Cant carry my usp 45 concealed

[majorleaguekennels]

I just purchased a USP 45 full size and would love to be able to carry this gun concealed. Every holster i tried at the local gun store, had the handle showing through my shirt no matter the location, So, if you have carried a USP concealed please share what holster / location you were using? (we are talking only a t-shirt for cover, it is hot down here)
Thanks for your time and input.

[ffhounddog]

Appendix carry?

I carried a HK USP 9 concealed but it was a pain but I do know two people who carry a USP 40 in the appendix carry method. I went with a HK P2000 and HK USPc and they work better.

[Alex F]

How big are you?

That's a serious chunk of a handgun to carry concealed in just a tshirt and expect to not print, especially if you're average or small sized.

Did you buy the USP full size expressly to carry concealed?

If so, why?

Wise man tailors tools to job, not job to tools.

YMMV

[Grizzly16]

Every holster i tried at the local gun store,

What holsters does your local gun store carry? Are they just blackhawk/uncle mikes/fobus? If not a GOOD holster and belt make a world of difference. Have you tried any of the following brands:
Cane and Derby (not sure they make an usp?)
Crossbreed
Raven

[Deputy Dan]

CC a USP 45 in a t-shirt? Not going to happen. Even with a crossbreed or minotaur the grip is going to print badly.


I'm 6' 4" 240 and I can't conceal my USP 45 with light summer t shirt... I can carry it under winter garments. Even the USP 45 Compact is big. I used to carry a G27 for back up/cc, and even then you still need to dress around it.

Save your ducats for a pistol more suitable to the task... I just picked up a Shield in .40 to play with. Shoots like my G27, very accurate and much easier to conceal.

[Psalms144.1]

The USP 45 is a big pistol, but certainly not impossible to conceal.

First things first, what are you wearing as "concealment" garments. As stated above, if it's shorts and a nicely fitting t-shirt, you're going to have trouble. You need to dress around your pistol, not pick your pistol to match your chosen attire. A loose-fitting, square bottom shirt, like any of the ones Woolrich markets, should do a good job covering that pistol.

Secondly, you need to decide where on your body you want to carry, and how; and pick a holster designed for that application. Do you want to carry IWB, or on the belt?

Different holsters have different amount of cant. In general, you want no cant (straight drop) if you're looking to carry between your belt buckle and the point of your hip - in what's now referred to as the "appendix carry." If you're carrying right on the point of your hip, straight drop or a SLIGHT (5 degree or so) cant will be best for concealment. If you're carrying in the "traditional" 4-4:30 position behind the hip, you want the "FBI" (15 degree) cant. If for whatever reason you can't be talked out of it you think small of the back is the place to carry, you want the barrel to be pretty close to parallel with the belt.

Lastly, you need a GOOD, purpose-built belt to carry a large, heavy handgun. I use several - but the best I've found over the years are the Wilderness Frequent Flyer belt with the polymer stiffener for casual wear; and the Beltman 1.5" gun belt - which doesn't look out of place with a suit.

Hopefully some of that will help. Remember, you need to dress around the gun, not the other way around.

[JonInWA]

I don't have a USP 45, but I have a Glock G21 (non-SF), and frequently carry it in a Blade-Tech IWB. As others have mentioned, a good belt is a critical part of the equation; I prefer The Wilderness' 5-Stitch models, or a a double-thick leather/horsehide belt.

Best, Jon

[Tzook]

Yeah, no shit you can't. You might as well be trying to CC a brick

[majorleaguekennels]

Thanks all for the quick replies. I did not buy the usp specifically for carry, but i love it, i want it with me now. I do feel that i am just to fat to carry a gun appendix style, i tried it, the hammer pokes my belly, but even if i switched to a spurless hammer i feel it would not be comfortable at all to sit down with. I do believe the few holsters i tried were cheaper brands, so maybe i need i to step up to a better holster. I will admit i am new to CC, so i will take in account all the suggestions, i think at this point i am leaning toward a IWB holster just because i think it will pull the grip in closer to my body which is what i need. I also may just end up keeping this gun inside the nightstand and picking up a model more conducive to carrying concealed. I will keep researching holster before i just give up on carrying it however.
Thanks again for the info.

[ralph]

I agree with all the above...A "good" holster will help alot, but still the fact is, a fullsize USP.45, isn't exactly a small pistol..It really wasn't designed with CC in mind, it's more of a service pistol that was intended to be carried openly on your side, (think LE, military) I'm not saying carrying it concealed could'nt be done, but, it going to be alot more challanging to say the least. You may want to reconsider using it as a CCW, if you want to carry a .45 maybe consider a HK45c,or a USP compact, M&P.45 compact, or in 9mm, P-2000 maybe a P-30, but they do have a rough texture on the grip which can rub ... or any of the usual recommended CC pistols, G19, G26, or in.45 G30, M&P9c, possibly a Walther PPQ, maybe the new M&P shield..