Concealing a full size automatic

[natedog]

I recently picked up a Hi-Power, and I was seeing how well it concealed without a holster and just a t-shirt (not to actually carry, but just for my own personal curiousity). I stuck it my waistband at about 4:30-5'oclock, and looked in the mirror- a very obvious bulge. The grip tended to stick out towards the back a lot. How much does a good IWB holster help to conceal? Also, is it possible to conceal a full-size automatic under just a t-shirt? I'm fairly slim (6'2" 170lbs), and generally wear well-fitting shirts. Would carrying a fullsize auto IWB necessitate a wardrobe change?

 

[dev_null]

Get a Milt Sparks holster and wear colored shirts that aren't too tight. Better would be polos or short sleeve oxfords, but even a somewhat loose colored T-shirt--darker the better--is preferable to a skin tight white T.

 

[res1b3uq]

The bulge

Doing some thing new (like actually carrying a handgun) tends to make us a little self conscious, I think. I have, for the last year, carried a commander size pistol, IWB, usually under a T-shirt. Does it bulge occasionally? yes Has anyone ever questioned me about it? no It's a cell phone,right? Of course. What else would it be? A gun? Good grief. You can't be serious.

 

[Black Majik]

I'm skinny also, but I can conceal a full size 1911 with relative ease. 1911 in a Milt Sparks #1 Heritage at 4:30 will conceal in a dark polo shirt. The holster has a slight cant, so the grip fills the curve of my back nicely. That is of course, if I stand straight and not move around much.

Of course, a good belt also helps keep the gun from sagging your pants.

Best way for me to conceal a full size handgun would be to wear thin fleece sweatshirts. It'll disappear completely, whether I turn left, right, or bend down. Play around with your rig or different gears, you'll have to find a holster that fits YOU. You'll eventually find what is comfortable to you and able to conceal for you.

Also dark pattern shirts help break up the lines. Most like Hawaiian shirts, but I'm not brave enough to wear them...

Good luck.

 

[Jamie C.]

I carry a Browning Hi-Power every day, in a Bianchi 100 IWB Holster.... Nobody has ever noticed.

I'm about 6 ft. even, and weigh 175-180 pounds.... the trick is to find the spot on your hip that causes the grip to stick out the least. For me, it's about 3:30, 4:00 o'clock. Even a loose tee shirt will cover it well here, for me.

And for what it's worth, the Bianchi 100 is a good carry holster, but not so great at re-holstering.... the mouth tends to collapse once the gun is drawn.

This doesn't worry me much, since I doubt I'll ever be shot for re-holstering too slowly...

Also, you can find one here, at Midway USA.

They also have a matching mag carrier, but I don't care for it... It makes too much of a "lip" with my waistband, having all that stuff crammed in there. ( I carry the mag at about 7:30 -8:00 o'clock, so there's a definite gap between it and the gun, in back )
I usually use an on-the-belt pouch, or just drop the spare mag in a pocket.


J.C.

 

[BullfrogKen]

I posted on a similar thread about 3 weeks ago when the same topic made its rounds.


I carry a Commander OWB all the time. 6P, spare mag, 8" OAL length fixed blade.

Nothing is hidden under just a t-shirt. Can you consider, or are you able, to modify your clothing style a bit to wear something nicer?

 

[MachIVshooter]

The BHP is fairly small as full size pistols go and should be fairly easy to conceal IWB, or outside with a longer vest or jacket. BHP is negligably larger than my Witness compact 10mm, which I carry IWB at 4 O'clock wearing a light vest. I am 5'11" 180 lbs. I find it quite comfortable by going up one inch to a 33" waistband to accomodate.

 

[Deles136]

I think the "Smart Carry" holster will do the best job for you. I have two and after a little getting used to they work well for me.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Carried a BHP for a year or so here in Az. Used a Galco IWB holster and had no problems with it printing. Carry a Kimber now in an IWB leather holster and same thing.

Heck, I even CCW'ed a G-20 in a Hume Leather OWB holster without incident. Just make sure you wear a bigger size shirt than normal. I like darker color shirts over the white/yellow types.

 

[RustyShackelford]

High Power carry rigs

I'd take a look at the Milt Sparks #60TK or PMR or whatever the Heck it's called. It was called the "Roadrunner" for several years. It's a high ride design that should work well for your body type/shape. www.miltsparks.com

Mitch Rosen is highly respected too. www.mitchrosen.com

www.USGalco.com www.blackhawk.com and www.bianchi-intl.com may offer some good ideas.

See www.packing.org for concealed carry/weapon related information.

Rusty S

 

[Whirlwind06]

The bulge
Doing some thing new (like actually carrying a handgun) tends to make us a little self conscious, I think. I have, for the last year, carried a commander size pistol, IWB, usually under a T-shirt. Does it bulge occasionally? yes Has anyone ever questioned me about it? no It's a cell phone,right? Of course. What else would it be? A gun? Good grief. You can't be serious.

I agree, I think most people are so wrapped up in their own little worlds chatting on the cell and drinking Starbucks, that they do not notice much going on around them.

Don Hume also makes a good IWB holster for a 1911 ( I bet the BHP would fit it to). Got mine on eBay for $40.00

 

[JLaw]

Natedog:

It may be possible to conceal a full size automatic under just a t-shirt. After reading your post, I picked out my Glock 21 (full size .45 ACP) and an el-cheapo nylon IWB holster, and tried it on for size. Now granted I've got a few pounds on you (I'm 6' 1" and 195 lb.), I put the G21 at 3:30 in the cheap IWB, put on a t-shirt that is one size larger that what fits "well", and the Glock disappeared! I hope I've helped you a little, because you've helped me...untill this day I always dismissed the G21 as completely non-concealable, but this little experiment has me inspired to carry the G21 for a while, just to see how it feels in the real world environment. Of course my el-cheapo hoslter will need a little "custom fitting" from my live-in seamstress!!

JLaw

 

[Lucky 7]

First off, great choice in handgun (my room mate loves his and can put Wyatt Earp to shame with it). He's about the same build as you, too (6'2" and 180 lbs). He uses an IWB holster and can hide it well in this Southern GA/ Northern FL heat and humidity with just a loose T-shirt and it doesnt print at all with a button-up (I'll find the make and model for you when I see him)

Also, try the 4 o'clock position. With a good rig and a thin body type that SHOULD be just right.

Regards and Semper Fi!
-L7

 

[SouthpawShootr]

I've found, from experience, that fat ( excuse me, horizontally challenged) people have a more difficult time concealing a fullsize. Maybe it's due to the bulges already there pushing guns our even more. I tend to have best success with an IWB. Still, it takes a bit of work in the clothes department. Seems to me, guys closer to their ideal weight should be able to hide fullsize guns more easily. Just buy your clothes one size up from what you get now and you're set. And a good name brand (Kramer, Sparks, even Hume believe it or not) holster really does help. Cant on the holster is going to be your best chance at a solution. Straight up and down is going to acccentuate the problem, which a 15 degree cant is going to minimize it.

 

[CajunBass]

I've found, from experience, that fat ( excuse me, horizontally challenged) people have a more difficult time concealing a fullsize.

Funny you should say that, because in my experience, (and I too am "horizontally challenged" as you say) I've found that it's pretty easy to conceal most anything. I carry a Smith & Wesson 39-2, or a Springfield XD-9, without too much trouble. (holsters are an Uncle Mikes belt slide, and a Fobus OWB) My normal dress in warm weather is jeans and a T-Shirt. When I'm carrying, which is most of the time, I just toss on a button down shirt and leave it unbottoned. I tuck the tail in my pocket if the wind is blowing.

I've got all kinds of lumps and bulges. I could probably hide an AK or an AR.

 

[Whirlwind06]

Don Hume?

And a good name brand (Kramer, Sparks, even Hume believe it or not) holster really does help.

Is Don Hume not considered a good brand?
I just got mine and it seems to be pretty good quality. I guess after wearing it for a few months I'll see how well it is holding up.

 

[Black Majik]

Is Don Hume not considered a good brand?
I just got mine and it seems to be pretty good quality. I guess after wearing it for a few months I'll see how well it is holding up.

Hume is a good brand, but IMO not nearly the level as Milt Sparks,Alessi or Kramer.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

Hume is a good brand, but IMO not nearly the level as Milt Sparks,Alessi or Kramer.

Exactly the point I was trying to make. You have top tier manufacturers (Kramer, Alessi, Sparks, Haugen, the list goes on but not for very long - these are ones with which I have direct experience). Usually very expensive but well worth the price in terms of workmanship). Then you have people who do excellent work, but aren;t quite up to the caliber of the top tier, either by craftsmanship, material, and/or finish (and I'm not implicating anybody here). Finally, you have everybody else, designs that are particularly good, mass produced, obvious flaws escaping QC (if QC is there at all) out of the factory, clearly substandard starting material. Others may break it down differently.

Alot of people put Hume at the bottom when I fully recognize that they are not. In fact they are a best buy in the handgun leather market. By my thinking you get more than you pay for out of a Hume holster. I have lots of their holsters. My favorite is actually the most inexpensive of the line, the H715M. I find their OWB holsters to be very good to excellent.

 

[BHPshooter]

Natedog, I do it every day. Our dimensions differ slightly (I'm 6'0" and 195), but I carry a Hi Power every day.

One of the biggest things is to get a good holster, and personally, I require a lot of cant. The holster that conceals best for me is an HBE COM3 with 21 degrees of cant.
The next biggest thing is a good belt -- keep the belt as tight as is comfortable to tuck the gun in, and you can cover it with almost anything.

I go with just a t-shirt as a cover garment pretty frequently. When you say that most of your shirts are well-fitting, you probably ought to know that you'll have to change your wardrobe slightly. Before I carried, I liked shirts that were a very athletic fit, too (usually a L). Now most XLs, after having been washed, fit me well enough to cover the gun, and I'm not swimming in them, either.

Try going up a shirt size, and try giving the gun more cant in your experiments, and then see how it does.

Wes

 

[Soybomb]

Don't go out and get an expensive holster thinking thats all you need. If you're on a budget, get a good belt now and a cheap holster. The belt does more for concealment to me. I think http://www.thebeltman.net/ is an excellent source for some very high quality belts at a great price.

That said with a beltman belt and a lou alessi iwb I have no trouble hiding a p226 or s&w 1076 under a tshirt.

 

[roo_ster]

How much does a good IWB holster help to conceal?

A quality IWB holster and a quality belt that mates up with the holster will do a world of good for concealability. My current choice is a COM by HBE to tote my all-steel SW1911 (5" bbl, 39oz).

Also, is it possible to conceal a full-size automatic under just a t-shirt?

Yep, provided that:
1. The t-shirt is substantial, not thin.
2. It is of a darker color & preferably has a LOUD PATTERN.

You also may want to invest in some skin-tight wife beaters* to wear under the t-shirt. A layer of cotton between you & your holster does wonders for comfort.

I'm fairly slim (6'2" 170lbs), and generally wear well-fitting shirts. Would carrying a fullsize auto IWB necessitate a wardrobe change?

Well, something would have to be untucked or bloused. Looser garments & BOLD PATTERNS make it easier to conceal.

Also, if you insist on wearing nothing but Speedoes, shower shoes, and a light coat of oil, you will find concealing any weapon a challenge.

* Resist the urge to holler, "Woman! Bring me a beer!"

 

[Juna]

Trying holsters?

Is there any way to try IWB holsters somewhere before you buy them? Otherwise, for carrying newbies, how does one determine the cant angle and how low/high they want the gun to ride and in what position (3:00, 4:00, etc.)?

I have a cheap-o CZ OWB holster that came with my gun, but it's not at all a good CCW holster. I know that HBE holsters are excellent, especially for CZ 75s, but how does one determine the specs to give to Eric when he's designing it for you?

 

[BigO01]

Have an Uncles Mikes "Super Belt Slide" for 3 3/4-4 1/2 autos bought at www.midwayusa.com for about $30 . I have carried my Taurus PT940 in it and it pulls the weapon into my body rather well . I have worn it at work under a lose T- shirt and no one had the slightest clue I had it .

 

[isa268]

I'm 130lb soaking wet. and i conceal a SW1911SC 4 1/2" in a Tucker Texas heritage on a Beltman Belt under an untucked t-shirt in Houston 80% humidity and 110deg weather in August, and no one has told me they made me yet.

 

[Otherguy Overby]

Don Hume

I was in the area getting something done to the motorhome. So, I got a ride around the corner to Don Hume's facility. They didn't have any cross reference for an STI LS so we went in back and tried a bunch of holsters... No joy until the lady went and got a long time production supervisor who looked at the gun and had an idea. He takes us to a different section and says try this! Perfect. It's an IWB and what I most often wear now when going to town.

So thumbs up for Don Hume. They are a good value for the money and their service is great.

Finally, for those who mentioned the value of a good belt. I'd venture to say a good belt may even be more important than a good holster for concealment.