So, I'm going to NC to visit family. Since my UT non-resident permit is honored by NC I would like to carry. I am visiting with family members who are very anti-gun, and my brother (who is very anti-carry) will share a hotel room with me. I want to be able to carry should something happen, while remaining as discrete as possible to maintain family harmony. So, my usual larger carry options (CZ P01, PCR, 75 Compact, Commander sized 1911SC, and possibly even my Officer sized RIA 1911CS) are off limits. I am staying in a hotel, partly because my uncle and his wife have a small place, but also so I can carry without their rights getting in the way (they hate guns, they have a right to say no guns in their home).
Normally, when I carry, I'm in states with good open carry laws so I don't worry too much about printing or even occasionally having the gun show when my shirt or jacket lifts up. In this situation that won't be an option. So, I'm not sure which of my current choices are the best way to go...
Normally I prefer IWB tucked or untucked depending upon how I dress that day. However, there is always the possibility of the gun showing which I don't want in this case. Even some of my smaller guns are big enough that this is really the only option though. There is also the chance it could be discovered during a hug, though I doubt my aunt, uncle, or cousins will hug that low. I could go pocket carry, but I do carry a lot in my pockets so it is far from the most convenient option. It would be the most concealable option. I could try AIWB, it still could show if my shirt lifts up (but that isn't all that likely), it would be far less likely to accidentally be discovered during a hug, and would allow me to use my pockets, but I haven't used it yet and I'm unfamiliar (and not yet comfortable) with this form of carry.
The guns I'm considering bringing...
My S&W M&P40c. This is one of my smaller regular carry guns. It can fit in my jeans pockets (and I have a pocket holster) but it looks like I have a small book/notebook/small computer in there. More likely, I'd carry it IWB. It is small enough that it hides well most of the time, but since I'd have to carry IWB there are those risks noted above.
My SIG P290RS. This is definitely small enough to completely disappear IWB, but I can also pocket it for even more concealment. It is probably small enough, though it can leave a gun outline in the pocket (I may put my cell phone in front of the holster so it will leave a more box like shape on the outside of my pocket).
My new Taurus 856. I'll need to get it to the range for a few hundred rounds before I go to be sure it is reliable before I will carry it, but I want to have that done before this trip anyway (I enjoy the range and haven't been in almost 2 months since I've been so busy lately). It is a bit bigger than the P290, but the visible shapes outside the pocket will be softer and less obviously scream "gun". I do have a pocket holster from Simply Rugged on the way. This (times when I may need/want to pocket carry for maximum concealment) is specifically what I bought this gun for. Assuming it proves reliable after a couple hundred rounds, I'm currently leaning towards the Taurus for this trip. If the Taurus ends up not proving itself before the trip (I can't get enough range time in, or it has issues), the 2nd choice for this role would be my S&W 442 or Taurus 85CH, but I don't like the idea of 5 rounds (so it becomes more of a toss up which way I'm leaning).
My new Colt King Cobra. It should be a near perfect IWB carry gun, and I have a nice Simply Rugged holster for it. However, see the IWB v. pocket discussion earlier. Also, my IWB holster for this is not tuckable, so if any part of the trip calls for a tucked shirt I'd have to leave the gun at the hotel. It does need some rounds through it to insure it is reliable, but I have no actual doubts about it (just want to be sure before I carry it).
Finally, I could take my Ruger LCP. When you need a gun to totally disappear is exactly what guns like this were made for. As for capability of the cartridge, my accuracy with the gun, and general capability, I'm more comfortable with any of the other choices, but none would conceal as well.
Since I only carry part-time (I can't carry in my home state), I don't have a lot of experience carrying when absolute discretion is called for. So, some advice from those who have carried in such situations would be helpful.
Finally, a non-concealment question. I am going to Asheville, NC. Since I want to be discrete and not have family members who I am with know I'm carrying, I don't want to have to disarm more than needed. I know Biltmore doesn't allow guns (and sometimes has a metal detector) so if we go there, I'll either try to unobtrusively put the gun/holster in my car trunk before we go in, or more likely, just leave it at the hotel. However, where else would anti-CCW rules likely be a problem? I'd possibly like to visit the Sierra Nevada Brewery. I know I'll be in a few bars since my uncle's wife is a musician and will be performing. My aunt and uncle will likely take me to what they consider to be must see spots for visitors, and I may go to some traditional tourist spots like museums (I'd like to go to the antique car museum at Grovewood Village and maybe the antique motorcycle museum, though I'm the only one who would likely care about the motorcycles so maybe not). Will those type of places likely pose an issue?
Normally, when I carry, I'm in states with good open carry laws so I don't worry too much about printing or even occasionally having the gun show when my shirt or jacket lifts up. In this situation that won't be an option. So, I'm not sure which of my current choices are the best way to go...
Normally I prefer IWB tucked or untucked depending upon how I dress that day. However, there is always the possibility of the gun showing which I don't want in this case. Even some of my smaller guns are big enough that this is really the only option though. There is also the chance it could be discovered during a hug, though I doubt my aunt, uncle, or cousins will hug that low. I could go pocket carry, but I do carry a lot in my pockets so it is far from the most convenient option. It would be the most concealable option. I could try AIWB, it still could show if my shirt lifts up (but that isn't all that likely), it would be far less likely to accidentally be discovered during a hug, and would allow me to use my pockets, but I haven't used it yet and I'm unfamiliar (and not yet comfortable) with this form of carry.
The guns I'm considering bringing...
My S&W M&P40c. This is one of my smaller regular carry guns. It can fit in my jeans pockets (and I have a pocket holster) but it looks like I have a small book/notebook/small computer in there. More likely, I'd carry it IWB. It is small enough that it hides well most of the time, but since I'd have to carry IWB there are those risks noted above.
My SIG P290RS. This is definitely small enough to completely disappear IWB, but I can also pocket it for even more concealment. It is probably small enough, though it can leave a gun outline in the pocket (I may put my cell phone in front of the holster so it will leave a more box like shape on the outside of my pocket).
My new Taurus 856. I'll need to get it to the range for a few hundred rounds before I go to be sure it is reliable before I will carry it, but I want to have that done before this trip anyway (I enjoy the range and haven't been in almost 2 months since I've been so busy lately). It is a bit bigger than the P290, but the visible shapes outside the pocket will be softer and less obviously scream "gun". I do have a pocket holster from Simply Rugged on the way. This (times when I may need/want to pocket carry for maximum concealment) is specifically what I bought this gun for. Assuming it proves reliable after a couple hundred rounds, I'm currently leaning towards the Taurus for this trip. If the Taurus ends up not proving itself before the trip (I can't get enough range time in, or it has issues), the 2nd choice for this role would be my S&W 442 or Taurus 85CH, but I don't like the idea of 5 rounds (so it becomes more of a toss up which way I'm leaning).
My new Colt King Cobra. It should be a near perfect IWB carry gun, and I have a nice Simply Rugged holster for it. However, see the IWB v. pocket discussion earlier. Also, my IWB holster for this is not tuckable, so if any part of the trip calls for a tucked shirt I'd have to leave the gun at the hotel. It does need some rounds through it to insure it is reliable, but I have no actual doubts about it (just want to be sure before I carry it).
Finally, I could take my Ruger LCP. When you need a gun to totally disappear is exactly what guns like this were made for. As for capability of the cartridge, my accuracy with the gun, and general capability, I'm more comfortable with any of the other choices, but none would conceal as well.
Since I only carry part-time (I can't carry in my home state), I don't have a lot of experience carrying when absolute discretion is called for. So, some advice from those who have carried in such situations would be helpful.
Finally, a non-concealment question. I am going to Asheville, NC. Since I want to be discrete and not have family members who I am with know I'm carrying, I don't want to have to disarm more than needed. I know Biltmore doesn't allow guns (and sometimes has a metal detector) so if we go there, I'll either try to unobtrusively put the gun/holster in my car trunk before we go in, or more likely, just leave it at the hotel. However, where else would anti-CCW rules likely be a problem? I'd possibly like to visit the Sierra Nevada Brewery. I know I'll be in a few bars since my uncle's wife is a musician and will be performing. My aunt and uncle will likely take me to what they consider to be must see spots for visitors, and I may go to some traditional tourist spots like museums (I'd like to go to the antique car museum at Grovewood Village and maybe the antique motorcycle museum, though I'm the only one who would likely care about the motorcycles so maybe not). Will those type of places likely pose an issue?
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