First time out in CCW-land.

[Doggy Daddy]

Well, I got my CCW in the mail 2 days ago. Today I took it for a test drive. Nothing extensive, just a grocery trip to a well-known big box store that has a sign saying they didn't want me bringing my little friend in with me. I didn't expect the anti-theft alarm at the door to go off, but the thought was on my mind. I was relieved when it didn't.

I didn't get elaborate, just my G26 in an IWB holster beneath a very large Hawaiian shirt. Today wasn't about finesse... it was about getting rid of the first-time feeling. I discovered I'm most comfortable with it in a cross-draw configuration. Also, I found that my pants actually stay up better with the holster on! I was worried about having to "hike my britches" up frequently because of the extra weight around my waist... actually, it was the opposite.

The whole shopping trip took about 90 minutes to 2 hours - my wife can do some shopping - and I was conscious of having a gun on me the whole time. I'm sure that in time I'll be less focused on it.

All in all, I'd have to describe the experience as "liberating".

I know a lot of you have probably been carrying long enough to have forgotten your "first time", but does anyone have any particular remembrances of their own debut?

 

[thexrayboy]

It won't be long before the feeling becomes second nature. After a while you start to feel "naked" without it. Just don't let it get to the point where you sleep with it....ala the recruit maggots in FULL METAL JACKET. You need to have at least 3-4 holsters of various designs for each weapon you carry at minimum to give you the necessary flexibility for differing social situations.


And nice handle there. Is there an Augie Doggie to go with it?

 

[Nasty Jack]

Hmmmmmmmm . . . Hawaiian print shirt works in Hawaii.

I don't mean to give you a hard time. It's just that when I see a big loose summer shirt in February, it screams "GUN!" . . . Fanny packs and some purses too.

Concealed carry -- Lordy, jeez . . . I think I've probably run through a dozen guns and twice as many holsters looking for something that works for me. Finally, I have about three, four guns that work for carry, some more that stay in the vehicle.

I work part-time/volunteer at a university extension office. The office director is OK with concealed firearms, as are most of the staff. But it still seems an instrusion of sorts. I don't need a firearm in the office.

I'm on a board of directors for a local civilian, sheriff, Nat'l Guard range. The office is in the Sheriff's Office, which is also the County Jail. Needless to note here, no civilian guns allowed in the office.

Indian casinos don't allow CCW in the casino. They won't even allow me to put the gun in a hard case with a lock and check it in at the door with security.

I have access, as retired military, to posts, commissaries, PX's, ranges, offices. Fed. Govt. sites don't allow CCW. Coast Guard will let me on the post with a firearm, but it needs to be unloaded, secured in the vehicle, and I need to inform the guard at the gate. This is a personal policy between me and the post commander.

Soooooooo . . . carry is complicated.

But after a while it's like driving. You get the license, understand the rules and learn how to navigate the highway. I think probably 80% of the time the gun is in the vehicle and not on my person -- which affects what I decide to carry. It's not a compact handgun.

 

[Doggy Daddy]

thexrayboy

It won't be long before the feeling becomes second nature ... You need to have at least 3-4 holsters of various designs for each weapon you carry at minimum to give you the necessary flexibility for differing social situations.


And nice handle there. Is there an Augie Doggie to go with it?

Nope, no "Augie" attached. The handle is just referring to my furry kids. I'm already starting to get a little collection of holsters. And I just ordered 2 more: a shoulder holster and a pocket holster. My carry guns are a g19, g26, Taurus 85 and Taurus 605, so I get some crossover with the holsters. The autos will usually use the same ones, and so will the revolvers.

Nasty Jack

Hmmmmmmmm . . . Hawaiian print shirt works in Hawaii.

This is Vegas, baby! It works here too. I mean, we get bus tours at the Wal*Mart!

Confession: I even have a fanny pack holster. I can blend right in with the tourists.

 

[DesertShooter]

It'll take awhile before your CCW becomes "second nature" to you. For the first 5 or 6 months, you'll often wonder if your handgun is "printing". After that, you'll start picking up habits of how to stand so that your body positioning will enhance the concealment aspect. After about one year, it will all seem very natural to you....but don't let your guard down!

Personally, "Honolulu Lulu" print shirts attract too much attention. They seem to be the "shirts of choice" for vacationers. I've always been a tee shirt and blue jeans sort because NO one pays attention to a person wearing a non-"GQ" tee shirt!

 

[DougW]

Hawaiian shirts do work well here in N Texas also. There is not the tourist element here, so comfort, concealability and access are the prime reasons why I like the Hawaiian shirt. So many people in the DFW area that you will see everything in the way of clothes. What I watch out for is the obvious loose fitting hoodies with jackets in July. THAT is a concern.

I am always on condition yellow when out in the area anyway, whether or not I am carrying. I agree that you will have a naked feeling without your "piece". But, you will always be concious of it's presence. You have to find what works for you.

 

[gazpacho]

This morning I've seen two transvestites, one Elvis impersonator, and man on a Segway. I'm in Vegas too, and a man in a Hawaiian shirt or one wearing a fanny pack stands out like a blade of grass in a bag of clippings.

Congrats on your CCW. FWIW Metro carries Speer Gold Dot ammo, so that is a very good choice (court-wise). Also, Bass Proshops has some of the best prices on plinking ammo.

 

[Nasty Jack]

Yeah, OK . . .

Not sure I'd do the transvestite thing. But you can conceal your piece in your bra. *LMAO*

-- Vegas . . . Jeez. *S*

Dodge Ram redneck country here. Plaid shirts, cammo. You can wear your side arm "open carry" just fine. No one gets concerned. They figure you're just in from the woods -- which is across the street from CostCo.

The whole point here being, you learn how to blend in and not be conspicuous. I always found Glocks to be really big, clunky, fat. But some people like them.

 

[Linda]

Welcome to the club DD! Carry it, carry it everyday, and carry with self pride that you have taken the necessary steps to protect yourself and your wife.

As others have said, the more you carry, the quicker you'll get to the point that it is no different than putting your wrist watch on, or grabbing your cell phone as you head out the door. It's those times that you don't have it that you will feel naked.

Condition yellow ALWAYS!! There again, with time, that will come naturally and you won't even realize it.

One other thought that goes against what someone said here. I feel that being consistant in carrying the same way always is the better route to go. If you are constantly changing the way you carry, at that crucial moment of needing it, will you know exactly where it is at? A split second longer could get you killed!

 

[Steve H]

Hmmmmmmmm . . . Hawaiian print shirt works in Hawaii.

I would think that it would be fine in Vegas........anytime of the year.

 

[Doggy Daddy]

DesertShooter

For the first 5 or 6 months, you'll often wonder if your handgun is "printing". After that, you'll start picking up habits of how to stand so that your body positioning will enhance the concealment aspect.

Affirmative on both of those points. While the wifey was busy squeezing melons and reading labels, all I had to do was stand and fidget. I think the habits will develop quickly if I go shopping with her a few more times.

I've always been a tee shirt and blue jeans sort because NO one pays attention to a person wearing a non-"GQ" tee shirt!

Ditto. But I question my ability to conceal effectively with jeans and a t-shirt... at least for now. Confidence will come.

gazpacho

This morning I've seen two transvestites, one Elvis impersonator, and man on a Segway. I'm in Vegas too, and a man in a Hawaiian shirt or one wearing a fanny pack stands out like a blade of grass in a bag of clippings.

LOL!! Exactly!

Congrats on your CCW. FWIW Metro carries Speer Gold Dot ammo, so that is a very good choice (court-wise). Also, Bass Proshops has some of the best prices on plinking ammo.

Thanky for the "congrats". Already hip to the Gold Dot deal. Dunno how often I'll get down to Bass Pro. Not real convenient to my location. I'm thinking I'll be doing a lot of online ammo buying. In less than 5 months the wife and I have taken to this pretty well. Not counting bb and airsoft pistols, we now have 10 pistols and 2 long guns. Ammo needs are all over the map, when you take into account caliber and purpose. We're using: .22, .32, .38, .357, 9mm, .45 colt, and 12 and 410 guage. Might as well do my shopping online and let the delivery guy do the carrying.

Nasty Jack

I always found Glocks to be really big, clunky, fat. But some people like them.

Yeah, they are. Ain't that great!?! And I do really like mine, therefore I'll put the effort into concealing them.

Linda

Welcome to the club DD! Carry it, carry it everyday, and carry with self pride that you have taken the necessary steps to protect yourself and your wife.

Thanks for the welcome, and I do have an inner pride in taking the steps. I'm also proud that my wife intends to do the same... as soon as she conquers her little aiming problem.

One other thought that goes against what someone said here. I feel that being consistant in carrying the same way always is the better route to go. If you are constantly changing the way you carry, at that crucial moment of needing it, will you know exactly where it is at? A split second longer could get you killed!

That's a very good point, and one I'll have to think about. It may be worthy of a seperate thread. My one possible objection goes like this: When we do the same thing over and over, we develop muscle memory. Not a bad thing - it allows us to do something without thinking about it. But, it could be a bad thing for the exact same reason. I've seen many people make major mistakes from relying on muscle memory... especially when their routine is thrown off by an external event. Do you see where I'm going with this?

Oh, and:

Location: central Ohio

I'm ex-central Ohio... from about 25 years ago. Very central, very rural. <G>
Go Buckeyes!

 

[Doggy Daddy]

Steve H

Hmmmmmmmm . . . Hawaiian print shirt works in Hawaii.

I would think that it would be fine in Vegas........anytime of the year.

You would think correctly, sir. And the tackier the better!

 

[KINGMAX]

Let's not forget the liability of CCW

Yes you can carry concealed, but keep it concealed. Be sure you are ready to face the aftermath of shooting someone if the need be. If you shot someone, you will see the inside of the jail for a while. Be sure you can live w/ yourself after the fact as well.

You have entered a new era, be careful, be very careful.

 

[Doggy Daddy]

KINGMAX

Yes you can carry concealed, but keep it concealed. Be sure you are ready to face the aftermath of shooting someone if the need be. If you shot someone, you will see the inside of the jail for a while. Be sure you can live w/ yourself after the fact as well.

You have entered a new era, be careful, be very careful.

That whole post was worth quoting. I'm cautious by nature, and thanks to my CCW class, a coward by training. Our instructor referred to the class as "Wussies 101"... learning how to run away.

Believe me, I'll be very happy if I never get a chance to exercise my CCW "for reals".

 

[.cheese.]

Doggy Daddy - welcome to the club.

You've entered a new part of your life. Pretty soon you'll be like most of us and will feel awkward when not carrying. It becomes pretty much a part of your daily attire after a while, and not carrying feels a bit like, well - not wearing underwear, or forgetting to wear your watch.

You're also going to find that your clothing choices will probably change. You're going to want to find clothing that both hides your carry gun easily, and is comfortable to carry with. Start looking into good belts that work with your holster. You might even want to look into a "holster belt" - that is made with a nice thick cut of leather and is cut to a size appropriate for your holster(s). You can get them at sporting stores and LGS's. I get away lately with a nice Fossil belt I found at Macy's, but I might upgrade eventually.

You're going to want to find a holster and maybe an extra mag-pouch that works for you. Personally I carry a Glock 27 everyday OWB in a Galco Combat-Master holster and a Bianchi OWB extra-mag pouch. OWB works better for me because I'm a little heavy and IWB gets uncomfortable (reminder to self: lose weight). You'll probably find yourself wanting some other accessories soon too. Sure it might sound silly at first, but after a short while of carrying you'll probably want a small pocket flashlight and a pocket-knife folder of some sort. The whole thing just seems to come as a package.

You might go through a few holsters, or you might be happy with the one you have now. You'll have a better idea as you carry more often. What might not make you sore today, may do so after a week or so of constant carrying.

Also, start to be mindful of where your clothing is, where your hands are, how you're postured, etc. as all of them can get in the way when carrying. If you put your hands on your hip carrying OWB, you print. If you are hunched to one side sitting down, your shirt might lift up and flash - things like that you'll need to become aware of - and you will over time for sure.

All in all, carrying is a great thing, and you're going to love it. It unfortunately does take some work to make it work for you as best as possible, and with some time you'll figure out what works for you as do we all.

Congrats and be safe.

 

[ZeSpectre]

Welcome to the club. Won't be long before your wife looks at you sideways and asks why the hell you are carrying in the house because you forget to take it off

 

[Doggy Daddy]

TheEconomist

Doggy Daddy - welcome to the club.

Thank ya kindly...

... and not carrying feels a bit like, well - not wearing underwear, or forgetting to wear your watch.

Huh??? So you're saying that not carrying is a good feeling??

Start looking into good belts that work with your holster.

I have a good friend/co-worker who is helping me along. He's already brought up the belt issue.

Sure it might sound silly at first, but after a short while of carrying you'll probably want a small pocket flashlight and a pocket-knife folder of some sort.

Are you spying on me??? The flashlight has been a regular thing for some time now. And the wife and I each have knife collections. She has around 50. I probably have a couple more than that.

Also, start to be mindful of where your clothing is, where your hands are, how you're postured, etc. as all of them can get in the way when carrying. If you put your hands on your hip carrying OWB, you print. If you are hunched to one side sitting down, your shirt might lift up and flash - things like that you'll need to become aware of - and you will over time for sure.

I already picked up on that. I also discovered I had a tendency to absent-mindedly grab the whole rig through my shirt and try to align it. Wasn't real discreet. Squelched that mannerism real quick.

Congrats and be safe.

I appreciate the info and the encouragement. Thanks.

 

[Doggy Daddy]

ZeSpectre

Welcome to the club.

Thank you.

Won't be long before your wife looks at you sideways and asks why the hell you are carrying in the house because you forget to take it off

You don't know my wife! This is a woman who dry fires while watching TV. She also practices opening her knife one-handed while watching TV. Guess which one of us only goes up to 9mm, and which one has a .45 Colt. Yep, she's the .45, and I'm the 9mm. Can't leave ammo laying around at the range. She'll pick it up and shoot it.

 

[KimKommando]

I carry my pistol where ever I can concealed in the winter; in the summer it is more difficult, as I am less than 5 ft and 120 pounds soaking wet. I have learned to become less concerned with the whole "printing" thing. I have gone into the mall with my cuffs, empty holster and empty spare mag holder to see if anyone would notice. I realized after a minute that everyone was so damn absorbed in themselves that no one was paying attention to me anyway. I even walked past a uni and a couple of UC's and never even got a glance.

 

[Eyesac]

I first started carrying with a full size 1911 (and I'm 150lbs) so I was extremely self conscious. After a while I got used to it, but never got used to the bulk and weight until I got a G27, which pretty much removed all my notions of self consciousness. Looks like you're starting out on the right foot. BTW how about ignoring all the signs you see... Pretty cool huh? I love NV.

 

[thexrayboy]

This morning I've seen two transvestites, one Elvis impersonator, and man on a Segway. I'm in Vegas too, and a man in a Hawaiian shirt or one wearing a fanny pack stands out like a blade of grass in a bag of clippings.

I've spent enough time in Vegas to know that the only place more full of "independent spirits and strange looking people would be San Fran. While
walking the strip nothing I saw would surprise me. The entire mind set of Vegas is "Over the top" and "what else can we do to try and get noticed".
Sin City is a great people watching venue.

 

[Mortech]

San Fran or Las Vegas ? Try Seattle ...ugh ...I just use a Dickies work shirt unbuttoned and untucked , works for me and my M&P40 . BTW what kind of dogs do you have ? I have 7 pomeranians (who think they are full size timberwolves )

 

[gunsmith]

not in NV

If you shot someone, you will see the inside of the jail for a while

if it is a legal shoot it is a legal shoot, you gun will get confiscated though so have two.
one you carry and one at home so you can still carry if you have to shoot someone

 

[Doggy Daddy]

KimKommando

I have gone into the mall with my cuffs, empty holster and empty spare mag holder to see if anyone would notice.

I don't see myself reaching that level of boldness for a while!

Eyesac

Looks like you're starting out on the right foot. BTW how about ignoring all the signs you see... Pretty cool huh? I love NV.

Yeah, I really like my Glocks. I've read all sorts of put-downs about them, but to me there's a sort of elegance in their simplicity and dedication to task. It is what it is... no more, no less: a gun. As to the signs,

Mortech

...I just use a Dickies work shirt unbuttoned and untucked , works for me and my M&P40 . BTW what kind of dogs do you have ? I have 7 pomeranians (who think they are full size timberwolves )

Thanks for the reminder. I have an extra large Dickie that should suit the purpose just fine. As to the dogs, they're all 3 mutts rescued from the shelter. Each has a bit of Chow mixed in with God knows what else. They range in size from about 65 pounds to around 105 pounds. Lovable, spoiled and faithful. Good girls.

gunsmith

if it is a legal shoot it is a legal shoot, you gun will get confiscated though so have two.
one you carry and one at home so you can still carry if you have to shoot someone

I have 4 listed on my CCW; G26, G19, Taurus .357, and Taurus .38. And just the other day I bought a Walther P22. I wouldn't rely on it for SD, but I'll probably add it to the permit just for the convenience of being able to just shove it in a pocket and walk out the door. (safely, of course.)

 

[Jeff White]

KimKommando said;

I have gone into the mall with my cuffs, empty holster and empty spare mag holder to see if anyone would notice.

Cuffs??? Why are you carrying cuffs? Are you sworn?

Jeff