TexasCHLforum.com

This reply may be too late to help you, but if not here goes. I'd suggest that the width of the gun and length of the grip have a much bigger impact on concealability than barrel length. I'm 5' 10" and 140# and when I started carrying I had a Beretta 96 Compact. It had about a 3 1/2" barrel but the double stack was too wide for me. I switched to a bigger gun, a 5" 1911 and it literally melted into my side. I've taken people shooting and when I've raised my shirt to pull out my gun they've been astonished I had that "big 'ole gun tucked away in there." I recently bought a Glock 19, smaller gun than the 1911 but it is wider and for me harder to conceal.

The point is, what at first may seem counter-intuitive on gun size may actually work best for you.

And ditto on stiff belts. I've been using Galco's version of the Wilderness belt and really like it. The Velcro beats the leather belt hole problem IMHO.