Maybe it's just me.

[lrb1200]

There always seems to be talk about the weight of the firearm.

I don't get it, maybe because I'm 6' and 200 lbs.

With the proper holster with proper belt or harness
there isn't anything I own that I can't carry
all day in comfort.

 

[chief38]

There always seems to be talk about the weight of the firearm.

I don't get it, maybe because I'm 6' and 200 lbs.

With the proper holster with proper belt or harness
there isn't anything I own that I can't carry
all day in comfort.

IMHO size, weight and bulk vastly contribute to how a firearm can & can't be comfortably carried, depending on dress, climate conditions and carry methods.

These days we live in a warm climate and my daily dress is usually a T shirt and Cargo Shorts so pocket carry became my best option. A large, heavy and bulky pistol just won't "cut it"! I EDC a Sig P365 which puts a lot of meaningful firepower in a very small and light package and is able to comfortably and conveniently be carried in the pocket of my Cargo Shorts. I carry for many hours at a time and do not care to wear excessive clothing to hide a large hand gun.

I guess if you routinely carry a gun, live in a cooler climate and usually wear a suite, sports coat, sweater or jacket, then options become greater. I like to fit in dress-wise and don't want to have to wear ridiculous clothing to dress around a gun. I LMAO when I see someone who is wearing a photographer's vest with shorts in 90º plus temperatures - and has no camera equipment.

While some can learn and train themselves to carry any size hand gun, I truly can't understand why if there are better options readily available. I know some here carry a 4" - 5" M681 (or similar) 357 Magnum on a daily basis, but that gun shoots the same cartridge as a 2.5" M66 and even some smaller J Frames. While the larger frame gun will admittedly be easier to shoot fast and control with less practice, there is much to be said for practicing with a smaller SD weapon to learn how to do that as well.

The very reason I retired my M60-7, 5 shot .38 Spl. and now carry a Sig P365 is that the Sig weighs in at 5 ounces less, is smaller, less bulky, shoots better and is more accurate than the J frame. Add the fact that I went from 5 rounds to 11 rounds on board and easier and faster reloading, it's a no brainer to me. The stopping power of the ammo I carry in the Sig is more powerful than what I carried in the J Frame and so that decision was easy to reach.

I always say, "to each his own" and everyone needs to do what they have to do. To me, a lighter and smaller package that shoots the same or equivalent cartridge is just something that I can't over-look. YMMV

 

[Breakaway500]

If I'm out for a dog walk Ill carry most anything down to a Minx. My threat level is low. If I leave my property the minimum nowadays is a 38 J frame. Having any gun is better than no gun, when needed.

 

[smoothshooter]

A lot depends on body shape. I am older, and have problems with my pants slowly working down as I walk unless wearing suspenders. This is common with those of us who have developed a little larger belly and a smaller "old man butt". Keeping my pants up is a problem. And that is with a few basic items in my pockets before adding any gun. I do not have a big belly, either.
Adding a gun and a few extra spare rounds that weighs over about 32 ounces total is a real problem. An LCP Max or an Air-Weight revolver is about all I can do without having saggy pants.
Then there are the oppressively hot and humid late springs and summers here in SW Missouri. I am miserable anytime the temps are over about 85 to 90 degrees, and refuse to wear extra clothes to cover up a gun.
So with me, most of the time, if it won't fit in my right-front pants pocket, I 'aint carryin' it.

 

[Mark8]

With the proper holster with proper belt or harness there isn't anything I own that I can't carry all day in comfort.

I guess the crux of the matter is "anything I own"...

 

[Heinz]

I carry a S&W 66 4", a 3913NL, a Sig 220, a 5906TSW, and a Walther p22.

I really do not notice much difference in the carry comfort, the P22 and the Sig220 are the easiest to carry.

But, they are carried on good gun belts in good holsters, and that, to me, makes a huge difference. The P22, obviously the lightest I forget I have on which is a bit of a disadvantage.

I am just under 6ft 175 ponds and durn near 78 years old. Your mileage may vary. Carry what you like

 

[haywood]

I carry a J-Frame in my pocket and either a Glock 26 or Springfield XDM 3.8 in the waist. With reloads, flashlight, pepper Gell, knife, and a few other things, I went with a steel core Bigfoot CCW Belt. Some days, do to a lot of activity, my back gets pretty tired. That's when the Glock 26 gets carried. If I have an extended activity day such as all day yard work, I greatly reduce carry but, always have the J-Frame. I'm in the 200 lbs range and 71 years old. I carry all this under Carhartt T-Shirts and Cargo Shorts for four months of the year in Florida. The rest of the year is in Ohio. In Ohio you roll the dice on the weather and dress appropriately.

 

[Paul in Nevada]

I am 6' 175lbs and a P320C is pushing it for me. Anything heavier can be awkward. Does the extra 25lbs really make a difference? As smoothshooter observed, your butt shrinks when you get older and soon there is nothing but optimism holding your pants up. A good gun belt is a must. I have switched to the type with the ratcheting buckle instead of the old post and hole style. You get a lot more fine adjustment and you can do it on the fly without anyone noticing.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

There always seems to be talk about the weight of the firearm.

I don't get it, maybe because I'm 6' and 200 lbs.

With the proper holster with proper belt or harness
there isn't anything I own that I can't carry
all day in comfort.

I basically agree with you, with two caveats. One, proper clothing is required for concealment, and two, things may change a bit with age.

I find it much easier to carry here in MA, where the weather is often much cooler. A 4" N frame certainly needs at least a shirt, and better a vest or jacket, for concealment. Usually only the least of these is suitable in the summer.

With age may come changes in musculature, or even total structural alignment, which may make heavier pistols a slight problem, at least over time. Often a better belt, or even a shoulder holster, may help with this, but addressing the physical differences is better, if possible.

I think your outlook is correct, but there ARE real reasons for some of the others' concerns. Finding the right carry-rig/clothing combination is probably part of the answer, and correcting the physical condition, if necessary, may be another part.

 

[wuluf]

I'm 5'9" and 175 lbs and have a bad lower back and sprung hips. Used to carry a full sized steel 1911 owb. Transitioned to a 3" aluminum framed kimber. Then a p365. Now it's mostly a sig .380. Weight is the factor on how much it hurts or doesn't!

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk

 

[Old cop]

I'm also 6'2" & 200 lbs, but with back and hip problems I can't tolerate anything heavier than about 12 ozs., loaded. Everyone's different . . . .

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I started carrying a Colt New Frontier 22 in Highsch School around the farm, as I aged I got into a S&W 39-2, K-Frames, N-frames, 1911's and even a Desert Eagle in 50 AE.

The top three things for carrying are:
1) Belt
2) Holster
3) Attitude, I never met a man that could, when he believed he couldn't!

Ivan

 

[Laketime]

The current day gun guy despite his size can't tolerate carrying anything much heavier then his cell phone.

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

Went on the PD fifty years ago. The old guys would see me in the locker room with a .45 auto under my jacket and say enjoy it while you can. They all had hip pain from carrying duty size weapons for multiple decades.

Now I am one. I carry as small and light as I can. A 442 and a G42 depending on dress and weather. The Glock hides and carries better, but I'm uncomfortable with striker fired guns. The J frame makes me feel secure, and I've trained with it extensively.

Between gun, ammo, radio, flashlight, mace, handcuffs, nightstick and leather gear you're carrying a major load. Oh yeah, a vest too. Now put that all together on a 90 degree day. It's a young man's job. I am so happy to only carry a little gun, retirement is a blessing. I only carry OWB, 4 o'clock, yeah even a tiny 380 hurts now.

 

[GerSan69]

There always seems to be talk about the weight of the firearm.

I don't get it, maybe because I'm 6' and 200 lbs.

With the proper holster with proper belt or harness
there isn't anything I own that I can't carry
all day in comfort.

First thing I thought was "Well good for you!"

I'm 5-10 and 215. I've carried for 40+ years, all sort of guns and all sorts of weights.

I was a uniformed cop for 35 of those, which I call something like being a linebacker 5 days a week. If you aren't walking or running with an unbalanced load wearing on certain parts, you're sitting in low-bid car seats that dig in some parts while they don't support others at all. Much of it is like getting hit, over and over in the same places.

Every bit of this wears on your frame and muscles and can lead to permanent problems. Cops chronically have bad backs or hips. I have a damaged sacroiliac that's hurt for over 25 years, an artificial shoulder and knee, and 7 or 8 surgeries to repair various damaged parts.

I'm not complaining... I had a GREAT time getting in this bad of shape!

What I am saying is that we are all unique. No one is built precisely the same. I'm glad for you that you don't - so far! - have issues carrying whatever you want. But give us another 5 or 10 years of wear and tear, and then tell us how you feel!

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

GerSan, I laughed when I read your low bid car seat comment. I had totally forgotten that part. And the guy in the earlier shift who weighted 300 plus crushing the springs before turning it over. Who ruined every seat in patrol division.

I've noticed a lot of the big gun fans never carried for a living.

 

[alwslate]

Those of us that are in our "golden years" and have chronic low back pain cannot carry very much weight on a pants belt without pain.

 

[Miracle Man]

A lot depends on body shape. I am older, and have problems with my pants slowly working down as I walk unless wearing suspenders. This is common with those of us who have developed a little larger belly and a smaller "old man butt". Keeping my pants up is a problem. And that is with a few basic items in my pockets before adding any gun. I do not have a big belly, either.
Adding a gun and a few extra spare rounds that weighs over about 32 ounces total is a real problem. An LCP Max or an Air-Weight revolver is about all I can do without having saggy pants.
Then there are the oppressively hot and humid late springs and summers here in SW Missouri. I am miserable anytime the temps are over about 85 to 90 degrees, and refuse to wear extra clothes to cover up a gun.
So with me, most of the time, if it won't fit in my right-front pants pocket, I 'aint carryin' it.

That's me as well LOL

I'm 5'9" and 189 lbs. and dropping. My behind is shrinking faster than my belly. If I carry any kind of "heavy gun" my pants will start crawling down in short order.

Oh I'll carry my 1911 if I'm planning on not being out very long or very far and like you put on suspenders. But for any kind of mid to long outing it's the Sig P365 for me. So much more comfortable, so much less pulling my pants up and adjusting everything.

Weight and size matter for me.

 

[BabaBlueJay]

I'm 6' 2" and 230, in the 1000 lbs club lifting for the 3 major lifts, and I couldn't handle carrying my 686 all day so I bought a dedicated carry gun. If you can do it all day in comfort, power to you, but I won't be joining you in that. It's not unbearable, it's just noticeable in a bad way, but to each their own. I'll take my little J Frame all day every day over a full size gun, but everybody is different.

 

[sousana]

I've always carried an all steel 1911 with two exceptions:

1. Caspian arms Titanium frame, have two
2. Safari Arms Matchmaster, Cohort, Black Widow, all have extra steel under the grips adding about 1 to 2 ounces to the pistol. Of these I have nearly 30. As you can tell I absolutely love them. The only Safari's I have that are all standard 1911's are the one's they produced back in the 80's called the Safari GI, basically it was a Matchmaster frame under a milsurp slide with no marking but after a call to Safari I found that they were made by Essex.