learning experiences on 1st day ccw

In a few weeks you won't be so ultra aware - if you will - and things will become more natural and comfortable. Eventually you will feel more comfortable carrying than when you are not carrying.

I started with OWB in a Don Hume JIT slide holster, eventually went IWB for the reason you mentioned, the dreaded "wallet flash". What I hate is if I go in someplace where I have to leave my pistol in the car, I feel like my pants are gonna fall down and expose something else...

what no wally world walk? it kind of scares me knowing all the new CCWers are walking around in there while I am tring to get some tp

My lesson from when I first started CCWing was that at first, I felt like I was carrying a giant sign that flashes "I'm carrying a gun" in neon. I was especially aware when I walked near police officers because I thought for sure they'd be able to see my gun printing. After a few trips I realized that nobody cares, nobody notices, and nobody is looking.
I also stopped constantly putting my hand on my gun to make sure it was still right where it belongs!

So that's the real lesson. When you get comfortable (but not complacent) enough with carrying that it becomes an everyday part of your life, you've made it.

If you ever go out somewhere public while not carrying, pay attention to how LITTLE attention everyone pays to you. Not many people are out there "looking" for anyone carrying.


So the next time you go out and are carrying, people are still going to be the same as before. They still won't know, and won't know to look.


The only time people begin to look or take notice, is when you do something to draw attention to it, such as adjusting it, or moving in a way that exposes it.

Being a skinny dude, even IWB Ive had to switch my wallet to the other pocket... The muzzle of mine might as well be in my back pocket... Other than that after finally getting a belt and Holster that agree with me Ive no prolems..

Map for the Walmart Walk:

http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/4476/wallyworldmap.gif

My biggest problem when I first got my CCW was that I had never noticed how many places have those darn "No Firearms" signs. The worst part is that the stores that have them are the ones where I have what seems like a five mile hike back to the car to comply.

"nobody cares, nobody notices, and nobody is looking."

This was the biggest lesson for me as well. I thought it was obvious for the first few weeks until I grew comfortable with it. That and figuring out that no particular style of carry is best for everyone...body type has A LOT to do with it. It's a matter of trial and error.

I carried mine for 3 days with no ammo making sure at the end of the day the hammer was still up.

No one notices like you do, or like you think they do.

after i found it a bit tricky to grab my wallet and not flash a bit of the holster/gun, i swapped my wallet to the left back pocket and its been carried there ever since

supham said:

I carried mine for 3 days with no ammo making sure at the end of the day the hammer was still up.

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Kind of defeats the purpose, but whatever floats your boat.

I guess that was just a safety check so that you knew everything was functioning OK?

after i found it a bit tricky to grab my wallet and not flash a bit of the holster/gun, i swapped my wallet to the left back pocket and its been carried there ever since

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My wallet has always been left side back pocket. I carry an assisted-opener in my front right... I'm right handed, why would I tie up my weapon hand to get my wallet? That seems counter-intuitive.

Twiki357 said:

My biggest problem when I first got my CCW was that I had never noticed how many places have those darn "No Firearms" signs. The worst part is that the stores that have them are the ones where I have what seems like a five mile hike back to the car to comply.

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How enforceable are those signs in AZ?

In TX, there's only one specific sign that actually means anything regarding the law and CHL holders. Any other "no handguns" signs don't apply to CHL holders. The store can ask you to leave, and you have to comply, but otherwise, there's no legal ramifications for carrying anywhere that is marked with one of those generic no gun signs...

No one notices like you do, or like you think they do.

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I agree. Even if you do have a "bulge," so does the guy in line behind you with a giant Droid in his pocket or on his hip...or the guy with a knife clip sticking out and 20lbs of keys in his pocket...or they guy with $4 in quarters in his pocket or any number of people with a whole bunch of crap in their pocket or on their hip. Heck, most pocket 9's and 380's are getting to be smaller than your phone's dimensions (width excluded). And of course, there's our bodies...love handles and other areas on some of us just "bulge." You can't seriously know if a slight bulge is a cell phone, a kidney bag or a love handle.

tyeo098 said:

Kind of defeats the purpose, but whatever floats your boat.

I guess that was just a safety check so that you knew everything was functioning OK?

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No it served it purpose perfectly. I had walked around this world for 40 years without carrying, I thought I could wait 3 more days. Wanted to make sure I was confident in my rig and not shoot my ass off.

I just checked my files and found that I missed my "anniversary" ... my first Commonwealth of Virginia Concealed Weapon Permit was issued on 14Apr75 ... 37 years ago ... and, yes, I am feeling O-L-D at this moment.

I initially carried a 9x17 Walther PPK/s in a Roy's Leather Goods (of Magnolia, Arkansas ... anyone remember the great leather he produced?) pancake holster. The holster kept the pistol tight against my kidney so I did not have work about printing ... at least, not after the first few weeks when I thought that EVERYONE was aware of the thing. So long as I had a sports coat or jacket on I was G2G.

I still have the holster but the pistol I sold to a friend ages ago.

One on my Eye-Opener moments occurred when a particularly unreasonable fellow started swinging on me in a bar that I ran. The pistol that I was carrying that night (Colt Combat Commander) was just weighing me down, y'know? Good thing he had had a few drinks so I was able to settle the situation in short fashion.

I never never carry a wallet in a BACK pocket.

Always in a front one.

Back pockets are too easy to pick-pocket anyway.

If you don't believe it just go anywhere in the Middle East and walk around a bazaar, and the little arab kids will pick-pocket you clean in no time.

So you should move your wallet to one of your front pockets anyway.

Any high quality stadium jacket breast pocket makes a great ccw carry location.

You can put a couple of loaded magazines in a pocket on the opposite side to counter-weigh the pistol.

As far as anyone knows you could be carrying horseshoes. Right?

Lol. We all carried for the first time once. I switched to a tuckable IWB, a Galco Tuck-N-Go for my G23 from Optics Planet on a Looper Law Enforcement belt. It works at 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00. After a while, getting strapped in the AM is like putting on underwear. You put it on and forget about it.

I carried on my property for about six weeks waiting for my background check...so much that I occasionally started for town before remembering I had a sidearm and had to turn back. Now I don't think about it, aside from the back pain it gives me.

I never never carry a wallet in a BACK pocket. Always in a front one. Back pockets are too easy to pick-pocket anyway.

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Same here. My wallet has been in my front left pocket since around 1965 or so.
I've never found it comfortable to sit on a wallet anyway...even an empty one!
My pistol is usually carried IWB right side....with nothing in my back pockets but some fine lint.


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