[GeneCo]

I carry a Kel -Tec P11 with a 12 rnd mag in a Don Hume Iwb at appendix and another one SOB.

I've never had a problem concealing , I'm a big guy.

 

[hammer 1]

New york is a whole different critter when it comes to CCW. You have to go out of your way to stay completely concealed. If it prints or is seen, and someone calls the local constable, chances are you could lose your permit, no permit no handguns period. I like to keep it simple, I carry 2 handguns, 1911, or hipower, controls are similar. I also carry belt holsters with thumb break, and in the same place. I shoot every weekend, usually 100 rounds each handgun, after church, wife says I have to go to church first. It aint about quantity, its about quality. Presentation from leather, slow is smooth, smooth becomes fast. The thumb break holsters, because I had a bad experience once that could have gone very bad. Also remember , front sight in a fight, and there is a lawyer attached to everyone of those projectiles that are fired in anger. Hits count ,misses could bring consequences. burn some powder and practice.

 

[techvoodoo]

great replies thanks for all the feedback.

 

[slimj]

I too think you are on the right track....

When I first started carrying i did worry alot about others seeing my gun because to me it seemed like it was a flashing beacon that everyone was staring at. But after a while i realized that slight buldge at 4:30 looked alot like the guy next to me with an Iphone or whatever strapped to his belt. So as long as its not obviously a gun most people either dont notice it or think its just your phone.

Another thing also mentioned that I would highly encourage you to do is to PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE wtih the gun you are going to carry. By that I dont so much mean being able to nail the bullseye slowfire from the 25yd line but more as Whats ina name said practice your draw sequence. You can be an expert shot on the range drilling the bullseye all day long but if you cant get it out of your holster and make first shot hits at 7yds in a second with your hands full of keys groceries etc... you should probably keep practicing.

I cant do it fast enough either so I need to keep practicing. I also carry a BHP or 1911 since controls are essentially the same. The whole sequence of events is important... grab the grip not my shirt, draw, safety off as i come up on target squeeze trigger... done shooting back on safe put it away. Throw in mag changes/ reloads malfunction drills. Mags hit the ground when i reload dont catch em. etcc.... train like your going to fight. cuz you will fight like you train.

 

[TheTinMan]

[preachy mode on]
I think there's a tendency when someone first gets a carry permit to think "Well, I'll only carry when I think I may need to." If you are planning to go somewhere you think you need a gun ahead of time, please change your plans. OTOH an instructor told me that the only way to look at CCW is just like seatbelts: you know that you don't ever want to need them but you should wear them all the time because you never know when or where someone else might endanger you.

I keep trying to tell my 22-year old daughter that there is no such thing as a "dangerous place", only dangerous people and they can go anywhere anytime they want to. [/preachy mode off]

It is surprising how concealable a S&W 642 is in a pocket holster in baggy shorts. It gets so hot & humid down here in the summer time that IWB often isn't practical. Pocket carry also means transition to outside briefcase pocket is easy as needed. Sometimes a PF-9 IWB with a tuckable holster works OK, but "tuckable" often doesn't mean truly "concealed". It's also impossible to re-tuck except at home.

Anytime a jacket is possible, a CCO type 1911 IWB at 4:00 might be a good CCW altenative. We all love full-size 1911s, but all that weight and the longer grip frame makes concealed carry uncomfortable and more difficult.

 

[Pok33]

I don't know if this is the best location for this thread but I'm not 100% sure it belongs in the handgun forum and there isn't a dedicated forum to CCW that I've ever seen. The topic of concealed carry, gear systems and the psychology of how it affects a person has been on my mind lately. I just very recently obtained my Florida Concealed Weapon and Firearms License.

My CCW system is pretty basic. I choose the Ruger LCR .38 Special +P for my carry firearm. I wear it in an IWB Talon Training Group holster:

http://shop.talontraininggroup.com/Ruger-LCR-J-Frame-Colt-38-With-Metal-Clip-IWB-LCR-IWBC.htm

I also carry 5 additional .38 Special +P rounds of ammo in a Tuff Products QuickStip and Belt pouch:

http://www.tuffproducts.com/product.php?productid=16280&cat=265&page=1

Overall I'm satisfied with this carry system. I've heard/read plenty of opinions on the ineffectiveness of the .38 Special. I don't have any emperical evidence to support the effectiveness or lack there of on the .38 but assuming I can believe what I've read to be accurate, my thought process was that although that might be true in that it's an underpowered round I felt like I would be better served carrying something all the time than sometimes having nothing.

My only other significant hand gun experience is with 5" Government Model 1911 .45acp and after some thought and reflection I didn't think I would dedicate myself to carrying my firearm near 100% of the time if I was going to be weighted down with such a heavy weapon. I LOVE the 1911. It feels right to me when I shoot it, I think I shoot it fairly well, but the weight of that weapon on my pant line seems to be a little too much for me to comfortably carry on a consistant basis.

So that said my two options were the Ruger LCR .38 or the 1911 .45acp and I choose the .38 in order to dedicate myself to always carry some weapon.

This is sort of where my thoughts on the philosophy and psychology of ccw starts to branch out and would love other peoples perspective on the subject. I'm finding the experience, emotions, and my impressions of concealed carrying are not what I expected at all. I'm sure with time these things will change but as a new and first time ccw licensee I wonder if others have felt the same way.

I am accutely aware of the presence of my firearm as I am out and about. I am often unsure and questioning it's concealment, if it's printing too much on my shirt, if others will notice it. Should I concern myself with this? By the letter of the law in my state I am required to conceal my weapon from the ordinary sight of others. The printing of the outline of my grip on my shirt or the accidental and unintentional exposure of the weapon is not against the law. But I'm still concerned about the impression others might have should my weapon become indirectly exposed.

My situational awareness I've noticed has also changed. I am often awake at 2-4am at night and find myself needing to run to the store for cigarettes or some other reason. Now when I am pulling into the parking lot I find myself scanning the surroundings and evaluting the situation in a much different way. Dispite my choice to carry a weapon I never want to be in a situation where I need to use it. It's probably reasonable to have these feelings but before, for some reason, I never approached a situation like this. Jump out of the car, run in the store, run out, and on my way. If people were around or not I never really paid much attention. I don't live in an area with high crime and never thought about it before, but now I look at it differently.

As mentioned before the bulk of my handgun experience is with the 1911 .45acp. I don't know how many rounds I've put down range with them, I'm certainly not an expert marksman, but in the 15 or so years I've had them I've grown very comfortable with that weapon and it's battery of arms.

That said the Ruger LCR .38 is very new to me. My range time is limited to a couple boxes of ammo so far and shooting a sub 2" double action snubbie revolver has so far been pretty challenging. At 10 yards I'm on paper 'mostly' but it's not tight pretty groups. By comparision I keep my 1911's inside a 3" shoot-n-c target fairly easily.

My lack of experience with this weapon and poorer results compared to the 1911 have me questioning my decisions to carry this weapon from time to time and what it will mean to me if the situation ever comes where I need to defend my or my wifes life with it. I'm not 100% confident with it yet and that weighs on me some when I reflect on my decision to carry a firearm.

I know with time and training I will only improve but it's just another thing that's been going through my mind in the early days of my CCW life.

Well I just thought I'd share this with others and hope to hear some stories and opinions about your experiences, choices, and what not.

Thanks

Imo alot of your concerns, are proper to have.

If you are going to carry, you should carry as often as you can. It improves your odds of being armed when you would like to be. Carrying a handgun, that you can tolerate carrying all the time is best.

Carry around the house at about all times until you get used to it being there. You will always be aware of it, and you should be, but you do need to get used to it being there, and it not being wierd to you. Carry it the same way, all the time if you can, and practice drawing it (safely). You need to practice this to have any hope of doing it through fear, where complex motor skills WILL NOT WORK. Keep it simple.

When you are new to ccw, you will constantly check to see if its concealed, or adjust it for comfort etc. These things are the most likely way to show someone that you are carrying concealed. People who would not notice a bulge or whatever, may just notice you constantly reaching for or adjusting your waistline. You must get used to not doing this. You have to learn to be aware of this for your own safety. This is a "shoot me first" signal.

It is no big deal if someone sees you print, but it is still best to avoid this. I am not a lawyer, but I believe that intent to intimidate is needed to be charged with brandishing a weapon. The lifting of a shirt, or outline under clothing showing a weapon is ok as long as you took reasonable (this is where the argument will be) steps to conceal it.

Your new awareness of your surroundings imo, is the greatest asset to your safety. If you feel that something is about to happen, you just may have time to leave or call the police (best case scenario). If that much time is not available then at least you might get a leg up on someone trying yo kill you, by seeking cover to fight from.