What was your first CCW firearm and experience like?

Russian Makarov in .380, about three years ago (age 60). Felt a little self-conscious.
Used the IWB Remora and with a pretty tight Normal, skinny belt, you can jog in the woods at a regular pace, and the Remora only shifted forward about 1" on my waist.

The only person (besides my wife) who ever told me that a gun was visible was a lady Deputy with Shelby County, right behind me at the Walgreen's cashier.
The gun under the t-shirt was my CZ 75D "PCR" and it was in the Crossbreed Kydex (holster on the bottom screw setting). Hate that holster, no longer wear it. CZ PCR and Sig P228 grips protrude too far outwards from that holster.

I was sworn in onto the job in 1987 and, that very day, I bought a Charter Arms Undercover 38 from the uniform store to which I'd been taken for fitting. Off duty, it rode in a front pocket (no holster; they weren't readily-available then, concealed-carry not being as "en vogue" as it has become since.) On the job, it rode in an ankle rig. I don't remember any anxiety beyond what any new cop should have, more about ever having to use it (and my badge) than about an accident with it or about being "made."

I had already owned a Jennings J22, and dropped that in a pocket sometimes during beach trips.

I returned to concealed-carry as a civilian in 2008, and that Undercover stepped up again until I started buying other guns.

California in the mid to late 1960s, just after Ronald Reagan signed the bill to make it illegal for anyone to carry a loaded firearm in public. My wife was a legal secretary for an attorney that had represented a guy charged (and convicted) of murder who had escaped during a pre-sentencing psychic exam. He had sworn to kill the Judge and both his attorneys and the prosecuting attorneys and all their families and anyone else around. The police said they would drive by the house as often as they could but that we should both be armed so ignore the new law just don't wear the gun anymore openly. My gun at the time was a S&W M-19, blued, 4" barrel and diamond grips. Probably a dash two but honestly I don't remember. Later traded it for my Highway Patrolman but then bought another 19 that I kept. The holster was a Bucheimer PerfectFit.

My Taurus 85UL was my first carry gun. After trying and disliking IWB carry, I got a pocket holster for it. My first few times carrying it in a pocket of jeans that were way too tight, I was having flashbacks to high school with the proverbial pocket rocket you didn't want anyone to see.

Looser fitting pants or smaller guns have fixed that particular situation.

I never really felt nervous with it, but the feeling everyone was watching me kind of freaked me out! I used to worry about it printing, uncovering, etc. Now I don't give a hoot and if someone sees a bulge, its their problem for staring at me like a weirdo! If it comes uncovered (only happened one time reaching for something) its just a gun and obviously I don't look like a cracked out hoodlum so what's the issue? I cover it back up and go on about my business.

S&W 642 hammerless 38spl with +p golden sabers, Safariland IWB holster, Blackhawk serpa (when its cold and I'm wearing a hoodie). I used to carry a lot because I pissed off a lot of people when I worked for metro housing authority, but those days are in the past so now its only carried sporadically. I probably wont buy another ccw gun for along time! I tried carrying shields, glock, etc and just uncomfortable. I don't need 15rd mags either all I need is 2 rounds and if i need more i shouldn't have put myself in that type of situation.

My first concealed carry was a Smith 5906 in a Milt Sparks IWB. I was just out of the police academy in 1992. I remember thinking that everyone could see the imprint under my shirt. Honestly, I was very proud to have the priveledge to serve my community. It was 26 years ago so sorry if I couldn’t be more descriptive lol

Charter Arms Undercover - 2" barrel Still have it and carry it sometimes though it now sports a 3" barrel

Beretta Tomcat .32 in an Unkle Mikes ankle holster while I was working the late shift. Neat gun, carried well, shot nice- then I noticed the frame was cracked while cleaning it one night. This was a common problem on older Tomcats, supposedly they have rectified it now.

Replaced it with a Mustang Pocketlite. Probably the finest ankle gun every made, IMO.

SGW Gunsmith said:

We had "conceal carry" pass around 8-years ago here in Wisconsin. Before that, it was "open carry" which caused quite a stir among many city dwellers, so I'm sorta glad we can keep the 'issue' sorta secret these days.
Since Day 1, I've been carrying my Glock in a Kirkpatrick elk-hide lined hip holster. Sometimes I forget it's even there, and have gone into the bank or post office with it. Not supposed to do that:

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I understand the post office is a no no. But the bank? Is that the law in Wisconsin?

NIGHTLORD40K said:

Beretta Tomcat .32 in an Unkle Mikes ankle holster while I was working the late shift. Neat gun, carried well, shot nice- then I noticed the frame was cracked while cleaning it one night. This was a common problem on older Tomcats, supposedly they have rectified it now.

Replaced it with a Mustang Pocketlite. Probably the finest ankle gun every made, IMO.

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I’ve always liked the Mustang but never had the opportunity of owning one. A buddy of mine carried of those in a Cobra Gunskins ankle holster.

Humpback airweight j-frame in a renegade ankle rig. Totally nervous about carrying at work and in yellow alert situational awareness all the time.

But at the same time was getting into prepping and EDC. So I was learning to carry a pocket knife, light, fire starting method, in addition to keys wallet & phone. Changed daily shoes into 4inch hiking boots and clothing into durable dungarees and shirts.

This created a more “ready-for-anything” EDC lifestyle. Slowly, over the years, the anxiety of yellow alert faded as the practice of situational awareness became habits of mind. I still carry a j-frame (Smith 642) and 2 speed loaders. Its as natural as putting keys and wallet in pockets when dressing for the day in the morning.

The 4inch boots help hold the ankle rig high on the ankle so it doesn’t work it’s way down to peek out the bottom of the pant leg.

sparkyv said:

Dude, really?

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Lol yeah i am not overly bright and a little bit stubborn.

I can remember, like many others, when I first got my CHL/LTC thinking that everyone knew I was carrying. Took me a couple of months to get over that. Now, it's wallet, comb, keys, gun and out the door. Don't even think about it any more.

I carried a Bersa .380 for the first 4 years. Whenever I would go to the range to shoot other guns, I would pull it out and empty the magazine - maybe one shot per second. Twice, it happened that I pulled it out and had a FTE, or FTF. Maybe it was pocket lint (I carried in a front pocket in a holster), or something else, but I realized I didn't trust it any more. I switched to a S&W 642 about 5 years ago. When I retire next year, and can control my clothing better, I will switch from pocket carry to IWB and will switch to something with more capacity.

2011ERIC said:

I’ve always like the Mustang but never had the opportunity of owning one. A buddy of mine carried of those in a Cobra Gunskins ankle holster.

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Had both the Mustang and SIG P238, essentially the same gun (some parts interchange)- great pocket pistols if you don't mind single-action.
The Kimber Micro Carry and Springfield 911 are also based on the same platform.

NIGHTLORD40K said:

Had both the Mustang and SIG P238, essentially the same gun (some parts interchange)- great pocket pistols if you don't mind single-action.
The Kimber Micro Carry and Springfield 911 are also based on the same platform.

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My wife really wants a Kimber Micro 9mm. Thanks for the info!

I got sworn in in 1969, and looked very young. Actually, I was. This was in NYC and I was worried about being shot by another officer, so few people had or have carry permits there. I carried a S&W Chief Spl. off duty, and was very conscious about not having it print.

I was bent over an open car hood one time out on LI and I hear a revolver being cocked behind me. A Nassau Cty. cop saw my gun when my shirt rode up and came behind me, cocked his gun, and pointed it at me without saying a word. Needless to say, I was pissed that he didn't bother to ask for ID before doing so. Once my bona fides were established, we had a rather impolite exchange of words, as you can imagine.

Speedo66 said:

I got sworn in in 1969, and looked very young. Actually, I was. This was in NYC and I was worried about being shot by another officer, so few people had or have carry permits there. I carried a S&W Chief Spl. off duty, and was very conscious about not having it print.

I was bent over an open car hood one time out on LI and I hear a revolver being cocked behind me. A Nassau Cty. cop saw my gun when my shirt rode up and came behind me, cocked his gun, and pointed it at me without saying a word. Needless to say, I was pissed that he didn't bother to ask for ID before doing so. Once my bona fides were established, we had a rather impolite exchange of words, as you can imagine.

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I had a similar incident happen to me while off duty in New Orleans, except the guy was from my agency.

Speedo66 said:

A Nassau Cty. cop saw my gun when my shirt rode up and came behind me, cocked his gun, and pointed it at me without saying a word.

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Wow, that's crazy. Apparently, that doesn't just happen in the movies.There's no way that could have been police department protocol and that he was following it. Why didn't he use verbal commands? Why did he cock his gun? Maybe, that's how they did things in NYC back then. I'm assuming he had a double action and not single action revolver. He must have used the cocking the hammer action/sound for good effect/intimidation factor. The single action on trigger pull is really light and I'm sure he probably had his finger on the trigger. You are very lucky you didn't get killed one of your fellow officers, which would have been worse than getting killed by a street thug.

For personal carry, started with a Sig p228 about 20 years ago (which is what I was used to carrying anyway). "Upgraded" to a Sig p229. Went back to a p228. Then finally tried a 1911 ... and pretty much have never gone back. First time I put on a 1911, it was a perfect fit. Started with a Colt Commander, and now a DW Guardian in .45.

Never had any issues with CCW (except for those odd times where I'm so comfy wearing it, I forget that I'm about to cross state lines ... that "oh dang" moment, and having to head all the way home to put it away so I can go back to the unfriendly state.

PPK back when war surplus Walthers were still affordable. I carried it stuck in my belt (no holster) but after dropping it twice I bought an inside the pants holster that worked OK. I went to a Colt Detective Special a few years later.

dodo bird said:

I understand the post office is a no no. But the bank? Is that the law in Wisconsin?

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It is in Nebraska. Illegal to conceal in any financial institution but legal to open carry but haven't had to huevos (or lapse of poor judgment) to try it yet.

As to my first carry it was a CZ P07 in a simple kydex holster made by a local guy. Way to big for my build and lifestyle, changed out in a few months. More than anything about beginning to carry that I remember is being ridiculed by local gun stores almost to the point of giving up on buying any handguns ever for insisting I didn't want a Glock. Shot plenty of friend's Glocks at ranges and they fit my hand so poorly that shooting a desert eagle in 50AE is more comfortable, I'm not exaggerating. If I hadn't found my current range that actually understands not every hand fits around their preferred pistol I probably would have just stayed with my 22lr rifle and 12g pump and turned into a Fudd as some call it.

Bought a NAA Black Widow.
Ordered a $14 soft holster.
Started carrying.
The end.

Miroku .38Spl. 2" revolver. Over forty years ago, a bad thing happened to me and I was changed forever.

Armored farmer said:

I carried a SP101 in a Don Hume iwb.
It wasnt too bad. I still carry that way sometimes.

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20 years ago (in California no less) S&W 649 J-Frame, .357. Later moved to Glocks, others. Still have a couple Glocks and a 649, as well as others.