Who here regularly carries a LARGE handgun?

[win-lose]

Hi Folks,
I guess I'm probably just looking for some moral support.... I'm thinking about regularly carrying a 4" 44 redhawk, loaded with spear gold dot 44 specials and hidden in a simply rugged iwb holster. I think this could be quite a formidable rig. What do you think?

So what large guns do you carry, how do you carry it, and why did you choose to carry it?

Thanks
WL

 

[David E]

For around town, the largest I carry is an all steel Govt size 1911 in either .45 or 9x23. I carry these in a KyTac BraveHeart IWB

For woods walking, then a 4" Mtngun up to an 8 3/8th's" 629 in a shoulder rig if concealed, or a "Trail Rider" cross draw, again by KyTac

 

[Sam1911]

I occasionally carry a 4" 629. My best concealment arrangement uses a Hoffner's "Miurage" IWB kydex holster. It holds the gun high so that the cylinder rests on top of the belt which helps it be a little slimmer. Helps if the carrier is a little on the tall side.

I still use the factory rubber grips, which are pretty "full-size." If I swapped them for "boot" grips or other small wood grips, concealability would be even better, but I don't have a problem with it as it is.

-Sam

 

[mesinge2]

The large guns I often carry are my 1911 Colt Combat Elite 5" in a Galco F.L.E.T.C.H. FBI canted strong side holster, my Ruger Redhawk 5 1/2" in a custom made leather belt slide holster, and my Beretta M9A1 in a shoulder rig.

 

[Airburst]

I can't say I reguluarly carry my large pistols, but I do like to carry my S&W 645 and my Colt 1991A1. When the mood strikes I also carry either my 4" Model 28 or my 6" Model 28. (open carry on the 6" )

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

I have been waiting 8 months for a Sparks holster for this beast. I routinely carry one or the other of a .45 Government, a full size .38 Super Gov't Model, or a 4" N-frame S&W Hand Ejector. This .500 S&W "Snubbie" isn't TOO much more weight than the others. My defensive handload is a 440gr bullet @ 800fps. This is roughly twice the smack of a 230gr .45 loading (Taylor Power Factor). I'm sure I won't wear it every day, but I will cary it when it suits me.

[/IMG]

 

[earlthegoat2]

I carry a large gun by comparison to the pocket gun craze that is so fashionable these days. Im in the rotation of a HK P7, BHP, Beretta 92, and J Frame.

Since this is a large gun thread I will say that I carry the HP and 92 most when I am out and about town like walking the dog and when I go on road trips. OWB belt scabbards for each of them.

 

[BlindJustice]

I have a Milt Sparks #Axiom with Sparks 1 1/2" belts and
a IWB single mag carrier, all in cordovan colo, for a
S&W 1911 5" Bbl. Stainless STeel.
Sometimes it's 39 oz empty weight, what's an 8 rd
mag weigh, 9+ ounces? The sturdy Sparks
belt supports the holster well.


I think my S&W 625 5" Bbl. would be best carreied
in a vertical ( muzzle down ) shoulder rig, like an Alessi
Field Master. 45 oz empty

 

[Avenger29]

I guess I'm probably just looking for some moral support.... I'm thinking about regularly carrying a 4" 44 redhawk, loaded with spear gold dot 44 specials and hidden in a simply rugged iwb holster. I think this could be quite a formidable rig. What do you think?

Formidable? You bet. Heavy and bulky? Yep.

I carry a Ruger Security Six 4" bbl in the same holster with the inside/outside straps. Works decently well, would not want to go larger, though, for CCW. I typically conceal it under a very loose/large t-shirt or a 5.11 vest, or coat (thank god it's approaching wintertime and will be much easier to conceal it full time without special consideration). I switch between IWB and OWB depending on mood/cover garment. If you haven't got a truley sturdy belt, order one from Simply Rugged when you order your holster (if you don't have it yet)

Before I started carrying the Ruger, I carried a Glock 17 in a Milt Sparks Summer Special 2 IWB holster until I sold it.

At the least, the Simply Rugged will make a nice OWB holster for the Ruger if you get tired of CCW. Good company, good people, good products, good prices.

I will be carrying a CZ 75 Compact soon.

 

[PTK]

I carry a few oddly large handguns, including things like 1895 Nagants, a silenced Browning Buckmark, a Mauser c/96, a short barreled shotgun, and similar.

...concealed.

 

[Oonzpoonz]

I carry my HK USP 45 Tactical but with a non tactical barrel.
Not difficult for me.

 

[Big Bill]

It's been my experience that if I try and EDC a heavy handgun that soon afterwards I find myself carrying nothing. So, I'll just stick to my Ruger LCP; or, when I really feel frisky my Ruger SP101.

 

[Mainsail]

Does a G20 qualify as big?

 

[NoAlibi]

win-lose: For ten years I carried a .45ACP Colt Gold Cup Series 70 in an IWB holster from a local maker. I'm still using the same holster, but now a SA .45 S/S Compact has taken it's place. I occasionally carry the Gold Cup because I put many thousands of rounds in practice and competition through it and it's like getting up with an old friend.

SharpsDressedMan: Thanks for posting the picture - I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it for myself. It looks like someone took a picture of your gun from a fun house mirror! LOL. With the short barrel and the axis of the bore so high above the pivot point it must have one hellova bark and bite!

When clothing prohibits an IWB carry, I will put either a Glock 27 or a S&W 642 with boot grips in a DeSantis pocket holster. It is not pleasant to shoot the 642 with .357s - I can imagine what it must be like to shoot a .500 S&W snubby...I'd like to try it once for grins, but after that I think I'll pass.

 

[markallen]

Does a Ruger SuperRedhawk Alaskan count as Large?

[/IMG]

 

[C-grunt]

Had a buddy in the Army that routinely carried a Glock 17 and a Ruger GP100 4" at the same time. Sometimes he carried a compact Kimber in his pocket as well. He was a little crazy though. One day for the hell of it he threw on his shoulder rig for his Ruger Super Reghawk .480 and carried that along with the other three just to show he could do it.

After that day though, he actually carried the .480 fairly regularly along with the G17.

 

[JohnKSa]

I'm thinking about regularly carrying a 4" 44 redhawk, loaded with spear gold dot 44 specials and hidden in a simply rugged iwb holster.

I'm thinking you could get better ballistics and more capacity in a lot smaller and lighter package without sacrificing much in the way of shootability.

 

[sonier]

WHERES THE BIG GUNS?! i carry a 1851 confedarate navy .44 cap and ball revolver. about a 7 inch barrel i carry that in normal belt holster. thats a ugly large gun

 

[Guy de Loimbard]

I regularly carry a Ruger Blackhawk .45 (5 1/2in. barrel), and occasionally an RIA 1911. I carry both OWB under a flannel shirt-jacket which doesn't pass as odd here because it's cold. I'm still looking for a good OWB holster for my Pietta 1860 so I can carry that too

 

[win-lose]

I'm thinking you could get better ballistics and more capacity in a lot smaller and lighter package without sacrificing much in the way of shootability.

JohnKSa, I'm sure you are totally correct. Here's the thing, I already have this rig. The redhawk is my woods gun. I recently got the simply rugged holster and was AMAZED at how much more concealable the gun is with this holster. My edc is an sp101, but I really like the idea of 6 44sp over 5 38sp.

MarkAllen, That is one nice gun! I especially like the compact grips. I need one of those.

it's like getting up with an old friend

NoAlibi, Bet it feels odd on the days you don't carry it.

Formidable? You bet. Heavy and bulky? Yep.

Avenger29, I took the family to the mall this evening, so I took the rig out for a spin. Not too bad at all... I'm gonna make some minor adjustments and give it a whirl tomorrow.

Thanks everyone... please keep 'em coming.
WL

 

[9MMare]

Does a G20 qualify as big?

LOL Good for you.

Can I ask if there were any "interesting" reactions at the Pike Street Market?

 

[earlthegoat2]

If I remember right Mainsail, you primarily open carry even though you posess a CWL/CCW?

 

[win-lose]

Does a G20 qualify as big?

Yes it does... Looks like you found a good balance between concealment and comfort

 

[Mainsail]

There was no reaction whatsoever wherever we went in Seattle. Which is to say, no police, no panics (mass or otherwise), not even a nervous glance. We were at the REI flagship store for a couple hours, Top Pot Doughnuts, down on the waterfront, and of course, all the streets around and between them.

earlthegoat, yes, my primary carry in openly, probably 98% in the summer months down to about 90% in the winter.

 

[Cactus Jack Arizona]

I have a bad back, but usually carry a Baikal IJ-70 double stack. It's not really a big gun, but it does get heavy after a period of time. I know I should find something smaller and lighter, but I can't find anything in 9mm that appeals to me.