shoulder holsters for a fat man
 

While I post a lot on this site, I dont think I have posted on this section before. I open carried on my job for 35 years. Of course I was fat then too, wore suspenders the last ten years and guess I got used to it. I have been retired for 9 1/2 years and mostly been just packing a model 40 in my pocket. I do go on a lot of wilderness outings where I hang a revolver on my belt. I must have put on even more weight as things have gotten more uncomfortable and pulling my pants down etc. Years ago I mostly wore a heavy duty gun belt and got by. Lately I been trying to get by wearing my holster just on my pants belt and it doesnt work out well. I might try a shoulder outfit. Any of you fat guys have a good set up you like? Otherwise I guess I have to go back to my old working rigs. Yesterday I tried carrying a model 36 3" in just a holster hanging on my pants belt on a quad trip and even that was as bad as carrying my heavier handguns!

I'm a big old boy my ownself, but I have really enjoyed carrying my 3" Model 36 in a flap holster made for me by LoboGunLeather here on the forum. It carries just high enough not to be in the way when I'm on a tractor, or just tooling around in the golf cart. The holster itself is very lightweight and compact. I think I'm going to have him make one for a four inch k-frame. It would conceal ok under a slightly long jacket.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...2/IMG_2689.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...2/IMG_2693.jpg

Another fat boy here. I'm 6'3" and weigh in close to 4 bills. I've worn shoulder rigs with autos (Glocks mostly) but never a wheel gun. The only bad thing about a shoulder rig is being able to reach around your kiester to get to it.

You didn't say what wheelie you prefer to tote, but I'm guessing it's a 4 inch K or L frame...right? You might try a crossdraw holster. Galco makes their "Phoenix" which looks like a damn fine rig.

http://www.copsplus.com/products/zoom/gal-phx.jpg
http://www.copsplus.com/products/zoom/gal-phx_1.jpg

I would prefer it over a shoulder rig.

I'm not fat. Not even big boned. But if you like a 3" J frame, you might want to try one of the Safety Speed holsters meant for such. I've worn one on a regular belt. Works great and is very comfy. Safety Speed is now defunct, but an Ebay seller bought out their remaining stock and lists their stuff at good prices on there.

If you just want to try a shoulder rig, and not invest much, you could try one of the UTG rigs. They're "okay", but work better with autos.

Hi:
I am not "Fat" but "Height Challanged". I use a Galco "Miami Classic" shoulder holster with a Glock Model 22 .40. In the past I carried a S&W Model 29 4" in a similar rig.
Jimmy

Thanks guys. Yesterday was out of the norm when I packed my wifes 3" model 36. I am more prone to carrying a model 66-3 3", or a model 24-3 4". They been pulling my pants down and I thought I would try lighter and it wasnt much help. I was thinking I didnt want to wear a heavy gun belt since I retired, but think I may try to start wearing them again. I guess the extra 25 pounds since retirement done the trick! P.S. I do have a safety speed, maybe two. I am going back to a uniform belt on my next outing to see if that helps. My last years on the job I got by with color coded suspenders to match the uniform shirt, duty gunbelt and keepers. Captains left me alone as I had whiskers. I was trying to get by without all the extra weight, but guess I have to go back to what worked. Thanks again.

Who you callin' "fat" Feral?
Just because for the first time in my life due to quitting smoking 8 months ago I'm up to 190 @ 6'0"?
Harsh, very very harsh? Your right though now as my waist expands and my prospects contract, I may be forced into one as well? With elastic freakin' straps!

Well at 290 and 6ft 1" I guess I qualify as pleaseinly plump?

These dang outfits always show thier stuff on some skinny son of a gun. Bah!!!

I have worn a goodly gun belt with leather galluses fastened to the gun belt. Worked great as a 1911 with 8 mags or a 6" 27 plus 24 cartridges was very comfortable. I would post a picture but have not yet cracked the code.

You sure we ain't long lost twins? I too wear whiskers and I also wear suspenders on duty.

Luckily, my chief doesn't care, but then again...I work for a college campus police department. No, we are not security guards, though we get called that all the time. http://www.okshooters.com/forums/ima.../rolleyes2.gif

Feral, you might try a set of these from Perry suspenders.

http://www.perrysuspenders.com/perconsus2.html

The front straps are 2 inches wide and they DO NOT stretch. The strap in the back does, however. I wore a set of these until I flat wore 'em out.

Nowadays, I wear a set of Uncle Mikes suspenders. I don't wear a full duty rig either. My "duty rig" consists of a Glock 22 in a Galco "Combat Master" OWB holster, a spare mag and a Surefire G2 flashlight in a Galco "MFP" carrier and a pair of cuffs in a Galco cuff case. Those three holsters/carriers are all mounted on a Wilderness 1.75" Instructors belt with the C.S.M. insert for maximum rigidity.

Those perry suspenders are the very ones I have been wearing, thanks! The real problem is wearing a belt anymore is like trying to tie a string around a light bulb!

Yeah...I feel your pain. http://www.okshooters.com/forums/ima...es/comfort.gif

Merril;

I'm not a shoulder holster fan myself, but my old pal Mike Taurisano, of Tauris Holsters makes one of the best full body harness shoulder rigs available today. If that's the way you want to go, give him a call and tell him I recommended him to you. Here's a link to his website. My regards to your Mrs.!
http://taurisholsters.com

I'm beginning to think that those suspenders may be the way to go!
At least when I'm trying to do IWB/OWB? Hell! It may get to the point of me having to do it just to keep my pants up? I'm just having culture shock I think. Never having had a paunch in the past, I'm now on a vertical learning curve.

I tanker type rig might be the ticket, if open carry is not an issue

I was a big boy, 5"11 270lbs....now 220(or less).....2 years of everyother day/20 min on an eliptical...ate cheesecake and whatever else I wanted, freaking love handles wont go away though!.....owned em 35 years..guess I am keepin em ;)

my waist....still aint in the right spot either :D

I wear the Perry suspenders when working around the place and they seem to work well as they support the belt rather than clipping on the pants.

Who makes those pants? What does that say on the tag, I can't read it.

Thanks

On this suspender thing: You want to be carefull as to the kind of fasteners you choose. My truck seat is tore up! The perrys has a plastic one that works well. The metal snaps on the more regular suspenders can and will occasionaly come open and cause a divorice. The old button ones were pretty good but I dont think they have made pants with button holes or suspender buttons for probley 40 years now!
On the same subject: Look at a lot of old timey photos of old cowboys and lawmen wearing guns. Observe that they are wearing suspenders almost ALL the time! They knew what worked! There is a price to "look" cool. Unless you still have a bubble duppa, most of us older fat guys have a issue in keeping our pants up when packing!

Like I said earlier, I wear Uncle Mike's suspenders on duty. I also wear a set of Perry's off duty. I couldn't care less about "looking cool." I figure I can wear my galluses and look like a doofus to some or I can NOT wear 'em, let my britches fall to the ground and then look like a doofus to EVERYBODY!

The way I see it, there are two kinds of fatboys out there.

The ones that wear suspenders and the ones that SHOULD wear suspenders. ;)

When not wearing a belt, the button suspenders are the way to go as they are very comfortable, and the support for the pants is spread out over a wider area of the waistline than with the Perry's. Most of the farm and logging guys wear the traditional button suspenders around here.

You can get pants from Carhartt with the buttons for suspenders or you can buy the buttons and put them on any pants you want. No sewing required.
8-pk. Antique Brass Buttons - Duluth Trading Company

Duly stolen and saved!