What's the dumbest mistake you've ever made while carrying concealed?

[CajunBass]

I suppose the closest I ever came was when I was being fitted for a tux. Lady reaches around me with a tape measure, hits the Colt Commander on my side and asks "Now what in the world...OH...well, we'll just allow a little more for that." and went on about her business.

Virginia is pretty laid back about such things.

I told her not to worry about it. I would be wearing the tux in Wisconsin and wouldn't carrying up there anyway.

My wife was carrying a Bersa 22 in a cheap Uncle Mikes Holster stuck inside her waistband one day. She was at WalMart one day, leaned over, and the gun fell out, and went sliding down the aisle, and stopped at the feet of another shopper. Fellow looked down, then up at my wife and said "uhhhhh Lady...You droped your...gun?" She thanked him, picked it up, put back in the holster and went on.

We got her a better holster.

 

[cheesebigot]

Mine is similar to CajunBass.

I had just taken my truck to the shop and was catching a bus ride home for the first time in this city. I had my Beretta 84 stashed in an Uncle Mike's without the retention strap (I had cut it off some years prior).

Lo and behold, my bus comes roaring past me on the sidewalk and stops about 100 yards away. I break into a sprint with my backpack and get 3/4 the way to the bus when I hear a CLACK and watch my Beretta go sliding across the sidewalk behind me. I sprint back, pick it up, reholster it, and board the bus in a heavy pant.

The whole ride home, every other passenger stared at me like I was nuts. I just kept my sunglasses on and pretended not to notice.

I replaced the holster the following day with a quality leather piece with good retention snaps, heh.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Several years ago I ran into a convenience store with out my jacket on and my 38 on my hip. I was dressed office casual and with my crew cut I guess they thought I was a Detective etc. I got back in with my snacks and drinks and drove on to Ark and never got stopped.

I'm confused, what was wrong with what you did?

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I'm confused, what was wrong with what you did?

He open carried a handgun, not intentionally, but it wasn't a failure to unintentionally keep concealed (coat blows open type of issue) but a complete failure at even attempting to conceal. It isn't legal in Texas to open carry like this.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

He open carried a handgun, not intentionally, but it wasn't a failure to unintentionally keep concealed (coat blows open type of issue) but a complete failure at even attempting to conceal. It isn't legal in Texas to open carry like this.

Oh, ok... Here in PA we have a License to Carry Firearms which allows us to carry a loaded handgun in our car and carry concealed. Open carry is allowed everywhere without a license but having a license does not require you to carry concealed.

I didn't know open carry was illegal in Tx, thanks for the info...

 

[reddrumtoo]

reddrumtoo, in your opening line, did you mean to type "Before oc was legal.."?

no this was before my state had any concealed carry other than LEO or very special i.e. rare permits to carry concealed.

 

[dprice3844444]

does saying "i do",count?

 

[Lucky Derby]

I was getting gas and when I was finished I closed the fuel door on the car and my cover shirt got caught in the door. Only way to open the door was to trip the switch, inside the car by the driver's seat. OC not a legal option. I tore my shirt to not break the law.

 

[kBob]

I do the marsupial Floridian thing a bit.....belt pouch/ fanny pack carry. Early on I had gotten use to a nice black leather bag that could and did hold a full size series 70 Mark IV. One day I had to take the little rice burner truck I had at the time to the shop and so had my wife's van. I stopped at the Golden Arches for a breakfast biscuit on the way home. I went inside and stood in line behind three or four folks until a young lady asked to take my order When I completed my order she whispered "Your zipper is open.....all the way." I hastily grabbed my trouser's fly and was startled to find it fully zipped as she said "No! Your OTHER zipper"

My nice fanny pack was completely open and my holstered pistol in full view in all its cocked and locked glory. It turns out the seat belt on my wife's van had grabbed my pouch just right as I got out and fully unzipped the thing. She gave me my order after I hurriedly zipped up and turned bright red. She commented "Nice pistol" and I thanked her an got out before anyone else got to comment.

-kBob

 

[Schwing]

I used to carry my px4 storm in an OWB holster and just left my shirt untucked. I was running some wire through a ceiling grid a few months ago and was standing on a ladder with my arms straight up when an older gentleman who works in the building exclaimed "WHERE DID YOU GET THE GUN? I WANT A GUN!"

It was pretty awkward but, luckily, I wasn't breaking any laws in Utah... Just not being as careful as I should have been at keeping it tucked in.

 

[Hometeached1]

Kbob, that is a good one.

I've only been CCing for a little over three years, and so far nothing bad. I have been asked "what you carrying by two other "gun people", but that's it.

 

[340PD]

Years ago, I once knew a guy that slid a Seecamp into a pocket holster and a pair of shorts. Took his wife to breakfast, and as he was leaving his server came running after him, gave a beautiful smile, and asked discretely if this was mine? ( I mean his).

Note to self, deep pockets, and always check when getting up from a chair or booth.

Tip your server well. Fortunately I had.

 

[Spats McGee]

At one point, I always topped off the magazine on my CCW for carry. I chambered a round, holstered up, and headed off to do whatever it was I was doing that day. When I got home, I drew my CCW, held out my hand, and hit the mag release. Nothing happened. Turns out, I'd left the magazine at home after I topped off. I'd been walking around with one bullet chambered, no magazine in the gun, all day.

 

[Bexar]

Epithet?

Good story all the same.

Spell check.

 

[BobWright]

460Kodiak:

You just violated my first rule of gun handling: Whenever you pick up a handgun for the first time since leaving your control, open the action and check for ammunition.

Saves embarrassment many ways.

Bob Wright

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Well...I wasn't actually carrying it. It was in the trunk of my car after a long weekend, some of which involved target shooting.

And then...I drove back to the base, where I was living in the barracks, late that Sunday evening. And promptly got pulled over for a burned out headlight (which I recognized the instant it happened, when half the road in front of me went dark).


License? Check. Registration? Check. Proof of insurance...still in the envelope with the rest of my mail, inside my briefcase. Which was in my trunk.

Didn't think about my pistol at ALL right up until the moment I stuck my key in the trunk and unlocked it...and then it was too late.

But fortune smiled on me that night, because my pistol was right next to my briefcase, on the opposite side from where the base police officer was standing. So he didn't see it. I deftly slid my briefcase over towards me, covering the pistol completely, popped the latches, and pulled out my proof of insurance.

Got a "Have a nice evening, get your headlight fixed" from the officer. Then I turned right around, drove off base, and put my gun back in my safe in storage and counted my lucky stars.

 

[GBExpat]

One HOT day back in summer of ~1983 I had to go to Henrico county court for something (I forget) ... and I had to park waaaaaaay out in the boonies.

I didn't realize/remember that I was carrying the Walther until I stepped into the courthouse and saw the metal detector station. RATS!

For awhile I looked around for an officer that I knew, but no joy ... and finally had to do the long trek back to the car to stash the pistol in the trunk ... and return ... <sigh>

 

[Zaydok Allen]

460Kodiak:

You just violated my first rule of gun handling: Whenever you pick up a handgun for the first time since leaving your control, open the action and check for ammunition.

Saves embarrassment many ways.

Bob Wright

True Bob. I live alone, and no one handles my guns but me, so I am used to that gun ALWAYS being loaded and chambered. I am a stickler for following the "Treat every gun as if it is loaded, even when you know it isn't." rule. I let that one get the better of me in my particular scenario since I always treat it as such, and it is loaded 99.5% of the time. It got me on the 0.05% that day. Should have checked.

I'm just really glad it wasn't the other possible outcome of a ND from assuming a gun was unloaded. THAT could have been really bad. It was a good reminder. First time I've made that mistake in 5 years of carrying and it'll be the last.

For crying out loud .... I went to Wal-Mart unarmed!

 

[dickydalton]

Twas just before Christmas a few years ago.....
Off to shop did the Wife and I go......
On a whim I packed the Wife's new toy......
A Para Carry, LDA 45 that gave her great joy.
Alas I'd bought her the gun.....but not yet a holster that fit the gun.
I had a cheap IWB holster that fit the Colt Officers 3 &1/2......
Too bad the PARA was only 3".
Walking to the front of Wally's fine store......
I groped in my pocket for money to share......
As we neared the bell ringer there.
I dropped my cash on the sidewalk right there....
And as I bent to retrieve it I got a big scare.
The PARA squirted out with a flash.....
And slid through the puddles with a splash.
I said darn with an F,
And picked up the wet pistol in a flash.
Hundreds were watching as I tucked it back in....
And entered the store with a shamed sheepish grin.
The Sheriff followed us most the way home.....
And when we got there....................
I went on line and bought the proper holster!

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I said darn with an F,

LOL! I gotta remember that.

 

[MedWheeler]

reddrum, I was asking about you meaning to write "before CC was legal becuase the scenario you described had you unintentionally carrying openly, when you had, in fact, meant to carry concealed (you wrote about using a cover garment.)

If that is indeed what happened, what you were trying to do (carry concealed) was unlawful. What you ended up doing was legal.

This was your original post (number 9 in this thread.) I've highlighted the phrases that had me wondering if it was your intent at the time to break the law.

Before cc was legal I had a s&w 19 round butt in an owb holster w/ jacket for cover , I was doing some late grocery shopping . I had my young grandson w/ me & was carrying him . Just before we got to the check-out I noticed his foot had kicked the jacket back exposing my gun . If anyone noticed [ how could they not ?] they must have thought I was off-duty LEO .

 

[SDGlock23]

Once while at the checkout in Walmart I had my G23 in one of those really cheap soft velcro IWB holsters...in the small of my back. The only thing holding it in is a piece of velcro that really wasn't working the best (clogged with lent, etc), so while in the front of the line at a point where I think the entire store could see me, my Glock fell out onto the floor while I was bending down to pick up a sack of groceries.

I just reached down and picked it back up, although I know other people saw it, nobody said a word.

 

[Sam1911]

Not really a mistake, but a goofy frustration all the same...

Once hiking with the family I heard a most pressing "call of nature" and needed to get far off the trail and take care of business pronto.

After completing my awkward and uncomfortable business, trying to avoid the poison ivy and other hikers, and stepping or squatting on a timber rattler, I got myself squared away and buttoned, zipped, and buckled. In the moment of silence just before I strode away, I distinctly heard a tiny "thud" and had the overwhelming sense that I'd just dropped something.

Searching my pockets and the ground around me I didn't see anything amiss, but then I drew my 629 and realized I'd just lost the cylinder latch screw and lever! And there I stood, in the spot where I'd taken my ease and scratching through the leaves and underbrush and I couldn't for the life of me find either one! So I ended up hiking the rest of the day hoping even more than usual that I didn't need to reload.

Now I keep spares, and a bit of lock-tite. And always hike with TP.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

When I got my present CCW, about 12 years ago, it was nearly perfect, except the grips had to go. I prefer a larger grip and smooth, so I bought a set of finger-groove wrap-arounds that are quite large and wonderful. Installed them, re-installed the mag, racked the slide, applied the safety. Now it was the perfect CCW. Carried it for nearly a week, before cleaning it. Now, the safety wouldn't go off. Strange it went on quite easily. Took the grips back off and there was no indention for the safety flange. Had to file one into the grip myself. I had been carrying an essentially empty CCW for a week.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I had - actually still have - a magazine pouch with a belt flap/loop that comes up under the belt and snaps in place. One day I apparently failed to snap it well enough and it fell down, causing the magazine to spill and hit the floor. This was in the lobby of a crowded restaurant, too. I nonchalantly scooped the mag up off the floor and if anybody noticed they didn't say anything. The mag, for my CZ75D Compact, fortunately holds the cartridges tightly, or I would have had to chase a loose round all over the floor as well.

Just recently I was carrying "appendix" IWB, went into a gas station and forgot to pull my sweater down over the gun. Again, nobody noticed or said anything, but the gun butt was visible the whole time I was in there.