Concealment tips for a slightly larger gun (to me at least)

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So I'm upgrading to carrying my Glock 23 instead of the 27 that I've been carrying every day.

The only problem is concealing a slightly larger pistol OWB/side-belt-carry is harder in the South Florida heat.

Any suggestions would be great. I'm mainly worried about printing as thick shirts are impossible to wear here, as is more than one shirt and/or jacket.

My best thought so far is print shirts like everybody else wears, but in the past those to me at least scream "guy with a gun".

The holster is a Galco Combat Master - the same type I used with my 27, just slightly larger. I usually wear jeans with a polo untucked, but I might have to change that.

Also, to add to the challenge, I'm a fairly heavy guy. I'm trying to lose weight, but I'm not going to wait to carry until I'm thin again.

Thanks for any tips you have.
 
I don't find the 23 appreciably larger than the 27. I had both, and sold the 27 for just that reason. My preferred carry method when weather allows is a thick, loose button-down shirt over a t-shirt.

In warmer weather, I always carried something I could conceal more readily, like
a Kel-Tec P11 or P32/AT.

John
 
My best thought so far is print shirts like everybody else wears, but in the past those to me at least scream "guy with a gun".

How can they scream "guy with a gun" if EVERYONE wears them? Wouldn't that be called Blending in with the crowd?

In any case, people don't often associate the type of shirt you like to wear with gun ownership. I wear a hawaiin shirt every single day of the year and I wear shorts every day except sunday (church), even in the snow. I've even noticed a few other people who suffer from Chronic Hawiian shirt disorder.
 
I carry a full size 1911 IWB with minimal printing under a t-shirt. Even less visible prints via the use of light material button down shirts in the warmer months. Obnoxious patterns aren't necessary, some simple stripes will work, as do darker colors. I seem to have the opposite problem as you as far as build goes though. I'm 5'10" and 150 pounds, the grip on my 1911 is just as long as my torso is deep.
 
How can they scream "guy with a gun" if EVERYONE wears them?
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No, I meant everybody who carries. Not everybody in general. Even though realistically everybody who carries doesn't wear them - it's common.

I wear a hawaiin shirt every single day of the year
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See! LOL
 
The difference is:
LENGTH 14 mm / .56 in.
HEIGHT 21 mm / .83 in.

G27:
LENGTH 160 mm / 6.29 in.
HEIGHT 106 mm / 4.17 in
G23:
LENGTH 174 mm / 6.85 in.
HEIGHT 127 mm / 5.00 in.


You won't have a problem
 
Any Glock is a brick to conceal. Pretty darn thick. Increasing bbl length & grip length is not gonna have too much more an effect relative to the thickness.

If you have actually lost some weight, an IWB holster like the Milt Sparks VM2 would be advisable. Just keep your larger pants around before ditching them, to allow for holster & weapon inside your waist band.

Also, wifebeaters/a-shirts are your friend, especially larger/longer than usual. They put a nice layer of cotton between you and your weapon, without increasing getting you hot.

Good luck with method of carry & weight loss.
 
I am sorry, I am not familiar with your holster, but I will thrown in my 2-cents.
Glocks tend to be very thick, and are hard to conceal. The 23's are the "Compact" version, but are no thinner.
When I was "required" to carry a 92-F (M-9) concealed, an arguably bigger gun, even in summer, I used an IWB (Inside waistband) holster that hung the gun low to my belt, and favored carrying it in front, before my right hip, with a T-shirt untucked. It worked well for me. that would be my suggestion to you. If not a IWB holster, maybe a fanny pack or a belly band.

Best of luck, stay safe.
 
The hardest part of a Glunck to conceal is that big, honking, protruding rear portion of the slide. Then, the chunky WIDTH comes into play. When I carried a G22 as a duty pistol, and bought myself a G27 for back-up, I found them about the same regarding difficulty of concealment in hip holsters. I find it easier to conceal a full-sized 1911 than any Glunck, except that, of course, the Baby Gluncks will fit into some pockets and pouches. As for the issue of G27-v.-G23, if you have sorted out the headaches of concealing a G27, the G23 will be no more difficult.
 
I wear a hawaiin shirt every single day of the year and I wear shorts every day except sunday (church), even in the snow. I've even noticed a few other people who suffer from Chronic Hawiian shirt disorder.
Click to expand...

You have got to move to a tropical location with the rest of us short wearers my friend.

I find that the most protruding part of any gun is the butt of the pistol. Good holsters pull in the butt to conceal it. If the G23 doesn't give you that particular trouble over the 27 then you should have no issues.
 
I have found that dark shirts tend to conceal better for me than lighter colored ones. Everyone wonders why most of my shirts are darker colored blue or black. I tell them that they make it easier to conceal a handgun and they think I am joking. Hidden in plain sight... ;)
 
[Everyone wonders why most of my shirts are darker colored blue or black. I tell them that they make it easier to conceal a handgun and they think I am joking. Hidden in plain sight... /QUOTE]

That's funny. I'm gonna have to use that one.

I like big linen shirts that are not expected to be tucked in. Like a Hawaiian print shirt in form, but without all the flowers.
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I have a Bianchi Minimalist OWB that conceals my Ruger P89 and P90 rather well under an untucked button down shirt. If it will conceal either of those it should work for a Glock 23 I would think. They can be had for about 35 bucks online to fit most gun makes.
 
I'm in North Virginny. I know its hotter down there....but....I've taken to wearing button-front linen or silk-blend shirts, untucked of course. Most fit just right and tend to conceal my PT145 better than a T-shirt did. However, I tend to carry my Kel-Tec the most....as it conceals better than a cellphone.....:evil:
 
Not to sound like a party pooper, But who cares if you print once and a while?
Printing is not brandishing, The illusion that a gun might be on your waist does not mean you have a gun.
 
Not to sound like a party pooper, But who cares if you print once and a while?
Printing is not brandishing, The illusion that a gun might be on your waist does not mean you have a gun.
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It's not that it's brandishing (I know it's not). It's just that to many, concealed means concealed, as in nobody knows. I saw a big guy wearing a thick sweatshirt in the store one day, and caught a fairly large print on his right hip because the sweatshirt fit too tight. I can't be absolutely sure it wasn't a cell-phone holder, but I kinda watched him a second. If I (a lowly store employee) can pick up on a print, a criminal worth his salt can too. That provides both a deterent and a target, depending on how nuts a criminal is.

To the OP, try a Kydex IWB holster. I've got a bit of a buldge amidships, and with the exception of sitting or bending that direction, I'm okay with my full-sized M&P. I think it's a matter of getting the holster adjusted right. I'm still working on it. I use a Comp-Tac, and even with a loose T-shirt, it conceals nice.

Remember: Everyone has a drawer full of holsters, as none fit more than one gun and every circumstance :)
 
I carry a G26. For me, the problem is with the butt of the grip printing. I'm a small guy (5'2") but a bit, um, hefty around the middle (150#). You guys say that the G23 is only x" bigger. For some of us, that's a huge difference.

As for the whole "A Glock is wider than my mother-in-law" myth, some width numbers for you:
Glock 17/19/26 1.18"
Sig P239 DAK 1.20
S&W M&P Compact 1.20
Taurus 24/7 1.25
Glock 30 1.27
HK P2000SK 1.28
CZ 2075 RAMI 1.30
Walther P99C 1.30
Taurus 651 (J-frame) 1.38
Sig 229 1.50

To the OP: if you don't have one already, get a GOOD gun belt.
 
I use a CTAC slide holster and carry either a g26 or g23 depending on what I'm doing that day. The only difference is the 3/4" or so longer grip on the 23. If I need to deeper conceal or will be bending over a lot the 23's grip portrudes more but it's not a lot of difference. Most people wouldn't be able to tell what it is and because of that longer grip I feel the 23 is quicker to grab and draw.
I take it you have a sturdy gun belt? That makes a big difference in how close and securely it holds the gun to your body and keeps the longer grip of the 23 from flopping away from your body and printing more than it needs to.
 
Wear the print shirt and get on with your life.

No one is looking and no one cares.
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Best advice in this thread. I carried a Glock 26 for quite a while and recently switched to a Glock 29 and a Crossbreed Supertuck holster. It's 11:30 at night and I'm still wearing it and it was over 100 degrees today. The wifebeater T shirt was another good suggestion, although it does up the heat your body retains and you will feel a little hotter, specially if you're outside a lot. The Crossbreed is pretty comfortable even against bare skin. Get a good belt to go with it. I also wear Perry suspenders, over top of the wifebeater and under my outer shirt, makes for a nice "floating" feeling where your pants/gun/holster doesn't feel like it's a dead weight around your waist. Makes for real, all day comfort.

And c'mon people, a Glock 26/27/19/23 is two tenths of an inch thicker than a single stack Kahr. That's 0.20. Open a caliber to 0.20 and tell me it's going to make any difference in a good holster. It doesn't. I know, I've carried both. In a pocket, yes. In a good IWB holster with a quality belt and a loose fitting cover garment? No difference at all.
 
Concealing a larger gun?

Button-down & untucked shirt, and cant, cant, cant.

Make you get a holster that is angled (canted) enough so that the grip will not poke out anywhere. I've found that and gun width to be the #1 problems with concealing. Also, the more of the gun in your pants, assuming you're going IWB, the better. Leave just enough out to solidly grab the grip.
 
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