Of course you can't conceal a full sized...

[marinevet]

I carry several different makes, and models of handguns, depending on what I may be wearing, but a 5" Ed Brown in a Milt Sparks IWB holster is one of them……a good gun belt, and a
t-shirt is all that is needed.

Semper Fi!

 

[Doug M.]

Quality holster; quality belt (REALLY REALLY important); dress around the gun. You have get your priorities right.

 

[federali]

Concealment and Comfort

I've carried a Browning HP in a custom made IWB that carries and conceals very easily. Loaded, I think the gun goes about 36 ounces. I feel this about the limit for me, weight-wise, for comfort.

I've carried my 5" Model 1911 which, loaded, is probably tipping the scale at 40 ounces or so. To support that weight, you really need to cinch up your belt to hold the gun in place and to keep your pants from drooping although that is now the popular style of dress in some circles.

Many of today's IWB holsters have unnecessary layers of leather which adds to thickness and discomfort. The less leather, the better. However, I'm not a fan of Mexican carry.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

My daily carry piece is a full-size 1911 Kimber Custom CDP, usually with nothing more than a loose-fitting shirt for cover. Been doing it for years and years. Back in the days when I was working plainclothes the suit coat or sportcoat made it really easy. Now I don't need to make an impression, so it's even easier.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I've carried a Browning HP in a custom made IWB that carries and conceals very easily. Loaded, I think the gun goes about 36 ounces. I feel this about the limit for me, weight-wise, for comfort.

I've carried my 5" Model 1911 which, loaded, is probably tipping the scale at 40 ounces or so. To support that weight, you really need to cinch up your belt to hold the gun in place and to keep your pants from drooping although that is now the popular style of dress in some circles.

Many of today's IWB holsters have unnecessary layers of leather which adds to thickness and discomfort. The less leather, the better. However, I'm not a fan of Mexican carry.

Your belt could use some help. Anything that you need cinch up uncomfortably tight is inadequate to support the weight. You might want to consider a purpose-built gun belt that will carry the weight more comfortably.

Best regards.

 

[SW01SS]

Tips to avoid printing? I see a lot of you guys are saying you just carry with an untucked shirt over it. Well when I try that its fine if Im standing fully upright. If I bend or lean in any direction, sit down, kneel down, ect. the shape of the gun, particularly the butt of the grip will print through my shirt. I've tried all the positions on the clock, I only have a cheap blackhawk holster, I'm sure a quality holster would make a difference but even if I just stick it in my pants with no holster it will still print if I do any kind of activity other than standing perfectly upright and still, not moving.

 

[Alpha Sierra]

Tips to avoid printing? I see a lot of you guys are saying you just carry with an untucked shirt over it. Well when I try that its fine if Im standing fully upright. If I bend or lean in any direction, sit down, kneel down, ect. the shape of the gun, particularly the butt of the grip will print through my shirt. I've tried all the positions on the clock, I only have a cheap blackhawk holster, I'm sure a quality holster would make a difference but even if I just stick it in my pants with no holster it will still print if I do any kind of activity other than standing perfectly upright and still, not moving.

I can guarantee you that you cannot see a full size Glock 17 on me if I wear it in a Brommeland Max Con V holster and a Wilderness Instructor CSM belt. The stiffness of the belt, the location where the holster is designed to ride, the vertical position of the handgun in relation to my belt line (dictated by the holster's design) and the cant of the pistol in the holster (again driven by holster design) all combine to make a pistol (that most say is difficult to conceal) completely disappear no matter how I move.

Everything has to work as a system. With all due respect if all your sum total of experience is with a cheap Blackhawk holster and a casual belt, you don't know what you don't know about concealment.

Good concealment gear is not inexpensive. Most quality kydex holsters that are actually concealable start at $60 and go up from there. For good leather the starting point is right at the $100 mark. Between the Brommeland holster and the Wilderness belt that I mentioned, there's close to $190. And the belt is just as important, and in some cases MORE important than the holster attached to it.

Look here for an idea of what I am talking about.

 

[baccusboy]

I carry a S&W 1911 BobtailSC, which is an alloy commander. That means it's several ounces lighter for carry (but still not light). I can hide it really well. How well? Here is my comparison video showing two holsters by Milt Sparks. I currently carry with a Milt Sparks Nexus, and this combination is very nice. There are also several other quality holsters for less, that take less time to get. If you want cheap/fast/decent, go with Aliengear holsters or Foxx Holsters. They are a kydex holster, but work well.

In all honesty, I sold my Ruger LC9 because I could just as easily/comfortably hide and carry my 1911 Bobtail SC. I have since purchased a Ruger SR9c that I love, which is even easier to carry, but both are nice.

See here, and you'll see how well a 1911 hides:

Milt Sparks Nexus and VM2 Holster Comparison, 1911 Commander - YouTube



Enjoy!

 

[Shorty 45 MK2]

Tips to avoid printing? I see a lot of you guys are saying you just carry with an untucked shirt over it. Well when I try that its fine if Im standing fully upright. If I bend or lean in any direction, sit down, kneel down, ect. the shape of the gun, particularly the butt of the grip will print through my shirt. I've tried all the positions on the clock, I only have a cheap blackhawk holster, I'm sure a quality holster would make a difference but even if I just stick it in my pants with no holster it will still print if I do any kind of activity other than standing perfectly upright and still, not moving.

Is your shirt about one size larger than you would normally wear?

Also a good gun belt and good holster REALLY helps.

When bending over bend with your legs not your back. (Helps your back as well. )

 

[JJEH]

Well, I hope you gave him some advice on how to do it...

 

[islamoradamark]

i bought a very sturdy belt right here on this forum just for my gun it was built good, no canting and holds tight to my body

 

[Alpha Sierra]

Is your shirt about one size larger than you would normally wear?

Also a good gun belt and good holster REALLY helps.

When bending over bend with your legs not your back. (Helps your back as well. )

All excellent advise.

One more thing. When I first started carrying concealed I was ultra paranoid and would only carry a J frame IWB because that was the only thing I thought I could make work.

As I grew more experience and saavy with creating a holster/belt/shirt system I noticed that the size of pistols I could conceal effectively (notice I did not say totally) grew and grew.

The bottom line is that 99.9999% of the people out there are utterly oblivious to you and any slight bulges that might appear for a few seconds as your clothes drape over you.

I've been carrying for nearly 8 years now in ALL kinds of situations, with ALL kinds of guns large and small, and in ALL kinds of places and got made only once because of a poor choice of holster for the application. Nothing was said to me by the person who noticed. My wife told me, she said she saw the guy's eyes bug wide and he simply walked off without a word. Nothing ever came from that.

 

[Donn]

I've found concealing a full size handgun isn't so much an issue as carrying that heavy thing around all day.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

It is definitely a matter of want to and dressing around the gun. Omitting pocket carry (so easy with the right gun; it's my standard mode of carry) I used to routinely carry my CS-45 IWB under a simple vest. Nobody noticed. I got heavier myself so I switched to an OWB; still nobody notices. One day recently I had to go somewhere that I thought called for more than just a J-frame in my pocket so I put a full sized SIG SP-2022 into its OWB holster, under a best, AND carried the Model 642 in my pocket, too. Nobody noticed and my pants didn't fall off! A good belt is a must!

As for bending down, I don't do that any more if I can help it. Old joints require that if something drops it better be important before I bend to pick it up! But if I do, and if I have an OWB gun under a vest, I just clamp my arm over it as a bend my knees. Nobody notices....

People who KNOW I carry a gun don't notice; I can't worry about people who don't know I'm carrying since they have no clue what to look for, anyway.

***GRJ***

 

[Rangerpat]

Years ago I carried a 5" 1911 in a *******. holster (OWB, small of back /horizontal carry) for a few years with no problems.
I either wore a jacket or a untucked shirt to cover it.

 

[Big Cholla]

My wife stands 5'2" and weighs 120. She carried a Colt Government Model Commander in 38 Super for years in a shoulder holster under any one of several ladies' jackets. One time in 10 years did a Security Officer in Dillards ask her if she was carrying concealed. She drew herself up and said, "Sir, thank you for asking, but any bulge you see on my side is my Colostomy Bag." She said the poor guy turned red and almost melted away. Older now, she carries a S&W M 640 stoked with a good SD round. ...................Big Cholla

 

[Digvideo]

I love my 1911 in a low cut, fast draw, IWB leather holster by Tucker leather
That said, my Glock 9 is high capacity and I can put rounds quicker on target, many say that's a better carry choice , but, I still love my 1911.
Hopefully the first shot will be on target.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I also carry a steel Colt Commander with a Brown & Pharr clip that secures under the right grip panel and has a flat "finger" that runs along & parallel to the slide. Tuck it anywhere and it stays in place.