Not so tall guys - what do you carry?

[BP Hunter]

Alright, we all come in different sizes and many of us carry concealed. Of course, we would like to have them concealed so we don't have to announce to the world that we are packing. I stand 5'5" only and definitely cannot conceal a full size gun completely. So I carry a Taurus 85 .38 snubbie in a IWB kholster, which by the way conceals beautifully.

Any contributions form the not so tall amoing us?

 

[Quilbilly]

Im just a few inches taller and I have three guns I carry depending on what I am wearing. An airweight, a Kahr CW9 and a Springfield subcompact .40. Get good holsters and depending on what you wear, I bet you could carry something bigger pretty easily.

Just my $0.02

 

[djs764]

I'm not much taller( 5'7" ) and I carry a S&W 1911PD Gunsite 4.25". The key is a good IWB holster, belt and a looser fitting shirt. I bought a Milt Sparks VMII and it holds the gun nice and tight to your body. The only time I print is if I have to bend foward and the butt pushes out the back my shirt.

 

[SigP229R]

I'm5'9" and carry either a P6 or a P229R

 

[texas bulldog]

5'6" here.

i generally carry either a ruger SP101 or a ruger LCP. i also hope to add a glock 26 to the mix in the near future.

 

[Pistol Toter]

It's all in how your dress! I'm 5'5" about 370lbs and an older fellow. I carry an SP101 2.25", generally in a pancake style but sometimes (read seldom) IWB or a Glock 21 always in a pancake style. Dress around the gun and you will be amazed what is possible.

 

[raskolnikov_22]

5'7", Sig P239 .40 in Kramer IWB #3. Great gun, great holster.

 

[ar10]

I stand 5'5" only and definitely cannot conceal a full size gun completely.

Horsepucky: I'm the same height and carry 6 different calibers of XD's from 9mm to .45 IWB using the same Blade-Tech holster. The guns are 3, 4, and 5", and I carry every single day of the week, driving and walking. So don't say you can't carry a full size gun. Carry the gun you're comfortable with and size doesn't matter.

 

[victoryredchevy]

I stand 5,5" as well. It's all personal preference. The sheriff that was the instructor of my concealed course was a little guy too, about my height, and he carries a full size gun during time off duty. Being a smaller guy, my personal preference is to carry something a little easier to keep secret. I carry an ultrat compact 9mm Bersa, which only has a 3.25 in barrel. That's just what I prefer.

 

[Searcher1970]

A good belt and holster is key. I'm 5'7 130 pounds soaking wet. I've carried a variety of larger handguns that conceal well on me. Position of carry is a factor too. For example, I cant appendix carry at all without a bulge showing. I have carried up to a full size 1911 at about 5 o'clock position without it showing.

Rob

 

[Gryffydd]

5'8" here...I usually carry a full size 1911 in either an IWB or a Galco Fletch. Sometimes I carry my 5" GP-100 in a pancake from Simply Rugged. Works both IWB and OWB.

I would say concealability is affected by
#1. Good Holster and BELT!
#2. Proper dress
#3. Gun Size
#4. Height
In about that order

 

[10-Ring]

Over the last 30 months, I've evolved into carrying 3 diff't guns -- S&W 442, G19 and a DW CBOB. Depending on how I dress dictates what I can carry w/ the 442 being the easiest to conceal.

 

[steven58]

5'7", 185 lbs.

Get a good holster and use a proper gunbelt and you can carry not only the gun of your choice but the rest of your EDC kit as well. I use either a Milt Sparks 1.25 leather belt or a Wilderness 1.25 nylon belt to carry the following daily: strong side, a pistol (see below), a 4" folder on horizontal holder. weak side, a Blackberry, L2 Lumamax in a vertical kydex holder and a key hanger.
In the winter all of this is under a suit jacket or blazer (and the blackberry is in the jacket chest pocket). In the summer it's under a square bottomed casual short sleeve shirt (wallet in front dockers pocket).

Currently for concealed carry I vary between the following:
a Kimber 3" .45 in a Milt Sprks VM II or an H&K P7 in a Little Bear IWB, or in a smart carry. My dress is office casual in Summer and suits or blazers in Winter.

I also use the P7 for coat pocket carry in the winter. Most of my winter coats and jackets have a DeSantis Nemesis holster safety pinned in the strong side pocket.

In the woods I use a S&W .44 mag. mountain gun in a safepacker.

In the past I have concealed a full size 1911 and a Glock 19 in various IWB holsters.

 

[WVleo]

CCW

Hi 5'5" here and maybe 190lbs ( what a man My age would call stocky LOL ) and I chose to carry a Kahr PM9 IWB. I could and have carried full size weapons . But have since found ease of carry only second to reliability for Me. You need to find what works in Your day to day life and go with it. WVleo

 

[Sapper771]

I am 5'8 and 220 lbs. I carry a Gov't model in a Galco Royal Guard IWB.
No issues, just have to dress accordingly, which isnt so easy during the spring and summer.

 

[hillbillydelux]

Im 5'9" and carry a full size 1911 in a UBG canute. Its very comfortable. Even more so than an sp101. I think anything reasonable can be concealed but if its not comfortable it pointless.Find the most comfortable setup you can conceal and go with it.

 

[Lurp]

I'm 5' 7" 175lbs and I carry a full size 1911 in a UBG IWB holster all the time. A lot of it has to do with your holster and width of the gun. A single stack gun like the 1911 makes it much more concealable than a double stack.

 

[Erik M]

taurus PT140 in .40

 

[PT1911]

I really dont get how height, within reason, would change your ability to carry a full sized weapon... body composition... sure, but not so much height. I am 5ft 8 and can carry a full sized 1911 with little problem. I am also pretty well built so that helps. If one was, shall we say, a little heftier, then if would be more difficult as cloths would hang differently. Height alone should mean little... unless you are amazingly short..


all that said, there are many available options in the subcompact variety of handguns. Taurus milleniums are a great option, as are the Kahr cw's, kel tecs, and many others.. the gun that is best for you is the gun you are most comfortable carrying... Neither I nor anyone else can tell you what that is..

 

[george29]

What the hell does height have to do with concealment. I'm 6'2" but it's all in the trunk not the legs (my inseam is only 30") so I have plenty of trouble finding shirts that are not only 4X but 4XLT. The only way I keep my gun reasonably concealed is pocket carry. Oh, and I'm fat to boot which adds to my concealment problem.

 

[mrt949]

WELL George i feel your pain 5'6 .340LBS.My uncle say's I AM SHORT AND SQUATY FAT WITH NO BODY.But at my age who cares .Pushing 60.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

At 5'8" 185 I don't consider myself short, I consider myself as not tall.
My problem is somewhere along the way I must've worked my ass off because it's just not there anymore and even a pocket full of change needs hikin up. My cc is an XD40sc and I'm looking for lighter and flatter the next time my bank account can take a hit.

 

[Redlg155]

5'5" here.

60 percent Kel Tec P380, 40 Percent HK P2000sk .40.

Sometimes I just don't have the time to strap on a holster, so the Kel Tec worn in a IWB holster works best for me. However, I do make a change. I don't wear it IWB but instead wear it OWB with the clip over my belt. It comes on and off easily and conceals very well with an untucked T shirt.

 

[george29]

My problem is somewhere along the way I must've worked my ass off because it's just not there anymore and even a pocket full of change needs hikin up.

Yeah, I think that has to do with the way the body ages. I don't work out and my hips are non exsistant anymore. I kind of get why I see older men with their pants hiked up around their midriff, maybe that's also why W.B Hickok used Huckleberry Holsters (he really used a sash tied around his midriff and rarely used a holster of any kind).

 

[ccw_steve]

I'm 5'5" as well. I have only carried a G19 in a Crossbreed Supertuck regularly, but have worn a full size 1911 without difficulty (as long as the shirt is untucked).

Sounds like you need a better holster