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

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Playboypenguin

Moderator
What advice would you give someone who is just starting to carry a concealed weapon and what do you feel are the biggest mistakes made by new carriers?

I feel the biggest mistakes made by new carriers boil down to three real big ones.

1. Trying to carry too much gun too fast.

2. Not buying the proper accessories (belt, holster, etc.)

3. Carrying a gun they are not comfortable with the operation of yet.

When I first started carrying I made all of these mistakes. I almost convinced myself that it just was not worth the effort and that it was something I was just not going to be able to do. I tried carrying too big of a gun which made me physically uncomfortable, I was not certain what holster/belt to use so the gun never felt stable, and I carried a gun that I was not confident enough with to feel safe with one in the pipe so I was always a bit emotionally uncomfortable too.

My advice to new carriers is not to try to jump the gun (so to speak) too soon and start small. Find a gun that you are comfortable with the operation of and that comes in a small enough platform that it is not such a shock to your normal movements and dress. Guns that have a thinner profile are often more comfortable to carry and guns that have shorter grips seem to conceal easier. Also, spend a few dollars on a nice leather holster and a stable belt. You do not need to spend a fortune though. Many holsters in the $50 range are available that are every bit as good as more expensive holsters and a good belt can be as little as $35-$40. Take the time to experiment with different positions too. Maybe wear them around the house for a few days before venturing outside with them. What works for others might not work for you. Start small and work your way up. Maybe start with a gun like a small and simple operating Kahr CW9 and before you know it you will be carrying a cocked and locked commander sized 1911 like they were nothing. :)
 
I was guilty of mistake number two. I carried my XD45 full size in the plastic holster the gun comes with. It did not work at all. Didn't take me long to get a proper holster which make a huge difference. After that was the belt upgrade. Again the difference was huge. Now the .45 and two spare mags are nothing to carry around.
 
It sounds like you have spent a lot of time and MONEY till you found what works for you .I have a holster box like everyone that has CC for a long time .Started in 1982. Now I carry a seecamp 32 makes life easier.
 
I was lucky, got the good holster and belt on the first try. The only holster that sits unused is the dang plastic thing that comes in the XD kit.

The experience turned me off to plastic holsters for a while, however I am awaiting the arival of my new Fobus holster. Decided I needed something with retention security if I decide to open carry again.

We'll see how I like the paddle holster. It may join the XD holster in the junk box.
 
I think the biggest mistake, is not carrying the gun they shoot the best with and are most familiar with, and being told they should carry something smaller that would be easier to carry (and generally more difficult to shoot with).

Quality, practical equipment is a must. Dont get caught up in the fad stuff, and be prepared and willing to spend the money you dont have to get what you need. It will even be cheaper in the long run.
 
I'll buy PBP's number 2, and maybe number 3

but I have a real problem with 1, "too much gun, too fast."

What is "too much gun?"

If that means too complex a mechanism, then it's really the same as 3.

If it means too large, I don't think too many newbies are combining big weapons with poor carry rigs, or else we'd notice a lot more of them. Bad rigs tend to let big guns print a lot worse.

If anything, the newbies I've known have tended to start out with too small a gun, thinking it would be impossible to conceal their preferred handgun. This is where a lot of .357 light snubs get sold, I think - to guys who are comfortable enough with their shooting skills that they aren't too worried about owning a gun and carry ammo combo that they realistically won't practice with all that much.

As far as progressing from Kahr simplicity to 1911 complexity, I think PBP is assuming that a lot of CCW carriers are brand new shooters. Given recent trends, that isn't necessarily a bad assumption. A lot of people are responding to either the perception of rising crime, or a fear of an as yet unmaterialized Obama administration move against gun ownership, and are applying for permits when they've never really had any shooting experience.

But if PBP's question had been asked in 2007, then I'd have answered that I really didn't know of too many people who'd applied for permits, who didn't have a fair amount of prior shooting experience.

In my case, I'd been shooting for decades before obtaining a CCW. There is no standard semi-auto mechanism that would be too complex, although it might take me a moment to figure out how a new gun operated, if I hadn't seen the model before.

Guess what I'm saying is that at least among people I know who have gone for CCW permits, even since 2008, the weak link in their knowledge isn't the operation of the firearm, it's in what actually works for carry gear. They've been shooting, but they've never worn a gun - it's always gone to the range in a case. So, they have no real idea of how it will pull on a belt, or press on a hip; they also have no idea how much difference a solid belt and a good holster will make.
 
ALWAYS CARRY A RELOAD!

Whether it's a spare mag or speed strip or speed loader, if you're carrying a gun you need to a have reload.
If you carry an auto your mag is the weakest link and the source of most failures.
But of more importance, and something I almost never see mentioned, is what you're going to do in the aftermath of a shooting. Suppose you empty your gun, or shoot 4 of the 5 rds in your snubby, are you prepared if another threat should arise before the cops show up? You shoot, you scan, if there's no immediate threat, you reload. You never know what might happen, you should be prepared to face any new threat with a fully loaded weapon.
 
In my opinion, the best advice to any new CCW is to buy a proper holster and a well made gun belt. If your first gun is a mouse gun, a good belt isn't as vital, but a belt and good holster is vital if you carry a gun with any weight to it at all.
 
It sounds like you have spent a lot of time and MONEY till you found what works for you .I have a holster box like everyone that has CC for a long time .Started in 1982. Now I carry a seecamp 32 makes life easier.
Click to expand...

mrt949 ...100% agree ....been carrying since 98'
 
Not receiveing the proper training from proper gunhandling to preparation of the legal battle afterwards. Far more focus on training when NOT to draw/fire than when TO fire, IMO.
 
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