how do you guys actually conceal when you carry??

[piece of meat]

Seems like the only way I can conceal carry is if I wear a jacket. With no jacket to cover, even a gun as small as a g26 makes for an obvious bulge. And being that's its texas, I only need a jacket about 10 days a year lol. I've found that I can conceal well carrying at about 5-6 o'clock in a pancake holster, but then I cannot even sit down because it digs into the back badly, and drawing from that position is brutally slow and awkward.

I know a lot of people say they can conceal all kinds of guns even ones like 1911's and glock 21's...but without a jacket to cover up I don't see how this can possibly be done without a large, obvious bulge. i am finding that i virtually never carry because 99% of the time i am not wearing a jacket, and even the little g26 bulges out blatantly. Am I missing something here?

 

[witchhunter]

I carry my LCP in my back pocket or my 1911 in the small of my back inside the waistband. never have a problem. Just have to wear a shirt!!!

 

[USAF_Vet]

My Taurus 709 slim disappears at 8:00 position (southpaw) in an IWB holster. Cover garments range from t-shirts, casual button down shirts, windbreakers or hoodies, to full blown winter coats.

I think maybe the one thing you might be missing is a slimmer gun. The Glock I've held have all been relatively wide in the mag and grip.

My S&W wonder nine has the same problem, which is why I don't have an IWB holster for it.

Then again, I'm 6'3", 230#, so my size and shape might have a lot to due with making a gun print less.

 

[bradepb]

Wear looser clothes. I carry a compact p250, about the size of a Glock 19 in summer under a t-shirt at 2 oclock in a n82 holster. You can"t tell unless I really twist around weird.I don't wear clothes way big but you cant wear tight clothes either. I also have some casual button up shirts that I wear untucked in summer and have no problem with a Glock 17.

It takes a lot of experimenting in front of the mirror sometimes and everybody is shaped different. One nice thing here is I don't have to worry about total concealment but most of the time I prefer it.

With my 6'2 and 240 body I find it much better under tighter clothes to carry at 2 instead of 4 o'clock where the grip usually prints

 

[newglockguy]

I carry a Glock 23 in the 4 or 5 o'clock position in a crossbreed supertuck. Actually going to buy a g-code incog and start appendix carrying

 

[piece of meat]

Maybe I gotta try looser clothes...but still I swear if I move or twist or lean over it still makes for an obvious big bulge under my shirt. Maybe I'm just not built right for it

 

[2wheels]

With just a t-shirt, you might try switching to a slimmer gun.

Casual button-up shirts worn untucked are my favorite method of concealing larger/thicker guns.

 

[JTQ]

piece of meat wrote,
Seems like the only way I can conceal carry is if I wear a jacket. With no jacket to cover, even a gun as small as a g26 makes for an obvious bulge. And being that's its texas, I only need a jacket about 10 days a year lol.

Stop wearing those UnderArmor shirts as a cover garment.

Square bottom, button up shirts are very helpful. Wearing an IWB holster is also a help.

Many company's make gun carrying specific shirts, such as the Sonoran shirts from The Wilderness Tactical http://www.thewilderness.com/sonoran-shirts/

Dark colors and prints help to hide any bulge that may show up.

 

[Sagetown]

I have a hard time concealing my 1911 also. I think it has to do with my slight build (stature). On bigger men wearing relaxed fit clothing, it just disappears.

 

[C0untZer0]

Illinois hasn't issued carry licenses yet, so there is no carry but there is something called "transport" which is having the gun unloaded in an enclosed case or pack.

So right now, I have my R9 in 5.11 tactical Pistol Pouch"

Two months from now it will be a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster:

 

[jon86]

A glock is a thick gun. A 1911 is much easier to conceal due to its thinner width. That said, a j frame in the front pocket is about as discreet as one can get.

 

[JTQ]

I have a hard time concealing my 1911 also. I think it has to do with my slight build (stature). On bigger men wearing relaxed fit clothing, it just disappears.

I think you are correct, a bigger guy will have an easier time hiding a large pistol than the smaller guy.

Every now and then you'll see a thread on a forum from a large guy, in the way north of the 250Lb range, complain about how hard it is for a big guy to conceal carry a pistol. I always chuckle when I see those threads. Most of those guys have enough belt real-estate to stick a pair of 1911's, on the same side! On the other hand a 140Lb guy would have the front loop of his Sparks Versa Max II at his navel and the rear loop at his spine (of course, I exaggerate). In addition, loose fit clothing always looks more natural on the bigger guy.

If you are a slimmer guy, look for more cant to your holster to get the grip of the gun more vertical. It will aide concealment.

 

[BP Hunter]

I carry a Glock 19 in an IWB holster. I purchased the holster from aliengearholster, which is a knock off of the crossbreedholster. I have a 32 inch waistline and can carry it quite comfortably and quite hidden under a tshirt of a loose shirt.

Many people don't cary what you wear or even scutinize if you are carrying a gun. Your acting comfortable carrying a gun will make things mnore obvious.

 

[Hometeached1]

I tend to carry IWB/OWB at the 3:30, spare mags at 8:30 under button up shirt, unbuttoned and about a size large. All my pants are two inches bigger, ie;32"-34". Pistol is a gock 19 or 30sf. Hope this helps.

 

[1John1:9]

IWB holsters make it much easier. The hybrid IWB holsters like Crossbreed's Supertuck or WhiteHatHolster's MaxTuck are the most comfortable in my opinion. The leather backing protects your skin from poking and protects the gun from sweat. The outer portion is kydex. I literally can forget I'm carrying my Walther P99 9mm full size handgun, and it is 1.3" thick.

I live in the south and rarely need a jacket. My cover garment is an untucked polo or button up shirt, with a T-shirt on underneath.

To sum up: IWB for good concealment; hybrid for comfort.

 

[chiltech500]

I struggle too pieceofmeat, mainly because I'm only 5'6 155 lbs. No doubt need to one size up shirt for me (normal med. get a large) and untucked shirttail. It's easiest for a small 380 in a pocket holster in baggier pants like cargo pants if I were to tuck in a shirt.

With the untucked larger shirt any of the positions work ok, I'm not a fan of the IWB holster because the grip is what's obvious on me.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

Right now I'm carrying my M&P Shield AIWB under a dress shirt and tie tucked into slacks.

 

[sinbad339]

Quick question to the OP; what holster are you using? It makes a huge difference.

 

[Sam1911]

I can conceal a 1911 in cargo shorts and a tucked in polo shirt. My "deep concealment" rig is this that member Joel made this for me early in his holster-making career:



Very comfortable and VERY tuckable. Only the straps show when I've got a t-shirt or polo tucked in around the gun.

If the grip seems obvious, try darker patterns and colors. Actually, a TUCKABLE IWB is even better than untucked as the shirt naturally blouses at the waistband and conceals very, very well.

In the end, though, unless you're REALLY oddly shaped and wear tight shirts, no one ever notices the bulge. It's just a non-factor.

 

[PistolPete45]

I wear a vest for the most part . such as a photography vest leather vest fishing out door lookin things. A regular shirt unbuttoned & untucked will hide a huge pistol . Pick you carry and think about what you can and would wear .. shoulder holster or IWB small of your back or cross draw .

 

[blue32]

You're always going to have that slight print of the edge of the butt or magazine coming through under a shirt with IWB. I found that bending at the knees helped a lot. Bending at the knees is better for your center of gravity as well. I've been concealing a G30 for 5 years now 365 days a year. So many people wear cell phones in strong side holsters I doubt most give it a second look. The main thing is being confident.

 

[Backroad]

5' 11" and 175 lbs. Carry Colt Officers .45, Kimber UltraCarry II .45, or XDs .45 in FOBUS holster at 3:00 (pretty much gave up carrying my G30. It's a brick). In warm weather, I wear a T-shirt with a short-sleeve Hawaiian shirt covering. No problem. If it gets up to 100 degrees and humid, that might be another story.... Then I might grab my Crossbreeds.

Al

 

[RBid]

I'm 6'2", 185, with a small waist. I carry a Glock 19 Gen 4 in a Galco King Tuk holster. My cover garments always include 2 layers: a thick 'wife beater', and a tshirt. I don't wear especially large shirts.

Go to a mirror, with no gun on. Look around your waistline, and see where your shirt hangs away from your body. Those places are where you'll have the easiest time concealing. Layered cover garments (even thick beaters) can dramatically mute a print without slowing draw times too badly or being too hot for warm weather. I have an easy time wearing my usual stuff in the summer.

I hope this has been helpful.

 

[decoy562]

I am 5'11'' and 185 lbs. I carry either an LCP in the pocket or a Nano IWB. A thin gun and a good holster helps.

 

[Old Dog]

I think quite often, folks tend to overthink "concealment," trying to pick a smaller handgun to suit their normal style of dress, rather than modifying their style of dress to suit what they've chosen to carry.

BPHunter said

Many people don't cary what you wear or even scutinize if you are carrying a gun. Your acting comfortable carrying a gun will make things mnore obvious.

and this is a huge part of it. Get over the self-consciousness ...

I disagree that bigger guys necessarily have it better -- a slim person can use carry options a fat person cannot. And, by the way, nothing wrong with occasionally throwing on a sport jacket ... you can always find one that goes well with jeans. In my area, a Carharrt or Columbia vest is everyday attire for many men nine months a year. Those of you in warmer climes (I spend a lot of time in Arizona and Florida) have the "camp shirt," baggy tee, oversize polo, or Hawaiian shirt options ...