Who carries a full size concealed?

[keith44spl]

An N frame Smith purty often........A Gov't model, mexican carry a bit.

Oh, I've got holsters for the flat 1911,
but jest stuck in my waistband....Feels good




.

 

[safearm]

A Colt Combat Commander in a Lobo Model 1 pancake holster.

 

[C.S.63]

Not sure if you would consider it full size but I have started carrying an
HK P2000 or a P30 in a IWB Galco Summer Comfort, And with no suspenders to add! With my build it isn't easy. (HA) This time of year not a problem so far, come July- August I may reconsider

 

[DR505]

I carry a Wilson CQB or a Glock 21 concealed in leather from Tim Thurner (ttgunleather.com). I like being able to remove the holster without taking the belt off.

 

[brokenprism]

More Commander holsters, a Milt Sparks Summer Special and a Alessi.

Alessi what? I love that style and am looking for one now for a Commander.

 

[SoonerBorn]

After reading quite a few reviews on this forum when looking for an IWB I decided to try a Lobo Gun Leather holster. I just got it Saturday right on time as promised. I wore it tonight for my first CC outing and was very confident in the holster and it was more comfortable than I thought it could be. I got the horsehide leather option with a slide shield.

 

[jwk]

If weather or more realistically your mode of dress allows carrying a full size handgun or a size down like a Colt Commander, I recommend it.

The trick (other than not burning up when it is too hot for a covering garment) is both a good belt and a good holster. I really like good kydex IWB holsters. BladeTech makes a good one. I like them better than I like my Milt Sparks Summer Specials for comfort. They will wear the finish on a blue gun like no body's business though.

The trick to carrying IWB is buy your pants too big so that there is room for the pistol and the holster. If you carry every day, your pants being too big isn't a problem. If you like tight jeans, forget about IWB.

 

[cqb1911a1]

Man thats a lot of good advice , I too have a bucket of holsters , but lately loose pants and kydex work very well for me and when I try on the leather I used to like it seems more tedious to draw from , I may be going on ebay soon to dispose of them. I carry full size 1911 , p7m8 or j frame and kydex is good, I wear IWB holsters and as someone mentioned dont even think about tight pants. Loose shirts or sweaters or a light jacket is perfect but I have to add that I too have a lot of belts and The BEST BELT bar none is the ARES belt they are on facebook and the net , I promise you I got mine 6 months ago and I havent worn another belt since, you can have just about as flabby a material on your pants as you can get these belts will hold anything without you feeling it , they run about 85 bucks and take a few weeks to make but man you will not get a better belt in the world. they are made in ohio and you can see the combo designs on their facebook page. If you have to buy a bunch of holsters to find the best one so be it but dont waste your money on any other belt I have wilson combat, wilderness and they are all gone now. good luck

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Every day rig shown consists of the Kimber Custom CDP in the Enhanced Pancake model holster on the B8 Gun Belt with single mag pouch. Usually worn with a loose-fitting shirt for cover. I sometimes forget that I have it on, and I have been known to doze off in my La-Z-Boy with this still strapped on.

Most comfortable rig I've ever experienced for the full-size handguns.

 

[yashua-p]

I am 240 pounds and vertically challenged. I am now carrying a 329PD with out any problem. Because of my shape I wear suspenders to hold everything up. I always wear an overshirt of some kindto cover everything. On occasion I carry a Colt 1991 and summer usually a 386PD. Never a problem with any of them.

regards,

yashua

 

[chief38]

Many years ago I tried carrying a full sized 1911 Gov't model and gave up after a week. There are so many better alternatives of weapons in all calibers that I truly see no reason for one to lug around a full sized Auto or Revolver unless of course there are financial reasons not to buy a more portable package. I am pretty good about practicing regularly with my carry piece and have become quite proficient with it, so concerns of control and recoil are low on the list of things I worry about.

Since I do carry whenever I am out & about I like to know I can carry discreetly and in relative comfort without having to hike up my pants, readjust things when I get in and out of a car, and have the people around me suspect that I am armed. If I were a LEO and carried in a Duty uniform holster, than a full sized gun would not be a problem, but as a civilian that wants to remain discrete I think a more compact gun is the way to go. YMMV

Chief38

 

[robertrwalsh]

During the winter, when the trolls wear more clothing, I often carry a Glock Model 20 and sometimes a full-size Government Model.

 

[MaximumLawman]

From all the pictures on these types of threads, it looks like you have to resign yourself to wearing a tent for a shirt if you're going to properly conceal a full-sized gun without wearing winter coat.

 

[limitfree1]

I used to carry a S&W model 59 inside my waistband at the small of my back. As big as that pistol is, in a pair of jeans with a belt, it was safely secured, easily reachable, and any jacket or shirttail would cover it up.

 

[Poodle Soup]

From all the pictures on these types of threads, it looks like you have to resign yourself to wearing a tent for a shirt if you're going to properly conceal a full-sized gun without wearing winter coat.

IWB holster slightly behind the hip you can hide a full sized gun with a Tshirt no problem... depending on your body shape of course.

 

[loc n load]

Full size carry

I have carried full sized revolvers or auto's for 40 years on a daily basis....I have carried N or K frame revolvers concealed and Glock 20's/21's, 1911A1's, Beretta 92's, Sig 226's, etc....today I tend to go for the kydex IWB's or good qual horsehide rigs. I spent most of my career in a hot and humid climate.
I carry strong side hip....I am not thin or petite....but I have trained thousands of Officers at the academy level and a lot of them were medium build or small and petite and with the right holster and attire they could carry a full size auto easily along with reloads.
The key is to have a good holster, a good belt, and to dress for the gun. I am retired now and my EDC is a usually a 4" Smith 58 or a 4" M-29 or a 3" 65 or 24. We have a wonderful assortment of holsters to choose from today, wasn't always that way.

 

[Ogandydancer]

I carry either a SigP229R or a FNP40 both in an HF2 by Tucker I also carry a P6 in the holster that was made for it and imported with it. Sometimes I carry my Beretta 92fs Centurian use the P6 holster or carry it Mexican style.

 

[Faulkner]

Very nice, I like this rig a lot.

 

[shutupdata113]

I'm 68" tall and 170 lbs. I carry. Full size mp9 in a galco king tuck iwb....no one knows I'm carryin

 

[tacman605]

To the OP that is the ultimate question "What is the right belt and holster?" and the answer is different for everyone.

Let's start with the belt. It should be made of either thick/reinforced leather or nylon with plastic reinforcement sew in. Whatever width you decide on it should fit the belt loops on your pants. The wider the belt the more the tightness/tension of the belt will be spread out over your hips.

The holster should provide a secure fit for the gun, hold the grip close to the body and have a cant and/or a grip level on your belt that enables you to get a good grip from a natural draw stroke.
The loops on the holster should be the same size as the belt to ensure once the weapon is on it stays where is should the entire time.

When carrying full sized guns I normally carry OWB in some sort of Raven Concealment holster or quality made kydex, leather is fine to in a quality holster. I prefer little or no cant and position the holster slightly in front of my hip. Due to some shoulder issues I have problems reaching behind my hip.

If allowed go to a gunshop and look, try on and with and unloaded weapon or training gun see how the weapon sits and the ease of draw. Get the belt first and fit the holster to the belt, and the gun to the holster.

Once you have decided this then decide what to wear. You will always dress around the gun. In the summer I wear polos, and mechanics shirts to conceal the weapon. Choose darker solid colors and patterns to help you conceal. When purchasing pants take into account the width of the gun and possibly buy a size larger than you normally wear.

If you prefer IWB use the same criteria for belt and holster and even clothing choices. I use Galco products mainly for IWB holsters but that is simply my choice it is all up to you.