My first week carrying...some thoughts

[laketex]

Hello ladies and gentlemen. Thanks in advance for my new firearms related home on the web. My other home has been getting pretty cluttered with an "adult adolescent" environment that I don't care for it much anymore. I have been a lurking member here for a few years here, and just checking sale ads, and learning. I'm ready to jump into the fire!

I received my plastic on May 27th. Now my background was a little weird on this, so let me sum it up. I took the class in '05 and never sent my paperwork in. I never felt the need to, and I just never did it. I retook the class in Nov of '08 a month after my daughter was born, and also due to funds being tight, never sent it in and sort of forgot about it. I found my packet while cleaning out my closet in March, and sent it in. Received my plastic on the 27th, but due to having a lot of family obligations that I didn't feel comfortable concealing at (yet), my first day to carry was May 31st, Memorial Day.

I figured what better way to celebrate my newly reinstated Constitutional right than carrying to the local Memorial Day parade, so we loaded up my daughter, and headed out. I was concealed IWB in a holster I bought from one of the Glocktalk vendors, Mliebs, but it's a nice leather IWB with a slight forward cant. I wussed out with a Hawaiian shirt, shorts, and flip flops. I suppose I probably looked like a tourist since I had my wife's camera, snapping pics of her and our daughter. I was extremely self conscious and kept checking my concealment. I was carrying around 4:00 which would outline the butt of my G26 if I bent over too far. When I left the house, I didn't think this would be that much of an issue, but I never realized how much bending over a guy that has a 20 month old child does!

We left there and went on the tried and true Wally Walk for a grocery trip and spent about an hour in that personal hell on earth. By the time I got home, I was becoming used to carrying in public, but I knew that my carrying position had to change. I've done some experimenting since, and I have pretty much settled on 3:00ish. It's still pretty comfortable for me, and I don't mind it too bad. I've been carrying everywhere except for work and sleep (haven't been to any prohibited places) and I like it. My head is always on a swivel, my awareness is up, and I definitely feel the responsibility of carrying.

I carry my G26 with night sights and factory mags in a Mliebs IWB, a Galco Matrix, or...when I went to my inlaws pool yesterday, I carried a paddle clipped to my swim trunks. Left it locked in the glovebox though!

I need to get some sort of pocket gun for work. I work as a supervisor/maint for an industrial plant in the heat/cold, ect so I think tiny in the pocket will have to be the way to go. I really hate the tiny guns, but I hate being unarmed even more. Anyways, I'm sure I'll have more thoughts/questions, but that's it for now!

Bryan

[Teamless]

Welcome Laketex
Nice to have you aboard and carrying.
Yes, your story was a bit weird, but glad you finally got your plastic.
I tried 3:00 with my IWB and with my build, it just jammed up and was very uncomfortable.
I found that about 3:30 and pulled my pants up just hair more and it was about perfect.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

laketex:

Congrats on your eventual follow through to snare your plastic.

If your work pants have large enough pockets you could pocket carry
a number of guns. I pocket carry my PT111 Taurus double stack 9MM
in the right front pocket and have never been made. It's not a mouse gun
and it has a 10 + 1 capacity. The newer generations of PT111's are 12 + 1.

Of course the usual suspects for such a carry would be LCP, LCR, Kel-tecs,
Kahrs, 2" snubbies, and many others.

Even though many small attractive pistols are available in .380, IMHO, go with
at least a 9MM in a single stack. The ammo is easier to buy. You may
be frustrated at trying to score some .380 for your needs.

SIA

[laketex]

Welcome Laketex
Nice to have you aboard and carrying.
Yes, your story was a bit weird, but glad you finally got your plastic.
I tried 3:00 with my IWB and with my build, it just jammed up and was very uncomfortable.
I found that about 3:30 and pulled my pants up just hair more and it was about perfect.

I might be about 3:30...is it based on centerline of gun or where the slide sits? My slide is about dead nuts 3:00.

[laketex]

laketex:

Congrats on your eventual follow through to snare your plastic.

If your work pants have large enough pockets you could pocket carry
a number of guns. I pocket carry my PT111 Taurus double stack 9MM
in the right front pocket and have never been made. It's not a mouse gun
and it has a 10 + 1 capacity. The newer generations of PT111's are 12 + 1.

Of course the usual suspects for such a carry would be LCP, LCR, Kel-tecs,
Kahrs, 2" snubbies, and many others.

Even though many small attractive pistols are available in .380, IMHO, go with
at least a 9MM in a single stack. The ammo is easier to buy. You may
be frustrated at trying to score some .380 for your needs.

I already am! Bought my wife a bersa thunder, and we never take it to the range anymore. I'm sitting on one box of .380 and I hate to shoot it since I'm not sure when I'll ever find more! I do like a 9mm carry, but I'm also looking for a small gun, and no cash for a R9...it's always something, ya know?

SIA

[Teamless]

My slide is about dead nuts 3:00.

My slide is about 3:30 or so

[WildBill]

My slide is about dead nuts 3:00.

My slide is about 3:30 or so

Mine is always orientated to the late afternoon.

[canvasbck]

I need to get some sort of pocket gun for work. I work as a supervisor/maint for an industrial plant in the heat/cold, ect so I think tiny in the pocket will have to be the way to go. I really hate the tiny guns, but I hate being unarmed even more. Anyways, I'm sure I'll have more thoughts/questions, but that's it for now!

Bryan

Nice read, can't wait to join you! Might want to check about the work thing. If your facility has been deemed "critical infrastructure" by the feds, you can't carry there. Federal laws. I'm the security supervisor at a chemical plant and that's the reason we can not allow even CHL holders to bring firearms inside the secure area. I'm just guessing that you work in a chemical plant or refinery by your description "industrial plant". It sucks but it is verboten.

[Oldgringo]

Questions:

A. Wasn't there a thread once apon a time about the word "orientated" as opposed to the word "oriented"?
B. During this first week of carrying, did you see many people who needed to be shot?

[Teamless]

did you see many people who needed to be shot?

[Beiruty]

Just do not shoot me? Okay, I am slow to react.

[Ol Zeke]

Hello ladies and gentlemen........ I need to get some sort of pocket gun for work. I work as a supervisor/maint for an industrial plant in the heat/cold, ect so I think tiny in the pocket will have to be the way to go. I really hate the tiny guns, but I hate being unarmed even more. Anyways, I'm sure I'll have more thoughts/questions, but that's it for now!

Bryan

I'd give it some time before you run out and buy a mouse gun. I think you'll find that, unless you're in a wet T shirt contest, no one pays any attention to the occasional poke or bulge. we all wear so many phones and such that most don't even notice.
You might try a Super Tuck or, my favorite, M-TAC. I carry a G26 a lot and it really isn't noticed.

[The Annoyed Man]

Questions:

A. Wasn't there a thread once apon a time about the word "orientated" as opposed to the word "oriented"?

Yep, there sure was. I recall posting that I was annoytated by the use of "orientated" instead of "oriented."

[laketex]

I need to get some sort of pocket gun for work. I work as a supervisor/maint for an industrial plant in the heat/cold, ect so I think tiny in the pocket will have to be the way to go. I really hate the tiny guns, but I hate being unarmed even more. Anyways, I'm sure I'll have more thoughts/questions, but that's it for now!

Bryan

Nice read, can't wait to join you! Might want to check about the work thing. If your facility has been deemed "critical infrastructure" by the feds, you can't carry there. Federal laws. I'm the security supervisor at a chemical plant and that's the reason we can not allow even CHL holders to bring firearms inside the secure area. I'm just guessing that you work in a chemical plant or refinery by your description "industrial plant". It sucks but it is verboten.

Thanks for the info! I actually work in a metals manufacturing plant so no fed laws. However, I checked, and it is in the employee handbook that no guns are allowed. Still debating this one.

[laketex]

Questions:

A. Wasn't there a thread once apon a time about the word "orientated" as opposed to the word "oriented"?
B. During this first week of carrying, did you see many people who needed to be shot?

A. Perhaps. I'll try to be cognizant of my word choice as I go about my time here.

B. There was nobody that directly threatened myself or my family. However, I DID only go to WalMart once.