I've come to a conclusion.......

[Nanook]

Look into the Air Marshall 3 holsters. Kangaroo Carry makes them. They can handle small to medium size handguns and carry like a shoulder holster but under your cover garment / shirt.

Pretty comfortable, and so far it can handle an XDm with no issues. I have no connection to the company, but am a satisfied customer. And I'm also losing weight, so I hear you there.

Good luck with both things.

You can also carry a couple of magazines and / or a flashlight on the other side from your gun. Or handcuffs if you're LEO.

 

[Onward Allusion]

As for AIWB carry, I never could buy pants a size up just to carry. Why do so many dress around the gun rather than having the right tool for the job? I mean, would anyone use a ball peen hammer to break cement? How about a sledgehammer to drive a nail?

 

[JTQ]

Onward Allusion wrote,
I mean, would anyone use a ball peen hammer to break cement? How about a sledgehammer to drive a nail?

Perhaps your job is to "break cement" and you've determined the best tool to break cement is the sledgehammer. You need to inconvenience yourself a little to carry something a little big because it is the best tool for the job.

Why do so many dress around the gun rather than having the right tool for the job?

That's why they dress around the gun. Because they have found the right tool for the job, and now just need a way to carry it.

 

[JTQ]

One advantage to AIWB is the holster rides against a "fleshy" part of your body. There is some compressibility there that is not always present when you carry on the hip.

 

[TRX]

5'10, 340#.

I use 2" snub in an upside-down shoulder rig. There's a small amount of harness printing under a pullover shirt, nothing visible under a patterned button-up shirt. The gun nestles neatly between my shoulder and equatorial areas.

I just reach under my shirt and pull the gun out. No problem.

If I had a 1911 I didn't mind sweating all over, I could probably use one of the horizontal holsters rigged for some downward cant and conceal it effectively.

Besides not catching on armchairs or destroying auto upholstry, the shoulder rig is acceptably convenient for crawling under furniture tracking network ables, etc. The holster rides where there's not much "me", and I've spent extended periods laying on it while cranking anchor bolts into floors, etc.

 

[Biohazard1993]

Shoulder holster. It's slower, but there's no more pinching at the waist.

+1 I am 5'9" 225 lbs. I was 250lbs. And while I usually carry owb I have just gotten tired of the snagging on things, the slight poke to my medium gut, and all other things mentioned here. As well, I get hot easily and am conscious about showing my gut so I find myself usually wearing a well fitted tank top with a loose garment over top; perfect for a shoulder holster. I am soon ordering a Ross leather shoulder holster for my sp101 and in the next few months when I have my KAHR CW9 I will get the Cobra gun skin shoulder holster for it or another ross. A lot of people don't like shoulder holster carry but I find it great and it is something for us heavier people to look into. If I can stand to wear a garment (light colored) over a tank top on an 85 degree day than I figure most others can and if you fit the rig to you right and use either tie downs or a strap across the back portion (my favorite, that's why I am buying ross leather shoulder system) it is comfortable as long as its not a desert eagle or similar weighted pistol; although I prefer to carry those in ibc(inside the butt cheek) . In all seriousness though the minimal print that shows from a shoulder holster and a medium to lower size pistol isn't going to be recognized by 90% of most people at all let alone them first noticing the bulge and then secondly thinking it's a gun; most people aren't as observant as us carry personnel and we take that for granted. Hope this helps some.

p.s. It's easier to go to the bathroom with a shoulder holster as well.

 

[Capt. Ct.]

Dave, I came to the same conclusion. That is until I discovered N82 Tactical holsters. That is the only way I carry now. That is Nate Squared Tactical. Check out their web page. If this doesn't work for you, nothing will.
The Professional model goes for about $70. I forget I have it on. The one thing I don't like is that it locks the gun in place and it takes a slight twist to release it. I don't like this as it sometimes does not want to come out and all you end up doing is pulling your pants up in an attempt to draw. I cut the lock part out and covered it over with a flat piece of plastic with some J.B. weld. Looks and works fine.

 

[*Kemosabe*]

In warmer weather: Through thick & thin I’ve worn a light weight polo shirt or short sleeve shirt with a light weight cotton vest to cover my gun in my close fitting OWB holster.

 

[camsdaddy]

Lou I get it. I'm more likely to have a heart attack than to be robbed and need a gun. I have carried aiwb for years. I have recently notice that after gaining a few pounds my gut is pushing on the gun and making it print. I mentioned this to my wife and she laughed. I figure it's win win if I make some healthy choices I can live longer due to health and improve concealment. I fail to see the downside.

 

[meanmotorscooter]

You may not care to hear it but here it goes. I'm going to distill into a few sentences what the diet and pill industry can't seem to do. I lost 35 pounds eating this way and it was easy.

1. Stop eating bread, sugar, flour, pasta in all forms
2. Stop drinking beer, soda, diet soda, juice
3. Cut out all milk and cheese
4. Eat only meat, vegetables, nuts, berries, sweet potatoes
5. Get Kerry Gold grassfed butter and put it on everything
6. Eat more good fat like the avacados and the grassfed butter. Grass fed ground beef from trader joes is good too.

You mainly want to eat meat, veggies, nuts, berries most days. A few days a week eat sweet potatoes smothered in butter. I still enjoy a nice glass of brandy a few times a week. There you go. There's the secret to easy weight loss. Hope this helps. BTW, I couldn't AIWB carry before and now I can

 

[SC_Dave]

Thanks guys I really appreciate your input!
David

 

[Mr.510]

In my experience, when I was heavier, comfortable appendix carry is just not possible if your gut hangs over your belt and you sit down... ever. ~4:00 IWB with a hybrid holster seems to be the most comfortable and concealable for the most people but it doesn't work for everyone. I'm a sweater so the shoulder rig's requirement of a cover garment is just torture for me, but I do carry that way when I have to wear a suit or tux. Have you tried a good hybrid IWB like the MTAC adjusted for it's maximum forward cant?

My pants are 2" bigger in the waist than they'd be if I didn't carry a double stack .45 and reload IWB. In case some of you non-flexible dressers haven't noticed, tight pants stopped being cool on men somewhere around 1990.

Edit to add: How long has the OP been carrying concealed? No matter what method you use it's not likely to be super comfortable until you get used to it. My MTAC felt like I had a salad plate stuck in my waistband for the first week but after a month I literally could not feel that the gun was there and I still can't.

 

[hariph creek]

When I started carrying, almost 20 years ago, I could do AWIB. Using a S&W 640 and weighing 200-210 pounds, at 6'-2". Now at 40 I weigh around 250 pounds and AWIB is way to uncomfortable. I like the new single stack nines, IWB, strong side (RH), EXTREME forward cant, around 2:30-3:30, with a remora holster. I find it quite comfortable and secure... What with my built in retention device...

 

[Officers'Wife]

I realize this is a firearms forum and not a fitness forum, but others have given so much advice regarding holsters and such I wanted to toss in some advice regarding losing weight.

First of all, you say you are trying and that is a good thing. But examine WHAT you are trying, to see if it is effective at all. A piece of advice I give to anyone trying to lose weight (especially women) is LIFT WEIGHTS. Lifting weight will help to change your metabolic rate which will burn more calories - even when you are not working out!

Lou

Hi Louca

I have a better suggestion in my brother's sure fire weight reduction program... This program consists of following a tractor/wagon through a 60 acre field, picking up 80 pound bales of hay and throwing them on the wagon to be stacked. For added weight loss you can also assist in stacking the hay in the barn(s) and afterwards mucking out the cattle shelters. Lunch and hydration is provided free of charge.

 

[SAWBONES]

AIWB is the new fad-method of CCW, popular mostly among younger gun fan-boys.

Sure, it offers the advantage of a little extra speed, but at the expense of comfort (unless you're really skinny), and at the definite expense of concealability with any apparel other than the "untucked shirt look" and variants thereof, which nobody in a profession or in a business setting can employ!

Strong side hip CCW has served generations of gun carriers well for a century and more, including some of the "fastest" modern pistoleros like "Jelly" Bryce and Bill Jordan.

AIWB? Not for me.

 

[SAWBONES]

Oops, duplicate post.

 

[el indio]

Holster

SC_Dave, I make holsters here in SC. Where do you live? If you want, we could meet and maybe design a holster that will work for you. If you are from the upstate, I'll be at the gun show in G'ville on August 9-10. As you can see, I live in Lexington. Hope we can do something for you. Joe

 

[SC_Dave]

El Indio, I can't thank you enough for your kind offer. I just recently relocated to NC. I have decided to try an all leather AIWB holster from TT Gunleather. I may take you up on meeting you if this doesn't work for me regardless that I'm in NC now. Thanks very much, you're a stand-up guy for trying to help.

I guess I should also add that I'm working even harder at loosing weight too. As of last Friday I have dropped 22 pounds. Not much, but a start.
David

 

[Valkman]

As of last Friday I have dropped 22 pounds.

That's awesome man, keep at it. I am 58 and porky and after carrying IWB for 10 years I blew up (50lbs) and since have gone to a Miami Classic II shoulder holster if I carry a 1911 or a OWB setup for my XD.

 

[AKElroy]

I am 6'1", 240, and I cannot comfortably carry IWB either. I tried every conceivable rig, including crossbreed and various others, at all points on the clock. No way. OWB is the only way I can carry full-sized. I finally splurged on the OWB High-noon open-top pancake w/ slide guard. It comfortably conceals a full-size 226 just fine under a blazer or un-tucked button down shirt. I have another for a sig 2022, which, being lighter, gets carried more in the summer with cargo shorts. Both require a stiff leather belt to stay snug to the body.

Anyone looking carefully can see the bulk under the shirt, but 20 odd years and no one has noticed yet. As has been stated above, people simply do not pay attention to others. If they do manage to get a peek, who cares. In central Texas no one is likely to freak.

When at work, I do not keep on a blazer or suit coat all day, so I pocket a scandium j-frame smith in a desantis nemesis.

 

[Biohazard1993]

I agree that aiwb is a fad for younger slimmer crowds. I say this being 21 and heavier myself but I see it a fad as well. When I am carrying on my waist I prefer inside the belt 4:30-5:00 where my stomach makes no contact and also use an inside the waistband hybrid as an inside the belt holster, it works really good as long as the belt is the right width for the holster loops in my case a foxx hybrid with kydex loops on a 1 3/4 leather carry belt. Plus I found that drawing from my back area to me is more natural and fast than high on my side or low on my front.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I'm 58+ and recently returned from a 30 year hiatus from shooting sports to get my skills in order to get my CCL in Illinois last Summer...My Wife and I spent thousands testing various guns/platforms to find our "Soul Mate" platform and thousands more in instruction and a bunch more on holsters and such.

For me AIWB is The Bomb and my Soul Mate platform is a Beretta Px4 SC rotated with a Glock 26. I trained like a mad man both at shooting and weight training, stretching, Martial Arts and late last Summer dropped 30+ pounds to accommodate carrying Appendix. It simply works for me and it was *very* hard to do but I did it. I now have a lean and muscular waist line and can hide a city bus comfortably at the 1:00 position. I can access it while driving/sitting/riding and can deploy from this position faster than I ever thought I could. I can draw and shoot while moving and this makes me very confident.

I feel bad for folks who wanna carry Appendix but have the extra weight....the extra tire and excess body weight really does make Appendix carry uncomfortable and negates the advantages. Appendix is a thin mans carry style. I'm not trying to make anyone feel bad - we all have limitations and losing the excess weight and carrying AIWB required me to change my whole life, my personal fitness habits, my diet, and my perspective and it's all for the better.

But it is not easy and I'm sorry that it isn't. Mostly because I feel that Appendix is the best carry method for many folks in a variety of dress styles and habits. And the only way to realize the advantage is to do something that is very difficult to do. You have to want it bad enough to change your life to accommodate it and get that advantage. Did I mention it's really, really hard and that there is no disgrace in failing at it?

VooDoo

 

[Hardtarget]

This comment for "Hossfly72"...

Its gonna take me weeks to get that mental image out of my brain!

Mark

 

[Big Shrek]

Big Guy Carry...Cargo Pocket.
Use an appropriate holster, and you can carry a full-size G20 without anyone noticing.

Cargo pants/shorts have these lovely huge pockets, easy access, and can be fashionable.
Heck, after I got out of the Army wore chopped-off cammies most of the time due to habit...they are very comfy!
Florida weather likes the baggy feel, and cargo shorts NOBODY notices...as long as your legs are tan.

For a distractor and second option defense usually had a ball-peen hammer in the left-side hammer strap...
Joe Workin Man is quickly placed in the category of Joe Workin Man...everyone forgets the hammer has another use...
plus they automagically figure that you have work stuff weighing down your other pockets...like nails...
a gun in your strong hand pocket really never is thought of by onlookers until you draw...

Other option...Thunderwear Great place for a compact .45!
protects the family jewels...and you!

Weight loss...Atkins will pull it off you fast, and safely. Use any of the post-2000 programs.
BUT, and here's the Big One, you must stick STRICTLY to it for the first 6 weeks!!!
If you cheat, you have to start the 6 weeks counter over. Its that simple. After 6 weeks, weigh in...and you'll LOVE it!!
Then starts Phase 2...less weight loss, more muscle gain...but your pants sizes will drop rapidly.
You can then repeat Phase 1 for more rapid fat loss...repeat as often as necessary.
Took me from 400+ down to 280 in a year & a half. Maintained it that way in Phase 3 for 8 years.
Unfortunately I got married and went back up to 340 over 7 years...
darn that home cookin!! Getting about time to knock it back off again, wanna stick around for my kids!

Get a Big Dog, and Walk/Run it every night. Also great way to keep an eye on the neighborhood...