If you could give your younger self one piece of advice on concealed carry or EDC, what would that be?

Concealed means concealed...

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Some Might Say.

My advice -- relax. Folks new to carrying concealed worry about being spotted, as they should. But the fact is, people are not seeing your gun because they aren't looking for one. And an experienced observer will spot you by your constant checking of yourself making sure no one can spot you.

So cover it, check yourself in the mirror, and go forth -- relaxed.

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Pisgah

Quality belt, quality holster.

The extra money spent will be forgotten long before the pain in the rear of buying cheap!

Carry a gun.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Practice more, buy high quality holsters.

I have no great words of wisdom here. I will agree with RobertJ on the belt. Buy good belts or expect to replace them often. For an inexpensive belt that will do the job (if they fit your pants style) go to 30dollargunbelt. I bought a couple of them because with the price it seemed like a reasonable gamble. I won.

My M 638 in my front pocket would only be noticed by some one like me i THINK....
How many bad guys look for some one CC a hand gun???

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

Don't wait so long to do it. Concealed carry became legal here in 1995. I waited until 2013 to get my license to carry.

Only buy S&W K frames never sell any

If you can fold your belt in half vertically it is not sturdy enough.

Randy

To invest in proper clothing, belt and holster. I wear jeans with a slightly elastic waist. They stretch to accommodate a weapon and holster. I also use a Kore ratchet belt. The micro adjustments help a lot with comfort and fit.

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otis

I know many of my fellow forum member might disagree, but I believe in carrying the gun you shoot best. Practice till it's operation becomes second nature. That's the one you trust your life with.

Agree

I've heard guys on here, and seen guys in person carrying different firearms all the time. I hear putting guns in "the rotation". To me, that's a mistake. You need to know your EDC as the saying goes "like the back of your hand".

Revolver today, 1911 tomorrow, Striker fired with no safety the next. It's just causing confusion that need not be there. Because god forbid if the time ever comes? You have to rely on that muscle memory with your heart pounding out of your chest.

Stick with one gun.

In my early gun show trading/buying days I carried my gun money inside my left sock, and now have a permanent discolored ugly scar on my ankle...I won't mention where I carry it now...

Wait, were you talking about concealing my guns?......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

I had an unexpected incident where I had to confront a felon. All I had on me was my BUG (mouse 9mm).

I was able to talk him down until some backup arrived.

"Lord Jesus, if you get me outta this, I swear I'll NEVER leave the house again without a full size pistol" I whispered to myself.



,

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Death? Smile back...

Think about options. You don’t want the gun to be your only option.

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Uvidíme se později, aligátore.

It's kind of a tie between two things:

1) Physical fitness, or at least a really strong firing hand/forearm is paramount for accuracy. If you can't be good with the gun you may be more dangerous than helpful.

2) You can theorycraft all day and night, but if you settle on a gun you don't carry because its too much of a hassle then its all pointless. A quality gun you will *actually* carry and you can be accurate with is what you should choose.

Being a resident of NYs, it pays to be extremely diligent about what you do or not do with anything concerning firearms!

As a past pistol permit instructor of course I gave out plenty of advice. One of the biggest things I talked about was concealment. Your piece should be so well carried that the only way people know you are wearing a gun is if your patted down or electronically wanded. That or due to circumstances you safely tell a LEO that your walking heavy!

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

My last item on this would be this....dress in a manner that doesn't bring any attention to you.

Especially if your concealed gets unconcealed for whatever reason.....i once saw a concealed carrier reach for an item on the top shelf thus exposing his side arm......the little girl to his right said" Mommy that man has a gun" The lady (Mommy), said to her daughter, "It's ok sweetie, he is suppossed to have a gun.....

The man was well dressed with a suit and tie on....could easily have been a Secret Service agent for all I know.....

Randy

Practice (safely!) actually drawing and presenting your EDC. This may lead you to modify or re-think your EDC decisions as to what and how to carry.

There are many great comments and posts , so I would only be echoing those.

But I will say the longer you carry, the more natural it becomes. Like grabbing your wallet and keys before leaving the house.

Also, depending on where you store your firearms may have an impact on carrying vs not. I have a hand vault next to where I keep my keys/wallet, and grab my pistol from it when I am grabbing my other EDC gear.

If it is cumbersome or a bother to get your pistol, it may influence your decision.

Sent from my SM-G781U using Tapatalk

"Be absolutely sure of what you're looking at." I've told it before: Maybe 25 years ago, getting gas around 11pm, nobody around. I look in the window of the convenience store and the woman (sole employee) is frantically beating a guy with a mop handle. I saw "trouble," started toward the door, drew 6906 at "low ready." Suddenly, guy bolts out door and makes a beeline for the railroad tracks behind the store. I reholster, go in and ask her: "Are you OK?" Her :"What do you mean?" Me: "I saw you defending yourself, I thought you were being robbed." Her: "That was my old man, he wanted money and he wasn't getting any from me!" Me: "OK, I guess I'm just paying for the gas." Lesson learned. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

I picked this up from other forums. Don't post anything on social media, including firearms sites, that could be detrimental to your cause if you use a gun for self defense.

Did you follow through?

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Retired Career Security Guard

I guess if I had to pick something it would be three things.

1. Keep the fact that you carry a handgun on a NEED to know basis.

I've told this story before but right after I got my concealed handgun permit I told a guy that was a friend of mine.

We were at the shooting range and he was thinking about getting his concealed handgun permit. I told him the process that I went through.

A couple of weeks later we were standing in the sanctuary at church having a conversation with a third party and out of the blue my friend told the third person "Smoke's carrying a gun right now." I don't even remember what the context of the conversation was that he would do that but I learned my lesson.

I don't have examples for the other two but they would be

2. Make sure you're educated on your local laws.

3. If you're going to carry a gun that should be your default setting. You carry everywhere that it's legal for you to carry.

I do have an reference for this one, Massad Ayoob wrote an article several years ago in which he said (Paraphrased) If you're ever involved in a self-defense shooting outside of your house at some point they're going to ask you why you were even carrying a gun.

He said that you're better off if you can tell the police that you always carry a gun no matter where you go and today was no different.

I don't remember how he worded it but if it comes out that you sometimes do carry and you sometimes don't carry the cops are going to ask you what was going on that day that was so special that you thought you needed a gun.

One More.

Before you close your gun safe double check and make sure your cat's not hiding out in the bottom of it

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Retired Career Security Guard

I've seen people make some really stupid posts on gun forums . For some reason people from a certain State like to brag about how they would shoot any trespasser on their property because the law says they can . ***O ?

Yes, and amen.

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Death? Smile back...

If you make the decision to carry you should also have the mindset to use deadly force if it's necessary. Carrying for the purpose of scaring someone instead of using it to defend yourself will very likely get you killed. If you're not prepared to use deadly force you shouldn't be carrying.

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Why duck?? It's a 9mm!

Practice.
Wear proper clothing.

Limiting yourself to only one potential carry gun is completely unrealistic for many people who have varying threat matrices and varying NPE situations they must negotiate on a daily basis. For me, sometimes the best choice is a 4" 629 in OWB with cover garment, and other times the best choice is a .22 NAA Mini in my jeans pocket. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of simple minds.

Weight matters more than caliber and capacity


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Try before you buy.

You don’t have to have a bunch of nonsense attached to your gun at first. Save your money for practice. Then more practice.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

Understanding that you give up your right to be an A-hole when you exercise you right to bear arms.

OZ

A good driver can drive many cars well.........Same with guns. I carry several. I can be quick with any of them. So your hypothesis does not apply to all..........Ever watch Jerry Mikulek? He does well with all

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S&W Accumulator

You nailed it perfectly.

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S&W Accumulator

This is one I learned the hard way Great advice.

A gun is not a talisman. It is akin to an EpiPen. It is there when you need it.

Since CC was made legal here I have carried the same mouse gun in the same holster in the same pocket. I fail to see how that makes me simple minded.

I am at peace with my choice. Don't over think this.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Why carry a gun when you can carry a Cop.... or three.

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Have Fun/Stay Safe

Since my chances of an armed confrontation are almost nil, comfort is #1, for me. IE, small guns.

I get that, completely

However, the bulk of us aren't Jerry Mikulek or Hickok45. A lot of us don't have the money or time to practice with hundreds of rounds a month with many different firearms.

There's another old saying "beware of the guy with one gun, he probably knows how to use it"

That is the conclusion I came to as well. For others in more dangerous areas such as New Orleans this could differ, but for where I go a 5 shot J Frame is more than adequate.

If you're expecting trouble, carry a rifle . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

AND SEVERAL FRIENDS WITH RIFLES!

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S&W Accumulator

Heh-heh, If'n I'm expecting trouble I probably ain't going. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

I, as well as others with continue to carry what is good for the occasion. You carry whats good for you........And we'll all be happy-prepared and safe.

BTW SC has open carry too.

I would NEVER want to be hickok45......He's just a shill for Bud's Guns in Tenn.

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S&W Accumulator

Unless you love paying lawyers and dealing with years of hassle, carry but actively try to AVOID using your firearm. If a situation feels "off", get out. Walking away (if it's a viable option) is cheaper than shooting someone. De-escalate wherever possible. Seek to avoid confrontation. Be Gandhi, not Rambo. Shooting someone should always be an absolute last resort. You can win a civil suit after a legit shooting and still end up bankrupt.

Buying Pants in 1 size larger dose not mean your fat

Rob

What is the practical consideration? The assumption is that the stress response will cause loss of voluntary motor control and only pre-programmed muscle memory will be functional. I considered this to be an unproved or at least over-simplistic teaching. There are certainly anecdotes which would suggest that there is credence to the teaching, there are also anecdotes to the contrary.
The US Marine Corps has studied the question and has determined that about one in ten Marines are of a type who do not suffer from any diminished capacity during an extreme stress response. You are scared but you can still think. The Corps has a way to find these individuals and assign them to the squad automatic weapons, a dramatic improvement in unit effectiveness. (Please correct me anyone as I am no expert, with my thanks.) I know that my father, my brother, and my daughter are all such, and I have reason to believe it is true for me also. I believe there is a genetic component to this. (Again please correct me.)
Similarly, there are one in ten individuals who are paralyzed by the adrenalin dump and would fit the description you reference. I also feel that most people will fall closer to the panic side of the spectrum than on my side.
Anecdotes- If you read about a bad thing happening and you are bothered and want to change your strategy, do it. I will need more evidence. There are people who heard stories of their particular Sig pistol going off uncommanded, so they are now carrying on an empty chamber! I will NEVER do that!
Training- You cannot prepare for everything, but you can train for a fight. Standing at the line holding the pistol and slowly squeezing the trigger does what exactly?? People are doing things at the range which will not help them win a real gunfight. Most gun ranges have safety protocols that prevent realistic practice.
One Gun- I can say that I agree that there is some validity to the idea. If you can shoot a double action revolver well, then you will shoot other pistols well. But my friends who shoot the 1911 very well, cannot take my Smith 3rd Gen 457 or 6906 and hit well with it double or single action! However it will be well enough. If you carry like you practice, same type holster, same type trigger action, same safety system, there is a speed advantage with your first shot. But being honest, that additional speed is practically never decisive in a fight. My speed has more to do with the kind of cover garment than anything else. I can draw from under a suit coat fastest, then from a Levi jacket, but slowest of all from under an unbuttoned shirt.
Rotation of various pistols- I was practicing shoot and move with a 1911 and got held up trying to rack the slide by pulling on the back instead of using the slide lever. That gun had recoil buffers installed which were preventing me. I took those out and I practiced until it became automatic for me to use the slide release on every pistol. I can go between revolvers and traditional DA/SA pistols with absolutely no issues at all, but if I carry a 1911 I am going to forget to operate that safety, maybe? But I never have, and since I can still think under extreme stress, it might not be a problem. But if it is, when the gun don't go boom, I am gonna be able to duh wipe the safety and get off the shot. I suspect that those who have a rotation of pistols, might ought to practice with them until they can see a favorite. When I saw that I could do so much better with my 457 than the others, that became the EDC.
Defensive encounters are incredibly complex. Remember that a gunfight is more fight than gun! Please correct me anyone with my thanks and thanks Miracle Man for this thread! Enjoyed it so much.

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696-6906-457-38-3913-CS40-411

This is bad, outdated advice from Ayoob.

When the Police arrive you should only make basic statement to them such as “I was attacked by that individual. He was armed with a gun (or knife), made statements that put me in fear of my life, was close enough to harm me so I had no choice but to defend myself. You will find the gun (or knife) he was armed with over there”.

Then your next statement should be “I want a lawyer and I will not answer any more questions until I speak to one”.

The Police are NOT your friend and you should not treat them as such.