CCW holders...

O

OH-CCW

Inactive
I got my CCW this past summer. I bought a S&W 642 as my primary carry piece. I love the lightweight and its easy to conceal even in summer clothing. I hope like hell I never have to use or even pull my gun on an individual, but I'm also not hestitate to save my life or my family's. My primary reason to carry is that me and my wife enjoy hiking and this includes some secluded areas and its better safe than sorry. Now for my question. Since I am 33 yrs old and have only been carrying for 6+ months, its still feels weird having a gun on my possession. Not by a safety standard but as in "Am I doing something wrong".


I have wore underwear for 33 years so I feel normal doing that. When did you all feel normal carrying a gun? When did your gun become as routine as your socks is what i'm asking i guess.

Again before someone asks, i have been around guns my hole life so its not a fear, just until this summer me having a concealed gun was breaking the law.
 
It didn't take long for me. The first few days I had that feeling that everyone was aware I was packing. Now my SP101 is as normal as my car keys...Never leave home without it.
 
It's a lot like wearing a seat belt. At first it feels different and after a while it feels funny without it. My advice is to carry all the time, where ever it is legal. Do not pick and chose when to carry and you'll never get caught wishing you had it but didn't.
 
I got used to it after a couple weeks. I do notice that it is easy to become complacent after time. Keep yourself alert, and aware at all times, and always remeber where the gun is, and how fast you can get to it.

Also, spend lots of time practicing your draw ritual, make it a routine movement.
 
It took me a couple of months to get really comfortable with it. At this point, when I strap it on, it's totally second nature. You'll get there. The more you carry, the quicker it will come to you.
 
This is very normal and will pass. Just be sure that you are confident in the style of holster you are using as this is not something to go cheap on.

When you carry concealed you mush dress for the activity. Be sure that what you are wearing is not going to blow up, out or back in a gust of wind. Be sure that you can stand, sit, walk, get into/out of your car , bend and tie your shoe without exposing your firearm.

We are all built different and I may not be able to carry a firearm in the same way my friend does and not show (print). Dress how you think will look normal and go look in a mirror. Look at every angle and see if your firearm shows(prints). If it does and you dont like it, change it up until you do like it.

Your confidence will build as you become more acustomed to carrying. For the time being, you will feel like everyone is looking and pointing.

One fault that alot of new carriers have is that they are always checking and rechecking their firearm as if its going to somehow jump out. They will "look around" then adjust the firearm. They will do this every few minutes and it becomes very obvious to even the casual observer that something is odd. Some with even walk with their arm pressed against it like they are injured.
 
As was said, it feels strange to be without it, now that I have carried for so long. When I first started, it took me perhaps a week, after that it was just normal. Now I feel naked without it. But you'll probably buy a lot of holsters and such, going for that perfect combination of style and comfort.:D
 
I second what Golfnut said. I think an important issue is the propensity to become complacent over time. I think many of us should be more careful with the things, starting with me.

This is gonna sound strange, but I've completely altered my manner of dress to accommodate a sidearm. For me it's not the pants size, but the untucked shirt/sweater/etc. Whereas in the past I'd have always tucked in my shirts for a clean look, I often wear untucked now to cover a pistol.

At any rate, I'd say I got pretty accustomed to carrying within a month.
 
It took me about a month. When I finally figured out that no one realized I was carring then it started to feel pretty comfortable. So much so that now I have to really think and look before going into places and insure there is no "gunbuster" displayed as it is illegal to carry past one in my state.
 
It will come in time!! I have been carrying legally for 13 years and truly don't feel dressed until I have it on. It will also take time to develop the proper wardrobe to properly conceal and not to mention the drawer full of holsters. I have finally decided on two holsters that meet my needs, the Carry loc for my G23, and the K&D Thunderbird for the P232 and 92F, and of course the Nemisis for the mouse guns!!

NCH
 
You feel the imagined disapproval of your society. In the case of some of those people, the disapproval is real. By carrying a weapon, especially a gun, you are engaging in behavior that would get you kicked out of a lot of places.


To go against this influence, you have to know that you are right and that they are wrong. Why do you carry a gun? Because you care and because it's the right thing to do. Your response to imagined disapproval is instinctive but not rational. Your rational mind has to be strong enough to do something most people don't do and that some people don't like.
 
I am closing in on my 72nd birthday and have been carrying concealed for a long, long time and when one makes the choice to do that a number of "rules" get imposed on the carrier. The "rules" involve clothes selection, choices as to where one goes/doesn't go, how one behaves when carrying, and so on. Many of these "rules" aren't written down anywhere but should, none the less, be followed. When learned and followed the concealed carrier will become quite comfortable. Working at learning and following the so-called rules will accelerate the comfort and competency level. The harder one works and the more one learns accelerates the process. Good luck.
 
Good Question

I have been carrying for about a year now, and I still occationally get that "mmm should I have this gun under my shirt" feeling. About 9 months ago a man pulled a knife on me and my wife in a parking lot. Since then, I have a gun on my person 90% + of the time. I think that feeling of "is this wrong" comes from the indoctrinations of tv, the media, movies... Usually the good guys have their guns out in the open and only bad guys hide them. But if we are legal responsible carriers I believe firmly that we are part of the good guys group. So lets be armed, safe, well practiced, and feel good about what we are doing, which is simply protecting ourselves and our family.
 
My early concern was that somebody could see I was carrying ... but I lost that feeling quickly. Actually carrying the gun felt pretty natural after a week or so, now I feel naked without it ...
 
CCW

The hard part was finding the right carry set up. Once I shelled out the money for a genuine "gun" belt, carrying got easier. Don't buy a cheap, one size fits all holster. Get a holster designed for your weapon. While you're at it, buy a belt designed to support a gun's weight. A good holster/belt combination works wonders for CCW.
 
Honestly I have carried so long i dont remember when it became " right " , All i can say is that nowadays the pistol goes on with the pants , and comes off with them . As some have said the investment in a proper carry setup will go a long ways tward your comfort , and comfort means ease . When you dont have to " check " the gun every little bit you tend to forget its even there until and unless you need it .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top