How To Conceal Carry A Full-Size Pistol?
A full-size pistol is a great carry weapon to have since it can save your life in an emergency. However, there are times when carrying a pocket pistol isn’t enough.
Choose your handgun based on what you can shoot the best, whether it is a pistol or a revolver. When you talk about concealed carry with anyone, the first question you will be asked is what size pistol you should carry.
I can understand your desire to carry something large. When you take off that 1911 from your nightstand, you want to feel its weight and hear it clunk against your nightstand.
For most people, it is simply not affordable to buy a second pistol to carry concealed. Almost all concealed carry permit holders face the same situation. Many people only have enough money for a single handgun.
There was only one bottom line. The primary weapon you carried was usually a full-size pistol or revolver, so you had to find a way to conceal it comfortably.
The best way to conceal carry a full-size pistol is to wear baggy clothes. The bigger the clothes are, the better they will conceal your weapon.
Can I Conceal Carry A Full-Size Gun?
Generally, when people think about “big guns,” they think about 1911s or long-barrel revolvers. Unfortunately, concealing a full-size pistol is not easy. There are many ways to do it, but they all have pros and cons.
Unless you’re the villain of the Batman movie, you probably aren’t going to carry a full-size Desert Eagle or Smith & Wesson 500 Magnum with the 6.5-inch barrel.
A Glock 17, an H&K VP9, a Kimber Stainless II 1911, or something similar might be a better choice. The guns are all full-size weapons, none of which are small, regardless of whether some have shorter barrels than others.
Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Buy A Small Pistol
A smaller pistol is a compromise from a purely practical standpoint. Even today, self-defense pistols with 4-inch or longer barrels are the most effective. However, physics is not changed by the desire to be comfortable.
The subcompact 9mm had a lot of malfunctions. The majority of them had issues, but some didn’t. As with all small automatics, this one has a small sight circle, and small automatics tend to be less stable. There’s nothing wrong with the gun-it’s simply a matter of physics.
For your comfort, what would you be willing to sacrifice? The same applies to anyone who carries a concealed weapon. Is it more important to carry what’s comfortable or what’s going to win you the fight?
To achieve balance, what would you be willing to compromise? Even though compromises may seem necessary, you may not have to make any.
How To Conceal Carry A Full-Size Pistol?
You face different challenges when you carry a bigger gun than a subcompact or compact handgun. Here is an article that will help you know what to consider when contemplating or having difficulty carrying a big gun.
1. Get The Right Holster For Conceal Carry
Which is the best way to carry such a large pistol? Accessories make all the difference. Holsters are the most important. This purchase may prove to be the most crucial other than the pistol.
The thought of someone spending hundreds of dollars on a pistol only to get the cheapest possible holster always makes me cringe. A pistol is carried in a poorly designed holster is uncomfortable, dangerous, and possibly even lethal.
Many holster manufacturers produce holsters that will support the weight of your full-sized pistol while still allowing you to carry it all day comfortably.
A full-sized firearm can be comfortably carried in a quality holster, especially if the right belt is worn. However, the day you slide a full-sized pistol into a great holster and put it on a belt from a big box store will bring about a disaster.
OWB
An OWB holster places the gun on the outside of the pants. These are best worn with jackets or other cover garments. Make sure you know where your OWB holster is if you choose to wear one.
It is easier to conceal a gun with black holsters, pants, or even a dark shirt when they are black. It makes a huge difference to keep your jacket zipped or buttoned.
IWB
There is also the option of an IWB holster. The gun is placed inside the pants but slightly behind the hip.
When it comes to positioning the gun without printing, body type plays an important role. The CCW can be useful at 3 o’clock for some people, but it’s more useful at 4 or 5 o’clock for others.
Tuckable holsters can also be useful when you’re not wearing a jacket or some other outer layer like a sweatshirt when you’re wearing an IWB.
Appendix Inside the Waistband
Holsters with appendixes allow full-sized pistols to be concealed easily. As the gun is held against the widest part of your body, they place it in front of you.
This way, it is easy to conceal a full-sized pistol with a red dot sight and even a weapon-mounted light.
Any person, regardless of size, can carry a full-size handgun easily with the help of a good appendix carry rig. A t-shirt will also do just fine…you won’t need a special shirt or jacket to conceal it.
Finding the right holster is the real challenge. Stick with a reputable holster company that makes well-made rigs.
2. Pistol Belt
Get a belt made specifically for holding pistols. It shouldn’t matter what size the pistol is. There are plenty of pistol belt manufacturers out there.
Black Hawk and Galco make pistol belts that look just like any other belt and match the craftsmanship of the biggest fashion names. Several others are available, and they all have the purpose of carrying a pistol comfortably and without looking like a pistol belt.
3. Tactical Shirts
There are many tactical shirts designed to conceal a gun, which is why they get a lot of flak. Shirt bottoms are often flared out slightly to accommodate concealed pistols.
You can conceal your gun a lot better with that little flare. Often, they allow quick access as well.
4. Appropriate Clothing For Full-Sized Carry
I love jackets, but there are times when they aren’t enough – this is especially true in places like Florida, so there are alternative solutions.
You should steer clear of Under Armour style shirts and other athletic brands. It is difficult to conceal them because they fit too tight.
Get to know how a shirt fit instead. Shoulder seams should be on your shoulders, with looseness around the waist of two to three inches. The tighter it is, the harder it will be to conceal.
Don’t be afraid of patterns. A vertical pattern can be used to conceal a little extra weight and excess lumps created by full-sized guns.
This is why I like flannels. The pattern conceals the gun easily enough with low contrast between colors. Any dense, non-repeat pattern, including leopard print, works well.
In addition to slimming, softer materials are more concealable, so this slimming design makes it easier to conceal and conceal the weapon.
Carry Positions For A Large CCW
Having so much information at your disposal, let’s now take a look at carrying your big CCW. Body type greatly influences your carry position. For example, people who are 5’11” and 180 pounds have fewer options than people who are 6’5″ and 280 pounds.
In addition to how and where you carry a big CCW gun, your clothing choices will also play a role. For example, what do you wear most of the time? Do you have a jacket and dress pants on?
In the summer, it is easier to conceal a smaller frame pistol in thinner, lighter, tighter-fitting clothing. Further, you won’t want to carry a full-sized gun in a holster on your ankle or vest.
I doubt it will even fit, let alone be comfortable. You won’t be comfortable in it, and it will probably not fit. Now that we’ve examined all of your options let’s move on.
6. A Jacket & Shoulder Holster
Jackets can be worn for various occasions. For example, an OWB holster could be worn anywhere between 3 and 6 o’clock. In addition, even full-size guns can easily be stowed in holsters on most jackets.
It is also helpful to wear loose-fitting clothing beneath your IWB holster, even if you can comfortably carry your sidearm of choice.
If you are wearing a jacket, you might consider wearing a shoulder holster instead of a waistband holster. Holsters like these aren’t for everyone, however. Placing the holster vertically on a thinner build might be necessary to hide the weapon.
7. Carry Only What You Prefer
Many legal gun owners own large-frame pistols and revolvers for various reasons, despite the popularity of subcompact and compact handguns.
You must be properly trained before adopting a new carry method if you decide to carry a handgun differently than you are accustomed to.
By continuously introducing new products that can aid in carrying weapons and spare ammunition, the firearms industry is constantly addressing the needs of armed professionals and legally armed citizens.
More experienced, qualified instructors can teach you exactly how to carry the sidearm of your choice most comfortably and efficiently.
Final Words
There are always going to be some compromises in life. Concealing a weapon is no different from carrying one openly. For many people, keeping up with fashion is more important than carrying a pistol.
Some people find it easier to conceal than others, as it is easier to conceal with less effort. A bit of compromise to fashion or ease is not an issue for those who are about bringing the best gun to the fight.
Even though every handgun manufacturer promotes smaller pistols for concealed carry, the full-sized pistol is still a viable option. However, to save a lot later, you need a little thought and effort and understand that it may take a bit of investment upfront.
Carrying a full-size pistol is, in fact, one of the best decisions you can make, considering your carry weapon is a lifesaving tool. In addition, you now know all you need to know about concealed weapon carry.
