CCW - If You Could Do It All Over Again, What Would You Change?

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Get a good defensive knife to carry when you have to go somewhere where guns are prohibited. A large folder IWB is popular.
 
Get a Smartcarry and give it a chance. If it works for you you'll love it. If it doesn't they'll take it back and you'll only be out about 3 bucks for shipping.

I use one of the deluxe models when wearing sweatpants or similar loose pants. I can carry my weapon, light, wallet, spare mag, and folding knife in it without anyone knowing.

I wear it with blue jeans when I need to wear a tighter shirt that would expose an IWB, or when I'm going to be doing something active with my kid where I'll need to bend or roll a lot and an IWB would be exposed.

Slightly slower draw, but not bad one you practice a little.

I only wish I'd purchased one earlier. It's the only holster that can go some places. I could conceal a full sized hangdun wearing only swim trunks with this thing.
 
Never Wasted Money On Kel Tecs

I would have never wasted money on two kel tecs and a beretta 22 tip barrel pistol. All had reliability problems. They were all traded for each other and one day i said...forget this...i'm getting a 642 38 Special that I can trust will not jam on me like these little pocket autos. Soon, I'll be getting my 642 back from S&W factory after they do a J frame action job for it. I can't wait to try it out. Great carry gun and will last a lifetime.
 
I would have shot a lot more guns. Even spending money on rentals, I would have wasted a lot less money buying the five guns I've CC'd and ended up changing for something else.
 
Me, I was issued an M1911A1. As an Adviser in Viet Nam, I attended occasional social functions where it was considered bad manners (by the Viet Namese) to carry a gun. Not being a fool, I carried my M1911A1 Mexican Style, and discovered before Jeff Cooper did that the M1911 is close to an ideal gun for concealed carry.
 
Getting it sooner. Actually, the wait taught me a lot of different things from patience to practice. But honestly speaking, more competent professional training. It took me a few minutes of good instruction to be consistent with the grouping of follow up shots.

Also, CCW gear. I haven't spent a fortune, but I have wasted some money. Having 2 or 3 setups is good. You may have to change location of the arm do to style of dress. And having similar arms is a good idea. I normally carry an XD SC, but have also carried the 4", the KelTec P9 and the Taurus 605.
 
I would have ordered my gun belt with an extra two inches in it. I forgot to add two inches for the IWB holster.:banghead:

Oh well, I could benefit from losing a couple inches from my waistline anyhow. Maybe I'll just exercise my way down to fit this thing.
 
A few years back, my wife dragged me into a Men's shop and forced me to buy a suit. As I was being measured, I shoved my right hand into my waist band. The little girl taking measurements said, "Oh. You carry a gun.":D
 
I would have ordered my gun belt with an extra two inches in it. I forgot to add two inches for the IWB holster.
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I had the opposite problem, I ordered with IWB in mind, and then lost some weight during the long, long delay from Beltman at the time.
If I lose any more weight, I'll have to pack just to make the belt work and keep my pants from falling down. After that, I'll need an IWB backup gun.

As far as things I've learned, I don't think I mentioned before ... drag your significant other along for the CC class and permit application. You might as well, it is better than doubling the time and hassle later.
 
1911 info.....

I carry a plain GI issue 1911 as my personal weapon. I'm a bit concerned about carrying a round in the chamber and the safety engaged. I wanted to know if anyone out there ever had one accidentally discharge with fingers "off" the trigger.
 
1911GI Fan, you've asked the same question four times in four threads. If you're that uncomfortable or unfamiliar with the internal workings of your 1911, can you really call yourself a "fan"?
 
Dave, I only asked more times because no one answered my question. Yes I am a 1911 fan but also a fan of staying safe. All I wanted was just an answer to my question.
 
I carry a plain GI issue 1911 as my personal weapon. I'm a bit concerned about carrying a round in the chamber and the safety engaged. I wanted to know if anyone out there ever had one accidentally discharge with fingers "off" the trigger.
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I've never had it happen, never heard of it happening either. If you are this worried, maybe you should switch to a different platform? But if you are this worried with a platform this safe, I think you're going to have nagging worries no matter what you carry.
 
Did wrong: Bought a couple of low end handguns (e.g. Taurus) before I learned that the law of "you get what you pay for" is still in effect.

Did right: Acquired several good .22 pistols/revolvers that I'm now enjoying in light of the centerfire ammo situation.
 
I do have a Glock 17 and keep one in the chamber. I keep it at home in case my wife needs it while I work at night. The Glock is a great weapon, but the Model 21 is a bit too big for my hands, and the 1911 is perfect. I carried one in the service but never locked and loaded. An old platoon sergeant of mine once told me never to carry one like that unless we were in combat, that's why I posted the question. Thanks for your input.
 
Nothing.

I still want a high-end IWB holster, though what I have does suffice. And I'd like to figure out how to conceal my XD45 Service without tweaking my spine (I've been CC'ing smaller guns). But that's "want more" not "want to change".

But I didn't buy junk guns for CCW. I learned that lesson without having to conceal them.:)
 
I do have a Glock 17 and keep one in the chamber. I keep it at home in case my wife needs it while I work at night. The Glock is a great weapon, but the Model 21 is a bit too big for my hands, and the 1911 is perfect. I carried one in the service but never locked and loaded. An old platoon sergeant of mine once told me never to carry one like that unless we were in combat, that's why I posted the question. Thanks for your input.
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That had nothing to do with the safety of the weapon, just military regulations having to do with the carrying of a sidearm. For what it's worth, that regulation still persists today :)
 
1911GI Fan- "I wanted to know if anyone out there ever had one accidentally discharge with fingers "off" the trigger."

How can you have a A D or a N D without your finger on the trigger? I don't understand.

Why don't you carry with a loaded mag, empty chamber, cocked and locked until you get comfortable with condition "1". If you never do that's ok, if at the end of the day you find the hammer down don't ever carry cocked and locked.
 
Texas, I was concerned about the possibility of a faulty safety system while carrying it concealed in an inside the pants holster. I guess I was so pre-occupied with the premise that anything manmade can fail. Since people started responding and allaying my concerns, I've already got one in the chamber and it's in condition one. Your idea was a good one and don't know why I didn't think of it.
 
I had an old 1911 accidentally discharge on me 11 years ago. I had racked the chamber, loading a cartridge into the chamber and was lowering the hammer, as slowly as I could, or so I thought. It blew a nice hole in the floor of my truck and the shock wave blew out my right eardrum and passenger window. I gave up on 1911's until a year ago. I was content with my Glock, since that's what my agency carries. I prefer the .45acp to a 9mm though. I thank all of you for your input.
 
Thats why you are supposed to carry it loaded on safety. The biggest danger to a novice 1911 user is thinking they should chamber a round and then try to lower the hammer. THAT IS A NO NO!!!
 
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