me IBS.

I'm surprised that your rig as described is giving you problems as most of what you're using is what most of us would recommend.
 
wait i'm confused on that last point.. you're sayin the belt is the problem.. but the belt you use might be the same one I use.... b/c I use a 1.5" galco as well... or did u mean that you use something else? something thicker or a different model perhaps?
Click to expand...

Yup, that's exactly what I use. Maybe you need to try something even stiffer, like the Wilderness instructor's belt or one of the Blade-Tech or Comptac offerings with strips of Kydex inside the leather. Or maybe just wear your belt tighter so it doesn't have room to move up and down so much.

Or it could be something totally different. Just like everyone has a different handgun that fits their hand best, the same thing goes for carry methods. It could just be that your body type and your particular definition of comfort and sensitivity to discomfort dictates you try something else.
 
ya I really got a feeling it's got somethin to do w/ my body structure... I guess I'm gonna look for some suspenders for now.. somethin that I can hide under my button up :D I guess I can't ask for advice on that since suspenders are probably several decades out of style - if it works then I'll have to start learning how to draw from a shoulder rig.

and if that fails, I'm probably goin for a pf-9 or pm40 :D thx for all the help guys ;) knew I could count on u
 
I just had a thought. The MTAC is very adjustable, both height and cant.

Maybe try raising or lowering the ride height a bit. You'd be surprised how much a small change in ride height can alter the feel of the holster (as for which direction, I would assume lower riding would be more comfortable, but you can always try raising it too if that doesn't work).
 
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