Ladies who carry in a carry purse.....

Xenia · June 21st, 2007, 05:25 AM

I am brand new to carry, forgive my stupid questions.

I tried a few days with a purse designed for gun carry (conceiled). It has a nice long strap that can go over my head so the strap is over my chest and hard for someone to just grab. The purse allows access to my gun with my left hand (softpaw here).

It is the kind of looking purse that I normally carry.

So, I thought maybe I was home free with a good carry method, but just the same, I bought a fanny pack that had not come yet.

Here is my delimima, I went into a resturant. I started to take the purse off and put it on the back of the chair ("like I would normally do) and suddenly I realize... I can't... that is not safe.... I might forget it, someone might take it...

The purse is not the kind that could easily be put on top of the table while I ate. And besides, if I was at a fuller table I wouldn't have my purse up on the table in everyone's way.

What do you do with your purse in situations like this?

Next, I try the fanny pack. First, to wear it sitting it has to be a bit loose when standing. So, the fanny pack hung a bit on me. No big deal, but that gun got heaveir and heavier and heavier. I had to keep adjusting it. And then, the fanny pack was in my way. I have a belly already and it just stuck out that much more and I found sitting with it to be challenging.

I have a smart carry on order but I have serious doubts about it working for me as I am very heavy. And the gun is heavy too.

The most comfortable I have been so far is the purse. But I don't know what to do with the purse while in a resturant or while sitting in a meeting somewhere, etc.

DirtDawg · June 21st, 2007, 05:39 AM

Welcome to the Forum!

With that purse you may wanna consider one of the hangers that go on the edge of the table with a lil hook underneath. That is if the purse has handles vs straps.

QKShooter · June 21st, 2007, 06:15 AM

Your questions are not stupid ones and they are actually pretty normal type questions regarding "off body" or purse carry.

Most women are not usually likely to ever forget their purse but, you're correct that hanging it over the back of the chair could leave you wide open for a purse snatch scenario.

If you put the purse on the floor then you could wrap the purse strap around your lower leg at the same time that you put your purse down there.
That sure would help matters a bit in that you'll be sure not to forget it if it's around your leg...and nobody can just easily grab it and run off with it.

Gary Brommeland · June 21st, 2007, 10:16 AM

Welcome aboard! No questions are considered "stupid" here - we are all more than happy to help out a newbie!
Have you considered an on-body concealment holster? (Something actually made to fit a woman's body?) Off-body carry is a nightmare waiting to happen. What firearm do you carry? What is your typical mode of dress?

Musketeer · June 21st, 2007, 10:24 AM

Welcome. I feel for women who carry because their bodies just do not lend themselves as well to CCW as mens' bodies.

I have heard a belly band worn high and just below the breasts works well. There are also IWB and OWB holsters made for women that carry at more favourable angles. To get away with this you need to use a blazer but that is not a bad thing. Well fitted blazers are complimentary to almost any figure, large or small.

I am not a fan of Off Body Carry for the many reasons you can find all over this site. Your recognition of the problem with the purse is a perfect example why.

Note that even with the strap around your necjk and arm the part of the purse grabbed in a snatch and grab will be the part with the gun in it. You will then be in the postion of fighting with a guy who is closer to your gun than you are.

rstickle · June 21st, 2007, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xenia

Here is my delimima, I went into a resturant. I started to take the purse off and put it on the back of the chair ("like I would normally do) and suddenly I realize... I can't... that is not safe.... I might forget it, someone might take it...

Actually most people that work in security or theft prevention will strongly recommend against the back of chair even if your purse doesn't have a weapon in it.

And I know Gary will be able to help you!!

raytracer · June 21st, 2007, 10:42 AM

Welcome Xenia!

The fact that you thought of those questions and then sought answers rules out stupidity!

You just discovered the problem with off-body carry, whether it is a woman's purse or a man's dayplanner, or even a jacket pocket where the jacket might get removed in the course of the day.

QKShooter's suggestion of looping the purse strap around your leg is a good one - I do the same with my laptop bag. There's still a slight problem here though - it's technically possible for someone, even a mischevious child, to access your firearm without your seeing it.

And, purses present the same dilemma shoulder holsters do; the muzzle is constantly pointing at things you don't want it to. Since your hand is not on it, it's an acceptable risk, but it still gives me the creeps.

One other option that works well for a lot of women is a Thunderwear or Smartcarry holster.

They can be drawn from at least as fast as a purse, although if you're wearing a one piece dress you'll put on a bit of a show.

As a woman, you have more challenges to carrying than us boys do, but don't let that deter you. Be armed and be safe!

Also, if you haven't already, pay a visit to www.corneredcat.com. She has a lot of great CCW information, specifically from the distaff perspective.

Joe

Betty · June 21st, 2007, 10:53 AM

Hi Xenia,

In a restaurant, if I'm not sitting in a booth where I can put the purse beside me, the purse is on the ground between my feet with the long strap over my knee. That way it's not going missing and I don't have to ungracefully reach all the way down to the ground to grab my purse.

I hope you do find an on-body method that will work for you.

Redneck Repairs · June 21st, 2007, 11:49 AM

Ill just point out that depending on the size of the firearm , and the lifestyle you have ... There are also ' day planner' stye holsters out there that can be set on the table while in the restraunt with little to no comment .

Protect · June 21st, 2007, 12:05 PM

You would be surprised what a woman can hide on her body.
Here is a pic of my wife carrying my Sig P239 in an Inside the Waistband Holster (Comptac C-T.A.C.), covered by a fairly tight t-shirt.

June 21st, 2007, 05:25 AM	#1
Xenia Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 17	Ladies who carry in a carry purse..... I am brand new to carry, forgive my stupid questions. I tried a few days with a purse designed for gun carry (conceiled). It has a nice long strap that can go over my head so the strap is over my chest and hard for someone to just grab. The purse allows access to my gun with my left hand (softpaw here). It is the kind of looking purse that I normally carry. So, I thought maybe I was home free with a good carry method, but just the same, I bought a fanny pack that had not come yet. Here is my delimima, I went into a resturant. I started to take the purse off and put it on the back of the chair ("like I would normally do) and suddenly I realize... I can't... that is not safe.... I might forget it, someone might take it... The purse is not the kind that could easily be put on top of the table while I ate. And besides, if I was at a fuller table I wouldn't have my purse up on the table in everyone's way. What do you do with your purse in situations like this? Next, I try the fanny pack. First, to wear it sitting it has to be a bit loose when standing. So, the fanny pack hung a bit on me. No big deal, but that gun got heaveir and heavier and heavier. I had to keep adjusting it. And then, the fanny pack was in my way. I have a belly already and it just stuck out that much more and I found sitting with it to be challenging. I have a smart carry on order but I have serious doubts about it working for me as I am very heavy. And the gun is heavy too. The most comfortable I have been so far is the purse. But I don't know what to do with the purse while in a resturant or while sitting in a meeting somewhere, etc.

June 21st, 2007, 05:39 AM	#2
DirtDawg Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sunnyville Posts: 594	Welcome to the Forum! With that purse you may wanna consider one of the hangers that go on the edge of the table with a lil hook underneath. That is if the purse has handles vs straps. __________________ Why is it that you always find things at the last place you looked? Because when you find something-you stop looking-Mooch

June 21st, 2007, 06:15 AM	#3
QKShooter Assistant Administrator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Off Of The X Posts: 20,021	Your questions are not stupid ones and they are actually pretty normal type questions regarding "off body" or purse carry. Most women are not usually likely to ever forget their purse but, you're correct that hanging it over the back of the chair could leave you wide open for a purse snatch scenario. If you put the purse on the floor then you could wrap the purse strap around your lower leg at the same time that you put your purse down there. That sure would help matters a bit in that you'll be sure not to forget it if it's around your leg...and nobody can just easily grab it and run off with it. __________________

June 21st, 2007, 10:53 AM	#8
Betty Assistant Administrator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Nashville Posts: 2,740	Hi Xenia, In a restaurant, if I'm not sitting in a booth where I can put the purse beside me, the purse is on the ground between my feet with the long strap over my knee. That way it's not going missing and I don't have to ungracefully reach all the way down to the ground to grab my purse. I hope you do find an on-body method that will work for you. __________________ "Americans have the will to resist because you have weapons. If you don't have a gun, freedom of speech has no power." - Yoshimi Ishikawa Broodings, Blunders and Broadsides: The Betty Blog (Friends only - Email me through there to let me know who you are first!)

June 21st, 2007, 12:05 PM	#10
Protect Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 302	You would be surprised what a woman can hide on her body. Here is a pic of my wife carrying my Sig P239 in an Inside the Waistband Holster (Comptac C-T.A.C.), covered by a fairly tight t-shirt. __________________ "When a man attempts to deal with me by force, I answer him—by force. "... No, I do not share his evil or sink to his concept of morality: I merely grant him his choice, destruction, the only destruction he had the right to choose: his own." -John Galt, Atlas Shrugged

June 21st, 2007, 10:16 AM	#4
Gary Brommeland Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,426	Welcome aboard! No questions are considered "stupid" here - we are all more than happy to help out a newbie! Have you considered an on-body concealment holster? (Something actually made to fit a woman's body?) Off-body carry is a nightmare waiting to happen. What firearm do you carry? What is your typical mode of dress?

June 21st, 2007, 10:24 AM	#5
Musketeer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: USA Posts: 699	Welcome. I feel for women who carry because their bodies just do not lend themselves as well to CCW as mens' bodies. I have heard a belly band worn high and just below the breasts works well. There are also IWB and OWB holsters made for women that carry at more favourable angles. To get away with this you need to use a blazer but that is not a bad thing. Well fitted blazers are complimentary to almost any figure, large or small. I am not a fan of Off Body Carry for the many reasons you can find all over this site. Your recognition of the problem with the purse is a perfect example why. Note that even with the strap around your necjk and arm the part of the purse grabbed in a snatch and grab will be the part with the gun in it. You will then be in the postion of fighting with a guy who is closer to your gun than you are.

June 21st, 2007, 10:42 AM	#7
raytracer Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kansas City Posts: 268	Welcome Xenia! The fact that you thought of those questions and then sought answers rules out stupidity! You just discovered the problem with off-body carry, whether it is a woman's purse or a man's dayplanner, or even a jacket pocket where the jacket might get removed in the course of the day. QKShooter's suggestion of looping the purse strap around your leg is a good one - I do the same with my laptop bag. There's still a slight problem here though - it's technically possible for someone, even a mischevious child, to access your firearm without your seeing it. And, purses present the same dilemma shoulder holsters do; the muzzle is constantly pointing at things you don't want it to. Since your hand is not on it, it's an acceptable risk, but it still gives me the creeps. One other option that works well for a lot of women is a Thunderwear or Smartcarry holster. They can be drawn from at least as fast as a purse, although if you're wearing a one piece dress you'll put on a bit of a show. As a woman, you have more challenges to carrying than us boys do, but don't let that deter you. Be armed and be safe! Also, if you haven't already, pay a visit to www.corneredcat.com. She has a lot of great CCW information, specifically from the distaff perspective. Joe

June 21st, 2007, 11:49 AM	#9
Redneck Repairs VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 5,141	Ill just point out that depending on the size of the firearm , and the lifestyle you have ... There are also ' day planner' stye holsters out there that can be set on the table while in the restraunt with little to no comment .

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