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Old 02-19-2012, 03:48 PM
Hatz Hatz is offline
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Default Shoulder Rig and IWB Holsters

Before I spend $200 on a shoulder rig, I have a question for you hefty guys out there. Can big guys wear this holster and wear it comfortably? I know being big dont give you all the options as a smaller guy. Are there any IWB holsters that are good concealed carry for us big guys?
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Old 02-19-2012, 04:42 PM
martywinston martywinston is offline
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Check out Cell Pal from Concealed Carry
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Old 02-19-2012, 04:56 PM
C Islander C Islander is offline
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I'm not a big guy, but I do carry IWB and with a shoulder holster. I find that you have to dress around either style. IWB requires loose fitting pants and a larger belt since you will be adding as much as two inches to your waist. Shoulder holsters are great, but can be hard to conceal. I only carry this way when I'm wearing a jacket.
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Old 02-19-2012, 05:00 PM
Rule 303 Rule 303 is offline
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I'm 6'3" and weigh 240 pounds. I carry several different Summer Special and Kydex IWB holsters in the summer for different pistols. I alsw wear a Jackass Shoulder Holster for different guns. I suggest that if you get a shoulder Holder, get the wide shoulder Straps, its more comfortable.

I can carry any gun I want with these holsters. Anything from an N Frame to a Government Model 1911 or smaller.

Rule 303
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Old 02-20-2012, 09:23 PM
Arik Arik is offline
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Im 6'1 and 170lbs and have no problem concealing a 1006 or a 5946 in a crossbreed iwb holster. Not much experience with shoulder rigs but the cheesy one I do have, and worn a few times, conceals fine but not in summer.
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Old 02-20-2012, 10:21 PM
Mphstiger1981 Mphstiger1981 is offline
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6'2" 235. Can't speak to the expensive shoulder holster matter. I had a Bianchi shoulder rig for my S&W Model 28 about 30 years ago and could never get it to fit me right. As for the IWB, I like to buy my pants a size larger in the waist to allow for my IWB holster rigs. My wife does not approve of this practice because she says the pants are too big for me in the seat, and the belt bunches up in the back. I can wear my IWB rigs with my regular pants, but they are just not as comfortable.

Before you go out and buy a new wardrobe, I'd suggest you might want to begin with a good thin Kydex IWB holster from a company like BladeTech or something similar. After you pick up your holster you might go to Wally World and try on some inexpensive khakis a size or two larger and see what works best for you personally. We can all give you advice about what works for us, but you're the one who has to wear this stuff, not us.
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Old 02-22-2012, 03:41 PM
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joespapa joespapa is offline
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Im 6' and 250 lbs and cannot stand to carry iwb. Very uncomfortable for me. I find that my gut/luv handles make it so . I carry a j frame either owb (2;00-2;30) or pocket and a k frame snubby in an upsidedown (very comfortable) shoulder rig.
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Old 02-22-2012, 05:58 PM
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TexinMaine TexinMaine is offline
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6'4" 305 here. I have never used a shoulder rig but there is an undershirt called "The ultimate holster" or something along those lines that looks very comfortable. I have almost always carried IWB. My only suggestion would be to make sure it has a sort of sweat guard or extra material above the holster to keep the hammer from digging into the fat.

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Old 02-22-2012, 07:13 PM
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Silversmok3 Silversmok3 is offline
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A shoulder rig is a very good way to carry a weapon without taxing your pants with the weight of the weapon and magazine. Being a skinny guy I can hide any gun I want, but add in a double-stack magazine and it looks like im a cable repairman hiding a cordless drill under my shirt.

The Galco rig I ordered came with very long straps. Big guys won't have a problem fitting the rig. I would highly recommend the fitment instructions are followed to the letter in the package, and do your best to comfortably tuck the holstered weapon as close to your armpit as possible for best access. It won't look 'right' as one is typically used to the Hollywood image of shoulder holsters keeping the gun hanging by the waist,but those guys never needed to draw a firearm in a life or death situation.

Either have a large mirror handy or a second person to ensure the spiderweb of the horizontal shoulder rig is centered properly.Once that's done and you wear it consistently for a week the weight will disappear from your awareness.
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Old 02-22-2012, 11:14 PM
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talaub talaub is offline
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^^^ "The Galco rig... I would highly recommend the fitment instructions are followed to the letter in the package, and do your best to comfortably tuck the holstered weapon as close to your armpit as possible for best access"[/SIZE][/SIZE][/I]

I also tried IWB for a month and quit cause I just dredded the fit, feel and access (drawing and holstering). Took me a month for the Galco Miami Classic to arrive. Let the straps stretch for a few days while wearing, then adjust to final fit. Very comfortable, easy draw. Absolutely love it. Biggest advantage I see is the ease of wear and use while getting in and out of vehicles and driving...perfect access to your weapon. You can also watch / see that your trigger will not be interfered with when re-holstering.
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Old 02-23-2012, 09:57 AM
Chuck1217 Chuck1217 is offline
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For some reason I have never had an issue with buying 2-size larger pants to carry IWB. My carry-guns are less than 1 1/2" wide, in the first place, but the big thing is, I never wore tight pants anyway. I have some older jeans I wear when doing yard-work, and they are 2" too big- I lost 70 pounds over the last couple years. But when I cinch them up enough to hold the gun tight, I have these huge- well, pleats- all around my waist. You know, the extra material kinda gathers in places.
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1911, bianchi, bladetech, concealed, galco, j frame, k frame, kydex, model 28, snubby

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