a FUD experience -- carrying a gun in a fanny pack

F

FUD

Moderator
After reading about this method of carry and even posting my own question about it, I finally decided to try carrying a firearm in a fanny pack. The family and I went out to a local tourist attraction (it wasn't Disney -- it was some place more local and EXTREMELY boring) and I felt this would be a good place to bring a fanny pack since a lot of other people (mostly tourists) would be carrying fanny packs as well and I would blend right in.

It wasn't really a fanny but more like a belt pouch holster. It doesn't have the belt that goes around your waist. Instead, it has two leather belt loops that you slide your belt through. I felt that this type of gun pak was more secure than a regular fanny pack because there was less chance that someone would be able to snatch it away from me by surprise.

The pouch part has three compartments -- a hidden gun area in the back, a middle pocket and a smaller front pocket. Normaly, the biggest thing that I usually carry is my S&W3913 -- anything bigger and I start feeling self-conscious about bumps/printing. However, with this gun pak, I was able to bring my S&W4013 without any printing. There were of course bumps but that was normal with any fanny pack because of the other stuff in it.

I felt much better armed with 19 (10+9) rounds of .40S&W compared to the 15 (8+7) rounds of 9mm that I normally carry. Plus, it was much more comfortable as I did not have a gun digging into my side. Although I did feel self conscious about it (pretty much the same way I felt when I first started carrying concealed) and kept looking around to see if anybody was looking at my pac.

I don't know if I will carry this way during my everyday activities (stores, mall, etc.) but I do like it and will definitely consider this method of carry in the future whenever circumstances permit.

Just wanted to share my experiences with others. Gotta cut this post short because I just heard a couple of cars racing down my street and it sounds like one (or both of them) might have landed in the swamp. There's screaming outside and I'm gonna see if I can lend a hand or call the Sheriff for assistance.

FUD
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Share what you know & learn what you don't

[This message has been edited by FUD (edited August 19, 2000).]
 
Sir Fud;

If you gonner carry a pack, the one you have that attaches directly to the belt is far more secure than the "fanny pack" with the nylon belt that clips. Thief can cut the nylon belt in half a heartbeat and have the bag passed off before you look.

Don't forgit to praktice your drawin from that new bag thingy.

Rgds, Sam
 
Who makes the bag? Is it specifically designed for CC or are you just using it for that purpose? I like them too, but they are slow to draw from.

Did anyone crash into the swamp or was it false alarm?
 
After posting a question about how best to carry a 4" GP100 on the Handguns forum, I got some replies and some folks suggested I try a fanny pack. I did and I don't recommend the things here in IN. One because I live in Indiana and the tourists are near none existant, and the gun seamed awkward to draw. And I looked a little weird with a fanny pack on. In Indiana the only people who have fanny packs on, are those who carry, and those who yell at the boyscouts at the Democratic convention (if you know what I mean). Another thing, I did some empty tries from it and often got the hammer snagged on the fanny thing.

Having said that, I would recommend a fanny pack for your locale, if you can get past the look. If I lived in FLA as you do, I would not hesitate to carry in that method. One, due to the warmer climate and different dress styles, and two, because fanny packs are so common for other purposes, and finally because as you said, you can carry a larger weapon.

Regards from IN.

[This message has been edited by MP Freeman (edited August 20, 2000).]
 
I kept trying to find something I could use in the summers here in 90/90 Texas (90+ deg./90+ hum.) and I did not like fanny packs, cause everyone with a fanny pack is automatically carrying down here. Finally at the last Houston gun show I found the perfect thing. It is a discman carrying case, hooks on belt, has big front compartment for discman and a thin open compartment in rear for another cd jewel case. I put velcro on the center of the back compartment, stick my AMT Dao Backup in it and close it up, put cigs, pocket knife etc in front compartment to break up any printing (virtually none even with front empty). With just a small piece of velcro in the back it stays closed but all I have to do is slide my hand in and it pops open. I can draw from it faster than from the shoulder holster I use in coat weather (Jan and Feb basically). And no one ever even glances at it.

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Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club
68-70
true story, a Union Gen. once said "Don't worry about those Rebs. They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist..SPLAT.
 
Jack, I got it from Uncle Mike's Sidekick Professional -- they have a website but I can't seem to find the link. You can call 503-255-6890 and ask for a catalog. The official name of it is Cordura Gun Pak Belt Pouch Holster and it comes in several different sizes (item # 8889-1, 8889-2, 8889-3, 8889-4 & 8889-5) depending on your needs.

As far as speed is concerned, it isn't any slower than drawing from an inside the waist belly band -- which is how I normally carry due to my mode of drew and the hot & humid weather down here all year long.

With regard to the cars, I don't think that anybody drove into the swamp. I was outside in under five minutes with a flashlight & a concealed weapon and I was joined by a few other neighbors who also heard the noise and we didn't see anything. This was a little bit surprizing because I live on a pretty quite side road and car racing is a strange thing to do on this street because it's so short and right near the end is the beginning of the swamp.
 
As said in a post above, you have to practice with the fanny pack. You can be quite quick, but it is usually a two-handed job (one to open, one to draw).

There is a trick to wearing fanny packs and carrying. First and foremost, don't get one of those spiffy leather jobs, especially not one of the boxy ones. The boxy ones scream "Dork!" and far too many gun fanny packs are leather. Black also seems to be the prefered color. Very bad.

I have a maroon fanny pack that was designed to carry a gun and with other compartments. You will notice people with "gunny sacks" and you know they have guns in them because their wallet is in their hind pocket. If you can see the wallet, then you have to ask why the person has a fanny pack/gunny sack and the answer is because they have a gun (most likely).

YOU HAVE TO USE THE FANNY PACK (with the gun inside) JUST LIKE A TOURIST. Carry your wallet in their, your gum, a few tissues, maybe your car keys. Most people who carry guns in their fanny packs don't use them for anything else and it looks suspicious. Why have a fanny pack if you never put anything in it? Because you are carrying a gun! It just looks bad if you don't actually use it.

Next, tone down the fanny pack. Add a team logo patch to it, a Nike swoosh you cut off your tennis shoes, maybe a label from a camera photo bag (like Tamrac, Nikon, etc.). I like the team logo idea best because then the pack looks like a team souvenier instead of a holster. I have a matching team hat I wear as well and so I give the impression of being a team supporter with all the team goodies as opposed to a gun slinger.

Also, get your pack dirty some. Gun fanny packs usually look very clean, well taken care of, and not soiled or faded. Strangely, because people try to take such good care of them (like their other holsters), the desired effect is not attained. This is especially true of the leather fanny packs that people keep so tidy. People who really wear these things do abuse them some and they get stained, faded, and soiled.

For example, have you ever seen a professional sports photographer and his gear bag? They are scuffed, stained, and sometimes in tattered shape. Their camera gear stays clean, but the bag is just a means of carrying the gear and it takes the abuse.

The more the fanny pack looks like it is being used as a fanny pack and not a holster, the less likely people are to take notice of it or you.
 
Actually, since the little one came along, I carry enough junk to easily fill up a fanny pack even without my gun or wallet being it in ;)
 
One of the writers in G&A (as I recall) who deals with personal security commented much as did Gopher .45, except he went a bit further.

He suggested one of the bright colors, along with clothing which commonly is worn by the "fanny packers". Jogging shoes, sweat pants, rock'n'roll t-shirt, gimme-cap worn weirdly...There are all manner of possibilities. While you don't have to get to a "grunge" look, the pack should appear to be part of a normal package.

FWIW, Art
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by FUD:
With regard to the cars, I don't think that anybody drove into the swamp. I was outside in under five minutes with a flashlight & a concealed weapon and I was joined by a few other neighbors who also heard the noise and we didn't see anything. This was a little bit surprizing because I live on a pretty quite side road and car racing is a strange thing to do on this street because it's so short and right near the end is the beginning of the swamp.[/quote]

FUD,

I think this was a "supernatural" experience you and your neighbors had. First your bag gets knocked off of your table and now speed demons driving phantommobiles into the swamp...SPOOKY!
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Hydejam: ... I think this was a "supernatural" experience you and your neighbors had. First your bag gets knocked off of your table and now speed demons driving phantommobiles into the swamp...SPOOKY![/quote] :eek:... The creature from the black lagoon walks again ... :eek:
 
I just want to add a comment about the fanny packs, which I do use.

So what if a very very small number of people know you have a carry pack on.

So what if they suspect you have a gun in the pack.

Only those in the gun culture will even know what the pack is to begin with. I've been carrying for years and have never had someone mark me, that I know of, of course. i often hear holster dealers, who do NOT have fanny packs, at guns hows tell folks the "line" that "if they see you have that fanny pack and know you have a gun they will sneak up behind you!". :rolleyes:

So let me get this straight - if they KNOW I have a gun they will choose to attack by sneaking up behind me - but if they see someone who does not seem to have a gun they will what - leave the area or approach fron the front?!?!?

I maintain that **IF** anyone does "make" a carry fanny pack they will be more likely to leave you the he!! alone and find a much easier target.

We could take this line of thought to the extreme and say that if you wear a long baggy vest that you'll be marked as carrying a gun - so we shouldn't do that either. And so on and so on...

Let them keep guessing.

CMOS

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Hey FUD,

I did the same thing but instead I made mine. I bought the bag at WalMart. It's blue cordura and it's shaped rectangular. It hangs long side down and holds my Glock 30 with the grip up like a straight drop holster.
It's really ment to be a shoulder bag but if you tighten up the belt it fits around your waist. It also has the belt loops on the inside. It has 3 compartments with my gun in the middle. I stitched in a nylon clip holster so the gun doesn't hang in the bag but is actually suspended with the grip high. I had to remove the clip from the holster but after that it worked great. I added a larger rope to the zipper for the gun so I could find it quick without looking.

There's also a nice pencil pocket in the inside compartment. It hold 4 pencils but if you undue the stitching on a few of the slots you can turn it into a mag slot. Holds my double stack great.

You can get these all the time in the bag section of WalMart. It cost me $12 + $10 for the holster.

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"It is easier to get out of jail then it is a morgue"
Live long and defend yourself!
John 3:16
NRA lifer
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