Concealing a bigger pistol?

[Ed Ames]

Ive noticed people who think they are concealing their weapon, but they arent.

I can't judge what people are thinking. For all I know they don't really care about concealment. I suspect that many of the people who conceal full size handguns, especially those using OWB holsters, are in law enforcement and don't really need to conceal.

But... I have certainly seen people who were at least paying homage to concealment, without successfully concealing their weapons from me. Again, OWB holsters. If you use an OWB holster, anywhere from your hip to small of back, chances are your muzzle is visible at times. Maybe when you sit down to eat, or bend over to change a tire, or when an ill fortuned wind blows your cover garment away.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

The only time I carry a full size is during the cooler months when I leave my sport coat on all day. Then I carry a Sig 2022 OWB.

During the warmer months I carry a Taurus 709 Slim, sometimes IWB and sometimes in an ankle rig. Ankle carry is my least favorite method but with some clothing it is the best concealment option. I sit probably 80% of the time which makes ankle carry more attractive.

 

[Iggy]

Old Geezer, Old gun.
1916 vintage S&W .45 Revolver.

An old cowboy in a leather vest don't draw much attention in Wyoming

 

[joem1945]

A female friend of my sister wanted her CCW and she also wanted a S&W 500, although she has never fired a gun in her life. I don't know if she's blond or not.

 

[BlindJustice]

I thought this thread might be about LARGE like a Smith N frame
or a Desert Eagle

I have a Full size 1911/ Colt Commander and a Range Officer Compact
I carry em in the following ways depended on season

Milt Sparks Belt 1 1/2"

Winter Holster #Axiom OWB / FBIT Cant made for a full size 1911

Summer
A. Milt Sparks Summer Special 2 = IWB made for a Commander 4.25"
but it also works for my Range Officer CCompact 4" Bbl.
or B. Milt Sparks Mirage OWB but inside the belt, like a Yaqui Slide it only
cvers the trigger guard and frame slide leaving the lower part off
the slide exposed.

R-

 

[Panzerschwein]

I don't know about some, but I've found even a J-frame to print too much for me. Granted, I'm 5' 7" tall, and weigh 170 lbs so I'm not super large. But, I'm very paranoid about being "outed" by someone, especially a potential attacker.

 

[Smith357]

choose to conceal larger pistols...such as Glock 19's and such

The G19 is still a small pistol, I carry a few full sized hanguns from a 4" K an N frame revolvers up to the large 41oz hunk of stainless steel that is a 4506.
The key is a quality belt and holster with the proper attire.

 

[Malamute]

It can be pretty individual as to comfort and carry style that works for different people. Many carry G-17 size guns comfortably in appendix inside the waist band holsters and can easily conceal them in a t shirt. Some just cant get comfortable with appendix carry, mentally or physically.

I carried a 1911 in an IWB holster at about 3:00, the first few times I wanted to tear the holster off and throw it as far as i could out into the sagerbrush after wearing it 10 minutes,...but I got used to it. It allows concealing that size gun in a dress or western style vest pretty easily. Some OWB holsters will also conceal under a vest, but not as well as the IWB. I dyed the belt loop on the holster glack so it matches my belt. Unless it gets exposed to over my belt level, it stays pretty well concealed.

Dont have an IWB holster for a g-19. Wish I did. 1911's are heavy, and the grips thick.

 

[helitack32f1]

I have noticed the "trend" towards smaller single stack...380/9mm and such, while all fine and dandy if thats for you some choose to conceal larger pistols...such as Glock 19's and such, what do you do to conceal and how do you conceal/carry a bigger pistol that you feel comfortable with?

I carry a Glock 23 and have for many years. At one point I bought a Ruger LCP with the idea of wearing it in hotter weather while wearing shorts. The problem came when I realized that I could easily still conceal the 23 even in hot weather while wearing just a t-shirt and shorts. I would much rather carry 13 rounds of .40 than 6 or 7 rounds of .380 and eventually just sold the LCP because I had no real use for it, among other things.

I use the Crossbreed Supertuck holster and wear the gun for about 15 hours a day. I am 5'10'' and about 180lbs. I am fairly skinny which makes it more difficult than it would be for someone larger but I have spent a bit of time looking in the mirror to find ways of bending over without exposing the gun outline or at least minimizing printing. Whenever I try a new shirt, I check it out for printing in the mirror as well, which may sound silly but certain materials and colors are a lot worse.

Most of the time I am very conscious of the fact that I am carrying and just make sure I minimize the possibility of doing things to disclose the existence of a gun.

All that being said though, I am considering a slimline 9mm like the Glock 43. Mostly because it is an excuse to buy another gun.

 

[Girodin]

I've found that carry AIWB allows me to more easily conceal larger guns. Some G26 size absolutely disappears with just a t-shirt. I can much more easily conceal duty sized guns (G17, VP9, HK 45) there an any other mode of carry I have used.

Having carried an HK45 I have a hard time believing that one truly conceals a MK23 (and I wonder why in the world anyone would but that's another discussion) without a significant cover garment. Heck, I can conceal my Draco with the right cover garment.

I easily carry a mk23 iwb every day. I have a Blackpoint belt holster too, and it carries just fine. A man's gun.

I'd like to see pics of your set up and it being concealed.

 

[helitack32f1]

It helps to understand that the vast majority of humanity is not observant enough to notice a concealed gun printing through a shirt unless they look at the right part of your anatomy at the right moment, like when bending over or something. And even then they are probably too consumed with deciding what their next social media post is going to be to notice the Desert Eagle in a tight pair of yoga pants.

There are people out there that know what to look for but they are few and far between.

 

[alexander45]

Trick Is a great reinforced GUN belt with extra ammo on the other side to balance out the weight or a properly made and adjusted full x shoulder holster (not one of those little half rigs) with again extra ammo and belt straps to keep it evened out and suported.

 

[TwinReverb]

http://www.puresimplicity.net/~delahunt/guns/holsters.html

I carried a Glock 19 for a whole year before I got my Glock 43. I put most (if not all) my info about what holsters worked for me here.

 

[flphotog]

I live in FL and wear t-shirts year around. Routinely carry a 1911 Government or CZ 75BD with no issues at all.

 

[HexHead]

When I carry larger pistols, I tend more to covered than total concealment in most circumstances. Since OC is legal, I don't worry about printing since most people are too self-absorbed and clueless to notice anyway.

 

[Glock Doctor]

I carry, and wear, a Glock Model 21 almost everyday of my life; AND, it's been years since anyone has, 'made' me. The secret is to use a holster that tucks the butt of the pistol in tight against your body (like an ITB, 'pancake'; or Wm. Tucker, 'HF-1') and understand the basics of how to move when you're carrying a concealed pistol.

(I, also, wear a pistol while we're in church.)