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Having a big belly can have a considerable impact on concealed carrying. Remember that the first rule of concealed carrying is to conceal your weapon and a large gut can affect where you might be able to conceal a holster. Clothing choice and fit is going to play a big part in your ability to conceal your weapon as well. Are you someone who is big or tall enough that you get attention just by walking into a room? If yes then you’re gonna need to be extra careful when concealing your weapon because the more eyes on you, the more eyes that could spot your weapon. If you are wondering how to concealed carry with a belly, join us as we consider some of the particulars of this scenario and dish out some concealed carry tips for fat guys.
Find the Right Holster
If you are a gun owner that’s packing a little cushion in the gut you might have spent some time wondering how to concealed carry with a big belly. Have you ever found yourself having difficulty drawing from your holster because of your size? Maybe you’ve tried every holster you could and still haven’t found one that offers any comfort. One good thing is, you’re not alone. In this section we’ll provide concealed carry tips for big guys that’ll help you find the holster that’s right for you.
Holsters That Will Not Work for Big Dudes
Lateral movement with the dominant arm tends to be one of the big hurdles for concealed carry for big guys. If you have a large chest, it may be difficult to reach across it to draw your weapon. The following holsters, for various reasons, have drawbacks for larger gun owners.
Appendix Carry
The Appendix carry is a method of carrying a concealed firearm inside the waistband. It is named for the gun’s location next to your appendix. This has been a popular style of carry for a long time and continues to be popular today. However, this type of carry is really not for bigger guys. One advantage of appendix holsters is that no real lateral arm movement is required and that’s great for walking around but once seated, you’ll probably start to feel your weapon’s grip stab into your midsection.
With the appendix carry, the muzzle of your gun and holster sometimes tend to tip outward. This could lead to unwanted printing, meaning that the outline of your gun is visible through your clothes. This can also cause your weapon’s muzzle to dig into your body, a rather uncomfortable situation. A good tip is that longer muzzles and holsters will provide additional stability for this style of carry, making it more comfortable.
Don’t be scared though, fat guys can pull off appendix carry. Spencer Keepers, founder of Keepers Concealment, a holster company, offers two recommendations. First is a foam wedge. This will push the muzzle away from the body and tuck the grip in toward the body. You can also try using velcro tape and some gel-based shoe inserts to achieve the same effect. Keepers’ second recommendation is to buy an adjustable belt. If you can find one that has the right height and cant adjustment for you could potentially make the appendix carry a great style for you.
Shoulder Holster
Shoulder holster carrying can also prove difficult for larger men. With these types of holsters, the firearm is positioned vertically against your body with the barrel facing downward. Weapons are typically carried under the non-dominant armpit. Many large-framed people find drawing from this position difficult without some sort of exaggerated movement. There are shoulder holsters that are kept horizontally against the body and that hold the gun barrel facing the rear and these are generally less difficult to draw from. Still, someone with a large chest may have difficulty with this style of carry.
Honestly, we recommend not dwelling on the shoulder holster approach. However, if you really want to follow this route, one of our concealed carry tips for fat guys is to look for a jacket with a built-in concealed holster. With the jacket, although your firearm will still be positioned vertically, you will be able to wear your weapon closer to your dominant side by several inches. You will benefit by having your gun closer to your dominant hand because you will not have to overextend your arm across your chest to reach your weapon.
Small of the Back Holsters
Small of the back holsters pose some of the same challenges as shoulder holsters. The difference here is that when drawing from this style of carry your dominant arm will cross behind your body. While you can reposition the holster closer to your dominant side to make your draw more comfortable, carrying this way probably isn’t optimal for your draw speed or motion.
Ankle Holsters
The problem with ankle holsters is having to bend down to reach them. These holsters are often carried on the ankle of your non-dominant foot. Although there are different ways to draw from an ankle holster, the most common is to drop to one knee (as if you are tying the laces of your shoes), pull up your pant leg with your support hand, and draw your weapon with your dominant hand. Although this draw will be essentially the same for smaller men, bending down on one knee may prove more challenging if you have a bigger frame.
Best Holsters for Fat Guys
Finally! The good news is that there are some holsters whose design is perfect for concealed carry for big guys. These holsters are generally comfortable for all shapes and sizes of people.
Strong-Side Hip Holster
The strong-side hip holster is designed to be carried just above the rear of the hip or in gunspeak between the 3 o’clock and 5 o’clock positions. One bonus is that from this position you can easily access your weapon without lateral movement of the dominant arm. Strong-side hip holsters are also the most defensible holsters from a weapons retention standpoint. These types of holsters allow your dominant hand to either draw your weapon or maintain downward pressure on it to keep it holstered while allowing your non-dominant hand to strike an assailant or fend off an attack.
If you really want to master how to concealed carry with a big belly, the key lies in having a realistic understanding of your dominant arm’s range of motion. Start by unloading your firearm completely. To ensure a complete and thorough unloading of your firearm, do the following:
For Revolvers:
Hold the revolver pointing in a safe direction
Keep your trigger finger indexed against the frame of the revolver, below the cylinder and above the trigger
Eject the cylinder from the firearm
Empty bullets from the cylinder
Visually and physically inspect the cylinder to confirm that all ammunitions have been cleared
Close the cylinder
For Semi-Automatics
Hold the pistol pointing in a safe direction
Keep your trigger finger indexed against the frame of the pistol, below the slide and above the trigger
Remove the magazine from the pistol grip
Rack the slide to eject any ammunition that might be in the chamber
Rack the slide three more times (you can never be too careful when ensuring that your weapon is completely empty). If more ammunition is ejected when you are racking the slide at this step that means you failed to remove the magazine earlier. Do so now.
Lock the slide to the rear
Virtually and physically inspect the chamber and magazine to ensure that no magazine is present and no ammunition is chambered.
Release the slide
Once your weapon has been completely unloaded, place it against your body in every position where you might wear a holster.
For a shoulder holster, place it under your non-dominant arm, a few inches below the armpit. Hold it in place by squeezing the pistol against your body with your non-dominant arm and elbow.
For a cross-draw holster, place it against your belt at 11 o’clock on your non-dominant hand, with the grip facing your dominant side. Hold it in place with your support hand.
For an appendix holster, place it against your belt at the 1 o’clock position with the grip facing your non-dominant hand. If you encounter difficulty in holding your non-dominant hand in place, you can also stick your weapon into your waistband to keep it in place.
For a small of the back holster, slide the firearm into your waistband at the base of your spine, with the grip facing your dominant side
For an ankle holster, bend on one knee with your non-dominant foot in front of you. Keep the firearm in place against the ankle of your non-dominant foot with your dominant hand.
For a strong-side hip holster, slide your firearm into your waistband between the 3 o’clock and 5 o’clock positions.
Once you have fully understood your body’s range of motions, choosing a holster that can be comfortably carried and concealed will become easier. When considering carry style always keep in mind concealment, ease of access, and ease of drawing.
Best Holster Position For Fat Guys
As mentioned earlier, the biggest challenge in mastering how to concealed carry for fat guys is lateral movement in the dominant hand. Although IWB holsters offer higher retention than shoulder holsters or OWB holsters, this type of holster might not work for larger people. If you still decide to carry with an IWB holster, take into account whether or not this carry will work for you when seated. If you cannot draw when you are seated, an IWB holster will not be effective for you. Here are some concealed carrying tips for fat guys that will help you draw your firearm effectively.
2 o’clock
This is the recommended starting position for big guys. In the 2 o’clock position, there is a natural valley between any frontal girth and your love handles. The 2 o’clock position is highly concealable and adaptable for both sitting and standing. Keep in mind that if you are carrying left-handed, 2 o’clock becomes 10 o’clock. This position is about balancing comfort with utility.
5 o’clock
An alternative concealed carry for big guys is the 5 o’clock (7 o’clock if you carry left-handed). 5 o’clock is right behind the love handle and offers comfort and accessibility. If you have back problems and drive long hours, this might not be a comfortable style. However, if you are mostly walking around and aren’t stuck in your car too often, this might be the carry for you.
3 o’clock
The only problem with the 3 o’clock position is that it is not very concealable even for people at average weight. This position offers an easy draw but, unfortunately, it’s not the best choice in terms of concealability. This is still a great, classic position and works both sitting and standing.
Clothes for Concealed Carry for Big Guys
Choosing the right clothing is an important factor in learning how to concealed carry with a belly. Here are some excellent choices of clothing that can help you carry a firearm and keep it concealed:
Fishing Shirts
Fishing shirts come with neat pockets and nylon loops. They are designed for helping you keep track of your hooks, lures, weights and other fishing paraphernalia. They are fluffy and baggy by design and can be naturally worn untucked which is great for a concealed carry.
Baggy Pants
One of the most effective concealed carry tips for fat guys is to wear baggy pants. Pants one size larger than your actual size tend to work well. So if you normally wear a size 38 without a holster, wear a 40 for comfort when carrying.
Remember to always try out anything before you buy it, whether it’s your weapon, your holster or your extra magazines. Make sure they fit you and your body type and that you will be comfortable throughout the day while carrying. Remember, you can master everything with practice.
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How to Concealed Carry with a Belly: Concealed Carry Tips for Fat Guys
The GMW Concealed Carry Gun Pack. Now available now on Amazon.com.
BUY NOW
BUY NOW
Having a big belly can have a considerable impact on concealed carrying. Remember that the first rule of concealed carrying is to conceal your weapon and a large gut can affect where you might be able to conceal a holster. Clothing choice and fit is going to play a big part in your ability to conceal your weapon as well. Are you someone who is big or tall enough that you get attention just by walking into a room? If yes then you’re gonna need to be extra careful when concealing your weapon because the more eyes on you, the more eyes that could spot your weapon. If you are wondering how to concealed carry with a belly, join us as we consider some of the particulars of this scenario and dish out some concealed carry tips for fat guys.
Find the Right Holster
If you are a gun owner that’s packing a little cushion in the gut you might have spent some time wondering how to concealed carry with a big belly. Have you ever found yourself having difficulty drawing from your holster because of your size? Maybe you’ve tried every holster you could and still haven’t found one that offers any comfort. One good thing is, you’re not alone. In this section we’ll provide concealed carry tips for big guys that’ll help you find the holster that’s right for you.
Holsters That Will Not Work for Big Dudes
Lateral movement with the dominant arm tends to be one of the big hurdles for concealed carry for big guys. If you have a large chest, it may be difficult to reach across it to draw your weapon. The following holsters, for various reasons, have drawbacks for larger gun owners.
Appendix Carry
The Appendix carry is a method of carrying a concealed firearm inside the waistband. It is named for the gun’s location next to your appendix. This has been a popular style of carry for a long time and continues to be popular today. However, this type of carry is really not for bigger guys. One advantage of appendix holsters is that no real lateral arm movement is required and that’s great for walking around but once seated, you’ll probably start to feel your weapon’s grip stab into your midsection.
With the appendix carry, the muzzle of your gun and holster sometimes tend to tip outward. This could lead to unwanted printing, meaning that the outline of your gun is visible through your clothes. This can also cause your weapon’s muzzle to dig into your body, a rather uncomfortable situation. A good tip is that longer muzzles and holsters will provide additional stability for this style of carry, making it more comfortable.
Don’t be scared though, fat guys can pull off appendix carry. Spencer Keepers, founder of Keepers Concealment, a holster company, offers two recommendations. First is a foam wedge. This will push the muzzle away from the body and tuck the grip in toward the body. You can also try using velcro tape and some gel-based shoe inserts to achieve the same effect. Keepers’ second recommendation is to buy an adjustable belt. If you can find one that has the right height and cant adjustment for you could potentially make the appendix carry a great style for you.
Shoulder Holster
Shoulder holster carrying can also prove difficult for larger men. With these types of holsters, the firearm is positioned vertically against your body with the barrel facing downward. Weapons are typically carried under the non-dominant armpit. Many large-framed people find drawing from this position difficult without some sort of exaggerated movement. There are shoulder holsters that are kept horizontally against the body and that hold the gun barrel facing the rear and these are generally less difficult to draw from. Still, someone with a large chest may have difficulty with this style of carry.
Honestly, we recommend not dwelling on the shoulder holster approach. However, if you really want to follow this route, one of our concealed carry tips for fat guys is to look for a jacket with a built-in concealed holster. With the jacket, although your firearm will still be positioned vertically, you will be able to wear your weapon closer to your dominant side by several inches. You will benefit by having your gun closer to your dominant hand because you will not have to overextend your arm across your chest to reach your weapon.
Small of the Back Holsters
Small of the back holsters pose some of the same challenges as shoulder holsters. The difference here is that when drawing from this style of carry your dominant arm will cross behind your body. While you can reposition the holster closer to your dominant side to make your draw more comfortable, carrying this way probably isn’t optimal for your draw speed or motion.
Ankle Holsters
The problem with ankle holsters is having to bend down to reach them. These holsters are often carried on the ankle of your non-dominant foot. Although there are different ways to draw from an ankle holster, the most common is to drop to one knee (as if you are tying the laces of your shoes), pull up your pant leg with your support hand, and draw your weapon with your dominant hand. Although this draw will be essentially the same for smaller men, bending down on one knee may prove more challenging if you have a bigger frame.
Best Holsters for Fat Guys
Finally! The good news is that there are some holsters whose design is perfect for concealed carry for big guys. These holsters are generally comfortable for all shapes and sizes of people.
Strong-Side Hip Holster
The strong-side hip holster is designed to be carried just above the rear of the hip or in gunspeak between the 3 o’clock and 5 o’clock positions. One bonus is that from this position you can easily access your weapon without lateral movement of the dominant arm. Strong-side hip holsters are also the most defensible holsters from a weapons retention standpoint. These types of holsters allow your dominant hand to either draw your weapon or maintain downward pressure on it to keep it holstered while allowing your non-dominant hand to strike an assailant or fend off an attack.
If you really want to master how to concealed carry with a big belly, the key lies in having a realistic understanding of your dominant arm’s range of motion. Start by unloading your firearm completely. To ensure a complete and thorough unloading of your firearm, do the following:
For Revolvers:
For Semi-Automatics
Once your weapon has been completely unloaded, place it against your body in every position where you might wear a holster.
Once you have fully understood your body’s range of motions, choosing a holster that can be comfortably carried and concealed will become easier. When considering carry style always keep in mind concealment, ease of access, and ease of drawing.
Best Holster Position For Fat Guys
As mentioned earlier, the biggest challenge in mastering how to concealed carry for fat guys is lateral movement in the dominant hand. Although IWB holsters offer higher retention than shoulder holsters or OWB holsters, this type of holster might not work for larger people. If you still decide to carry with an IWB holster, take into account whether or not this carry will work for you when seated. If you cannot draw when you are seated, an IWB holster will not be effective for you. Here are some concealed carrying tips for fat guys that will help you draw your firearm effectively.
2 o’clock
This is the recommended starting position for big guys. In the 2 o’clock position, there is a natural valley between any frontal girth and your love handles. The 2 o’clock position is highly concealable and adaptable for both sitting and standing. Keep in mind that if you are carrying left-handed, 2 o’clock becomes 10 o’clock. This position is about balancing comfort with utility.
5 o’clock
An alternative concealed carry for big guys is the 5 o’clock (7 o’clock if you carry left-handed). 5 o’clock is right behind the love handle and offers comfort and accessibility. If you have back problems and drive long hours, this might not be a comfortable style. However, if you are mostly walking around and aren’t stuck in your car too often, this might be the carry for you.
3 o’clock
The only problem with the 3 o’clock position is that it is not very concealable even for people at average weight. This position offers an easy draw but, unfortunately, it’s not the best choice in terms of concealability. This is still a great, classic position and works both sitting and standing.
Clothes for Concealed Carry for Big Guys
Choosing the right clothing is an important factor in learning how to concealed carry with a belly. Here are some excellent choices of clothing that can help you carry a firearm and keep it concealed:
Fishing Shirts
Fishing shirts come with neat pockets and nylon loops. They are designed for helping you keep track of your hooks, lures, weights and other fishing paraphernalia. They are fluffy and baggy by design and can be naturally worn untucked which is great for a concealed carry.
Baggy Pants
One of the most effective concealed carry tips for fat guys is to wear baggy pants. Pants one size larger than your actual size tend to work well. So if you normally wear a size 38 without a holster, wear a 40 for comfort when carrying.
Remember to always try out anything before you buy it, whether it’s your weapon, your holster or your extra magazines. Make sure they fit you and your body type and that you will be comfortable throughout the day while carrying. Remember, you can master everything with practice.