Carried Concealed for the first time tonight...

[Dean407]

Well, I broke my cherry this evening!

Shot her for the 1st time this afternoon - just 140rds, 100rds CCI 115gr and 20 GD 124gr +P and Federal 124gr +P. Performed flawlessly.

Just got the VM2 in around 5PM...

I was antsy to carry so I decided to go to wally world and a few other places.

Threw on some slacks and belt and dropped in the VM2. Luckily, I have lost 10lbs so I have a bunch of pants that are around 2 inches to large. :embarassed:

I felt *pretty* comfortable with the VM2 and gun. However, I must have looked at myself in the mirror 6 or 7 times to make sure I wouldn't print easily.

Thing sis that I have VERY rarely worn a shirt untucked. So, just wearing an untucked shirt took some getting used to.

Initially, I was a tad apprehensive about something maybe catching the hammer and cocking the gun. I then loaded the magazine with Speer Gold Dots 124gr +P inserted the mag, racked the slide and decocked.

I wore it inside a bit, sat down, fiddled with it then left.

I was actually quite confident that I wasn't printing at all. So, I didn't feel like anyone was looking at me.

I went to Wal-Mart first. It felt strange sitting in my car with the gun on my side. But not too bad and I got used to it quickly.

I just went to go out in public with my gun and see how I felt.

It felt GOOD. It felt COMFORTING. It felt like I was taking control for myself and my fellow citizens.

I wasn't nervous at all. In fact, I was very relaxed carrying a loaded gun on my hip.

Not sure why, but I felt like Mr Good Citizen and offered a woman a spot under my umbrella as it was raining at a good clip. :smile:

Grabbed a cart and went to see if they had ammo on sale as I read elsewhere. They didn't. $15 for a box of 100 WWB. The gunshop has CCI blazer for the same price, so nothing great there.

I WAS conscious of the gun being on my side and I did keep tugging down at my shirt to make sure it wasn't getting bunched up. I made sure I didn't try to adjust the holster but I did pull my pants up and adjust a few times.

Other than that- uneventful. Not sure where you guys get nachos. Only Blimbies was open. I was hungry and didn't want Blimpies. Plus, another excuse to go elsewhere and see if people spotted me. Haha.

Went to Sports Authority and was disappointed by what they had in the store.

I actually looked for vests because it occurred to me a vest would be good to have during the evenings. No dice.

Went to BK and ate there. Realized I sat with my right hip out and was going to change sides, but then realized nobody had a clue anyways.

So, I'm good carrying IWB with an untucked shirt. I got the extra long clips for the VM2 but Craig from LASports told me to break in the VM2 for at least 12hrs before using the clips.

Should get the shoulder rig and ankle rig by Monday.

BTW, not sure why guys wait so long for a VM2. I got mine in 48hrs and paid less than Ebay prices. Never used another holster so I can't compare, but the VM2 was nice to carry.

So...I am officially in the club!

 

[lanternlad1]

You were in the club the second you were born a U.S. Citizen.

Congrats!

 

[Dean407]

lanternlad1: Well, not really. I was born and grew up in NY just outside NYC!

So, handguns were very evil and dangerous.

Finally moved someplace they respect my rights. And I respect myself enough to exercise that right!

 

[Alphazulu6]

Congratulations!

 

[Lonestar49]

Here - Here !

Quote: You were in the club the second you were born a U.S. Citizen.

Congrats!
-----------
...

Says it all..



LS

 

[KINGMAX]

You now have a great responability going CC

Now you have earned the privilage to carry concealed, protect it. Pray you never have to draw. If you do; 'Your life will change'. In what direction - that may not be in your favor, and most likely someone else may make that choice for you.

Be sure you are making the correct decision when you decide to shoot someone.

 

[ArizonaTRex]

Good job on taking those first steps into public! Carry often and it will beome second nature and you'll stop checking yuorself out in the mirror

 

[Guitargod1985]

Good for you, Dean.

You know, I still check myself in the mirror from time to time - usually when I'm wearing the USPc. When I wear a snubby revolver, I don't even have to worry about printing.

The gun will feel a bit strange IWB while riding in your car for a while. Give it a few weeks or maybe a month. After a while, it will feel strange NOT having in its "natural" place.

Nice holster, btw. Beats the stuff out of my cheap Uncle Mike's IWB.

If you ever want to go shooting sometime, PM me.

 

[Black Adder LXX]

Congrats! I just got mine not too long ago. It's a wierd feeing at first to walk next to somebody and think, "This guy totally has no idea I'm packing". After a while it's kinda like remembering your cell phone when you go out. Except you're hoping you won't have to 'reach out and touch someone'...

 

[jefnvk]

Just pulled off the concealed thing myself, get to try it in public tomorrow.

Was conscious as well, until wearing it for about 45 min around family and no one noticing. It has helped with comfort a lot, trying it out on a group and not having to worry if I screwed it up.

 

[Guitargod1985]

Oh, and Dean, one more thing. It took me nearly six months to take note of this and do something about it, so maybe I can share it with you and it may help you out with concealed carry.

I have a HK USPc and the first three magazines I had for it had the extended floor plate like the magazine in your picture. At the gun shop one day I decided to buy a magazine with the base plate because they didn't have any more with the extended plate. It may not seem like there's much difference, but in my experience the flat floor plate is much easier to conceal under casual clothing. It all depends on your build, clothing style, and preference for tradeoff between comfortable grip/concealment. Do yourself a favor, though and give it a try.

 

[Kevin108]

The holster will break in and become more comfortable. Eventually the gun will fall into it's proper spot and you won't even know it's there.

 

[jeepmor]

Welcome, another citizen out there who feels their safety is their responsibility.

On that note, I just found the first place in my town (Hillsboro, OR) that does not allow CCW. Regal Cinemas. I went back to the car to leave said gun. If we hadn't already bought the tickets, we would have went elsewhere. On that note, no security guard or any other infrastructure in place to actively insure my safety. I read a recent thread of people being screened with a metal detector at the movie theater or I would have simply chanced it. Turns out, chancing it would have been fine.

Damn me for taking the time to read the fine print at the box office while my wife paid for the movie. Gonna have to quit that.

BTW, carried all week out galavanting around the woods and such, occasionally coming into a small (<500ppl) community to refresh on food and beer. My FS Witness 10mm had to be printing, no one noticed or even said a word. Love small farmng communities for that, no liberal whiners for 100 miles in any given direction. It was nirvana.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Congratulations

I should imagine that, before too long, you'll feel naked without your carry.

Now to be too sober and all that, but for those who carry, there are some words of wisdom from our very own LawDog, "Meditations on aftermath" discusses some of the things that can apply to people who carry.

Well done on going CCW. I hope to join you soon.

 

[Dean407]

Thanks for the words of encouragement, guys.

Guitargod1985: Actually, I have 6 10rd mags with just the base plate coming in Monday.

I also have the Xgrip on order which is made by HK to fill in the gap of the USPc/P2000 mags. Good for the range. I thought the flat base plate mags would be a bit easier to conceal.

 

[REPOMAN]

welcome

Congrats on your 1st time... Hope it felt as good as you imagined!!!

Along w/ you and guitargod, I am also a H&K man.. I pack a USP
COMPACT .40 about 80% of the time ever since 9/11/01. I had open carried for a long time but felt it was time to get tactical. I took my state's c.c.d.w class the Saturday after 9/11 and was conceiling around mid-october. I've felt better ever since.
Just remember all the responsibility that comes with packing.

 

[Dravur]

Hiya

You will get to thwe point where it just feels natural. But, try not to tug on your shirt. I had an officer tell me that they looked for that as when the po-po are around, people tend to tug their shirts over their guns

 

[crew590]

I don't have anything in the way of experience or advice to give you as I'm still waiting on my permit (hopefully not too much longer) but I just wanted to say congratulations.

Jay

 

[jefnvk]

You will get to thwe point where it just feels natural. But, try not to tug on your shirt. I had an officer tell me that they looked for that as when the po-po are around, people tend to tug their shirts over their guns

OK, so I've gotten to the point where I don't tug hardly at all. However, when I stand up, my shirt gets bunched to a point where it is obvious there is something there. Now, getting out of a car, its OK cause I lift my shirt a little to throw keys in my pocket, then just naturally bring it back down. No differnt than I do without a gun.

What do you all do when just sitting at a table or similiar though?

 

[mokin]

Congratulations!

I spent a long time in a truck feeling naked today. I have to travel to places where the right to carry (or even posses) isn't as recognized as it is where I call home. Don't take it for granted! Carrying IWB got to feel "natural" really fast for me. Just resist the urge to pull your shirt down and try experimenting with different techniques of "brushing" your side with your forearm to check your weapon. I learned to carry my Browning Hi-Power, cocked and locked with a proper holster with confidence that it wasn't printing or hanging up on my shirt in 5-6 weeks that way.


congratulations again.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Congratulations on deciding to exercise your rights as an American.
Now make sure you respect those rights and never take them for granted. Never give the "anti" crowd ammunition to use against us.

 

[bigmike45]

I kind of cheated while I was waiting for my CHL. I already had the holster and gun so I wore it around the house, yard and ranch. I made a makeshift 1911 from wood and weighed it down to match my 1911. I painted it orange so there was no mistake what it was and carried it out in public for several trips. When the CHL came in I was already confident of my abilities to carry concealed.

bigmike45

 

[TN_shooter]

The local WW has a sign posted that concealed carry is prohibited, does it vary from store to store?

 

[Geronimo45]

Congrats.

No, nobody notices you very closely - except the Secret Service, and they're usually working in other places.

Carry the gun around your house as much as you can. Don't take the gun off when you get home if you can help it. It's good to get used to the weight there, to know how to walk/run/bend over with the gun on you in a 'safe' environment. Gives you confidence in the safety of your gun - that it won't be going off without reason - and that your holster can securely hold your gun.

Just checking... you are wearing an undershirt, right? It'll increase your comfort level a lot if you've got a shirt tucked in already, protecting the skin a bit from the gun/holster. Also protects gun/holster from sweat (though with that HK finish, probably not an issue).

What shoulder rig are you getting?

 

[MontanaBighorn]

congratulations. you started out with a first class weapon and the finest IWB holster available. in time it will become second nature to you....so much so that youll feel naked without it.