Concealed Carry for a BIG Guy

DJ · August 20th, 2006, 03:29 PM

I am new here, so forgive me if this has been covered. I am a BIG guy, weighing in at about 325 and I am 5"11 so you could say kinda pear shaped. IWB carry is very uncomfortable.

I have a new SafePacker that is perfect for outside carry though not concealed, it is hidden and does not look like a holster, so most of the time, it works great.

I would like to have your ideas on carry holsters for deep concealment on guys that are not built like a V but more like an O LOL.

P95Carry · August 20th, 2006, 03:40 PM

Hi DJ -

Yes indeed, the more ''pear'' shape does present problems - I am forunately the opposite and what that permits me is, a ''space'' where my cover garment hangs - thus keeping the cloth from printing on the gun at all easily.

I guess many might suggest the extreme of size with something like a Hawaii shirt - lots of spare to hand freely. I find IWB way less than comfortable and so I am OWB - I think even tho your shape makes things tricky, OWB could still work with the right rig and cover garment.

Sho rig is another possible which I daresay you have considered - that tho also will be determinate on suitable cover clothing.

Perhaps your ideal might be, with suitable pants - pocket carry, which would necessarily limit your carry gun size options. You have a common dilemma and it can be hard to deal with.

DJ · August 20th, 2006, 03:44 PM

Kinda like trying to conceal a holster around the center of a basketball, it kinda STICKS OUT! LOL.

I use a Miami Classic shoulder rig in the winter, but summer use is out of the question. The safepacker is the best alternative I have found to date, but would like to use some of the rest of my box of holsters.

Glad to join the group here, there is a lot of info available here. I hope to be an asset.

Ti Carry · August 20th, 2006, 03:48 PM

Welcome to the forum, I am not sure you even need to carry a gun as nobody in there right mind would mess with you!

Anyway, This question does come up from time to time and it is hard to say really because no matter what size a person is we are all different. Meaning that if there are two 5' 11" 325 men, one might be able to carry IWB and the other might not. I do know that most holster makers will recommend an IWB rather than an OWB holster do to the IWB will tend to push against your body and stay in place. An OWB holster will push outwards and tend to dump the gun you are carrying and or have excessive printing.

I have no experiance with a Smart Carry or Thunderware type holsters but I have heard time and again they are recommended for larger size people. Maybe soemone that is a large person who uses Smart Carry will back this up?

Here is the link if you are interested,

http://www.smartcarry.com/index.htm#top

http://www.thunderwear.com/index.asp

Not sure which is the best one to get but they look the same to me. Most people around here (Missouri) are all over the Smart Carry.

DJ · August 20th, 2006, 04:03 PM

[QUOTE=Ti Carry;181395]Welcome to the forum, I am not sure you even need to carry a gun as nobody in there right mind would mess with you!

Come to think of it, I haven't had so much as a loud verbal argument with anyone since Hich School, but I am an investigator and need to carry "just in case". I was able to fend off a very large and aggressive German Shepherd on Friday without pulling my weapon, but I had my hand on it! Just looked him in the eye and with a lot of very loud verbal commands, he backed down. Luckily he was not a trained animal so I took the alpha male position and he backed away.

BUT, with all those teeth and raised hair, I was ready to do what I needed to should he get a hold of me.

I am often in close contact with persons I am investigating and cannot allow them to know that I am carrying or that would be the end of the conversation right there. So, I need a good rig for concealment that is comfortable for a big guy.

I will check the links and see what they look like. Thanks.

I appreciate the warm welcome too.

paramedic70002 · August 20th, 2006, 05:10 PM

[QUOTE=Ti Carry;181395]Welcome to the forum, I am not sure you even need to carry a gun as nobody in there right mind would mess with you!

QUOTE]

I hope there are no LEOs or prosecutors that think that way if I am ever involved in a shooting.

Much has been said about the classic 98 pound weakling, but just because I am 6'2" and 340 pounds doesn't mean that I can magically repel BGs. There are even some BGs that think my size makes me a target, because I may be slow to run or fight, and unable to defend myself.

I would rather fight someone like myself than a featherweight boxer or pipsqueak martial artist.

GoodSamaritan · August 20th, 2006, 05:26 PM

Welcome DJ.

I have found pocket carry works best for me. Unfortunately it also tends to limit the size of your weapon, and you have to make sure to buy pants with big pockets.

Here is a decent website to get an idea of what is out there. I haven't purchased from that site yet, so I don't know how their service is yet. The prices seem reasonable though.

RobL · August 20th, 2006, 10:53 PM

Welcome!
Being a big guy myself, I can empathise. I carry a little J frame in the left front pocket, and either a 4"K, N or 1911 on the strong side just behind the point of the hip. I use either a pancake or an inside the waist band rig.

A solid belt will be the best thing you can buy to facilitate the comfortable carry of your firearm and spare ammo. If you can barrow a couple of differnt holsters and try them for a day,not just 2 minutesin a shop and see if they actually work for you.
Get dressed and look in the mirrror and/or have your spouse watch you move around and look for the gun, practice sitting down, getting in and out of a vehicle does your gun clang against steel chair backs or get hung up?
Rob

frankmako · August 20th, 2006, 10:58 PM

go with the miami classic shoulder rig. you can use it all year round. i know because that is what i use.

tegemu · August 21st, 2006, 12:57 AM

I'm built like you. I use a Gary Brommeland www.brommelandgunleather.com , Max Con V with a good belt or a Sam Andrews www.andrewsleather.com pocket holster with a 3" 1911. Teamed with a pair of PerrySuspenders www.perrysuspenders.com

August 20th, 2006, 03:29 PM	#1
DJ New Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 13	Concealed Carry for a BIG Guy I am new here, so forgive me if this has been covered. I am a BIG guy, weighing in at about 325 and I am 5"11 so you could say kinda pear shaped. IWB carry is very uncomfortable. I have a new SafePacker that is perfect for outside carry though not concealed, it is hidden and does not look like a holster, so most of the time, it works great. I would like to have your ideas on carry holsters for deep concealment on guys that are not built like a V but more like an O LOL.

August 20th, 2006, 03:40 PM	#2
P95Carry Assistant Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South West PA Posts: 25,468	Hi DJ - Yes indeed, the more ''pear'' shape does present problems - I am forunately the opposite and what that permits me is, a ''space'' where my cover garment hangs - thus keeping the cloth from printing on the gun at all easily. I guess many might suggest the extreme of size with something like a Hawaii shirt - lots of spare to hand freely. I find IWB way less than comfortable and so I am OWB - I think even tho your shape makes things tricky, OWB could still work with the right rig and cover garment. Sho rig is another possible which I daresay you have considered - that tho also will be determinate on suitable cover clothing. Perhaps your ideal might be, with suitable pants - pocket carry, which would necessarily limit your carry gun size options. You have a common dilemma and it can be hard to deal with. __________________ Chris - P95 NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member. "To own a gun and assume that you are armed is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!." If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

August 20th, 2006, 03:44 PM	#3
DJ New Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 13	Pear shape is a definite problem Kinda like trying to conceal a holster around the center of a basketball, it kinda STICKS OUT! LOL. I use a Miami Classic shoulder rig in the winter, but summer use is out of the question. The safepacker is the best alternative I have found to date, but would like to use some of the rest of my box of holsters. Glad to join the group here, there is a lot of info available here. I hope to be an asset.

August 20th, 2006, 03:48 PM	#4
Ti Carry VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Under Cover Posts: 2,035	Welcome to the forum, I am not sure you even need to carry a gun as nobody in there right mind would mess with you! Anyway, This question does come up from time to time and it is hard to say really because no matter what size a person is we are all different. Meaning that if there are two 5' 11" 325 men, one might be able to carry IWB and the other might not. I do know that most holster makers will recommend an IWB rather than an OWB holster do to the IWB will tend to push against your body and stay in place. An OWB holster will push outwards and tend to dump the gun you are carrying and or have excessive printing. I have no experiance with a Smart Carry or Thunderware type holsters but I have heard time and again they are recommended for larger size people. Maybe soemone that is a large person who uses Smart Carry will back this up? Here is the link if you are interested, http://www.smartcarry.com/index.htm#top http://www.thunderwear.com/index.asp Not sure which is the best one to get but they look the same to me. Most people around here (Missouri) are all over the Smart Carry. __________________ Train and train hard, you might not get a second chance to make a first impression! I vote for Monica Lewinsky's Ex-Boyfriend's Wife for President.....Not!

August 20th, 2006, 05:10 PM	#6
paramedic70002 VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Franklin, VA Posts: 2,682	[QUOTE=Ti Carry;181395]Welcome to the forum, I am not sure you even need to carry a gun as nobody in there right mind would mess with you! QUOTE] I hope there are no LEOs or prosecutors that think that way if I am ever involved in a shooting. Much has been said about the classic 98 pound weakling, but just because I am 6'2" and 340 pounds doesn't mean that I can magically repel BGs. There are even some BGs that think my size makes me a target, because I may be slow to run or fight, and unable to defend myself. I would rather fight someone like myself than a featherweight boxer or pipsqueak martial artist. __________________ Guns Save Lives. Paramedics Save Lives. But... Paramedics With Guns Scare People!

August 20th, 2006, 04:03 PM	#5
DJ New Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 13	[QUOTE=Ti Carry;181395]Welcome to the forum, I am not sure you even need to carry a gun as nobody in there right mind would mess with you! Come to think of it, I haven't had so much as a loud verbal argument with anyone since Hich School, but I am an investigator and need to carry "just in case". I was able to fend off a very large and aggressive German Shepherd on Friday without pulling my weapon, but I had my hand on it! Just looked him in the eye and with a lot of very loud verbal commands, he backed down. Luckily he was not a trained animal so I took the alpha male position and he backed away. BUT, with all those teeth and raised hair, I was ready to do what I needed to should he get a hold of me. I am often in close contact with persons I am investigating and cannot allow them to know that I am carrying or that would be the end of the conversation right there. So, I need a good rig for concealment that is comfortable for a big guy. I will check the links and see what they look like. Thanks. I appreciate the warm welcome too.

August 20th, 2006, 05:26 PM	#7
GoodSamaritan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 791	Welcome DJ. I have found pocket carry works best for me. Unfortunately it also tends to limit the size of your weapon, and you have to make sure to buy pants with big pockets. Here is a decent website to get an idea of what is out there. I haven't purchased from that site yet, so I don't know how their service is yet. The prices seem reasonable though.

August 20th, 2006, 10:53 PM	#8
RobL Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Alaska Posts: 99	Welcome! Being a big guy myself, I can empathise. I carry a little J frame in the left front pocket, and either a 4"K, N or 1911 on the strong side just behind the point of the hip. I use either a pancake or an inside the waist band rig. A solid belt will be the best thing you can buy to facilitate the comfortable carry of your firearm and spare ammo. If you can barrow a couple of differnt holsters and try them for a day,not just 2 minutesin a shop and see if they actually work for you. Get dressed and look in the mirrror and/or have your spouse watch you move around and look for the gun, practice sitting down, getting in and out of a vehicle does your gun clang against steel chair backs or get hung up? Rob __________________ simplyrugged.com Get Trained Go Armed. “Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.” Winston Churchill

August 20th, 2006, 10:58 PM	#9
frankmako VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Parts Unknown Posts: 2,488	go with the miami classic shoulder rig. you can use it all year round. i know because that is what i use.

August 21st, 2006, 12:57 AM	#10
tegemu Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Orange Park, Fla. Posts: 997	I'm built like you. I use a Gary Brommeland www.brommelandgunleather.com , Max Con V with a good belt or a Sam Andrews www.andrewsleather.com pocket holster with a 3" 1911. Teamed with a pair of PerrySuspenders www.perrysuspenders.com __________________ People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence in their behalf. - George Orwell

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