I have been rethinking everything lately...
I originally almost never carried (CCW permits for "regular" people just don't happen in MD). I carried at home for a year or two with a cheap Uncle Mikes (strong side, between 3:30 to 4:00, just barely behind the hip) since you don't need much in the privacy of your own home. Then I bought a decent holster for some of my guns, still in the same place. Even now, with holsters for many of my guns, they are all strong side, 3:30-4:30, mostly IWB. For some years now, I've had a UT non-resident permit that lets me carry in most of the surrounding states (where I carry about 2-3 days a month, sometimes a bit more).
I've rethought my carry philosophy regarding the type of gun I carry a few times through the years, and I have returned to what I shoot best (1911 and CZ) as my primary carry and defensive guns. Through all those years and changes, I've carried IWB (90% of the time), 3:30-4:30 on the strong side, and when I do OWB it has still remained in the same place.
So, the purpose of this thread...
I have resolved to carry a backup as often as I can when I carry. Maybe if MD goes shall-issue someday or I move and I carry everyday I'll change my mind, but as a part-time carrier I should be able to do it most of the time that I carry. That lead me to rethinking my holster choices, initially just by thinking about where to put my backup, but eventually I started rethinking everything...
First, either for the backup, or a change for my primary, I have started thinking appendix carry. However, I am a big guy (almost 6', I'm back up to 290LBS but I should be losing weight again soon). I read mixed things about how it may work for a big guy, but it sounds doable (maybe). If I can do it, it seems to have the advantage of being more accessible when driving. most likely AIWB would be just for a small backup, but I'm considering it for the primary as well if I can make it work with my size.
I may do a small gun (keep my LCP, or replace it with a small .380 with better sights) in a pouch of some sort as my backup. I hate fanny packs, but maybe something like the Sneaky Pete. Or a larger gun in a true off body carry (I wouldn't consider that for a primary, but for a 2nd handgun, maybe). If I do that I'll keep my primary strong side 3:30-4:30 (unless I switch to AIWB).
I've also thought about two single stacks (maybe a Commander and Officer sized 1911), one strong side IWB, the other weak side IWB. That may be too much IWB, and definitely would be when one is a double stack, so one gun (probably on the strong side) would be moved to OWB carry.
I may consider ankle carry for a backup (either my P290RS, or keeping one of my J-frames). It would be quite easy to get to when sitting or driving.
Lately, I've thought about repositioning my primary. It makes sense to think of the gun that is most accessible to your strong hand as the primary and to put your larger gun there. However, the smaller the gun, the more I need my more coordinated right hand to be competent with it. So, I was thinking that I might put my smaller gun on my strong side, and conceal my larger gun on my weak side since I can handle and fire larger guns better with my left hand than smaller guns. If I do this, I'm sure the smaller gun would for all practical purposes become the primary. Between the fact that I favor my right hand anyway, plus years of training, I'm sure I'd first go for the gun on my right if I was in a defensive shoot. It seems a bit backwards, but if I am to be disadvantaged in needing to use my weaker left hand, I don't want to also be disadvantaged with a harder to use gun.
Any thoughts on where/how I should carry? AIWB for a big guy? I especially want thoughts on positioning the larger gun on the weak side and the smaller gun (more traditionally thought of as the backup) on the strong side.
I originally almost never carried (CCW permits for "regular" people just don't happen in MD). I carried at home for a year or two with a cheap Uncle Mikes (strong side, between 3:30 to 4:00, just barely behind the hip) since you don't need much in the privacy of your own home. Then I bought a decent holster for some of my guns, still in the same place. Even now, with holsters for many of my guns, they are all strong side, 3:30-4:30, mostly IWB. For some years now, I've had a UT non-resident permit that lets me carry in most of the surrounding states (where I carry about 2-3 days a month, sometimes a bit more).
I've rethought my carry philosophy regarding the type of gun I carry a few times through the years, and I have returned to what I shoot best (1911 and CZ) as my primary carry and defensive guns. Through all those years and changes, I've carried IWB (90% of the time), 3:30-4:30 on the strong side, and when I do OWB it has still remained in the same place.
So, the purpose of this thread...
I have resolved to carry a backup as often as I can when I carry. Maybe if MD goes shall-issue someday or I move and I carry everyday I'll change my mind, but as a part-time carrier I should be able to do it most of the time that I carry. That lead me to rethinking my holster choices, initially just by thinking about where to put my backup, but eventually I started rethinking everything...
First, either for the backup, or a change for my primary, I have started thinking appendix carry. However, I am a big guy (almost 6', I'm back up to 290LBS but I should be losing weight again soon). I read mixed things about how it may work for a big guy, but it sounds doable (maybe). If I can do it, it seems to have the advantage of being more accessible when driving. most likely AIWB would be just for a small backup, but I'm considering it for the primary as well if I can make it work with my size.
I may do a small gun (keep my LCP, or replace it with a small .380 with better sights) in a pouch of some sort as my backup. I hate fanny packs, but maybe something like the Sneaky Pete. Or a larger gun in a true off body carry (I wouldn't consider that for a primary, but for a 2nd handgun, maybe). If I do that I'll keep my primary strong side 3:30-4:30 (unless I switch to AIWB).
I've also thought about two single stacks (maybe a Commander and Officer sized 1911), one strong side IWB, the other weak side IWB. That may be too much IWB, and definitely would be when one is a double stack, so one gun (probably on the strong side) would be moved to OWB carry.
I may consider ankle carry for a backup (either my P290RS, or keeping one of my J-frames). It would be quite easy to get to when sitting or driving.
Lately, I've thought about repositioning my primary. It makes sense to think of the gun that is most accessible to your strong hand as the primary and to put your larger gun there. However, the smaller the gun, the more I need my more coordinated right hand to be competent with it. So, I was thinking that I might put my smaller gun on my strong side, and conceal my larger gun on my weak side since I can handle and fire larger guns better with my left hand than smaller guns. If I do this, I'm sure the smaller gun would for all practical purposes become the primary. Between the fact that I favor my right hand anyway, plus years of training, I'm sure I'd first go for the gun on my right if I was in a defensive shoot. It seems a bit backwards, but if I am to be disadvantaged in needing to use my weaker left hand, I don't want to also be disadvantaged with a harder to use gun.
Any thoughts on where/how I should carry? AIWB for a big guy? I especially want thoughts on positioning the larger gun on the weak side and the smaller gun (more traditionally thought of as the backup) on the strong side.