Concealed Carry Question

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King Red

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Hello fellow 2A lovers, I hope you can help me out.

After spending 2 years and over $2000 customizing my 4" 1911 and finally receiving the Bulman Gunleather holster, belt, and mag pouch for it, I was ready to start carrying it as my CCW. It was then that I realized I had made a very expensive and very naive mistake. The gun is simply too heavy to carry. I spent the extra money on a good leather rig, but being 5' 7" and 135 pounds, the gun just drags my pants down my butt, and furthermore I have to tighten the belt very tight to compensate for the weight and then the belt digs into my hips and is very painfull after just a few minutes of carrying.

So I have made the decision to use my truck gun as an everyday carry (SW 642). The one thing that I worry about though is ammo capacity. I live in a suburb of Houston and every night on the news I hear about the usual murders and carjackings perpetrated by a group of two or more assailants. So, I just don't think 5 rounds will be enough if I have to use it.

So my question is basically this: when it comes to reloading a revolver quickly should I use a speed strip or a speed loader? Also how does that speed strip thingy work? I've never seen one in person.

Any thoughts and insite would be appreciated. (Not to be rude, but please limit the "I have no problem carrying a full size 1911" responses.)
 
If I were you I'd carry one of each; the speedloader for a full reload and the speed strip for topping off.

Also, how attached are you to your 1911? If it's as valuable as you say, you could sell it, replace it with a mid-range 1911, and have money left over for a compact semi-auto that won't pull your pants down.
 
Speedloader

I'll take a speedloader any day of the week. You only need to do one Run & Gun revolver stage to learn that lesson.:D
 
Speed loaders are quicker, and easier to master, but they can be difficult to carry concealed.

Speed strips are easier to carry but slow (they're misnamed ...) They aren't terrifically hard to use, once you get the hang of them, but digging it out of your pocket takes time and using it takes more time. So a speed strip is not exactly fast -- it's only faster than dropping the rounds in one at a time after fishing them out of whichever pocket you stuffed them in and sorting them out from the pocket lint and loose change. :)

pax
 
I would go with moon clips if you are worried about having to reload fast. You would have to have some work done to the gun but that would be the fastest and easiest way to reload a revolver in a stressful situation IMO.
Rusty
 
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I have NO problem carrying an M1A1 Abrams in my pocket! ;)

For a J Frame, my wife prefers the Safariland speed loader. It is harder to load rounds into it but much easier to load the gun. Will you be in a greater hurry at home or when TSHTF?
 
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is your commander steel? You could swap it for something like a S&W scandium model if not--significantly lighter. Or you could go with something like a Kahr PM9 or an XD9 compact
 
I thought about suspenders, but to put on the thick leather belt, holster, 1911, extra mag, mag pouch, and suspenders in Texas heat and humidity would just be too much.

As for buying another autoloader, I would if I could. If I had the money and the patience to wait another 4 to 5 months for a new holster, I'd pick up an HK p2000sk in a heartbeat. I had one once but sold it like a true moron. The problem is money. I'm trying to get through college and the only way to get the money would be to sell the 1911, which I really, really don't want to do right now (I just bought 500 rounds of 45 at the last gunshow).

So, I guess the general opinion is to get a speedloader. Are these too heavy to carry in a front pocket?

Thanks!
 
Have you tried suspenders under a loose shirt? Perry suspenders (hooked under the belt) may be best.
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Interesting, never seen those before...not likely to win you any fashion awards with the ladies but probably quite useful.
 
Are these too heavy to carry in a front pocket?
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Definitely not; however, you may be asked the immortal question, "is that a speedloader in your pocket or are you just glad to see me?"
 
I never cared much for carrying 1911's for the same reason (weight). That, and they can be tough on clothing even dehorned, they snag.

That said, you might want to look into a shoulder holster rig. That didn't work for me, but it might for you.
I'd also look into buy a quality gunbelt that may support the gun better an be a bit less "painful" as it would distribute the weight better.

Another holster to at least consider would be a pancake type.

I'm sure you don't want to sell your 1911. You would never get the money out of it that you spent tuning it...

Another option is to look into a smaller gun such as a Kahr (get a steel one) which are really nice CCW guns; Glock...anyone of a bunch.
 
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I have both a steel-framed 1911 and a scandium-framed commander sized Smith and Wesson. The difference in carrying comfort is HUGE.

Also, I have found that a good IWB holster is much more comfortable than anything OWB. The OWB holsters are always tugging away from the body, a fight that requires super belts and tight cinching. Although I wear a good gun belt with my IWB holsters, I could get by with a cheap one and I don't have to tighten the belt near as much. I can even carry my Glock 23 without a belt at all in its FIST IWB holter, although I don't.
 
Why not carry 2 J frames of the airweight or even better, airlite variety? One in the pocket and one IWB is still better than the heavy 1911.
 
Thousands of people have had your same experience with 1911's. Once they put it on, they realized how heavy and cumbersome the pistol is, but in short order they learned to carry it with comfort and ease. It's a new experience that requires some practice, experience and accomodation. Get a GOOD holster and belt, practice with it and before you know it, you will be perfectly comfortable with it. Don't give up on your prized pistol.
 
I also carry a 642 and I prefer to use a speedstrip rather than a speedloader which I also have. The strip lays flat in your pocket and unless you practice, practice, practice everday with a speedloader and become very proficient with it, you'll probably spend the same amount of time reloading your 642 with it as you would with a strip, one by one. Fumbling equates to time lost and so I believe it's a "push" between them.

If you really want a speedloader, then before you buy the popular HKS model, look into the molded one that Dillon Precision sells. I bought a pair and IMO they are clearly superior to the HKS. No moving parts, slimmer, more compact and easier to reload with ONCE YOU GET THE HANG OF IT. It fits my SP101 AND my 642.
 
If you want a reasonably priced, light-weight, compact, very reliable pistol that packs plenty of firepower, consider looking for a used Smith 6906. You can find them most anywhere and you should be able to pick a decent one up for under $400.00.

With a little practice, it's been my experience that conventional speedloaders (i.e., HKS or Safariland) are much faster than any speedstrip. The only advantages I see for speedstrips are that they stow better (less bulky for sure) and that they beat fumbling around for loose rounds in a pocket.
 
1) Cons - 1911 weighs too much, 642 has limited capacity.
2) Funds - in short supply, college student.

Based on your two posts above, I'd say your best bet would be to get and learn to use speedloaders or speedstrips for the 642. Both are fairly inexpensive, so won't impact the budget severely. The speed strips can be used to add two rounds at a time to the cylinder, the speedloader all 5 at once. The strips conceal better. Tossup - speed of reload vs. bulk of reload.

One other thing to consider regarding the 1911:
After spending 2 years and over $2000 customizing my 4" 1911
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, do you really want to lose that to an evidence locker and possible ordered destruction by a liberal judge's order. I know, I know, small price to pay if it saves your life, but it is something else to throw into the mix for consideration.
 
Umm, I don't have any problems carrying a full size 1911. Two things that occur to me are:

1. I've got a hundred pounds on you, as such, the addition of an extra 3.225 lbs (a mere 1.3% of my body weight, vs. 2.4% of yours) since I'm already supporting and moving around so much extra weight, that I don't notice it as much as you might, since it is proportionally a bigger addition for you. That's about like me trying to tote 5.6 lbs of carry piece. No, thanks. I second the suggestion of either an aluminum or scandium 1911. They can be pretty light.

2. The other thing, though, is how long have you tried carrying it for? Is this your first experience with CCW? Anything new takes some getting used to. If you wear a wristwatch, take it off, and put it on the other arm. If not, find a big, clunky metal one, and put it on. Notice how strange it feels? Now, give it a week, and you will hardly notice it. Give it a year, and not having it on will be the strange feeling. It might be that you could get used to it by just wearing it more.

~~~Mat
 
I bought a Taurus MILPRO PT145 for the same reason. MY 1911 was to dang heavy. The PT145 is 10+1rds and it comes with 2mags. I have a Don Hume 715 IWB holster and living in Big D I know about the heat and humidity. I got the Stainless Steel version and couldn't be happier. I bought mine at Sportsman's Warehouse for $309+tax. Very accurate and very reliable. Check out the Taurus and see if you don't agree. For pocket carry I have a KT P3AT in a pocket holster when I can't carry the PT.
 
I prefer the speed strip because it's easy to carry. Just open the cylinder as you normally would to reload, take speedstrip by the little handle thinger, insert two rounds at a time, peel off, repeat.
 
+1 on the Perry Suspenders. I have a pair of the 3" wide ones for inside the shirt carry when carrying a heavier firearm. They are a substantial help. I was just going to suggest that you look at a Sparks "Summer Special" IWB holster for your 1911. It is a major help at carrying a heavy gun. Really makes a difference. Good luck. I personally went to a Kel-Tek P11 for carry, especially in the summer.
 
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