What was your first CCW firearm and experience like?

I grew up on a small horse ranch in Idaho and was carrying a pistol since I was 13.

Having to get a CCW just so my pistol wouldn't alarm anyone when I moved to Iowa in the 90's was insulting to me.

I started with a .45-cal Ruger, then went to a S&W 686 with 4" barrel.

My first was a KelTec 40 cal. Trigger pull was about 15 lbs. Been through a dozen different carry weapons since. A 42 Glock is the current.

Been carrying in Pa for over 40 years now and my first concealed carry pistol was a brand new S&W Model 60 38 Spl in a leather OWB holster. For the first couple of weeks, I thought everyone was staring at me because they could see the bulge. It has never bothered me since then. Now I carry in a IWB holster either a Kimber Micro 9 mm or a Ruger 45 ACP LTW CDR.

My first ccw was a Taurus 85ti it had a gold frame and cylinder. 2in ported barrel. I carried it in a weird leather iwb holster I found at my lgs. I sold off both parts to fund my next ccw. I’ve regretted that decision ever since.

30 or so years ago a S&W 4516 .45 ACP in a Safriland OWB holster at my 4 o'clock. Went out to eat at a upscale restaurant the first day I carried. Was conscious the whole time of the weight on my hip. Wasn't long before I realized I couldn't' shoot it very well. Did a straight up trade for a PPKS .380 which I shot marginally better. Carry a Colt Detective Special now.

CCDW didn’t come to Kentucky until the mid-90s, so I owned a carry gun before it was legal to carry. When I left the sherrif’s office with my new permit in 1997 I slipped my S&W 442 into my pocket legally for the first time.

During the time I was waiting to receive my permit I decided I was going to carry a full-sized 1911as my IWB gun. Like a fool I traded a beautiful S&W 586 for a Springfield milspec 1911. That 1911 lasted about a month before it was traded for something else (I don’t even remember now) and I switched to a Glock 19. That became a Sig P229, which became a Glock 33. The 33 lasted for 4-5 years until it became a Kahr P-9 that has been with me for about 15 years now. The holster has changed from a homemade leather IWB to a PJ Holsters kydex.

I’ve been carrying legally for 21 years now, and if anyone has ever “made” me I am unaware of it. I’ve certainly never been confronted by anyone about it.

Scared but resolved, my 1st carry was at 51 yrs old. Got it 6 months ago. I live in Indiana which is a shall issue state. My license does not specify concealed or open and most people I know tend towards concealed for obvious reasons. I've attempted to do so as well but I've only carried in jacket to coat weather thus far. My concern for printing will change significantly in the warmer months. (92FS, OWB, 3:00)

I've got to buy another firearm soon!

My first legal ccw was a G27 i kept in a pocket holster. I was a LOT bigger then.
My actual first cc involved bicycling through inner-city Los Angeles to go to school and the edge of Compton to go to work.
I'd rather not talk about it.

I had a Charter Arms Undercover along with a Bianchi IWB clip-on leather holster and later a Bianchi Model 208 shoulder holster. Also carried a couple of Bianchi Speed Strips in my left front pocket.

H&K P7 in 1981

Loved it

Taurus 709 in a Concealment Express kydex IWB holster. Gun had issues and went down the road.

As for the "experience", as with many others it took a couple months to really get comfortable but sticking with it is what gets one through the initial awkwardness.

Been through several set ups since then and eventually found my current rig that has been and should be good to go for the foreseeable future, a G26 with 12rd mag in preferably the The Master leather pancake OWB holster or a kydex Concealment Express IWB holster.

I carried a PA-63 in 9Mak about 10 years ago. Mexican carry. It was a good choice at the time but i was a bit self-conscious.

I would still have it if a) i hadnt needed the cash back then and b) i knew marschal made aftermarket grips for it to replace the stupid thumbrest.

S&W Shield 9mm in a Theis IWB holster. The first 2 weeks I carried I was very nervous about printing, and a ND. 2 years later I carry daily with confidence and poise.

My first carry gun was a 6 in stainless ruger gp 100 carried in an uncle Mike's vertices shoulder holster. It was soon joined by a para ordinance p 14 45 in a miami classic, a Taurus pt 99 afd in a branch shoulder holster and a Smith and Wesson 6 in 586 dcm.

I carried a number of guns initially. I eventually settled on a 5 1/2 Norinco M1911, alternating with a 2" Smith 36 when I was going to have to disarm frequently.

After trying a number of holsters for the former, used a Don Hume 715M, followed by a homemade tuckable IWB. The revolver was always pocket carried, first in a de Santis Nemesis, replaced with a homemade leather pocket holster.

The Norinco got sold to pay the rent during the recession, replaced later with a 3 1/2" Citadel M1911. I still carry the Smith.

My first CCW was in the 70's. There really was no training or knowlege about holsters. We (my fellow Marines and I) settled on the "Mexican carry",(no slur, that's what it was called) a 1911 condition one shoved in appendix carry, either no holster, or a figure 8 bootlace loop.

Be grateful for the advances that we as CCW and armed citizens have made since then.

First civilian handgun (ccw) smith and Wesson used Leo trade in 4053 40 cal.
6 years ago in a safari land holster. Still have both. Arthritis in wrists (I’m >70) necessitated a change to something a bit smaller so now it’s a Smith M&P 9c. Either in a reinforced nylon owb or shoulder rig, or an edc small pack. People that know guns know what the bag is, “civilians” just think I carry a man purse. I had a retired Leo stop me in a Walmart in Florida to ask where I got it. I told her Amazon she said she thought it Was a great idea, especially if n warmer climes and times. I’m relatively new to ccw for my age group, but I am my own safe place. I carry it everywhere, unless I’m going somewhere that will either do a pat down or full inspection of all bags. I said first civilian, because many decades ago I, while wearing green for fun and profit, sometimes carried a 1911a1 my secondary piece with the 1919 A4 Browning LMG. My primary mos was 0311 rifleman and my secondary was 0331 Machine gunner. I was only occasionally assigned to the LMG. Depended on the exigencies at the time.

At first I too thought I’m imprinting etc, and that everyone “knew” after a couple of weeks I realized that most folks are totally clueless about what’s going on around them, and no longer worry about that. My only concern now is traveling and avoiding those places my licenses don’t cover me in, and totally locking and securing my weapons outside of the drivers compartment so that I can safely transit under the Firearm Owners Protective Act. National reciprocity can’t come too soon for me.

Years ago I was in the HVAC business and I went in some really shady places. Long story short after being threatened enough times I told my boss he could either let me carry or he could consider that my notice. He ablidged me and simply said “don’t let anybody know” mainly meaning my coworkers.

I already had a permit because I kept a gun In my truck, and that required a permit. Unfortunately the only handgun I owned that I could easily conceal was a NAA mini revolver. I guess since it was small and therefore discrete I just kept it in my pocket and never gave it much thought. I carried it everywhere and all the time not really ever thinking about it.

I'll never forget the first time I walked into a bank with my 3" J-frame concealed in a fanny pack (fanny packs were a common sight in Las Vegas back then for both tourists and locals) and a mostly-empty knapsack.

For the first time, I fully realized that the difference between the law abiding and criminals is behavior and intent, NOT the tools they use.

My first CCW was a S&W #37 Chief Special with a 3” Barrel. Carried it in a shoulder holster at the time and never worried about it or had an issue. Later in time I went to a leather IWB holster. Still have the handgun and I still have those holsters and that was 40 years ago.
Now days I just carry a Ruger LCP in my pocket, times have changed and I like the easiness of carrying this. I do have others that I still carry when I feel I want something bigger or for just being different for the day?

Growing up in the sticks I carried out of doors from age 8. First ccw when I turned 21 was a Taurus 85ul .38 in a iwb Clip holster. Paranoia about printing for the first couple of months until I realized no one noticed and most didn’t care... over the 15 years since then I have gradually increased the size of my ccw from the Taurus 85 to an m&p 40c to m&p f/s to Sig Sauer 1911 nickel rail to an m&p 5” .357sig.

CZ-82 (9x18 Mak) in a Kholster-made IWB holster. Wasn't really that big of a deal. That was about 8 years ago and I still carry the same gun in the same holster. Eventually I'll upgrade.

Matt

Bersa 380cc. Carried in an IWB holster, as usual, paranoid about printing at first. Great first CCW, heavy double action trigger, manual safety, magazine disconnect...got over the fear of carrying one in the chamber pretty quick. That thing is not going off without intent.

My carry pistol is a Remington R 51 9mm (the new and improved one). I always carry it in my glove box and occasionally on my person. It is a sobering experience and I'm keenly aware of the responsibility.