Actually, it was pretty much a "non-event." 
Thought I'd make a run down to "Wally World," but decide that would be just toooooo cliche'! Didn't really need anything from there, anyway. But there was a few things I wanted to get from the local gun shop!
Already had on my jeans and a dark T shirt, so I put on my "cover" shirt after donning my Blackhawk cf SERPA paddle @ 3:30 and Fobus paddle mag carrier @ 8:30, with my Glock 23 (.40 S&W, 13+1) in place.
About that cover garment, it's a Wally World special, $9.95. A kind of full-cut, square tailed, almost Hawaiian shirt. Fits kind of loose and doesn't stand out in my area. This one isn't one of the bright, loud patterns, it's actually black with a tan print that is some sort of bamboo pattern.
I have 3 of them, that dark one, and two brighter colors. What I've found out is, the all cotton version is probably the better choice than the synthetic ones. Only have the one cotton shirt and it doesn't billow in the breeze as easily as the synthetics do, and the cotton seems to "print" less, as the synthetics tend to want to drape over the form of the gun. (I'll be buying more of the cotton shirts.)
What I learned from reading on this Forum and from "carrying" at home and in the yard, the wind problem can be dealt with by hooking my thumb in the top of the jeans' pocket, with my little finger securing the cover shirt. It doesn't look as "obvious" as it sounds. I do have to make sure when the pinkie finger grabs the edge of the shirt, that it isn't pulling it tight, making a "print" where there wasn't one. That "trained finger" grasp the front edge of the shirt without pulling down on it.
So, the synthetic shirt wasn't my best choice, but the cotton one had some blood on it (mine,) and needed washing. (Nothing terrible, just a minor disagreement with one of my cats, we're friends again.)
Off I went to the gun store!
This gun shop has a sign on the door, "No loaded weapons allowed inside, CCW permit holders exempt." It's the one I bought my G23 from, and my wife got her G26 here as well.
As I entered, one customer was leaving, so only the owner and one guy behind the counter was there. Both have seen me in there more than once, but neither knew I'd gotten my permit.
I saw NO indication that either of them suspected I was carrying! :biggrin2:
OK, it is possible that they did, but didn't feel the need to ask, or they were just assumed I was legal. But I've spent enough time in there to have seen how they react to people who come in, they do a "quick-scan" every time. I'm convinced that my concealment was good.
"Can I help you with anything today?"
"Yes, I was thinking I might want a double mag carrier, or maybe another single. . . I'm not sure."
"OK, what's it for?"
"This," I said, as I reached back with my weak hand and pulled my one spare mag from the carrier and placed it on the counter.
"Oh!" The counter man stiffened just a bit, then seemed to relax. "Uh. . . OK, uh, that's a 40 cal, isn't it?"
No, I didn't scare him with that move, it was slow and deliberate, with my right hand resting on the counter top. He just didn't expect a loaded magazine to be pulled out and placed on the counter, I guess.
It was at this time that I told him I'd gotten my CCW and would have my wife get with them to see about taking the required course they offer so she can get her permit. Now both the counter man and the owner were smiling again. I think they have us on their list of "good customers." When I come in, I may or may not buy something. If she comes in with me, its a sure thing money will be spent.
He did have the spare mag, but didn't have a double carrier in stock. I decided to come back next week and get that double carrier.
While there, I bought another box of carry ammo, this time it was Winchester Ranger, 155 gr. JHP. I'd been using Federal 180 gr. HST JHP's, but noticed that I shot better with the bulk 155 gr. (I think) from Wally World, in the white box, than with the heavier Federal stuff. I'll try the Winchester ammo at the range and see how it does.
All in all, I'm pretty satisfied with my "first carry" experience. I was able to walk without hearing the theme from "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" playing in my head. I didn't have an embarrassing "I got made" story to tell. And I did do it in a gun shop, not at Wal-Mart!
:danceban: :danceban: :danceban:
mm
Thought I'd make a run down to "Wally World," but decide that would be just toooooo cliche'! Didn't really need anything from there, anyway. But there was a few things I wanted to get from the local gun shop!
Already had on my jeans and a dark T shirt, so I put on my "cover" shirt after donning my Blackhawk cf SERPA paddle @ 3:30 and Fobus paddle mag carrier @ 8:30, with my Glock 23 (.40 S&W, 13+1) in place.
About that cover garment, it's a Wally World special, $9.95. A kind of full-cut, square tailed, almost Hawaiian shirt. Fits kind of loose and doesn't stand out in my area. This one isn't one of the bright, loud patterns, it's actually black with a tan print that is some sort of bamboo pattern.
I have 3 of them, that dark one, and two brighter colors. What I've found out is, the all cotton version is probably the better choice than the synthetic ones. Only have the one cotton shirt and it doesn't billow in the breeze as easily as the synthetics do, and the cotton seems to "print" less, as the synthetics tend to want to drape over the form of the gun. (I'll be buying more of the cotton shirts.)
What I learned from reading on this Forum and from "carrying" at home and in the yard, the wind problem can be dealt with by hooking my thumb in the top of the jeans' pocket, with my little finger securing the cover shirt. It doesn't look as "obvious" as it sounds. I do have to make sure when the pinkie finger grabs the edge of the shirt, that it isn't pulling it tight, making a "print" where there wasn't one. That "trained finger" grasp the front edge of the shirt without pulling down on it.
So, the synthetic shirt wasn't my best choice, but the cotton one had some blood on it (mine,) and needed washing. (Nothing terrible, just a minor disagreement with one of my cats, we're friends again.)
Off I went to the gun store!
This gun shop has a sign on the door, "No loaded weapons allowed inside, CCW permit holders exempt." It's the one I bought my G23 from, and my wife got her G26 here as well.
As I entered, one customer was leaving, so only the owner and one guy behind the counter was there. Both have seen me in there more than once, but neither knew I'd gotten my permit.
I saw NO indication that either of them suspected I was carrying! :biggrin2:
OK, it is possible that they did, but didn't feel the need to ask, or they were just assumed I was legal. But I've spent enough time in there to have seen how they react to people who come in, they do a "quick-scan" every time. I'm convinced that my concealment was good.
"Can I help you with anything today?"
"Yes, I was thinking I might want a double mag carrier, or maybe another single. . . I'm not sure."
"OK, what's it for?"
"This," I said, as I reached back with my weak hand and pulled my one spare mag from the carrier and placed it on the counter.
"Oh!" The counter man stiffened just a bit, then seemed to relax. "Uh. . . OK, uh, that's a 40 cal, isn't it?"
No, I didn't scare him with that move, it was slow and deliberate, with my right hand resting on the counter top. He just didn't expect a loaded magazine to be pulled out and placed on the counter, I guess.
It was at this time that I told him I'd gotten my CCW and would have my wife get with them to see about taking the required course they offer so she can get her permit. Now both the counter man and the owner were smiling again. I think they have us on their list of "good customers." When I come in, I may or may not buy something. If she comes in with me, its a sure thing money will be spent.
He did have the spare mag, but didn't have a double carrier in stock. I decided to come back next week and get that double carrier.
While there, I bought another box of carry ammo, this time it was Winchester Ranger, 155 gr. JHP. I'd been using Federal 180 gr. HST JHP's, but noticed that I shot better with the bulk 155 gr. (I think) from Wally World, in the white box, than with the heavier Federal stuff. I'll try the Winchester ammo at the range and see how it does.
All in all, I'm pretty satisfied with my "first carry" experience. I was able to walk without hearing the theme from "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" playing in my head. I didn't have an embarrassing "I got made" story to tell. And I did do it in a gun shop, not at Wal-Mart!
:danceban: :danceban: :danceban:
mm
