If you print, do you worry about it alot?

[Moparmike]

I have given it some thought, and I determined that it would be nearly impossible to dress for the weather and never print with a big fat Witness in 10mm.

Do you worry excessively about it? What alternatives might one have, besides a parka in July? (ok, so I exagerate)

If you had to decide between mildly printing (occasionaly a gun shape, but usually a large bulge around kidney), or not carrying, which would you choose?

[gggman]

99.9% of the people you come in contact with on a daily basis are not observant enough to notice you printing. People just don't go around looking for unusual bulges in your clothing(no gutter jokes here):D
I often carry with a sweater vest over my weapon. and I know that there is a bulge there on my right side at 4:00, but most people are just oblivious. They don't pay any attention.
As long as you aren't doing anything to draw attention to yourself, no one will be "checking you out".:scrutiny:

[michiganfan]

I work in an office everday and I am in close visual contact with my coworkers.
In three years nobody has ever noticed. Now I will grant you I am not wearing a full sized Witness, but even with my Glock 33 if you look you could see that under my sweater was a the general outline of a handgun. As Sherlock Holmes would say most people "Look but don't see".

[ksnecktieman]

Interesting question. I would have said that if you were printing enough so "something" was obvious under your clothes your concealment failed. Anyone else think that way?

[jc2]

I try to minimize it, but I don't particularly worry about it. Most people (even cops) just plain don't notice. With beepers, cell phones, etc., worn on the belt nowadays, what's another bulge.

[Third_Rail]

Exactly, JC. I have four pouches (two knives, zippo, surefire) on my belt and I don't carry yet. What is another bulge added to that?

[444]

No, I don't worry about it a lot for the reasons given above. I try to conceal it, and think it is concealed, but you never really know. I know I look a lot fatter in pictures than I do when I am looking at myself in the mirror. On the other hand, when you are looking in the mirror to see if you are printing, you know you have a gun on and are specificallly looking for it.

[Lennyjoe]

Only ones that notice are other gun carrying people that worry if their gun is printing too.;)

Actually, like others here, with cell phones and everything else on the belt it is no big deal anymore.

BUT, I still do my best to keep the handgun print free as much as possible. I think I do a pretty good job of it too.

[Skunkabilly]

Yep. Kinda worried about the sheep freakin' out and calling the sheepdogs and getting whacked by friendly fire :eek:

And the wolves...arrr arroooooo!

[armoredman]

I carry a full size Witness in an HBE IWB rig, and under a XXL t-shirt, it doesn't print. Also, I do this in the hot weather of Tucson all year long. Get a BPM from Eric at http://www.imageseek.com/hbeleather/ and be happy!

[PCRCCW]

Well you guys havent been around my 7 year old daughter. Being a holster maker and having her help me in my quest for years now......she's a bloody pro at spotting printing on damn near everyone.

She once told a cop she could see is J frame in a Tuckable holster.......
And he thanked her for it.......:D

Its not a big deal in MOST cases.......but steer clear of BOO, or she'll tell you that you are Printing! Beware............

Shoot well.

[cslinger]

After some experimentation with printing I have determined the following...

I could open carry with a white shirt that says "Hello, My name is Chris and I am currently carrying a fully loaded .45 caliber semi automatic handgun. Have a nice day!" emblazoned in road hazard orange letters and still most people would be clueless.

I do worry a little bit and I don't open carry but all in all most of my carry is for my comfort more for absolute concealability. It just happens that pocket carry tends to be my carry of choice and that is very concealable.

Chris

[Blue Line]

ever thought of a fanny pack? or some of the other types, bellyband etc etc

[OF]

I don't really sweat it. I make a token effort not to print, but like was said, 99.9% of people live in their own little bubble and are completely oblivious. And even if someone does see a print and figures out what's what, big deal. If you don't look like a child molester, people figure you're a cop or just go with whatever rationale their minds come up with.

- Gabe

[OF]

I could open carry with a white shirt that says "Hello, My name is Chris and I am currently carrying a fully loaded .45 caliber semi automatic handgun. Have a nice day!" emblazoned in road hazard orange letters and still most people would be clueless.LOL! Ain't that the truth :)

- Gabe

[12-34hom]

After experimenting with numerous holsters, I tried a Milt Sparks "Versa Max 2".

I have a Government model 1911, it disappears with no printing while i carry.

Best holster set up i've tried.

12-34hom.

[BryanP]

People tend not to notice details that they aren't specifically looking for. I am as guilty as anyone. There's a guy I used to work with - not closely but I saw him irregularly for 10+ years - and I never noticed until very recently that he is missing the last joing of each finger on his right hand.

I managed to make a hole in the elbow of my brown leather jacket recently. As a temporary fix I made a very neat and symmetrical patch with black electrical tape. You know what? I've been walking around with it for 2 months and nobody has noticed unless I brought it to their attention.

[Marcus]

While I make every effort to minimize printing I don`t really worry about it. I almost always carry IWB which keeps it tucked in nice and tight. A really good stiff gunbelt is a must. That does as much to prevent printing as anything else. The Witness is not all that hard to conceal,nor is it particularly large. My 10mm Witness fit the same holsters as my CZ-75. The only thing larger about it was the thicker rubber grips. An issue I solved by having Hakan make a set of custom wood grips for me. I carried both guns and my S&W 1006 10mm for that matter which is larger and heavier but slimmer,under a dark colored untucked heavy weight T shirt with no problems and very little printing. IMO the holster/belt combo and body language are the most important factors. If you know your gun prints when you twist a certain way or something,just don`t do it. A good friend of mine carrys an HK USP Compact and it often prints (sometimes very baddly). He wears shirts that are too small and often stands or moves in such a way that it makes it print more. That said he`s never been made that I know of so people really must be oblivious! Marcus

[Arc Angel]

:scrutiny: Yes, I definitely worry about printing. In the past 7 or 8 years I’ve been, ‘made’ at least 3 times; and, on each occasion, by someone I didn’t want to know.

My solutions are to: (1) Wear an IWB rig, for the right-hand locate it at the 4 o’clock position behind your belt, (2) wear shirts and jackets that are, either, full-cut or a size too large. (3) Teach yourself not to reach with your gun arm and, (4) always, bend over by kneeling with your gun-side knee. (5) Remember to smile, a lot; and, (6) always, try to approach other people from your support-hand side. (7) Finally, don’t confront others or engage in conversations by standing directly on the other person’s body centerline. (Keep, just off, to your gun side.)

Hopefully, this information will help you as much as it has helped me. To the best of my knowledge I haven’t been made in the past three years – not even at the S.P. barracks, nor the local police department! My biggest thrill was, one day, when I stopped for lunch, walked into a restaurant, and suddenly found myself (and my IWB 4 o’clock carry 45acp) surrounded by, at least, one SWAT team and an entire class of S.P. cadets. All of them were trying their darnedest to look observant! (Nobody seemed to make me, though!) If you're wondering who the last guy is that made me, are you ready? A game warden! :)

[The Tourist]

When I was the civilian security oficer for a telephone company in the mid 1980's (amongst my other duties), this same conversation came up. My opinion was that people were too self-absorbed to notice.

To prove the point, I carried a full-size stainless 1911 .45 ACP Govenment model in a Bianchi right kidney thumb-break holster OUTSIDE my jeans and covered only by a practice football jersey--the kind with cheese-cloth holes in it.

I worked the entire day (meetings, working with staff, customer service meetings with clients and the other management staff who were not 'in' on the experiment) and not one person mentioned anything from this slipshod attempt to cover a large pistol.

Vindicated, I went back to a Colt Officers ACP and a Detonics .45 in a proper concealment rig and never got flak from the managers again (on how it might look to a client).

edit: One of the best jobs I ever had. Even the bosses were gun guys. It was standard procedure that when you bought a new pistol, you brought it in for the owner/CEO to see and fondle. It was common to see a guy sitting at his desk cleaning a Colt. Try that kind of behavior today in our PC environment!

[CB900F]

Marcus & All;

I also carry an H&K USP compact & I'm not a large guy. However, I carry it in a Milt Sparks Exec's Companion IWB. I'm a locksmith & carry at work. LEO's are in all the time. Nobody's said anything so far & it's been years.
I just wear the company Henley shirt loose over it.

As was said earlier though, the belt has a lot to do with it. I got the Milt Sparks belt with the holster & have been happy with both for over 6 years.

900F

[Mr. Mysterious]

I'm not too worried about it, Indiana allows open carry if you really wanted to cowboy.

I have been trying lately to see who is carrying...and I haven't made anyone I've known for sure yet (I did catch a shoplifter though looking for CCWs at work).

I'm still waiting for my CCW to come back from the city...When it comes back I'm not sure how I'm going to carry...probably small of the back. I tried strong hand at the 4 o'clock and I just could get used to that.

[Josey]

I carry my Browning HP 9MM at 3 O'clock in a Galco IWB. I wear a cotton t-shirt and layer a sleeveless golf vest over it in one size larger. I asked a court security officer to point out my pistol. He looked me over and thought I must have a J frame in an ankle rig. I call that a success.

[Standing Wolf]

I'd be more concerned about printing if I didn't live in an open carry state. I doubt anyone's ever noticed, although I do occasionally just drop a revolver in a trousers pocket.

[dairycreek]

Sure do! Cause where I come from concealed means concealed. When I did my original training for a concealed carry permit here in Oregon the DA who was on the training team kept emphasizing two points over and over. The first - "concealed means concealed". The second -"if you have a permit it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to do WHAT EVER IT TAKES to keep your weapon concealed". So, I have always lived by those two points. So, if you can't carry the 10 mm the way you are dressed either dress differently or carry something else. Good shooting;)

[El Tejon]

Was on my way to MPFreeman's this morning, carrying 1911, IWB with extra mags OWB, no jacket on and Orvis shirt tucked in. Stopped at a Starbuck's north of Indy.

Place was jumping. Received no looks. Granted this is Indiana and everyone has a gun, but there were several Illinois and Ohio plates outside. It is as if the IWB makes it invisible to them.

Maybe it's like cslinger sez. People are in white, wrapped in their own little worlds. Got to get one of those shirts.:D

[Topgun]

Around these parts, fanny packs are scoped.

Sorriest carry method available.

Oh it hides it. From cub scouts and the blind.

Bad part about it is if anyone tries to rob someone with a "fanny pack" he should EASILY get off on an insanity plea.

:D

[Bainx]

Tourist.....I dream of working in a place that you described!

Having come back from the range yesterday afternoon to the parents house for late lunch, I elected to keep my G30 OWB [no cover] on and guess what, nobody in the entire house looked or commented, to my astonishment.

[P95Carry]

I think we gotta decide what actually constitutes ''printing'' ..... some seem to think a slight bulge is printing. I don't think so.

Class ''printing'' in my book is if the outline of the piece is formed and thus makes it recognizeable as what it is. That I go to great lengths to avoid. Some pocket carry situations can lead to bad printing . plus sometimes the apparent ''pull'' due to weight.

My current carry .... either SP-101 or M28-2 ... is 4 o'clock OWB belt slide ... and now and again I know that the grips can lead to a slight showing ...... but that IMO is insignificant. There is however never a ''silhouette'' shape. THAT would be printing.

My wife and I called round to the local state police barracks coupla weeks ago ... to furnish some info they needed on a case. We sat chatting to a guy for some while and I'd lay odds he would NEVER have known I was packing.. or any of the others we passed inside either.

I was at a model plane flea market a week ago and same there ... only time I might have been made was when I stopped to speak to someone I knew, they brushed against the piece ... and may have put 2 and 2 together .. but no biggie there!

I do believe ''concealed is concealed'' .... but that means no one can identify what is on your person, let alone know it is there.

[Ben Shepherd]

The CCW laws where I live make open carry legal when you have your permit. And I do it occasionally. I've been watched closely for a while, but never been hassled.

The places that would cause a stink, I try to keep the gun covered up, watch how I move, reach for things, etc. To date so far as I know, no one has "made" me while I was concealing the gun.

One guy I made was obviously new to the ranks of CCW: Here I sit in a booth at a resturant, when a guy across the isle leans back against the bench with a loud CLUNK!!! Now folks, I know the sound of a pistol butt slamming into solid wood, and that was it. He looked around like the cat caught with the canary, and I just gave him that "you know that I know" smile and went back to eating. After he looked around a minute longer and figured out no one else had noticed, and I didn't care, he went back to eating.

[cratz2]

Hrmm... I can honestly say that I've never really given it much thought. I figure as long as folks can't directly see the gun itself, it's concealed. I figure if a very knowledgable gun person sees me and can't identify the make and model I'm carrying, it's concealed. :p

Of course, this would preclude carrying an N frame while wearing spandex pants and a tanktop. :D

Honestly, I've always been more concerned with being able to carry comfortably.

[sturmruger]

I usually carry in MN so I don't worry too much about printing or people seeing my gun. MN issues a "carry permit" not a "concealed weapond permit" the law doesn't care if you want to carry openly. I choose not to open carry but if the occasional sheep sees my gun, oh well.

[Flashpoint]

When I first started carrying I was a little paranoid, but after carrying for a couple of years I don't worry about it anymore. I have learned that with the right shirt just about anything can be concealed. I try to steer clear of the more torso hugging shirts if I'm going to be packing, I reserve those for school because I can't carry on campus anyway. I'll also echo what has already been said; most people would never notice a bulge or a print.

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I've had someone who knew me stop me for printing and tell me they could see the gun. I was carrying a gun but it turns out what the spotted was my cell phone which was clipped to the outside of my pocket and bulged a bit under the shirt. The gun was on the other side.

1) I generally don't think people are all that observant to begin with

2) People carry so much clipped to their belts nowadays (pagers, cellphones, PDAs) that even when they do notice something odd they are less likely to think "gun" as the first answer.

[Chupacabra]

One guy I made was obviously new to the ranks of CCW: Here I sit in a booth at a resturant, when a guy across the isle leans back against the bench with a loud CLUNK!!!

:what:

That happened to me one time. I was sitting down in a metal chair and the grip of my 1911 came in contact with it. The sound of metal on metal filled the dining area. I was super embarrased but no one noticed. 99% of folks out there won't put two and two together unless they see the gun.

:D

[sm]

Me worry - Nope.
<turns around> what gun? ;) Jeans , tucked in LLBean Flannel shirt and tennis shoes.

<points> now that photo vest looks out of place, fanny pack too. Oh that "I brake for Iwannacoolgunvirus" T shirt looks suspicious....eww , eww I know - it's a mall ninja. :)

I'm in the South, "Ya'll ain't from around these parts" not just for foreigner or Yankees...we do that at little league games and back yard BBQ's...City vs country folk, b/t counties in state, amongst kinfolk , and don't get me started on the Goody two shoes hugging trees and eating tofu at some colleges. :D

I park off campus with the other trucks...ones with spent cases and hulls in the truck bed...RC and moonpie wrappers...BBQ stained napkins...I park next to fella with the "If it flies - it dies" and "Goat Ropers need lovin' too" bumper sticker.

I have no stickers , got a hang tag...somewhere...what - I'm supposed to use it...

What guns? :p

[sturmruger]

I was at a movie last night with my wife when I put my leg up on the chair in front of me. Out fell my S40 mag loaded with 10 rounds of JHP!! It made a hell of clank and scared the crap out of me!!!! No one noticed.

[Mr. Mysterious]

I was at a movie last night with my wife when I put my leg up on the chair in front of me. Out fell my S40 mag loaded with 10 rounds of JHP!! It made a hell of clank and scared the crap out of me!!!! No one noticed.

Spare mag or the one from the your piece?

[manwithoutahome]

Topgun,

Actually, the fanny pack is GREAT! as a distractor. I carry IWB at 4:25 strong side. I also use a fanny pack (this will stray the topic abit but the fanny pack is used to house wallet, cell, checkbook. The reason is that I used to have really bad back problems. Doc told me to not wear my wallet or anything in my back pockets. It worked, no more back problems) and the people who know me thought "Hey, I know where your gun is at". I say, "oh really, were?" , them, "In your fanny pack. We could tell a mile away" (was always said with SEG's on their faces".

Until I take it off and let them "hold" the pack. Hey they all said, it's kinda light, what type of gun is this light? I tell them to "open the secret compartment" of which they do. Inside is the receipts and other stuff that I'd thrown in it during the day :D.

M

[AJ Dual]

You can get away with fanny pack carry, but you have to be the kind of person that is normally seen wearing a fanny pack.

- A butch lesbian.

- A retiree with maroon slacks, powder blue sportcoat, and a teal polo shirt etc.

- Obvious tourist.

- Hiking/Camping.

Untill he died this Feburary, my granfather's preferred method of carry was a Galati rip-away fanny pack and a S&W mod. 66 snubbie. Something as unfashionable as a fanny pack probably didn't bat an eye on an 80+ y.o. retiree going about his business in the Las Vegas metro. :D

[ksnecktieman]

Does anyone know where I can get a bargain on some teal polo shirts? I guess I know why my concealment has been failing:eek:

[Rickstir]

This is a great thread for me. I am in the delightful delema of trying to come up with a good carry option. In MO we are about there. I have my app in for MO and FL. First come first served!

I have a Beretta 92 FS and a Taurus 650 CIA 2" .357. I don't want a "box full of holsters" like I see so many people write about. Rather buy guns than holsters :D

I have a pretty pear shaped figure (I'm working on it dear). So the 92 will be a challanged, kind of why I picked up the 650. I bought an Uncle Mike's little strip thingy, really just a couple of belt loops and a strap. The 650 fits real well, although the no hammer thing is a bit of a problem. Guy in the gun store suggest this little 11.00 piece of nylon would teach me about this type of carry, if I liked it I could move up to leather. Used it the first time this weekend and it went really well. I have to carry open now and that went just fine with a tee-shirt (Orange County Chopper no less!) tucked in. Compared to the Beretta, I didn't even know the Taurus was on my belt. I had to work with the cell phone holder a little bit and span a belt loop, but it was just fine. I could see concealing with the proper over garment. I think I will wait for fall and colder weather before I tackle the Beretta in an IWB. But this is the fun part......

[entropy]

I was raised by a cop and taught to 'make' CCW's as a game when I was a kid. Funniest one I ever spotted was in the gun shop I worked at.
Scene: Minnesota, 1989(before shall issue. In the Twin Cities, where this was, it was almost impossible to get a carry permit.) Guy walks in, about 5'6" tall, wearing a softball jacket looking like he has a giant tumor under his left armpit. He looks at the used gun rack. I sidle up next to his left side, my left arm at the ready to pull his piece out before he can.... I comment "You'd better have either a carry permit on you , or a badge." His answer; "Oh, you noticed? Yeah, here's my permit" Shows me his permit from Pine County, which is about 80 miles north of the Twin Cities. Says the sheriff told him to apply for the carry permit as long as he was applying for a purchase permit, it was the same paperwork as far as he was concerned.:D Turns out the guy was carrying a 5 1/2" Ruger Redhawk .44 Mag! I made a few suggestions; first that although He and I knew that his permit was good statewide, the local po-po's for the most part didn't, and it just wasn't worth the trouble;jail, bail, etc. Second, nothing against the Redhawk, I had one too(at the time; I later sold it:banghead: ), I'd suggest maybe a GP-100 or SP101 for carry in the Cities, they'd be a tad less noticeable!:what:
The cops were usually impressed when I'd 'make' them, often it led to a sold Model 60, or Glock 19.;)
I've used this little number made out of 550 cord to carry all sorts of handguns, including M1911A1's and M9's (92FS):


http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=869452 :D

[armoredman]

I could open carry with a white shirt that says "Hello, My name is Chris and I am currently carrying a fully loaded .45 caliber semi automatic handgun. Have a nice day!" emblazoned in road hazard orange letters and still most people would be clueless.

When open carry was all we had, I wanted to get a t-shirt that read...
YES, it's real!
YES, it's loaded!
NO! I'm not psychotic!



I know an officer who uses a fanny pack, but she'll learn....I hope!

[Mr. Mysterious]

I sidle up next to his left side, my left arm at the ready to pull his piece out before he can....

I hope that you were not really going to pull it out.

[pwrtool45]

Absolutely mortified.

Most recently I made a gentleman carrying a compact auto IWB at 4:00-4:30 less than a week ago. He spent a not insubstantial amount of time with his back to me, so had I been a BG looking to take advantage of the situation instead of a fine, upstanding GG :D he would have been at an immediate twofold disadvantage-- the opponent knowing where his gun was and being required to react instead of the act. All in all, not a good way to fight.

In cases where someone may or may not know you're armed, it's good to keep them guessing as to the specficis. "Yeah, I'm carrying. But the real question is how many and where?" ;)

[Red_SC]

Last Thursday, I was visiting people for church with a friend, and felt like my clothes were making me print. When we got back in my truck, I made a comment about it showing too much for what we were doing and took the gun out. He just gave me an amazed look and said, "I didn't even know you were carrying."

[strambo]

I'm very good about not printing in public (I hope) and no one has "made" me (to my knowledge) since I started carryin' in '95.

I don't know what to do around my in-laws though. My father in-law assumes I'm always packin' so no prob there, but his new wife is kinda huggy and I try to go arms low but that doesn't always work and her arm hits the gun. Same for my mother in-law and my brother in-laws new wife. I don't know whether to keep ignoring it and trying to keep them from in-advertant contact, or just say "look I pack heat!" so they don't make a scene in public some time at an in-opportune moment. They aren't anti (I'm not sure about brother in-laws new wife) I just don't want one to say "whats that a gun?" out loud in public some day! :what:

[LynnMassGuy]

I wear a model 36 in a Bianchi Shadow II or in a Uncle Mike's tuckable with a loose black T-shirt or polo shirt to work. I'm sure if someone knew what they were looking for they may be able to see it but I don't believe anyone has. I always try to wear dark colored shirts because they seem to print less.

John

[jfruser]

IWB holsters and baggy, long shirts are your friend. Especially LOUD Hawaiian shirts. Fugly print of the shirt helps to conceal any embarassing bulges.

[PUMC_TomG]

and that one time was by a waitress friend of mine at the Hooters here in Lafayette.... We were talking and as she went to leave to get me another drink she ran her hand down my side to pat me on my hip... except she didn't get my hip... she got the frame of my 4013TSW instead...

Her eyes widened a little bit, then she just went back to business as usual... she never mentioned it again... even though she gave me the "I know you know I know" look.

[manwithoutahome]

Fugly print of the shirt helps to conceal any embarassing bulges.

Does that work for beer guts also :D.

Actually, jfruser is right but they do kinda frown at hawiian shirts at work :(. (I actually like them).

It's easy not to print during the winter, jackets and all. But the summer is a pain in the holster!

M

[rgc]

I once saw an add for T-shirts that simply said "Am I Printing?" To tell you the truth I've always thought that shirt was funny. Bet ya I could where it while CCW and 98% of the people would not know what it meant or what I was CCWing. I don't think the other 2% would care.

[Quartus]

Well you guys havent been around my 7 year old daughter. Being a holster maker and having her help me in my quest for years now......she's a bloody pro at spotting printing on damn near everyone.

She once told a cop she could see is J frame in a Tuckable holster.......
And he thanked her for it.......



:D I love that! Teach your children well! http://www.thehighroad.org/images/icons/icon14.gif



they do kinda frown at hawiian shirts at work . (I actually like them).



Y'know, you can get help for that. There's a good 12 Step group for Hawiian shirt fans....

:neener:


:D




I'm with P95Carry on this - a bulge is one thing, but a clear outline is likely to stampede the herd.

[Jim PHL]

No one has ever "made" me just by looking. I did get a surprise hug once, and gave a big surprise back to the hugger! Dense crowds and family/friend hug-fests are more likely to get your CCW noticed.

[SapperLeader]

My usual mode of atire is a t-shirt or sweatshirt covering the iwb holster and gun. There have been several times where a slight bulge was noticeble, usually from the grip brushing agains the t-shirt. Ive only "printed" once, in a bad way. I put on a orange t-shirt, and went about my business around the house. I walked into the living room, where my siblings were, and they both chimed up with, "Your Printing!". I imediatly looked down, didnt see any bulges or anything and became confused. I went over to a mirror, and checked it out. To my horror, the entire gun was visible through the light colored t-shirt, and one could almost read the serial number! Ever since then, I check myself in a mirror before going out, and dont worry about the occasional bulge, and still ahve nightmares of going out with a thin t-shirt like that into public.

[Cacique500]

I don't normally concern myself with it as I'm in an open carry state - but I do subscribe to the Hawaiian Shirt method.

A *good* gunbelt & IWB holster are a must and will go a long way towards concealing your weapon.

Somebody needs to hunt down that "Am I Printing?" t-shirt link...I want one :)

[Eskimo Jim]

No, I don't worry about it. I definitely try to avoid it though. Most people don't know what it is anyway. Could be cell phone, pager, little hand held computer thing etc etc

-Jim

[Treylis]

I could open carry with a white shirt that says "Hello, My name is Chris and I am currently carrying a fully loaded .45 caliber semi automatic handgun. Have a nice day!" emblazoned in road hazard orange letters and still most people would be clueless.

While I don't have a shirt like that, I tend to stand out due to my great height and I open carry, and, yep, most people are way too zoned out to notice.

When open carry was all we had, I wanted to get a t-shirt that read...
YES, it's real!
YES, it's loaded!
NO! I'm not psychotic!

Ah, yes. The eternal drawback of open carry: on those rare occasions when people do notice and are curious, it's all "is that real, is that loaded, do you know your gun is cocked (1911), your gun is cocked, isn't that dangerous, why do you carry a gun, have you ever shot/killed anyone, are you a cop, etc., etc., etc."

Personally, I'm amused by such questions, though.

[Carbon_15]

I have four pouches (two knives, zippo, surefire)

What, no pepper spray or decoder ring:evil:

[Greg L]

Well, there was that one time that I was in a meeting & we were sitting on folding chairs. After it was over & everyone was standing up I suddenly realized that my chair decided to come along with me & was hanging off of my belt :eek: .

The funniest part was that everyone there made fun of the chair that loved me but nobody (either there or later) made the connection that it was hanging off the butt of my USP :D .

People are clueless, it isn't worth your time worrying about it.

Greg

[jamz]

A couple of weeks ago I had just come into work, and hadn't taken my jacket off yet. One of the Doctors here comes up from behind and says "Hey how ya dooin?" and slaps me open handed- directly on the grip of my P-22* in the IWB at 4:00. He didn't say anything though, we just kept talking about other things. I hope he assumed that is was just some stuff in my coat pocket.

-James



*It's what I would carry if I didn't feel I could get away with the 1911. :)

[ksnecktieman]

This thread is very enlightening to me. It appears we all measure "concealed" in a different fashion. I have always thought that if I was "lumpy" I was not concealed well enough. When I see the local leos around town in their civvies I try to locate their ccw piece. Quite often I do not find it, even with careful observation.

Now I think I understand how so many of you can ccw a full size combat handgun. For my own needs I will stick to my keltec P11, S & W .38 snubby, and smaller guns.

Does anyone else think a lump is a failure of concealment system? :scrutiny:

[PUMC_TomG]

Does anyone else think a lump is a failure of concealment system
I sure do. In Florida it is looked down upon ALOT, and could get you into trouble... Granted someone may not KNOW that it is a firearm... but lets be honest. Most handguns print differently than a cell-phone.

[manyironsinfire]

Yes, I stay aware if I'm printing. Discreet carry means just that and if I see someone that I know and if he's printing, I'll mention that fact to him.Granted, it's other gunguys that notice. I just don't want the BG'S to know... My wifes carry is off body.:cool:

[Brass Balls]

Whenever these discussions occur I find that I'm more on the side of being conscientious about printing. I'm sure I'm not the most anal about it by I'm pretty careful.

While I generally agree with the fact that most people aren't particularly aware of anything let alone a concealed handgun, I also think there's a big difference between visiting a store and being in close confines with coworkers and customers for extended periods. The latter, imho, requires better concealment.

A few things I do accomplish good concealment are these:
Use slim guns. I like 1911s with slim grips. Select the right clothing. Jackets and vests make concealment a piece of cake, however concealing under a shirt requires a little more thought. Be conscious of those movements that can create printing and avoid them when in the proximity of others.