How long did it take to get comfortable carrying, and WHAT was your first carry weapo

Protected One

Protected One

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Most of us have at least a somewhat uncomfortable feeling when we begin to carry. Will someone notice? Will I have a ND? Will the cops stop me? etc, etc...These are some of the things going through your mind.
How long did it take you to be comfortable carrying (particularly those who carry 1911 or Browning HP), and what was the first weapon you carried?
 
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It took until the day I bought a real gun belt to get comfortable.

No-one will notice; how many people have you personally spotted carrying? Keep in mind guys here and like yourself are more prone to spot someone, but less likely to care; "normal" people aren't going to notice unless you expose your gun somehow. Do be careful bending down or reaching up, that is how guns get exposed and spotted.

You will not have a ND while the gun is in the holster. Period. Modern guns don't just go off by themselves. If you need to prove it to yourself (I did :)) put a snap cap in the gun, holster up, and go about your routine. Do some extra stuff, play with the dog, do some jumping jacks, whatever it takes - at the end of the day, look at your gun and see that the striker, hammer, whatever never moved. Since you will likely carry it cocked-and-locked, take two days. I would not advocate carrying a gun you had to cycle before using, but that's me.

The cops depend on the State you live in, which you don't have listed. Here in Arkansas, no, you won't be stopped. If for some odd reason you wind up displaying your weapon to one, they are more likely to ask to see your license (verification you can carry it) and then give you pointers on how to keep it from happening again than make a scene and arrest/ticket you. We've got excellent guys down here though, and YMMV, but I doubt it.

I carried a P-95 first (I am not a small person) but have started carrying a 6904.
 
First handgun carried was a Ruger P89.

Never worried about cops and such. Didnt think much of it. Same with NDs. If cops and other people carried them loaded obviously it wasnt dangerous

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My first carry was a Para Ordnance P-12 1911. I was used to carrying, so it was no adjustment. I did not have to worry about some of your concerns since I was LEO. As long as you are obeying the law, no one's going to hassle you, so don't sweat it. 1911's have at least three safeties, I never gave ND a thought.
 
S&W45Colt said:
My first carry was a Para Ordnance P-12 1911. I was used to carrying, so it was no adjustment. I did not have to worry about some of your concerns since I was LEO. As long as you are obeying the law, no one's going to hassle you, so don't sweat it. 1911's have at least three safeties, I never gave ND a thought.
Click to expand...

I have a browning high power that I shoot better than my s&w or glock, but have never carried it. I'm going to FORCE myself to so I can overcome the fear of "condition 1".
 
I forget what I carried first, but probably my G23.

I was comfortable with it right off the bat. I had been shooting in IDPA matches for years, so I knew how to conceal it.

About a month after getting my permit I was hit in an accident and when the police showed up they asked me for my license. Though not required by law, I gave them my CHP also. They couldn't have cared less that I was carrying (my 442) at the time.

Bill
 
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Rookie school!

Was in rookie school and just when we were to be issued our duty guns was always a closely guarded secret. In fact, the initial stage of firearms training was with range guns.

Of course, we young and eager rookies were well-prepared for whenever it happened having bought holsters aforehand and we carried them in our cars every single day. Late one afternoon we were directed to report to the property office, and we literally raced there. :eek:

And there we were issued a brand new Model 10, 4", heavy barrel. We were told not to load or carry it until we got home; that was disregarded by all as we convened at a nearby parking lot where we loaded and started carrying. :D And I have carried just about every single day since then...now about 38 years. And in all 50 states, BTW.

Yes, it was a bit exciting; no, no worries about anything then...we were the police. (Pronounced "POH LEASE." )

Ah, those were the days. :)

Be safe.
 
Lots of good info here

The belt is under appreciated: you need a good one, along with a good holster. Best to get both from the same maker - order them together. I use only Del Fatti or Milt Sparks. Plan to spend $400+ and wait.

If you are very familiar with your handgun, it's manual of arms and your leather, you'll be comfortable and safe. That takes many hours over many days. Lots and lots of practice - 95% if it dry firing, before you ever carry outside your home.
 
Took about a week to get "comfortable" that no one really knew I was carrying.

I started at a 5 o'clock carry but have since switched to appendix.

I am to the point now that I feel uncomfortable when I DON'T carry.

My pistol is a Ruger LCR.

I have a MP 40 but I only carried it when it was cold in a Crossbreed.

Really can't see carrying the MP in Appendix:rolleyes:

Not saying it can't be, just don't think I would.

The Crossbreed is so comfortable, it is no problem at 5 o'clock.
 
It took me just a couple of days to get really comfortable carrying my snubby. I started out with pocket carrying in a homemade holster, later I made an owb holster. My belt isn't a gun belt but it's a 9 ounce leather belt that's stiff enough to hold up a 442. I figure that if I need a stiffer belt I can always glue and stitch another layer to it.
My first carry gun is also my present gun, a 442.
I have a pot metal 1911 replica and used that to make a holster. I like the way that holster came out so much, now I want a real 1911 to go with it. I might make another 1911 holster with a basket weave pattern just for the fun of it.
 

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It took me a couple of days to get use to it. I carried openly for my job as a security officer, prior to obtaining my CPL, so I believed that helped a lot.

I still carry openly while working (requirement), and I surprisingly do not get many strange looks. I carry an M&P .45C.
 
FNX-9 was the first gun I carried (I still like carrying it but the 442 ends up going everywhere most days)

Took me a few weeks after I got my cross breed holster before I stopped checking to see if I was printing all the time.
First time I ever left the house with the fnx9 I was almost forced to use it on some idiots dog.. learned quite a bit about getting a gun out under stress. Practice... a lot. Handle what ever your going to carry... a lot.
 
Protected One said:
Most of us have at least a somewhat uncomfortable feeling when we begin to carry. Will someone notice? Will I have a ND? Will the cops stop me? etc, etc...These are some of the things going through your mind.
How long did it take you to be comfortable carrying (particularly those who carry 1911 or Browning HP), and what was the first weapon you carried?
Click to expand...

First one I carried was a stainless Ruger Speed Six. Never really got comfortable carrying that one due to weight and IWB holsters not being well designed back in 1980. After that I started carrying a Charter Arms .44 Bulldog in a shoulder holster for a while. Worked well, but soon I switched to carrying a 1911 IWB, first with a badly designed Bianchi IWB holster with a clip, then sans holster IWB. This, I found was easy to carry and conceal. Lots of switching around of guns and holsters since then.
 
First gun I carried concealed was a full size 1911. I didn't worry at all because it was winter and I was dressed for it. But then it got warm!:rolleyes:

I went out and bought a j frame and put it in my right front pocket. Didn't worry then either.

I was pretty well informed before I started carrying and realized that the general public didn't know what to look for.
 
First handgun that I carried regularly was a US M1911A-1 .45 caliber pistol issued to me in Vietnam. Didn't take long to get comfortable with it; in fact it became much like a security blanket which I was never really comfortable without.

Later added a captured Belgian Browning Hi Power 9mm pistol which also became a comforting presence.

First concealed carry came a little later. When working vice & narcotics I remember purchasing 2 brand new S&W Model 36 revolvers on a department letterhead order, direct from the factory for just under $100 for the pair. In cold weather I carried one in each coat pocket. In warm weather one went in each boot. When I went back to uniform duty I carried one in a Safariland upside down shoulder holster under my uniform shirt as a back-up piece. For many years working plainclothes I carried a 2.5" Model 19 in a pancake holster, but I always kept the 6" Model 19 in a briefcase in the car trunk (right next to the shotgun and M1 Carbine), just in case.

With a badge and police ID the sidearm became so much of a habit that it was difficult to break when I retired. Always kept a pistol and a couple of magazines locked in my vehicle. When LEOSA passed in 2004 I started carrying concealed again on a regular basis. Leaving the house now is just like the old days again (Keys? Check. Wallet? Check. Handkerchief? Check. Pistol? Check.).
 
I started out with a 5" 1911. Didn't everyone? :)

Get an Airweight Centennial and a good pocket holster. Start there and work your way up. If you don't carry an Airweight Centennial EVERY DAY, then you will not carry anything else every day. If you find out that's the case, I just saved you a TON of money buying big, high capacity "manly guns" and expensive holsters to carry them with. :)
 
LoboGunLeather said:
First handgun that I carried regularly was a US M1911A-1 .45 caliber pistol issued to me in Vietnam. Didn't take long to get comfortable with it; in fact it became much like a security blanket which I was never really comfortable without.

Later added a captured Belgian Browning Hi Power 9mm pistol which also became a comforting presence.

First concealed carry came a little later. When working vice & narcotics I remember purchasing 2 brand new S&W Model 36 revolvers on a department letterhead order, direct from the factory for just under $100 for the pair. In cold weather I carried one in each coat pocket. In warm weather one went in each boot. When I went back to uniform duty I carried one in a Safariland upside down shoulder holster under my uniform shirt as a back-up piece. For many years working plainclothes I carried a 2.5" Model 19 in a pancake holster, but I always kept the 6" Model 19 in a briefcase in the car trunk (right next to the shotgun and M1 Carbine), just in case.

With a badge and police ID the sidearm became so much of a habit that it was difficult to break when I retired. Always kept a pistol and a couple of magazines locked in my vehicle. When LEOSA passed in 2004 I started carrying concealed again on a regular basis. Leaving the house now is just like the old days again (Keys? Check. Wallet? Check. Handkerchief? Check. Pistol? Check.).
Click to expand...

I also have a browning High-Power 9mm that I am itching to carry. Can you recommend a good IMB holster?
 
LoboGunLeather said:
When working vice & narcotics I remember purchasing 2 brand new S&W Model 36 revolvers on a department letterhead order, direct from the factory for just under $100 for the pair. In cold weather I carried one in each coat pocket.
Click to expand...

That's wild Ray....I met a cop back in the eighties who told me about an NYPD undercover cop who carried two revolvers just like that...he said that he actually used them from inside his pockets on two guys when a buy went bad...was that you?
 
The Real Hawkeye said:
First one I carried was a stainless Ruger Speed Six. Never really got comfortable carrying that one due to weight and IWB holsters not being well designed back in 1980. After that I started carrying a Charter Arms .44 Bulldog in a shoulder holster for a while. Worked well, but soon I switched to carrying a 1911 IWB, first with a badly designed Bianchi IWB holster with a clip, then sans holster IWB. This, I found was easy to carry and conceal. Lots of switching around of guns and holsters since then.
Click to expand...

Did you ever find a good IWB holster for that 1911?
 
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