If you carry a "big" gun, how do you do it?

[baldeagle]

I've got a chance top pickup a Sig P226 (9mm) fairly cheap, but after reading a lot of about carrying and "printing" and comfort, I wonder it the gun is too big to conceal? I may get it anyway, because it never hurts to have more than one, but I'm concerned I may not be able to carry it comfortably. Surely some of you are carry "big" guns? 1911's, Glock 19's, Sig P226's? Are they not realistic carry weapons? What holster do you use? IWB? OWB? What about weight? The Sig weighs 28 oz. according to the specs. Loaded it would be even heavier. Is that too much weight? Do you need a special belt to support it?

This is all new to me, so I'm still trying to sort out all the issues and figure out why and when I would carry. I can't carry at work (yet), because I work at a university. So carrying during the week seems out. It takes me fifteen minutes to drive to work, so I would be driving and then securing the handgun in a safe the entire day. That seems rather a waste to me. Most of the rest of the time I'm at home, or running out to a store. Not sure I want to carry around the house.

[USA1]

Do you need a special belt to support it?

Yes, you need a dedicated gunbelt.

There are many who carry a full size 1911 weighing in at around 40+ ounces fully loaded.
A proper belt will distribute the weight of the gun over a larger area.

[USA1]

Here's an example of what a gun belt is capable of...

[Keith]

Carry a 1911. 28 oz is very light for a full size handgun. I use Blackhawk Serpa and crossbreed holsters. Very comfortable to carry. I carry a Sig p238 also but def feel better when I have the full 45 cal on me. I use a CDP Pro Kimber 28 oz weight.

[MoJo]

I carry an M&P 40 in a Crossbreed Supertuck IWB or a Don Hume 721 OT OWB. A sturdy belt is the most important thing for successful carry of a larger handgun. Concealment is achieved by the belt pulling the gun close to your body and comfort is achieved by the belt keeping everything from sagging. I also carry from time to time 1911's, HighPowers, XDs, and a 686 revolver. I saw a guy carrying an S&W 500 concealed one time. Until he showed us the gun you coundn't see it.

[ELB]

I have carried a Browning Hi Power for several years now, in a CompTac CTAC IWB holster. The Hi Power is very flat, as is a 1911, which aids considerably in concealment I think. Glocks are a bit wider, but I have also carried a Glock 17. I think the IWB holsters make better concealment holsters since the allow the gun to be closer to the body inside the belt, and they cover the muzzle.

Forgot to add earlier -- I carry the Hi Power with everything I wear -- Tshirts and work pants, Dress shirt and slacks, polos and khakis, suit and tie, whatever. The bigger problem is finding places for the spare mag.

[gfmun]

If you are not carrying it, then size is no problem. Carry what ever you are comfortable enough to carry as often as you can. Carry at home? You betcha...Running to the store for a loaf of bread? You betcha...

A keltec .32 in your pocket is a lot better than the " big gun " at home in the safe.......


George

[The Annoyed Man]

A Glock 19 is not a "Big Gun." It really fits into the "compact" category, like the USP Compacts, Commander sized 1911s, and other guns in the 3.5"-4" barrel length in a major caliber. That said, two of the three guns in my daily carry rotation - a 5" 1911 and full sized M&P 45 - carry very well in either an IWB or an OWB holster, and I really don't have any issues concealing them. I just got home from leading worship tonight at a regular Monday night thing I do, and I wore the full sized M&P in an OWB holster and was on stage in front of a crowd, and nobody would have known about it except a couple of close friends who know I carry and would have been surprised if I wasn't.

Concealing isn't that big of a deal, meaning it's not that hard. But you do have to be willing to make some fashion concessions to make it work.

[The Annoyed Man]

The Sig weighs 28 oz. according to the specs. Loaded it would be even heavier. Is that too much weight?

My Kimber Stainless Ultra Carry II weighs 25 oz. with one empty magazine, so 28 oz. is not that much. To put it in perspective, the full sized M&P 45 I carried tonight weighs 31 oz with one empty magazine, and my 5" Springfield Loaded weighs 40 oz with one empty magazine. So I wouldn't worry too much about the weight of your Sig.

[longtooth]

I carry a Commander size 1911 as daily. Stainless steel so fully loaded it has to be in the 40oz area.
Good gun belt & holster make it easy to conceal.

I have a RafterS belt & Tucker HF1 holster.

[davidtx]

I carry a 5" Kimber with aluminum frame - it comes in at 31 oz empty. Add to that 2 clips and a S&W 642 in the offside front pocket with a couple of speed strips on the offside belt. I don't know how much it all ways, but you definitely want to pay attention when unbuckling... I'm using a 511 belt.

forgot to say that the 1911 is carried in a Comptac MTAC IWB holster.

[dewayneward]

I daily carry a 1911 full size in a kholster with no issues.

[RiverRat]

I also carry 3", 4", and 5" 1911's in an Mtac IWB, daily. I also carry an XD45 in Mtac (now occasionally) with no problems, particularly in the summer.....it's plastic and easier to clean.

[d strokes]

You can do it if you have a good belt and a good holster.

I use a crossbreed supertuck and a 5.11 gun belt.

[timdsmith72]

I carry a Sig P226 daily and don't have any trouble concealing. Weight is not a bother either. Like everyone else has said, a good belt and a good holster are a must. I use a belt from TheBeltMan and an M-Tac holster.