My "First Time"

[Steely Dan]

No, not that.

Today was my first official CCW experience with my Ruger LCR .357.

I wore a untucked golf shirt with jeans and a unbuttoned long sleeve shirt.

First went to the dump, gun to the right of my back (probably 5 o'clock). In my F150 seats, it felt a little uncomfortable.

Next off to town for errands.

Just didnt feel right sitting in the seat so I pulled the gun out of the holster and placed it in my center console.

Had to pick up some shoes so re-holstered in the car, then entered the store.

Now, my holster (leather IWB Galco) is new and still tight so I kept wondering "did I get the pistol seated down far enough?"

In the store, I felt like every eye was on me (of course it was just me).

I know I was just paranoid but I felt out of place.

I can't imagine carrying my FS MP .40 in my Crossbreed.

The little LCR seemed huge.

I was going to tuck my shirt in around the gun but I just don't think I can swing it. I kept "seeing" the concealed pistol.

Do any of you carry with your shirt tucked in around your IWB?

I believe I will look at a Blackhawk #4 pocket holster for the LCR. Seems like a more natural alternative (provided my pockets are big enough). Most likely a summer carry option ( I usually wear cargo shorts in the summer).

 

[USAF385]

Try appendix carry. Back when I began carrying I started out in the small of the back and worked my way up from 5 o'clock to 4 to 3 to 2 then finally appendix. You'd be surprised by how comfortable it is with a proper holster. I carry much larger than an LCR there.... Up to a 3" .44 mag. It can be done! I find its very comfortable even when driving.

The only tucking in I ever do is with a tuckable holster. And that's for when I need a tucked in shirt... certain times when working or weddings etc.

I always wear a "wife beater" tanktop. I like to have something between the gun/holster and my skin. Over top of that a t-shirt works just fine, however I often wear button up shirts, especially during colder weather... I'm always in flannel.

Oh.. And congrats!

 

[bdmoss88]

I tried going tucked last night with a fairly loose fitting golf type shirt and my SD40VE in a Little Foxx Hybrid. I started tucking on the left side and pulled it tight while going around so there was extra to kind of hang loose by the time I tucked in between the holster and clip on the right side. I walked out and asked my wife what she could see and she couldn't figure out what I was talking about. We went to a restaurant and grocery store and I felt pretty well concealed and that no one notice anything.

 

[Steely Dan]

I always wear my shirts tucked.

That's is the way I would prefer.

I tried going tucked around the house Friday. Just need to get more comfortable with it.

 

[Roan Ranger]

Pardon my naiveity, but what is a wife beater shirt?

 

[kablamo]

Pardon my naiveity, but what is a wife beater shirt?

A white tank top under shirt. It's a slang name

 

[Travis15R]

Pardon my naiveity, but what is a wife beater shirt?

plain white tank top or white shirt that they sell in the 4 or more packs in the stores.


As far as carrying goes does it depend more on the right holster or the right size gun? I have an M&P .40 that I would like to carry after I get my permit but I have been wondering if a full size hand gun would be to big or cumbersome.

 

[bamabiker]

A picture of 4 wife beaters.
http://fitbattle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/wifebeaterbad.jpg

 

[jimmyj]

Hi:
I have NEVER found IWB carry comfortable.
OWB with a cover garment (untucked shirt, vest, jacket, coat, etc).
For my 45 year career I CCW strong side (FBI style) which was the same "Carry" as my "On Duty" service weapon. I have recently CCW "Crossdraw" which is comfortable and have several advanages that I like.
Jimmy

 

[P&R Fan]

Congratulations on your new permit. It's been a long time since I first got mine (almost 28 years) but I remember that feeling that EVERYBODY knew I was carrying. That is simply not true. How often do you look at other guys real closely? For me, that would be never, unless there is a good reason to. Cops are a different story, but unless you are acting weird, I wouldn't worry about that either.
I also like to wear my shirts tucked in. In the summer I carry a Glock 23 or 27 in a Kramer Confidant shirt holster. It has a holster under each arm, and I carry a spare mag under the off-side. I just leave two buttons unbuttoned, and can draw very fast. If I'm wearing a suit, as I will be at church today, I leave a button open under my tie. Nobody notices it. It is unbelievably comfortable.
For waistband carry under a tucked in shirt try a Belly Band. They are surprisingly comfortable. I have carried a .44 Magnum N-Frame revolver in one under a tucked in shirt in total comfort, and it was not at all apparent I had it on. The secret is the shirt has to be "bloused". If it's too tight, it ain't gonna work.
With inside the waistband carry (IWB) the positioning of the gun is very important. A fraction of an inch in the wrong place can make it unbearable. If you wear it long enough you will know where the "sweet spot" is.
I actually prefer outside waistband (OWB) carry these days. Under a sweatshirt, it is very easy to conceal, much more comfortable and I can draw quicker. Took me a long time to come to that conclusion, but it works for me.
Don't give up, soon it will all be second nature.
Jim

 

[Poodle Soup]

Ive worn my cross breed tucked in with my fnx9 in it. I can always see it printing... but my girlfriend couldn't really tell. And no one at the local ice cream shop seemed to notice. Would a LEO? Hopefully but otherwise only 'gun' people are going to see.... and they probably will think "Theres my back up"

 

[Houdini1953]

It is only natural for someone new to carrying concealed to be overly conscious of their weapon and yes there is that feeling that maybe everyone else notices, but they really don't.

It is not natural for you to carry a firearm but with time it will be second nature so long as you wear properly fitting clothing and a good conceal holster, on the weekends get used to wearing your weapon at all times at home and soon it will be the new normal you to be armed at all possible times!

 

[kd5exp]

Has anyone done any of the open holster wearing yet. It is legal here in Oklahoma for some time now. I don't have my CCW yet but plan to get it soon with my sister who wants me to go with her. I have seen pics of elderly women in stores with an open holster and I kinda like it. I wounder if it will bring trouble in time. I know I wouldn't mess with her.

 

[Roan Ranger]

Oh Dear! Glad my husband doesn't have any of those shirts or LOOK like any of those guys... Thanks for the clarification and pictures.

 

[Steely Dan]

Thanks for the replys and suggestions.

We went out to eat today and I felt a little more at ease.

I'm wearing the Galco on my right rear side (facing at 12:00, it would be 5:00 o'clock).

I'm getting there.

When comfortable enough, I will try to go with a golf shirt tucked.(I'm kind of a neat freak, I have always tucked my shirts in).

I am going to get a Blackhawk #4 pocket holster this summer.

It would easily fit inside my cargo shorts.

On a separate note........

Took the wife, my future son n law and my two daughters to shoot the new LCR today (along with my MP 40 and my future SNL's Glock 21.)

We had a great time shooting. The little .357 Mag shot great.

My wife did pretty good with the LCR but did much better with the MP

She shot it better I believe because if the trigger and it has better sites.

We shot .38 Special FMJ, .38 Hollowpoint +P, and some .357 Mags.

The +P's had just a little more "bite" than the regular .38's .

The .357 sounded like a cannon going off! It echoed down the ridges behind my son n laws parents house.

The recoil was not as bad as what I feared (wouldn't want to do it all day ).

My wife handled the .357 really good. She didn't back down after the first few rounds.

The MP shot great as always. A really great gun.

 

[Steely Dan]

Try appendix carry. Back when I began carrying I started out in the small of the back and worked my way up from 5 o'clock to 4 to 3 to 2 then finally appendix. You'd be surprised by how comfortable it is with a proper holster. I carry much larger than an LCR there.... Up to a 3" .44 mag. It can be done! I find its very comfortable even when driving.

The only tucking in I ever do is with a tuckable holster. And that's for when I need a tucked in shirt... certain times when working or weddings etc.

I always wear a "wife beater" tanktop. I like to have something between the gun/holster and my skin. Over top of that a t-shirt works just fine, however I often wear button up shirts, especially during colder weather... I'm always in flannel.

Oh.. And congrats!

When you say appendix, do you mean in front?

 

[Steely Dan]

Hi:
I have NEVER found IWB carry comfortable.
OWB with a cover garment (untucked shirt, vest, jacket, coat, etc).
For my 45 year career I CCW strong side (FBI style) which was the same "Carry" as my "On Duty" service weapon. I have recently CCW "Crossdraw" which is comfortable and have several advanages that I like.
Jimmy

I been looking at the OWB pancake holsters, I can see where the would be more comfortable.

Now I understand when you guys say "I've got a drawer full of holsters"!

 

[photoman]

When you say appendix, do you mean in front?

IWB at the one o'clock position.

 

[USAF385]

When you say appendix, do you mean in front?

What Photoman44 said.. 1 o'clock.

Re: the "wife beater", I prefe them because they're thin, any tshirt tucked in works, but like I said I wear them under other shirts so I prefer them for their thinness.

 

[snubbyfan]

Depending on the weather I either carry my snubby at about the 3:30 position in a homemade owb holster, wearing a tucked in tank top and an untucked overshirt or in the right front pocket of my Dollar General cargo shorts. I personally have found it less expensive to learn to make my own holsters than buying them. In fact I've even made a little money making custom holsters for people.
Only problem I having now is that my old belt seems to have shrunk, so should I make one out of heavy strap leather or just buy one. I do intend to have just the one belt for a while.