A lot of what I talk about on here is going to be applicable to people carrying in general, not just big guys. Still, there are some issues that apply mainly to us.
Table of Contents
The shape problem
Sure, “shape” is a pretty generic word. Specifically, though, the widest part of our bodies tends to be where the grip of the gun is. Depending on how your pants fit at least part of yourself is going to overhang your belt. The gun, then, is angled on the vertical plane with the grip out and the muzzle in rather than pointing more or less straight down. This means two things:
- The muzzle is pointing at our leg/groin/butt area.
- The grip tends to print more since it’s pushed out against our cover garment.
A quality holster can mitigate, but not entirely solve, these issues. It does so because fat is also more malleable than muscle. The gun can press in to an extent, reducing printing. Metal or plastic pressing into your flesh is not particularly comfortable, but a good holster can reduce the discomfort down to a manageable level.
The angle problem is another reason that you need a well-designed holster. It’s essential that the trigger guard be covered so that there’s no chance of an accidental discharge. Again, while it’s pointing at you.
Mobility issues
I don’t just write about carrying, I read a lot, too. One of the common themes is that your purpose is to stop an attack, not necessarily to kill the attacker. I wholeheartedly endorse this idea.
However, I often see the idea of “running away”. I don’t run. That’s not a statement of courage or defiance. It’s simply a physical reality that Betty White could probably run me down if she felt the need. If faced with an axe murderer or angry bear my best bet is to face the threat rather than try to get away. Of course, if it’s the bear situation and I only have a 9mm then I guess I can spend my last moments regretting donuts and beer, which is a phrase I never thought I’d write.
Again, you should use only the force you need. You just need to accept the fact that a person in good physical condition has options you don’t. I’ve seen some pretty big dudes move pretty well. If you’re one of those, congratulations: I’m jealous.
It is true that adrenaline and fear can improve your capabilities. By how much? The only way to know for sure is to be in that situation. So until you are, your best bet is to plan on what you know you can do. Any extra capabilities that show up later are gravy.
Other physical limitations
In a similar vein to the previous section, there are other possible physical limitations to consider. Can you get up off the ground easily? If you cannot then perhaps you should not get down there unless you have to. While being a smaller target has its advantages, they can be mitigated or overcome by the fact that you’re now stuck in more or less the same place.
Can you bend and straighten easily? Drop to one knee then get back up quickly? No? Then perhaps ankle carry is not for you.
How are your knees? Mine have weight-related issues. I’ve had meniscus surgery on each of them. A quick and violent twisting/turning movement through my knees could nearly immobilize me.
You’re a bigger target
Old story I heard once. Two guys back in the old west had a beef and they were going to square off. One was over six feet tall and pretty broad. The other guy was just over five feet and skinny. Larger guy protested this unfairness in relative target size. The small man suggested they take some chalk and draw a small guy on the bigger man. Any shots outside the lines wouldn’t count.
Look, reality is what it is. You are a big target. And you will probably notice the shots “outside the lines”. Other than losing weight there’s not really all that much that can be done about it, other than avoiding any unnecessary fights.
For those who can’t stand things that are incomplete: as I recall, the big dude was the aggressor. He was so amused by the chalk outline idea that he gave up the idea of fighting the small man. Pretty sure I read this in a Louis L’Amour book. Not in one of the fiction parts but in the foreword, afterword, or one of those commentary sections he’d put in where he told true stories. Maybe in a short story collection.
Conclusion
You need a realistic appraisal of your physical attributes and capabilities and how those will affect you in an altercation. You’re a bigger target and may not move all that well. You may have other, weight-related issues that reduce your effectiveness. That makes it more likely that you will get hurt. While you certainly shouldn’t rush to use force, if you need to act then do so decisively.
