Concealed Carry Question

[RandomMan]

Well King Red, I know you've decided to go with a Springfield XD Compact, but I thought I would throw this out here for you anyways.

I carry, daily, a 4" Ruger GP100 in .357, in a Rafter S IWB holster and use a Wilderness CSM 1.5" Instructors belt. Here is a most important trick for getting the gun on comfortably:

Insert the gun into the holster, then into the waistband, THEN cinch the belt. If you put holster on then cinch belt, then stick the gun it, it WILL gouge the crap out of you. Make sure you put gun/holster on as one unit. Adjust your holster around to find the most comfortable position, mine is 3:30, not 3 and not 4, but 3:30.

Also, having checked out Bulman's site, I think perhaps, you've got the wrong holster for your body type. Not all bodies are equal. Being a short gentleman myself (I am 5'7"), I've discovered that Summer Special type holsters (like the TSA2) are not as comfortable as holsters with a wider base (see Sparks VMII, Bulman PDL, etc). The wider holsters tend to help distribute the weight of the gun along narrower hips easier. At least that has been my experience.

-Rob

 

[trackerup]

After spending 2 years and over $2000 customizing my 4" 1911 and finally receiving the Bulman Gunleather holster, belt, and mag pouch for it, I was ready to start carrying it as my CCW. It was then that I realized I had made a very expensive and very naive mistake. The gun is simply too heavy to carry. So I have made the decision to use my truck gun as an everyday carry (SW 642).

This is very common. Just watching one of those gun shows on the Outdoor Channel. The gun writer doing the show said he was at a trade show with a bunch of other gun writers-- all 1911 afficionados , of course-- but each was actually carry a snubby 38.

You'd be better off with something more substantial, like a 9mm/357. 38 +P/380 are the minimum for me. If you really like single action 1911s, the EMP might be a possibility.

 

[jimbob86]

I'd be curious to know the difference in weight (loaded) between that 4" 1911 and the XD......

 

[45crittergitter]

There's a reason I invested in a lightweight 5" 1911....

 

[Prose]

I will tell you this: Shot placement is paramount. It's more important than the caliber. Steel guns are heavy. Big rounds in a big gun means a bigger gun and not as many rounds. So on and so forth. Usually weight is involved.

Go get yourself a high capacity 9mm. You get 16 in the stack and 1 in the tube. Go to the range with your light easy to carry plastic gun once every two weeks and you will be comfortable.

After you do these things you will be confident and comfortable. And like I said, shot placement means more than anything.

If you absolutely MUST carry a 1911 boat anchor with you I suggest a shoulder rig. The mags will help to balance it out and make it easier to carry. Adjust your wardrobe accordingly.

 

[mljdeckard]

What exactly is "too heavy"?