Carrying Concealed for the Big Guy

[Raccoon]

I have bought dozens of holsters over the years, and I find that getting the right holster can be a challenge if you are a big guy. I am 6'3" and about 380 pounds. I dont fit in some chairs as it is, and I find it hard to add more inches to my width and fit comfortably in some chairs. So I have settled on a belt holster that I keep just in front of my hip bone, so it doesnt add to my width, but also doesnt dig into my skin.

What does everyone else do?

[VegasGeorge]

Well, I'm not of Racoon's stature. I'm more of an average type, 6 ft, 185 lbs. But, here in Las Vegas the heat and casual dress styles present some challenges for concealed carry. 4 or 5 months out of the year are T-shirt, shorts, and open sandal weather. At those times, I either carry in a fanny pack, or man's bag that doesn't look too sissy. During the rest of the year, I usually carry in a strong side holster or slide, covered by a light weight shirt jacket or knit vest. I simply don't take the cover off. If I'm going somewhere special, and don't want to be carrying a pack and don't want a top cover, then I'll use my Thunder Wear holster which places the gun in my crotch. Once you're used to it, it's really an OK way to carry.

[Raccoon]

My brother used to tell me that 95% of men that wear a vest, are carrying. It seems to be true. Same with a fanny pack. I carry on my belt, with my shirt tucked in around it. I have only been made by one person in all the years I have carried, and it was a clerk at a Bass Pro store. We were having a good conversation, and she looked down on my belt, and saw the loop from the holdster, and gasped. I told her I had a carry concealed permit and it got better from there. No one else came up and talked to me. But most people never notice.

[VegasGeorge]

... a clerk at a Bass Pro store. We were having a good conversation, and she looked down on my belt, and saw the loop from the holster, and gasped.

Why am I not surprised? There is something just a little weird about Bass Pro Shop's attitude for a store that sells (lots) of guns. When you bring a gun into Bass Pro Shop for gunsmithing or to fit a holster, etc., they expect you to have a trigger lock on it. When you buy a new gun from them, an employee escorts you out of the store and they deliver it to you in the parking lot! I've never seen any other gun store act like that. Frankly, I find their attitude a bit off putting.

[Raccoon]

Well, I was a little surprised when I first encountered this, but when you go into the police supply stores here, the clerks are all armed.

I would have to think twice about robbing one of those stores, you wouldnt know for sure when someone might be behind you getting ready to shoot.

And thus, the idea of how well CCW states work. . . .

[nodaywithout]

When it comes to CCW i have yet to get mine, however when I was chatting with a gentleman at a local shooting range he had mentioned that that location has 2 classes of 12 people each every other week, and have not had a single seat in the class not filled since 911, he had mentione that anytime you go into walmart atleast 5 people either are "strapped" or have a CCW permit.

[Raccoon]

That's because WalMart is CCW friendly. -- And how many accidental shootings have you heard of at WalMart ?

[EddieMossberg]

I usually go with an in-waistband at 3:00. I most often wear jeans, and two t-shirts, one a little longer than the other. With the right holster, I can hide a medium sized gun any day with this setup. Personally, I think my gracious belly helps me hide my gun! :lol:

[Bill of Rights]

When you buy a new gun from them (Bass Pro Shop), an employee escorts you out of the store and they deliver it to you in the parking lot! I've never seen any other gun store act like that. Frankly, I find their attitude a bit off putting.

I haven't taken any guns to my local Sportsman's Warehouse, but I've bought a couple there, and they do the same thing, re: escorting you outside to deliver it to you. They've never raised an eyebrow or so much as blinked when I've gone in, though, and if I leave my house, my gun's on me unless there's a very specific reason for it to not be there, ie going to the Federal building or flying commercially.

I'm not totally sure why they do this, unless the new guns have some kind of theft-tag on them that sets off the door alarm, which I don't think is likely. I just noticed that the employee went out through a different, behind-the-counter door.

Blessings,
M

[SnowCajun]

I have bought dozens of holsters over the years, and I find that getting the right holster can be a challenge if you are a big guy. I am 6'3" and about 380 pounds. ... What does everyone else do?
I'm not a little guy either, I've been carrying for many years in an ankle holster .. I carry a Smith Model 36 in the summer and a 1911 .45 in a Mitch Rosen shoulder holster during the winter

Rosen's holsters are amazing quality but I'm not completely satisfied with how my gun rides in his rig .. I often wonder how a smaller guy carrying in this fashion doesn't stand out like crazy. Years ago I carried exclusively in a Bianchi X15 shoulder holster, but the way the holster attaches to the shoulder harness didn't work well.. it weaves itself in and out of the harness and I've had it come undone a few times having to catch my holster falling down. Eventually I sewed the danged thing together and that ended the coming undone problems with it. I'm still looking for something better in the shoulder holster department though.. something that's more comfortable for a full work week of carrying .. better support, wider shoulder support up top, and also something that lets my gun point downward for better concealability .. at least for me anyway.

The ankle holster for my Smith Model 36 was bought like 25 years ago, so long ago in fact that I haven't a clue who made it anymore. It's heavy black canvas in nature with a button snap, I'd rather thumb break .. it came with the upper calf support with a velcro strap, which I moved down and sewed to the top of the holster, now I have a double strap all attached directly to the holster Actually I just replaced those straps with two new velcro straps from a walking cast .. they're padded and much more comfortable than what was there previously. I'm still wanting to try a Galco Ankle Glove holster but my fat leg may be too big.. lol .. it says they fit up to a 13" circumference and I'm just over that. That may not be a problem though.. I've learned to sew over the years!

[OldTXCop]

I'm a big guy too...I carry a S&W 642 in front of my right hip IWB with a High Noon Holster "Mr. Softy". It's the best $25 leather holster I've found. It's hot and humid here around Houston 9 months of the year and it's usually just covered with a t-shirt. I can't carry at work, so I only have to deal with casual dress. On cooler days I carry a Kimber Ultra CDP IWB at about 4:00 in a MTAC by Comp-Tac.

I carry in a fanny pack when wearing athletic type apparel and have never worried too much about "being made". Most people are so lost in their own world they don't pay attention to their surroundings, unless they are one of us. Those that may notice you aren't observant enough to notice a slight bulge anyway. You could probably open carry and most folks wouldn't even notice these days. With PDA's and cell phones a bulge under your shirt is usually just thought to be one of those devices.

[VegasGeorge]

You could probably open carry and most folks wouldn't even notice these days.

Yup, I just had that experience. I went to my local Toyota dealership to try out some parts they'd ordered for my FJ Cruiser. I was carrying in an outside belt holster, but had been wearing a jacket for concealed carry all day. I forgot to put on my jacket when I got out of my FJ, so I was unintentionally open carrying. I must have spent 30 or 40 minutes in there, with people all around me. No one raised an eyebrow, or even seemed to notice. Open carry is legal here in Nevada, but that's the first time I ever did it. Frankly, I'm more comfortable (psychologically speaking) with concealed carry, but it's nice to know that open carry is an option.

[tuna]

I carry about 4:30 - and I absolutely love the "fat guy's friend" - a Hawaiian shirt. People don't want to see the shirt, let alone check for a gun.

[Joetro]

I am 6'2" 380# and I currently carry a S&W 3904 in an Uncle Mike's IWB holster just ahead of the hip bone. My cover garment is a lightweight short-sleeved shirt, left unbuttoned. After wearing it for a while, though, my belt buckle/jeans button starts to dig at my belly and that's what becomes the most uncomfortable thing.

[Sandhiller]

I just saw this thread.

For shoulder holsters try the Galco. I have three of their old-style "Jackass" rigs (the newer Miami Classic looks about like it). Nice wide straps of soft leather over the shoulders. I carry a Gold Cup, a Model 29 Smith, and a Smith 686 in them and they are very comfortable. Great in a vehicle, too.

The gun policy mentioned above for Bass and other stores is also the way they handle it at Cabela's. If I take a rifle in for a scope fitting they have to lock it up right at the front door and then escort me out with it at the end of the transaction. After all, I could be a nut and might start shooting people. I never mention my CCW of course and they don't care about that one anyway. Go figure. Just another example of how most "preventative" gun rules just don't work.