Stress_Test
Member
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2012
- Messages
- 209
After much procrastination, I finally obtained my pistol permit yesterday to allow me to carry concealed (I had put in the application a couple of months back... it takes 4-6 weeks they say).
So today I got to try it out. I went to the local indoor range to brush up on my shooting a bit since it has been a while. I took my M&P .45c, and my Ruger LCR, because those are the two candidates I'm looking at for carry. Also have a Glock21, but aside from the size, I've decided that the grip just doesn't fit me well (it squirms in my hands too much when my hands are damp; and, I pull shots off to the side).
I didn't CC to the range itself because I wasn't sure if they let you take out a CCW at the firing line and shoot it or not (and I forgot to ask before I left, but I'll find out later).
I actually had a pretty good session with both the LCR and M&P. This also confirmed that shooting the M&P comes more easily to me than the Glock21. I was making good hits in the bullseye area whereas with the Glock I always pull the shots off towards the palm side (right or left handed shooting).
Anyway, upon leaving the range I had to go by my parents' house to take care of some stuff while they're away, so while I was there I holstered up the M&P inside the waistband and added a spare mag in an old leather knife holster on the opposite side. My t-shirt was long enough, but when I was doing stuff outside it felt like it kept trying to ride up over the gun. I wasn't so much worried about printing as I was about the shirt coming up without me noticing. It was long enough but I think it needed to be more baggy so that it would stay down and not cling.
Also, when I got back in the car to leave, I realized that the gun was almost too big to allow me to sit comfortably in the seat, due to the seat side bolsters ('07 Mustang). If I slid the gun forward just a bit then it would rest against the bolster without actually digging into it, so I think that'll work. It does look like the M&P is the biggest grip gun I can carry and still fit well in the seat though.
All in all, went well and I learned a couple of things. Also, I'm still considering changing to another gun to carry. I like the M&P but the low capacity kind of bugs me. It'd be nice to stick with .45 auto, since that's what I'm already invested in, but if it turns out that a 9mm gun really is better for me, then I'll switch. I'll be looking at a Glock30 IF the grip is any improvement over the 21, and maybe a full-sized M&P .45, but there again, sitting in the car may be an issue.
Side note on the LCR. I had thought to pocket carry it, but in jeans it just prints way too much, even with a pocket holster. It might work if I had bigger thighs, but it's a no-go for me. Cargo pants or shorts with larger, baggy pockets might work. I may also look for an IWB holster for it. I had thought to use it for a back-up but the plan is still evolving....
So today I got to try it out. I went to the local indoor range to brush up on my shooting a bit since it has been a while. I took my M&P .45c, and my Ruger LCR, because those are the two candidates I'm looking at for carry. Also have a Glock21, but aside from the size, I've decided that the grip just doesn't fit me well (it squirms in my hands too much when my hands are damp; and, I pull shots off to the side).
I didn't CC to the range itself because I wasn't sure if they let you take out a CCW at the firing line and shoot it or not (and I forgot to ask before I left, but I'll find out later).
I actually had a pretty good session with both the LCR and M&P. This also confirmed that shooting the M&P comes more easily to me than the Glock21. I was making good hits in the bullseye area whereas with the Glock I always pull the shots off towards the palm side (right or left handed shooting).
Anyway, upon leaving the range I had to go by my parents' house to take care of some stuff while they're away, so while I was there I holstered up the M&P inside the waistband and added a spare mag in an old leather knife holster on the opposite side. My t-shirt was long enough, but when I was doing stuff outside it felt like it kept trying to ride up over the gun. I wasn't so much worried about printing as I was about the shirt coming up without me noticing. It was long enough but I think it needed to be more baggy so that it would stay down and not cling.
Also, when I got back in the car to leave, I realized that the gun was almost too big to allow me to sit comfortably in the seat, due to the seat side bolsters ('07 Mustang). If I slid the gun forward just a bit then it would rest against the bolster without actually digging into it, so I think that'll work. It does look like the M&P is the biggest grip gun I can carry and still fit well in the seat though.
All in all, went well and I learned a couple of things. Also, I'm still considering changing to another gun to carry. I like the M&P but the low capacity kind of bugs me. It'd be nice to stick with .45 auto, since that's what I'm already invested in, but if it turns out that a 9mm gun really is better for me, then I'll switch. I'll be looking at a Glock30 IF the grip is any improvement over the 21, and maybe a full-sized M&P .45, but there again, sitting in the car may be an issue.
Side note on the LCR. I had thought to pocket carry it, but in jeans it just prints way too much, even with a pocket holster. It might work if I had bigger thighs, but it's a no-go for me. Cargo pants or shorts with larger, baggy pockets might work. I may also look for an IWB holster for it. I had thought to use it for a back-up but the plan is still evolving....
