Advice for, and biggest mistakes made by, newbie concealed carriers.

[twoclones]

I'm with you TC about taking your biz elsewhere, but there are times that's not an option, do you just carry anyway?

All they can do is ask you to leave, but 99% of the time they wouldn't even know you were carrying.

I'll plead the 5th That said, I'd never carry where I was breaking a law more serious than tresspassing. But one must know the local laws. I've carried into elementary schools but in WA it's legal for a parent to carry in the school when picking up or dropping off their child. I've carried into bars and casinos in Nevada where it's legal. I also wore an empty hoster into the courhouse when I applied for my Oregon non-resident permit. The finger print girl asked me about it and chuckled when I told her I wasn't that stupid.

 

[elsullo]

I learned that it was MOST important to have a good, secure holster with complete trigger coverage---especially for soft triggers like Glocks or cocked and locked carry---and to be most careful when reholstering that my finger or clothing did not accidentally enter the triggerguard!

I found that a holster should NOT have retention straps, which are a fumble magnet when drawing the weapon. Instead, the holster itself should grip the gun FIRMLY, so there is no doubt that the gun will not come out by itself or durning exertion. If there is a need for a snap-strap, it should be metal reinforced for a positive unsnapping. Those velcro straps on cheap nylon holsters are an invitation to disaster! Practice drawing repeatedly from a "cold" posture and you will experience what I mean.

Wear your belt tightly, so that the gun stays put and so you don't have to constantly pull it up. As others have said, don't keep touching the bulge to make sure your rig is in place. A wide belt is more comfortable when tight than a thin one. Try jogging with your holster on to see if it is going to shift---as a bus driver I constantly spied men running for the bus with their right elbow pinned against their waist to hold their gun down!

DON'T use the "small-of-back" carry! If you fall on your gun you could easily break your vertebrae. Hundreds of disabled policemen will testify to that. Plus, if you want to print the weapon through your covering clothes, just bend forward.

Also for printing or "flashing" your gun, reach upwards for something. To avoid that flash when your clothes ride high while reaching, learn to not use your gun hand to reach with. And if carrying in a jacket pocket, put equal weight on the other side so that your jacket does not obviously sag to one side---keep your eyes open and you will often see this.

If you are worried about printing, "blade" your body so that your gun side is turned away from the viewer. Do this casually and nobody will ever notice.

Now, the hardest part of concealed carry is hugging.....................elsullo

 

[wavo]

I try to hug as many women I can a day so I may have to rethink my carry positions...or rethink my hugging positions.

 

[9MilMan]

Excellent thread, Penguin! As I have been carrying daily for about three months, I have just gone through this learning curve. I am now so confident that I feel wierd without it, and normal with it. I had decided that my XD9 SC was too big to carry and now I carry a Kahr. But as my confidence has grown, I am rethinking the XD, and am looking for a good holster. Thanks for posting this.

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

Excellent thread, Penguin! As I have been carrying daily for about three months, I have just gone through this learning curve. I am now so confident that I feel wierd without it, and normal with it. I had decided that my XD9 SC was too big to carry and now I carry a Kahr. But as my confidence has grown, I am rethinking the XD, and am looking for a good holster. Thanks for posting this.

My current rotation consists of a Kahr and an XD-40. I would suggest Galcos Stow-n-go holster for both.

 

[NK777]

My current rotation consists of a Kahr and an XD-40. I would suggest Galcos Stow-n-go holster for both.

I carry a full size 1911 and/or a Taurus PT145 and/or Ruger LCP. The bug goes with me everywhere it's legal. I prefer carrying a full size 1911 but can't do it everywhere year round without being totally obvious.

 

[elsie]

Yes! Don't touch your gun! I make a game out of spotting people carrying around me and this is a frequent "tell". You can always spot fanny pack holsters too. "That's weird, why does that person have a fanny pack? And why is the belt on it so wide? Why does it have that zipper all the way around it and those tabs? Why so much velcro?"

...

I carry in a fanny pack but I don't particularly mind if people think that I'm carrying. Based on what I see on the news, most bad guys aren't that observant. Because of a blown 4th lumbar, it's the least painful for me. I keep my shirts tucked in so IWB isn't a very effective option. I'll use a vertical shoulder rig when it's appropriate to wear a coat or something similar over it all the time. I've had everything from a .380 Davis or Browning HiPower to a Delta Elite (full size 1911 frame) without people who are in my proximity noticing (even though I thought it printed).

elsie

 

[ricsha]

Great thread. I know it's already been said, but --Great Thread. My wife and I just got our permits this summer, and I'm still trying out options. I have several books on the subject, but the personal experience of folks on this forum is proving to be very useful information.

 

[wavo]

Do any of you where suits to work or other nicer clothes?
I ask because I often do and especially when I'm out doing real estate work. I'm wondering how you carry with a shirt that has to be tucked in and a jacket that comes off and on multiple times a day.

Do you tuck your shirt over the IWB gun?
Carry on your ankle?
Just trying to figure out my options.

Thanks!

 

[WhyteCheddar]

My current rotation consists of a Kahr and an XD-40. I would suggest Galcos Stow-n-go holster for both.

My suggestion to newbies is to not skimp on a holster. Try and buy the best there is. It makes no sense to spend $500+ on a gun for self defense then drop $50 on a cheesy rig.
(avoid the galco stow-n-go IMHO )

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

My suggestion to newbies is to not skimp on a holster. Try and buy the best there is. It makes no sense to spend $500+ on a gun for self defense then drop $50 on a cheesy rig.
(avoid the galco stow-n-go IMHO )

I have holsters in a box that range in price from $100-$450...none of them work better than my $50-$70 Glaco holsters of similar designs. I am all for supporting small business, but more often than not when you buy an expensive hand made product you are not paying for higher quality. You are just paying for the time it took to make it. Leather producers like Don Hume and Galco have taken the time factor out of it and produce great holsters for far less money. I have also found that the "more expensive leathers" do not really add much to the life or effectiveness of the holster. Definitely not enough to justify the added cost.

 

[BooKilla]

A good holster is a MUST A $20 hoster [with the exception of pocket carry holsters] is NOT a good holster

False. The cost of holster does not determine its quality. I have 4 fobus holsters that all cost $22 each and are among the most used and most comfortable holsters I have.

 

[The Quiet Man]

Do any of you where suits to work or other nicer clothes?
I ask because I often do and especially when I'm out doing real estate work. I'm wondering how you carry with a shirt that has to be tucked in and a jacket that comes off and on multiple times a day.

Do you tuck your shirt over the IWB gun?
Carry on your ankle?
Just trying to figure out my options.

Thanks!

I wore a suit every day before I retired and it is a pain because you have to take your suit coat off during the day. I carried my primary weapon in a paddle holster which I removed and locked in a desk drawer when I got to work. My BUG (a Colt Government Model 380) was always in my Thunderwear or in an ankle holster. I prefer the Thunderwear although using a public rest room takes some "technique" when you get to the urinal
At lunch time, I just slipped the paddle holster back on with my coat. Repeat as necesary. No one ever knew I carried.

 

[crosse]

the one mistake i have yet to master is how to carry w/o being detected by family and family friends especially the girls/females. they always want the side ways hug that causes them to brush against my back. only 1/10 asks, but i'm sure 9/10 notice "something"

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

the one mistake i have yet to master is how to carry w/o being detected by family and family friends especially the girls/females. they always want the side ways hug that causes them to brush against my back. only 1/10 asks, but i'm sure 9/10 notice "something"

Most probably assume it's a PDA or cell phone.

 

[cwegga]

I try to hug as many women I can a day so I may have to rethink my carry positions...or rethink my hugging positions.

Rethink your hugging positions. Some things you can do are pretty easy.

I tend to hug people other than my wife a bit "butt out" that forces people to keep their arms high more around my shoulders so they don't brush across my IWB carry.

Another thing you should practice doing is keeping your strong side arm low. When people hug one arm goes low and the other goes high, the other person will just automatically match you so if you keep your strong side arm low their arm on that side of you will be high and have less chance of touching your gun.

That second one gives me trouble because I naturally hug with my strong side arm high so I have to actively think about it before hugging.

 

[twoclones]

False. The cost of holster does not determine its quality. I have 4 fobus holsters that all cost $22 each and are among the most used and most comfortable holsters I have.

Sounds like of the eleven models Fobus has listed on their website, you prefer their cheapest.

 

[crosse]

Rethink your hugging positions. Some things you can do are pretty easy.

I tend to hug people other than my wife a bit "butt out" that forces people to keep their arms high more around my shoulders so they don't brush across my IWB carry.

Another thing you should practice doing is keeping your strong side arm low. When people hug one arm goes low and the other goes high, the other person will just automatically match you so if you keep your strong side arm low their arm on that side of you will be high and have less chance of touching your gun.

That second one gives me trouble because I naturally hug with my strong side arm high so I have to actively think about it before hugging.

I've tried those a few times, and I think the butt out thing doesn't really work as well as it should when you're trying to hug someone. Most of people I know who I hug know I'm a pretty big gun guy, i think it just makes them feel a bit surprised when they do find out I'm actually carrying.

Iunno about you guys but people seem to like to rub my back alot during hugs. its pretty weird. no one pats anymore.

but on the bright side, now I know how to pat someone down inconspicuously with a hug. lol

 

[WhyteCheddar]

I have holsters in a box that range in price from $100-$450...none of them work better than my $50-$70 Glaco holsters of similar designs. I am all for supporting small business, but more often than not when you buy an expensive hand made product you are not paying for higher quality. You are just paying for the time it took to make it. Leather producers like Don Hume and Galco have taken the time factor out of it and produce great holsters for far less money. I have also found that the "more expensive leathers" do not really add much to the life or effectiveness of the holster. Definitely not enough to justify the added cost.

I am not knocking Galco, or any other companies product line. Just the stow-n-go which I have found to be a very poor product for me. Others may find it a dream come true. That's cool. I have a ballistic nylon generic thing I got at the Gun Show one year for the Glock I usually carry when hunting. $18.99 and it has served perfectly for many years.

The rig I most prefer right now for CC isn't even leather. Blade Tech nano.
I think if you start talking really high dollars you are starting to see workmanship details that may have little to do with function and maybe a bit more to do with asthetics and or longevity and warranty.

 

[twoclones]

none of them work better than my $50-$70 Glaco holsters of similar designs.

Seems to me it's been a while since you bought your last Galco... I've never found one for $50. For whatever the money, Galco is the highest functioning and most comfortable holster I own. Like Don Hume and Bianchi too.

I've bought a couple of guns that came with an Uncle Mikes Sidekick Hip Holster [$18]. Those get tossed in the trash when I get home.