Full size concealed carry

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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.
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I agree with Pablo, don't need no stinkin' paperweight all day long. I tried IWB and with good gunleather. It'd work blisters on my butt. I remember popping one in the bathroom at work, painful, musta shot 3 ounces of puss on the wall. Graphic enough for ya? :D This was from the holster where the bottom of it hit me. Might be okay with an under shirt if I lived in Fairbanks or something, but I can't wear an undershirt in coastal Texas without worry of heat stroke.

I carry my little Kel Tec P11 or my little Taurus 85SSUL in a pocket now days in pants with large pockets and pocket openings. This allows me 24/7 comfortable carry and I never even notice the gun. I'm not tempted to remove it when I get home, either. I have it with me, discrete, when I answer the door bell. It's with me in the garage when I'm working on one of my motorcycles or in the garden when I'm weeding or something. It's always there. It never bothers me. I can't do those things with a belt gun and be comfortable 24/7, especially not IWB. I've tried, it don't work, and like Pablo, I don't see the need in this day of fantastic subcompact, powerful pocket guns. But, I shoot those pocket guns rather well, even shot the KT a few times in IDPA shoots with impressive results. I trust and have total confidence in it or my revolver and my abilities with either. YMMV.

All I'm sayin' is, to the OP, if IWB doesn't work out for you, LEARN TO SHOOT THOSE SUBCOMPACTS. They ain't THAT hard to master. Hell, we used to shoot a 14" gong target at 100 yards with snubby .38s and I could hit 3 of 5 with my 2" Taurus. It's as good as my buddy could do with his 4" 686. That was fun plinkin', too. At combat ranges, the little snubby has nothing to be ashamed of. It can do the job as can the subcompact 9. BUT, it takes practice. If you must delude yourself that you cannot shoot snubbies or subcompacts, I bet you're going to find there are periods during the day that you are unarmed. What then if you need it? Food for thought. Corpus is a rough town. We're trying to get out of here, but it's not progressing too well. Meantime, I'm always armed, always, even carry a NAA mini in my off side pocket for back up along with a little can of pepper spray.
 
Thanks for all the input guys. I see that it is now becoming a smaller is better discussion. (sorry about that Mods).

I have just figured out that I shoot a larger gun better than a smaller gun. I read it all the time on here, "carry what you shoot best". I will continue to carry my P40 until I can find my new EDC but I have to get something I feel competent with.
 
Don't let anyone pressure you into getting a small gun if you like a large one better and can conceal it just fine Jeremiah. There are definite advantages to a full size gun. I carry a full size Browning Hi Power off duty, and have no problem concealing it, even in Norfolk, Virginia's muggy, 95-100 degree summers. I've never got blisters from the holster either.

If you like the compacts, and shoot them well, and that's what you prefer to carry, then do so, and more power to you. On the other hand, if you like the full size guns, and shoot them well, and that's what you prefer to carry, then do that. Personally, I prefer to have the better controllability and increased capacity of a full size gun. I decided to carry what I would prefer to have with me in a fight, if it came to that, and found I really had no trouble dressing around it. As others have said, a proper belt and holster are key -- I carry my gun in a Milt Sparks Versa Max 2, or occasionally in a Kramer belt scabbard (same position and cant, so the draw is no different, but it's an outside the waistband holster) when I wear a suit or sportcoat. In the Milt Sparks holster, even a full size gun like the Hi Power conceals easily under a slightly loose t shirt or untucked polo shirt.
 
I wear a ventilated "safari" vest, and carry a S&W Model 65 or Model 696 in Don Hume J.I.T. Slide holsters. The vest serves other purposes than concealment, but it funtions very nicely. In the winter, I switch to a water resistant version.
 
Just adding my .02 for the pocket gun nay sayers. Yes, small guns CAN be effective if you learn to shoot them. Suit yourself, though, if you can't shoot small guns or won't take the time, figure out the best way to carry a bigger gun. The quest will take a while, did for me, anyway, and wound up with my gun back in my pocket.

I decided to carry what I would prefer to have with me in a fight,
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Now, I have NEVER figured out how to conceal a shotgun or one of my SKSs. Too, LEOs have a duty to interdict in a crime. I just have the duty to protect myself and my wife. If I were an LEO, I probably would feel compelled to carry my .45 caliber Ruger P90, what I have won a lot of money with over the years at local shoots, well, enough to pay for several of 'em, anyway, not a "lot" in that I'm no pro and don't practice enough to ever consider being THAT good. I shoot that gun as well as any I own, though, and like the way it points, but it's not THAT much more effective than my P11 which I shoot quite well and can carry all the time and, hell, the P11 carries more firepower, 11 +P 9s vs 8 .45s. It's like a duty gun in the pocket, at least in MY pocket. Everyone's different. My P85 carries 16 rounds, but I don't care much for the trigger transition on the gun and don't even shoot it as well as my Kel Tec with its long DAO. My P90 has a wonderful DA/SA transition and is lighter than the P85. It's the best gun of all my options FOR ME excluding the revolvers I like, but if you can't carry it, you can't carry it, not 24/7.

In cool months, I will at times carry the P90 or my medium frame .357 magnum, 3" Taurus 66. I also can utilize my Bulldog fanny pack even in hot weather, sort of like open carry, yet concealed. It works for me in certain situations and is GREAT in the car on a trip, but I still wanna take it off when I get home. I like to carry my .357 in that rig and then still have my snubby in my pocket for back up. I'll carry reloads for the .38, work as well in the .357 from a speed strip. I've known detectives in this era of auto pistols that still carry J frames, too, though on the belt. I know cops that carry small guns off duty. Cops don't have to worry about flashing, either, like I do. To each his own, but my point is, small guns CAN be effective, just depends on the software, and one set up WON'T fit everyone.

Yes, carry what works for you and how it works for you. There is no one answer. I have a box full of different rigs I've bought and didn't like. Some will work for certain situations like the shoulder holster under a coat when I'm winter wade fishing in my neoprene waders, never use one of the shoulder holsters otherwise. You play with CCW long enough, you'll end up with a box full of holsters, too. :D It seems inevitable. What works for the posters here that recommend THEIR rigs just might not work for you. Be prepared for that. You're just going to have to take one of the recommendations and run with it, but don't be surprised if you spend $150 on a holster and $100 on a belt and find it doesn't work. But, you won't know for sure until you try it. And, there's a bazillion rigs out there to try. Oddly enough, the most comfy IWB I own I made myself for my revolvers. I bought a handy dandy Tandy leathercraft kit and a chunk of leather and made my own incorporating a few ideas I had. My SP101 worked great in this rig as do my two little J frame sized revolvers. My medium framed Taurus fits it, but I notice the thickness of the 6 shot cylinder after a while. This thing with the Taurus in it is FAR superior in comfort to my Sparks Summer Special, though. That thing tortures me. I modified it with a flap behind the ridge that holds the spring at the top, flap of light leather glued to it and it protects my skin from the decocker on my Rugers, but it's still not as comfy as my home made revolver IWB and I spent over 50 bucks on that thing 15 years ago.

My favorite OWB so far is a Don Hume JIT slide. I have it for the .357 (or any of my medium frame guns, though the 3" has advantages in that rig for obvious concealment reasons. My Smith M10 and my 4" Taurus 66 will both fit in it, though. But, OWB takes more clothing. Until Texas legalizes open carry so I don't have to worry about it flashing, I think I'll just stick with my pocket guns and fanny pack. Again, cops don't have to worry about that so much.
 
Now, I have NEVER figured out how to conceal a shotgun or one of my SKSs.
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True, but I thought since we are discussing handgun carry, it would be understood that I meant "what handgun I prefer to have with me in a fight," being that I can't routinely carry a long gun.

Too, LEOs have a duty to interdict in a crime.
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I carried a full size gun even before I became an LEO. I found that with the right leather, it was almost every bit as concealable, and no problem to dress around, and I could draw it faster, shoot it better, reload it quicker, had more rounds between reloads, etc. Why give all that up when I didn't, as I saw things, get enough in return?
 
True, but I thought since we are discussing handgun carry, it would be understood that I meant "what handgun I prefer to have with me in a fight," being that I can't routinely carry a long gun.
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Just trying to make the point that any concealable weapon is a compromise.

I carried a full size gun even before I became an LEO. I found that with the right leather, it was almost every bit as concealable, and no problem to dress around, and I could draw it faster, shoot it better, reload it quicker, had more rounds between reloads, etc. Why give all that up when I didn't, as I saw things, get enough in return?
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If that's what works for you, great. It don't work for everyone, though. I'll go so far as to say there are a lot of folks who just can't carry IWB all day 24/7 with a big gun and there's really no need to do so IF you can shoot a smaller, lighter gun, well. Perhaps if I didn't like Big Gulps so much, but hell, I drink diet. :D

I do realize that shooting a snubbie or subcompact isn't easy for a lot of folks to learn, though. I am not quite as fast with my pocket gun unless I have my hand on the gun in my pocket while walking. Then, I'm faster. It is a trade off for comfortable carry for me, though, and I practice with it. Better I have a gun in my pocket than the alternative, no gun, when stuff happens. I always have the gun on me this way. I sometimes put on a belt gun to go out, but I'll pull it off when I get home. Most often, I just leave the big guns at home, don't see the need in carrying 'em. But, everyone's different.

AT ANY RATE, to the OP's post, you're just going to have to try stuff and find out what works for you. Nothing suggested has a 100 percent guarantee it'll work for you. Hell, NOTHING IWB has worked for me, yet. Not ruling out I might bump into a rig that's worderful, just hasn't happened, yet in 16 years of filling up that box of leather. Like I said, take a suggestion and run with it. If it don't work, try something else. Hell, you can always ebay the ones you don't like and a good belt is a good belt, whether it's holding a gun or not. :D
 
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I have a colt new agent 45 8 rounds carry owb in a slide holster easily concealed in Georgia humidity.I have a high rise pancake holster for a ruger service six 357,can wear cargo shorts and a lightweight cover shirt.Glock 19,ruger sr9c,s&w m&p 9c all are good compromise guns easily concealed all year round.
 
Body type is a definite factor in which gun you choose and how you wear it, I happen to be tall and lean, see post #15 for my carry set-up.

Here's a quick true story that happened last night:
Sometimes when I am home alone (my girlfriend is the only person I live with) if I'm tired, I'll place my gun next to me instead of in the holster, for a quicker 'draw', as it is generally comfortable to sit with it holstered. Everything I've read about carrying from the best resources tell me that if you are going to carry, carry always (obviously there will be times when compromise must be made, but that is the ideal). Well if I do remove it from the holster, it is always within arm's reach, and if I get up, it goes back in the holster automatically. Well I got home tired last night, and was kickin around on THR reading threads, when I looked to my right and I was like "Oh crap, where did I leave my gun!?" I had assumed that since i was tired, I had placed it next to me, so I now thought I might have left it in the bathroom or something, I lean forward and put my hand on my '5:00' and sure enough, my full-sized steel 1911 was right where it should be, in my holster. I physically had to check it with my hand to know it was there, that's how comfortable my carry set-up is when I'm sitting on a couch!

Just want to say that there's at least one person out there (and I know I'm not the only one) who has found their perfect set-up for comfortably carrying a full-size handgun. I wear this same rig all year-round, and I'm going on my third year now :)
 
After going through several holsters that I bought and ultimately cast away, I bought a Crossbreed Supertuck and a belt from the same after seeing mlgdeckard posts about them. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. For the price of all the cheapies over the years I probably could have bought the Supertuck 3x over. I probably haven't bought my last holster ever, but I've definitely bought my last EDC holster until something better gets invented. I bought mine made for a Glock 19, but the 26, and even the 34 are concealable with this belt/holster combo.

Check out the hickok45 channel on youtube if you'd like to know more. He has a clip where he reviews several holsters of that type. According to him, all of them work. If you wish, you can save some bucks buying a Galco King Tuk instead of the Crossbreed. However, I have to say I've been very happy with mine.

Same with the belt; held off many years thinking it couldn't be that much better, have now seen the light.

Usual clothing for me is jeans and a T-shirt. When it's warm out I can conceal under the shirt, but prefer a concealment layer over everything.
 
I toted a full-sized 1911 almost daily during the 1997-2002 time period in a Galco Avenger, much of the time using a square-cut shirt of textured cotton construction, over a tucked T-shirt or sleeveless shirt. More recently, I have toted 4" S&W Model 19 and Ruger Speed Six sixguns in a Milt Sparks PMK, and a SIG P229 in a Bulman FDS. My latest addition is going back to a 1911 some of the time, in a Bulman FDS, but it is not yet an established habit, as I seem to prefer a more vertical draw with a 1911.
 
Well, if you're a big feller like me, a nice ISWB rig should do it. Really wont matter much what weapon you choose, given a nice loose shirt of some sort. I've carried a 4" 1911 (with one extra mag) for years with no problem, and I reside in the Gunshine state of Florida. That means shorts and a tee or button shirt most days. Just my opinion, hope you find what works for you.
 
I alternate between a cm9 in a remora and a glock 19 also in a remora. Occasionally I go for the crossbreed super tuck for both. Great holsters. But for all day full size, the remora is shockingly comfy. However, for all day at the office including the 4.5 mile bike ride there and back, I go for the cm9 in a crossbreed at 3:30 with an untucked button up shirt. Full size at the office just isn't for me (in the summer anyway).
 
I carry my Glock 22 one of two ways. First, Inside-the-Waisteband with a "nothing special" IWB holster. Second, In a Tagua Quick Draw holster (I find the Tagua holds it almost as close to my body as the IWB... Especially compared to other OWB holsters).

Additionally, I wear loose-fitting clothes and usually either an ubuttoned shirt over my t-shirt or a light, unbottoned jacket. It can get a little warm sometimes, but I find it worth it to be able to have a Glock 22 over a Kahr CW40.

I also don't carry the G22 everywhere.
 
Hawaiian shirts have become my summer apparel. The prints cover nice and the material breathes.
 
I carry either a SigP229R or a n FNP40 in a Tucker HF2 OWB. In summer I just wear un-tucked shirts except on Sundays when I don't carry and in winter just a jacket is usually suffecient to cover.
 
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