AIWB options for 5" 1911

[Brent]

Anyone do this? What are people using as far as belts and holsters to "comfortably" carry this way. Curious as to real life experience rather than write ups by reviewers on particular products


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[callidus]

Not that specific model, but I do like AIWB for larger, harder to conceal guns. My $.02 is don't skimp on the holster; I personally love StealthGear USA for either my AIWB or regular IWB holsters; hands down better than any other option I've tried (including the crossbreed, alien gear, etc.) and the mesh material keeps you super cool in the summer. All mine have held up extremely well. Buy once, cry once.

For a belt, your preference. Depending on the belt, you may have to adjust where the buckle is to comfortably seat the holster for AIWB.

 

[tomrkba]

I tried it once with a 5" 1911 and cracked a nut sitting down.

Here is how AIWB works generally:

1) The length of the slide will dictate comfort. The gun will generate hot spots. These hot spots will be where the holster touches your thigh and on your waist at the back of the slide. You may have others depending upon how the pants are cut, underwear and body shape.
2) Sagging belts do you no good and drop the gun lower. Lower can be bad.
3) Less holster material below the belt is essential. Everything must be rounded off including the area in front of the trigger guard to muzzle and the muzzle area.
4) The holster must be of minimum length while covering the muzzle. You will cook if you train with the gun in AIWB. Muzzle coverage is essential.
5) You can carry the gun on either side. I am left handed but frequently carry the gun right of center. The reason is the sight area touching me is less uncomfortable than the trigger guard to muzzle area touching me.
6) Always choose a shorter slide or barrel if possible. Taller people can get away with a longer slide/barrel. Your measurements from crotch to waist will dictate what you can carry.
7) Today's fashionable skinny and short jeans are terrible for AIWB. AIWB requires room. It will rapidly become uncomfortable as hot spots develop.
8) Use a 1 1/2" Bigfoot steel reinforced belt. I used a CompTac kydex reinforced belt for years but the kydex degraded and broke over time. Pure leather or nylon "Instructor Belt" sag. Plastic belts work for awhile and then fail.
9) The holster needs to be ridiculously adjustable. The Raven Concealment Eidolon is a perfect example of this. Buy the kit for $120. It is right or left handed, has wings and wedges (antitilt), multiple attachment methods, etc. It has problems; it is too long or squared off and is made only for Glock.
10) The holster must have an anti tilt device and a wing. The anti tilt device prevents the rear of the slide from printing. The wing prevents the butt of the grip from printing.
11) I carry spare mags up front. The mags must sit low but there is an industry tendency now to hold them high. The result is printing.
12) Magazine bases matter and the back part will print (mitigated by the wing). The point that prints is the outside rear (gun pointed down). It can't print if it is not present. Examples: Glock 26 with 10 round magazine and finger rest. The finger rest functions to assist in the draw and rests on the belt. There is nothing behind it. Example 2: Glock 26 with 12 round mag. It is shorter in the back than at the front of the grip. Again, no printing. Example 3: Glock 17 mag in Milt Sparks IPS for G19. It is too tall and prints. Buy mag holders for the longest mag and use shorter mags.
13) Mag holders at an angle help immensely. I had Bravo Concealment make me a G19 mag holder that is canted 30 degrees to the right. There are some details that need to be worked out but it is good.
14) Holster cant matters. Make sure the holster you buy has both forward and backward cant. I fin 5-10 degrees of backward cant helps.
15) Wear a looser shirt. Look at the shirt in the store. The sides from the sleeve down should not taper. Taper causes printing and makes the gun difficult to draw. I use tapered shirts as undershirts.

 

[tomrkba]

FYI I ended up trimming my long Eidolon to Glock 19 length. I took more off the fron than back. I bent the body side over the muzzle to reduce cooking and improve comfort.

 

[tomrkba]

Here is another way to prevent the gun from tilting forward: mold a void behind the belt attachment. This is a Huckleberry Tactical Grab and Go for Glock 43. The kydex has Krytek's Pontus pattern.

 

[travistheone]

Here is another way to prevent the gun from tilting forward: mold a void behind the belt attachment. This is a Huckleberry Tactical Grab and Go for Glock 43. The kydex has Krytek's Pontus pattern.

That is an interesting holster business- do the cheap stuff in house (kydex formings) and let Raven spend the big bucks to mold plastic for the parts that actually make a difference.

Smart. I never thought about using the Eidolon accessories with another holster.

 

[tomrkba]

That is an interesting holster business- do the cheap stuff in house (kydex formings) and let Raven spend the big bucks to mold plastic for the parts that actually make a difference.

Smart. I never thought about using the Eidolon accessories with another holster.

I use them all the time. The kit comes with so much "stuff" that it's a shame to waste it. What's great is the kit comes with everything for right and left handed use! You can make BUG holsters or flip the holster around if you need to.

 

[protegeV]

Aiwb...

Is that a 1911 or are you just happy to see me?

 

[Brent]

Thank you everyone for your detailed responses. Guess I should have given some physical details
I'm 5'10 and fluctuate 170-180 lbs depending on the seasons. Is this even worth me playing with? I bought the glock 19 primarily for thinking of carrying and have appropriate gear for it. I just really like my SA lightweight operator and shoot it damn well.
Thanks all


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[RoadDawg]

Thank you everyone for your detailed responses. Guess I should have given some physical details
I'm 5'10 and fluctuate 170-180 lbs depending on the seasons. Is this even worth me playing with? I bought the glock 19 primarily for thinking of carrying and have appropriate gear for it. I just really like my SA lightweight operator and shoot it damn well.
Thanks all


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Consider this...

On top of the question of CCW comfort, concealability, proficiency, utility under stress...

Say... You actually find yourself in a shoot situation...

Which of your pistols do you want to be without... until the case is adjudicated and evidence released?

That's just one more consideration in a list of things...

I'd say that maybe your Glock 19 may be the best carry option...

 

[davsco]

Which of your pistols do you want to be without... until the case is adjudicated and evidence released?

IMO the cost of something that may very well save your life really should be irrelevant in the carry consideration.

that said i'd tend to pick a glock over a 1911 just because i have seen plenty of 1911's have a jam here and there and relatively few glocks do that.

 

[d33rhunt3r]

Aiwb...

Is that a 1911 or are you just happy to see me?

It's both

 

[tomrkba]

I recommend trying it with the 1911. But, then you'll be stuck with a 1911 holster if you don't like it. It's a good addition to the holster box

My recommendation is to get an Eidolon for the Glock 19, cut it down to the right length (to just before the screw) and heat the rear (at the muzzle) and bend it forward. This means the body side should be longer. This will reduce cooking when the gun gets hot during training. Then go get two canted IWB mag holders from Bravo Concealment.


It doesn't look like much, but there is enough there. I recommend leaving more on the body side and curling it around the muzzle.

 

[hogarth]

I recommend trying it with the 1911. But, then you'll be stuck with a 1911 holster if you don't like it. It's a good addition to the holster box

My recommendation is to get an Eidolon for the Glock 19, cut it down to the right length (to just before the screw) and heat the rear (at the muzzle) and bend it forward. This means the body side should be longer. This will reduce cooking when the gun gets hot during training. Then go get two canted IWB mag holders from Bravo Concealment.


It doesn't look like much, but there is enough there. I recommend leaving more on the body side and curling it around the muzzle.

Why are you cutting holsters when Raven already makes a G19 length Eidolon?

 

[tomrkba]

Why are you cutting holsters when Raven already makes a G19 length Eidolon?

It's a slide holster with no rounded edge at the muzzle. Such a setup is very uncomfortable.

 

[Brent]

I recommend trying it with the 1911. But, then you'll be stuck with a 1911 holster if you don't like it. It's a good addition to the holster box

My recommendation is to get an Eidolon for the Glock 19, cut it down to the right length (to just before the screw) and heat the rear (at the muzzle) and bend it forward. This means the body side should be longer. This will reduce cooking when the gun gets hot during training. Then go get two canted IWB mag holders from Bravo Concealment.


It doesn't look like much, but there is enough there. I recommend leaving more on the body side and curling it around the muzzle.

Let me see if I have this right. G17 holster, cut length to make it fit a 19, and heat and round the edges inwards to round into the muzzle?


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[hogarth]

It's a slide holster with no rounded edge at the muzzle. Such a setup is very uncomfortable.

I've had the G19 version and haven't had to do a thing to it in a year, but we're all a little different.

If I was going to carry a 1911 AIWB, I'd go with JM Custom Kydex or Dark Star Gear. Both have wedge and claw options and are professional grade. I'd avoid hybrid holsters like Stealthgear and Alien Gear at all costs. Too many points for failure on those.

 

[tomrkba]

Let me see if I have this right. G17 holster, cut length to make it fit a 19, and heat and round the edges inwards to round into the muzzle?


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Yup! Leave more material on the body side than I did to wrap it a bit more so you will cook less during training.

 

[RoadDawg]

IMO the cost of something that may very well save your life really should be irrelevant in the carry consideration.

that said i'd tend to pick a glock over a 1911 just because i have seen plenty of 1911's have a jam here and there and relatively few glocks do that.

And I happen to agree with you completely...

However, choosing to carry a less reliable platform because someone likes it better for other reasons is also not a great thing to do. Which is why I pose the question when the subject comes up.

For range and non defense functions... I like the style and looks of the 1911 platform. But, for a SDCW... I think a utilitarian style pistol with greater reliability and less external bells and whistles is a better/more practical choice.

 

[Brent]

Yup! Leave more material on the body side than I did to wrap it a bit more so you will cook less during training.

10-4! Eidolon it is and g19 for CCW when I move next month is the order of the bill! Thank you!


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