Need help finding something to carry

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joey93turbo

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I have a bit of a dilema and I'm not sure how to figure it out. Right now I have a Sig P226 .40 and I've been trying on different holsters and rigs for CCW. My problem is I can't find one that is comfortable to wear and can conseal the gun well. My only option with the way I dress is to carry IWB, and I'm not going to wear sweaters in the summertime so I can carry OWB. I wear alot of t-shirts and often button up or polo's.

So since I've decided to carry IWB I've been playing around with just tucking it into my belt just to see how it feels standing, walking, sitting, in different positions. I can't imagine how I can comfortably carry this gun IWB, especially for 16 hours a day. I wish I had more money so I could try some of these offerings from the internet but I don't have the money.

As much as I love my P226, I've decided to start looking at other guns. I want something smaller and more compact. I've been seriously considering a Kahr PM40 or a Sig P239 in .40. What do you guys think about these? How do they compare? I know the PM40 is alot smaller. What are some other good options? I don't shoot revolvers well so auto's only please.

Lets hear the suggestions :)
 
I have both

the Kahr PM40 and the Sig P239. The advantage of the PM40 is that it will fit in a pocket as it is much smaller than the P239. As far as taking both to the range, the P239 is a more comfortable gun to shoot, and I am more accurate with it.
 
Try one of Dillon Precision's "Master" owb holsters. I can conceal a gov't model 1911 under a hawaiian shirt while using that holster.

Try the holster, if it doesn't work, ebay it.
 
So since I've decided to carry IWB I've been playing around with just tucking it into my belt just to see how it feels standing, walking, sitting, in different positions. I can't imagine how I can comfortably carry this gun IWB, especially for 16 hours a day.
Click to expand...

I think it's worth mentioning that just because it's uncomfortable stuck in your waistband, it may not be uncomfortable with a good holster.
I carried a 1911 IWB (without a holster) at 3 and 4 o'clock and it was very uncomfortable, but... put that same pistol in a Sparks Watch Six at 3 or 4 o'clock and I forget it's there.
Good luck. :)
 
how can you conceal a 1911 under a hawaiian shirt with any holster? what about the bulge/print?
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1911s are very flat. They conceal very well with an IWB or OWB (espeically one that pulls the gun tight to the body.)
Also hawaiian shirts are usually bright with lots of random patterning (kind of like camoflauge) The lines help break up any bulges.
It goes without saying try not to get one two sizes too small.
 
IWB with pants 1 inch larger in waist and pollo shirt 1 size larger and not tucked in.
 
I find the 1911 to be one of the easiest guns to conceal, thanks to its flat profile and fairly rounded edges. Just stay away from the big beavertail grip safeties. With a bobbed grip safety, bobbed hammer and low profile sights, the 1911 is one of the most comfortable pistols you can carry IWB.

I used to carry a Glock 26 (subcompact 9mm) and switched about a year ago to a Para Ordnance CCW (.45ACP, LDA trigger, single stack, 4.25" barrel on an officer size frame). http://www.paraord.com/product/product.html?id=35

It comes with a bobbed grip safety and hammer and low profile sights, and the shorter officer frame also helps concealment while preserving the reliability, sight radius, accuracy and comfortable shooting of the commander size slide/barrel. I put slim Alumagrips on mine to make it even thinner. I find it is much more comfortable to carry than the Glock 26, despite the general perception that the 1911 is a "big" gun and the little Glock is a "subcompact." The Glock's slide is a full quarter inch wider than the 1911's, which makes a huge difference when carrying IWB. The 1911's grip frame is also more rounded, meaning it doesn't print anywhere near as much as the blocky square frame of the Glock and many other autos. Finally, I feel much better armed with 7+1 rounds of 230 grain .45ACP than I ever did with 10+1 of 9mm, and the extra mags are also much slimmer and easier to slip into a pocket.

You can also get 1911s with bobbed main spring housings, like the Ed Brown Karry series, but they're expensive and I don't know how much it really aids in comfort and concealability.
 
CRridermike,

The Dillon "Master" holsters keep the pistol very close to your body. Honestly there is very little bulge from the front or back (It conceals easier than my BHP). The only issue is the length of the pistol.

If hawaiian shirts aren't your style, seersucker (the fabric with the little puckered wrinkles) shirts work good.


I have a Don Hume paddle holster for the 1911... the only way you can conceal the pistol with that god awful holster is by wearing an artic weight parka, or by poking everyone in the eye that looks your way.
 
I replaced my faithful Sig P-239 several years ago in favor of Officers Model clones. My current Springfield Ultra Compact is almost a dimensional duplicate of a 239 except that it is significantly slimmer.
 
You might like the all steel Kahr. K40 in either blue or stainless the same caliber as your SIG. Small, thin and light enough to carry IWB with just enough weight to keep the recoil manageable. Great carry gun.
 
What brand 1911 should I look into? I only have around $500 but I want something nice. Used is fine. I'll also look at the K series Kahr's.
 
Joey, if you're not already familiar with 1911's, you need to know that they must be cocked before firing. So either you carry it "cocked and locked (safety on)", or not. If you can, find a range with rentals or someone with one that you can try. They do come in various sizes down to 3 1/2 barrel and you should be able to find a good servicable one under $500. Look at gunsamerica.com to check prices of new and used ones.
 
Worth a mention is the Taurus Millinium Pro in .45 caliber. Its big enough that it fits my hand good, and small enough that I can carry it in my front or back pocket.
 
New 1911s are available for under $500, but I don't recommend them. They are either of questionable build quality (meaning poor reliability) or lack some of the upgrades (such as usable sights) that are pretty much mandatory on a pistol being used for defensive purposes. You want a "loaded" 1911. The best values, in my opinion, are the Springfield Armory loaded pistols and the Para Ordnance LTC and SSP pistols. Both SA and PO pistols with standard loaded features sell for around $600-650 new. For another $100 or so, you can get into a Kimber, which is generally just as good as a SA or PO. Some people think the Kimber is even better, but I'm not convinced they're worth the extra pennies. I have a Kimber, and it's a great pistol, but it's no better than my Para Ordnance SSP that was almost $200 less.

I've heard good things about Dan Wesson 1911s, too, but have no personal experience with them.

You should be able to find a good used SA, PO, DW or Kimber for $500 or a little less, but it'll take some time and effort. Buy from someone you trust, and try before you buy, if possible.

While barrels as short as 3 inches are available on 1911 style pistols, I can't recommend anything shorter than the old "commander" length -- 4.25" (SA makes a 4 inch that is probably o.k., too). Anything shorter than 4 inches is too much of a compromise. Reliability tends to suffer, as well as comfort and controlability, and those are critical factors in a defensive weapon. Besides, it's not barrel/slide length that makes a pistol hard to conceal. If you're carrying IWB, the slide is hidden, anyway, and the slim profile of the 1911 slide makes it comfortable to carry and resists printing. It's the grip frame that will tend to print through your clothing, and a shorter barrel/slide won't do anything to prevent that. To the contrary, it may make it worse. A slightly longer barrel/slide tends to help keep the pistol canted inward in your holster, so the butt rides closer to your body.
 
^ ^ ^
Not a damn thing wrong with the SA Mil-spec. Mine has a nice group at 25 yards and with well over 2,600 rounds through it, no failures.

Father Knows Best said:
I used to carry a Glock 26 (subcompact 9mm) and switched about a year ago to a Para Ordnance CCW (.45ACP, LDA trigger, single stack, 4.25" barrel on an officer size frame). http://www.paraord.com/product/product.html?id=35
Click to expand...

Oh, that's a very nice looking little package. Seems perfect for a CCW. I've got something against stainless guns though. If they had one in black or parked, I would buy it immediately. Well, assuming the LDA trigger is half as nice as they say...

-jason m
 
I'll second the hawaiian shirt bit. i have a closet full of those things And i carry a 1911. works good, they are cool (temp wise) light, and most people dont think twice about a guy in one of those.
 
I may be in a position to trade some stuff I don't use for a Dan Wesson 1911. It comes with a Galco OWB holster, are those any good?
 
Jason M:
Not a damn thing wrong with the SA Mil-spec. Mine has a nice group at 25 yards and with well over 2,600 rounds through it, no failures.
Click to expand...

The SA Mil-Spec is a well-made pistol at a bargain price for a quality 1911(under $500!). I prefer a full beavertail grip safety for high volume shooting, but the Mil-Spec one is easier to conceal if you plan on carrying it. About the only thing I really dislike about the Mil-Spec is the tiny sights. They're just about worthless. On balance, I think the SA loaded pistols are better values, because they come with useful upgrades like usable sights, beavertail grip safety, etc., at a far lower price than it would cost you if you started with a Mil-Spec and added them.
 
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