Concealed carry opinions needed

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blakec3686

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Hi all, i rarely post on this board (mainly because i don't have anything to say usually lol)...but when i do i seem to get great responses so thanks to all who make this forum great.

Now to my question i'm in the process of getting my ccw here in the great state of Idaho and am looking for some suggestions on a carry piece. The only auto loader i own is a full size 1911, i would love to carry that (and definitely will in the winter) but here is the problem I'm 5'5 and about 150lbs, can anyone recommend an alternate weapon or a good holster that would allow my to carry my 1911? if not what about an alternate firearm...any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

P.s i wear blue jeans and usually a button shirt for day to day stuff.

Blake
 
Since you are familiar with the 1911, you may want to try a lightweight (alloy framed) Commander sized 1911 like a Colt lightweight commander XSE. Some saay a full size, all steel, 1911 is fine to carry with a good belt and holster, but I know for me, I'd feel the weight.
 
Presuming you'd rather stay with .45 ACP, I'd suggest looking at either the Glock 30 or 36. Otherwise there's a whole lot of other options. Have you ever just gone to a range that rents handguns and tried a bunch of different kinds?
 
If you can't wear a jacket or other cover garment all the time, you might want to consider a pocket pistol. For someone your size, anything bigger than the smallest 9mm autos may be too big.

Consider this: A P3AT in your front pants pocket and a small stungun in your left front pocket. A .380 isn't the best gun available, but it's something you'll carry all the time. The stungun is for those jerks that you need to defend against, but can't legally shoot. Having one hand or the other in your pocket doesn't look threatening, but it makes for a fast draw.
 
If you'd like to stick with the 1911 design, but would step down to .380 for a smaller carry piece, the SiG P238 is well-liked by many. Actually, now that I think of it, I'd rather stick with the "original" namesake and grab a Mustang instead.
 
Any pancake style holster can be adapted to a "tuckable" Inside the Waistband (IWB) holster. You need a drill, a saw, some sandpaper, some Kydex, a couple of Chicago (post) screws and a heat gun.

Cut two strips of Kydex, about 1/2" X 6". Sand smooth and round the corners. Drill a hole large enough to taket the outer shaft of the Chicago screws about a half inch from one end of each strip. Punch or drill two similar holes in the toe of the holster, one on either side of the end of the slide.

Form the Kydex strips into Reverse Js. Heat and bend the end opposite the hole back to form a J. The bend should be about 2" from the end. Then bend the tip of the J inward to form a second, smaller J.

Attach the strips to the holster with the Chicago screws.

Dress normally with your shirt tucked in, but belt unbuckled. Take you holstered gun and shove it between your pants and your shirt at about the 4:00 O'Clock position. The Reverse J clips will go outside the belt, and the tips will click into place, locking the holster to the belt.

Now pull out your shirt behind the holster, drape it over the gun and holster, and tuck it between the holster and J clips. Position the holster and tighten your belt. Finally, blouse your shirt -- pull out two or three inches all around and let the slack hang down over you belt.
 
Im 5'6 170# and carried a GM or Commander everyday for about 25 years wearing basically what you wear. I did wear my shirt untucked most of the time in warmer weather though. Never had any problems hiding them, or any of the other basically full sized guns Ive carried.

These days, with the wide assortment of good holsters available, it shouldnt be hard to find something that works well for you.
 
Commander or officer's sized 1911, since you're used to them already. I prefer IWB carry in a Milt Sparks VM II style holster, but that's just me, you might have to experiment a little in the holster department.
 
FIRST THINGS FIRST. Start with a real gun belt. Going full size is a lot of weight and you'll fail without a real gun belt for support. Re-enforced instructor belt and I sweat too much for any type of leather so all Kydex holsters for me. PJ Holster http://pjholster.com/ or X-Concealment G2 IWB http://www.x-concealment.com/Compact Concealment Kydex Holster.htm
My philosophy is learn and adapt to full size before going small. Glock G21/G22/G17 not all at the same time. I would go full size stainless 1911 if I had one.
Good luck and stay safe,
Mike
 
wow thanks for the quick replies, i have gone to the range and have tried glocks and some others and i do know this...the glock trigger is not for me neither are any double action or striker fired autos, the trigger and i just cant seem to get along...that being said i do like revolvers but if i choose a wheel gun it needs to be in 357 or bigger (i question the effectiveness of a 2'' tube and a magnum cartridge any insite?) the other thing is ive shot some commander sized pistols and i liked them but the recoil is a bit much but i think with practice i would fine.. One thing i have noticed is that i really like the slimness of the frame on the 1911. and i do wear my shirt untucked most of the time as well. does anyone use the full size gm with the crossbreed holsters i've heard good things about them wondered what yall thought.
 
I can make a hybrid IWB for you. Check my for sale thread. I conceal a full rail TRP Operator. My EDC is a glock 17. Im a bigger guy (6'2 230lbs) but the right holster and wearing one size bigger shirt makes a huge difference. Carry the biggest gun that you can conceal. It is not uncommon for concealed carriers to adjust their clothes or type of carry for better concealment. The type of cant that you use can make a big difference to. With no cant my 17 sticks out like a sore thumb. With the cant angled so that the grip is more vertical, the 17 disappears.
 
If you're comfortable with it already, stick with a 1911.

Get a good IWB holster and good belt. If the full size is still too much, downsize to an officer frame. I've got a Kimber Custom Compact that has the commander slide and officer frame, and I would recommend something built like that without hesitation. That size carries easily and is comfortable with jeans and a long t-shirt.

I've been using a Crossbreed this summer. I like the comfort and weight distribution, but the thing squeaks something obnoxious.

Good luck
 
I really like the alloy-framed Commander-sized 1911s. The recoil is a bit more than a 5" steel 1911, but after a little bit of shooting you don't notice it any more.

What you will notice right away is the loss of 3/4 - 1" worth of barrel/slide poking you in the buttocks, and the loss of about half a pound. :)

I also have a 3" alloy 1911, and carried it for a time. It is every bit as reliable as the longer ones; the recoil is one more small step up and the weight another 4 oz or so less. I can shoot it almost as well as I can the 4-incher.

But (IMHO) the alloy framed 4-incher is the perfect compromise.
 
I carry amongst others a Kimber Eclipse Ultra 2 .45 in a IWB Milt Sparks VM2 I live in SWFL & wear a T shirt 99.9% of the time and with the above rig you would never know I was carrying
 
Blake, I recommend the Milt Sparks VM-2, worth the price and the wait; also a good belt, worth the money.

See how the grip conceals under your shirt. I have a .45 Guardian from STI, with a 3.9 inch barrel and the Officer's grip frame. All steel.

You might look into one of the high end Commander-length .45s with a bobtail grip.

A Commander length slide would be short enough for me to conceal sitting down.

Good luck.
 
If you like revolvers and like .357, but don't like a 2" barrel, maybe you'd like a 3" Ruger SP101. I have one, and the stock grips are easy to conceal and pretty good in the recoil dept. you might check it out, I carry one a lot of the time and really like it.
 
blakec3686 said:
Hi all, i rarely post on this board (mainly because i don't have anything to say usually lol)...but when i do i seem to get great responses so thanks to all who make this forum great.

Now to my question i'm in the process of getting my ccw here in the great state of Idaho and am looking for some suggestions on a carry piece. The only auto loader i own is a full size 1911, i would love to carry that (and definitely will in the winter) but here is the problem I'm 5'5 and about 150lbs, can anyone recommend an alternate weapon or a good holster that would allow my to carry my 1911? if not what about an alternate firearm...any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

P.s i wear blue jeans and usually a button shirt for day to day stuff.

Blake
Click to expand...

Hi Blake. I actually found the 1911 easier to conceal than any double stack semi auto, including my Glocks. By "full size" I'm assuming you mean 5 inch, and while that would be easy to conceal in an IWB holster, comfort may not be an option. The Crossbreed Supertuck is a very comfortable IWB holster. Good luck!

LD
 
21H40 said:
If you're comfortable with it already, stick with a 1911.

Get a good IWB holster and good belt. If the full size is still too much, downsize to an officer frame. I've got a Kimber Custom Compact that has the commander slide and officer frame, and I would recommend something built like that without hesitation. That size carries easily and is comfortable with jeans and a long t-shirt.

I've been using a Crossbreed this summer. I like the comfort and weight distribution, but the thing squeaks something obnoxious.

Good luck
Click to expand...
Put some baby powder on the leather where the clips meet the leather. Squeak will go away after a few applications...

LNK
 
1911s are some of the easiest full-size guns to carry because of their slim single stack profile. If you use a good gun belt and a good holster, you will hardly notice the weight. From personal expeiance, the Milt Sparks VM2 is the best way to carry a full-size pistol concealed. I used it when I was concealing my Beretta M9, and it just disappeared. If you have the money to get a second carry piece, you might jus be better served investing that money in some top of the line carry leather instead. Good luck whichever way you choose.
 
I have found my KelTec PF-9 fits my 1911 holsters, like made for them I always buy holster for Commander or Compact, size 1911 . Little difference in barrel length but other wise good fit. In my Miami Classic 1911 shoulder holster. Its a perfect fit. Has became my bike holster under my jacket .
 
Take a good long look at the CCO size 1911-

it's an Officer ACP sized grip (6 in the mag) with a Commander sized barrel (4" or so).

It strikes me as being a great compromise between the reliabilty of the full size and the concelablity of the Officers Model

SIG makes a nice one that I have actually fired a bit. I am one the verge of buying one to replace my Colt Officers ACP.
 
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