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Active CCW, how do you?

Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 9:20 am
by RocTrac
Okay, during my last offroad trip I was outed while helping change a tire on the side of a rocky hill. I was wearing 5.11 duty shorts tank-top and XL T-shirt and a CrossBreed IWB holster at 3:30 for my Kimber Crimson Carry Pro. I am not gonna just stand by and not help nor am I gonna stop CC. I guess that I am looking for better clothing suggestions.
Image
Yours truly.

Re: Active CCW, how do you?

Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 9:23 am
by Quahog
I get my T-shirts an extra size larger and dark colors... that helps.

Re: Active CCW, how do you?

Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 9:29 am
by RocTrac
I believe that the shirt rode up when I was trying to slide a tire under the axle. :headscratch

Re: Active CCW, how do you?

Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 9:35 am
by PUCKER
Hello there fellow Jeeper! I don't wheel as much as I used to (went from an extreme rock rig to a daily driver '08 JK Rubicon) but in the warmer months I wear offroad what I normally wear on the weekends - shorts, gun belt, Bullman IWB Holster, Kimber Compact Aluminum and either a somewhat baggy cut-off shirt/tank top or a hawaiian-style shirt. No issues. Then again, if I were to expose, the group I hang with wouldn't bat an eye as there's usually enough firepower to handle any situation that arises (when out in the boonies of Clayton, OK, and East, well, let's just say that you BETTER be packing...meth labs, pot fields, crazy folks, etc....).

Re: Active CCW, how do you?

Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 9:54 am
by RocTrac
I agree there, we have come up on some strange dudes out there. Heck, I have even wheeled with some. You never know who is going to show up in a run. I only knew 2 out of 20 or so folks.

Re: Active CCW, how do you?

Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 10:17 am
by USA1
RocTrac, have you ever considered using a (don't laugh)...fanny pack?

I would think that out there in that setting it wouldn't look out of place.
Also it would definitely keep the gun concealed while still accessible.

Your buddies might give you a hard time though. ;-)

Just thinkin out loud.

Re: Active CCW, how do you?

Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 10:22 am
by The Annoyed Man
2 suggestions occur to me...

1. simply buy "extra tall" sized t-shirts. If they ride up, they still cover; although almost anything you wear is going to print like crazy when you are squatting under the rear end of a jeep trying to shove a tire under an axle, so you'll likely be outed anyway.

2. pocket carry a micro .357 revolver like a S&W M&P 340SCPD. You'll be down on round count, but you sure won't be down on firepower.

Re: Active CCW, how do you?

Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 12:14 pm
by karder
Tactial vest helps a lot. Maybe too hot though. Did anyone care when they found out you were carrying? As a fellow 4wheeler, I would just be grateful for the help if I had a busted axel or was stuck!

Re: Active CCW, how do you?

Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 2:10 pm
by RocTrac
I don't think that it bothered anyone but I don't like being outed. Or at least the loudly "Is that a gun?" and continue on after being shushed. Most of my friends carry but I was in a group that I didn't know. I have a Tac vest and yes it is a little warm, as the T-shirts are pretty long and I do check the length before leaving the house or hotel. That particular shirt had to ride up about 6" before the weapon was visible. The Dude I was helping was not the one that outed me and wouldn't do that anyway.
I haven't thought about pocket carry except for a BUG. Maybe I will look at that. I generally try to have as few cal. as I can to cut down on ammo cost. Maybe a small 9mm.

Re: Active CCW, how do you?

Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 2:47 pm
by The Annoyed Man
RocTrac wrote:I haven't thought about pocket carry except for a BUG. Maybe I will look at that. I generally try to have as few cal. as I can to cut down on ammo cost. Maybe a small 9mm.
I used to only pocket carry as a last resort, usually a 642 .38 Special, or as a BUG. But I rarely ever carry a bug. I just don't see the need for the most part. For me. For someone else, that's fine. That said, I recently traded away my 642 for a model 640 all stainless .357. I really like that gun a lot, but I've found the same objection to it that the guy I got it from had... it's just a little too heavy for pocket carry, and if I'm going to carry it in a belt holster, I might as well carry one of my 1911s, right?

But at the Fort Worth gun show last weekend, I had a chance to handle that M&P 340 PD .357 with the titanium alloy frame and scandium alloy cylinder, and I was really impressed with it. At 11.3 oz, it was even lighter than my old 642's 15 oz, but chambered in a more powerful round. I like that I can carry +P .38s if that's what I want to do, but having the option to carry the more powerful .357 if I want to. Anyway, I'm going to get one for myself for those really hot days when a lightweight but powerful pocket pistol makes a lot of sense.

Re: Active CCW, how do you?

Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 3:02 pm
by RocTrac
If we could ever get the Open Carry legislation passed I think that a Judge will be on the short list. Mainly for snake charming when out on the trails. But until then I need to be sneaky about my carry.

Re: Active CCW, how do you?

Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 3:07 pm
by The Annoyed Man
RocTrac wrote:If we could ever get the Open Carry legislation passed I think that a Judge will be on the short list. Mainly for snake charming when out on the trails. But until then I need to be sneaky about my carry.
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=8lYBVi3ALWA[/youtube]

:mrgreen: I thought you might appreciate that one. :smilelol5:

Re: Active CCW, how do you?

Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 4:13 pm
by Kevinf2349
You could always go with Thunderwear.

http://glockstore.com/pgroup_descrip/35 ... mode=image

I pciked up a couple from ProDefence for less than $20 each. They work pretty well.

Re: Active CCW, how do you?

Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 5:01 pm
by yerasimos
Any time you are bending at the waist and wearing normally sized clothing, anything on your belt on the rear arc from 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock is bound to print to one degree or another.

This is another good reason to practice proper posture; lift with your legs/hips, not your back, etc.

AIWB/felony/vasectomy carry is very slick for those with the aptitude, attitude and attributes, but it can elicit a lot of consternation for those not so inclined.

Re: Active CCW, how do you?

Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 5:54 pm
by bizarrenormality
yerasimos wrote:Any time you are bending at the waist and wearing normally sized clothing, anything on your belt on the rear arc from 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock is bound to print to one degree or another.
Protect your back and bend at the knees. Lift with your legs, not your back.