Putting on the CCW in the Car.

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Ben86

Ben86

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Is anyone else here forced to put their CCW on while inside the car? I have to sometimes. If I want to CC before or after work I am either forced to take it off or put it on while inside the car. I have gotten so fed up with this I have decided to pocket carry my LCP instead if I have to do the superman wardrobe upgrade in the car. My main CCW is my M&P45, I've tried my Taurus 709 as well and I just can't ever seem to get it positioned right, or my shirt tucked in right. I never really know if it's printing because I can't do a mirror check. And I have to watch out for the curious passerby that may be alarmed at what I am doing. All in all I only see pocket carry as my solution. Just stick it in the holster then the pocket and go. IWB carry seems like mission impossible, or at least painstakingly difficult.

I'd like to hear from anyone that has had a similar experience. What's your solution?
 
I often do a quick check on concealment using the car's side window as a mirror.

A little adjustment at this time looks like I am just "primping" before walking from the car. The trick is to not take too long and obsess over it. If there is a real problem, I get back in the car for major adjustments.

Good luck!

Bob
 
When you get off work you are either going to go home, or go someplace else. If you are going home I would just leave it off until I got home. Since it's right next to you in the car that shouldn't be a problem.

If you are going someplace else you are either wearing a jacket or you aren't. If you have a jacket just tuck it someplace that can be covered and when you get inside head straight for the bathroom and get situated.

If you don't have a jacket then maybe you could use a fanny pack. I know they look stupid but just drop it in a fanny pack until you get inside and again, head straight to the bath room and get adjusted. If not a fanny pack then something like a portfolio, planner, pack, or other off body item that will hold your ccw until you can get into the bathroom to get it put away into a proper carry position. You'd only be using it long enough to get from the car to the bathroom.
 
I always pocket carry a P3AT. If possible I try to carry my G26/CBST but if I can't I know it's secure in my vehicle when I get back in my car. I hate feeling like I'm not concealing well, especially in the summer so I don't suffer about it anymore. I am OK with pocket carry when needed.
 
A paddle holster would be a good solution, but only for the brief period of the year that we can wear a jacket down here.

I guess my only options are pocket, or off site adjustment. I guess off site adjustment could work, depending on where I am going.
 
Well I don't know anything about your companies policy but have you tried just wearing your holster the whole time but removing your weapon? That would solve the problem of placement (assuming you don't move the holster out of place) and the only remaining problem would be someone seeing you moving your firearm. Although once again you should view your companies policy.
 
Or remove the holster for the work day, put it in a drawer and reinstall in the head on the way out of the office. Get in the car, reholster the weapon and you're done.
 
I have the same issue. I keep my pocket carry weapon in its holster locked in the car while I'm at work. If I need to run an errand then the whole thing goes into my pocket before I get out of the car.
 
Please note South Carolina members!

You can legally keep a pistol loaded in your glove compartment. (unlocked)


You do not need CWP.
 
The only time I have to deal with this is arriving at and leaving work. Carry while on duty in the EMS unit is a no-no. I pocket-carry my PF-9 to work, then stash it when I arrive (I arrive early and it's always dark, with no one else in the parking lot.) At the end of my 13-hour shift, I sidle up to my truck and slip it back in my pocket. These are the only times I pocket-carry anything; all my regular carry is done ITB (inside-the-belt, using an IWB holster), and I have no vehicle issues with it.
 
i have to do this frequently because of where I work. Before leaving I'll move the case from the trunk to the back seat, and the reach around, grab the weapon and put it in the holster that I'm already wearing. One tip to when I'm carrying is that I always check to make sure my shirt is down when I leave the vehicle. I have a PF9 so don't really worry about printing as long my shirt is covering it.
 
i guess im lucky. i put on my pro carry in the morning, go to work, and it stays on till i get home.

my holster is a very high riding hip concealment holster and sitting is no problem.

i am an electrician and most of the time im in a customers building or production facility and they are all aware that im carrying it.

i deal directly with the owners of the companies i work in, and make it well known.

one company that i work at quite often is a newspaper printing plant. i do the electric controls on the printing presses there, and the owner and i are what some might consider to be friends.

he has plainly posted on the doors, a pic of a revolver with the red circle around it and the line though it.

i was carrying in there one day and he said "have you not seen the signs on the doors?"

i said "ya, but its a revolver in the pic and i carry a semiauto."

he laughed and said "ok dammit, but if your going to carry in my building you have to help me pick out a pistol in the near future, help me become proficient with it, and until then you must agree to be my bodygaurd/electrician for no extra charge."

he is a cool dude, and rich out of his mind. (like nine figures rich)

its rare that you get to meet folks with that kind of scratch and they turn out to be cool as hell.
 
To the OP, according to the open carry website open carry is legal in MS with a CCW permit so you don't need to worry to much about printing.
 
Got a permit to carry it concealed?

Who cares what people think? Put it on in your car and do what you need to do. If anything, if some person who means you harm sees you adjusting an M&P in your belt, they'll probably think twice.

Personally, I pocket carry a P3AT 24/7, unless I'm in pajamas. I'll open carry or conceal a larger handgun most of the time I'm off work, though.
 
I have many times put on my S&W M&P 45 (now M&P 9, I switched calibers) while in the car.. Usually, I do it in an area where there is not many people and switch it from the holster in my glove box to the holster on my waist. Although, sometimes I will put on the entire holster with gun. Lately, I have been putting my S&W 442 in the compartment next to the driver's seat of my SUV, because it would be hard for me to reach for my CCW while I am in the driver's seat and I needed it in a quick defense situation.
 
To the OP, according to the open carry website open carry is legal in MS with a CCW permit so you don't need to worry to much about printing.
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Legally, I'm in the clear, but I still don't want the negative attention it may cause if some nosy person were to notice my gun because I didn't have it put on right. I do have a concealed carry permit by the way, just wanted to make that clear.

Who cares what people think?
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I just don't want some BS brandishing charge, I don't have complete faith in local LE to understand CC laws. This is just from experience.

I think part of my problem is that I am not using a proper holster. I'm using a fabric Blackhawk holster at the moment until I can decide what holster I want. If I go back to carrying my G26 in my kydex triton clip holster it would probably be a lot easier to put on. Maybe if I practice putting it on in the car more at home I can get really good with it.

Carry while on duty in the EMS unit is a no-no.
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That's a shame, sometimes you guys are in as much danger as cops.
 
...I just can't ever seem to get it positioned right, or my shirt tucked in right. I never really know if it's printing because I can't do a mirror check. And I have to watch out for the curious passerby that may be alarmed at what I am doing. All in all I only see pocket carry as my solution. Just stick it in the holster then the pocket and go. IWB carry seems like mission impossible, or at least painstakingly difficult.

I'd like to hear from anyone that has had a similar experience. What's your solution?
Click to expand...

First, how long have you been at it?

I can relate. I have to put the holster on and off, a time or two each week, within a vehicle; a pickup specifically. The reason I ask how long you've been doing it, is because for me, it started out cumbersome, but you get better and faster with experience, at least I did. I'll never carry any other way except tuckable IWB. Now... I have to admit, I couldn't care less what anyone who notices might think. If they see me adjusting or whatever, I simply don't care.
 
I feel your pain. In the case of my preferred crossbreed-like holster, I stick the holster in my laptop bag and slip it on before I leave for the day. Sometimes I just grab my high-noon bare asset holster and stick it in the car. It slips on with not much issue while in the car.

If they see me adjusting or whatever, I simply don't care.
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Same here. But it depends. Pulling up at a kids birthday party after work at monkey joe's isn't the most ideal place for me to be caught fiddling with my waistline, belt and zipper. :uhoh: Yeah, I have +2 (+3 or 4 now that I've lost weight) pants and regular pants, but no matter what I wear I can't get that crossbreed style holster situated right until I unbuckle, unzip and re-tuck everything....while standing. I always at least wear a t-shirt or tank-top undershirt, so I have just given up on getting that holster adjusted and mounted while sitting.
 
Body shape is certainly going to greatly affect the ease/difficulty of putting on a holster and tucking the shirt while sitting in a vehicle. It may be the one primary factor, even above holster type/design, in regards to the ease/difficulty of doing this. Honestly, I never have to unbuckle/unzip and all that. I can stuff the holster IWB, and tuck the shirt in enough to be good, almost perfect. Usually as I step out of the truck, I make a few final pokes with the fingers to get the shirt where it needs to be and I'll hitch the holster this way or that, and it is as good as it gets.

Oh wait, then again, the size of your EDC is obviously a factor. I forgot about that. Maybe that is why I have such an easy time at this. I pack a P11, my holster is top notch, so it's a small, solid package.
 
First, how long have you been at it?
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I've only been at CC for a couple years, I've recently gotten into having to put it on in the car. I'm not chubby, so that's not the problem. I think my solution may just be more practice and a better holster that is easier to stuff IWB while seated. That way I don't have to go mousegun just because I can't stand up to put my holster on. As long as my t-shirt is adequately loose with decently thick material I shouldn't have a problem with my beloved M&P45, if I do there's always the Glock 26.

Same here. But it depends. Pulling up at a kids birthday party after work at monkey joe's isn't the most ideal place for me to be caught fiddling with my waistline, belt and zipper.
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:D I often eat lunch in my car while at college in between classes, and one time I inadvertently parked right in front of what is a children's day care. Half way into my lunch they came out and started playing, I then received several odd stares from what I assume were faculty (I was doing my best to be non-creepy and just finish my lunch quick), and the kids were soon ushered inside. LOL Gotta be mindful of where you are parking if you could be doing something that may be misinterpreted.
 
Oh wait, then again, the size of your EDC is obviously a factor.
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This. I carry a g19 most of the time these days. I didn't have this issue with my 1911. My biggest issue is getting my jeans or whatever over the kydex part so that it doesn't get pushed down to the bottom of the kydex holster.
 
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