Concealing big guns - how?

[Neumann]

An IWB holster offers the best concealment, under an untucked shirt, sweater or any waist-length garment. Both the grip and barrel are held close to your side. I find a revolver is easier to conceal than a pistol, but manage well enough with either.

An N frame cylinder is only about 1/8" larger than that of an L-frame, and L-frame about the same compared to a K frame. A round butt is less likely to print. The big issue is barrel length. IMO, a 4" barrel is about the limit, and 3" is more comfortable when sitting or walking, and easier to draw quickly. A 6" or longer barrel in any frame size is probably best concealed in a shoulder holster. I'm most comfortable with a 4" or shorter pistol, but not averse to a 5" 1911.

Another question is where on the belt? I suppose anywhere between 2:00 and 5:00 is okay. It works best for me with the mouth at 3:00, a compromise between comfort and accessibility. That places a pistol about 0:30 rearward of a revolver.

 

[Shoebox1.1]

I got lucky today and won an auction on a new Kramer Thomas perfectionist for my 686 4inch! It’s black, would have perfered mahogany but I saved about 60 bucks over new and don’t have to wait 4 months. I do have one being made for a Ruger but this is pretty cool. 4 kramers in the house and I’ll be able to conceal 4 and 5 inch guns

 

[magyars]

Here is another good holster for a 4" N-Frame (Here holding a 25-9 in .45 Colt); a "Hank Sloan" made by Doc Barranti. Carries tight to the body and feels great.

I liked the looks of this holster enough to go order one!
Thanks!

 

[Shoebox1.1]

I got my Thomas perfectionist for 686 Although I won’t have the gun for another month. I kinda stuffed my match champion in there just to see what it feels like. Very nice. Tucks tight. I’m very pleased

 

[Shoebox1.1]

Well I’m out and about with my 686 no dash in a Kramer Thomas perfectionist holster at about 2:00. I like how concealed it is

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

A 4 in 29 carries easily behind the bib of semi tight overalls.

 

[crazyphil]

I consider a 1911 Colt .45 a fairly big gun and I like to carry it in a Milt
Sparks Summer Special.

 

[cal45]

Bell Charter Oak IWB Grizzly Bear works great for my 629 PC.

 

[LimaCharlie]

It all depends on your physical size, shape, and how you dress.

We had a young woman in the LGS looking for concealed carry. She was very petite and wore low-cut tank tops, skin-tight jeans and high heels. She would not change what she wore. She ended up with an NAA Mini-Mag 22 revolver.

We had a young guy wearing an oversized zip up hoodie in the LGS. He was around 5'6" and 130 pounds. He asked the owner if he was interested in buying an S&W 500 Magnum. The owner asked if he had it with him. He said yes. The owner asked him to bring it in. He opened the hoodie and pulled an 8 3/8 inch S&W X-frame out of a shoulder holster. The LGS owner and I were shocked.

 

[T-STAR]

Like others have said start with a good stiff belt. After that I use Simply Rugged pancakes. Get them with the in-out loops and you can go from OWB to IWB . I have concealed N frame Smiths and even Ruger Blackhawks. Both under a Carhartt Henly shirt.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Didn’t magnum just Mexican carry a government model? Iirc that’s what it was. Great show

Correct. Easy to do for the few minutes you're shooting a scene for TV.

Ultimately, your definition of what is considered a big gun is going to play a factor here, as is your body size/shape, the type of holster you’re using, your manner of dress/willingness to adjust your wardrobe, what types of attire are commonly worn in the area where you will be, and just how concealed the gun needs to be in order to make you comfortable.

All true.

I'm a chubby ,short guy and large, heavy guns on my belt (a top notch, purpose made gunbelt) are, literally, a drag!

But I like the responses, and I might try one of the examples above one of these days.

 

[smithra_66]

http://smith-wessonforum.com/concea...689000-change-edc.html?posted=1#post141596241

This might be a dead horse question but I simply do not know the actual answer. I put it on another thread (see above) but it's really a stand alone issue and I want to omit discussions about gunfights - just this one question:

How do you CONCEAL a large handgun?

Please, no open carry responses - legal concealment is the issue here not legal open carry.

Anyone can carry an N frame, even an L frame, or a "service sized" pistol, but concealment is paramount.

I own any number of large frame pistols and revolvers and can shoot all of them but at no time would I consider attempting to conceal carry one. J frames, snubby K frames, compact 9mms and .45s. and even some mouse guns are the stock in trade for the average citizen who carries a gun concealed. I want to know how you aficionados of N frames and service sized pistols go about your day carrying one of those hand cannons concealed.

Gracias in advance!

I carry a 1911 or 92FS in a Kramer belt scabbard with nothing more than an untucked dress shirt. Very easy to conceal. The holster keeps the gun tight behind the strong side hip, and a good belt and 34" or less waist line helps.

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

From another point of view, I've spent the last fifty years learning to shoot a J frame to the point that I'm very comfortable in the choice, a 442. If I want a big boomer I'll buy a 340 PD. Might anyway just to lose another 3oz. Big guns are a pain in the,hip.

 

[someguyfromnc]

IME the easiest way to conceal big guns is with a holster with 20-30 degrees of cant. I know it depends on the person but I cant do the normal straight or 10 degree cant.

 

[A10]

I carried my 6.5 inch 29 in a shoulder rig. My 4 inch Nframes work well in a pancake holster. I use a good belt and suspenders so I don't embarrass myself in public!

My 1911s are good to go with an IWB. Of course, I'm an old fat guy so hiding stuff ain't much of a problem....

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

Attache case, strong one....and a knife or three.

 

[pacecars]

As others have said IWB with a good quality gun belt. This is a John Linebaugh .500 Bisley Vaquero in a Barranti Summer Classic. It is definitely what you would call a “big gun”

 

[Shoebox1.1]

I’d say “your covered” for any game in North America !

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

I carried full size handguns because I wear a sportcoat and I prefer OWB holsters. Windbreakers are a option too.

 

[steelslaver]

I am 6'3" and 300# and regularly carry a N frame 2 1/2" 325 45acp in a pancake holster between 2 and 3 o'clock. I often just wear a 4X extra long T shirts use a heavy belt, but a big part of it is the gun is really light so it don't move around or try to lay out at all.

The vast majority of people flat are not looking at you that hard. Those that are and know what to look for may well see more than you think. Those people are NOT who I worry about, because they some of the least likely to cause me an actual problem. But, then I live in a state that has permitless carry and if a LEO notices anything he would have ZERO reason to act on it in anyway.

The very first rule of carry should be don't look like a any kind of a problem in the first place. In the second, do not attract attention. If you look "normal" and "harmless"eyes slide ride over and off you.


Then there is the fact a good share of the population wouldn't notice a M60 sit up on a tripod on isle 5 unless it started firing.