Skinny guys & the CCW

[johnle]

Alrighty, I am a pretty skinny fellow and I'll be getting my Utah CCW soon. Also hopefully if evrything works out with my police friend, the sherriff may approve my california CCW! *crosses fingers*

But here's my question whats the best set up for a skinny guy who wishes to conceal either his Steyr M9A1 or his SIG P6/225.

I'm 5'10 and 133lbs, 29inch waist, small shirt size.

 

[Claude Clay]

have your girl friend carry it in her hand bag for you.

duct tape it between your shoulder blades...yipppie yii yo ki ya

deep IWB strong side...at 4 o'clock. 20 degree rake and so deep all you can start the draw with is your ring finger. takes a fair amount of practice. i'll try to post a pic later

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I am almost as skinny as you. IWB, forward raked, approximately the 4:00 position; undershirt tucked in; loose-fitting, square-hemmed outer shirt untucked. I also go up an inch in the waistband of my pants and generally look for a looser fit in the seat and thigh. On most IWB holsters you will find four methods of retention: fore and aft belt loops, clips, J-hooks and belt straps that are an extension of the reinforced holster mouth. The first two give the flattest profile, the third I don't trust to not pull out from under my belt, and the last adds bulk (width).

 

[johnle]

those are more technical and more in depth suggestions that what my friends suggest.

"just get a seecamp"

 

[XDShooter07]

Snubbie + Clip Draw or Deep IWB. The only thing above the belt is the grip; which is super tiny. Even a full hand grip in a revolver is easy for us thinner guys to conceal because it is just as narrow; just longer; with the proper forward cant, it keeps the grip right along side your body and doesn't stick out the back of your shirt when you bend over.

 

[PointOneSeven]

I used to carry pistols that big behind my back (6:00). Not recomended by most, a little slower to draw, and a PITA to sit down, but it stays out of the way if you're going to be doing a lot of walking.

 

[TAB]

I'm a twig, 6' 135 lbs I never had a prob concealing a full lenght 1911 IWB if I had a cover shirt.

 

[Gideon]

1. slim weapons with short grips like Kahr P9, or officer's sized 1911s.
2. Extreme forward cant; get a 20 - 22 degree cant and that way the but will be pointing more straight up, even for J frame. On us thin guys, the problem with "FBI" cant or less is the the butt pokes out more to the rear and that's the point that prints. With a gun like an MK9 plus a 20 degree rake, the butt points more up. In fact, the MK9 with an IWB from HBE leather worn at 3:00 will be very easily concealed on you. That'll give you 7 rounds of 9mm in a package that is comfortable to shoot a LOT of at the range due to the weight. It's DAO and very very reliable. A J Frame would work in this rig as well.
3. Go IWB and avoid OWB. Since you're so thin you have no buldges to push your shirt out so it's a straight line vertically with the gun being a bump on the side. An OWB doesn't typically work good on that body style unless your shirt is heavier material and quite large. With IWB the pants/belt holds the shirt out and the gun closer to your side. If need be, spend the money and get pants 2" bigger and IWB is more comfortable. I wear 34's and in jeans I can IWB carry comfortably. In dockers or dress pants I buy 36's for carry and 34 for regular wear.
4. Finish your IWB rig with a decent 1.5" stiff belt and you'll be in pretty good shape. Avoid any holster that has anything more than a single layer of leather between the gun and the belt. Don't get holsters that have a clip or loop right on top of the gun. Be careful with any holster that has a reinforced lip or opening as this extra thickness can make concealment more difficult if it ends up between the gun and belt.
5. The further you go around the back from 3:00 the worse the printing will be from the butt of the gun until you start to approach SOB (small of back) and then the gun will be flat to your back and it'll conceal better but that's a dangerous place to carry a firearm.

Finally, you'll want to consider pocket carry with a J frame, Ruger LCP, Keltec P3AT, or the seecamps and NAA's. Personally I think the Seecamps and NAA's are either too costly or too heavy compared to the P3AT or LCP. J frames can be a bit bulky for some folks tastes due to the cylinder buldge.

Hope this helps
God Bless
Gideon

 

[The Bushmaster]

Those who have suggested IWB at 4:00 with an FBI rake (15* to 20*) are your best suggestions. I may be a bit shorter (5'7" 140 lbs) but that is how I carry a Kimber Ultra Crimson Carry II . In the summer time a T-shirt with a loose fitting shirt unbuttened and not tucked in. In the winter...An appendix or cross draw carry and a winter coat that snaps instead of zipper or buttons...

 

[KBintheSLC]

deep IWB strong side...at 4 o'clock.

I agree... I am 6'1" @ 155lbs. This is how I carry in a Blackhawk IWB holster. Just buy some longer shirts to cover it up and it will disappear.

 

[phast12]

I'm 5'8" 150 and i carry a 1911 or BHP at 4 o'clock. It's all about the holster and cover garment. I use a IWB Minotaur MTAC Holster with no issues.

 

[thisisdenny]

I know it's been said before, other places, but a really good belt makes a world of difference.

 

[Foxtrot427]

ankle?

 

[jjohnson]

IWB Cross Draw

OMIGAWD, No Ankle! No point in carrying if you can't get to it. Maybe one of those little Russian or Chinese gymnast teenagers we just saw on the Olympics could do it - betcha you can't. I know I cant.

I carry my Mak 380 (which is a bunch more concealable - face it, we skinny guys have a hard time concealing something like a full sized SIG or M1911) in an IWB cross draw holster, almost 11 o'clock or in a Nemesis holster in right rear pocket.

Wallet goes in left rear pocket. I don't draw left handed - I keep the gun hand free when I go for the wallet.

 

[jad0110]

Those who have suggested IWB at 4:00 with an FBI rake (15* to 20*) are your best suggestions.

Me too. I am 6'7", 205 lbs and this is how I carry my 5" 1911. Actually, it is probably at about 3:30, 25* forward rake. I hardly notice it, unless I lean to my strong side and my rib cage digs into the hammer. Anyway, with a loose fitting shirt (patterns, and not of a "clingy" material) it totally disappears. I am tempted to get a good IWB holster for my 4" 686 and see how it works.

I walked into the gunshop I frequent fairly regularly and the manager was ribbin' me a little to another gent, saying "yeah, those skinny guys can hide whatever the heck the want, they aren't limited to a Kel-Tec PF9 or Bersa 380 like us", to which I lifted my shirt up showing my gub'ment model. The manager said "see, look at THAT!!! Dangit man, he's hiding a freakin' full size 45 1911 and you can't even tell ... you suck man!"

duct tape it between your shoulder blades...yipppie yii yo ki ya

Actually, wasn't it "Yippee-ki-yay, mother [!@#$]"?

 

[safd]

"have your girl friend carry it in her hand bag for you."

That was too funny Claude.
ben

 

[-v-]

I'm in about the same boat as you. For my carry, if I am wearing a longer shirt, I do a OWB FBI cant carry at about 4-o'clock. If the shirt I am wearing is more form-fitting, then it has to be an IWB carry at about the same position. One thing that I am not too worried about is any slight bulging. Thing is, 99.99% of people out there are not checking you out to see if you have a gun, and if you are moving, the natural rippling of clothing nicely conceals any bulges from your IWB carry. Plus, in this day and age, they are more likely to write it off as a cell-phone then as a gun.

For the record, I am 5'8"/123lb with a 28" waist. I carry a XD 4" or a CZ-40P 4", without anyone ever noticing.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I'm not as slender as some of you guys, but at 5'11" 175# with a 32" waist, I find 4 O'clock IWB the best method.

The S&W 4516 is not a particularly diminutive handgun:

 

[Kleanbore]

I wish I had your problem!

Fact is, I'm shaped more like Wilford Brimley in recent years than Hugh O'Brian in his Wyatt Earp days.

Now, if anyone can give me advice other than the obvious on diet and exercise...

 

[dagger dog]

Inside the waist band at 4 o'clock with a forward rake, on skinny guys will ride right on the hip bone and after a while gets down right irratating. Try a Kydex paddle forward raked on the strong side at 4, it will ride pretty well even setting. if you want you can reverse the paddle and try it cross draw which happens to be my favorite, I'm 5'9" at 170. With either carry a short sleeve shirt with the tail out is enough to keep my SIG 226, concealed unless you're into gymnastics! Winter is no problem.

 

[Rexster]

So much depends on one's shoulder width. I can hide a 1911 or medium-to-large-framed sixgun at 0300 to 0400, with a 31" waist. I wear 38L to 39L suitcoats, to give an idea of my upper-body size. I was 6'; probably more like 5'-11" now. It is h3ll to get old.

IWB Holsters- Sparks Summer Special for several guns, Garrity Incognito for P229

OWB - Bulman FDS for P229, Sparks PMK for several guns

I left out some rigs I still use, but that are out of production. As already mentioned, a good belt is vitally important, especially with OWB rigs and heavier guns.

 

[wep45]

Just wear baggy clothes, like a sweat shirt and you can put what ever you like under it. Keep your beast ready, never know when the whip will come down.

 

[kcshooter]

IWB, forward raked, approximately the 4:00 position; undershirt tucked in

Yep. My 32" waist can disappear my commander 1911 in a D.M Bullard Dual Carry, and I wear snug-fitting t shirts. With some of the more snug ones, 5:00 positioning works better while still being readily accessible

 

[Aaryq]

As a "formerly" skinny CCW'er, what worked for me back in the day was a belly band at 10 or 11 o clock (lefty too). Try a belly band and some shirts not in small. That's what I had to do...until I got bigger.

 

[ndh87]

Man, i thought i was skinny till i came across this, haha. Im 6'0" and about 165. I have no problem carrying my G17 or full size kimber. IWB about 4 o'clock.