Concealed Carry in a backpack

[Warp]

The only time I can imagine backpack carry would be a broken down AR or a folding KelTec and socially things would have gone seriously down hill if that were the situation.
The small pocket pistols are something we all should own IMO if for no other reason than having a gun for those occasions when nothing else will conceal. Try the belly bands, shirt holsters, underwear for those times you are in very light dress. A belly band and small pistol or revolver at 1 oclock is invisible for most with a loose shirt.

Yes. That is when I turn to a 642 in a Smartcarry.

 

[TenMillimaster]

Drawing from a shoulder bag is faster than drawing from a backpack...

 

[Old Shooter]

Is this a bad idea?

Yes, for all the reasons stated above.

Once the BG's figure there must be something so valuable in that backpack that you can't ever let out of your sight and it's always with you, you are the first in line for that "sucker punch, grab and run" guys.

I don't think you want to go there.

 

[GCBurner]

I like the Maxpedition Jumbo bag for carrying on day hikes, and while riding my bike. It's just about as fast to draw from the quick release holster in the bag as it is from an IWB holster under a shirt. Plus, it holds a full size, full capacity pistol, rather than the .32 or .380 I'd be carrying in a pocket holster in my shorts this time of year.

 

[browneu]

Oops wrong post

Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk

 

[kd7nqb]

1. Off body carry sucks always, you may think you have your bag with you all the time but you might be surprised how many times you walk away. Think of this situation your with a casual group of friends eating lunch and you forget a fork or a mustard packet or whatever and you run up to the counter to get it are you going to take your bag and have to explain why your wont let it go or are you going to leave you gun unattended.

2. Full size guns can be concealed IWB pretty easy. My daily carry gun is an M&P .40 and i use either a Comptac- MTAC or a belly band. Works good just find your "sweet spot"

 

[reppans]

Here's a compromise....

I've recently started carrying a large revolver with shorts and a T-shirt: a .357 L-frame S&W 686 w/ 4" barrel. It's over 40 oz. with ammo and almost a foot long, and I'm 5'8" and 150lbs.

I carry it at 4:00 in a DeSantis pancake holster with about 1" of holster/muzzle in my back pocket. Yeah it'll print, but not badly, I've been wearing it around my house (my test ground) for a month now and the wife and kids don't even know.... my teenage kids still don't know I own hand guns.

Going out in public, I'll carry a small soft-sided sling- or messenger-style bag, cross chest, over the gun for deep concealment. I can still draw just as quickly by pulling up my shirt normally. And I can leave the bag, say going to the restroom in a restaurant, without worrying.

Gun really only prints badly if I'm bending over or sitting in a chair without a backrest - standing/walking, it's generally fine. Having the bag on top of it while out in public, just gives me the additional peace of mind.

I also have a G19, G26 and LCP for concealed carry, but recently, I've just fallen in love with full sized revolvers .

 

[cluttonfred]

You might also want to look at Wilderness Tactical Products. Their Safepacker system is a compromise between on-body and off-body carry that might work for you.

I've been wearing it around my house (my test ground) for a month now and the wife and kids don't even know.... my teenage kids still don't know I own hand guns.

As a side note, reppans, you know your kids and of course that's your decision, but guns the house hidden from the kids, especially teenagers, is a recipe for disaster. Have you considered taking your kids shooting and educating them about guns instead?

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I would think the slower access would negate any advantage of the larger gun.

 

[ForumSurfer]

As a side note, reppans, you know your kids and of course that's your decision, but guns the house hidden from the kids, especially teenagers, is a recipe for disaster. Have you considered taking your kids shooting and educating them about guns instead?

I agree with this +1,000,000.

My 8 year old typically doesn't care too much about shooting. My 12 year old is very interested and active. As a matter of fact, I routinely assign him to pull out a few and clean/wipe them down to prevent rust. He loves to do it and I hate it, so it works out for everyone.

But even the 8 year old is fully versed on gun safety and knows where they all are at all times. He knows what I carry and where I carry it. In the event of a home invasion, I feel better knowing the 12 year old knows where everything is in case something happens to me. I feel better knowing the 8 year old knows where everything is and what to do if he accidentally finds a firearm.

It's your business, not mine....but I felt I should share.

 

[reppans]

Hey thanks guys...

I have seen the Safepacker and do like the idea. I may get one, but my problem (as mentioned by someone above) is with kids around, I cannot risk putting it down ever, and I'll look silly carrying it around in doors.

Completely agree with kids education thing, I do intend to start my younger one on the kid's night program at the local range I'm joining - he's got the right disposition and attitude for it. The older one.... I'm simply not comfortable, he's got issues and is in that "I hate my parents and will fight them on every issue" phase :banghead:. Not until he matures out of this phase, but he's going away to school this fall (his choice), and that's when I'll start the younger one.

I'm not too worried though, neither have ever lifted a finger to harm anyone, and I've had both of them shooting my high-powered air rifle, which I don't lock away (rodent control).

Sorry to the OP for the hijack..

 

[cluttonfred]

On the Safepacker, it can be belt-mounted or carried on a strap like a, ahem, man purse. Another option could be a small bike messenger back like the ones from Timbuktu. They are perfect for wearing on one side with the strap across the body to the other shoulder, which puts the bag right under your strong hand and keeps it in your sight, unlike a backpack. Most have a padded section for a laptop which could work well for a large but thin auto pistol, a single-stack 1911, for example.

 

[bcp280z]

I have this "deep concealment" Galco holster I got for $60, it's got a plastic clip but has suprisingly lasted longer than the Blackhawk clip on IWB's, it's made for Jframes and I sometimes have to check myself to make sure it's on me, then again, I carry an airweight 438, the 35 would be a tad heavier. And it's not quite deep concealment since I added the Hogue monogrip, which is way more comfy to shoot, but print if my shirt is too tight, versus the tiny stock grip.

Get a good IWB. Back pack IMO is only important if you're already expecting trouble.

 

[woad_yurt]

Way back, I had a big, big guy grab my backpack on a train platform. He was swinging mye around by it; it was a perfect handle for him and I couldn't reach it. I haven't used a backpack since.

Backpacks are pretty inaccessible to the wearer but they're very accessible to everyone else, not good qualities for anything in which one would put a gun.

I'd say that a backpack was about as bad a place to carry a gun as is a purse. The purse is more accessible to the owner, yes, but also more attractive to the thief who'll grab it first and without notice.

 

[50 cal]

If your gonna use a backpack for concealed carry, you might as well carry an ar15 pistol with a hundred round beta drum.