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Wedding Carry... what to do?

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:41 pm
by doublepush
I'm getting hitched to a fiance who is most supportive of my desire to carry. I will have two others in the wedding who will be carrying, but the nature of the attire is such that I won't have my belt... So what do I do? My CTAC isn't a option. I have no other holster.

The wedding is a month away... what do y'all think I should do now? I have an XD 45 compact (my carry piece), a full-size Springfield 1911, and a Taurus .357.

Should I get a shoulder rig? Which one? LT seems to have a strong endorsement for the Alessi Bodyguard, but it seems that it would be hard to get. The Galco Miami Classic seems to have a good reputation. Or would something less expensive like the Galco Classic Lite work? Then again, my better half wants me to put the holster in the wedding budget. What a girl! But I digress. I very rarely wear the kind of attire that would need or allow for a shoulder holster, but I figure that I might as well carry in style. By the way, I'm 6'4" and 190 pounds. I would be considered thin if I hadn't acquired the taste for Texas barbecue that I have.

If it's the 1911, I will have to make some effort to get it de-horned. It's a target gun, not a carry piece. The sight mounting is nonstandard, as there is an additional cut in the slide for the adjustable sight. I wanted to get a tactical sight when the adjustable sight broke, but apparently there isn't a sight that fits the particular cut. I'm tempted to take the rectangular sight piece that was replaced out and dremel down its edges. Then I'll put it in place of the new one. Then I think I will remove the ambidextrous safety, maybe ordering a low-profile one to temporarily take the thumb safety's place for the wedding. Maybe I'll order some low-profile grips as well.

Anyway, all y'alls thoughts would be appreciated. I've gotten so used to carrying IWB with my XD that I don't know what to do otherwise.

-Brent

Re: Wedding Carry... what to do?

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:48 pm
by flb_78
If you're going to be drinking, I'd say leave the gun in the safe. I think I could make it through a wedding without being armed if I was the groom.

Re: Wedding Carry... what to do?

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:51 pm
by longtooth
If there is no alcohol then carry. That is from the preacher. I carry at weddings too. :tiphat:

Re: Wedding Carry... what to do?

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:56 pm
by Crossfire
If you carry in a shoulder rig, you will have to keep your jacket on all night.
Are you prepared to do that?

Re: Wedding Carry... what to do?

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:00 pm
by doublepush
There will be no alcohol, and I'll do whatever I need to do to carry. :)

-Brent

Re: Wedding Carry... what to do?

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:04 pm
by Skiprr
I own a SmartCarry (http://www.smartcarry.com/) for times when deep concealment is required, but I don't want to make do with a mouse gun. That might work for you.

Re: Wedding Carry... what to do?

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:14 pm
by HighVelocity
I've found that in situations where there's going to be a bunch of hugging and less than carry friendly attire, an ankle rig is a very good choice.

Re: Wedding Carry... what to do?

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:12 pm
by KBCraig
Kilt and SmartCarry. If anyone finds it behind your sporan, then... well, that marriage is already off to a bad start. :mrgreen:

Re: Wedding Carry... what to do?

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:34 pm
by Target1911
If you can.....have the wedding at your place or the place of a relative. Then you can OPEN carry. It seems to be a family event (CHL friendly) anyway, so why not.

Good job on the girl......holster cost part of wedding budget???? WOW, many ppl are green with invy about now.

Re: Wedding Carry... what to do?

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:09 am
by StrykerDM
I could definetely see the shoulder holster getting in the way too...especially with hugging and doing the "chicken dance" (every wedding I've been to has the bride and groom doing the chicken dance :lol: ). My vote would be on the ankle holster or even just getting a cheap pocket gun like the kel-tec. At a buddy's recent wedding, another friend of mine who carries (but wasn't in the wedding party) left his glock in the car because of the hugging/dancing that went on that night and stuck with his little .380 pocket pistol. I wish I could remember the make/model, but it was similar to the kel-tec in size. Tuxedos are usually pretty fitted as well, which could pose a problem with carrying a larger pistol.

Re: Wedding Carry... what to do?

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:47 am
by KBCraig
Target1911 wrote:If you can.....have the wedding at your place or the place of a relative. Then you can OPEN carry.
Weddings aren't generally considered sporting activities commonly requiring use of a handgun, and there's no exception in the law for open carrying on someone else's property just because they say it's okay.

Re: Wedding Carry... what to do?

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:11 am
by longtooth
If the suit is a 3piece, well, remember gentlemen, I shoulder carry under a vest all the time. :tiphat:

This is one of my western vests but I have dress ones too.
Image


This is what is under it. Kimber Pro CDPll in Alessi Bodyguard.
Image

Re: Wedding Carry... what to do?

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:14 am
by flintknapper
LT, the mirror (of course) reversed that image..and it looks like you're a "lefty" in that pic.

Also, I noticed your wedding ring is on your right hand...and that you have a very unique (left hand model) camera there.

Re: Wedding Carry... what to do?

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:19 am
by LarryH
. . . the world-famous kadoK camera . . . :mrgreen:

Re: Wedding Carry... what to do?

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:41 am
by flintknapper
LarryH wrote:. . . the world-famous kadoK camera . . . :mrgreen:


Yup!

:mrgreen: .....aremac kadoK suomaf-dlrow eht