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I assuming this is because Im still relatively new to carrying concealed, but does that feeling of "I feel like I might be printing" ever wear off? I find myself feeling this way more often than not when in high traffic (people) places. I carry IWB at 2:30 position, use darker cover garments, etc. and Im pretty sure you cant tell theres anything there (at least not when I look in the mirror), but that feeling still hangs. Id appreciate any and everyones experience with this. Im thinking this should get better with time, at least I'm hoping it will.

People are mostly oblivious. You could probably open carry and less than half of the people would even notice if you acted like nothing was there.

And yeah, the feeling does wear off.

I would imagine your right. At this point, I figure it's just paranoia of getting made or feeling like people are staring at that area.

Greetings--

As you try out various garmets, holsters, ect-- take a look in the mirror from a couple of angles before departing. It can give you a quick check, but more importantly, a bit of "carry confidence" that you're really not printing as much as you may imagine.

Also, I tend to wear my IWB holster all the time, even when I only plan to carry my pistol in the car. IMO, it makes me more confortable and less concerned-- that natural feeling.

"Normal" people will usually not notice the printing unless it's really obvious. I found that CHLers will tend to spot other CHLers.

Heh, yeah, I admit it, I tend to look for other CHL's as well.

Piney, thanks for the advice.

Lots of good advice here, especially checking yourself in a mirror before you depart. "Carry confidence" goes a long way in my book as it helps you avoid petting or looking down at your piece to make sure you're not printing.

If it makes you feel any better I've only "made" one CHL'r, I noticed the butt of his pistol poking through his t-shirt when he reached up to the top shelf in a store to get something, but it was otherwise well concealed and I doubt if any sheeple would have noticed it.

JLaw

There's 2 kinds of printing.
There's "Printing" and then there's "OH MY GOSH THAT GUYS GOT A GUN UNDER HIS SHIRT" printing.

As I work in a sales office, more often than not, I have to be tucked. The worry about the first kind of printing wore off very quickly. Just this morning, when passing a glass door, I noticed that the rear of my springfield was poking out my shirt. I bloused it out a little bit and it disappeared. I had stopped in a gas station to get a coffee and pay for gas with it like that, and nobody noticed.

With a good holster, it's very difficult to achieve the 2nd kind of printing. Try to get a configuration where the whole gun prints. It's harder than it sounds.

The printing paranoia wears off after a little while. The paranoia about flashing never stops though.
I'm always thinking about it when I need to reach up for something at a store, or bend down to pick up something.
You just have to be conscious of the limitations of your clothing.

I was at a restarant Friday for lunch over on Westheimer...

And one of the girls in the group thought it would be funny to lift up my "hawaiian" shirt over my head...ahem...

Lets just say, she is allowed to do that...Except she forgot one important thing about me...Actually two things, but thats beside the point...

She said she was sorry, and that she always knew there was something she liked about being around me...She felt safe...

I took that as a compliment, and told her Wife Unit (her best friend) liked me too!

Do I just get into more trouble or what?

The sensitivity wears off a bit. It helps me that my cell phone holster is just in front of or just behind my gun. If i thought someone was looking. I would reach under the shirt and pull out the cell phone, and do a time check.

Last week i was in line at a pharmacy in WalMart.
There was a guy in front of me that had what looked like a pocket knife with the exterior clip, in his back pocket. It looed strange to me, so i got up closer for a look. The back end of the receiver on his Keltec was barely peeking out over his back pocket on that clip. In plain sight, and I had no idea in hte beginning that it was a gun.
Folks like me are used to seeing the clip-on knives, not clipon guns, and also used to the goal of ultimate concealment. I was really surprised that i didn't recognise it right off.
He must have had his wallet or something flat in that back pocket, because it was not printing, and his shirt was tucked.

I like to prevent printing, but it's not too big of a deal.

I've found that often times it's easier to spot a CHL due to their alertness, not first seeing evidence of a weapon.

Paladin wrote:I like to prevent printing, but it's not too big of a deal.

I've found that often times it's easier to spot a CHL due to their alertness, not first seeing evidence of a weapon.

Exactly. When I see someone who's paying attention to his surroundings, I automatically assume he's a cop, a CHL, or a criminal. I then watch for other signs to narrow it down.

Kevin

Thanks for all of the great advice and stories guys. I'm pretty sure that Im well concealed, but I still worry a bit at this point. On the upside, my wife and I spent quite a bit of our weekend at Home Depot and it seemed as though no one had a clue. It's really amazing to notice how many people have absolutley no idea as to their surroundings. Also, my wife claims that she could not tell at all, so Ill just give the printing feeling some time to wear off. If anyone has anymore to share, Id love to hear from you.

As was stated before, check a mirror. The feeling does wear off in time, but may return with each new gun and/or holster. That is now the only time I do a mirror check.