[Ford]

I know that this question has been brought up before but for those of you that son't mind let's rehash it.
Here is my problem. Well my first problem is that I can't carry concealed here in the state of MO. Besides that I have been thinking of a carry gun for quite some time. Just in the anticipation that the law will pass. I want to already have the gun and be familiar with it, make sure that it is comfortable and concelable.
I can't decide on what I want. I have swayed from gun to gun for several months now.

I have though about my Wilson Protector. It's biggest plus is also it's biggest minus. It is a full size gun. This making it easy to shoot yet harder to conceal. I feel most comfortable with a full size .45 protecting my life.
I have thought about the Wilson KZ-45 Compact. But does losing 3/4" to 1" in barrel length make it that much easier to conceal? Right now this may be the direction I am leaning.
I have though about the new Para-Ordnance LLDA 6-45.
I have thought about my Glock 23. Caliber wise this is my second choice. It can be argued that the .40 performs a little better out of the shorter barrel.
Then I have thought about either a Kel-Tech or Kahr. Would be much easier to conceal and I could live with a 9mm in a pinch.
Body wise. I am 6'5" 235lbs. I know that some of you guys that are much smaller carry full sized 1911's with no problem. But honestly are you able to carry them comfortably and able to conceal them properly? I know that the right clothing and so on are a major part of concealment. But I guess know matter what you carry you are going to have to have an untucked shirt or jacket or something so why not then just go with the bigger gun. I would want to be able to carry one gun 90% of the time. So what do you think? Also once again is a Officer sized gun that much easier to conceal than a government sized gun?
Thanks

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"Of those that will penetrate, the edge is always with the bigger bullet."

 

[dsk]

You carry what you are most confident protecting yourself with. There's always a creative way to conceal it. Regarding a full-size .45 auto, I am 5'6", 150lbs. yet I can carry a full size as long as it's in the small of the back. Anywhere else and it looks like I'm growing something. Dealing with the weight is more a matter of distributing it. For example, I use a proper belt with a steel liner meant for holsters, and it works quite well. I tried the same setup but with a typical soft leather belt, and it allows the gun to pull right down.

You really do need a smaller gun for hot weather (in my case a Kahr P-9), but for the other seasons with the proper attire carrying a large gun is quite possible.

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D. Kamm
USGI M1911/M1911A1 Pistols Website
http://www.geocities.com/M1911_M1911A1

[This message has been edited by dsk (edited 07-23-2001).]

 

[Ford]

Thanks, For summer carry when I go out my usuall casual dress is something like khaki shorts and an untucked button up shirt.

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"Of those that will penetrate, the edge is always with the bigger bullet."

 

[PreserveFreedom]

Lately, a Glock 27 in my right front pocket.

 

[eljay45]

I recently started carrying an AMT Backup in 40S&W as my hot weather gun. In cooler weather I will go back to my Glock30. Concealing a hangun involves the right belt, holster and clothing. And just as importantly you have to be aware that you have it and move accordingyly. i.e, do not bend over to retrieve anything, bend at the knees and squat down.Even a pocket gun will show if you do not take the proper setps to hide it. Buy what you feel safe with, buy good gear to go with it, learn good habits.

 

[Bodeen]

Kent,at 6'5" 235 you could conceal two fullsize 1911s.Hell,you could conceal me and dsk.

 

[dnancarr]

I carry a Government model when the weather or dress will cover it properly, and an Officers model at other times. Friend of mine carries a Commander, but I've found the hardest part of a 1911 to conceal is the grip. The commander frame is the same size as the government model.

 

[McSander]

I carry a full sized SA 1911 in the fall and winter. For warm weather, I have a NAA Guardian .380 that I keep in a front pocket holster.

 

[Nathan]

I just posted a similar topic and got about three pages of results. I think it was called "What size of 1911 do you carry?"

To sum it up. There were a lot of full size 1911's in either a IWB or OWB. I was surprized. I was going to get an officers/compact size gun until these guys sort of talked me out of it. Now I'm thinking full size definately.

 

[PoodleShooter]

I am 5'-10" and 160lbs and I carry either a Kimber Pro Carry or a HK usp-compact. I find SOB the easiest place to carry concealed - and yes I do have one of the desired Kalifornia CCW permits. I also carry in a waist pack at times.

 

[WilDJ]

I carry a FS 1911, a Kimber Custom CDP. Per my profile you can see that I live in TX where temperatures currently gets to the century mark. But still, I never had a problem carrying a FS pistol even if I am wearing shorts and T-shirt. The shirt/T-shirt has to be a loose fit and of course, untucked. The important part here is the carry rig (holster & belt). Buy the best one you can afford and practice carrying it around the house to eliminate any habits that can be a give-away that you are carrying.

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Protect LIFE...you only have ONE.

 

[RikWriter]

I live in Central Florida, where the temperate season lasts all of about a month, and I carry a Kimber stainless Gold Match. I have found that with a quality IWB holster (Galco Summer Comfort) and a quality CCW belt, I can conceal the gun under an untucked polo shirt or beneath a light athletic vest. I am aided by the fact that I was blessed with a fairly wide chest (I am 5'10" and 220lbs) which makes shirts hang loose around my waist.

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A man with a watch knows what time it is; a man with two watches isn't so sure

 

[bucksnuffer]

Well, i'm 5'6, 130lbs(probably closer to 5'5 and 125) and must conceal. I carry a kimber compact in a Galco S.O.B. It does a fine job, gotta be careful if ya have to retie a shoe

 

[Billy Ray]

At 6'3" and 250lbs, I carry a fullsize when dressed casually and a Colt Pony (.380) when at work (dress slacks and tucking button down shirt).

As others have said, they key is a good rig--particularly the belt. Mark Waldon makes excellent gear (and increadible belts) www.waldonholsters.com. I have also been impressed with Milt Sparks gear.

If you can conceal a Commander, then you can swing a full size, no problem. If a Commander doesn't work, the Colt CCO would be a great choice.

Billy Ray

 

[JRJ]

I'm 6'2" 220 lbs, and I carry a full size 1991a1, Glock 22, Beretta 96, and if it ends up being a shooter a ruger p97. I use quality IWB's from various manufacturers and all seem to work well for me. I prefer a slight cant, although not as much as the FBI cant.

 

[SELFDEFENSE]

Concealment is primarily an issue of what fashion compromises you are willing to make
and whether you are willing to employ the advantages of IWB holsters.
2 weeks ago I wore a Glock 21 at 2:30 in a Kramer #3 IWB on the right and a Colt 1991-A1 at 9:00 in a Milt Sparks MMX IWB cross-draw on the left.
My attire was an open short-sleeved and big pants. I'm 6' and 205.
You can carry most anything you want to if you make the necessary dress and holster choices.

 

[chappy256]

Ford, I'm curious to know what the status of the concealed carry law is in MO. Is it going to come up for a vote again any time soon? I sure would like to see concealed carry laws passed in all 50 states.

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A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. NRA LIFE MEMBER

 

[Lupey]

Well it depends on where I am going and how I am dressing. For hot weather (shorts and t-shirt I will carry my AMT 380 backup. With jeans and other dress I will carry my full size 1911

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By the time they come for your guns I will be to dead to care

 

[h4444]

When it's hot, I carry a Springfield V10 Ultra Compact. I went with the ported model for quicker recovery shots,,,,the noise and additional muzzle flash hasn't been an issue on the range, and I've fired it under subdued lighting conditions with no problems.

When its cooler I go with IWB and my full size Kimber Classic Custom....well, I'm without this option for a little while,,,too hot and the Kimber is going home to Yonkers for a while.

But, I'm seriously considering carrying the Springfield exclusively. Its been rock solid in the reliability department and I'm able to recover shot-to-shot surprisingly quickly for the compact 1911.

Thanks
H4444

 

[HadEmAll]

Good luck with CC in Missouri. How is it looking for passage? People can say what they want about George Bush but he is the guy that got it done in Texas after our previous governor got CC squashed because she thought "people would hurt themselves". Anyway, I digress. I won't bore you with the variety I carry but I thought I'd give you my thoughts on your possible choice of Kahr vs. Keltec. I've had them both and they are two different animals entirely. Other than lower capacity, the Kahr (9mm or .40) is superior to the Keltec in all aspects. The trigger pull on the Kahr, after you learn to pull straight through without trying to stage, allows amazing accuracy. It is truly smooth as silk. The nasty trigger pull on the Keltec was hard for me (and made my finger hurt) to control. Just my humble opinion. I liked the light weight of the Keltec but didn't have confidence I could shoot it accurately enough if I ever really needed to so I quit carrying it and eventually got rid of it after the extractor broke. The factory was quick to replace it but but I gave sold it to somebody who promised it a good home. I consider my K40 my "always" gun no matter whatever else I carry. It is a nifty blend of compactness and power. Once again, good luck with CC in Missouri.