CCW for the 1st Time: Should it Feel Weird?

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Dodge DeBoulet

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I'm past the half-century mark yet have only owned handguns for 3-4 months. I bought them mostly for fun, but decided to get my CFP mostly for convenience.

I strapped on a Blackhawk CQC paddle holster and my S&W M&P .40C with 10 rounds of Federal Premium HST, and pulled on a fleece jacket. The holster does a good job of keeping the gun close, and the fleece hides a lot.

But it feels weird, like I have a secret, and that everyone knows there's something different about me (even though there really isn't and there isn't any way for them to know anyway). Kinda like I'd imagine a girl who's just lost her virginity might feel . . .

I'm hoping that this feeling passes.

Jeez I sound kinda girly :uhoh:
 
It should feel like you have a secret because you do, but you have to remember, this isn't a dirty little secret.

Trust me, nobody knows there is anything different about you. Most people are so oblivious of their surroundings, especially what you may or may not have on your hip.

It's nothing to feel weird about, you are just taking steps to ensure your safety.
 
Yes, it will feel weird.

Do it enough, and it will feel weird when you don't have a firearm on you.:)

People really don't notice, even if the gun is apparent. And if they do, they don't say anything.

I was hiking, and I had a 4" 629 (Smith and Wession .44 Magnum revolver, not a small gun) on a belt holster. When we stopped for lunch, I just untucked a thin fleece shirt I had on (thin enough that I use it as a mid layer when it's colder). It was pretty damned obvious that I had a big gun under the shirt. One woman kind of looked at it. Nobody said a thing. It was funny, to me, but I kept my laughter to myself.
 
Perfectly normal.

Contrary to popular belief, a firearm is nothing more than a tool, and you will soon condition yourself to view it as such and lose any trepidation it may currently cause.

"Lets see, wallet, keys, phone, firearm, spare mag, sunglasses, O.K., good to go...."
 
Yup, it's fairly normal. For me, it makes a good reminder to be more aware of your surroundings (be more in condition yellow rather than white).
 
Just like the girl that lost her virginity, every time you do it you'll get a little more comfortable with it, it's just a matter of time (and maybe marriage) before you almost forget it's there.
 
I felt uncomfortable when I first started carrying too. I think it's natural. Once you've done it for a while, and get comfortable moving around and not feeling like you're printing everytime you bend over or reach for something, it won't bother you at all.
 
I felt exactly as you described for the first couple of weeks. Now it is normal and when I don't have it with me I feel naked.
 
Hey, don't tell anyone about the skies here.

They are always gray, over the flat landscape, where we all sit around wondering what to do for fun.
 
I'm near 60 and have used guns for a shade over 51 years. Yet my first day of concealed carry also felt a bit "odd." Don't know why, just a new experience I suppose. Now I don't even think about the Glock or S&W I have on my hip. It's just part of getting dressed to go out of the house.
 
When I first started carrying I remember thinking, hey if I can carry a gun I wonder how many other people are carrying as well. Whereas before that I never thought about anyone else carrying a gun, escept LEO. I was blissfully ignorant I guess. Now that I carry I found myself kinda checking out other people trying to figure if they are carrying as well. Every once in a while I can pick out someone else carrying. I just kinda give them a nod. Feels like a secret brotherhood or something.
 
Every once in a while I can pick out someone else carrying.
Click to expand...

Yeah, like when they're carrying a leather fanny pack around front, and it's not 1975, for example.:D

Maxamholster_draw1_325X329X52.jpg
 
ArmedBear said:
Yes, it will feel weird.

Do it enough, and it will feel weird when you don't have a firearm on you.:)
Click to expand...
Indeed, this is how I am now. It took me about 6 months to go from "boy this feels weird" when packing to "boy this feels weird" when I can't carry a gun (which is very rare here ... last time I was unarmed was when I went to the tag office to get tags for my car...verboten there. Prior to that was when I had jury duty).

People really don't notice, even if the gun is apparent. And if they do, they don't say anything.

I was hiking, and I had a 4" 629 (Smith and Wession .44 Magnum revolver, not a small gun) on a belt holster. When we stopped for lunch, I just untucked a thin fleece shirt I had on (thin enough that I use it as a mid layer when it's colder). It was pretty damned obvious that I had a big gun under the shirt. One woman kind of looked at it. Nobody said a thing. It was funny, to me, but I kept my laughter to myself.
Click to expand...
Standing Wolf has told similar stories many times (he open carries a 629 daily and isn't exactly a big man).

When I started CCWing I lived in a state that didn't have legal CCW yet (they do now, but I don't live there anymore), I remember one time a woman bumped into my gun at Walmart and she said "Oh, I hope I didn't damage your cell phone."
 
I felt exactly as you described for the first couple of weeks. Now it is normal and when I don't have it with me I feel naked.
Click to expand...

this.

Now that I carry I found myself kinda checking out other people trying to figure if they are carrying as well. Every once in a while I can pick out someone else carrying. I just kinda give them a nod. Feels like a secret brotherhood or something.
Click to expand...

haha. so true. the other day, i was at barnes & noble picking up a new load of books to read, and stopped by the magazine rack. i was thumbing through a gun magazine when another guy walked up, picked up a gun mag, and started doing the same. i looked at him and could see he was slightly printing at 3 o'clock. he looked at me and i guess i was slightly printing at 9 o'clock (i like cross draw). i gave him a nod. :D
 
The first few times I carried I just knew that everyone else knew. My biggest fear was that someone would accidentally bump into me (I like OWB) and yell "gun".

Now I have pocket holster for my snubby in addition to my Don Hume. The fun part is deciding how I want to "dress".

It will pass and congratulations on making a great decision.
 
It feels the same kind of weird as everytime I got promoted and got my new rank insignia on! After a while you forget it's there.
 
But it feels weird, like I have a secret, and that everyone knows there's something different about me (even though there really isn't and there isn't any way for them to know anyway).
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"Wal-Mart Walk" for this man, stat! :D

You've experienced the same thing we all have.
 
To me there are really only to people that are obvious: Those that are carrying fanny packs (as previously mentioned), Those that wear the vests. Other than that people will not notice. I thought the same thing when I started carrying. Now I just realize that the only people who notice are also carrying. It is kind of like when you get a new car and then start to notice how many other people are driving the same car.
 
I started noticing, but others still dont. I remember seeing a man open carrying at a movie theater once and I pointed it out to my girl. She was like,"where". i say,"right in front of us". She says," I dont see it". Then the man walks around a corner into a croud of ppl. So I can see how most ppl still have a mental block to these.
 
What you described is a totally natural feeling. The first time I carried concealed I was extremely paranoid that I'd get "made" by someone. Carrying a gun, though, I quickly learned, is a great test for the theory that 99% of people have NO CLUE what is going on around them. In my 8 or so months of carry, I've never been "made", to my knowledge (except for my family giving me hugs and brushing the gun, but they know I carry anyway).

Open carry requires a fortitude that I do not yet have. I did it with a loaded gun for the first time last Saturday at my gun club, and of course no one batted an eye. One of these days I'll do it in real public...and since I'm in KY I'm sure no one will care.
 
Confidence is a big part of maintaining "concealment". Trust your gear and don't fiddle/play with it. Now you'll want different guns for different attire etc. I use this shoulder bag from coronado leather as an alternative to the fanny pack. I love it and my draw is faster than from IWB. My fiancee calls it a "man purse", "a murse", "a f#@ bag" etc, whatever... I'm 38, 5'7" 190lbs, bald, with a beard. I carry my murse proudly and without apology :D.
http://www.coronadoleather.com/view.aspx?i=95&c=8&p=0
 
rogerjames said:
Confidence is a big part of maintaining "concealment". Trust your gear and don't fiddle/play with it. Now you'll want different guns for different attire etc. I use this shoulder bag from coronado leather as an alternative to the fanny pack. I love it and my draw is faster than from IWB. My fiancee calls it a "man purse", "a murse", "a f#@ bag" etc, whatever... I'm 38, 5'7" 190lbs, bald, with a beard. I carry my murse proudly and without apology :D.
http://www.coronadoleather.com/view.aspx?i=95&c=8&p=0
Click to expand...
Yep, you need big 'uns to carry that.

Or a big boyfriend :D



(I am, of course, just kidding around. It's actually quite manly. For a purse.)
 
I'm still at the uncomfortable stage. Part of my problem is that I don't carry frequently enough to get comfortable about it. I purchased a Cross-Breed Super Tuck IWB holster for my Bersa Thunder. It is amazingly comfortable especially if I wear larger than normal pants (or maybe shed 40 pounds).

I just purchased a Kimber Ultra Crimson Carry which I want to make my everyday carry. I just haven't gotten a decent holster for it yet.

I do have a OWB paddle holster that I might try with my full size Kimber. I just never thought of it as a conceal carry holster.
 
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