Decision Fatigue With First Concealed Carry

Shootingfish

Shootingfish

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Hubby and I carried a gun for the first time on our trip this past weekend. We left Friday morning and by Sat morning I was exhausted worrying about that gun and what to do with it. Every time we stopped to get gas, we took turns leaving the car. The hotel did not have a safe. He wore the wrong clothes to conceal. I carried in my cross-body handbag most of the time. Sometimes we said *** and left it in the car shoved up under the seat. 10 hours on the road Monday and constantly concerned when we stopped. The gun was never loaded but we acted as if. Hopefully CC will get easier.
 
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Yeah, dressing for on-body carry is a thing. Generally, except for formal wear when I carry in a handbag, I replaced my day-to-day wardrobe to comfortably permit dressing for my preferred carry type, inside-the-waistband at four o'clock. But the adjusted wardrobe is loose enough to conceal my 3" 686 outside waistband at four o'clock in a Galco Combat Master holster. Waistband carry needs a purpose-built holster belt (I like Galco belts) to securely pull the holsters tight to the body, so that clothing slips over your grip without printing.

Hubby and I both have two lock boxes in our cars, to secure our arms when necessary. They are cabled to the car seat frames, stowed underseat, and easily moved for use in guest rooms when traveling, like when staying with our kids and taking a dip in their pool with the grandkids.

Don't worry, you'll do better quickly. After the first few times, you'll realize the necessary adjustments, and it'll be second nature.

Oh, one more thing. Are you careless? Do you have a history of losing control of your handbag? Had your bag snatched often? No. Then ignore the naysayers who'll swear it's an awful idea to handbag carry. It's way more important that your proficient with your daily carry than be concerned about the method.
Also, become familiar with self-defense modes of shooting at close-quarters, not just the outstretched two-handed isosceles target stance.

Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk
 
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I have managed over the years to come up with something that works for me about 90% of the time. I typically wear a T-shirt with some non-gun graphics design on it. Gun is in an OWB pancake at 4 o'clock. I wear a short sleeved nice quality work shirt, usually Dickies, with a long, square tail worn untucked obviously. it is comfortable, looks decent and covers the artillery very nicely while allowing rapid access.
 
Getting started with Concealed Carry isn't easy, but if you stick with it, it will become second nature in a hurry, no different than grabbing your wallet/purse, keys, and phone when you get up and go.

It's simply a matter of finding the right carry method. Some folks will insist that (much like firearms) there exists some objective, universal optimal method of Concealed Carry which requires a very specific holster, retention system, position/alignment, and method of deployment, but I urge you to ignore them and to find the right method for you.
Experiment with different holsters, positions, and methods of deployment until you find one which feels natural for you.

Personally, I carry my primary pistols in an IWB (Inside the Waistband) Leather Holster at about a 4:00 position. Some folks will insist that such is a terrible method and that I need to carry it so that it's tucked straight down the front of my pants (12:00) inside of a hard Kydex Holster, but I am neither comfortable nor confident carrying in such a manner, and thusly can safely say that it's not right for me, regardless of how many authoritarian figures may insist that it's the best method and that mine is terrible, because I don't allow others to make personal decisions for me, nor do I accept that their opinions/experience override my own. I know what works for me because I am me and that's an attitude that I think more folks ought to take when it comes to Concealed Carry. You're an individual, not a statistic, ergo statistics don't amount to anything if you should find that the approved method doesn't suit you personally.
 
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You'll figure it out pretty quick, then get to the point you don't think about it. Hubby has it easier, with pants more likely to have larger pockets. I know we all gave you advice on your 642's. You may be already thinking of a true pocket gun. Suggestion - buy a used LCP. You'll be amazed at how much easier it is to conceal than the 642. ( My opinion, not presented as fact.) I am very comfortable with my Bodyguard 380. Just put 25 rounds through it today.
 
when you settle on a comfortable carry method it will shortly thereafter become second nature. Best of luck on this journey.
On another note, many, but certainly not all, do not recommend a purse as a carry method. A gunshop that sells them talked me out of the idea with one question: "What is the first thing that a thug will take from your wife?"
 
What do you do with the darn thing when you have to use a public restroom...?
p.s. This is just a rhetorical question.

J.
 
Bought my wife a special CCW handbag. Pocket with adjustable holster with a easy zip opening for quick access. One side is brown, other black and the adjustable strap is cut proof.
Been carrying since 70's so its second nature. Usually tee shirt tucked in shorts, jeans or dress slacks with a square tail non tuck shirt. IWB or pancake if during cold weather when jacket is worn. Always check before leaving house that it is concealed.
I never leave whatever I'm carrying in vehicle unless going in Doctors office or post office.
Concealed carry is that, concealed so no one knows you are
 
Good info above. About the underwear lockbox, I keep spare cash and a credit card in mine all the time for emergency.

Another option for carry is a sneaky pete holster. Carry in plain sight, nobody knows what it is and no body looks at it.
 
Shootingfish said:
Hubby and I carried a gun for the first time on our trip this past weekend. We left Friday morning and by Sat morning I was exhausted worrying about that gun and what to do with it. Every time we stopped to get gas, we took turns leaving the car. The hotel did not have a safe. He wore the wrong clothes to conceal. I carried in my cross-body handbag most of the time. Sometimes we said *** and left it in the car shoved up under the seat. 10 hours on the road Monday and constantly concerned when we stopped. The gun was never loaded but we acted as if. Hopefully CC will get easier.
Click to expand...

Women generally have the advantage of the drape in their shirt around the belly area, in which case a belly band or corset holster can be advantageous. Just make sure you've got the gun in a kydex holder that covers the trigger.

Try the Crossbreed Belly Band, it comes with the Kydex for your gun. Men can also use it. I personally use one to appendix carry while wearing sweat pants or shorts. I can also appendix carry with dress pants and a dress shirt fully tucked in. It could also be used for 4 o'clock IWB carry but for that I definitely prefer the Crossbreed MiniTuck for my M&P Shield.

A better and purpose built appendix rig would be something like a Tier 1 Concealment Axis Elite. There's many other good ones too.

I'm not sure what you're trying to carry, but I'd strongly recommend an M&P Shield. They are much easier to conceal than most other guns but still big enough to be shootable for most people.
 
It will get easier, Shootingfish. I never leave a gun in our car unless I stop somewhere like a post office or government office where carrying is prohibited. Stop to get gas, I keep the weapon on me. That is a relatively high risk endeavor and you may need it. Stop at a hotel, the gun stays with me.

Hang in there!
 
There is a regional joke in these parts about "must wear CC gun to Walmart" on the first out of home trip. Carrying around the house is good practice prior to this. A quick look in the mirror will tell if it's concealed. Carriers quickly notice that the "shepple" are pretty much oblivious to a reasonably concealed handgun. Over time CCW carriers will get the wardrobe, body movement and holster kinks worked out to the point that only a really skilled observer MIGHT be aware you are CCWing. A lockbox for the car that can easily be transferred to a hotel room or office has merit.
 
Speaking for myself only; it's called concealed carry for a reason. I carry everywhere except the county offices where they do a magnetometer check. So far as I know, no one has even noticed I was carrying unless the wind opened my vest or jacket. In our county you can't take anything into the county building except papers. No cell phones, knives, guns, nothing that can be used as a weapon. I'm fairly lucky in that they don't take my belt buckle away.

Shootingfish, you will get used to having the firearm around, just give it time. Sometimes I forget i have it on and take my jacket off even when I'm in a restaurant. Nobody has ever said anything to me except my friend and we were sitting in a local bar. ooops.
 
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Sometimes looser clothing can help.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AudGd7-QkN8[/ame]
 
I am licensed in Texas, and I only travel outside of Texas to states that honor our license. I never leave the gun in the car unless I'm going someplace where I know a gun is prohibited. For that purpose, I have a sturdy lock box that is attached by a strong cable to the driver's seat frame.

When I drive long-distance, I carry my gun (a Shield 45) in a DeSantis pocket holster inserted into the pocket of a 5.11 brand holster undershirt. The undershirt is made from tight-fitting lycra, and it holds my Shield securely against my left side, slightly under my arm. With any type of ordinary outer shirt, NO ONE can tell I'm carrying. Best of all, it's easy to retrieve the gun while seated in the car, and it's always with me when I leave the car. That's a carry solution I can recommend for your husband, but I can understand that it may not work for you. A cross-body purse can work if you are absolutely obsessed with its security every time you take it off.

Your post indicates to me that you are very uncomfortable with carrying. Carrying an unloaded gun is pointless IMHO. You might as well carry a brick to throw at a bad guy. The place to start getting comfortable with carrying is to get familiar with your gun. You should be spending as much range time as you can learning to handle and shoot it. Take lessons if you need to. Then practice carrying it loaded. Do what we in Texas call a "Wally Walk". Go to your nearest friendly Walmart and walk around for an hour or so with your loaded gun. Then start carrying it around your house and everywhere else you go, not just on trips. And keep going to the range. After a while, you'll feel uncomfortable going anywhere without your gun.

Good Luck!
 
You have to dress around your firearm. I use oversized T-shirts made from heavy material. They are long enough that if I forget to wear pants, no one will notice. I use an IWB at 2 o'clock, not pointing into my crotch.

I lived in FL for many years and hid my issue G17 with no one ever noticing. These days I use my G26 with a 2 shot extension on the magazine. 17 shot magazine in my left pocket. The holster is from Andrews Custom Leather. Not cheap but will last a long time. It has adjustable cant. Once it breaks in to your body, it is very comfortable. The firearm will not fall out. Check out Sam's website and call him.

You might end up with a bunch of holsters in the closet like the rest of us. That's normal. Check the gun websites for used holsters too.

Dont give up. You are carrying emergency life saving equipment.
 
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It would be nice to know what gun you have but you obviously need a good holster that could help you carry easily.
 
I remember when I first started concealed carry. You do learn the value of loose fitting clothing for carrying inside the waistband or bulky coats if you decide on outside the waistband or a shoulder holster. So far, I have been spotted only once and that was when I first started to carry. I was trying a Bianchi X15 and one of my office staff spotted it the first day. I was wearing a sport coat and the bulk of the holster made one side of the coat stick out more than the other side. I learned from that mistake. Dress properly for the mode of carry.
 
Shootingfish said:
Hubby and I carried a gun for the first time on our trip this past weekend. We left Friday morning and by Sat morning I was exhausted worrying about that gun and what to do with it. Every time we stopped to get gas, we took turns leaving the car. The hotel did not have a safe. He wore the wrong clothes to conceal. I carried in my cross-body handbag most of the time. Sometimes we said *** and left it in the car shoved up under the seat. 10 hours on the road Monday and constantly concerned when we stopped. The gun was never loaded but we acted as if. Hopefully CC will get easier.
Click to expand...
Pardon if this was already covered and I just missed it....were you going out of state, and if so, were you going where your CC is honored? Cause Bog forbid you'd be traveling to say, Illinois.....this place doesn't recognize anyone else's permits..... you've no doubt checked on such things, but worth mentioning. And why was it unloaded, may I ask ?
 
it does take time to get used to CC, and learning which firearm and "rig" seems to work well. Here in SC, in the summer heat, it is more complex for me, since I don't tolerate heat and humidity well, after some chemo. Like yesterday, had to try on several different shirts and a vest for our Ash Wednesday noon service.

In the summer, I have to wear two garments, one to keep my firearm off my bare skin, the other to "conceal" my pistol, usually a Sig 365.

It takes time to get used to CC. At first, I imagined that every one was watching me. In time, I realized that even if wore a machete no one would notice. NV
 
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