Question for concealed carry folks...

[S&Wfan]

I think one of the early stages that most of us who legally carry concealed go through is the paranoia of wondering if we've been "made."

Don't worry, you'll get over it once you notice how little that others truly notice YOU!

However, to me, carrying concealed MEANS that the gun IS concealed. Our state doesn't have an open carry provision, so I make sure the gun is concealed.

AND YES . . . those goofy "photographer's vests" and fag bags (fanny packs) DO scream "Shoot Me First!" Avoid them like the plague . . . and no one will ever suspect that you are carrying.

It no longer worries me when I carry if someone is going to "make" me. I doubt they would and, if they did, it is only because they are a fellow CCW carrier or an LEO. I have no problem with either!

DITTO TOO . . . on watching the hands! Bulges and eyes can't hurt you . . . until the hands start moving where they shouldn't go.

 

[Pro_Gun]

psycho's and/or borderline psycho's

probably don't give a rip about training or carry permits. They are part of the reason I carry.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

After getting yourr CCL, have you been more cognizent of OTHER people around you that may be carrying concealed? In other words, have you seen people in the mall, or grocery store, or whatever and based on the way they were dressed, or some lump in their coat, figured they were carrying?

I assume that every man wearing a fanny pack is carrying a gun. Unless you are jogging, why would anyone carry a gun that way? But they do.

 

[Alerion]

Here in Fla if a guy is wearing cargo shorts and an oversized flowered shirt it's a pretty good bet he's carrying.

ummm..... Does that mean half the guys over 50 at Disney World are carrying?

Tom

 

[m.p.driver]

ive avoided the the vest path,you look like youve just got back from safari,the fanny pack,you look like a dork.what i did was line the right pockets in several jackets to keep the pistol from wearing through,wallet and keys in left pocket so it hangs naturally

 

[glockgod]

Personally,I wear a vest sometimes. I don't worry about being "made". The only comment I hear is "Going fishing?" I think you could carry a bazooka on a chain around your neck and no one would notice as long as you kept it covered!

 

[DaltonSpringfield]

Observations from a sheeple-watcher

I have been almost everywhere in my career as a Commercial Driver, and I have observed many thousands of people. In that time I have "made" only 10 ccw'ers. In addition to good situational awareness, I am on the lookout for other ccw'ers for research purposes. My reason is simple, my job sometimes takes me to places where carrying is illegal, If I spot someone else's ccw, I have a better idea of what *not* to do to avoid being spotted myself. In my observations, I have learned:
1. so called "shoot me first" vests have 2 uses for concealment, while fishing or photographing. Any other time you wear one, it shouts "GUN"
2. "Dork packs" have their place, this is a functional carry method while at the zoo or other "tourist" locale where others are likely to also be wearing them, beyond that they just scream "DORK" and therefor, not a method I will use much, if at all.
3. OWB just does not work with my body type and usual manner of dress, when combined with an oversize untucked shirt, this is one of the more comfortable options for walking around, not so comfortable to sit on for 12 hrs.
4. As my good friend said...

Mat, not doormat
the best concealment garment ever created by the eye or hand of man is the Wrangler snap front shirt.

when paired with a good quality shoulder holster or, my preferred method for carrying my Keltec P11, a belly band, this is what works best for me.
5. When deep cover is in order (i.e. while in NYC or Chicago) I find that a Keltec P3AT in a wallet style holster or front pocket holster is, by far, the most concealable for me.
6. When in a pinch, tucking a .44mag Ruger Blackhawk in one's coat sleeve works so long as you keep your arm over it and your elbow bent

To those who say you shouldn't be watching for other ccw'ers, good situational awareness includes all of your surroundings, including those who may be carrying. If I spot your ccw, I don't know if you are a law abiding ccw'er doing the same as I or a nut-job preparing to take over the world. Seeing or suspecting your ccw with no other signs of trouble does not alarm me, nor should it. One of the gentlemen whom I "made" was minding his own business, browsing in a chrome shop, while carrying SOB, and didn't know his shirt was caught above his holster, I was not alarmed at all by this and discretely informed him before anyone else had the chance to see it. Another individual I spotted loitering beside a liquor store, had bloodshot eyes, smelled badly of alcohol, and was wearing revoltingly nasty dirty clothes. He struck me as the "alcoholic" type. While I may have been completely wrong in my assessment, I don't feel guilty about leaving after I saw his pistol tucked in his waistband. Nor do I feel bad about calling the liquor store and letting the cashier know about him.
As far as your questions go, yes and yes. By getting your CCW you are taking on an awesome responsibility, it's only natural that you become more aware others who may also be carrying. By going though that mental process the human brain tends to focus on such things, much the same as a teen with a freshly minted driver's license is more likely critique the driving of others.
Congrats on your CCL!!!
Happy hunting,
Dalton

 

[buddyRoland]

Nah I never ponder what others are carrying. I use a Galco IWB, Desantis Undercover or a Don Hume 715 when enroute to and from work. Carrying is second nature to me know but a good holster is crucial. When I go out with the family I use a Galco Concealable or Fletch High Ride for compact or fullsize handguns.

 

[mashaffer]

Blackhawk rig

Mat, What rig do you use for your BHs? I have often wondered about getting a SH made up that carries a full size revolver muzzle up and back (pointing out frm under the armpit) so that a quick hand under the shirt tail or through lower button/snaps puts that hand right on the butt. Either a spring clip or thumb break to hold the peice in place.

Besides the advantage of the low butt being easy to grasp it also puts the thinnest part of the weapon up under the arm so that the upper arm is not forced out unnaturally.

mike

 

[lawboy]

People, people, people ... Anyone with clothes on could be carrying a gun! There is no such thing as telling if they are carrying, or even more likely to be carrying by looking at what they have on!
ANYONE CAN BE CARRYING.
More to the point, it is pretty irrelevant whether they are carrying or not. The signs of aggression or impending confrontation have nothing to do with if the persons in your vicinity are carrying and, thankfully, those signs are easier to identify than a concealed firearm! Too, many of the signs have to do with the environment more than they do the individual, ie., the vast majority of criminals will not act without an opportunity to do so AND GET AWAY. This means they need an environment that is secluded enough to do so. When ever you find yourself in such a place, usually a transitory location between two destinations that are lighted and populated, GO ON HIGH ALERT, MAINTAIN DISTANCE FROM EVERYONE AND MOVE ON THROUGH POST HASTE! It is a waste of time trying to figure out if people are armed.

 

[Stretchman]

Spending time with a lot of bikers, I see all kinds of carry modes. Just be sure that most people carry. From the ridiculous to the absolutely absurd, I have seen it. Shoulder holsters with the straps showing through the sleeve holes in the vests. An open belt slide holster with the muzzle of the gun protruding beneath the vest. Smartcarry holsters with full size autos do not work that well people.

Best way to conceal a weapon is to make sure that they cannot see the weapon. You can't be arrested for having belt clips showing. If no one can see the weapon, then it is concealed. Knwong someone has one and actually seeing it are two different things. IF you really need to conceal it, and I mean deep, there are products for it. Strong side hip is the best position for draw and retention. IWB holsters are good for keep the weapon covered. OWB holsters are the quickest draw.

There are several ways to conceal better than that, but they are worthless if you cannot get to the weapon. Actually, I kind of like the idea that people around my neck of the woods really don't care if someone knows they are packing or not. When there are a whole buch of people hanging around, and they all look like they have big firearms, it kind of keeps the bad guys away. Of course, if anyone is stupid enough to pull down on that crowd, the odds are that he'll have 20 plus guns on him in a matter of about a second, and unless he is one of us, he'll regret it for certain.

Stretch