Awwww come on guys....do you really carry those big ol guns?

Moonpie · Post by **Moonpie** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 8:26 pm

Been reading thru some of the posts.
How do you guys do it?
I just can't carry those huge guns like an M1911 or full size Glock.
How do you hide it with normal hot weather clothing?
I'm usually wearing a pair of shorts and a Columbia fishing shirt.
Anything bigger that a cell phone prints bigger than Dallas!
How do you do it?

j1132s · Post by **j1132s** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 8:31 pm

I'm curious too. Maybe with IWB and a dark T-shirt? Fannypack? European carry all? Pants with really large pockets?

How about some pictures from our 1911 carriers?

JLaw · Post by **JLaw** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 8:48 pm

Pictures are always great. I carry a 2 1/2" K frame Smith, and have noticed that revolvers are a little easier to conceal OWB than semi-auto's for me. My initial guess is IWB would be easier, I carried a Glock 21 like this once, just to see if I could do it.

These folks are for real, I've had the honor to meet several of them and can verify that they carry and conceal (quite well actually) full size weapons.

JLaw

Edit to add: I've some to learn that concealing has a great deal to do with a good carry rig and the right clothing.

jbirds1210 · Post by **jbirds1210** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:00 pm

I have my Glock 22 IWB as I type...Depending on where I go, everything else can feel like it just isn't enough. There more cant on a holster the better for me. It takes a little getting used to!
Jason

txinvestigator · Post by **txinvestigator** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:24 pm

I carry a full sized 1911 year round. IWB at 3:00, always with a t-shirt to keep from getting pinched, and either a buttin down shirt unbuttoned, or buttoned and untucked, or even a polo untucked.

If I just HAVE to tuck in the shirt, I wear either a 5.11 vest or sports coat.

Thane · Post by **Thane** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:24 pm

I'm 5' 6", and all of 135 lbs, so there's not much room on me to conceal a gun - or so you would think.

Most of my shirts are about a size "too large" for me. I didn't plan it that way, not for concealed-carry at least, but I find them more comfortable. This allows me to conceal stuff I wouldn't otherwise carry.

1911? Browning High Power? No problem. I use a simple belly band, rotated so that the gun is riding along my hip, just underneath the hip pocket. The bulky part of the gun, the grip, sticks out over my waistband and is concealed by my tucked-in, bloused-out shirt.

I had one guy look at me and declare definitively, "You ain't got nuthin' on you." I had a .45 on my hip, and a reload handy. To this day, I think he's still clueless about what I was carrying.

One of the key tricks to concealing larger guns is to constantly remember it's there, while deliberately -not- adjusting your clothing. Constant adjustment to "keep it hidden" will actually draw attention to that odd lump under your clothes. Rather, adjust your ranges of motion, so that you don't pull the cloth taut over the grip of the pistol. Figure out how to stoop down and pick stuff up without printing (it can be done, and quite easily, most of the time), how to reach for things above your head, etc.
For example, when I carry on my right hip, I reach for most things with my left hand. When I'm carrying leftie (being gun-ambidextrous is great), I reach for stuff with the right hand. Take a similar approach to kneeling, stooping, etc. After a while, you stop needing to think about it, and automatically adjust your motions.

A second "trick" is to provide some sort of visual distraction. Mine is a large keychain (and I do mean CHAIN) running from my belt to my pocket. It's not directly over the pistol, so that the "eye-catch" doesn't draw gazes to the lump, but further forward on my belt. It's a rather effective tool (and a handy way to keep from losing my keys!

).

With practice, I'm sure you'll find other ways and tricks as well.

longtooth · Post by **longtooth** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:52 pm

Under this polo shirt is my smallest daily carry. Kimber Pro CDP. Commander size 1911 in a Comp-Tac Infadel, Gurkha set up. I have an extra 10 rd mag & a Fox Pepper + cell phone that is not visible but in front of the Fox.

Revealed below.

This is my hot summer work vest. I mow yards for extra money. I have on a t-shirt & am carrying OWB full size Springfield Armory 1911A1. This is a 5" gun 8rd mag w/ bumper pad, extra 10rd & pepper. This is my lightest vest. It is a cotton cammo hunting shirt w/ the sleeves taken out at the seems. I even removed the pockets.
Revealed below.

Same light work vest. I am pulling this vest tight against the gun & you can see that there is no print. It is the same Springer, OWB, + 10rd & pepper.
Revealed below.

Dress vest w/ Springer under it. Revealed below.
I have never worn the Springer for Sunday but after Rita I did carry the Kimber Pro for a couple of weeks. All I dropped was the pepper & extra mag on my belt. I had an 8rder in my back pocket & the pepper was on the front pew about 4 steps away.

The most important thing to remember about CC is not a heavy cover but a good, Good, GOOD holster & gun belt. They hold everything snug against you but not uncomfortably tight. I am 5'10" & weigh in at 205 +/- a couple with my full carry rig. For elevated threat conditions such as Rita I have a Quad pack that I can carry 4 mags in & it is concealable too.
You noticed that I wear suspenders. A GOOD pair of 1.5" all elastic suspenders is the best friend CC ever had if you have no waist line. I am not fat but am built like a coke bottle. Without a gun on, my pants are going to stop falling about 4" below my navel w/o the suspenders. If you dont want people to know you have suspenders dont worry. What ever covers the rig will cover the suspenders.
Stop worrying about print. Most people worry about something that is nonexistant. Here are the 10 rules in simplest form.
1. Good belt & holster.
2. Cover it up loosely but not sloppy.
3. Leave it alone.
4. Keep your hands off the gun.
5. Dont bother it.
6. Dont check to see if it is there. It has a trigger but no legs.
7. Remember # 3.
8. Dont ask anyone if yow hawg leg is showing.
9. Keep your elbow naturally down to your side & not hugging the butt of your big ol 1911.
10. Relax no one know you are armed.

I promice.
LT

flintknapper · Post by **flintknapper** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:01 pm

LT,

You get a new knife?

Venus Pax · Post by **Venus Pax** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:02 pm

Thanks for posting pics, LT. Your first pic is a good example. Your overshirt doesn't even go down that far. You pull off CC very well.

Keep posting folks! A lot of us like to try different things. You may have a system that works for someone else here!

(I'm still playing around w/ my toys. My husband swears he can see a print with everything I put on.)

longtooth · Post by **longtooth** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:05 pm

flintknapper wrote:LT,

You get a new knife?

No sir. That is the one you looked at when we ate at Charlies. It is the 3.25 Kershaw. The little one is in my front pocket.
_________________

longtooth · Post by **longtooth** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:09 pm

Venus Pax wrote: Keep posting folks! A lot of us like to try different things. You may have a system that works for someone else here!

(I'm still playing around w/ my toys. My husband swears he can see a print with everything I put on.)

I have never seen you in person but I can assure you he cant see a gun & neither can anyone else.
I promice.
LT

gregthehand · Post by **gregthehand** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:12 pm

Get a GOOD IWB holster. Galco is not considered good! Tucker in my opinion makes the best stuff! I wear the same size shirts I always wear and can conceal a full size 1911 with a t-shirt no problems. Want the proof? Ok I cleaned my bathroom sink just for ya'll!

longtooth · Post by **longtooth** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:18 pm

Good example greg.
Quality holster IWB & just cover it loosly.
He has a waste line & dont need the suspenders.

jrosto · Post by **jrosto** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:22 pm

I use a Milt Sparks Versa Max II with an El Paso Saddlery belt to carry my Kimber Pro Carry 2. I even carry when I wear shorts and sandals under just a tee shirt. The holster makes all the difference.

longtooth · Post by **longtooth** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:23 pm

gregthehand wrote
Get a GOOD IWB holster. Galco is not considered good!

My Springer is in a Galco

But I am still waiting on my Tucker.