How long do you carry a sidearm until you get comfortable with the feel of wearing it?

I allow about 2 weeks of all day carry with a new holster (always the same gun).

It amazes me that so many I know will carry something for half a day and decide it is not comfortable or does not feel right. One friend of mine was set on getting an ankle holster for his Glock 22. I gave him one of mine. The next day told me it started out fine but then as the day went on, it got very uncomfortable. We had a discussion about it and he decided to give it a few days to see if it got any easier. I suggested he might want to carry a smaller, and hence lighter, gun. He did and saw me about a week later (yesterday) and told me it was very comfortable with a snub nose .38 but unmanagable with the Glock.

Could not giving themselves enought time to become accustomed to carry be a reason for so many getting carry permits and then not carrying most of the time?

I think a lot of people get a permit and carry a few times because it is a novelty and then they find it is a lot of trouble and they don't really need a gun. If they really thought they needed a gun they would have had the carrying figured out before they got a permit. Larry

Carrying a sidearm is not supposed to be comfortable, it is supposed to be comforting.

I think you're right on about not wearing long enough to
get used to it. Those are the ones still in denial. They see
the need, but don't think the bad stuff will come their way without
advance warning. I just hope they Are carrying on that day.
TACC1

I've always found that it is more about the holster than the gun. You're gonna have to find a comfortable rig if you want to carry for any extended period of time. It's one of the reasons my "all the time" rides in a pocket holster. My Nframes ride in pancakes or crossdraws, my autos either in a shoulder rig or paddle holsters.

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Even older, even crankier....

I am comfortable when I am comforted. Larry

Hi:
What type ankle holster for a Glock 22?

Now I wonder who said that?

I had the same experience with a friend. I carry almost exclusively IWB. I let him borrow a good leather IWB holster. He brought it back the next day and said it was too uncomfortable. I asked him to give it a week and see what happens. Worked out well for him.

Honestly, carrying a gun and everything else we carry is a big pain in the butt! But those seriously commited to doing so make no excuses. They just do it.

Anytime you wear anything "new" be it a new pair of boots/shoes, hat, handgun, etc., there is an adjustment period.

I would say 30 days, daily, for 30 days...

That is comforting to know, Larry!

But my answer to the original question is that any time I feel the need or desire to carry one of my handguns, I always select the type of holster that best fits the activity. Like when I'm driving, I like to have my weapon in a cross draw holster. When I'm walking around I either carry a RB J frame in an IWB. Sometimes a K frame 4" in an Alessi belt slide. When I'm hunting with a long gun I usually have the old 37 in a Brauer Bros. holster. I never did really have to get used to any of these. But then again, when you are as ugly as I am, you also get really used to being uncomfortable a lot.:eek
I really do need to get a good gun belt though as the belt slide wants to tip out at the top unless I tighten the hell out of my belt, and that IS uncomfortable.
Peace,
gordon

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better have that checked

I have to agree with A10 - I started out with buying the cheep nylon fabric holsters (won't mention the names) and was really disappointed. They have their place today when I go out to the barn for target shooting because finally I decided to buy a quality leather holster and belt - man, what a difference that made. Comfort level goes way up when you have a good belt and quality holster. Maybe starting out with a quality rig your 30 days or 2 weeks could get down to a couple of days.

Pete

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Don't tread on me

A really big one Jimmy. And you need fat ankles....

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Even older, even crankier....

Exactly. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

It took me several week's to get comfortable. Had to fine the right gun-holster combo. Now I would feel very uncomfortable without my Model 38.

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OGCA Member.

I've been carrying for so long that there is a spot back there on my hip that just don't feel right if there isn't a gun there.

Don't really matter what anymore, just as long as something is there.

My experience has been that I pretty much get used to a carry combination in a day or so, often less. Generally speaking, if a holster doesn't feel right, there is a reason, and I fix it. A Summer Special, of course, does improve with sweat and wear. More often than having to adjust to an obviously ill-fitting combo, I find that something that has worked for weeks or months has been positioned just a little wrong and needs to be changed to relieve pressure or, less likely, to avoid introducing some sort of muscular imbalance.

I have also found that a good belt, like www.thebeltman.net makes, can make a surprising difference, at least at my age.

It is one of the "belly band" type holsters that have a pocket for each type gun.

That said, while it will hold a Glock 22, it was not designed for such a size weapon. A model 27 fits it much better.

Regardless, I am not a fan of ankle holsters. I still have a couple but do not ever use them. I have worn them long enough to try to get accustomed to the feel of them. After a couple of weeks, I never did like them and the access is not as rapid as a person needs in a critical situation. They got put in the holster box with a lot of others that do not get used.

I agree. A cheap belt will not allow a holster to wear well.

You know you're comfortable with cc when you've forgotten you are carrying it.

A GOOD BELT can make all the difference. Good Firearm, Good Holster, and a GOOD BELT wraps up a Great Package, for LEO work or CCW carry.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

No. No fat ankles. We need to go back to bell bottom jeans!

I sort of agree with you, and then I sort of disagree. I carry a Glock 27 in an ankle holster. It gives me good access when I'm seated. But I will also carry another weapon where I have good access when standing. Right now I have a S & W 340 PD in my pocket. Sometimes I wear it on my hip.

I spend a good part of my day driving or sitting at a desk or drinking coffee at Starbucks. The ankle holster offers superior access in all of those situations.

If you inventory amount of time when you might be at risk and divide it into time standing and time seated you might take a different approach to holsters.

I'm a two gun guy, and almost invariably one of those guns will be in an ankle holster.

Says who?
With the right equipment AND clothing, one can be "comfortable AND comforted". I know I am

I get comfortable right away. No matter how big or how small it is from a CZ 83 to a redhawk shoulder holster. It's like a wallet I don't know it's there. I CCW the redhawks for decades. Everything else is cake.
My new m58 I like it too on my belt.

It just takes time from wearing on your side on either side. It took me a couple of days until I felt comfortable on wearing my firearm.

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Shoot like a pro!

I agree it's all about having the proper belt and holster combination. For me, I was comfortable almost right away. My problem was thinking that everyone could tell I was carrying. I got over it.

As a night watchman at lockheed I carried for 35 years. First, while you obvisely get used to it, I never found it enjoyable. I am a big fat guy and found for whatever reason wearing a large uniform belt more comfortable than just hanging a gun and holster on just a wide pants belt. For many years towards the end of my tenure I wore color coded suspenders to match my uniform shirts. If I dont wear suspenders I have to cinch up my belt real tight. A light gun is prefable. I worked heavy overtime most of my career. I probley averaged three 12 hour shifts a week and also worked many double shifts. Packing a gun that many hours the novelty wears off real quick. Anyway for me, its a good gunbelt, a high rise holster, and a K frame or colt trooper in either 3" or 4". On the trails rideing atv`s I do often carry a 24-3 4" or a 5" converted HD to .44 special but even then most of the time I pack it in a bag right by my handel bars. Other times I favor a light 3" model 36 in a pancake holster. Most of the time I dont carry but usualy have one in reach in my vehicle out of sight but handy.

I never really had any trouble adjusting to carrying a concealed hand gun, I don't really remember the time frame, it was a while ago, but the first gun I bought specifically for concealed carry was my Glock 23. I was just starting out in getting equipped to carry a gun and had not yet discovered the glory of a leather holster so I wound up with an Uncle Mikes Ballistic Nylon Slide with matching magazine pouch. Pictured below

For a non leather holster it is very good. I had a good belt and the gun rode very securely and comfortably in the 3:30 position on my right hip.

I eventually traded up to leather holsters, IWB OWB and Shoulder. I still have an Uncle Mikes for the ankle rig for the Keltec. I also have several other guns I carry on occasion.

It takes most folks a little time to get through the trial and error of finding what works best. I think it's important to have something for all occasions and all weathers. And besides, variety, just as it is said of other aspects of life, it also the spice of life where carrying a handgun is concerned. I mean who wants to carry the same old gun in the same old way every single day.

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