Full size concealed carry

[Jeremiah10:23]

This Friday and Saturday we had a shooters expo sponsored by a couple local churches and I had great time. The only problem is that now that I have shot other brands of pistol I see the faults of my EDC more clearly. It has shown me that I need to switch guns.

I have decided I need something full size (or nearly so). My question is for those who carry full size guns. How do you conceal yours?

 

[smalls]

I wear a lot of polos, and button down shirts. I also have a holster that has quite a bit of can't (15-20 degrees). It's carried a little further behind the hip, about 4:30, so that the grip doesn't stick out.

It still prints a little sometimes, but I'm not concerned. When I bend over it looks like a cell phone holster or something similar.

 

[918v]

I wear loose clothing.

 

[bikerdoc]

1911 in a fobus paddle at 4 o clock with a tee, polo or vest

 

[Nushif]

A long and loose overshirt makes it easy. I can conceal a Beretta 92 with one of those.

 

[Sergei Mosin]

I carry a 5-inch 1911, which although full-size is fairly thin. That helps a lot. I carry it in a tuckable IWB holster just behind my hip, canted forward, and either tuck it in or cover it with my T-shirt. Using that approach I haven't had to change my wardrobe in the slightest - no baggy or loose clothes required.

 

[armoredman]

Holster and belt make a HUGE difference. Even in Arizona summer heat, this combo works VERY well under an oversize t-shirt.



That's a High Noon Rock Steady gun belt, http://highnoonholsters.com/Product.../Magazine_Carriers/Pocket_Holsters/belts.html and a High Noon Down Under IWB holster, http://highnoonholsters.com/Product_Line/_Down_Under_Straps/_down_under_straps.html with a full size CZ SP-01 Phantom 9mm auto, http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-75-sp-01-phantom/ with a standard 16 round mag instead of the regular 18 round one. The high sweat shield on the Down Under is like medieval leather armor, no soak through, ever. Also, t-shirts with patterns help breakup outlines. If you can stand it, Hawaiian shirts in loud print are perfect...if you like that sort of thing.

 

[Stealth01]

Routinely carry a Wilson Combat Ms. Sentinel 9mm 1911 in a Ritchie Leather holster. The holster tucks in very tightly and is very "invisible" under a Tommy Bahama shirt!

 

[smalls]

^Very jealous, I love richie leather.

And a +1 to armoredman. A full size weapon ain't gonna be light. I learned the hardway that a proper belt makes all the difference. I literally tore two Columbia brand belts to shreds before I bought a belt designed to hold a gun up.

 

[RBid]

After carrying an LC9, then a PF-9, and trying to carry my PPQ, I came to the conclusion that I needed a cut down version of a duty pistol for cc. S&W M&P compact, XD/XDm compact, Glock subs, and the Ruger SR compacts all shoot comparably to full size pistols. They also allow you to carry full size mags for your spare.

I ultimately went with a Ruger SR9c. Any of the options above are great, but this particular pistol has a fantastic recoil spring system, allows me to get a full grip (with the pinky extension), and has a trigger that makes it very easy to be accurate with. It is also slim, for a double stack.

I recommend exploring one of these options, if you haven't. I have an easy time concealing mine in a simple Blackhawk IWB holster, in 'business casual' clothes, or summer clothes. I would expect the same kind of concealability with the others.

 

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

I carry a Sig P220 full barrel, I have both IWB & OWB holsters for it. If I am wearing casual clothes I usually opt for OWB if I can get away with it.

 

[jad0110]

Everyone else has pretty well covered it: quality gun belt and a holster made of either kydex or leather. Assuming you don't have any lower back or hip problems, you should have no troubles. Also, if your shoulders are about as broad as your waist, it makes OWB/IWB carry a lot easier as your shirt won't get hung up on the butt of your gun as much. A slim gun like a 1911 can often be concealed with even a white T-shirt. You can go bigger still, but it may mean wearing baggier, longer shirts with a pattern to hide any printing that may occur. Doing all this, I find carrying a 4" S&W Model 19 to be quite easy, so much so that I rarely pocket carry as my EDC method any longer. And a 4" Model 28 (pictured below) is very doable, but not every day.

 

[MCgunner]

I'll only OWB in cold months...okay, COOL down here. If I can't wear extra cover, I stick to pocket carry. I just learned how to shoot the subcompact (and snubby) well through practice. All it takes is practice. I don't like IWB. If you have love handles, you might not either. I can carry OWB, but it requires long cover garments. It's over 100 degrees and humid down here in summer and that's just not an option, not even a light vest. My gunbelt was 100 bucks from Bandera Gun Leather and my IWBs are from Mitch Rosen (145 dollars) and Milt Sparks (60 bucks) and no matter, I don't like IWB, can't do it all day 24/7. I am armed ALL the time, not just until I get home. My .38 is in my pocket as I type this.

 

[PabloJ]

There are plenty of very reliable SC guns in very good calibers out there. Unless one is in Griz or Moose county I see little point in carrying "concealed paperweight".

 

[iLikeOldgunsIlikeNewGuns]

Full size/weight steel S&W 1911, Desantis belt and a good handmade IWB (made by THR user 'savetheclaypigeons') take the weight of the gun right out of the equation. I've been carrying this way every day without exception for some time now. I can sit in any chair or seat and drive comfortably, and an untucked shirt, sweatshirt or jacket make it 'invisible.' I must say I've had to figure out a way to hug friends and family who aren't 'gun people' I always approach the hug with my right hand lower and left hand higher, so they can't put their hand where my .45 is

 

[smalls]

I see little point in carrying a "concealed paperweight"

Some people (myself included) have a damn hard time gripping and drawing such tiny guns. I also can't stand shooting a gun with my pinky under the grip. Some like the capacity. Some guns don't come in compact models, and such guns are what the shooter shoots best.

There are tons of reasons.

 

[Marty183]

Routinely carry a Wilson Combat Ms. Sentinel 9mm 1911 in a Ritchie Leather holster. The holster tucks in very tightly and is very "invisible" under a Tommy Bahama shirt!

Ritchie Holsters is located about a 10 minute drive from my house. I've got an ankle holster from him. Nice stuff.

Anyway, I carried a Glock 23 in an Alessi IWB holster. Hid nicely on my left hip under a light button up shirt during summer or a sweatshirt in the cooler weather. The 23 gives me enough grip to shoot comfortably and accurately.


Sent from my ADR8995 using Tapatalk 2

 

[R.W.Dale]

Funny this is coming up. Right now I'm working on a combination of holster/clothing that will allow me to conceal a 7.5" ruger redhawk to a respectable degree. Not for edc carry or anything like that but to be able to carry a hog capable revolver in a national forest under the exception provided for ccw holders.

Surprisingly it can be done. The trick I've found is to use the pocket as a cover garment to hide the muzzle portion of a holster.

 

[bdb benzino]

Used to be that all I could stand to carry was Airweight revolvers and polymer Kahr semi-autos due to the weight and me not being comfortable. I like those type of weapons plenty, but always would rather have been carrying a Browning Hi Power, 1911, or an all steel S&W 357mag. Over time I have just made my self start carrying these heavier guns with a quality belt and holster, and although uncomfortable at first, I now can do it much longer and easier than before. Soon I will be able to go all day with such weapons and not be bothered.
I think a lot of it is just being used to it and making it feel normal and natural through repitition. YMMV.

 

[wildehond]

Like people have have already mentioned. A GOOD belt and holster makes all the difference. I carry a Glock 22 in a Comp-Tac. MTAC. Many times I forget I am wearing it. Loose shirt over it. Sometimes I will tuck in the shirt over the gun.

Years ago I used to carry a 4" 357. That worked best in an high pancake holster. It concealed very well for it's size.

 

[Jeremiah10:23]

Some people (myself included) have a damn hard time gripping and drawing such tiny guns. I also can't stand shooting a gun with my pinky under the grip. Some like the capacity. Some guns don't come in compact models, and such guns are what the shooter shoots best.

There are tons of reasons.

The grip is the real problem with my EDC. I have mentioned on here before that I have issues with the mag release. When I was shooting the Glock a friend has and the PT92AFS my son has I had no problems.

The one thing I noticed was that I was not the only one dropping the mag on my P40. Several others fired it and we regularly got the same results.

I also tried out some of the tips I was given about pulling my shots low left. It made a difference with the P40 but I got even better results with the other guns I fired.

I really like the PT92AFS my son has (other than it weighs a ton). I will probably look for something similar. Does anyone know if there is a similar gun without the ambi safety (preferably none at all)?

 

[mljdeckard]

Full-size, all-steel 1911, with two spare mags, Leatherman, Spyderco knife, phone, and usually a Surefire 6P flashlight.mostly in a Crossbreed Supertuck. Even in 100+ degree summers. Loose tshirts, good belt.

 

[scaatylobo]

Marty 183

I live in Niagara Falls and know Skip and his brother Bob failry well also.

I own more than a few of their leather products [ they also make a great belt ].

I too carry full sized as the idea of needing a REAL gun and having a pocket rocket - does NOT appeal to me.

Been in situations and that is a VERY bad feeling [ needing a gun,having a mouse gun ].

To each his/her own.

I dont judge,but having been there I go with full size.

My edc is a Glock 23 or a few others about the same size [ Kimber CDP II,or Super Custom Carry ].

I wear them in all weather and yes I do have many smaller and well made pistols,they are carried as BUG's.

 

[vba]

Full size 1911 in either a Galco Royal Guard or Milt Sparks Summer Special II. Either at 3 to 4 o'clock.

 

[IlikeSA]

Full size 1911 OWB with 2 mags under a linen/cotton button up shirt, or a thicker cotton polo. It disappears.