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Hey all. Well, I'm still in the "waiting room", but hope to be close to getting "the card"...you know, the one you "never leave home without it". LOL!!
I'm at 93 days now. I have lots of questions about carrying, mostly on the physical side of things. I have 3 pistols that I need to try:
G30 with DeSantis IWB holster, M&P9 with Galco Concealable holster, and a Taurus Millenium Pro 9mm with Galco pancake (forgot the model)
I'm also considering a S&W Airweight if none of the previous combinations are comfortable.
Appreciate any advice you all may have on carrying the above named pistols. Thx.

As most will tell you, it will all boil down to personal preference. Try all you have around the house before the card arrives. I've tried several myself and even a shoulder holster. I have not tried an IWB yet, but am thinking about it because of the good things I've read here. I usually carry OWB at 3-4 o'clock with oversized button shirts and rolled up or short sleeves. Alternate carry is fanny pack.

Texas Solo wrote:Hey all. Well, I'm still in the "waiting room", but hope to be close to getting "the card"...you know, the one you "never leave home without it". LOL!!
I'm at 93 days now. I have lots of questions about carrying, mostly on the physical side of things. I have 3 pistols that I need to try:
G30 with DeSantis IWB holster, M&P9 with Galco Concealable holster, and a Taurus Millenium Pro 9mm with Galco pancake (forgot the model)
I'm also considering a S&W Airweight if none of the previous combinations are comfortable.
Appreciate any advice you all may have on carrying the above named pistols. Thx.

Any of your semi auto configurations should work fine if you're sufficiently "covered" - Hawaiian shirt in summer, jacket in winter. Just pick the one that works for you and carry it often so you get used to it. I actually recommend NOT wearing too many different pistols/holsters at first because you want to be 100% comfortable and confident with your main carry piece as soon as possible.

But for those hot summer days wearing not much more than a t-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops (of if "dressed nice" with tucked in shirt and slacks), a S&W airweight j-frame is a tremendous pocket gun.

I got by my first 8 or so years of CCW with a Glock 23 in a Galco Royal Guard IWB and a Charter Arms Undercover .38 in front pocket or clipped inside by Roper boots as my only two choices.

austinrealtor:
"clipped inside your roper boots"?

That sounds great for concealment, but impossible to draw without
asking the bad guy to pause for some pant cuff pulling!

Hawaiian shirt is almost as much of a give away as a fanny pack! Although it is effective in covering your carry within the law........

I personally normally use only a over sized T-Shirt. My normal T-Shirt size would be XL but I use a 2XL for Summer carry.

I do however have and use the Hawaiian on occasion.....

I agree with the Hawaiian shirt, but some guys can pull that off. I have a few, but they aren’t bright or multi-colors. They are mostly different shades of the same color with wild patterns that break-up any printing that may occur. So many people wear these that most people won’t give them a second look. I find myself noticing someone that might be carrying only about half the time.

As far as the oversized button shirts go I like to go with denim. I am more of a jeans and boot kind of guy so this works for me. They are a heavier fabric that is less prone to blow up in a wind. Short sleeve or long rolled up.

When I use the fanny pack I’m probably wearing shorts and sandals and an untucked shirt that partially covers the fanny pack. That I even have a fanny pack on is not always easily noticeable.

surprise_i'm_armed wrote:austinrealtor:
"clipped inside your roper boots"?

That sounds great for concealment, but impossible to draw without
asking the bad guy to pause for some pant cuff pulling!

All depends how tight you wear your Wranglers. I could have the pants legs up and hand on the grip in seconds. But remember, ankle carry is NEVER a quick-draw solution - one reason I don't use it anymore. If I'm carrying what amounts to a BUG as primary weapon, strong side front pocket is my MO now. Don't wear those tighter cowboy-cut wranglers anymore either for same reasons.

AEA wrote:Hawaiian shirt is almost as much of a give away as a fanny pack! Although it is effective in covering your carry within the law........
I do however have and use the Hawaiian on occasion.....

I think this "Hawaiian Shirt Screams Gun" myth has gotten way out of hand. Every Friday at work, on casual dress day, half of the men wear Hawaiian type shirts. Does that mean that half of the guys are carrying at work on Fridays?

WildBill wrote:

AEA wrote:Hawaiian shirt is almost as much of a give away as a fanny pack! Although it is effective in covering your carry within the law........
I do however have and use the Hawaiian on occasion.....

I think this "Hawaiian Shirt Screams Gun" myth has gotten way out of hand. Every Friday at work, on casual dress day, half of the men wear Hawaiian type shirts. Does that mean that half of the guys are carrying at work on Fridays?

It may mean they are a bunch of Parrot Heads!

Keith B wrote:

WildBill wrote:

AEA wrote:Hawaiian shirt is almost as much of a give away as a fanny pack! Although it is effective in covering your carry within the law........
I do however have and use the Hawaiian on occasion.....

I think this "Hawaiian Shirt Screams Gun" myth has gotten way out of hand. Every Friday at work, on casual dress day, half of the men wear Hawaiian type shirts. Does that mean that half of the guys are carrying at work on Fridays?

It may mean they are a bunch of Parrot Heads!

I forgot to mention that I work at Margaritaville.

WildBill wrote:I think this "Hawaiian Shirt Screams Gun" myth has gotten way out of hand.

My girlfriend's father wears nothing BUT Hawaiian shirts. Being a California import to Colorado, a college professor, and considering the work I've had to do on his daughter showing her guns shouldn't just be in the hands of criminals, I can GUARANTEE he's not carrying.

If you live near the coast or near a bunch of retirees, you'll never be out of place with a Hawaiian shirt...sez the lower Texas coast resident.

One nice thing about TX is the Mexican influence. So, instead of a Hawaiian shirt, try an authentic Guayabera. Lots of guys wear them and I don't see suggestions of carry. Much better than places I've lived previously and I'm "upgrading" my wardrobe accordingly.