Turning 21 in 18 days. Any CHL Tips?

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BigMustard

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Well it's almost my 21st birthday and I've been thinking about getting my CHL for awhile now. Although I still haven't made up my mind on which handgun I plan on purchasing yet. Anyway, I don't plan on getting my CHL the day I turn 21 I would like to purchase whichever handgun I decide on getting and make sure I am 100% familiar and comfortable using it.

With that being said I live in San Antonio, Texas, does anyone know of a good school/instructor with in a 60mile radius? Also, what makes one program different than the other? I was considering getting it around August-November of this year.
 
Im not a school or instructor but i am in San Antonio with a good selection of guns. Im on the NW side.

The ranges i know out here don't have the best selection of rentals so if you want to try something out, id be more then happy to meet you at a range and bring some options... you gotta supply the ammo though, hahahaha

As for CHL, The bullet hole is pretty good for a very very fair price. there is some bad press against wetmore but you can get your CHL there for $50.

Hit me up if you want to shoot any of the major name brand polymer guns out there and i have a lot of duplicates of brand/caliber but in different sized frames for CCW.

JOe
 
Hey thanks a lot that's great!

I've been trying to narrow it down between these three firearms:

Glock 19
Glock 26
Springfield XD 3.8

I'm real familiar with the bullet hole What do they charge and how long does the class take?
 
sounds good man... im always open for shooting. Although i don't have the 26, i do have friends with them and i know for a fact that the bullet hole has the 26 for rent.
 
Learn your state laws forwards and backwards.

If you have local organizations which have discussion forums, read them. You will see other people's experiences and mistakes.
 
Do your research now and select your gun AND a holster that works with your body shape. Many people have picked a gun thinking they could conceal it well but after numerous holsters and carry methods, found out that they couldn't conceal the gun properly.

Depending on your build you may be able to CC a full size 1911 with the right holster but concealing it isn't the only consideration. If you have any physical problems (such as a bad back) that 1911 may not be the best choice for you because of the weight.

Take a realistic look at your finances. Getting the gun and holster is only the first step. If you are going to CC then you have the responsibility of knowing how to use your firearm. Accurate shooting is a diminishing skin. As such, you are going to need to practice on a regular basis.

You don't want to get something that you can't afford to shoot. Buying a .380 or a .45 and not being able to find or afford the ammo to practice doesn't do anyone any good. Check out the ammo prices in your area to see what's available at a reasonable cost.

If a 9mm or .40S S&W is all you can find and afford to shoot then go with that. You can add to your CC tool box as your finances allow. You can get cheap ammo for the range and some of the modern SD ammo that will more than do the job for CCing.

P.S.
It's called concealed carry for a reason. Don't tell everyone you know what you're doing. Depending on your friends it could cause you some unwanted headaches down the road.
 
Get some training beyond the minimum needed for you CHL. If a decent instructor in your area offers the NRA classes Basic Handgun, Personal Protection Inside the Home and Personal Protection Outside the Home, the three together would provide a decent foundation.
 
I carry a mid-size Glock in a Comp-Tac M-Tac holster - I can't speak highly enough about the gun or the holster! I went through 3 other holsters before I finally got this one, and it is 112% worth it.

Also, take the class and apply for the CHL asap - even if you aren't going to carry yet. You never know how long it will be before they send your license back...

My advice - carry liberally; apply sparingly.
 
I'll just pass on a wise observation I heard: most folks start off packing the biggest gun they possibly can. After a year, they will have downsized to a much smaller, easily concealed gun. Honestly, unless you live in or travel through a 'war zone', a single stack 9mm like a Sig P6/225, or S&W 910, or the small Glock 357 Sig are all you need. Carry one or two spare mags and you are set. Trust me, in a hot climate,a big gun can get real uncomfortable.

And don't skimp on your holster! Expensive doesn't always mean 'good', and cheap doesn't always mean 'bad. I carry with a K-Holster which costs $30. I hike a lot, scrambling up and down boulders; sliding down dirts slopes; clambering over logs, and I've never had the weapon come loose in the holster. You'll probably try a few holsters before you find the 'right' one, just don't always go for the most expensive.
 
I'll recommend a 9mm or larger caliber, and you don't need the full-sized Glocks. 8 rounds or so in an auto is all you need, and you should carry an extra mag just in case; you'll probably never need an on-the-spot reload, but a jammed magazine is easier to drop and replace than fix.

Like it's been said, don't skimp on the holster. The thin $10 leather isn't going to cut it long-term.

Once you find how you carry best, go from there. My old S&W liked the $25 clip-on (by High Noon) but my CZ tips forward. I paid $70 for a Close Cropped adjustable IWB (by Fist Inc.) and couldn't be happier, but that's hardly the most expensive out there.

I always suggest that Fist holster because it's adjustable for pretty much anyone, but it really only works between 3 and 5 o'clock on me (right on the right hip, to about a quarter of the way back) and a lot of CCWers have a box of holsters and only ever use one or two. Figure out what works best for you before dropping money to it, but don't be afraid of spending $75, $100, $150-plus on a holster that works for you and will last forever.
 
Sounds like you have the right plan in action already. That's good to hear from a young man these days.

Go and shoot as many as you can get away with and choose for yourself. Stick with lighter and more ergo friendly for you that you are more proficcient with and just feels right.

I carry either a Ruger LCR 38+P in a pocket holster or a Kimber Pro carry 2 in a crossbreed supertuck.

Happy carrying! :cool:
 
Don't repeat my mistake! I got my permit, purchased a gun....then faced a several month wait until finally getting the holster I'd ordered the week I bought my gun!!!! This may not normally be an issue, but it was certainly an annoyance for me, especially sionce I was assured upon ordering that it would be out in 6 weeks.
 
When its cold and i have heavier clothes on i carry a Glock 27. During the summer months when it is hard to conceal the 27 i carry a Taurus tcp in a desantis holster in my front pocket. I would prefer to carry the glock 27 all year but like I said it is sometimes hard to conceal when wearing a tee shirt and shorts (unless they are cargo shorts). As far as fun to shoot at a range, carry, fairly cheap to shoot, and will never let you down (best of all worlds) I would say go with a glock 26. Great starter!!
 
My recommendation is any dependable 9mm or .40 cal. auto. Ditto on making sure you get the right holster. BTW, SA is a great place to live.
 
My recommendation is to relax. No one can see the gun even though you will be absolutely convinced that you are sticking out like a sore thumb :)

No one will notice, people just don't pay that much attention.

As for the Texas CHL, the DPS is warning people to expect delays in processing new applications sent in the April/May timeframe.

FBI is doing background checks on 500,000 census employees and the fingerprints are taking a LONG time to come back from FBI, so be patient.
 
Thanks for the advice I haven't even given a holster a second thought. Currently I'm 5'11'' 185lbs. I typically Range from 180-205 depending on my workout habits. I was thinking 9mm since it's cheap(er) and the recoil is less than a .40/.45
 
Don't "pick" a gun until you've tried a lot of different make/models "on" for fit. Your first should be what points naturally for you, not what someone on the 'net points you to.

Take the others up on their offer to let you try on as many different handguns as possible. You may find a CZ fits you like an extension of your hand instead of a Glock (or the Glock does instead of a 1911 or ....).
 
For the holster, I suggest getting something that has a high degree of adjustment. That way, even if you hate that specific holster, you'll have some idea of what works and what doesn't. Like the Comp-tac CTAC has 5 possible positions for each belt clip.
 
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