My advice to people just getting into carry

[JR24]

I recommend the smallest in suitable for defense caliber. The choice boils down to 9x17, 9x19 or .38 special. I'm moving to .38 to shed weight and to take advantage of Federal HST .38 Micro load.

I always find the J Frame interesting as a suggestion as I personally find small .38s to be the least pleasant guns to shoot of any I've tried.

Micro 9s or subcompact .45s? No big deal, my LCR with +Ps? Ugh, not fun. And it's not like I'm recoil sensitive, I enjoy my .44 and love my 10mm and .357 mags with hot handloads.

Even with my powder puff range loads my wife wont go near my LCR or the little Smith her dad has, but didnt mind my 365 when I had it, or my 26.

 

[Wanderling]

I always find the J Frame interesting as a suggestion as I personally find small .38s to be the least pleasant guns to shoot of any I've tried.

Micro 9s or subcompact .45s? No big deal, my LCR with +Ps? Ugh, not fun. And it's not like I'm recoil sensitive, I enjoy my .44 and love my 10mm and .357 mags with hot handloads.

Even with my powder puff range loads my wife wont go near my LCR or the little Smith her dad has, but didnt mind my 365 when I had it, or my 26.

I don’t find them unpleasant to shoot, I just suck at shooting them.

It took me two mags worth of .380 (12 rounds) and a little bit of analysis to start hitting in the general vicinity of the bullseye at 15 ft with LCP while shooting at a reasonably fast rate.

It took me more than half a box of .38 Special and careful deliberate aiming to even start hitting anywhere on target. And it took me nearly an entire box and very deliberate aiming to land two shots inside bullseye.

I am very much fascinated with revolvers but so far am sticking with semis.

 

[Old Dog]

Here's what I've learned from carrying a gun professionally for the past 39 years:

1. You cannot subscribe to current cutting-edge fashion and effectively carry or conceal a handgun.
- Baggy pants with loose waist and loose/no belt, no bueno.
- Skinny jeans ... shouldn't be worn anyway ...
- Sagging one's pants halfway down one's buttocks, oh no, also won't work (plus you can't run away quickly).
- The current trend to tight shirts, smallish suit jackets and sport coats, and outerwear shows off one's trim waist and accentuates one's pecs and broad shoulders, but also contributes to printing fairly obviously.
- The Plaxico Burress rule: don't Mexican carry your Glock in the waistband of your fashionable warm-up pants.

2. As stated before, no one is looking at the bulges in your clothing; probably few would even notice someone wearing a colostomy bag on the outside of your clothing.

3. Full-sized auto-pistols can absolutely be concealed as effectively as mouseguns; as noted, wearing one's pants at the waist, a good belt/holster combination and an appropriate cover garment (wearing a sport coat out when around town is not a bad thing if your climate allows; otherwise a looser-fit untucked shirt or vest doesn't make you stand out in anyplace you'd normally be hanging out). [uh, caveat here: a buddy reminds me that if one has love handles or a muffin-top adjustments will need to be made in carry position]

4. This:

Who wears 511s or other tactical clothing? Don't wear stuff that says "I'm a gun guy."

Sigh ... okay, so I'm one who often wears cargo pants and polo shirts to work (I also may or may not currently sport a tactical beard) and I favor trendy hiking boots (however, I don't normally wear ballcaps with velcro patches except on the range), but I'm kinda coming to believe that only gun guys notice other gun guys and how they're dressed. Otherwise, the general populace, if any of them notice me at all, simply see an AARP-aged silver-haired white guy (albeit one who's in fabulous physical condition for his age) who doesn't appear to pose a threat to anyone. So I've simply decided I'm gonna dress comfortably and stop worrying about being "profiled" by either other good guys or bad guys.

 

[JR24]

Sigh ... okay, so I'm one who often wears cargo pants and polo shirts to work (I also may or may not currently sport a tactical beard) and I favor trendy hiking boots (however, I don't normally wear ballcaps with velcro patches except on the range), but I'm kinda coming to believe that only gun guys notice other gun guys and how they're dressed. Otherwise, the general populace, if any of them notice me at all, simply see an AARP-aged silver-haired white guy (albeit in fabulous physical condition for his age) who doesn't appear to pose a threat to anyone. So I've simply decided I'm gonna dress comfortably and stop worrying about being "profiled" by either other good guys or bad guys.

So true.

I never knew that wearing a "shoot me first" camera or fishing vest was a dead giveaway until I read it on the internet.

Then again, the two guys I know of who wear those regularly dont carry guns.

Plus, I've been rocking a tactical beard before beards were tactical (or cool).

 

[Old Dog]

Ah, yeah, you just reminded me that I love my Cabela's Safari Vest ... wear it hiking all the time. Don't mean I am concealing a gun, just that I love all the pockets!

 

[JR24]

Ah, yeah, you just reminded me that I love my Cabela's Safari Vest ... wear it hiking all the time. Don't mean I am concealing a gun, just that I love all the pockets!

I love Duluth Trading Co jackets, both the sport style "presentation" jackets and heavier ones. Fantastic number of pockets

 

[JohnKSa]

I always find the J Frame interesting as a suggestion as I personally find small .38s to be the least pleasant guns to shoot of any I've tried.

I don't know if they're the least pleasant guns I've shot, but they're right up there near the top of the list. They are just not at all fun for me to shoot.

My wife has a similar opinion. Before we met, she decided to buy a gun for self-defense and spent a good deal of time renting and shooting guns on the advice of various people. So she shot small revolvers because that's what most folks recommended. To this day, she absolutely refuses to shoot any centerfire revolver in any caliber.

 

[sigarms228]

I have never had a problem concealing my Glock 19 adequately. There is a big difference between printing to the point the outline of the gun can be made out and that occasional little bump under a shirt that could be a whole lot of things including a cell phone, tablet, battery pack, game device, medical device etc.

Choice of holster and belt are important too. I favor single clip kydex holster with a high mounted clip as that holds pistol tight to my side, has excellent retention, and esy on and off belt with pistol in the holster. A good belt will also help insure holster does not flop around, sag, or stick out away from body. I wear Beltman leather gun belt.

Also blend in with the crowd, be low key, polite, and don't draw attention to yourself. I won't wear a hat or shirt with any wording, symbols, etc on it as that can draw attention or even potentially offend someone.

Being retired I am almost always dressing casual these days and that makes CCW very easy.

 

[Trey Veston]

Sigh ... okay, so I'm one who often wears cargo pants and polo shirts to work (I also may or may not currently sport a tactical beard) and I favor trendy hiking boots (however, I don't normally wear ballcaps with velcro patches except on the range), but I'm kinda coming to believe that only gun guys notice other gun guys and how they're dressed. Otherwise, the general populace, if any of them notice me at all, simply see an AARP-aged silver-haired white guy (albeit one who's in fabulous physical condition for his age) who doesn't appear to pose a threat to anyone. So I've simply decided I'm gonna dress comfortably and stop worrying about being "profiled" by either other good guys or bad guys.

Gun guys are worse than women in judging and ostracizing others for what they wear, lol.

I work in corporate security so I wear 511 pants, polo shirt, hiking boots, and a ball cap nearly every night to work. When on days, I switch to dress slacks, dress shirt, and tie for executive transports and meetings.

I had no idea I was making myself a target, lol.

I live in the Pacific Northwest; nearly everybody is a "gun guy" and cargo pants, hiking boots, NRA hats, etc are considered normal clothing. I think people give bad guys way, way too much credit as far as observational skills and tactics. 99% of criminals I've encountered were dumbasses.

 

[6.8KT]

I don't find my J-frame unpleasant to shoot even with +P. I'm not particularly good with it though. Last time I went to the indoor range with it, I rolled the target back to 15 yards... and I was missing paper with some shots - though most were on paper, if not in the rings.

 

[RETG]

At times, people tend to overthink something they believe to be a problem when it is not. If you are legal to carry and it is not illegal to print where you are carrying, then carry what you are comfortable with and can shoot accurately.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

This is from the road trip my buddy, Matt, and I made to the CMP. I have a Glock 19 on my right side along with a badge. I carry everywhere I go and do my best not to look like the Police or a gun guy.


Another pic from a few years ago at the USS Alabama with a Glock 19 on my right side.

 

[thomas15]

Invest in quality... quality firearm, ammo, holster, belt and practice.

^^^Totally agree.

I would also suggest that what works for me may or may not work for thee. Free advice is great but experience is greater. This means that CCW on a strict time/funding budget may very well cause the individual to be either ineffective or uncomfortable or both.

 

[JR24]

Ain't that the truth. I often opine that I would have spent one heck of a lot less money if I'd just bought a Vedder light tuck and a good nylon/kydex instructors type belt first (current one is from RDR).

Then again, without trying them all I'd never have known this was the best setup for me.

I'm still trying to find the right magazine carrier for my spare though. I really like how Kytex conceal and carry, but the design isnt robust enough, I've broken two so far. The el cheapo Glock ones are my favorite, but I dont carry Glock currently.

The quest never ends.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

^^^Totally agree.

I would also suggest that what works for me may or may not work for thee. Free advice is great but experience is greater. This means that CCW on a strict time/funding budget may very well cause the individual to be either ineffective or uncomfortable or both.

And for Gosh sake, do not think quality is determined by Price and for sure NOT POPULARITY. Believe only about 5% of what you hear on the Internet. Don't pay attention to Internet Experts. Go to the range often. Make Friends, share guns. The gun recommended to you by internet forums, most likely is NOT the gun for you.Have fun with it. If it is NOT Fun, it most likely will not work. And don't shoot yourself in the Leg.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Why do you think Magnum PI wore those ugly shirts.

The odds of Magnum legally carrying a gun in Hawaii are so low as to be zero.

That said, I liked Magnum's shirts

 

[Ignition Override]

Fairly often carry a CZ 'PCR', Sig P228 or .380 Makarov (summer time) the last two-three years: IWB only, left-handed, left side.
These were at 8:30, but recently, Not At All aft of 9:00 (grip seems less visible, unless I lean to the right).

The only person who both noticed And told me was an off-duty lady deputy standing directly behind me at the Walgreen's cashier, at Germantown Rd/Summer Ave in Bartlett (Memphis).
I suspect that many people have seen the bottom of the grips print a bit if I bent down or sideways, but they either don't resemble a gun or they didn't care.

 

[Old Dog]

I carry everywhere I go and do my best not to look like the Police or a gun guy.

Eh, I think I'd make you ... you've just got "the look." (maybe it's the Thomas Magnum mustache)

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Eh, I think I'd make you ... you've just got "the look." (maybe it's the Thomas Magnum mustache)

LEOs are better at spotting their own kind.
I do push it to the limit for my Department regs. but I liked it better when it looked more like Sam Elliott’s.

 

[JR24]

Moustache like that you gotta be carrying a Peacemaker.

I'd wager.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

Moustache like that you gotta be carrying a Peacemaker.

I'd wager.

Wyatt Earp.
But then again, Wyatt might have had a difficulty using the 365 on someones head.Maybe more cops should carry a "Bluntline".

 

[Hangingrock]

I don't belong to the "Gun Of The Month Club" and or "Carry Rotation Concept" for concealed carry. I get by with a S&W-9mm-Shield concealed carry year around. For what every reason should I decide to carry a BUG then its a S&W-38Spl-M640 in a pocket holster. I'd have to say 99.9% of the time its a singular carry which is the Shield.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Carry whatever you like -- no one will notice. If a cop notices and stops you, show him your CHL. If a flap-lipped old busybody says anything to you, carry a $5.00 bill in your watch pocket. Make a face and say, "Wow! Your breath is really bad!"

Then hand her the $5.00 and say, "Go buy yourself some mouthwash."

 

[Wanderling]

Fairly often carry a CZ 'PCR', Sig P228 or .380 Makarov (summer time) the last two-three years: IWB only, left-handed, left side.
These were at 8:30, but recently, Not At All aft of 9:00 (grip seems less visible, unless I lean to the right).

The only person who both noticed And told me was an off-duty lady deputy standing directly behind me at the Walgreen's cashier, at Germantown Rd/Summer Ave in Bartlett (Memphis).
I suspect that many people have seen the bottom of the grips print a bit if I bent down or sideways, but they either don't resemble a gun or they didn't care.

The vast majority of people won’t acknowledge it. Whether they care or not, is a wholly separate issue.

Personally, I don’t like printing for a number of reasons. Not the least, it’s a highly desirable object for a criminal.

 

[cougar1717]

Good discussion. CC'ing has many facets that must be acknowledged.

Forget about caliber. Forget about round count.

Get the smallest gun that you absolutely are comfortable carrying, in all circumstances and clothing.

I would have to disagree, though. Caliber, capacity, physical size of handgun, your personal clothing style - all these affect what and how a responsible CC holder carries. (I'm not saying the OP is irresponsible for choices.)

I liked the discussion on what kind of an encounter a CC'er may be preparing. I think this is important to the direction of conversation. The OP is advocating carrying basically a pocket gun for comfort, to fit clothing choices, and simplicity. Close range (I'll let you decide what that means); small caliber; about six shots or less. The argument was to begin here before "graduating" to something bigger. (I have no problem with the OP's choice.)

However, the other thought process is that a person may be preparing for something more than the above. You can make any scenario that you like, but what if the encounter is with someone who intends to do harm with a high capacity handgun, shotgun, or semi-auto rifle? I'm not saying to go head to head like some action movie, but I would argue that there is a better chance of stopping the threat with something bigger than a pocket gun. It would be something in 9/40/45, with the ability to add aftermarket night sights, and have a slide stop to prepare for a reload. Now, that requires a different way to dress and the equipment to support a physically larger handgun and possibly an extra magazine. Few would deny that a bigger CCW is easier to gain proficiency, that 9/40/45 has better SD ammo choices than "mouse gun calibers," but a physically bigger handgun is harder to conceal.

I have spotted several CC'ers out and about. It is easier to see when someone is 5.11'd up with gun brand decals all over the back window of their truck or suv. Older men are usually drawn to those "sneaky pete" and similar belt packs that can hold a LCP or similar. They are easy to spot. It's not a cell phone inside. So much for being "sneaky" - haha. I've spotted an appendix IWB and 4:00 IWB when they bend or reach and then print. One time, a guy was reaching overhead to grab an item. Sure enough, his shirt rose up and revealed his XDS clear as day!

However, "gun aware" people spotting CC'ers is definitely a small minority. The average person is too distracted or self absorbed or phone absorbed to notice.

Just like anything else, choices have consequences. There are benefits and detriments to most choices, including what and how to CC.