The Lost Art of the Full Size Carry

Rick_A

Rick_A

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With mouse guns and thin framed subcompacts being all the rage these days, most have abandoned carrying anything in a full framed gun.

Share your tricks and tips, if you got 'em.

While I prefer a 5" 1911 IWB, I'll sometimes carry a 4" N frame. While the 1911 is fine under a tee, for the big N I prefer to carry OWB which requires a button up shirt to avoid printing.

The shirt should not be snug fitting, and should not be of a thin or flimsy material. It is preferable that it extends a couple inches past the holster, for obvious reasons.

Why carry a large gun? It's easy to conceal with some small concessions made to dress and movement. The weight is not obtrusive with a proper belt supporting it. Mainly, they are the easiest to shoot well, and while I am capable of shooting most any gun well I like to carry what I shoot best. It also allows the use of more serious calibers in barrel lengths that make better use of it.

In my case the only downside in this method of carry is some noise created between belt and holster when walking or moving about. Sitting on a bench style seat is a little problematic as the gun/holster will essentially be resting on it.

The other thing is that anyone moving in for a big hug is likely to get a bit of a shock.


20131111_020945_LLS by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

20131111_021647_LLS by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

Apologies for the dirty mirror. Darn kids...
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The lost art of the full size carry

I carry my Springfield XD 4" exclusively when carrying OWB or IWB. I purchased button down shirts for concealment at the NRA store, on line, and they have more features for that type of wear. Go on line and take a look at their stock. They are a long and plenty of room to carry both ways and they are not printable. They are expensive but no more than the Galls or other well made shirts for descret carry. Right now, they have three of them in different colors during a special with on line prices. You can save at least $10.00 on each shirt.

Nick
 
I live and work in the hot, humid salt sea air environment of Florida's Gulf Coast.

Not being a slave to fashion, and one who favors comfort over all else, I prefer light weight loose fitting (read baggy) clothes.

With such dress concealment is a breeze...pun intended.
 
You can carry a gun to fit your dress or dress around the gun. My routine urban carry is a 5" 1911 @ 3:00 and a spare magazine @ 9:00 on my belt with an un-tucked shirt over it. I switch to a Glock G20 SF or an FNH FNX-45 Tactical with two spare magazines for remote rural concealed carry. I switch to a 4" S&W 29-2 and two speed loaders for woods concealed carry.

Before I retired, a law enforcement friend bet me over beers that I couldn't conceal carry my new Desert Eagle 50 AE. I carried it all day @ 3:00 with two spare magazines @ 9:00 around senior law enforcement and no one noticed. They were surprised when I showed them before I left work.

I was in a LGS when a young guy came in. He was about 5' 6" and 125 pounds wearing jeans and a zip up hoodie sweatshirt. He told the owner that he had an S&W 500 that he wanted to sell. The owner told him to bring it in so he could look at it. He unzipped his hoodie and pulled out an 8 3/8" X-frame from a vertical shoulder holster. The gun went from his armpit to past his waist. The LGS owner and I were both shocked.
 
G19

I have several carry options. I carry a Kahr P9 but the largest gun I generally carry is a G19 which is not difficult to conceal yet effective enough for police officers to use as their duty gun.

My Browning HP is easy to conceal in an IWB because of the relative slimness of the slide, provided the right holster is selected. While I enjoy shooting my two .45s, both S&Ws, I use them for HD guns as they're a bit too heavy and thick to carry, regardless of clothing.
 
With clothing baggy enough, or when I made house calls and had my medical bag, this was and still is my ccw gun at times:
BuffaloBoretarget2_zpsae288c9b.jpg


I have to say though, that the M&P Shield is a very handy little packsge and I have carried it 90% of the time, with the little 340pd getting use whenever I'm in shorts.
 
Carried a Sig 220 for many years, both on and off duty in a Kramer IWB holster and never found it obtrusive. It was very comforting when it was used in an unfortunate off duty incident and I was glad I had it. Many of my coworkers derided me mildly for carrying a " duty weapon " off duty. They carried a variety of 2" snubbies or .380's. That's ok but I prefer something a little more substantial. As previously stated, dress around the weapon and carry as large as you are comfortable with.
 
It's not that difficult to 'Dress to Conceal' if you remember a few basic aspects. I started out (many decades ago) carrying a S&W 19-3, until '89, when I picked up G19.
My Concealed Carry Instructor was able to conceal at LEAST 5 different pistols within his 'Business Casual' attire.
There are multiple articles on the web dealing with dressing to conceal.
Here are a few Bullet Points... Some already mentioned earlier:

* If you end up carrying IWB, you'll probably need to increase your pants by one waist size (Form Fit pants are out).
** If it's a "Tuckable" IWB holster, you need to learn to 'blouse' your shirt a bit.
**If it's not a Tuckable, you may need to start wearing untucked Polos/T-shirts made of thicker/heavier (non form fitting/tailored/clingy) material.
* Heavier material doesn't print like light/clingy/form fit shirt material
* Dark Color shirts hide printing better than light colors. Stick to darker colors.
** Prints (stripes/checks/patterns) hide better than solids (like camouflage distorts hard lines).
** Untucked shirt tails need to be long enough to still cover when you reach for something up on the top shelf, or bend over to grab something from the bottom shelf. Of course, learning to reach and stoop properly helps. :)

Wherever on your body you decide to carry, you need to NOT be self-conscious about it.
* People acting self-conscious gets them 'Made' more than printing.
* People DON'T actually look for printing, but they DO notice people who act self-conscious.
 
This has been my daily carry rig for the past several years, all year round. Full size Kimber Custom CDP .45 with extra magazine. Loose fitting shirts worn untucked keep it out of sight nicely.

About the only times that I feel the need to carry anything else is when I am testing a new holster design or when I go hunting, for which I usually carry a revolver.
 

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At work I regularly conceal a 4.25" 4566. I've also done the same with a 5" 4506-1. Its not difficult. They both weigh about the same as the vaunted 1911.

A good gun belt and holster. Thats the key. Sure, my 4516 and 4513TSW are easier to carry and conceal. But I lift weights and still eat wheaties so no problem carrying full sized pistols.

And when females give me a hug and then appear surprised, I simply say; "Oh, thats my .45 but I am glad to see you!" ;) Regards 18DAI
 
I get a kick out of the Younguns that complain their plastic gun is too big and heavy to carry.

Concealment is an art that can be learned. The MASTER was John Bianchi. I want to thank the good folks at Guns and Ammo for an article they ran on concealment just over two decades ago. Here are images from that article

While Mr Bianchi is holding a firearm in his hand, what is concealed under his jacket is far more impressive.

jb1s.jpg


There are 33 firearms hidden from view in the above photograph.

jb1as.jpg


Obviously it is not comfortable to walk around with that much hardware on you. Just imagine what the ammunition for 33 firearms weighs.

On the good side, he does not have to worry about carrying a reload :)

jb2s.jpg


jb3s.jpg


jb4s.jpg


Proper holster and carefully chosen clothing and there is quite a bit that can be carried concealed with ease.

I love the 5.11 Covert Khakis. The older version had the front pocket sewn in the shape of a holster. The newer ones are sewn square. However, I have little problem pocket carrying a 327 Night Guard in those well designed pants.

I personally do not care about "PRINTING"

If there is a bulge in my pocket so what. Generally people do not look at bulges in pockets or on ankles. 95% of us never paid attention until we got into firearms and thought about concealed carry.
 
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I started out carrying 2 nickle plated 1911's. Got older , fatter and started carrying 1. Now I'm much older , fatter , bad back and have reverted to a J-frame Airweight, much easier to carry.
My experience shows that when young, strong and slim full size is no problem. As you age physical conditions limit and/or dictate what you can do, so you adjust to those factors.
Gary
 
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With all due respect, it looks to me as if it's easy to say "the weight is not obtrusive" if you don't have degenerative disk disease and spinal arthritis. At 76 those conditions make it a painful problem for me. So does the inability to afford all new pants in a larger size.

A pound and a half of steel J-frame holstered in a pocket is about the most I can handle.
 
Full size carry is easy with the proper clothing and outdoor temperature. When it get nigh on a hundred degrees and shorts and polo shirts are decor of the day...I make different choices.

Inside the waist band holsters have come a long way and made it easier to conceal full size duty weapons. Of course most of the public is paying attention to their cell phone and you could be carrying a bazooka without notice.
 
On Overlooked Point

With one exception, all of us, myself included, in describing what we can comfortably conceal, did not mention our size and weight. I'm of average size but a bit overweight so the G19 is virtually ideal for me. The larger you are, the larger the gun you may comfortably conceal.

Don't you just love those holster ads where they put a 5" M1911 on a slinky 105 lb. female? The forward holster loop is near her fly and the rear loop pretty much covers the leather label on the rear of her jeans.
 
shouldazagged said:
With all due respect, it looks to me as if it's easy to say "the weight is not obtrusive" if you don't have degenerative disk disease and spinal arthritis. At 76 those conditions make it a painful problem for me. So does the inability to afford all new pants in a larger size.

A pound and a half of steel J-frame holstered in a pocket is about the most I can handle.
Click to expand...

That's understandable. My next acquisition is likely a six shot snubbie for a more discreet carry piece, but I'm in no hurry.
 
As a LEO I normally CCW off duty my service weapon plus B/U. These was what I qualify with and was comfortable with them. Now on disability retirement I normally CCW a S&W "J Frame around home but going out I add a Glock Model 17 with an extra magazine to my person. Wife Penny CCW a S&W "J" Frame with an extra speed loader practically 24/7.
 
When I was young and thin, I routinely carried a Government Model 1911 in a Bianchi Askins Avenger holster. This was the first "expensive" holster I ever purchased, and it taught me the value of a good holster. Next, I learned the value of marrying the holster up with a good, stiff, well fitting belt. I also learned about cover garments as well. A baggy shirt is good, but better is a baggy shirt that has a pattern or plaids, or stripes, or something other than a solid colored shirt to help hide the outline of your holstered handgun. It's hot here in Texas, so if I have to use a cover garment, I'll wear a Under Armour type of T-shirt, and top that with an unbuttoned Aloha shirt, or a Cuban-type shirt. It works well, and though warmer than a regular T-shirt, you shouldn't melt. I know some guys that prefer some type of a vest (fisherman, photographer, etc.), but I think they draw unwanted attention to you (aka the "shoot me first" vest).

Regards,

Dave
 
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