The Concealed Carry Thread

[Revoltingest]

This might seem a weird category for a thread about carrying concealed handguns (or any other weapon), but I'd like to discuss things from a safety & health preservation perspective.
Note: If anyone wants to argue against concealed carry, please do so in one of the several active threads. That would be a distraction here.

I'll get started.
I carry chamber empty in order to avoid accidental discharge. Sure there are affirmative & passive safeties on handguns, but I prefer the very deliberate step
of racking the slide in order to use it. The time it takes is short (with practice), & seldom do self defense situations require stealth or that extra split second.
Moreover, most actual self defense scenarios are successfully resolved by mere presentation of the weapon (as I recall from Kleck's work).

Thoughts on carry mode? Concealment tips? Ammo selection? Clothing? Caliber? Gun safes? Etc?

 

[Dirty Penguin]

~bump~

I carry a XDm 3.8 9mm.

I have an OWB holster but will be receiving my IWB this Monday.

So...it comes with one 13 round mag and I've since bought three more. I like to have extras preloaded while I'm at the range.

It also came with a 19 round mag. I typically load that one with my hollow points but I don't carry that mag because of the size and concealment. Its usually in my safe as a home defense backup mag.....Although...I'm thinking of taking those out and just using the large mag for the range too and just EDC a 13 round mag.

So here's a question....with a magazine size like 13 rounds plus on in the chamber....should I even worry about carrying a spare 13 round mag with me? It sounds excessive but wanted you guys/gals thoughts. I don't live in a crime ridden area.

 

[Treks]

Nobody likes an accidental discharge.

 

[Valjean]

The empty chamber's a good idea, I think, and the sound of a round being chambered probably sends a strong warning, as well.

 

[ShivaFan]

Interesting, I never noticed this thread. I think it goes back to before I was a member, some probably consider that the good ol' days.

So let me see, my thoughts.

Well first, I have several rifles and handgun. Actually, some go back prior to when we had to have training and take a test, others after. My license regarding my exam was approved by Janet Reno of all people. But I have no concealed carry permit.

I hardly carry my guns or rifles or handgun anymore as I used to. But I am considering getting a small handgun and carry it all the time because there are nuts and looters and thugs that are giving great concern. But I doubt I would be issued a carry permit. The very size of the handgun would be specifically to conceal it - I doubt I would ever use it likely because as a Hindu I believe in Ahimsa.

My philosophy is, frankly, I do not like idiots who many are "white trash" who buy some crazy big gun or rifle or shotgun for "self-defense" but these are idiots who have no concept that guns are tools, and just like power tools or air compression tools, can severely injure or kill others by stupidity. If you kill yourself, I don't mind, but it is like some "white trash" neighbor I had (he moved) who lived across the street on the side of my house, he buys some big hairy rifle high calibre and a crazy looking shotgun for "self defense" and I had no doubt, no doubt in my mind, this idiot would attempt to shoot the first "not like him" that comes through the back door or window, miss, the bullet would go right through the wall, out the other side, cross the street and into my bedroom while I am taking my nap time.

So, as far as carry permit, if it is about "self-defense" then I think you should carry only small calibre and must be trained by an NRA certified trainer.

You should be able to have larger calibre in your house or arsenal, but not for conceal carry. The very idea is conceal, small, and that s/b like a .22 LR or not much bigger. No 45 stuff in conceal. The bigger metal is only for warring states periods like in old days in China.

As far as private militias, they don't conceal. The idea here is mini armies, there are even "confederate airforces" now looking at mounted machine guns on the small planes, and converted Toyota trucks mounted with weapons. That isn't concealed when and if they go into action.

My entire family, well not my sister who likes Krishna, but the others, males, but not my mom but she was considering getting a Winchester lever action, have guns. One is from Germany, WW2. Never been registered, which the advantage is if you are dealing with despots.

Everyone should get training in my opinion. I remember some Hindus in the hills of Northern Cal training in rifles. Then the Hells Angels had some training programs in the late 60s and 70s, not sure what happened with that. But the best is the NRA, I think it should be required that all concealed carry must get NRA certified training. Those who have financial issues should be able to apply for government grants to pay for such NRA training.

 

[Revoltingest]

Don't knock us white trash.
We need love (& guns) too!

 

[Awoon]

This might seem a weird category for a thread about carrying concealed handguns (or any other weapon), but I'd like to discuss things from a safety & health preservation perspective.
Note: If anyone wants to argue against concealed carry, please do so in one of the several active threads. That would be a distraction here.

I'll get started.
I carry chamber empty in order to avoid accidental discharge. Sure there are affirmative & passive safeties on handguns, but I prefer the very deliberate step
of racking the slide in order to use it. The time it takes is short (with practice), & seldom do self defense situations require stealth or that extra split second.
Moreover, most actual self defense scenarios are successfully resolved by mere presentation of the weapon (as I recall from Kleck's work).

Thoughts on carry mode? Concealment tips? Ammo selection? Clothing? Caliber? Gun safes? Etc?

I do the same. I had my Glock 27 40 cal with me today.

 

[Valjean]

Ah, Glocks and safeties. That should make for an interesting discussion...

 

[Revoltingest]

Ah, Glocks and safeties. That should make for an interesting discussion...

I prefer the Glock approach, although I don't use it as they perhaps intended.
The simplicity of no affirmative safety suits chamber empty carry.
Once one chambers a round, their passive safety on the trigger isn't much use to me, but neither is it a hinderence.
The long reasonably heavy trigger pull works just fine for me.

 

[Dirty Penguin]

The empty chamber's a good idea, I think, and the sound of a round being chambered probably sends a strong warning, as well.

Personally I would never carry without one in the chamber. Not every situation gives you the ability to rack the slide. Additionally many things can go wrong trying to rack the slide when your adrenaline is pumping. You might not rack the slide enough to get a round in the chamber or you could experience a jam.

But I fully admit that one in the chamber doesn't mean your gun won't jam. But I think, again this is my opinion, if you're worried about accidentally shooting yourself you might not want to carry at all or at least get more training. Proper finger placement and training will help to avoid such a situation.

 

[Revoltingest]

Personally I would never carry without one in the chamber. Not every situation gives you the ability to rack the slide. Additionally many things can go wrong trying to rack the slide when your adrenaline is pumping. You might not rack the slide enough to get a round in the chamber or you could experience a jam.

Of course, one should train for this carry mode.

 

[Dirty Penguin]

I prefer the Glock approach, although I don't use it as they perhaps intended.
The simplicity of no affirmative safety suits chamber empty carry.
Once one chambers a round, their passive safety on the trigger isn't much use to me, but neither is it a hinderence.
The long reasonably heavy trigger pull works just fine for me.

I went back and forth trying to decide my next purchase and at first I was all on board with the Beretta PX4 Storm Compact. Glocks are wonderful firearms but did want something similar but with some safety. The XDm has a grip safety like the 1911 and it made me feel comfortable removing from and holstering it. Then again...that just shows my lack of experience with Glocks. Many of my friends conceal carry Glocks and have no problems with all that.

 

[Dirty Penguin]

Of course, one should train for this carry mode.

True. One should get some instructions at a local range or a simunition facility.

 

[Whiterain]

I prefer inseam holster

The holster clip can go under the belt, that will keep it secure, so you don't pull it out with the piece and get screwed in the allocation.

I say I would feel like awful fool to get caught up in some incident and didn't have a weapon. It's not the type of thing a lot of people believe in but I don't want to be the fool on the spot. Anyway, philosophy and all, don't be a moron. I couldn't get the dick head Deputy to help me get a carry permit. There was this stupid *** biker gang in town that had me at an inconvenience, I was unarmed, punched in the face, swollen eye, police told me to go home, biker guys got away; strip club bouncer was a total shenanigan.

I was walking home one late evening after a glorious swill ride, a wild negro appeared out of the shadows handles me, gets my bill fold, tosses me over an over pass into some spiky sticks. Throws my wallet back at me and says I just wanted to do that white boy, this is the street.

I was unarmed out having some drinks and went out with this guy, total stranger. We got in his car and road out to some girls house, 2 girls now 3 guys, shenanigan. The night went on with drinks and merry making, me and the guy step out back. He pulls a gun out, You a cop? F'n do it, I say. He laughs and apologizes, we wrestle and continue merry making. That was the most shenanigan situation I had ever found myself in, but I whooped his ***.

But in the event you're at the grocery store count on the Cops be abysmal screw ups. Just don't count on the police to screw up when the heat is on.

People that disagree, just ignore.

 

[Dirty Penguin]

I prefer inseam holster

The holster clip can go under the belt, that will keep it secure, so you don't pull it out with the piece and get screwed in the allocation.

I have both and IWB (inside waist band) and OWB (outside). I do prefer the IWB because it seems to fit closer to my side and doesn't seem to show through my shirts.

I say I would feel like awful fool to get caught up in some incident and didn't have a weapon. It's not the type of thing a lot of people believe in but I don't want to be the fool on the spot. Anyway, philosophy and all, don't be a moron. I couldn't get the dick head Deputy to help me get a carry permit. There was this stupid *** biker gang in town that had me at an inconvenience, I was unarmed, punched in the face, swollen eye, police told me to go home, biker guys got away; strip club bouncer was a total shenanigan.

Darn that sucks. I hope you have it now.

I was walking home one late evening after a glorious swill ride, a wild negro appeared out of the shadows handles me, gets my bill fold, tosses me over an over pass into some spiky sticks. Throws my wallet back at me and says I just wanted to do that white boy, this is the street.

As a fellow negro I hope you don't think we're all wild like that LOL!!!

Yeah, your firearm may have made him think twice.

I was unarmed out having some drinks and went out with this guy, total stranger. We got in his car and road out to some girls house, 2 girls now 3 guys, shenanigan. The night went on with drinks and merry making, me and the guy step out back. He pulls a gun out, You a cop? F'n do it, I say. He laughs and apologizes, we wrestle and continue merry making. That was the most shenanigan situation I had ever found myself in, but I whooped his ***.

Not sure your gun would have helped you there. Alcohol, bullets and shenanigans sounds like a recipe for misunderstandings and disaster.

But in the event you're at the grocery store count on the Cops be abysmal screw ups. Just don't count on the police to screw up when the heat is on.

This is true. Most times they're there pretty much after the fact to fill out the reports and take pictures. Like I always say....When seconds count, the police are just minutes away....