Things are movin' along!

[21CG]

Well,

I completed my course about 2 weeks ago, and I have finished my packet and am mailing it in tomorrow.

I just picked up my carry piece and couldn't be happier! I got a Hk USP Compact in .40 S&W.

As I write this, I am also just receiving the order confirmations on my Crackberry from Crossbreed. After much decision between Crossbreed and CompTac, I ordered a Supertuck Deluxe.

If anyone has any feedback/advice/input for someone that is new to carrying or has any helpful tips regarding this setup, let me know!

Also, how long should I expect to wait for my plastic after I mail the packet? Should I choose a certain way to mail the materials? Let me know! Thanks...

[Teamless]

how long should I expect to wait for my plastic after I mail the packet?

If you have no issues (missing paperwork, bad prints, etc) and all goes perfect, you are probably 35 days from DPS receipt of your CHL100 and other required forms, to plastic in hand.
for your Crossbreed, you are also about 25-30 days from that (normally).

Should I choose a certain way to mail the materials?

You can send it certified so you can track it, but really doesn't make a difference.
Certified at least lets you know they received it.

input for someone that is new to carrying

Ask a lot of questions, read up on the posts here.
there is a wealth of information on this forum (not from me btw, I am way too new - but a lot of knowledgeable people.

any helpful tips regarding this setup

Sounds like a good set up, the hardest part is finding the right spot to place it. I carry mine at about 3:30 - 4:00.
Putting an Under-Armor or other moisture wicking T-shirt on, then your weapon then an overshirt is nice in this heat.
the undershirt is more for comfort from the holster, it takes a bit to get used to.

If I can quote many on this forum - Concealed is concealed, put it on, cover it up and forget about it.

[The Annoyed Man]

I have an MTAC instead of the Supertuck, but they are very similar holsters — and I carried a USP Compact .40 for a couple of years in the MTAC before I sold the gun. The USPc is a great pistol, but I had a couple of issues with it. I eventually sold it, but it was very reliable. it concealed very well, and it wasn't overly heavy for what it was.

My issues were two-fold. First, it took me longer to learn to shoot it well than any other pistol I've ever owned. I'm not entirely sure why that is, but it may have been that I just didn't like the feel of shooting .40 cal, after a lifetime of shooting .45 ACP. Second, after a lifetime of shooting 1911s, even the single action trigger on the USP Compact was not very good. Also, I found that the double action pull was way way heavier than it needed to be for safety's sake. That bothered me because I am used to carrying cocked and locked 1911s with incredibly crisp and light single action trigger pulls, and the advantage of a decocked double action first shot was somewhat negated by not having Popeye the Sailor's forearms and grip with which to fire the pistol in that manner.

In any case, one of the other USP Compact aficionados on the board suggested the following, which I strongly suggest to you: order yourself a 10 lb hammer spring from Midway USA. It only cost around $4 as I recall, and it vastly improved both the single and double action trigger pulls. The stock spring is 14 lbs, and replacing it drops the double action pull to 10 pounds, and the single action pull to about 4 lbs - putting it in 1911 territory for trigger weight. It still wasn't as crisp as a 1911, but it was orders of magnitude better than it had been previously. Swapping the parts out takes all of two minutes and is quite easy to accomplish. It will make the pistol feel almost like a whole new gun. I also installed some Trijicon night sights to mine.

I sold the USPc to Carlson1 a few months ago. I was finally happy with the way it shot for me, but I have multiple pistols in multiple calibers, and I wanted to condense the caliber choices a bit. So I sold the .40 and replaced it with a S&W M&P 45.

[The Annoyed Man]

If I can quote many on this forum - Concealed is concealed, put it on, cover it up and forget about it.

I seem to have heard that somewhere before.

[Teamless]

I seem to have heard that somewhere before.

i was quoting my hero on here (and take hero in the MANLY way it was meant! )
Oh, and if you are unsure who that is, just take a look in the mirror TAM LOL

[SecedeTX]

txbassguide --

I don't know how else to say this. I have a bunch of different environments that I deal with on a normal occasion. I range everwhere from suit and tie to semi-formal evening wear, all the way to trecking way into the wilderness. I currently have 6 different holsters, and each are best suited for each environment.

That being said, I fall back to either the Fobus paddle holster or the Galco inside the belt most often. If I am more formal, which is often, I tend toward the 5.11 form fitting holster shirt....only problem is it gets a bit hot in Houston weather.

I tend to have carrying options depending on the situitation. That being said, I still will experiment.

From personal experience, your lifestyle/location/personal style will dictate how you will carry. My lifestyle and hobbies dictate much about how I will carry.

There is no single answer. If you ever run into me downtown Houston, you would never know I was a CHL. That being said, running into me on a trail in deep west Texas, you would also probalby not expect me to be a CHL.

Both situations require different applications.