Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns who carries a full size 1911 for defense

What do you carry it in. I love mine ,but I cannot seem to find a comfortable holster because of its size. on another matter what loads do you carry in it

I do, all day every day. Milt Sparks VM II. Reloads.

Mitch Rosen Leather or Milt Sparks as good as it gets

I just bought a El Paso Saddlery High Slide for mine (though a Commander) after seeing Doc's at the hog hunt. It will arrive tomorrow so we shall see. I do know that he was more than pleased with it.

I carried one every day for about 15 years with either a belt slide or Summer Special IWB rig. A good belt is paramount. My carry load evolved from plain vanilla ball ammo to the Cooper-approved 7.5 Unique with a 200 SWC to 230 Hydra Shocks.

I carried one several years (and still occasionally do) in a Milt Sparks Summer Special 2. The SS 2 sits lower in the waistband than the original. These days I find a slightly shorter barrel easier and more comfortable to carry. Although I don't own one, I could see a Commander (LW) being more comfortable that a 5" GM.

Brommeland Max-Con V; As for ammo, generally Federal 230 HST's.


Full Sized model


Commander Sized, with sciatica extension




MM

Thank you gentlemen

you need a good holster, AND a good belt, to carry a heavy handgun. I like the "Palmer Practical" holster by Sam Andrews
www.andrewsleather.com

Mitch Rosen 5jr in stock at Dillon Precision. Its the same as their express line on the Mitch Rosen website. Match it with their belt and your gtg. The leather lighting they sell helps alot breaking it in. Other companies make a similar liquid product.

I do, but mostly in the Winter Months, Super Tuck

Really good belt, and either a belt slide or a Milt Sparks Summer Special II. GoldDots.

The problem with the full sized, all steel 1911 as an EDC in civilian mode & what makes it difficult to carry on 12-14 hour days, is the weight more so than the size.

Steel Gov't models weigh around 38 oz, empty, compared to a LWT Commander weighing 28 oz & that's a huge difference.

As a result, holsters like the Brommeland, that I posted earlier, & the Sparks VM II or other similar styles that have belt loops spread over both ends and fairly wide apart, tend to be the most comfortable over time; because they also do not have the belt loops on top of the gun, they provide an overall thinner width profile as well.

If you don't care about having an all leather holster, the SuperTuck design made by various suppliers also works pretty well.

The only smaller profile holster with the belt loops over the top of the gun that I will use with a 1911, & even then only with a LWT Commander, is a Sparks Executive Companion which actually has some additional support wings compared to the Summer Special. (I got a deal on one here from a member & it has served me well.)

Holsters are a very personal item so far as preference goes, & in order to really know what works best for you & a given gun, you really have to try several different types/styles/manufacturers & that can get expensive unless you can borrow one to use & try out.

As many have mentioned, especially with heavy guns, light duty belts will sag under the weight & cause discomfort & a constant feeling that your gun/pants are falling down which you will not enjoy.

MM

As stated several times above a good gun belt is a must with a full sized steel 1911. I use the Filson double layered harness leather belt and have no problem.

Not every day but often enough. Milt Sparks SS2 or Versa Max. Sometimes a BN55 if I don't need to go IWB.

When I pack one of my full size 1911's, I either use a Custom El Paso Saddlery Pancake style Holster or one of Galco's high riding Concealable leather holsters.
The Galco runs about $90, IIRC.

And like most others mentioned, a good heavy leather belt make all the difference!

Montana Man has it spot on, listen to what he's sayin!

I sometimes carry in winter in Colorado a more than full sized 1911. I sometimes carry a Fusion Firearms 6-inch longxlide in 10mm which I carry in a shoulder holster under my jacket.

Shoulder holsters ain't all bad, especially if you're in a car a lot & can wear a cover garment.

I have several............

MM

I love them but in the summer........