Concealed Carry (not physically "fit")

ToddR

ToddR

New member
I can find a lot of recommendations for concealed carry holsters and such, but I'd like to know what the heavier set crowd would recommend.

I'm 5'8" and 220 lbs. Is IWB really an option? Would a shoulder rig be better?

I despise humidity and sweat like a pig in summer so wear shorts almost all the time (jean shorts). Suppose winter wouldn't be nearly as difficult.

Thanks for any input.

Todd
 
If you sweat a lot, a shoulder holster wont help you much because it requires that you wear a jacket over it.

I recommend you buy loose cargo shorts. You can carry IWB comfortably or pocket carry depending on what you have.
 
Smart carry holsters. I've had rust begin on all my carry arms with other "gun touching your body holsters" except for my smart carry. I get a heat rash before the gun rusts(the gun still don't rust). Other than that my paddle holsters hold the gun just the right amount away from skin but are harder to conceal. I have a drawer full of holsters and I find myself going for the paddle for open carry and the smart carry for concealed. I'm just a friggin twig though (6ft 1. 185lbs)so its trial and error with holsters. I want to try the king tuk next. I do see a lot of "wider" guys with the Blackhawk serpa paddle.
 
Yes, winter is easy. IWB is also ok but I use one extra layer. Cotton t-shirt and the rig covered by an un-buttoned, button down shirt. I'm 5-11 and 240 and sweat a lot as well but this works for me until temps get in the 90+ area.
 
Well I am 5'7".5 230# I carry a micro compact (1911 3")IWB (crossbreed) or on the hip both at 3:30. with the help of suspenders. Wear alot of shorts. Tee shirts tucked in suspenders over the top of Tee. And a light shirt over, one of those hawian type (escuse spelling)buttoned if IWB. unbuttoned if on the belt. I also have a 380 kel-tec necklace holster with a baggy shirt and a pair of shorts with no belt. Seems to work well with me!
 
Thanks for the input so far guys.
Fanny pack?? :sarcastic: ..... no. Maybe if it was the '70's or '80's.

Figured the t-shirt under a loose button up was going to be necessary, just wondering though.

Plan on carrying M&P 40 if I can stand it. If not, may have to get a pocket pistol.

IWB? OWB? Small of back? Cross draw?

What have the heavier set crowd found to be the most comfortable before I start my own "Holster Box" of trial and errors?
 
im 6'1" 350, I carry a Bersa Thunder 380 plus in an IWB I made for myself. Very comfy and the addition of a sweat sheild in the design keeps my gun dry. I dont carry on the waist as I am bumpy enough and I find it harder to conceal. I wear jeans and untucked tshirt with no issue....
 
I carry in a fanny pack...WHAT's WRONG WITH THAT?......just kidding...lol. Actually I do carry that way and it works for me. I have to use a mobility chair to get around and IWB or OWB is inconvenient for me. I do use cargo pants and a pocket holster some of the time. If you get a fanny pack don't get the black leather...it does scream GUN! I have a goofy touristy colored one that screams 6 flags.��
 
You can say I am in that "heavy" category. I jave a few inches more on you and I think I would look sick if I got down to 220 (I am less than 300, but not saying where).

I dress the same as you, shorts in the summer. The best CC rig I have found for me is a shoulder holster (Miami Classic). I go with a t-shirt, rig and then a Columbia Bonehead shirt with the bottom 3 buttons done. That leaves the top open. Last year I didnt have any issues. You do need to pratice your draw though.

I dress similiar the rest of the year, trade the shorts for pants and the bonehead for flannel and that is how I dress.

I dont IWB as all my shirts get tucked in so that also helped with the shoulder rig. I have wore the rig where I can. People can not tell that is how I carry.
 
I found the Ruger .380 with Blackhawk # 2 pocket holster to be the most comfortable option. i just ordered the Whitehat for my Glock 19. I'm hoping the best for that.
 
6' 2" 255lbs and I use a Kholster IWB with a Sig P250 Sub compact, no issues and its very comfortable. I think one essential thing to carrying any gun is a good strong sturdy belt. Your standard leather belt just wont cut it, at least for me it doesn't. I wear a 5.11 Tactical operator belt that is 1.75" wide. I never tuck my shirts in and no one sees the belt because it does scream gun if you see it.
 
ToddR said:
...I'm 5'8" and 220 lbs. Is IWB really an option?...
Click to expand...

Hey Todd, I am 5'8" 220 lbs too and I carry a full sized H&K USP .45ACP (shown in my avatar) in an IWB. My IWB has a forward cant so the weapon fits nicely between my rolls. :) I often wear a colored t-shirt w/pocket under a flannel cover shirt or work shirt or a subdued Hawaiian shirt. No one is the wiser. Lots of times I will carry a Glock G19 in a fanny pack; not one of those all black leather ones that screams "GUN!" but this one is a two tone nylon job from GunGear.com. I am a computer programmer and the fanny pack really fits my geek persona.
 
I'm 6'1" and 225 lbs and I'm partially handicapped, so it isn't muscle. I suffer from hyperhydrosis, meaning I sweat easily and I sweat a lot. I use Crossbreed SuperTucks almost exclusively. They keep all of the gun away from my skin except for the butt, but since I almost always carry a Glock, rust isn't an issue. I carry at 4 or 5 o'clock so my 'roll' isn't a problem. If I'm wearing very light clothing and I'm in conditions where I might get wet, I do have a SmartCarry holster for my Ruger SP101. The gun is stainless so I don't worry about rust, but the SmartCarry is difficult to draw from, so I don't revert to this situation very often. If I'm on my handicap mobility scooter, it's pretty much impossible to draw from a SmartCarry. Same for inside a vehicle, boat or anywhere else you're sitting down.

I order tall size shirts almost exclusively and I have to order them online because I can't find them locally. You don't expose the gun when you bend over or reach up high with a tall size shirt, and almost every place with tall size shirts also has big size shirts, or a combination of both. I've also discovered Hawaiian shirts. They're loose, made to be worn untucked, extremely comfortable and you can concealed a howitzer underneath them if you want to, especially if you get them one size larger. And since they're designed to be worn loosely, one size larger still looks natural. Going to Hawaii again in May so I may pick up some more. There's always a better selection there than there is online.
 
Buy a pair of cargo or 5:11 tactical pants and carry a small revolver or semiauto in your right back pocket. Use a holster of course. Won't even know it's there.
 
I use a pocket holster for my bodyguard 380 when necessary and use a Bellyband with an untucked button up or loose long tshirt to carry my Taurus pt145 or ruger sr9c. The Bellyband is nice because its easy to adjust it for any comfortable position and improved concealment. It also allows easier access to your pockets when positioned correctly. I have also worn IWB paddle in the small of the back but its pretty uncomfortable to sit down and it does print with the larger guns.
 
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I'm 5-8 240, I carry a Bersa thunder cc everyday in my kholster @ about 3:30, the only thing that's difficult for me to wear is some dress pants. But I carry this wearing button up shirts tucked in everyday for work, long shirts untucked, jeans, shorts whatever. No problem.
 
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