Posted: 1/7/2014 1:40:29 PM EDT
| So I have been carrying my Springfield XDM .40 5" barrel IWB and it is has never been very comfortable especially with my party ball up front. I have tossed around the idea of OWB but I don't know if I could conceal a full size gun like that. Has anyone ever CC OWB a gun this large? If so what holsters did you use? Please post pics if possible. I would also consider getting a slightly smaller gun but wouldn't want to go subcompact again. I had a glock 27 in .40 and it was to small for my hands and wasn't comfortable to shoot. I am also LH so holsters can be a little harder to find. |
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DCS12345
I have been using a holster from white hat holsters They have great reviews and the holster is nice. I usually carry between 8-9. I also recently got a nice carry belt which has helped but I still think OWB would be more comfortable. txinvestigator: Do you carry OWB all year round? If so how well does your holster conceal while wearing a t-shirt and shorts? |
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DCS12345 I have been using a holster from white hat holsters They have great reviews and the holster is nice. I usually carry between 8-9. I also recently got a nice carry belt which has helped but I still think OWB would be more comfortable. txinvestigator: Do you carry OWB all year round? If so how well does your holster conceal while wearing a t-shirt and shorts? If I wear just a t-shirt, I switch to IWB. T-shirt tucked in and an other short sleeved unbuttoned shirt; then OWB. I have been wanting to try some alternative carry methods, like Kangaroo Carry. |
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From all the videos and research I have done before posting hear gives me the impression that it is almost impossible to OWB with a t-shirt. thats a bummer seeing that i wear t-shirts 99% of the time lol. Just get a long tail t-shirt. That's what I do when wearing just t-shirts. But I'm 6'2" and regular shirts do nothing but air out my butt crack. |
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From all the videos and research I have done before posting hear gives me the impression that it is almost impossible to OWB with a t-shirt. thats a bummer seeing that i wear t-shirts 99% of the time lol. Don't wear such tight t-shirts. :) Most people are terminally oblivious, so what might stand out to you as the noticeable bulge of a gun under a t-shirt, mostly everyone else won't even notice or they'll think you're just lumpy and misshapen. Where most folks that are carrying get hemmed up is when their shirt tails ride up exposing a holster or butt of a gun, not when their shirt is covering their holster standing straight up. Most times, I go for the layered approach of undershirt - holster - outer shirt which lends itself to concealing a large frame pistol pretty well. Thomas Magnum was on to something with his flowery hawaiian shirts--shirts with patterns or large prints tend to offer visual camoflage to break up the occasional print of a pistol. Part of the carrying process, though, is ending up with a drawer full of holsters, one for every occasion, and a whole bunch that don't work for anything. Concealed carry has so much to do with body type, as well, as broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted folks have a whole bunch of different options than the rounder-'round-the-middle crowd. Just have to be willing to try a few things and see what works for you--not someone else on the Internet. Me--I carry IWB in the Comp-Tac CTAC, full size Glock 17, every day for the last 10 years. |
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Just get a long tail t-shirt. That's what I do when wearing just t-shirts. But I'm 6'2" and regular shirts do nothing but air out my butt crack. Quoted:
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From all the videos and research I have done before posting hear gives me the impression that it is almost impossible to OWB with a t-shirt. thats a bummer seeing that i wear t-shirts 99% of the time lol. Just get a long tail t-shirt. That's what I do when wearing just t-shirts. But I'm 6'2" and regular shirts do nothing but air out my butt crack. I can't pull it off with a t-shirt, it just stands out too much for me. |
| Aside from holsters and shirts, belts are an important part of the OWB equation. If you don't have one already, make sure to get a fairly inflexible belt around 1.5" wide. It doesn't have to be an expensive "gunbelt," but it needs to be sturdy and something that won't stretch over time. A good belt will help keep the holster close in to your body and keep the bulging down. |
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I carry three different guns depending on my mood. Key is wearing a good quality gun belt that is stiff and will hold up the weight against your waist and a short sleeve button down shirt either your size or one size larger to cover said gun.
1. STI Spartan V 5" gov't size 1911 in a UBG Regulator Not my pic 
2. Glock 22 or Glock 23 in a Raven Concealment Glock 22 holster than fits both pistols. Not my pic 
And I use Kytex Mag Carriers for my 1911 and Glock mags |
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I CCW a full size 1911 with x300U, and at least one spare mag... every single day. I'm 6'5", 180#, and haven't ever had an issue. Mine rides in a custom kydex OWB holster with belt snaps. Concealed carrying is not his question. Carrying OWB is his issue. |
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Thomas Magnum was on to something with his flowery hawaiian shirts--shirts with patterns or large prints tend to offer visual camoflage to break up the occasional print of a pistol. Quoted for truth. Hawaiian shirts are the bees knees for summer carrying. |
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Concealed carrying is not his question. Carrying OWB is his issue. Quoted:
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I CCW a full size 1911 with x300U, and at least one spare mag... every single day. I'm 6'5", 180#, and haven't ever had an issue. Mine rides in a custom kydex OWB holster with belt snaps. Concealed carrying is not his question. Carrying OWB is his issue. Quoted:
So I have been carrying my Springfield XDM .40 5" barrel IWB and it is has never been very comfortable especially with my party ball up front. I have tossed around the idea of OWB but I don't know if I could conceal a full size gun like that. Has anyone ever CC OWB a gun this large? If so what holsters did you use? Please post pics if possible. I would also consider getting a slightly smaller gun but wouldn't want to go subcompact again. I had a glock 27 in .40 and it was to small for my hands and wasn't comfortable to shoot. I am also LH so holsters can be a little harder to find. Not sure if I'm tracking you right TXI. My gun is larger, a better caliber  , and I think I answered his question ... minus the pictures. 
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Not sure if I'm tracking you right TXI. My gun is larger, a better caliber , and I think I answered his question ... minus the pictures.
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I CCW a full size 1911 with x300U, and at least one spare mag... every single day. I'm 6'5", 180#, and haven't ever had an issue. Mine rides in a custom kydex OWB holster with belt snaps. Concealed carrying is not his question. Carrying OWB is his issue. Quoted:
So I have been carrying my Springfield XDM .40 5" barrel IWB and it is has never been very comfortable especially with my party ball up front. I have tossed around the idea of OWB but I don't know if I could conceal a full size gun like that. Has anyone ever CC OWB a gun this large? If so what holsters did you use? Please post pics if possible. I would also consider getting a slightly smaller gun but wouldn't want to go subcompact again. I had a glock 27 in .40 and it was to small for my hands and wasn't comfortable to shoot. I am also LH so holsters can be a little harder to find. Not sure if I'm tracking you right TXI. My gun is larger, a better caliber , and I think I answered his question ... minus the pictures.
I missed part of your post. Sorry. ;) |
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That's my problem, I'm already big and tall. Quoted:
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Pick up some t-shirts from the big and tall section, look for TALL on the tag. The longer length will cover up the OWB carry for full size guns. That's my problem, I'm already big and tall. No. Check out Duluth trading company's long shirts. They're friggen perfect. |
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I don't roll with service size pistols, but I OWB with an Alessi CQC-S ( G19, G30).
I generally wear button down shirts and never had an issue. I can still OWB carry with the G19 w/o too much difficulty wearing a tee shirt. The trick to tee shrits is they need to be a size or two bigger than what you normally wear, unless they're multicolor or patterned. You can't go out wearing your muscle mapping shirts and expect to conceal anything. |
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Don't wear such tight t-shirts. :) Most people are terminally oblivious, so what might stand out to you as the noticeable bulge of a gun under a t-shirt, mostly everyone else won't even notice or they'll think you're just lumpy and misshapen. Quoted:
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From all the videos and research I have done before posting hear gives me the impression that it is almost impossible to OWB with a t-shirt. thats a bummer seeing that i wear t-shirts 99% of the time lol. Don't wear such tight t-shirts. :) Most people are terminally oblivious, so what might stand out to you as the noticeable bulge of a gun under a t-shirt, mostly everyone else won't even notice or they'll think you're just lumpy and misshapen. This ... I wear an undershirt tucked in (always) and a loose un-tucked t-shirt 99% of the time with IWB .. I usually look in the mirror and feel a tad lumpy on one side.. my wife tells me she can never tell I have anything under the outer shirt.. just keep the outer shirt loose and somewhat long .. I never get looks or that person staring at my waist.. most people are oblivious and aren't staring at some dudes waist lol To aswer the OPs OWB question - I had an instructor wear a DSG Alpha holster OWB and its very snug to the body and conceals VERY nicely.. I was impressed with it and may give that one a try: http://dsgarms.com/ProductInfo/DSGARGLK17DE.aspx <- anyone else here have anything good or bad to say about that one? |
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Have you thought about a compact size XDM and a set of Pearce grips? I have large hands so they are a must for me with a compact.
Amazon - Pearce Grips It is what I run IWB or OWB depending on my choice of clothing. I have owned several XDM's... the 3.8 is just as accurate as the 4.5 in my experience. 
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I CC a G19 OWB under a t-shirt using a Raven Phantom. I actually use the Phantom model made for the G17 since I already had one, so a G17 size gun wouldn't be any harder with regard to barrel length. The longer grip of a service size handgun prints a lot more when I bent over, but it's doable. FWIW, I don't like carrying anything smaller than the G19 and prefer a full size to a sub-compact if I'm not carrying the G19.
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Quoted: To aswer the OPs OWB question - I had an instructor wear a DSG Alpha holster OWB and its very snug to the body and conceals VERY nicely.. I was impressed with it and may give that one a try: http://dsgarms.com/ProductInfo/DSGARGLK17DE.aspx <- anyone else here have anything good or bad to say about that one? I have several friends with that holster who really like it, and I can attest that to its quality. I have never tried to CC with one, so I can't say comment on how well it conceals. However, it's very similar in design to the Raven which I have no problem concealing. Also, DSG uses a lot thicker kydex than Raven and most other holster companies.
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Hey OP, I too have the white hat holster and love it, but OWB is definitely more comfortable. I also wear t-shirt/shorts for the majority of the year and have been toying with OWB as well.
Raven concealment looks like a nice holster, but I've heard some incredible things about the UBG Bonneville. It's a high ride pancake style holster that I've seen pictures (can't find them now) of people carrying full size under a t-shirt without a problem. The lowest portion of the holster sits at the belt line, making it much easier. Here are some photos: Here are some pics |
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No. Check out Duluth trading company's long shirts. They're friggen perfect. Quoted:
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Pick up some t-shirts from the big and tall section, look for TALL on the tag. The longer length will cover up the OWB carry for full size guns. That's my problem, I'm already big and tall. No. Check out Duluth trading company's long shirts. They're friggen perfect. They are one of the few places I can buy shirts long enough for me! 
I'm 6' 7" 240 and I either carry a Ed Brown Special Forces 5" 1911 or a Glock G19 and both of them are in CompTac Mtac IWB holsters with a Wilderness Tactical Titanium belt. 
I am thinking of getting something for OWB carry.
BigDozer66 |
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Ahh, the dead holster drawer..... Mine is full Quoted:
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Part of the carrying process, though, is ending up with a drawer full of holsters, one for every occasion, and a whole bunch that don't work for anything.. Ahh, the dead holster drawer..... Mine is full and i'm now discovering my closet is made up of 2 sections, clothes I can carry while wearing and clothes I can't... |