First CCW- A Dry Run

[Packman]

So, I got the High Noon Holsters for my SW 3913 today. I don't have the gun yet, as I need to go down and do the paperwork Monday, which is when I actually turn 21.

But, seeing as how I had this new shiny holster, I wanted to try it out. So, I stuck the Alter Ego into my pants, and fastened my Rock Steady gunbelt around it.

HOLY CRAP, that's a huge bulge in my pants! This is never gonna work!

So, I started fiddling with it, and finally got my pants, shirt and belt arranged so it wasn't TOO bad. However, looking down, I could see this gigantic bulge sticking out of my pants.

So I says to myself, I says "Self, you're being too self-concious. Everyone on THR says this is pretty normal, and that no one else is looking for it and won't see a thing." So, off I go to work, with my reinforced, tuckable Alter Ego tucked into my belt at 1 o'clock.

Where do I go? Walmart? No! I go to work! I had a 4 hour shift tonight, and I've been paranoid about getting caught carrying there. Seeing as they probably aren't gonna fire me over an empty holster, I figured I'd make a dry run.

At first, it was driving me absolutely nuts. It still felt like my belt and pants were stuck halfway across the room, but no one seemed to notice it. I have to wear a tucked in collared shirt and dress pants to work, and I'm on my feet moving around. We have lots of mirrors, so I was continually checking as I walked past them.

Sure enough, you guys are right. No one else sees a thing. With my shirt bloused out over the pants, you can't notice the bulge in my waistline. Granted, an empty holster isn't the same as a gun butt sticking out, but this'll help getting me into practice for when I have the permit in a few weeks.

I've now had the holster on for 6 hours straight, and I'm starting to forget it's there. I still feel it every time I move, but it doesn't feel as unnatural as when I first put it on.

I think I'm going to continue carrying the holster on dry runs until I have my gun, at which point I'll start carrying around the house to get used to the weight. I plan to keep carrying the empty holster when I go out and about, so I'm used to the feel of having it, as I sit in the truck, etc.

Thoughts?

 

[essayons21]

Not a bad plan.

You have discovered how oblivious the general public really is.

Try open carrying... At first you think everyone is going to scream or stare or run away to call the local SWAT team... until you realize that 99% of the folks in Walmart don't even notice the full-size 1911 on your hip. Those that do may do a double-take before going about their business.

I felt the same way you did when starting to conceal carry. That bulge is HUGE and the butt of the gun hanging up on my shirt was totally obvious. I gradually became accustomed to it and even moved on to OC. I now CC regularly (vs OC), but the OC experience has made me comfortable with ridiculously poor concealment in most situations. I'm talking an OWB holster with a full size 1911 and a short t-shirt that's printing worse than the New York Times.

State laws effect this however. In VA we have unlicensed open carry so there is no worry about brandishing or any other silliness. Check your state laws.

Take it slow, get comfortable, be careful concealing when you need to, don't worry about it the rest of the time.

 

[Caliper_Mi]

I'm talking an OWB holster with a full size 1911 and a short t-shirt that's printing worse than the New York Times.

Haha, that is almost one of my first CC experiences! (got the permit this past summer) All I had was my Ruger P95 and after a few days around the house I had decided that it did not work IWB, so I got a OWB leather holster. I am also a t-shirt and jeans guy and skinny, so it was not hidden very well. Now, Mi does have legal open carry, so I wasn't worried about getting in real trouble but I still must have raised my blood pressure a few points expecting someone to spot me or something. But, the world didn't end and I have also gotten a PF9 for better concealment under a t shirt.

Now that it is getting cooler again, I am starting to work in carrying the Ruger under an unbuttoned flannel shirt. Still working towards the first OC experience.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Most people don't notice OPEN CARRY
those that notice CC are other CCW, Cops, Criminals...
in other words other people who carry guns too

the rest of the public, just assume that you have a smart phone

and if they see the gun, the think you are a cop, or a hood, all depending on how you are dressed.

 

[Bhamrichard]

HOLY CRAP, that's a huge bulge in my pants!

Just smile and nod as people walk by..

 

[Corporal K]

HOLY CRAP, that's a huge bulge in my pants!

and wink at the ladies.

 

[Steve 48]

Its turning colder now, so wear a heavy sweatshirt or light jacket that is a little longer. If I can hide and outside the pants holster with a 357 in it, you can hide most anything. Go to Walmart and other crowded places to "practice" carrying. Yes, you will be self concious but do it anyway or you will never carry.

 

[BP Hunter]

I agree with Shadow about what people may think when they notice your CCW. We all have to admit that people judge you by the way you carry yourself. If you caught carrying and have a jacket with a hood over your head and your pants is hanging halfway down your legs, I can bet you that the cops would be all over you.

 

[fractal7]

I've found that the gun always looks worse to you because you are looking straight down at the butt of it in your shirt. Most people don't get that close to you while you're out and don't really perceive the depth difference from straight on, especially if you wear a patterned shirt that kind of breaks up the outline.

 

[longhair75]

I was also sure that everyone in the mall could see my pistol. No one is really looking

 

[swinokur]

with so many folks carrying smart phones, Blackberry's etc.,no one gives a second look to a bulge. If the grip sticks out, give the rig some forward cant. it will disappear

my .02

 

[TIMC]

Wait until the first time you walk into a store or restaurant where there are several cops, that really made me nervous when I first started carrying. I've now had my CHL for more than 10 years and my sidearm is like my wallet, phone, or pocket knife just another tool I carry so it doesn't bother me at all anymore.

And as posted above, most people ar oblivious to their surroundings and as long as you have a baggy shirt left untucked you will be fine. I carried a Sig 226 all day today and that is a large handgun.

 

[Grey_Mana]

I respectfully disagree. It isn't that most people are oblivious, it is that they don't care if you are carrying a gun. Thinking no one sees would be the equivalent of a hot full chested woman concluding that no one notices her figure because no one said anything.

The people most likely to hysterically loosen their bowels at the idea of you carrying on the people with no exposure to guns or the concept of carrying; they are likely to be oblivious.

 

[swinokur]

Wait until the first time you walk into a store or restaurant where there are several cops, that really made me nervous when I first started carrying. I've now had my CHL for more than 10 years and my sidearm is like my wallet, phone, or pocket knife just another tool I carry so it doesn't bother me at all anymore.

And as posted above, most people ar oblivious to their surroundings and as long as you have a baggy shirt left untucked you will be fine. I carried a Sig 226 all day today and that is a large handgun.

You can even tuck your shirt in with a tuckable holster, then blouse your shirt a little and they still don't notice. Most folks are way to preoccupied to even notice anything about you. If you are concealing no one is supposed to notice anyway.

 

[DonRon]

What would you do when someone walks up behind you and grabs the grips of your gun?....

 

[psyopspec]

I think I'm going to continue carrying the holster on dry runs until I have my gun, at which point I'll start carrying around the house to get used to the weight. I plan to keep carrying the empty holster when I go out and about, so I'm used to the feel of having it, as I sit in the truck, etc.

Thoughts?

I don't consider carrying an empty holster to be good "training" for carrying a CCW. Your prerogative though. If you really felt the need to get used to the shape of it I'd at least put an airsoft in there. Then again, there's an element of ridiculousness to carrying a pellet gun around. Maybe best to wait until you have CCW, holter, and gun all in your possession.

 

[Skribs]

Along the same lines, I haven't CC'd yet, but I've tried it around the house with a sweatshirt over a paddle holster. Even my Mom couldn't notice it, but when I looked in the mirror, if I raised my arms to shoulder level or higher, you could see the muzzle. Do you think people would notice that?

 

[Iam2taz]

To Skibs...
Ah.. NO... >)

 

[medalguy]

Or you could do as I do, wear a sportscoat over the gun. Pretty easy to hide most anything that way, and it does make you look a bit dressier and more legitimate. I bet I could wear an 8 inch S&W 29 under there and it wouldn't be seen.

 

[omegaflame]

What would you do when someone walks up behind you and grabs the grips of your gun?....

Clamp down with your elbow and spin?

 

[pharmer]

Big shirts. I wear Xlarge, large fits. Appearing like a nerd with no taste in clothes and ill fitting shirts makes you blend in here in Florida. Just avoid the black knee socks with sandals. That says "shoot me now.' Joe

 

[Creature]

You have discovered how oblivious the general public really is.

I would qualify that with "'general public". My bet is that you would be surprised at just how many did notice ... but didn't visually acknowledge that they could see you were carrying: plainclothes police, other concealed carriers...and perhaps a predator or two who reflexively size up potential targets that cross their path. As a CCW'er, I tend to check those in my field of view to see if they are carrying. And printing is more or less obvious on some than others.

 

[Caliper_Mi]

I respectfully disagree. It isn't that most people are oblivious, it is that they don't care if you are carrying a gun. Thinking no one sees would be the equivalent of a hot full chested woman concluding that no one notices her figure because no one said anything.

The people most likely to hysterically loosen their bowels at the idea of you carrying on the people with no exposure to guns or the concept of carrying; they are likely to be oblivious.

Possibly. Would be impossible to say how many fall into each group without having someone follow you and survey people.

I have to admit that my g/f and I have seen other people carrying and never approached them. Whether they were intending to be fully concealed or not is up to debate because Mi allows OC and has a pretty good group of OC activists.

 

[Zombie-Hunter]

Look at me posting again, Maybe I should go post on the new member thread.
But I had no intentions of posting more than once today anyway……..

IWB carry is the most uncomfortable thing in the world, truly unnatural!
I have been married 20 yrs and watched my father in-law carry IWB 85% of the time, to hear him telling it, It’s like a second skin cooooomfortable.
Too bad I have known him for so long and watch him remove the weapon in house, car or anywhere that a person may want to spend a few minutes sitting in a chair. At the very least has to adjust it every few minutes, or pulling at his shirt to make sure its still concealed. Of course he preaches comfort to anyone that will listen.

I have bought every style of IWB hostler on the market and will buy anything new that comes out to prove to myself it can’t be done. All the normal reasons for IWB carry are valid, work, politically correct, 007, element of surprise all that jive but the comfortable one I don’t buy.
Can a colostomy bag ever really be comfortable or natural?

OWB only for me, I OC at any of my businesses, car, home. The other places I am a regular and people know me so no problem there. Anywhere else I keep a nice dress vest or jacket around to keep the shock value at bay. During the summer months I either un-tuck my shirts when needed or wear polo type shirts, as you can tell by now I careless about printing.

My opinion about CC is “This type of carry is for criminals” or people who refuse to give into the permit system.
Of course this is only my opinion, but one backed by personal experience and having a 20 year case study whose actions and words don’t quiet match up.

 

[Creature]

My opinion about CC is “This type of carry is for criminals” or people who refuse to give into the permit system.

<sigh>

Wow.