First time to carry in public (Do you remember yours?)

[Peter McM]

I'm 50 years old, and a new handgun owner. I'm taking my cat to the vet Thurs. morning; thinking this simple errand would be a good first exercise in public carry. My new Sig P250 holstered on my belt and (hopefully) discreet under my shirt.

What did some of you do to warm up to having a gun on your person in public?

 

[MisterChester]

I'm 50 years old, and a new handgun owner. I'm taking my cat to the vet Thurs. morning; thinking this simple errand would be a good first exercise in public carry. My new Sig P250 holstered on my belt and (hopefully) discreet under my shirt.

What did some of you do to warm up to having a gun on your person in public?

Do you have your LTCH yet?

 

[96firephoenix]

uhhh.... I literally sat in my car in the gunstore parking lot and loaded and holstered the gun.

For the record, I had my LTCH beforehand.

 

[nascarfantoo]

Try not to act to self conscious. Don't keep messing with the fit or your clothing, unless of course the drawers are falling down.

 

[CitiusFortius]

I remember the first time I carried, I was convinced EVERYBODY knew I had a gun and that it was so obvious. In himdsight, I'm quite sure nobody noticed. I was carrying a big gun (92FS) for my 5-9 frame as it was the only pistol I had at the time. I've since downsized to a more comfortable option and sometimes forget it's there, figuratively speaking of course.

 

[Ruffnek]

The very first time I carried,my wife and I went to MC Sports to look for an IWB holster(don't buy the Uncle Mike's IWB,they suck).At the door my wife,in an almost spiteful tone(she didn't see the point in carrying a gun),looked at me and said "Better go back to the car" as she pointed to the sign stating that all firearms or bows coming into the store need to be cased and unloaded.

I read the sign and,almost as spitefully,told her to read the bottom that stated that this did not apply to people who were legally carrying a gun for personal protection,open or concealed.

I've always respected MC for that sign and it's why I still give them my business.

 

[JetGirl]

I thought WalMart was the rite of passage walk?

 

[FireBirdDS]

I felt pretty nervous, somewhat self-conscious, and convinced everyone around me knew I was packing, and was staring at me. Over time I relaxed and eventually came to not give a damn whether anyone knew or not (even cops). And though I and the majority of us are CC'ers, we all need to "lose our virginity" and OC at least once or twice. After realizing that most people either don't care or are too timid to say anything, CCing becomes nothing after that as far as personal comfort.

 

[Bigtanker]

I don't remember. That was over 15 years ago.

Now OCing OWB on purpose was only a few years ago. I do remember that. IHOP, Dick's then WalMart. Thought everybody was watching.

 

[24Carat]

Well what do you know . . . . . . . I haven't the foggiest !

 

[ModernGunner]

...What did some of you do to warm up to having a gun on your person in public?

Loaded gun, put gun in holster, finished getting dressed, left the house carrying an 8.375" Mdl. 29.

It's not 'what' you carry, it's 'how' you carry. I've carried sidearms I was told by 'knowledgeable' gun folks that were 'impossible' to carry without 'anyone' knowing. And especially, without 'them' knowing 'cause they were VERY observant and could 'print' ANYONE 'immediately', especially something as 'big and cumbersome' as a 8+" S&W!

Then, standing directly in front of them, I slowly (you know, for 'dramatic impact', LOL!) opened my windbreaker.

It's not 'what' you carry, it's 'how' you carry.

 

[Peter McM]

Do you have your LTCH yet?

Got it last year; I've taken my sweet time actually buying my first pistol.

 

[wtburnette]

Got it last year; I've taken my sweet time actually buying my first pistol.

Congrats on both.

I believe my first time OC was, as JetGirl put it, the Walmart rite of passage walk, with my G19. I carried it for a while OC in a blackhawk serpa and after a month or so went to CC with an Alien Gear hybrid IWB holster. Couldn't get used to it IWB, so I switched a couple of months ago to an M&P Shield, carried in a little leather tuck holster I got from Safariland at the NRA convention. It's very comfortable and I now carry all the time (except for at work, where it's prohibited).

 

[Frosty]

I remember being self conscious about carrying the first time or two, but now I'm pretty sure most people have no situational awareness. I carry a full size M&P .45 in a blackhawk Serpa.

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

OP:

do you have a quality holster and a quality belt?

-J-

 

[Fletch]

I've been carrying since about 1998. I remember being nervous, but not where I went. After 15/16+ years, the only thing I know for sure is that if you're carrying concealed, probably 99% of everyone around you is clueless. Americans don't pay attention to the behavior or appearance of others unless those others are causing a disturbance.

I did have one funny exchange with a convenience store clerk about another customer who was concealing very poorly, but I would expect people in that line of work to be hyper-vigilant.

 

[JetGirl]

probably 99% of everyone around you is clueless. Americans don't pay attention to the behavior or appearance of others unless those others are causing a disturbance.

QFT

 

[ArcadiaGP]

First time I OC'd was Panera Bread on Southport Rd. I was in work clothes, and no one cared.

 

[Lebowski]

Walked from my house to the gas station... carrying a fullsized 45, concealed in a Galco Kingtuck. It was October so I had a coat on, which helped. But I still felt like I had a 5 ft poll sticking out of my side where my grip was. No one noticed, and if they did, no one cared.

I had the same feeling of anxiety once it started to warm up and I switched from carrying my 4566 to my much smaller CM9 in just a t-shirt. It went away quickly.

 

[copo]

first time I carried was 23 years ago and I carried an AMT back up in my pocket. I touched it all the time to make sure it was still there.