Posted: 4/2/2012 2:34:03 AM EDT
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I've got a S&W 1911 Pro in 9mm that I'd like to carry. I find it more accurate better than the S&W M&P9c that I'm currently carrying.
I've heard a lot of people go on and on about how easy it is to carry a full size 1911, but I'm finding that isn't the case. I'm using a Comp-Tac 1.5" Belt and a Comp-Tac Spartan holster. Normally I carry my M&P9c in a CTAC holster using the same belt. I find that with the 1911, my pants feel tighter (even though the gun is thinner) and the muzzle prints. I've tried adjusting it from about 3 o'clock to as close to 6 o'clock as I dare (without having the gun overlapping my spine) with differing cants. I'm 5'6", 170 lb. Any suggestions? |
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Have you tried appendix carry? I carry a 5" Springfield, at roughly 1 o'clock, with no issues. I am 5'7, 140 pounds.
And you say the muzzle prints? Do you really mean the muzzle? Or do you mean the heal of the grip? I have run into the heal printing if I wear a shirt that is too tightly fitting (I just switch shirts for the day), but have never had an issue with the muzzle printing. |
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I guess I'm going to find out soon enough for myself. I've received notification that my Theis holster for my Sig P220 has been shipped. I'm planning on CCWing it when I send my Sig P6 off to be refinished and have the feed ramp fixed to feed hollowpoint ammo reliably.
It'll be carried just behind my left hip (like my P6 is) the P220 is about the size of a 1911 give or take... My suggestion to you would be to try a different holster. My P6 rides in a Supertuck and the Theis is almost identical to that but the P220 is bigger and heavier. It may not work for me... if that's the case, I'll be looking at something like a Galco King Tuck or Milt Sparks VM2... or something similar to that. Different guns need different holsters. What works for one may not work for another. |
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I've got a few inches on you, so I don't know if that might be an issue. I carry in a Crossbreed, and a Milt Sparks Summer II. I do wear pants one size up, so to print less. I carry at the 3 o'clock position, but might consider trying appendix carry. FWIW, I did notice that after some time, my front sight was wearing my jeans thin when I carried in the Crossbreed. Hence, my getting the MS. |
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They go on about the ease because...it is easy.
I carry a 5" 1911 with a slim line mag well and bumper pad mags in an OWB pancake with stiff 1.75" leather belt. I also carry a 1 or 2 mag pouch on my weak side the same way. Ive done so in cargo shorts, jeans, and slacks with a t shirt or a button up as a cover. The shirts are the same size as I used to wear before my ccw days so they arent man-tents. I havent made an IWB holster for it yet but im sure that would be even easier to conceal. BTW in 5'1" 145 ETA I wear my holster at about 3:30-4 |
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How about this?
I'm needing something myself, in the ~$50 range, so I'm going to tag along on your thread, OP 
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| I carry my full size at the 3:30 position with a Crossbreed SuperTuck. I'm 6' 3" and 200 lbs, and with the appropriate cant, belt & shirt, you'll be hard pressed to see my gun printing at all. I'd recommend keep playing with your setup, work with the cant - from what I've heard and experienced, the secret to carrying a fullsize is all in adjusting the cant and depth of the pistol. |
| Yeah I have problems too. Bending over or getting out of the car, shirt rides up and catchs the gun or mags. I have a SA GI 1911. I feel like my shirts are long enough, any longer and they would look weird and stand out. Im considering switching to a p228 with an iwb holster just for the summer. I dunno. |
I like the Summer Special style. They're stable and comfortable without feeling like you're bolting half a cowhide to your belt. They also let the gun ride low enough in relation to the beltline for maximum concealment while still providing you an unimpeded firing grip.
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Quoted: I've got a S&W 1911 Pro in 9mm that I'd like to carry. I find it more accurate better than the S&W M&P9c that I'm currently carrying. I've heard a lot of people go on and on about how easy it is to carry a full size 1911, but I'm finding that isn't the case. I'm using a Comp-Tac 1.5" Belt and a Comp-Tac Spartan holster. Normally I carry my M&P9c in a CTAC holster using the same belt. I find that with the 1911, my pants feel tighter (even though the gun is thinner) and the muzzle prints. I've tried adjusting it from about 3 o'clock to as close to 6 o'clock as I dare (without having the gun overlapping my spine) with differing cants. I'm 5'6", 170 lb. Any suggestions? Larger pants. Seriously. I'm 5'7" at 168 lbs and carrying an IWB Desert Warrior is less comfortable, than it is with the same holster carrying my 3" New Agent. The Desert Warrior's muzzle is resting on the chair seat, along with my right butt cheek. I can carry the New Agent IWB in smaller 32" waist jeans, but the 5" Desert does make things a lot snugger. Wearing a pair of 33" or 34" 501's is better.   |
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Quoted: I carry my full size at the 3:30 position with a Crossbreed SuperTuck. I'm 6' 3" and 200 lbs, and with the appropriate cant, belt & shirt, you'll be hard pressed to see my gun printing at all. I'd recommend keep playing with your setup, work with the cant - from what I've heard and experienced, the secret to carrying a fullsize is all in adjusting the cant and depth of the pistol. I'm a little heavier than you, and I carry in about the same position, sometimes more like 4:00 when IWB with a Comp-tac MTAC. Seems to do just fine, and it doesn't print too bad. The most comfortable way for me to carry is OWB with my Indian Creek Leather holster. It rides right at 3:00. While I carry my full size SA Loaded daily (wearing it 12 hours a day usually), I do want to get into a smaller 1911 model for IWB carry. ETA: Spelling |
I use this at about 4-5 o'clock. The muzzle does end up at the bottom of my rear pocket though. I am asked by relatives if i am carrying because they can never tell. Point being, move it further away from 6 o'clock and play with the cant. Also don't worry so much because 99% of people don't pay attention |
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Quoted:
The red line is where the gun is, the green arrow is the muzzle sticking out. I'm using an airsoft 1911 in the picture, but it's the right size. For reference, the leatherman's at almost exactly 3 o'clock. http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/906/img2781x.jpg 
I have to say that I've never had one poke out as much as that one seems to. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
The red line is where the gun is, the green arrow is the muzzle sticking out. I'm using an airsoft 1911 in the picture, but it's the right size. For reference, the leatherman's at almost exactly 3 o'clock. http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/906/img2781x.jpg
I have to say that I've never had one poke out as much as that one seems to. Looking at it on a bigger screen than a phone, it looks like the OP is also leaning over a bit |
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Quoted:
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z248/zaskar017/DSCF0379.jpg?t=1290286244 I use this at about 4-5 o'clock. The muzzle does end up at the bottom of my rear pocket though. I am asked by relatives if i am carrying because they can never tell. Point being, move it further away from 6 o'clock and play with the cant. Also don't worry so much because 99% of people don't pay attention That's my setup to a T.... |
It's weird because I've also noticed that different clothing materials give different results when it comes to concealment. Especially since I don't tuck in my shirts - who does in FL anyways? 
My gun is anywhere between the 3-3:30 position. While wearing a 100% cotton t-shirt, the occasional lifting, bending, and moving around will make me look like I've got an external cell phone pouch on my hip with an awkward cant. It'll occasionally ride up, and in the odd chance at a hardware store or two my wife has had to tug at my shirt just a little to hide a display. Next, with the gun in the same position wearing a 100% polyester shirt, any lifting, bending or moving around does none of the above, and the shirt just finds itself right back where it was before I started moving around. I'd chalk it up to the polyester being a smoother fabric with little to catch on the firearm, but that's just my guess. I can only report on what I've tried. I'm definitely not saying switch out all your clothes to 100% polyester and ditch cotton though 
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Quoted:
The red line is where the gun is, the green arrow is the muzzle sticking out. I'm using an airsoft 1911 in the picture, but it's the right size. For reference, the leatherman's at almost exactly 3 o'clock. http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/906/img2781x.jpg To put it where I find the "happy spot" you'd have to bring the loop of the holster that is visible around to the forward edge of the Leatherman. I find it fits best on me just behind my hip bone. By bringing it forward you will have less poking out when you bend forward. |
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As has already been stated, adjust the cant and raise it to it's highest setting.
And assuming it only really prints like that when you bend forward, remember that it doesn't automatically scream "he's got a gun". 99.9% of casual observers won't notice something like that, and if they did would assume it's a wallet or something before they jumped to the conclusion you are carrying a firearm. Really, the only people who ever even look for stuff like that are other people carrying concealed themselves. It takes a lot less to conceal something or disguise something than people realize. |
| Best 1911 inside pants leather holster hands down for me is the bianchi 100. High ride leather keeps gun and skin away. Secure clip easy on and allows to slide if in a car and out. Oh yeah it's cheap too! Ive had custom galco don hume kydex ect but the 100 is the best ive seen. Simple and effective. Good luck |
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I'm 5'6" and 170lbs, and really don't have any issues carrying my 5" Dan Wesson Valor in a simple IWB Wilson Combat holster (probably better ones out there, but this works, and I got it with the gun, so why change) at about 3:30 to 4 o'clock. I do have to wear a 36" pair of pants usually (or 34's if they're a relaxed fit). Note, posture is your friend. If you sit with your butt against the back of the seat you're on, it keeps everything pretty comfortable, plus it's better for your back. Since this holster has a pretty decent forward cant, it hides pretty well.
Maybe I just don't know any better about carrying smaller guns, since my other carry gun is a full size M&P45 with a light on it in an OWB holster that I'll wear a loose shirt or jacket over. I just don't feel great about carrying a smaller gun than these, but that's my opinion. |
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Thanks guys.
Moving the holster forward helps a lot. Normally I carry farther back to keep the grip concealed (with a compact gun), but it seems like adding a lot of cant helps conceal the grip frame. EDIT: My current holster squeaks and the grips feel like sandpaper, but I can fix those problems easily enough. |
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Quoted:
Thanks guys. Moving the holster forward helps a lot. Normally I carry farther back to keep the grip concealed (with a compact gun), but it seems like adding a lot of cant helps conceal the grip frame. EDIT: My current holster squeaks and the grips feel like sandpaper, but I can fix those problems easily enough. No one will notice the grip. If any shape shows people will just assume it's your cell phone. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Thanks guys. Moving the holster forward helps a lot. Normally I carry farther back to keep the grip concealed (with a compact gun), but it seems like adding a lot of cant helps conceal the grip frame. EDIT: My current holster squeaks and the grips feel like sandpaper, but I can fix those problems easily enough. No one will notice the grip. If any shape shows people will just assume it's your cell phone. I tuck my shirt in, so it's a little more of a concern. |
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Quoted:
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z248/zaskar017/DSCF0379.jpg?t=1290286244 I use this at about 4-5 o'clock. The muzzle does end up at the bottom of my rear pocket though. I am asked by relatives if i am carrying because they can never tell. Point being, move it further away from 6 o'clock and play with the cant. Also don't worry so much because 99% of people don't pay attention This is close to my set up also, only the clip near the grip is one hole higher. Although I carry a commander length, (which is really not that much smaller) it disappears as I carry it at the 1-2 o'clock position. The cant keeps it pointed away from my leg, and isn't too uncomfortable sitting or driving. As said above, play with your set up and find what fits you best. The way you dress, your body build, etc. will dictate alot. I've tried several positions and this works best for me. I couldn't carry at the 4-5 o'clock position due to when sitting, my mag release would depress. 3 o'clock printed too much. |
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Quoted:
I've got a S&W 1911 Pro in 9mm that I'd like to carry. I find it more accurate better than the S&W M&P9c that I'm currently carrying. I've heard a lot of people go on and on about how easy it is to carry a full size 1911, but I'm finding that isn't the case. I'm using a Comp-Tac 1.5" Belt and a Comp-Tac Spartan holster. Normally I carry my M&P9c in a CTAC holster using the same belt. I find that with the 1911, my pants feel tighter (even though the gun is thinner) and the muzzle prints. I've tried adjusting it from about 3 o'clock to as close to 6 o'clock as I dare (without having the gun overlapping my spine) with differing cants. I'm 5'6", 170 lb. Any suggestions? I carry a 5 inch 1911 in a Milt Sparks SSII with a bull hide, internally stiffened, Beltman belt. This combination is very comfortable when worn around 3:30 to 4 o'clock. That said winter time is the only time I do this. I carry an M&P.40c in a Milt Sparks SSII that I had specially ordered from them for the other 9 months of the year as it conceals very well. I'm 6'2 235lbs, and am an amateur body builder. I find it hard not to print the 1911 combo in lighter clothing I think, because even though I have a reletively thin waist, I have a long torso. Your going to have to try several things to see what fits you. For the guys recommending appendix carry with a full sized 1911....... how do you do that when in the seated position? Different strokes I guess. |
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A full size works but is heavy and did wear on me.
I switched to a 3 inch 1911 with a lighter frame and there is a HUGE difference. Any concerns about accuracy evaporated after the first trip to the range as it was pleasantly surprising that no accuracy was lost for me. |
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I've long been a fan of carrying at the 3:00 - 3:30 position IWB.
Wearing a IWB leather holster now made by a local guy. "Backwoods Leather" of Portsmouth Va. The two leather belt tabs with snaps spread the load very well. Has just the right cant. Reinforced opening for easy holstering. Leather extends up the inside too to prevent snagging you as you wear it or draw from it. A very well made and KISS holster. Wore it all day as I did yard work too! |