Any Heavy Set CC'ers?

[jmb79]

A year ago I was 5'11" and weighed 305. I used Raven Concealment Systems IWB holsters to carry the following very comfortably: Glock 21 w/ SureFire X200 attached, Glock 30, Kahr MK9, Ruger SP101.

Today, I am still 5'11" but weigh 183. The Raven Concealment Systems holsters are still the most comfortable IWB holsters and I still use them.

My relative size has made no difference re which holsters are most comfortable. Now, if you want to talk about having less room on the belt from which to hang stuff, my waist size has dropped from 48 to 34...

Bottom line: try the Raven Concealment Systems holsters. They will have a booth at this month's Indy 1500 and if they don't have the right holster in stock for you, they can make one to order on the spot if you bring your weapon to the show.

[techres]

Originally Posted by jmb79

A year ago I was 5'11" and weighed 305. -snip-
Today, I am still 5'11" but weigh 183.

And how did you do that? Tapeworm? Holy cow!

Good for you, and share the story buddy...

[NWI40cal]

Originally Posted by Bigum1969

I'm just jealous of all you skinny people

I'm 6' 150 and can't break 160 for the life of me, on about a 4-5k calorie diet. How bad does that piss you off? hahaha!

[Ri22o]

Originally Posted by jmb79

A year ago I was 5'11" and weighed 305. I used Raven Concealment Systems IWB holsters to carry the following very comfortably: Glock 21 w/ SureFire X200 attached, Glock 30, Kahr MK9, Ruger SP101.

Wow! That's a lot of BUGs!

[Caleb]

I'm 5'11" and weigh 260 pounds...I feel fat. One thing I've noticed was to size your t-shirts right when you carry.

[rhino]

Okay, you PeeWees have had your turn, so step aside and let Uncle Rhino school you on The Keys to Carryin IWB for Fat Guys.

I passed the "heavy set" at some point during kindergarten (I was 3'11" and 79 lbs. at the start of the year and I . . . grew).

Here are some important concepts for comfy and effective concealment using IWB holster for those who are circumferentially enhanced:

1. Your freakin' pants have to fit properly. That means admitting that the waist of your pants needs to go over your belly. That means not clinging to the same size of pants you wore in high school, but just lower and lower each year (however I do wear the same size I wore in high school, but I digress). If your belly hangs over, you're going to have trouble with IWB carry. GET PANTS THAT FIT. If you need help in that regard, Big and Tall Clothes for Men at KingSize Direct is your friend. If you need bigger than 72 inch waist (and I did back in 1994), there are sources for that as well, albeit with a more limited selection. Yeah, yeah, yeah . . . we all need to lose weight, but that ain't happenin' overnight, and you can't just forego protecting yourself until you fit small pants.
2. You need the best belt you can afford. That means something like a Wilderness Tactical Products, LLC | Home of the Titanium Instructor Belt instructor's belt with the polymer stiffener mandatory. Another option would be Gun Belts by The Belt Man who can make you a double thickness leather belt, also with a polymer stiffener inside. Bare minimum is a belt made of double thickness of harness leather, but you'll thank Uncle Rhino if you go ahead and get a belt with some kind of plastic or metal band between the two layers of leather or nylon that make the belt.
3. Since you're probably squishy around the midsection, you want to get an IWB holster that has some kind of belt attachment both fore and aft, i.e. two belt hooks or straps. This is especially true if your carry gun(s) is(are) top heavy.
4. You absolutely positively want a "body shield" on the inboard side of the holster. Most of 'em have them, but make sure the holsters you choose have them.
5. Leather may not be a good choice if you are a porky pistolero. The issue is perspiration. That is one of the many reasons I used kydex exclusively ... uh, that is, I would if I actually carried a gun.
6. You'll want to avoid "C hooks" and "j hooks" if you are squishy, because they will come loose from the belt whenever you change positions from seated to standing, etc. Standard belt clips or loops will work better for you.
7. Did I mention get pants that fit? Really, your waist is not just above your buttcrack. I'm serious.
8. Experiment with position before you give up. The bigger you are, the easier it is for you to conceal at a three o'clock or nine o'clock position, which is something skinny guys usually can't do as easily. You may like appendix position (or the mirror of it on the left side). I don't think you'll like anything behind your back, or anything much further back than five o'clock or so.
9. Always wear some kind of undershirt between you and the gun/holster. Yeah, it's hot outside, but if I can do it, so can you. That is, if I could do if I actually carried a gun, then you could too.

That's all that comes to mind right now.

[obijohn]

uncle rhino's post should be a sticky for those of us that are full sized human beings. couldn't have said it better. and you skinny fella's watch out, if there is a famine, we'll be eating YOU.

[Bigum1969]

Originally Posted by rhino

Okay, you PeeWees have had your turn, so step aside and let Uncle Rhino school you on The Keys to Carryin IWB for Fat Guys.

I passed the "heavy set" at some point during kindergarten (I was 3'11" and 79 lbs. at the start of the year and I . . . grew).

Here are some important concepts for comfy and effective concealment using IWB holster for those who are circumferentially enhanced:

1. Your freakin' pants have to fit properly. That means admitting that the waist of your pants needs to go over your belly. That means not clinging to the same size of pants you wore in high school, but just lower and lower each year (however I do wear the same size I wore in high school, but I digress). If your belly hangs over, you're going to have trouble with IWB carry. GET PANTS THAT FIT. If you need help in that regard, Big and Tall Clothes for Men at KingSize Direct is your friend. If you need bigger than 72 inch waist (and I did back in 1994), there are sources for that as well, albeit with a more limited selection. Yeah, yeah, yeah . . . we all need to lose weight, but that ain't happenin' overnight, and you can't just forego protecting yourself until you fit small pants.
2. You need the best belt you can afford. That means something like a Wilderness Tactical Products, LLC | Home of the Titanium Instructor Belt instructor's belt with the polymer stiffener mandatory. Another option would be Gun Belts by The Belt Man who can make you a double thickness leather belt, also with a polymer stiffener inside. Bare minimum is a belt made of double thickness of harness leather, but you'll thank Uncle Rhino if you go ahead and get a belt with some kind of plastic or metal band between the two layers of leather or nylon that make the belt.
3. Since you're probably squishy around the midsection, you want to get an IWB holster that has some kind of belt attachment both fore and aft, i.e. two belt hooks or straps. This is especially true if your carry gun(s) is(are) top heavy.
4. You absolutely positively want a "body shield" on the inboard side of the holster. Most of 'em have them, but make sure the holsters you choose have them.
5. Leather may not be a good choice if you are a porky pistolero. The issue is perspiration. That is one of the many reasons I used kydex exclusively ... uh, that is, I would if I actually carried a gun.
6. You'll want to avoid "C hooks" and "j hooks" if you are squishy, because they will come loose from the belt whenever you change positions from seated to standing, etc. Standard belt clips or loops will work better for you.
7. Did I mention get pants that fit? Really, your waist is not just above your buttcrack. I'm serious.
8. Experiment with position before you give up. The bigger you are, the easier it is for you to conceal at a three o'clock or nine o'clock position, which is something skinny guys usually can't do as easily. You may like appendix position (or the mirror of it on the left side). I don't think you'll like anything behind your back, or anything much further back than five o'clock or so.
9. Always wear some kind of undershirt between you and the gun/holster. Yeah, it's hot outside, but if I can do it, so can you. That is, if I could do if I actually carried a gun, then you could too.

That's all that comes to mind right now.

Man, what a great post.

Definitely the source for concealed carry for el mano largo!

[notasccrmom]

For starters, I'm 5'11" and 150 lbs fully dressed, soaking wet, wearing boots, etc...

For you guys that are cursing us skinny people, let me give you something to feel good about. I have a hard time concealing anything larger than a Kel-Tec, and even that can be tough sometimes. Even with a good belt, it's hard to keep pants from sagging under the weight of a gun when you have no ass to hold it up. It's tough I tell ya...

[Bigum1969]

Originally Posted by notasccrmom

For starters, I'm 5'11" and 150 lbs fully dressed, soaking wet, wearing boots, etc...

For you guys that are cursing us skinny people, let me give you something to feel good about. I have a hard time concealing anything larger than a Kel-Tec, and even that can be tough sometimes. Even with a good belt, it's hard to keep pants from sagging under the weight of a gun when you have no ass to hold it up. It's tough I tell ya...

Just because I'm fat doesn't mean I have an ass!