Basically a M&P 9 with a Trl-1 HL in a Rcs holster. It was a HD gun, thus the light. Also, I have a bad offhand so it is hard for me to use a light and a gun, unless it is mounted.
Left front pocket: Wallet and spare mag. The only pouch I have is a double mag carrier from Rcs. Did not want to carry two mags, might get a single carrier soon.
Right front pocket: Iphone and the light. Leather man goes into the tiny jeans pocket above the front right.
Adjusted the holster before I left the house. Gun around the 2.30-3. Wore a long undershirt and a t-shirt. Did not cheat with a hoodie or jacket, tucked the under shirt in and wore the tshirt over the holster. Went out the garage door to the truck outside. Garage door opened half way, had to take a knee to get under it.
Lesson 1: Dropping to the left knee = gun moves inwards. Not comfortable. Right knee = gun stays somewhat still, does not bite into my side.
Got into the truck, butt of the gun would touch the seat. Had to move angle it more to fit right. Could not get the gun to sit right while driving, felt like " I'm sitting on a fat wallet under my right butt and my back is not stright, thus I'm leaning to the right to compensate." It was tolerable, granted it was a 10min drive, might have to be located for a longer drive.
Drove more cautious than usual to Walmart, parked 3/4ish of the carpark away from the entrance. Was nervous and was unsure if the gun was loaded. Removed the gun to check, gun had a full mag but nothing in the chamber.
Fail 1: I unloaded the gun when I was readjusting the holster at home. The fail was failure to ensure gun was ready before leaving the house.
Loaded the gun and walked in. Did not readjust when I got out of the truck, did in while walking in. Starting to notice how much I reach for my tshirt. Walked in and grabbed a cart, noticed myself slouching less to "better conceal" the gun. Basically spent 30mins walking around, in at 2045 and out 2120. First half I walked mostly in the back rolls, tended to avoid people. I did stop to look at the ammo selection. Was less awkward after a few minutes
There was some 9mm but no 22lr. Around the 20min mark, I got more comfortable walking around people. Stopped avoiding people as much.
While paying, my right elbow kept bumping into the gun, not important but felt weird and different.
AAR notes:
Looking into getting a M&P9c, would definitely be easier to conceal and more comfortable while driving. (Yes, that is a vaild exucese for me
)Make sure gun is loaded + ready before holstering/leaving the home.
A single mag holster should be enough, two feels a little overkill but the double mag balances out the M&P + Trl1
. Carrying will be a learning experience and you will probably wind up with a drawer full of holsters like most of us. I've found that carrying OWB about 4:00 o'clock is best for me; for dressy situations, I carry under the left arm in a Kangaroo Carry.
I probably could not Saunter at Sam's as my walk. To many people for me.