Those of you who have a CCDW and carry often, what are you carrying?
Where you nervous at first? If so what did you do to get over the nervousness?
Do you carry loaded?
One in the chamber?

I will be going soon to get mine (next weekend) and was thinking after I get the class in, and the fees paid, then the card I would buy or wear something where I can CCW empty or loaded clip but no round in the chamber around a few local shops to get used to it.

I was just wondering (I know some people here have CCDWL) how people go about it daily.

We can open carry here, but I wanted to get my CCDW anyway.

My first handgun was a P-85 MK-II, I got for fairly cheep, and I am thinking of carrying it.

Does anyone carry a revolver? I want to pick up a .357 or .44 sometime by next year.

Thanks for the answers/help guys.

 

Not much good if it's unloaded is it? Going to ask the bad guys to wait while you load it?

I don't carry or own any guns because Wisconsin hasn't passed a CCW law yet.

If you're nervous then don't carry it. As long as everything is legal the worst that happens is some idiot sees it and calls the cops. They come and do their thing and when they discover that you have a permit and aren't breaking any laws they let you go on your way.

Just my $0.02.

 

definetly loaded. what to carry depends on what i am wearing and how i can cover it up. i prefer my glock 26, actually would like to carry the glock 21 but thats a bit tough to hide. my favorite summer gun now is the ruger lc9. it is small has a long trigger pull for safety along with an actual safety. has 8 shots of 9mm. i can put it between my belt and pants, in a inside waist band holster or in my pocket. ruger just came out with a .40 that looks nice in the magazines.

some carry with no round in the chamber. i carry ready to go.

 

Know the difference between a rock and an unloaded gun? Absolutely nothing. If you're going to carry, carry loaded. If you are fairly new at pistols in general, NEVER carry an automatic. Far too many that do carry them either carry with an empty chamber or on safety. Both will get you killed. If you have to think about what you need to do to defend yourself, you're already dead. A lot of the folks killed with their own guns would probably be alive if they were carrying a double action revolver- no thinking required, just pull the trigger. A 357 mag with 125gr bullets is optimum for a carry piece for most folks. Any automatic that you haven't spent years shooting is the absolute worst carry piece regardless of the size of the hole in the barrel. If you have to carry, carry wisely as you won't get the opportunity to think about anything when confronted. It MUST be a reactionary action to defend yourself or expect to have yer family at yer funeral shortly.

 

heres a ccw guy where it all went good.

http://www.whiotv.com/video/28315602/index.html

like labnerd said, you gotta practice. when at the range i put the safety on my ruger every time i lay it down. not to be safe but to make it second nature to pick it up and flip it off by habit.

 

I am waiting on my permit to come back from the state but I got a Kel-Tec PF9 that I will carry.

 

I have been carrying for several years. One thing I did was to practice my draw from the holster with an unloaded gun. You need to get in the habit of drawing the weapon without breaking the trigger guard to prevent mishaps.

Get A LOT of range time to become more comfortable with the weapon as well

Always carry with one in the chamber. If you need the weapon, you will not have the time to rack the slide and in the heat of the moment, you may forget

 

I'm a CHL instructor in Texas. I carry daily, and carry a variety of weapons. My first choice is a Glock 19. It's a fantastic weapon that is easy to conceal, or a Glock 23 if you prefer .40 (which I don't). I would say the key factors in concealing are to purchase a gun that you are comfortable with, and in concealment, it has more to do with grip length than barrel length. Aside from choosing an appropriate weapon, you need to have a quality holster and quality belt. I can't stress the need for a quality gun belt enough. Many people skimp on the belt after dropping $150 - $200 on a holster, and are dissatisfied. Gun belts are extra stiff to support the weight of the gun, as they are usually made of two layers of leather sewn together. Beltman is a good source. If you want to spend a bit less, and you aren't concerned about having leather, the wilderness instructors belt is an excellent alternative.

 

I carry this when I need to go to metro Atlanta: http://www.sigsauer.com/CatalogProdu...-xo-black.aspx

The crime rate is so low where I live, I personally don't feel the need to carry here.

There's some good advice above about holsters/belts. I prefer for myself an OWB leather. Being taller has it's advantages when carrying a full-sized weapon.

 

I should also add, that as far as carrying goes, if you aren't chambering a round, you might as well be carrying a rock. That said, you should definitely understand the weapon you're planning to carry. I have had quite a few people in my classes that carry a 1911 (my favorite style of weapon). Anyway, some of these people have told me they aren't comfortable carrying in condition 1. Condition 1 means the magazine is loaded, a round is chambered, the hammer is ****ed and the safety is on. The thing is, it is MUCH safer to carry this way on a 1911 than with a round in the chamber and the hammer down. It's a matter of understanding weapon designs.

The best advice I can give you pertaining to carrying with a round in the chamber is that you need to be comfortable with your weapon. If you aren't comfortable with it, then practice until you are, or replace it with one you are comfortable with.

Also, the weapons I carry, depending on my mood, the occasion, and my clothes:

• Glock 30
• Glock 19
• Springfield EMP 9mm
• Ruger SP-101 .357 Magnum

I would like to add to that list a TRP, but I have to save up a bit for that.

As for holsters, I like the following:

• Milt Sparks VM2
• DM Bullard Dual Carry
• Smart Carry

I like IWB, but you have to make some wardrobe accommodations like buying your pants about 1 size larger than you'd normally wear. If you can wear OWB, then you don't have to worry about this; however, in Texas, particularly in the summer, I find that a bit harder to pull off.

 

I'd have to agree about knowing gun design. Most folks buy guns and have no clue. It just looks good or a friend said it was a good gun. Guns are like anything, depends on what you intend to use it for as to the design of the gun you need. For most folks buying for a carry gun, the double action revolver makes the most sense. No knowledge required- pull the rigger and it goes bang. A Glock can be a decent carry weapon. It's reliable, no safety, just carry with a round in the chamber and pull the trigger. Just don't expect to hit anything with it. Glock is known for dependability, not accuracy and in most self defense scenarios, the bang is good enough. I carry all kinds of platforms from a 1911, Python, Anaconda, jeez, I even carried a Contender in a Super 14 for a while. But I use a shoulder holster, not a belt draw. Hard to do ranch work with a wad of gun on yer hip. I like the break front Bianchis personally. I've had them for so long I have no clue how old any of them are but they work for me for my needs. The easiest carry for me is a Baby Eagle semi compact. It's all steel and has a high capacity clip. The 9mm I think has like 17 rounds in it, the 40sw has like 12-13. Regardless, a carry gun must be something you practice with or you need to leave it at home. Far too many folks getting shot with their own guns these days. And NEVER pull a gun unless you intend to kill with it. It's not for advertising or for threatening anybody. You pull it, you shoot it. And remember this, if you get confronted by several, NEVER be the second one to shoot in a gun fight. A wounded enemy is just as good as a kill most of the time. Usually all they want is their mommy after taking a slug so if you've hit one, move on to the next one. You learn fast on the border with Mexico or you don't last long.

 

I'll chime in here too. Did you notice the replies you got?
Let me summarize:
It isn't the gun you carry, it's knowing the gun you carry.
Practice makes perfect. Learn your gun or leave it home.
An unloaded gun is no more effective than a rock.
You don't need a permit for a rock.
NEVER pull it unless you need it.
If you need it, don't prikk around, use it.
Don't cheap out on holster/belt.

Not much I can add to that list. You got good, very good advice.

@08stx4x4 ... Hang on a couple more days guy! Your state is on the way!

 

Thanks guys!

I was just asking to see, I was planning on carrying it around for a bit with it loaded and ready to go around the house to get used to it, then a few times around a local store to see how it goes.

I hope I never ever have to use it, but its better safe than sorry IMO.

Finding something to holster and hide my P-85 should not be too hard.

I have shot around 250 rounds through it, and its always worked fine, the safety works well with a round chambered as it disables the firing pin and trigger.
I can easily thumb the safety.

Thanks everyone!

 

My carry guns don't have a safety.

 

Practice....Practice....Practice.....it will soon become second nature for you. I feel different when I can't carry mine. I also carry a knife and pepper spray at all times, and a cell phone, that goes without saying.