Your first days & weeks of carrying. Did it feel odd?

[Flaboatbum]

What range of emotions did you feel when you first started carrying ? Just curious.

[Stainless]

At first, I noticed it constantly. I checked it often. I felt like everyone noticed it and coulde see it. It was an odd feeling.

Nowdays, I forget its there. Its just like my wallet or pocket-knife, its always there. I do not even think about it until I am in a situation that may require it.

I do feel naked if I go somewhere without it now.

[TampaGunGuy]

I just started to carry. I bought the "Cell Pal Concealed Carry Holster" I carry a Star 9mm and a Kel-Tec p32. OLD SCHOOL MEETS NEW SCHOOL.
Everytime I sit down I think that somebody notices and I feel like I am back in high school and the teacher ask me to go up to the chalk board. The old saying " Is that a gun in your pocket or are you happy to see me" goes thru my mind.
I do feel odd, knowing that I am carrying, but I was born around guns and I do know how to handle myself and my weapon.
I know that I could use my gun if need to protect my friends or family or myself!!! I also know that it is very VERY important to know the laws and how to react to the police if something were to happen.
I know it feels weird wearing (carrying) a gun, but if you know your laws and you practice, practice, practice drawing your weapon, it will be your best friend in no time and you will not want to leave home without it.
I think that we are going to see more and more crimes as the economy gets worse, so that is why I decided to get my CCW. Keep your eys open and your gun hidden!!!

[GSPKurt]

No. It felt goooood! 8)

[mr. b]

I think that we are going to see more and more crimes as the economy gets worse, so that is why I decided to get my CCW. Keep your eys open and your gun hidden!!!

Exactly!! I was just talking to my wife about how things can get bad fast with the economy slipping. We noticed some illicit activity while driving home this evening though a normally unmolested neighborhood. A "thug" looking character was lurking in 'drug deal' mode on a street corner, and further down the road we saw a "streetwalker".

Neither of us had ever seen this type of activity in this area before, and we both drive this street everyday. Our church is on this street, and my wife used to work at an office around the corner from it as well.

I predicted to her that we will first see a rise in less violent crimes like drugs and prostitution. Then, as more people turn to crime, you will see more armed robberies, home invasions, burglaries, and domestic violence. (Isn't finances the #1 things fought about amongst spouses?)

If Barack Obama gets elected, with a Democrat majority in the Congress and Senate, expect to see rigid gun control laws proposed and passed in the pretense of "controlling this sudden wave of violent crime".

Which ,of course, we all know will only make the victims easier targets, and cause crime rates to soar even further, causing more gun control laws by the idiots, etc...

This is gonna get bad folks...

[mikebrsa]

it felt wierd at first but i am now getting use to it, i also believe that crime will rise due to the economy so to me it is now necessary to carry.

[Caleb]

Dittos to Stainless. Now I feel weird if I can only carry my BUG (clothing restrictions) or worse - naked - in places where I can't carry at all. Raises some serious ethical questions when TSHTF.

[HogManMagnum]

ask me again in a month or so, my ccw license should be here by then (hopefully!)

hopefully my new grips and my holster will get here before the license...

[dman]

At first,I felt like Clint Eastwood,now,it's keyes,wallet and weapon,no big deal.

[HogManMagnum]

At first,I felt like Clint Eastwood,now,it's keyes,wallet and weapon,no big deal.
eastwood? nah i get more of a james bond feeling. maybe its because my gun looks alot like a walther ppk... 8)

[dman]

At first,I felt like Clint Eastwood,now,it's keyes,wallet and weapon,no big deal.
eastwood? nah i get more of a james bond feeling. maybe its because my gun looks alot like a walther ppk... 8)
Bond is cool,i'll drink to that. :)

[culberson]

Been carrying for 20 years now. What I hate is going where I can't carry. I tend to avoid places that ALL OF ME isn't welcome. I would like to make one point guys, just having your gun on you can make things more dangerous. You have to take time to practice both shooting and deploying your weapon. God forbid if you ever need to use it you need to be more then comfortable with yourself armed. Not a day I would look forward to but you want to be as in control as you can be. Just FYI.

[Weazl]

I feel nekkid without at least my Kel Tec in my pocket, but I prefer the G30.

[ebb_tide33]

It only feels weird to me when I don't wear it.

[Eagle Eye]

The first couple of days I carried it was odd but today I took the boy and his friends to Bass Pro after I carried in church. I had a button down fishing shirt on over a t-shirt with my IWB at 4:00. The last few days the holster (Cobra Gunskin IWB) was a little uncomfortable but today it was much better. BTW Bass Pro has a sign outside the entrance which says "RANGE CUSTOMERS, When coming to the range all firearms must be unloaded and locked in a hardside case prior to entering the building". Obviously Florida signs are of no consequence except possible tresspassing if they catch you, so I went in armed because I wasn't a "RANGE CUSTOMER" :mrgreen:

[ZO6Vettever]

Felt a little strange at first but it's been almost 5 months and it doesn't any more at all.

[sig232]

Packing that gun for the first time was a thrill for sure. But I did feel like my left butt cheek was hanging out, felt like everyone could see the gun and that it was printing.

But of course it was not printing, nobody could see it, it was under my jacket.

Police will tell you that they can spot individuals that are carrying a firearm many times because the individual will keep touching his pocket or holster area to make sure the gun is still there and in the holster. You point the gun out to them.

So once we all learn to be comfortable with our carry weapons whatever they may be they are invisible to others.

[Kingslayer]

My first week of CCW was actually kinda comical now that I think about it. My goal was to carry and conceal a full size 1911 simply because I shoot it best and if I had to use it I could handle parting with a $400 1911 (RIA Tactical) instead of my XD.

I put it in the holster and put it on my belt and discovered I needed a better belt. So I got a better belt and discovered it needed more holes in it because I needed to crank it tighter to support the gun so I drilled more holes in it. Then I decided I didn't like that holster because it was knocking the safety off so I had to get a different holster.

Once I had the rig set up it was off to WalMart...

A full size 1911 on a guy my size (5'7" and can stand to lose about 20 lbs) feels like you have a Mack truck strapped to your side the first time you're out in public, so things run through your mind.

Is it printing?
No, don't touch and find out then people will know you're packing!
Was that the safety clicking off from this holster too?
I said stop touching it!
It feels like the grip is sticking out 13 feet!
That's why those goofballs bob 1911s.
Stop touching your side.
What the **** is going on, it feels like the holsters coming apart!
Go walk by the mirrors in the womans department and see if your printing.
Stop it. It looks like your checking out your butt in the mirror in the ladies department you look like a fool!
STOP TOUCHING IT!

Then you get your wife involved...

"Psst. Honey, walk behind me and see if you can see my gun."
"FOR THE HUNDRETH TIME YOU CAN'T SEE YOUR GUN!"
"Shhhhhh **** it!"

[TuesdayClub]

My first week included carrying 2: 4.25" 1911 and a Sig P230.

1911: IWB 1 o'clock
P232: Belly band

I figured if I could be comfortable in public with this much metal, I would be fine after a month. Now, I do not even really think about it unless someone is acting a lil strange around me.

[Flaboatbum]

As OP, I can now say ...Yep, feels fine. .40 Cal Witness Compact, Bianchi IWB...hardly know it's there.

[sig232]

I am so used to carrying my Kel-tec P3AT that I am not even aware its there anymore.

Now when I switch over to the PF-9 I am sure it will take some getting used to.

I carried my Glock 17 for a while and it felt like I had a bolder strapped on my side. A compact, lightweight 1911 is easier to pack.

[Reckless01]

I got my license on Saturday as I was walking to the mailbox with my pistol IWB as always while on my property. I will transport to and from the truck IWB but I opened up the mailbox and seen the letter from the state...I bent the envelope and slid my fingers along the kinked backside and felt that telltale hard plastic card!

EEEEEEEEEEK like a little girl I ran in to tell the wife and she was like "So what, lets go get lunch" I was like EEEEEEEEEE from ear to ear grin.

It hasn't been out of reach since!!

The 1st trip out with it we went to IKEA which was slam packed! Then to eat at a Chinese place..


Just like the other guy posted...I started thinking...

-Is it showing?
-Oh no...I felt it slip, do I adjust?
-Oh nooo it slid further....wheres the bathroom...
In the restroom
-Oh good it didn't move...it just felt like it...lemme look in the mirror
Some dude walks in while I'm checking out my backside in the mirror, gives me a strange look and heads into a stall
I then go back out to join wife already seated
she said "What were you doing in there...you were gone forever"
I said "Nothing I was checking on my.....uuum....(people are within earshot)...underwear.
She says "Your underwear? What?! Did you make a mess or something?!"
I say "No....my UNDERWEAR....underwear?....you know?...my...aw forget it lets eat"
She says "Oooooh your GUN!"
I say through gritted teath "Shut uuuupp...whats wrong with you shhhhhh!"

We eat...

Go to walmart, same deal felt like it was showing all the time.

Turned out it wasn't but it sure felt like it! LOL

[GSPKurt]

I got my license on Saturday as I was walking to the mailbox with my pistol IWB as always while on my property. I will transport to and from the truck IWB but I opened up the mailbox and seen the letter from the state...I bent the envelope and slid my fingers along the kinked backside and felt that telltale hard plastic card!

EEEEEEEEEEK like a little girl I ran in to tell the wife and she was like "So what, lets go get lunch" I was like EEEEEEEEEE from ear to ear grin.

It hasn't been out of reach since!!

The 1st trip out with it we went to IKEA which was slam packed! Then to eat at a Chinese place..


Just like the other guy posted...I started thinking...

-Is it showing?
-Oh no...I felt it slip, do I adjust?
-Oh nooo it slid further....wheres the bathroom...
In the restroom
-Oh good it didn't move...it just felt like it...lemme look in the mirror
Some dude walks in while I'm checking out my backside in the mirror, gives me a strange look and heads into a stall
I then go back out to join wife already seated
she said "What were you doing in there...you were gone forever"
I said "Nothing I was checking on my.....uuum....(people are within earshot)...underwear.
She says "Your underwear? What?! Did you make a mess or something?!"
I say "No....my UNDERWEAR....underwear?....you know?...my...aw forget it lets eat"
She says "Oooooh your GUN!"
I say through gritted teath "Shut uuuupp...whats wrong with you shhhhhh!"

We eat...

Go to walmart, same deal felt like it was showing all the time.

Turned out it wasn't but it sure felt like it! LOL

THAT'S funny!

[QckSlvr]

I just got mine too, and just picked up a holster for it this past weekend at the WPB gun show - nice comfortable neoprene Blackhawk (I think the guy said they used to be called Uncle Mike's or something like that)

I wore it out to pick up dinner, then out to dinner, then out to the movies.


That story there was some funny stuff - I know exactly what he is talking about!

I am a BIG guy and carrying a P229 "Elite" 9mm so I am carrying something that is noticeable if you are looking for it.

[Stainless]

Kingslayer, my wife loved your post. She said it reminded her of the first time I carried my full size 1911. She laughed cause even now if I carry large at church and do not wear a jacket, I will ask her to look me over.

[Phred]

Stainless ... thanx, now I got this mental image of you standing in front of your mirror with her in the background and you asking her "does this make my butt look big?"

Thanx for the smile.

[chuckusaret]

I felt like Dirty Harry. I had my first need for a gun the first week I started to carry while on a visit to Miami in 1981. Two boat lift types thought that I should give them my wallet, instead I gave them the view of the wrong end of a custom stainless 1911. I was very lucky, a passer buy called LE and they were on scene in a minute, but seemed like hours. I did attend their trial and testified along with a witness and the LEO's. Both got 1 year and 1 day and a future trip back to cuba.

[Country dad]

Had to get use to it being there, and sitting in the car with was also something to get use to. Now im lost without it.

[Glock It]

I carry only OWB , and I have a bad habit of resting my hand on the grip while standing in line at the store or something.

[more forty fives]

It felt great coming from the fascist republic of MASSACHUSETTS! Even though I had a carry permit for MA.if for any reason anyone saw the gun and called the leo you could almost kiss it good by.Any reason to get there hands on it.

[Dannored]

The first time I carried was at the mainsail art show at vinoy park in St. Pete. I felt like everyone and their mother cold see my little pistol. Of course... nobody could, but the paranoia was unshakable. I got over it after about a week; as I knew I would.

I figured that a big public venue like an art show was a good time to dive in headfirst into the CCW thing. The only mother who knew I was carrying was my own. I take her to every art show I can. Yes I'm a softie.