concealment for a large man

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A snubby .38 in the pocket ought to work for anybody with a pocket. I'm guessing it's the best means of carry - you can have it in your hand without drawing attention, doesn't require any extra clothes.

There's a few holsters that are really looked badly upon: Small of back, shoulder, and ankle come to mind... shoulder being uncomfortable to many, requiring a jacket. SOB requires you to rupture a few disks if you happen to slip on something and fall on your backside. Ankle requires you to 'use the Force, Luke' to keep the dratted thing off the pavement. If you wear cowboy boots, it may work. Slow to draw from, requires a small gun. Small gun could be just as easily carried, in all cases I can think up, in a pocket holster.

Have tried ankle carry with a knife. It kept wanting to go south for the winter. Now, if you get some WWI-ish leggings going up your leg, you can probably punch a hole through it to hold that ankle holster up. Epoxy comes to mind, as well.
 
Today it is a Smith & Wesson 4506... at 4:30 in the Galco Jak-Slide... for those unfamiliar, this is a FULL SIZED (like me!) .45, DA/SA decocker gun... like the full size 1911 Colt's... NOT a small piece...

only covering garment I need is a t-shirt...

I can and DO carry a 5 shot S&W 637 .38Spl, and or a S&W 4006 or 410 (bot .40S&W cal) in the same holster, at the same location... I'm tellin' ya... it works!

the ONLY time it prints is when I have a t-shirt that is a TAD tight... trust me... you CAN conceal a big gun... just put the darned thing in the right place!
 
its me, the original big-guy poster

Thanks everybody for all your input. If anyone has anything else to add, please do! What I'm carrying now is a 32mag 1950's era 5-shot revolver just in my khakis pocket. I'm a really nostalgic guy, and I love old guns, so I'm happy to be putting one to use. You oughta hear this thing when its fired--- sounds like a cannon. The pistol is almost 50 years old, but it never lets me down. I just got back from Houston where I bought a thousand rounds of 32magnumHR. I can't find that ammo in Tyler or Dallas. Look, this is not my firearm of choice, but it will work for me now. Feels good in my pocket, feels good in my hand. Seems invisible. Not using any holster of any type. Its just sitting there loaded in my pocket. Its not unusually small or compact, it just seems to be a good fit for my pocket. Any opinions on the 32mag?? I say its a plausable, reliable round that should not be taken lightly nor discounted as too small. Do not judge it UNLESS YOU'VE FIRED IT. Any input, y'all?
 
I've got no opinion on .32, since I've never shot one, but if you've found a gun that conceals well on you, and you enjoy carrying, and you're comfortable with, I think you're set.
 
dasmi,

dasmi, a .32 is a nice little pop gun. but, the 32mag is worth giving a try, I promise. You will enjoy shooting that expensive round if you give it a try. Go out of your way to give it a try as a favor to me and let me know what you think, ok? I'd like your opinion.
 
delta_chi_senator,
A .32 Mag is in no way even close to a .32 auto, it is a serious round just like you said!! Also, a .32 bullet is a 7.65mm round, same round that was used in Europe during WWII. The only problem with that bullet sitting in a .32 auto is the power. With just over 900 fps and only 120 or so ft/lbs of energy it's not the best defensive round but the .32 Mag is a totally different story. At over 1000 fps and nearly 240 ft/lbs of energy, I don't see why it wouldn't be your round of choice for self defense. I think it's a great carry round personally.

I would suggest you buy a pocket holster for your .32 for several reasons. First, it will keep your gun upright so you can draw it fast and easy id needed. Second, it will keep all the lint and dirt which always seems to gather in pockets out of your gun. I bought a nice pocket holster for $10 off Ebay. I'm sure you can find a really nice one for the same price in your local shop too.

Do you have any pics of your .32 Mag, I would love to see it.
 
I too am a very, very fat guy and I find that I can carry IWB on my strong side pretty comfortably. The trick is in finding a gun to suit you, not suiting yourself to the gun. I carry a Taurus 605 in a little Uncle Mikes Pouch, and it is comfortable and accessible. I don't want to gross anyone out here, but my lovehandles basically take care of any printing issues. I can, and have, carried bigger guns on occasion, to include my Ruger P90. However, if I plan on carrying all day long, it is simply a pain (literally and figuratively) to do so. The 605 carries 5 rounds of .357, and I carry a speed strip with 5 more rounds in my pocket, so it's not like I am undergunned or anything like that. If I were more formally dressed, I would adjust my carry gun again to something like a Kel-Tec. Something I could slip into a pocket without thinking too much about and that would be comfortable. Yes, it's something of a "last resort" gun, but for day to day business, I think it would be delightful. In fact, I would like one now for those quick trips to the store when I am just wearing shorts and putting a bigger gun on is a pain! Also, because I am frequently in situations where carrying is just plain illegal, I ALWAYS keep a 9mm with 15 rounds of Hydra-Shok in my truck.
 
32mag

by golly, I appreciate somebody that understands the power of the 32mag. no, I have no pics of that pistol but I will get them and post them in the next couple of days, I promise. I gotta buy a damn digital camera first!
 
delta_chi_senator

I think you have a viable pistol.

Do consider getting a pocket holster to carry it in... Mika makes a dandy.. It feels bulky when you first get it, but it conforms to your gun and you after a few days wear and works great..

He is a super guy to deal with too.
 
Does a revolver that old have a transfer bar safety? Or do you carry one empty under the hammer?
I knew of a guy that carried an old revolver in an ankle holster and was running across a parking lot and hit the bumper of a car and fired a round thru his foot. Be careful with those older revolver designs.
 
32 Mag experience

Delta-Chi,

My experience with it has been limited, but favorable. Reminds me of firing a .38 SPL, which isn't all that much in terms of recoil. The 32 H&R supposedly has the stopping power of a .38 SPL, so it's acceptable for a main carry gun. My only issue with it is that there aren't a lot of options for it. I think each revolver manufacturer makes a total of 2 chamberings for it, so your options for a new carry piece can be limited.

As you probably know,.32 H&R Mag is the evolution of the .32 S&W Long, like the .357 from the 38 SPL. I find the .32 S&W Long round extremely accurate and pleasant to fire. Your Revolver should be able to handle the 32 S&W Long ammo as well and you can get in some decent practice time and get your stance down, etc.

I say as long as the revolver is reliable, and you can hit what you aim at, go for it. If you can carry it comfortably, even better.

TJ
 
Well at 280 I may be a junior Bubba to some of the big guys who have already commented, but I'm certainly portly enough to know the problem.

Tried a multitude of options and ended up with a Kahr PM-9 and a KD Pocket Defender. True pocket size - about 5" x 4" x 1" which prints just like a wallet when seated and not at all when standing even in jeans that are as tight as any we girth-enhanced should consider wearing; weighs around a pound fully loaded, handles +P just fine (Gold Dot 124gr+P JHPs are my choice) and while not cheap is not ridiculous at about $560 with nightsights. Mine has been reliable from day one, others have had some teething troubles as for any model. The printing advantage of a flat semi-auto as opposed to a revolver cylinder is considerable in my experience, although I confess for cooler weather when jacket-pocket is feasible I do have a hankering for a SW325PD. Any way you slice it though the Kahr is one of the most concealable potent-caliber firearms out there.

Here's the exact setup I have - image taken from www.kdholsters.com. Hope he doesn't mind the grab since I do so with a hearty recommendation from a satisfied customer, but will remove if asked.

pd_new_pm9.jpg
 
I think this is a case of the person trying to make the gun fit them. I'm not large, but because of how I dress, I have problems concealing anything bigger than a Kel-tec 3at. Solution: get a kel-tec 3AT. That would be my advice to all of you larger men. Some of you say that conceals in your front pocket. Therefore, use that gun. Fanny Packs... NOOOOOO. I fanny pack says two things: 1) I'm carrying or 2) I'm a tourist who is stuck in the 1980s... you might as wear Day-glo pants, noone will see you printing in those :rolleyes:
 
delta_chi_senator,

You bring up something lots of other people just don't get!

I mean, they think a big guy should have no problem hiding a gun...it's just the opposite. I suspect those people were never big so don't know jack about the issue, or any other issues big people have to go through.

I'm not HUGE but definitely overweight (6 feet, 250 pounds)...I CAN NOT comfortably carry a 1911 concealed. Period. For me, my 1911 is an open-carry gun only, and we don't have open-carry in Texas so it stays in the safe.

So I carry small autos like a Beretta 21A Bobcat (22LR) or 3032 Tomcat (32ACP). Nothing larger than these -- or a Chief's Special snubby -- will work where I carry them...in an ankle-holster, so they have to be small guns. And I am a big fan of small calibers, and can damn well hit what I aim at (so no ignorant comments on "mouseguns" please).

No other place of carry works for me, but these guns in an ankle holster I can carry all day long anywhere and do it comfortably. Consequently, they are ALWAYS with me.

And no, I don't care how "slow" it is to get to because SLOW is RELATIVE: It sure is LOTS faster then going to my car or home to get it!

-- John D.
 
Have A custom vest made.

I use a vest. You can wear shorts.
You can reach your weapon sitting down.
You don't need a big heavy belt. Have the vest made to hold your wallet, phone, favorite knife etc.
Denim seems to work best for me with a bit of leather.
Have it cut about belt level, like a dress vest.
 
earplug,

I agree with the vest idea.

I have one myself -- a black leather vest that even has gun-pockets in it (and it's aptly called the "Gunslinger" model by the makers) -- but it's only worn when I am riding my MC!

http://www.legendaryusa.com/Legendary_Gunslinger_Vest_w_Gun_Pockets_p/520lpbb.htm

Can't wear an ankle-holster with MC boots so the gun goes in a vest or leather MC jacket pocket...true "pocket-pistol" carry.

When I'm out in my car, the ankle-holster -- and street shoes -- go back on.

-- John D.
 
I usually conceal large men in refrigerator boxes.

For carrying a firearm, it probably would be best to carry strong-side OWB and wear a vest or tropical shirt... if your lifestyle can handle that.
 
RE:

I'm not the biggest guy around, but I'm hardly little, either. 6'0, 240 lbs. have been as high as 280. In a way, I'm kind of lucky, as bigger guys, go, since I don't really have a gut, I'm just big all over. I've had the best luck concealing larger guns with a shoulder rig under a snap front shirt. the down side is that a shoulder rig is uncomfortable with all the weight dragging at one side of the body. It's not bad with a double rig, since that balances the the load, or if you have a light gun and a lot of ammo on the other side. My first foray into the shoulder rig business was a S&W model ten, with 4" bull bbl. It takes a h*ll of a lot of .38 rounds to equal the weight of that boat anchor. The back problems that I started to experience led me to get a kel-tec P32 in a pocket holster. I forget it's even there. I still wear a shoulder rig for heightened risk scenarios, but the .32 is always there.

I'm looking at going for the kahr p45, since it's light, and it doesn't take a lot of .45 mags to balance a shoulder load.

I never had much luck with belt holsters, since I don't dress for them, nor did I feel like buying a whole batch of pants two sizes bigger, to fit an iwb. HATE buying bigger pants.

As always, your mileage may vary.

~~~Mat
 
Speaking as a Man of Substance *ahem*...

A j-frame (38+P in this case) in a pocket holster goes into the right back pocket nicely. I keep my wallet in my front left pocket. Have for years.
 
*(&%$

Just read your original post - sorry, did not mean to be the smart $%^ I am, because I too am a very large man - 5' 9" and 360 plus, so I say, if you can't beat them, just sit on them.

wb
 
I'm 6'2", 350#, and I use a horizontal SOB for my PT-145 when I wear a suitable cover garment. I stow it in the pocket of my jacket when it's cold, and in warmer weather, it's in the inner cargo pocket of my safari vest, with a few loaded mags opposite to offset the weight. In warm weather, I carry a P3-AT in a DeSantis 'sting' pocket holster in my right front pocket. I plan to get a zero-cant left hand IWB for the Taurus and use it as a right-hand vertical SOB.
 
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