How do you conceal your large handgun?

[Bundesheer]

I said that before.
My EDC have to fit my life. I do not believe that I should build my life around a gun.
Especially in Texas (110 hot and very humid) I don't wanna run around like an lost Eskimo in Texas.

Carrying the weapon concealed is only the half of the story. I am able to conceal carry my Walther PPX with an N82 holster and that is a brigg.

The story is the handling when it's necessary. How fast you get to it and how to handle it is the question. The PPX or similar fell short by practicing different scenarios especially in and around cars. At least with me, you are may be much better than I am.

I handle a Shield, PT 140, PPS much easier than a PPX in an SD emergency situation. My Big Guns stay home and are used on the range and for Home defense. Different story.

 

[Rick_A]

No offense, Rick, but those photos you posted display an appearance that would convey the wrong message around here. You'd get a serious hairy eyeball, particularly right here across the street from the cop shop.

I have Royal Robbins shirts that can be worn untucked and look neat and professional, but they're in no way "lo-pro" to a cop or a criminal - they look exactly like what all the Secret Service guys down the hall from me wear when they are wearing that (their most "dressed down" for work) mode of dress. Oh, and I can just about always make their service pistols printing as they move despite the cover garment.

If you are a cop and don't really care, that's one thing. If you can pull off looking like a cop (and that's a question of physique as well as grooming - both different between the federales and the local boys, BTW) and don't mind that - great. But you're not really "concealing" . . .

None taken.

I dress the same regardless.

Homeless surfer cop, then

This thread is about carrying a full sized gun, not opinions on fashion sense.

 

[Rick_A]

I said that before.
My EDC have to fit my life. I do not believe that I should build my life around a gun.
Especially in Texas (110 hot and very humid) I don't wanna run around like an lost Eskimo in Texas.

Carrying the weapon concealed is only the half of the story. I am able to conceal carry my Walther PPX with an N82 holster and that is a brigg.

The story is the handling when it's necessary. How fast you get to it and how to handle it is the question. The PPX or similar fell short by practicing different scenarios especially in and around cars. At least with me, you are may be much better than I am.

I handle a Shield, PT 140, PPS much easier than a PPX in an SD emergency situation. My Big Guns stay home and are used on the range and for Home defense. Different story.

Large and flat carries well.

Even a large framed revolver of suitable barrel lengths with compact grips makes for a comfortable carry.

Guns like the PPX are big all around and definitely a challenge.

 

[Erich]

I dress the same regardless.

Homeless surfer cop, then

This thread is about carrying a full sized gun, not opinions on fashion sense.

Right, and my initial lighthearted post was along those lines - most professionals aren't able to dress like homeless surfer cops.

However, I'd argue that it's not really concealed if everyone in the business knows it's there. The SIG P229s that the Secret Service guys carry aren't even "full sized guns" (really), and I'd imagine everyone on this thread would note them under their cover garments while waiting for the elevator.

Part of it has to do with their mode of carry: appendix IWB under a cover garment is a whole lot more on the down-low than is an OWB rig behind the hip.

 

[Rick_A]

I work with a bunch of folks that carry daily. They don't know if or what I'm carrying unless I tell them so.

If another CCW holder or police officer can tell, so be it. Nobody has ever mentioned as much.

 

[Rick_A]

appendix IWB under a cover garment is a whole lot more on the down-low than is an OWB rig behind the hip.

Under a cover garment concealed is concealed. The rest is preference.

 

[Erich]

Whatever you feel confident with: I don't tell the Secret Service guys that they're printing, and I see them daily . . .

 

[Rick_A]

Absolutely. If it was a concern I'd be concerned.

 

[Rick_A]

Just to add, the most obvious gun I carry is a J frame in the pocket.

I doubt most people wonder if it's a J frame in my pocket or if I'm happy to see them.

 

[BAM-BAM]

......and that's a question of physique as well as grooming - .

Erich makes some good points that apply not just to the "cop look"; add age and wardrobe quality to physique and grooming.....because despite being "politically incorrect" we all profile the people around us.

As a 60 year old lawyer; fit, BMI of about 22-23, casually but neatly dressed, with neat salt & pepper hair often accompanied by one or more teenage sons or my wife.....I could probably carry an M-60 and not get more than a second glance......I don't fit/project a threat profile.

Edit: Went to the Pirate game Friday night (not carrying) my buddy (another lawyer, early 50s and retired Marine Lt. Col.) was in front of me and got "wanded" (is that a new word?) I got waived through. Go figure!

 

[Rick_A]

I'd personally rather not project a victim profile.

 

[Doug M.]

Living in a campus community, I can get by with hippie-flage. Sandals, cargo shorts, classic rock station T shirt: no one sees the G17 and spare mag, etc. Attire, however, is part of being low profile. Some clothes just scream "WATCH ME, I AM A QUESTIONABLE PERSON".

 

[feralmerril]

On my guard job we pretty much had the option of how we carried our guns. Sometimes I didnt use the heavy uniform belt and would use a pancake. For my build (fat) I found the uniform gun belt with keepers, still the most comfortable. Latter and even more fatter, I took to wearing color coded perry suspenders to match our shirts, and then wear just a pancake on my trouser belt and do away with the wider, heavier more restrictive uniform belt. But then we werent required to also carry all the extra gear that street cops do except for the pac sets which I always preferred to just carry in my hand anyway. When I hired in, in 1965, the company issued the old antique swivel flap holsters! They would slap your leg as you walked. Had one once break the swivel and holstered gun fell to the ground. Later on they issued us better stuff. When I first hired in only a few high security posts were armed. They used the world war two issued stuff. Then that summer the watts riot happened and they armed the huge department. They had to go more modern.
If I carry a belt gun now its usualy in a pancake although I still have some heavy gun belts. I mostly will wear suspenders over T shirt, and a untucked large shirt. That and hope I have some "Lead time" when nature calls.

 

[Smoke]

Under a cover garment concealed is concealed. The rest is preference.

Not exactly.

I used to go to church witha guy whose idea of "concealed" was a skin tight T-shirt over a Glunk.

There is a difference between concealed and open carry with a T shirt covering it.

If I saw you dressed as you were in the pictures I'd assume you were carrying but I wouldn't think you looked homeless

 

[Rick_A]

I dress the same either way.

With a gun there is an extra tee shirt involved and a different selection of materials, colors, and fit.

Didn't know jeans and a tee were considered threatening attire these days.

With a tight tee or tank top with a looser dark colored shirt on top it's easy to get away with.

With the N frame a tee is worn with a looser, dark, heavier material button up shirt over it.

These are very minor concessions made in order to carry my preferred guns.

Like I've mentioned, my J frame in the pocket as a backup is the most obvious of my carry pieces. Unless someone has the X ray gun vision of a few here, it's hardly an issue.

Ya'll can carry your mouseguns with your Sunday going to church duds...just don't preach to me.

 

[MrTrolleyguy]

The easy way is to ensure that the wife or girl friends is showing plenty of cleavage. It sure does work but it means that occasionally you may have to fight off the wolves.

 

[Rick_A]

No need to, sir. Some of these fellas can tell at a glance what's in her "holsters!"

 

[Smoke]

I don’t walk around looking to see who might be carrying or not but if I happen to notice a “tell” I look a little closer.

Certain types of clothing or logos make me give a second look. Anything NRA or a specific gun brand I look a little closer and generally I’m right (Which is one of the reasons I avoid such clothing). Any kind of “tactical” clothing I just assume you’re carrying.

I used to have a “friend” that always wore a suit when he was carrying because in his words it “made him feel like a cop.”

 

[feralmerril]

Thats why I like doughnuts.

 

[JohnSW]

I used to have a “friend” that always wore a suit when he was carrying because in his words it “made him feel like a cop.”

I vaguely recall reading that, at least years ago, (New York?) detectives had their suits specially tailored to better conceal their guns.