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Barth
01-14-2024, 08:44 AM
Just for kicks I pulled out the digital scale.
And weighted my loaded carry guns for today.

HK VP9SK with Holosun SCS Green Dot.
Flush mag loaded with 12 +1 Federal HST Micro 9mm 150 gr ammo.
30.2 oz

Ruger LCP II.
Flush mag loaded with 6+1 Hornady 380 XTP Custom 90 gr ammo.
13.4 oz

Technical Note:
And since I had the scale out anyway.
Actual weight with an unloaded magazine.
IWI Galil ACE Gen 1 308 pistol with brace - 8.46 lbs
HK SP5K pistol with brace - 5.42 lbs

That is all...

kenemoore
01-14-2024, 10:39 AM
For many years, my every day wardrobe has been a Carhart Tee shirt and Wrangler cargo pants/shorts. Since I usually carry a CCO 1911, and a LCR, plus one mag, and a speed strip, knife, flashlight, torniquet, multitool. I wear suspenders underneath my tee shirt. Helps a lot with all the weight. My wife used to say, my cargo pants were just a man purse. BTW, I use Wilderness Tactical belts, currently using a frequent flyer with the polymer insert. Highly recommend.
Edit: Got me curious, weighed it all on my wife's kitchen scale. 4.5 pounds, not counting my wallet, phone and keys.

berettabone
01-14-2024, 11:41 AM
For many years, my every day wardrobe has been a Carhart Tee shirt and Wrangler cargo pants/shorts. Since I usually carry a CCO 1911, and a LCR, plus one mag, and a speed strip, knife, flashlight, torniquet, multitool. I wear suspenders underneath my tee shirt. Helps a lot with all the weight. My wife used to say, my cargo pants were just a man purse. BTW, I use Wilderness Tactical belts, currently using a frequent flyer with the polymer insert. Highly recommend.
Edit: Got me curious, weighed it all on my wife's kitchen scale. 4.5 pounds, not counting my wallet, phone and keys. I've been using the Wilderness belts since 2011..........

340pd
01-14-2024, 12:21 PM
The weight of a fully loaded handgun is an interesting problem. Years ago. I would pop my 14oz loaded 340pd in a leather pocket holster and I was good to go. Retired, and took a job as an RSO/instructor and my work carry guns got larger and much heavier. Enter the P365 and the perfect carry weight for me and for the most part, if I am wearing pants, that gun is on me in one configuration of another. I have no aversion to the lighter guns but with them comes less capacity and in todays world, more ammo may be a good thing. As for full size high capacity, they now reside in my safe seldom used but not forgotten.

One word about support, I am tall and thin and I always carry AIWB. Years ago I switched all my carry belts to those from https://abetterbeltusa.com/. I have three in various colors of buffalo and after a decade they still look like new. Their reinforced belts will support a lot of weight and keep your pants up where they belong. Buy once, cry once but in my case cry three times

https://i.postimg.cc/7LC3pjK4/ABetterbelt.jpg (https://postimg.cc/67X4Zbsb)

Barth
01-14-2024, 09:27 PM
Far and away my favorite gun belt is a Galco leather 1 3/4" SB5 :)
https://www.wwag.com/step3/700jpg/63284.jpg

sorcerer
01-14-2024, 09:54 PM
I’ve been using 5.11 leather belts with the polymer insert , from Strikers law enforcement supply for every day use for 10 years now. They are very stiff. About the third or fourth year the insert will break. Tomorrow I’m putting a leather Vedder belt with the polymer insert into service. These are everyday carry use and IDPA. Let the experiment begin.

yqtszhj
01-15-2024, 09:13 AM
I either wear a Bigfoot gun belt that has a steel core or a nexbelt because of its multiple adjustments.

they support about whatever I want to carry.

kenemoore
01-15-2024, 10:12 AM
I like the Wilderness Tactical's because there aren't any holes, you can adjust to just the right tension. This feature had more benefits when I was working, and sometimes carried IWB. The instructor belt is my favorite, but the frequent flyer is really good if you fly often, no metal, so you don't have to remove it at the airport security checks.

Barth
01-15-2024, 11:02 AM
I like the Wilderness Tactical's because there aren't any holes, you can adjust to just the right tension. This feature had more benefits when I was working, and sometimes carried IWB. The instructor belt is my favorite, but the frequent flyer is really good if you fly often, no metal, so you don't have to remove it at the airport security checks.

I own two of those (Winderness Instructor) belts.
The velcro is coming off one of them:(
Like them mostly but find the Galco SB5 is much more comfortable for all day wear :)
And mine seem to last forever.
It is a standard belt with holes though...

tokuno
01-15-2024, 11:59 AM
PM9 magguts7+1 SpeerLE GoldDot 115: 20.36 oz + 2.78oz for the Kydex holster

AIWB UltiClipped to pant waist, not belt (dress slacks, jeans, or shorts) and my belt is either a cordovan or black full-grain leather, sturdy 1-1/4" belt buckle offset at 10-11 o'clock.

berettabone
01-15-2024, 12:34 PM
The Wilderness 5 stitch has worked well for me for the past 11+ years. If your waistline fluctuates, the no holes is the ticket. You can send them back for re-velcroing if necessary. I have used it AIWB, but usually carry OWB. I still have the first one I purchased, but lost a lot of weight, so had to purchase another. I also like the fact that the belt has some flexibility, not like the stiff leather belts. Mainly use a pancake type leather or a kydex clip on holster. The only thing I carry on the belt is my firearm. I'd probably have to use a stiffer belt if I carried a bunch of extra equip. Never saw a use for all of those extras unless I was heading for the woods..............

jeepster09
01-16-2024, 02:04 PM
Well my "carry" SHTF SFAR Ruger gun in FULL DRESS with Trijicon 1-4 Accupoint, Surefire Warcomp muzzle device, brass catcher, sling, forward grip, Hogue Grip weighs in at a mere 8lb and 9oz. Warcomp eliminates flash and tames noise dramatically.

djd100
01-16-2024, 02:59 PM
PM9 with LaserMax Centerfire Laser, Magguts 8+1 extended with a Lakeline Mag Sleeve, and a Hogue Grip Sleeve weighing in at 22oz, plus a small Amazon kydex holster IWB at 3:30, via a Nexbelt and Tactical Suspenders LOL! That belt would be overkill for the PM9 alone, though I also carry OC Gel and a Cell Phone on it, and it works out great.

This is as heavy as I want to EDC, so I might pick up a 10rd 380 at some point for a lighter weight option sans the Nexbelt and Tactical Suspenders LOL!

187911
01-16-2024, 03:13 PM
13 post with 9 of them being about belts lol. The thread title/topic should be changed to reflect. Lol

Bawanna
01-16-2024, 03:15 PM
The belt is the foundation to any decent holster. Makes all the difference in the world.

BirdsThaWord
01-16-2024, 05:32 PM
Hip carry (16 rounds 9mm) with holster = 27 oz’s
Pocket carry (7 rounds .380) with holster = 17 oz’s
Both mags currently loaded with Liberty Civil Defense
20529
20530

187911
01-16-2024, 08:15 PM
Hip carry (16 rounds 9mm) with holster = 27 oz’s
Pocket carry (7 rounds .380) with holster = 17 oz’s
Both mags currently loaded with Liberty Civil Defense
20529
20530

What holster are you using with the Shield?

BirdsThaWord
01-16-2024, 08:27 PM
Hard to see in the picture. Clip Draw. It's a belt clip that screws into a special back plate with 2 screw holes in it. As "minimalist" a holster as they come. I've ran them on Kahrs that I've carried for years.
20531
20533
20532

Barth
01-16-2024, 09:35 PM
As most I've got a box of holsters - LOL!
Early on tried out a bunch of cheap stuff.
And tried to use regular belts too.
That didn't go to well - LOL! :eek:

IMHO a good gun belt and holster is a must for comfortable concealed carry.
Absolutely worth every penny.
Even with pocket carry I still like to wear a gun belt.
For belt holsters I'm unusual I think as all mine are ballistic nylon.
I've carried guns for years that still look brand new (no holster wear at all).
Also only belt carry OWB and mostly cross-draw.
Very comfortable and accessible seated and/or driving.
Personal favorite is the Crossfire Elite Traverse.
I remove the retention strap to facilitate the draw.
Very comfortable for all day carry :)
https://www.amazon.com/Crossfire-Elite-Traverse-Outside-Ambidextrous/dp/B07VBGXHPL

dao
01-17-2024, 11:39 AM
Couple of years back I finally stopped wearing my 1/4" x 1.5" bull leather belts and switched to Kore belts. I'll never go back, until I stop carrying.

BirdsThaWord
01-17-2024, 12:48 PM
Couple of years back I finally stopped wearing my 1/4" x 1.5" bull leather belts and switched to Kore belts. I'll never go back, until I stop carrying.
You know, I’ve never had a belt that is specific for carry. My leather belts, along with the jeans waistband has always seemed to work out fine. Even when wearing shorts they seem to stay put well enough. BUT, now that I am thinning up, I don’t have as much of a “Dunlop” to push my iwb gun as tight against the shorts. Also, me and la familia’s “get outta Dodge” set ups are all big ol Glock 17’s, with compensators (heavier). They are all sitting in owb’s for easier than iwb access. SO, been thinking about getting 3 belts. Going to do some internet surfing soon to look at them. I’ll check out your Kore brand. I’m a cheapo, so hopefully they fit my budget.

dao
01-17-2024, 05:29 PM
They're not badly priced at all Bird. And they make carrying so much more comfortable.

BirdsThaWord
01-17-2024, 07:42 PM
Oooooh weeeeeeh! Just looked ‘em up on ebay. To buy 3 of those, man I don’t know. I want something that works well, but I’d REALLY have to want one of those bad. I might try some on that are available at local shops and see what kind of pricing those run for. No doubt you got a good one, but did I ever tell you I’m a frugal, cheapskate! ;););)

dao
01-18-2024, 08:52 AM
The one downside to them is that they don't fold. So unless you change your pants everyday, or remove the belt your pants won't fold nicely to be set aside for the next time you put them on. Other than that they are great belts. I think I must have paid less than what they're going for now, because they were very reasonable, costing less than one of my good bullhide 1/4" single ply leather belts.

BirdsThaWord
01-18-2024, 08:58 AM
The one downside to them is that they don't fold. So unless you change your pants everyday, or remove the belt your pants won't fold nicely to be set aside for the next time you put them on. Other than that they are great belts. I think I must have paid less than what they're going for now, because they were very reasonable, costing less than one of my good bullhide 1/4" single ply leather belts.
I think I’d be ok with that. I have a rack in my room where, so long as I didn’t get sweaty or dirty, I hang my pants to wear again. Funny story… my wife is a clean/neat freak. Never will allow enough dirty clothes to sit in the hampers to fill up the washer the way I would if it was my duty. I was surprised at what she said one day. She was putting on her favorite pair of jeans and mentioned it might be time to wash them. I asked how long it had been. She said she had not washed them in maybe 6 months!!!! I had no idea. But, those dang jeans sure do look new still.

jeepster09
01-18-2024, 09:16 AM
Ahhh laundry....

BirdsThaWord
01-18-2024, 09:50 AM
I need me one of them Jeep! Well, maybe not. My incompetence with the machine is what “separates” me from ever having to do the laundry.

kenemoore
01-18-2024, 10:25 AM
From working on the road a lot. I learned to buy colored under ware, socks, and t shirts. Just throw it all in and go for general purpose wash. Still do it after I retired. Plus, now that my wife has passed, I have a lot of unused closet space, so I hang up my t shirts, beats folding any day.

BirdsThaWord
01-18-2024, 11:06 AM
Lol! I stopped buying “tighty whities” years ago. The racing stripe is a real thing!:rolleyes:

tokuno
01-18-2024, 01:37 PM
Lol! I stopped buying “tighty whities” years ago. The racing stripe is a real thing!:rolleyes:

I know you're frugal (me, too), but a heated Toto Washlet bidet toilet seat . . . no going back. It's not just life-improving; my life divides into 'before the bidet' and 'after the bidet'. It's proof that God loves us and wants us to have happy wives.:p
When PG&E killed the power for 48 hours a couple years ago, my kids didn't complain about no phones, laptops, or television; doing homework in-the-book by flashlight instead of on the Internet; wearing more clothes and snuggling under blankets to keep warm; or anything else EXCEPT: "ugh, the toilet seats are cold".:eek:

BirdsThaWord
01-18-2024, 01:47 PM
Lol! Would love to have one. The heat thing down here would not be as great an improvement as the bidet part. Wife’s mom in Japan has one. First time I ever used it. Sure cuts down on the amount of tp needed. Fresh as a summer’s eve! Until that day, the baby wipes are how we roll. Before bidet’s and baby wipes, we humans sure were running around with a lot of stinky butts!!!

jeepster09
01-18-2024, 03:52 PM
TMI......:behindsofa:

berettabone
01-19-2024, 08:02 AM
Lol! Would love to have one. The heat thing down here would not be as great an improvement as the bidet part. Wife’s mom in Japan has one. First time I ever used it. Sure cuts down on the amount of tp needed. Fresh as a summer’s eve! Until that day, the baby wipes are how we roll. Before bidet’s and baby wipes, we humans sure were running around with a lot of stinky butts!!! Speak for yourself...............

BirdsThaWord
01-19-2024, 10:23 AM
Speak for yourself............... Lol! Things could be said, but as Jeep said, already TMI here! :p

Bawanna
01-19-2024, 10:26 AM
TMI? I don't get out much.

BirdsThaWord
01-19-2024, 10:36 AM
TMI? I don't get out much.
Too Much Information.
I don’t blame you for not getting out much. It’s a nut case world out there these days and I’d rather not participate in most of what society deems to be “normal”. Don’t be sendin me no Taylor Swift tickets!

kenemoore
01-19-2024, 10:42 AM
So..... Have you ever heard the term "rough as a cob". I have, but did not know what it meant until I spoke with my grandmother.
She was born in 1903, on a small farm with no modern facilities.
Once the Sears catalog ran out, you wiped your bottom with a corn cob. Not fun.
She was a mother during the depression, saved everything. At Christmas, it would take her 5 minutes to unwrap a present. She saved wrapping paper and did not want to rip it.

BirdsThaWord
01-19-2024, 10:54 AM
So..... Have you ever heard the term "rough as a cob". I have, but did not know what it meant until I spoke with my grandmother.
She was born in 1903, on a small farm with no modern facilities.
Once the Sears catalog ran out, you wiped your bottom with a corn cob. Not fun.
She was a mother during the depression, saved everything. At Christmas, it would take her 5 minutes to unwrap a present. She saved wrapping paper and did not want to rip it.
Lol! Had not heard of that saying, but have heard of the cobs usage. My grandma and parents were frugal out of necessity as well. I ate a lot of gubmint cheese and drank a lot of gubmint powdered milk when young. I have become more frugal over time, just because being wasteful doesn’t make sense to me. Luckily, my son has picked up and carried on some of it in his decisions. Besides, the bacon grease I save sure does make for a tasty pan fried steak or piece of liver! :D

tokuno
01-19-2024, 12:09 PM
So..... Have you ever heard the term "rough as a cob". I have, but did not know what it meant until I spoke with my grandmother.
She was born in 1903, on a small farm with no modern facilities.
Once the Sears catalog ran out, you wiped your bottom with a corn cob. Not fun.
She was a mother during the depression, saved everything. At Christmas, it would take her 5 minutes to unwrap a present. She saved wrapping paper and did not want to rip it.

My Dad n Mom were born in 1921 & 1926, respectively, and started their family late, compared to my classmates whose parents were generally born in the late '30s to mid '40s.
My peers marveled at the flattened cardboard box collection in our garage & stacks of used, rinsed milk cartons in our utility room, among lots of other clutter that "we might need someday". We wore darned socks and patched pants well into the 70s, despite my Dad's relative financial comfort as a middle-class NASA engineer.
My Mom says her unfulfilled childhood dream was for a pair of pretty, patent-leather "girl" shoes like her rich, town-girl classmates, instead of going barefoot or wearing sturdy, hand-me-down farm shoes.
Compared to my folks' generation I am soft, soft, soft.

berettabone
01-19-2024, 12:17 PM
I weighed my 2 favorite carry guns loaded..........one came in at 25.3 ozs. and the other at 28.9. If I hold them both, I can't feel a real difference between the two. My going to the mailbox gun is 22 ozs.

dao
01-19-2024, 12:20 PM
So..... Have you ever heard the term "rough as a cob". I have, but did not know what it meant until I spoke with my grandmother.
She was born in 1903, on a small farm with no modern facilities.
Once the Sears catalog ran out, you wiped your bottom with a corn cob. Not fun.
She was a mother during the depression, saved everything. At Christmas, it would take her 5 minutes to unwrap a present. She saved wrapping paper and did not want to rip it.

I knew about that use of corn cobs, but I've always wondered if they kept them wet or damp somehow. Can't imagine using one if it was dried out.

I'll bet she didn't save them any longer, after their second life. :D

BirdsThaWord
01-19-2024, 12:38 PM
Tokuno: Many of us are soft these days. "Hard times make...".

BirdsThaWord
01-19-2024, 12:39 PM
Beretta got us back on track in this thread! 😁

kenemoore
01-20-2024, 08:38 AM
I knew about that use of corn cobs, but I've always wondered if they kept them wet or damp somehow. Can't imagine using one if it was dried out.

I'll bet she didn't save them any longer, after their second life. :D

So, if you have an ear of dried corn, shuck it, and then shell the kernels, the cob feels kinda soft to the finger. I'm sure it feels different in more delicate places. I don't think they wet them.

Armybrat
01-21-2024, 11:20 AM
So..... Have you ever heard the term "rough as a cob". I have, but did not know what it meant until I spoke with my grandmother.
She was born in 1903, on a small farm with no modern facilities.
Once the Sears catalog ran out, you wiped your bottom with a corn cob. Not fun.
She was a mother during the depression, saved everything. At Christmas, it would take her 5 minutes to unwrap a present. She saved wrapping paper and did not want to rip it.
My grandparents owned this auto repair garage from 1924 until 1958. Grandma ran a small cafe in the left front corner of the building with its separate entrance.
There was no restroom in the building, but they built an outhouse on the back of the lot. There was a large pile of dried corncobs in a corner of the garage, so if a cafe patron had to go, they’d grab a couple of cobs on their way out back.
I never used it for a #2 when we visited during summertime, but did for the #1.

(Photo is circa 1950)

I did hand crank a lot of gasoline for customers up into the glass tank of that vintage fuel pump at the left.

jeepster09
01-21-2024, 01:58 PM
Ahhhh so I shouldn't be using popcorn!

BirdsThaWord
01-21-2024, 02:05 PM
Army: Thanks for sharing. I love stuff like that!

BirdsThaWord
01-21-2024, 02:06 PM
Ahhhh so I shouldn't be using popcorn!

Eeeew! What comes to mind is not a good picture. 😂🤔

dao
01-21-2024, 02:15 PM
My grandparents owned this auto repair garage from 1924 until 1958. Grandma ran a small cafe in the left front corner of the building with its separate entrance.
There was no restroom in the building, but they built an outhouse on the back of the lot. There was a large pile of dried corncobs in a corner of the garage, so if a cafe patron had to go, they’d grab a couple of cobs on their way out back.
I never used it for a #2 when we visited during summertime, but did for the #1.

(Photo is circa 1950)

I did hand crank a lot of gasoline for customers up into the glass tank of that vintage fuel pump at the left.

Man Army, you ARE old :D

getsome
01-21-2024, 02:41 PM
Man I love it, my best early memories are from the 60’s hanging around my dad’s Pure station learning about gas, oil and grease which are the three basics of life on earth…….Good times, cool cars, motors, tools and exhaust fumes, wish I could go back and do it all again……

jeepster09
01-21-2024, 04:31 PM
My grandpa lived about 5 miles back in the woods in Wolfeboro NH. His place had no electricity. They had an outhouse, a hand pump for water and a pot belly stove in the middle of the house for cooking and heat. He and my uncle were lumberjacks that basically lived in the forest. For cutting lumber they had a model T pickup up on blocks with the rear wheels off [and rear bed off] and a HUGE saw blade mounted in place of wheel to cut wood. They had many barrels of gun powder in barn next to outhouse and we were all told to not play near gun powder. One time us kids walked through woods to this pond only to see a family of LARGE BEARS on other side eyeing us......never knew we could run so fast.....that ended exploring when there. :ohmy: Ahhhh memories!

getsome
01-21-2024, 04:55 PM
People were tough back in the day, they had to be, there were no bail outs during the depression and you had to work hard and scrap just to survive…….I wonder how far Gen Z would last if the power grid went out and there was no internet or social media to complain about how life isn’t fair to their generation anymore……..

yqtszhj
01-21-2024, 05:52 PM
….I wonder how far Gen Z would last if the power grid went out and there was no internet or social media to complain about how life isn’t fair to their generation anymore……..

They would all get on meds to deal with it Im sure. About 10 years ago my teenage daughter whined and whined for 2 days until it came back up. She got no sympathy from me or her mom (mom grew up poor in a squatter area in Asia so she had less sympathy than I did.)

Armybrat
01-21-2024, 06:31 PM
Man Army, you ARE old :D

Nah. God willing, I won’t turn 80 until later this year.

Bawanna
01-21-2024, 11:31 PM
Got an uncle in Missouri, just turned 92 a couple days ago. Still lived in his house by himself until I guess about a week ago and moved in with his son and family. Probably my favorite uncle, never heard a complaint out of him about anything. Everything was always just fine.

Hope he lives another 50 years.

Armybrat
01-22-2024, 01:49 PM
Got an uncle in Missouri, just turned 92 a couple days ago. Still lived in his house by himself until I guess about a week ago and moved in with his son and family. Probably my favorite uncle, never heard a complaint out of him about anything. Everything was always just fine.

Hope he lives another 50 years.
My Dad, born in Stanberry, grew up in Graham, Nodaway County - way up in the northwest part of Missourah. He was the first member of that branch of the family to graduate college (Mizzou - Class of 1933).
My Mom was born & raised in Flat River (now Park Hills), St. Francois County south of St. Louis. Mom attended Flat River Junior College around 1928-29.
They met in Jeff City and married in 1936.
Quite a few cousins still living around there and in Nebraska & Iowa.
Lots of family buried in both parts of the state.

gnappi
02-06-2024, 02:42 AM
My 8 round SS Bul 1911 Commander in .38 super weighs in at 40 ounces loaded. A bit but not too bad.

If I get to crabbing about comfort I think of the 5 foot something female police officers who carry a Hi cap Glock, two or more spare mags, radio with external mic, body armor, flashlight, body cam, OC spray, cuffs, (maybe 2), a BUG, maybe a baton, stun gun, and steel toed shoes and pretty quickly I feel foolish about crabbing about the difference between my lightweight commander and the steel model :-)

jeepster09
02-06-2024, 07:28 AM
My Dad, born in Stanberry, grew up in Graham, Nodaway County - way up in the northwest part of Missourah. He was the first member of that branch of the family to graduate college (Mizzou - Class of 1933).
My Mom was born & raised in Flat River (now Park Hills), St. Francois County south of St. Louis. Mom attended Flat River Junior College around 1928-29.
They met in Jeff City and married in 1936.
Quite a few cousins still living around there and in Nebraska & Iowa.
Lots of family buried in both parts of the state.


Well Army, looks like my Dad and your Dad were neighbors. My Dad grew up in Bolckow, right next door in Missouri. He was in Army and was an MP during WW2 that was based out of Leavenworth. During WW2 his duty was hauling prisoners by rail from both the east and west coasts to Leavenworth.

Bawanna
02-06-2024, 10:15 AM
My 8 round SS Bul 1911 Commander in .38 super weighs in at 40 ounces loaded. A bit but not too bad.

If I get to crabbing about comfort I think of the 5 foot something female police officers who carry a Hi cap Glock, two or more spare mags, radio with external mic, body armor, flashlight, body cam, OC spray, cuffs, (maybe 2), a BUG, maybe a baton, stun gun, and steel toed shoes and pretty quickly I feel foolish about crabbing about the difference between my lightweight commander and the steel model :-)

Exactly! I often time helped officers set up their duty belts. Some were really tough to get stuff onto the belt. Tight. And you want to get the stuff in an order that worked well. Having done that quite a bit I suggested the order and you didn't want to mess up cause you'd have to take everything off and do it again. One of the 5 foot something female officers once wanted me to do something on the duty belt and I was shocked how heavy that thing was overall. Most of the officers now day wear load bearing vest and most everything except the gun and mags goes on the vest. I can see where they would have back issues carrying all that stuff. The other issue was waist real estate. Just not enough space like the big guys.
Took a class at the State Patrol academy one time and there was a cadet that had to be close to 7' tall. But his waist had to be like 24. Tall and Lean to the extreme.

187911
02-06-2024, 12:11 PM
My 8 round SS Bul 1911 Commander in .38 super weighs in at 40 ounces loaded. A bit but not too bad.



If I get to crabbing about comfort I think of the 5 foot something female police officers who carry a Hi cap Glock, two or more spare mags, radio with external mic, body armor, flashlight, body cam, OC spray, cuffs, (maybe 2), a BUG, maybe a baton, stun gun, and steel toed shoes and pretty quickly I feel foolish about crabbing about the difference between my lightweight commander and the steel model :-)



I agree. I think this making a HUGE deal about weight is a new phenomenon. Men and women have been carrying steel pistols and revolvers for over a century now. Law enforcement of all weights, sizes, and ages have been walking around with heavier guns and equipment. Now we have grown able body men who can only carry a 14 +/- ounce j-frame or 20 ounce +/- micro 9mm; otherwise, they're complaining about how heavy the gun is for EDC. I often carry an S&W 686+ at 35 ounces unloaded (not sure of the loaded weight with 7 rounds) very comfortably without an issue.



I'm not sure how modern day gun owners would survive back in the days of low capacity and heavy handguns (no polymer existed) that mostly had DA/SA or DAO trigger pulls (no strike-fired handguns existed). I'm not sure they'd survive with SAO 1911s either because of their weight, and they act like they aren't smart enough to overcome the thumb safety. I'm not sure how they'd get by. Seems like there has been a steep drop in skill level of gun owners, and men seem to have become weaker versus 40 or more years ago. Not only could men of all ages in the past carry heavier firearms without issue, but they could also out shoot most of these modern-day strike-fired trigger snobs using revolvers with long heavy DAO triggers. I can understand why weight could be a huge factor with those who are older and/or those with medical conditions and limitations, however...

yqtszhj
02-06-2024, 07:38 PM
I’m finding more that weight doesn’t bother me as much as the firearms footprint. If it jabs me in the wrong place when carrying it is more annoying than the weight. If we actually think about it, a 1911 was the original perfect example of a thin firearm 100 years ago.

kenemoore
02-07-2024, 09:25 AM
I still carry a CCO 1911. It has an allow frame, only weighs about 29oz, empty. I carry a full sized all steel government model 38oz,empty, sometimes on the weekend. I am a big fat guy, 6'2", 275 lbs., and the extra weight is not a factor.
The CCO conceals better, because of the shorter barrel, and shorter grip. But the biggest factor is the width. The only thing close to the thinness of a 1911, that I own, is a Kahr K9.
The secret to carrying a full sized all steel handgun is a good holster and a good belt. Most folks with a $300 pistol, don't want to spend over $100 for a quality holster.
That's why a lot of the custom holster makers focus on the 1911 market, high end 1911 owners will spend money for a high end holster.
For me, others may disagree, but for a full sized 1911, I prefer more cant, I have a Galco Combat Master for my full size, and the cant is somewhere around 22 degrees, versus the sort of standard FBI cant of 15. The extra cant minimizes printing. For my EDC CCO, I use a the FBI cant.

BirdsThaWord
02-07-2024, 10:09 AM
I still carry a CCO 1911. It has an allow frame, only weighs about 29oz, empty. I carry a full sized all steel government model 38oz,empty, sometimes on the weekend. I am a big fat guy, 6'2", 275 lbs., and the extra weight is not a factor.
The CCO conceals better, because of the shorter barrel, and shorter grip. But the biggest factor is the width. The only thing close to the thinness of a 1911, that I own, is a Kahr K9.
The secret to carrying a full sized all steel handgun is a good holster and a good belt. Most folks with a $300 pistol, don't want to spend over $100 for a quality holster.
That's why a lot of the custom holster makers focus on the 1911 market, high end 1911 owners will spend money for a high end holster.
For me, others may disagree, but for a full sized 1911, I prefer more cant, I have a Galco Combat Master for my full size, and the cant is somewhere around 22 degrees, versus the sort of standard FBI cant of 15. The extra cant minimizes printing. For my EDC CCO, I use a the FBI cant.
Are you running those iwb or owb utilizing shirts to cover up? One fat guy asking another ;)

BirdsThaWord
02-07-2024, 10:14 AM
I’m finding more that weight doesn’t bother me as much as the firearms footprint. If it jabs me in the wrong place when carrying it is more annoying than the weight. If we actually think about it, a 1911 was the original perfect example of a thin firearm 100 years ago.
I normally feel the same. But, on nice days I do like to wear shorts with no belt that just have a draw string. Did so the other day and having the S9 made a difference. My wife caught me tapping my hip and asked me what I was doing. I said I was not sure if I put it on as it is so light and thin that I could not tell without checking. In every other instance though, I agree, no problem with weight, just want comfort, no printing and for the grip to be canted enough for a relatively quick draw.

Bawanna
02-07-2024, 12:18 PM
I'm just the opposite wardrobe wise. If I wore pajamas, I'd want them to have a belt. Don't wear shorts much but when I do they are usually like cutoffs and I wear a belt.
I always hated untucked shirts, again if I wore pajama's I'd probably tuck the top into the pants. Weird huh?
However now days I never tuck a shirt in unless I'm wearing an ankle rig. Or I'm wearing a light jacket that I know I won't have to remove wherever I'm going. In the summer heat I just wear a light wife beater shirt under a light button-down shirt. Works fine. Sometimes a might warm but better warm than going around as a nekkid sheep.

kenemoore
02-07-2024, 12:53 PM
Are you running those iwb or owb utilizing shirts to cover up? One fat guy asking another ;)
When I was younger, IWB, now pancakes holsters are my friend. I have a couple of Milt Sparks VMII' that I am going to try and sell soon.

Bawanna
02-07-2024, 01:23 PM
When I was younger, IWB, now pancakes holsters are my friend. I have a couple of Milt Sparks VMII' that I am going to try and sell soon.

I just looked them up, pretty good looking rigs. Milt Sparks makes good stuff. I don't know if Kramer is still around but I like their holsters also.

Armybrat
02-07-2024, 01:50 PM
Well Army, looks like my Dad and your Dad were neighbors. My Dad grew up in Bolckow, right next door in Missouri. He was in Army and was an MP during WW2 that was based out of Leavenworth. During WW2 his duty was hauling prisoners by rail from both the east and west coasts to Leavenworth.

My Dad’s maternal family farm is just a couple of miles southeast of Bolckow. My Grandma grew up there and graduated from the school in Barnard.
My brother owns the 97 acre farm that has been in the family since the 1880s.
I’ve been through Bolckow many times.

Small world.

jeepster09
02-07-2024, 03:24 PM
My Dad’s maternal family farm is just a couple of miles southeast of Bolckow. My Grandma grew up there and graduated from the school in Barnard.
My brother owns the 97 acre farm that has been in the family since the 1880s.
I’ve been through Bolckow many times.

Small world.

When Dad got a little older he lived in Saint Joe next door to Jessie James house. He said when they were kids they had people taking tours threw James house for the WHOPPING cost of 10 cents. My Dads mom was from Union Star, she was allegedly White Clouds daughter. Her chosen maiden name was Pheby Bird. Wife and I went there to search family tree and got to go through all the old city records. We were told that all Indian related records were "scrubbed" because the decedents didn't want to be put on the reservation. It was cool going through the old files, got to look at Jessie James family info.
The cool part of our research trip was at the County Seat Historical Society I met a Great Aunt who just happened to be there from Laredo Texas also looking at family history. Our family was on FRONT PAGE NEWS in Saint Joe Newspaper about their WAGON TRAIN that moved there from Indiana in 1852 with over a dozen wagons.
She was able to give me the names in family tree that allowed me to find the BEGINNING of the family name in Rayhem England. The family name started in 1062.

https://raynhamhall.com/

yqtszhj
02-07-2024, 06:00 PM
Family tree research can be interesting and you never know what you will find. I was at a road block for many years until I found a lost fact that got me farther. In summary, my relatives came here in the late 1600’s. They started in the hills of Pennsylvania and then were early settlers in Ohio, Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, then headed west to southern Missouri. Seems that when civilization and government started getting close to them they moved farther away. I guess that’s why I like being left alone. Great, great, grandfather moved from Missouri back to middle Tennessee on his own and got a wife about 1880. He died not long after that and that was the roadblock for a while.

One of the strange things I found was that back in the 1800’s there was some great uncle who’s wife died and he then married his niece (the daughter of his brother). Guess some of those things they say about hillbillies are true.

Armybrat
02-07-2024, 06:35 PM
When Dad got a little older he lived in Saint Joe next door to Jessie James house. He said when they were kids they had people taking tours threw James house for the WHOPPING cost of 10 cents. My Dads mom was from Union Star, she was allegedly White Clouds daughter. Her chosen maiden name was Pheby Bird. Wife and I went there to search family tree and got to go through all the old city records. We were told that all Indian related records were "scrubbed" because the decedents didn't want to be put on the reservation. It was cool going through the old files, got to look at Jessie James family info.
The cool part of our research trip was at the County Seat Historical Society I met a Great Aunt who just happened to be there from Laredo Texas also looking at family history. Our family was on FRONT PAGE NEWS in Saint Joe Newspaper about their WAGON TRAIN that moved there from Indiana in 1852 with over a dozen wagons.
She was able to give me the names in family tree that allowed me to find the BEGINNING of the family name in Rayhem England. The family name started in 1062.

https://raynhamhall.com/
Interesting, and my Grandma’s family (the Wickards) also migrated there from Indiana sometime soon after she was born in the Hoosier State in 1893.

rx7sig
02-14-2024, 04:02 PM
... I don't know if Kramer is still around but I like their holsters also.

I purchased a Kramer HorseHide "Belt Scabbard" for my K9 a couple of years ago, for the 1.25" belt I wear with my dress pants and suit pants. I love this holster! It is thin and light (but still stiff) and has a perfect (for me) cant for the 9:00 position I wear it. It doesn't have a thumb break, though, and I prefer a thumb break.

A few months after I purchased the above holster, I learned that Kramer will make a thumb break by special order--so I special-ordered a Scabbard with thumb break for my Sig Sauer M11-A1. I much prefer my (more substantial) lined Mitch Rosen thumb break pancake holster for my M11-A1, though. I prefer its (steeper) rake for the (larger) M11-A1, and I prefer its much more stout construction for the heavier M11-A1 (especially when configured as 357SIG, which is my usual configuration for it).

rx7sig

Bawanna
02-14-2024, 05:49 PM
Many prefer a thumb break and of course I have no issue with it. Myself I always figured a thumb break was a fix to secure a poorly fitting holster. (Would not be the case with Kramer or Mitch Rosen) I always hated duty holsters as you had to hit 3 buttons, rub your head and pat your belly to get the dang gun out. I'd prefer a spring in the bottom that detects when I need the gun and it meets my hand halfway.
Of course, the exception to this mind set would be if one open carried, which I never ever do. When it's out there for the bad guys to see, I want it locked down and hard to grab. Also why I wear a little bowie on my left side. I call it my get off me knife. Grab my gun, they get the knife, gotta hurt ya know.

Barth
02-14-2024, 06:20 PM
I really like ballistic nylon OWB pancake holsters worn cross-draw.
Really don't like a thumb break or other retention stuff.
I never open carry and am not LE.
So I don't anticipate rolling on the ground or chasing someone with my gun.
Prefer simple quick draw access with a good fitting holster/belt :)

Armybrat
02-19-2024, 09:33 AM
Many prefer a thumb break and of course I have no issue with it. Myself I always figured a thumb break was a fix to secure a poorly fitting holster. (Would not be the case with Kramer or Mitch Rosen) I always hated duty holsters as you had to hit 3 buttons, rub your head and pat your belly to get the dang gun out. I'd prefer a spring in the bottom that detects when I need the gun and it meets my hand halfway.
Of course, the exception to this mind set would be if one open carried, which I never ever do. When it's out there for the bad guys to see, I want it locked down and hard to grab. Also why I wear a little bowie on my left side. I call it my get off me knife. Grab my gun, they get the knife, gotta hurt ya know.
I’ve bought a few Triple K thumb break holsters for some of my Ruger wheel guns.
Not too bad if they are sale priced.

jeepster09
02-19-2024, 10:56 AM
Interesting, and my Grandma’s family (the Wickards) also migrated there from Indiana sometime soon after she was born in the Hoosier State in 1893.


Our family came to Massachusetts first, [from England], then North Carolina onto Indiana and next to Missouri. Interesting how my dad went back to Massachusetts [where i'm from]. He met my Mom there when he was at Fort Deven's in Mass. It's a small world.

jeepster09
02-19-2024, 10:59 AM
I always used a thumb break holster when riding my motorcycle as a way to keep it from flying out on the road.