Who carries a full size 1911......

[Parrothead]

and how do you conceal it? Is this something you could carry iwb with light cover without getting too much unwanted attention? Thanks for the help. Typically carry a G26 but i'm thinking about adding a 1911

[Loon160T]

I just started carrying a 1911 Commander Bobtail and I'm currently using a Galco S.S.S. side snap OWB holster and covering it with my shirt tail. I'm also looking at a Galco N3 IWB holster that looks to be a good choice for more concealment.

My other carry piece is a Springfield Armory XDm 40 and I use a Crossbreed Supertuck with it. Conceals really well and is comfortable to boot. Crossbreed also makes a model for 1911s.

[Guest Plainsman]

I carry a commander bobtail as well. I began with a milt sparks SSII, which I thought was awesome until I recently purchased a CompTac Spartan. The support and stability of the Spartan is second to none that I've tried so far. Sure I liked the look of the MTAC, but figured that since no one would be looking at it in the first place, I would save the extra 16 bucks and put it towards another item. I've never had any issues with the exposed rivets on the back myself. The 1911 is a pretty narrow frame handgun, which helps it to conceal well, however most are on the heavier side. The weight is something that I have gotten used to, and must say that a good supportive holster and belt are definately worth the money. I would also encourage you to consider a bobtailed model, as it really does help concealment a great deal. Not to mention, they look awesome IMHO.

As far as a government model for carry, I don't see where it would be a lot different carried in a similar holster. I could forsee having more problems with the end of the barrell making contact with a seat or something when you sit down, and possibly a few more ounces of weight added.

[Guest eyescream]

I'm a fat kid, and I've always worn baggy clothes anyway; so I was already prepared for carrying concealed as far as my wardrobe goes.

I wear a 5" 1911 in a Don Hume 721OT pancake holster at about 3 o'clock. All I wear for cover is a tall-size t-shirt.

[redstategunnut]

At the risk of hijacking your thread, I do have something to offer to you. A full size 1911 can be concealed. I carried a 5" 1911 concealed for many years. Since I began attending training courses, however, I have gone all Glock all the time (G26, 19, 17). A fully loaded Glock is significantly lighter, and thus easier to carry concealed all day, than a 5" 1911. You won't appreciate the difference standing at the counter at the gun store. When you come home and unload that hogleg after a full day out and about, however, you'll find yourself wondering what ever made you think the G26 was not the solution.

Edited June 29, 2010 by redstategunnut
misspelling

[killerford]

i carry my TLE or CDP 4in without any problems. I use galco IWB holsters and just wear my shirt untucked.

[tnhawk]

I carry a SA TRP in a Horseshoe 22H holster with an untucked shirt

[Links2k]

Milt Sparks VMII iwb for my Les Baer and TRP

[TGO David]

At the risk of hijacking your thread, I do have something to offer to you. A full size 1911 can be concealed. I carried a 5" 1911 concealed for many years. Since I began attending training courses, however, I have gone all Glock all the time (G26, 19, 17). A fully loaded Glock is significantly lighter, and thus easier to carry concealed all day, than a 5" 1911. You won't appreciate the difference standing at the counter at the gun store. When you come home and unload that hogleg after a full day out and about, however, you'll find yourself wondering what ever made you thing the G26 was not the solution.

Agreed.

As for carrying a full-size 1911, keep in mind that most folks have no problem concealing the length of the slide; it's the length of the grip that protrudes and causes telltale "printing". If you are going to carry a heavier weapon, the key to your success is to view your holster and belt selection as an entire platform and not just individual pieces. Namely, select both as purpose-driven components of their ultimate combination.

A good holster paired with a sturdy purpose-built gunbelt will allow to carry almost anything without fatigue and with better chances for concealment. I use a Milt Sparks VM2 and a 1.5-inch double layer cow-hide belt from The Belt Man, and can carry my 5-inch 1911 all day under a loose t-shirt or polo-shirt without fatigue or "being made" by anyone.

Someone here already mentioned that they are using a Galco for this. I'm surprised they are having any success based on my previous experiences with Galco's mass-produced, flimsy, loose gun leather. Maybe they've improved their product since I last looked at any of it, though.

With holsters and belts, you really do get what you pay for and it's typically not cheap to get something really good. But then again, if you trade guns frequently, this may not be for you.

[timcalhoun]

I too carry a 5" 1911 often. Milt Sparks and a good belt under a t-shirt gives me no problems with printing, and it is very comfortable.

[Mike]

I carry a full size 1911 from time to time. Comp-tac mtac and a comp-tac gun belt. No problems.

I am much fonder of my m&p in a raven holster though...

[Ebow1]

I'm suprised no one has yet mentioned shoulder holsters. I don't have one yet for my P14, which as far as I can tell is just a double-stacked 1911 with a double action trigger, but it's the route that I wanna go.

[Guest Arko]

I carry a 5" 1911 daily. Yeah, it's a little heavy, but I've always preferred full size guns for a number of reasons. With a good forward cant it conceals well enough that I only worry about it tighter shirts.

[garethsk]

I've carried my 5" 1911 a few times OWB; conceals fairly easily at 3 o'clock with an untucked shirt or t-shirt. I do prefer my XD9 Sub IWB though, but sometimes I just feel like a change.

[tnhawk]

I have a few .40 pistols but I prefer to carry a 1911.

[Chucktshoes]

I'm a petty thin guy so I have to be mindful of concealment. I carry my PT1911 in a Desantis Intruder tuckable IWB. I have to wear an undershirt for comfort reasons, but other than than it conceals quite well even under a properly sized tshirt (as long as I don't bend, only squat).

[petro]

I carry mine in a MOB (Middle Of Back) holster with a loose shirt tail and it does not print.

[willis68]

I carry my Les Baer TRS in my Versa Max2, there are no problems whatsoever with that, it is so comfortable I honestly do not notice it and no one sees it a it conceals very well

[E4 No More]

I carry an Ed Brown Kobra Carry in a Crossbreed Supertuck without problems.

[Kegger]

Taurus PT1911 in a Comp-Tac Spartan.

Very little printing even with my shirt tucked in or a tight-ish t-shirt.

[felinesNfreedom]

I am 6'3 and about 200 lbs and I carry a full size taurus pt1911 in a galco IWB holster on the back of my right side hip and have no problem hiding it. unless I have a tighter t shirt on thats the only time you can see the "bump"

[Guest truthsayer]

I carried a full-sized 1911 for a minute. a strong belt, a great holster, and a loose cover garment are your friends.

[Northface]

With a jacket or vest, I like the Alessi CQC-S. With a T-shirt or loose polo shirt I prefer a Milt Sparks Summer Special II. With a tucked shirt, Crossbreed SuperTuck. Beltman 7 hole belt with all of them.

[Guest tenman]

I carry a full size Kimber Classic Custom in a IWB holster made my HBE Leatherworks; carried today wearing short pants and a typical knit shirt. I've found the biggest issue was as David mentioned, it's the gripthat can protrude. I carry mine canted forward just past 3 o'clock, this tends to minimize protrusion. What I like about the 1911 is that it is slim, it carries quite well for a full size handgun.

[Guest The Highlander]

I sometimes carry a Kimber 5" Target model. The weight is a little factor in it not seeing more use, but the sharp-edged target sights and the extended safety are the main reasons. I'm a little porky and those parts of the weapon are a little pokey...not a good combination. When I carry it, I use either a Dillon IWB (no longer in production, and not really missed), or a Don Hume slide (I forget the model number). I also have some Kydex for it, don't recall the brand, they are all pretty much the same despite the makers claims. I'll probably be ordering a Galco Quickslide for it at some point. Great holster because the open bottom lets you go from a 5" all the way down to a 3" barrel on the 1911 frame still using the same holster.

As someone else mentioned, I decided years ago that the lighter weight and higher round count of my Glocks outweighed the slimness and cache of carrying a 1911. I shoot Glocks competitively, and the familiarity with the weapon is important to me. Also, since I do not baby my weapons, I don't get excited when a Glock gets bumped into something hard, which happens daily in my job. Actually, the more dinged up my Glocks get, the more I like them. For my glocks, the holster is almost always a Don Hume belt slide or IWB model. I also have the Galco Quickslide for Glocks coming to replace a worn out Don Hume belt slide as the primary choice.

The slimness of the 1911 is great for carry, the 1911 fits my hand like a glove, and I shoot them reasonably well. However, I still go with Glocks for serious work simply because they are more comfortable for me to carry 16 or more hours a day, seven days a week. With the correct concealment choices, either will work well for you.

To further hijack your thread, but to suggest another alternative, I've found the Ruger SR9 is a GREAT compromise between the two for me. It feels very much like a Commander 1911, points like one, shoots like one, has very good adjustable sights from the box, is amazingly slim, but doesn't have any sharp pointy things to stick me. All in all, it has become a favorite weapon very quickly for me because it has the best qualities of both the Glock and the 1911 in my mind. As I shoot it more, and get a couple more holsters ordered for it, it is getting carried more and more frequently in place of a Glock or 1911.

You will probably end up rotating between weapons anyway, just buy quality holsters and belts, then enjoy them all!

The Highlander