Getting my CCW Permit soon

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LJ-MosinFreak-Buck

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As said in title, I'm getting my CCW permit soon, here in Iowa. My carry piece, because it's the only pistol I have and can afford at the moment, is my Astra A-90.

Does anybody have a few pointers for me? Like, what I should wear in the summer (can get into the triple digits). What I should do if someone notices me printing, that sort of thing.

And any other tips and bits of information that I should know about would be great.

Thanks,
LJ-MF-B
 
I'm not familiar with the Astra, or your body type, so it's hard to suggest what to wear. I will say that the key to concealment is a quality holster and belt. Given that, I can conceal a full-sized pistol under a loose fitting t-shirt. Also, experiment with positioning. Most people carry strong-side hip, but think about appendix carry, or cross-draw - those work better for other body types. There are lots of variables, so the answer is wear what's most comfortable for you that conceals well.

As for printing, I've been carrying regularly for nearly 20 years, and I've never had anyone notice me printing - at least, they've never said anything if they have. When you first start, you'll probably feel very conspicuous, but the truth is most people aren't looking, and they're not going to notice. The more you carry, the more comfortable you'll become with carrying. Resist the urge to constantly touch or adjust your gun, and no one will ever know it's there.
 
I'm 5'11" and I weight 235 pounds.

I'm unaware of appendix carry, and cross draw really isn't very ergonomic with my gut, but I do have a Fobus paddle holster for a S&W MP40 that works amazingly for this pistol, and a shoulder rig from uncle mikes. I like the shoulder rig, it's better for when I'm wearing a jacket, and the paddle holster sits higher than the bottom of my shirt. So It's not seen, but it does print a bit.
 
Heh. Saturday night and into the early hours of Sunday morning is not the highest-traffic time on a gun forum.

How to carry? For a medium-sized gun I like a good tuck-able IWB style holster that lets me cover with just one shirt (if it's THAT hot), tucked into be as unobtrusive as possible.

Even hotter? A Hawaiian or camp shirt or guayabera worn by itself and left untucked would provide great concealment and remains pretty cool and breathable. And you could stay OWB. Carrying an IWB holster without a shirt beneath it isn't the most comfortable thing.

As for printing, just stay calm. First off, you could probably carry it on a gold chain around your neck and most people won't even notice. On your belt, covered by a clothing layer? Naaah. Everyone has so much stuff on their belts that bulges raise no attention, and most folks just aren't in the habit of looking at anyone else's belt line. So it probably won't ever happen.

If it does, play it cool. You aren't required to give a lengthy explanation, show anyone who asks your license/permit (probably... check state law), or remove the gun or yourself from any public place you're legally allowed to be. (UNLESS you're confronted by a property owner or manager. If they ask you to leave, LEAVE. Otherwise you'll be trespassing.) You're legal, so don't worry. Be positive and courteous, and don't act like a criminal caught in the act.

Whether you want to stop and answer questions about your state's carry permits and the right to bear arms is up to you. Some folks prefer to brush off inquisitive folks, or give them the stiff "MYOB," or to come up with a semi-creative fib: "no, that's my colostomy bag." That's not my style, but everyone works a little differently.

A simple, polite, and brief response may be all that's necessary:

"Is that a GUN?"
"Yes."
"Are you a cop?"
"No ma'am."
"Why do you have a gun?"
"Self-defense." (Or whatever you want to say ... don't make it sound too crazy.)
"Is that LEGAL?"
"Yes."
"Oh."
"Have a nice day now."

Worst case scenario, someone calls the cops. If you know and follow your state laws, that's not supposed to be a big deal. They will probably respond and want to chat with you if you're still in the location, but you haven't committed a crime, so the discussion should remain pretty civil. If an officer doesn't know the law, or wants to try to give you bad info/instructions, don't try too hard to make your case right there. Ask questions, make them state what they think you're doing wrong, take names, and take the matter up with their superiors later.
 
I realize it was a Saturday night when I posted lol. I haven't had much sleep and actually mistaked it to be this Sunday morning.

I wish they made small of back holsters for the Astra. I'd venture into making my own, but funds aren't the greatest right now and can only afford the permit. But I figure the SOB holster would probably be the best option as far as keeping with my regular attire. Can't afford anything else, as stated, just got this all budgeted out to get the bills paid and be fine.
 
congrats on getting your permit [soon]. I have a Kholster and a Crossbred holster and like them alot. I do have to wear a bigger size pant though. You might have to but bigger shirts. After you get your set up get in front of the mirror and bend,squat to see if your weapon shows. Another helpful tip is to buy shirts with a pattern so as to break up the printing. When the time comes you can look into a P3At. Those little things fit right into your pocket. Good luck and again congrats!
 
Thanks!

I'm not interested in the pocket pistols.

I know, I know, I'm about to burn :fire:. They are handy, make good BUGs, but I prefer more than 6 rounds to a magazine.

A pistol that is next in the line-up is either a 1911 or possibly a Springfield XDM in .40 or .45. Still not quite sure yet.

Smallest I'll go is probably a Makarov or a PA-63 or a CZ-82 (or 83).
 
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Hey, no flames here. The Astras have a very loyal following.

SOB holsters though DON'T. Lots of serious drawbacks, fewer benefits than you might think.

A few thoughts from a previous thread:
Sam1911 said:
SOB carry has several big draw-backs.

1) Injury: You are placing a bulky metal object against your spine, or kidneys. A fall onto, or blow against, that gun almost certainly will cause more pain and injury than it otherwise would have. If the fall is hard enough, it could do permanent damage. A gun on your hip (3:30-4:00 position) doesn't cause that concern.

2) Discomfort: If you sit at a desk, or drive anywhere, that gun is going to be very painful to sit on for long.

3) Printing: If you always stand straight up, you may conceal your gun well this way. The moment you sit on a bench or other backless seat, squat, bend, twist, reach for something, etc. the small of your back stretches your clothing tight in that area. You WILL print, and print worse than any other location you might carry. If you carry under a jacket or un-tucked shirt, SOB carry causes the outer garment to hang up on the gun and many folks who've tried it found that their jacket would creep up and begin to tuck itself in behind the gun as they moved around -- eventually leaving the gun completely exposed with the cover garment bunched up on top of it or even behind it.

4) Draw: Drawing from an SOB holster invites a tremendous safety violation. It is difficult to execute a draw that does not encourage/require you to sweep your own waist/hips/kidneys/pelvic girdle with the muzzle as you move the gun around in front of you. There are two types of SOB holster -- one butt-forward, one butt-back like an exaggerated OWB holster. The butt-forward version is much worse for this as you're trying to rotate the gun as well as draw it forward. Many ranges and trainers do not allow SOBs just for this reason. When you're trying to grab your gun, disengage the safety, and get on target for a fast shot, no portion of that operation should put your own body in front of the muzzle!

(Of course, no operation EVER should put part of your body in front of your own loaded gun ... but especially grabbing for a defensive sidearm in a moment of panic.)
Click to expand...

If you're going to go SOB, at least understand each of these issues and have a plan for how you can deal with them.
 
Any advice from some strange guy on the internet is probably worth what you payed for it, but what the heck; here I go anyways, FWIW:

1) Get a good strong-side holster and a belt to match (per advice above). I'm an IWB fan, but then, I don't carry a pistola the size of a Sig P220 either... a pancake from an outfit like simply rugged would likely work just as well.

2) Carry spare mags. Not just for more ammo (not that this is a bad thing, obviously), but also for malf clearance.

3) Take a tactical class of some sort, from someone with a good reputation. Everytime I take another course, I'm amazed all over again at how much I don't know. Plus, shooting at things is fun. A good local guy will do.

4) Read a few from the collective-conciousness of THR; stuff like Ayoob's "in the gravest extreme" and Cooper's "principles of personal defense", along with dozens of other great reads that can be found by searching this forum for "defensive books".

5) Be overly polite. You're armed now, so you are at a higher standard of care than the average jane/joe.

Oh, and 5.5): It's 2011. I therefore vote for the 1911 over the XD as the next carry gun, not that you asked...

;)
 
Thanks for the tips. Anybody know of a good instructor in the Council Bluffs area of Iowa? I honestly wouldn't know where to look.

I have been thinking about getting a 1911 for carry, but the only thing weighing against me is that the mag capacity is relatively low, where as I can carry roughly around 13 to 14 rounds with the XD (M possibly too) so.

However, there is nothing wrong with the 1911 platform, and carrying cocked and locked would probably be easier than DA anyway.
 
If you like the CZ-82's, get a Double-stack one, The Mak rounds are available in nice potent JHP's now. My old man's is a solid shooter with not one Failure of any kind to date. He alternates between that, and his Bersa Thunder .380 (also a fine little shooter)

Within 3 yards, 3 shots.... 3 seconds. All the distance, shots fired and time the average "unfortunate" encounters encompass.

They DO make larger capacity 1911's, and you can always choose to carry a mag pouch as well, but it's unlikely in life that you'll be pinned down, wishing you had 50 rounds on you.

I carry as few as 11 when CCW'ing my Schofield replica .45 revolver, 5 silvertip 225g, hammer down on the empty to walk around, and a single speed loader with 6 more ( if I'm REALLY finding myself reloading, screw the "hammer down on an empty" rule till order is restored)

I carry as many as 46 when on extended road trips with my M&P .40. 15+1, and 2 mags of Ranger-T's in the pouch at my back. I'm not expecting to need them, but if a good clear-cut presents itself, realistically it's nice to have a few mags just to plink with.

Just because I don't expect to need them, does not preclude the training of muscle-memory, in case I do. make sure you can operate every function of your weapon one handed. you may have to fend someone off with one hand, have a dog attached to your forearm etc.

As to holster... I'm a big guy with big hands (6'5" before the harness boots) , but thin, so I have to keep the profile tight. even with my larger guns. A good IWB at the 4 to 6 o'clock positions works for me nicely. I've heard great things about the pancake types, but my current IWB is a Ted Blocker model. ( Local company to me)

Good luck and Welcome to the CCW club.
 
Ok here are my tips

-Get a good holster, if you paid 25 bucks for it at a sporting goods store its not a good holster. I would reccomend checking out Comptac or Dragon leather works.
-DON'T TOUCH YOUR GUN, when guys are new its very natural to touch the gun every time you get in or out of your car or move to make sure its there and its covered. you do more damage with too much touching than just leaving it the hell alone
-you will notice your gun about 400 times more than anybody else, if you feel that your printing your most likely not, now be careful of printing but know that most people wont notice.
-get some good range time with your gun and practice a lot
-check out the FAST drill its a good drill to run with your carry gun.
 
I got my Iowa carry permit in January. Having recently moved from IL I had never carried before. I carry an XDM Compact and regularly use 3 different holsters depending on what I'm wearing. One elcheapo IWB/tuckable that rides very low, a Crossbread SuperTuck that rides higher and is by far the most comforable, and a SmartCarry that is great when I just can't conceal the IWB well enough. I'm 6' 0' and 165lbs and find the IWB just too bulky for my frame to conceal sometimes. I'm glad I have each of these holsters, so my advice, by several holsters when you can and find what works well for you.
 
If you can go to ankle, I highly recommend Renegades "Cozy Partner." I was in a situation the other day where I had to run with it, (it was wrapped around my boot) and the thing barely shifted in the whole ordeal. It will shift around some when directly over my socks, but maybe that is only when I wear it too loose.

A buddy has a crossbreed holster and says it is extremely comfortable.

and carrying cocked and locked would probably be easier than DA anyway.
Click to expand...

Just out of pure curiosity, why would that be easier?
 
I suffered a serious laceration on my trigger finger, killing the nerve endings from my right index down to the base of my palm and weakening the strength of that finger because it cut some of the tendon as well. I don't have much of a problem with DA, but it is a little stiff for me, thought a lot of the time I carry hammer down on my Astra, but do prefer it to be cocked and locked because it makes it easier because of the lighter pull.

This pistol goes from like 5 lbs DA pull to just 1 lb SA pull so that's a plus. And most 1911 are SA only so that would be a plus.
 
Gotcha, that totally makes sense. I thought you were saying it was easier to carry a cocked and locked than it was a DA, you were saying shooting it was easier.

Whatever you decide, best wishes.
 
I do hope for it as well, and thank you!

I'm still trying to get in the process of getting the permit. Money's been tight and haven't been able toget a hold of the sherrifs office to get some more information on it, as well as waiting for the grips to be finished so I can have a pistol if they want me to do an accuracy test.
 
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