New to CCW

[Drgong]

I am now planning on getting a CCW permit (North Carolina) and was wondering what options you would recommend for a portly guy.

The guns intended for CCW are a Rossi 641, a Charter Arms .44 Spl, and I have a S&W model 36 for when I need small form. (I am a wheelgun type of guy) What type of holsters, hits, guides, and so on are for someone who has never CCW ever?

 

[SARDiver]

I like the IWB holster for everyday carry. (Versa Max II, actually.) You might find you need to think about an auto, since the width of a wheelgun will tend to print more.

I find that carrying just past the midline of my waist is the way to go. If you push the holster too far back on your hip, when your belly pulls your shirt taught up front, you will end up printing quite badly.

 

[N003k]

I'm a bit more rounded myself, carry IWB also with a CZ83. My ah...roundness actually helps conceal the gun a bit.

 

[Jenrick]

If your a big guy, carry OWB. I'm a good sized guy and can easily carry a full size USP with a tac light attached OWB with just a button down over it. That's my normal every day CCW. There is no reason to give up the comfort and speed of an OWB when your large, we can conceal something a lot easier then the little toothpicks can. Take advantage of that.

-Jenrick

 

[SARDiver]

That depends on how you carry your weight, sir. If you tend to wear your pants a little lower and have "love handles", you will tend to push the top of the rig outward, and make it more conspicuous.

 

[MedWheeler]

A good compromise between IWB and OWB is ITB-carry. This is an IWB holster worn between the belt and pants ("inside-the-belt".) The belt smoothes over the profile a little more than OWB-carry, and you don't have the combo thrust into your pants. The tradeoff is that you still need as much of a cover garment as with OWB-carry.