[dr_cmg]

Chris, I agree that not having the weight on is a relief. I enjoyed the week that I was in CA and WA without the weight. Of course I was also constantly aware that I was unarmed and that caused some anxiety. I think the real pleasure for you was that you could disarm and really not worry about needing it for a short while. I believe that all of us would love to not feel the need to be constantly alert and always armed. Even a few minutes of this is a wonderful pleasure and a much greater one than just having the weight off.

Would that we lived in a country where that kind of complacency would not be a dangerous thing. We don't however and we must take our little pleasures where we can and then go back on duty as sheep dogs.

 

[Redneck Repairs]

For myself i dont even notice the weight of a p3at among all the other plunder i normaly carry

 

[CopperKnight]

I occasionally go without. Some time ago, though, I came to the conclusion that the weight of the carry gun is easier to bear that the "weight" of being disarmed. Don't like it one bit.

 

[Rugerman]

While I have not been carrying long enough to say it is a PITA I understand what you are saying. I feel that the little discomfort caused is well worth the peace of mind.

 

[TonyW]

I haven't been carrying very long either, but don't yet feel it is a pain. I do have to go long periods without carrying though. In fact, I am sure I don't carry due to my job and other activities (Scouts, etc) more than I do carry. That and I don't go out much after work during the week. If I am out and about I do carry and I normally am armed around the house just in case.

If I could I would carry all day, every day. Unfortunately I can't.

 

[kd5nrh]

For times like that, I'd highly recommend a Bersa Thunder .380 in a SmartCarry. It's not as convenient to draw as an IWB/OWB, but you can really forget you're wearing it, and being armed while shirtless with shorts is still manageable.

As I posted in another thread, use the large SC, and adjust it (via safety pins) for your favorite small carry piece, as the extra fabric helps with comfort for some (too much gut) body types, and it leaves you the option of carrying a full size gun in it if you want.

 

[artz]

I am always with my Taurus 85 ultralite in my nemesis holster in the pocket of my jeans. I don't notice it. The only thing I notice is I don't have access to my benchmade griptillian in my right front pocket because of it. A good swap of arms, I figure...

 

[P95Carry]

I feel that the little discomfort caused is well worth the peace of mind.

I came to the conclusion that the weight of the carry gun is easier to bear that the "weight" of being disarmed. Don't like it one bit.

Rugerman and Copper - dead on - agreed. That is in fact my regular dictum and as I have said before, my carry is very much a ''dedicated'' deal. I therefore accept the penalty of what is involved with regard to the 'inconvenience'' factor very easily. I even choose to carry large and heavy too.

This was just one of those (very rare) cases where I put the rig and piece in the truck (it was still at hand of course in a sense) - and rather relished the freedom. Where I was at the time was about the lowest risk quotient I could possibly imagine.

 

[ExSoldier]

My one complaint on CCW is summer carry in a very HOT area. When I can, I carry a belly bag with serious equipment. But I have to confess to at times slipping the mouse gun NAA mini 22 into a pocket rather than to do the "right" thing and carry my Sig P245 IWB with a cover garment. ~SIGH~ Five more years and I can retire to the NC mountains....to live like a proper Hobbit. A properly ARMED Hobbit....

 

[calireserve]

For the times when I feel like I need a break from carrying my glock 27 IWB I switch to my Smith & wesson model 642 J frame in a pocket holster. I barely know its there. Sure I would prefer to have a 40 cal with extra mags but I find it is a good compromise for me.

 

[artz]

~SIGH~ Five more years and I can retire to the NC mountains....to live like a proper Hobbit. A properly ARMED Hobbit....

:hand10: I heard that....
I'll do that from time to time...still...better than no gun at all....

 

[QKShooter]

Especially on my Home Turf where the rate of violent crime is near nill ~ I sometimes wonder if I'm bonkers for carrying a full size/full weight firearm locally.

The last murder that took place here was....hummm....now over 60 years ago & that was a domestic family thing.
Nope...Sorry...there was one other violent crime where a mentally impaired person (still living with his Mother) beat her to death with a stair~railing spindle because she would not let him leave the house at 2:00 AM to get fresh batteries for his radio.
A Murder that could have been prevented by the purchase of a $5.00 AC Adapter. :blink:

So NOW....the weather is getting HOT HOT & HUMID & I absolutely hate it.

So...I have already trotted my Chopped Little Single Stack GLOCK 36 .45acp out of the ol' gun safe & I have been carrying that...these past few sweltering days.

I intend to "downsize" a bit further yet.

This absolutely will be the summer of the Rohrbaugh 9 for me. :yup:
It's getting to be time to buy one of those & that should be the ideal High Heat Little Primary for my peaceful little (Stuck In The TwiLight Zone) Backwater Dirt Town. :yup:

BTW...I sure would be derelict in my unofficial gun forum moderator duties if I did not carry every day.

I cannot preach to folks to carry all the time :rant: & then NOT do the same myself.
I am not a hypocrite.

And always...when I EXIT God's Little Acre ~ I DO switch back to either a SIG 220 or a Colt Combat Commander.

 

[Rob72]

But I have to confess to at times slipping the mouse gun NAA mini 22 into a pocket rather than to do the "right" thing and carry my Sig P245 IWB with a cover garment.

:biggrin2: But.......... how can you fight off the teeming hordes of zombie Hell's Angels with a "mouse gun"?:blink:

 

[Rock and Glock]

I can relate to all of the above. I usually am 16/7, but a roadtrip from North Texas to Boston had its "inconveniences" the last three weeks.

Nancy and I carried untill NY <sigh> and MA <yuk>, then "reholstered" while moving back through PA <yea!>. Some observations: I was comfortable with the Glock 26 in a pocket holster and my 5.11's or cargo shorts pretty much full time.

While the guns were locked in car safes (NY and MA), I was super vigilant (Orange) a lot - not conducive to relaxing some times. Pepper spray was in a pocket or two, along with the CRKT of course. We avoided NJ, and MD as much as possible.:9:

OC and pepper spray requires a license to carry in MA. Guess that's MA <silly> and typical of MA. The anti-gun propaganda and bill-boards in MA were also interesting. A large billboard on I-90 at Kenmore SQ in Boston obviously blamed Vermont, NH, Georgia and Maine for all of the MA guns and crime! I love Boston, but there are a lot of SERIOUS Sheep there, grazing and whatever......<sheesh>:aargh4:

Anyway, we were pleased to return to the south and the reciprocity thereunder....

The Shenandoah (sp) Valley was beautiful, as was NC and parts of SC. West NC is a favorite though.

An old friend of Nancy's in WV hosted us one night of the trip. He'd been on the Army marksmanship team, and had trophies and beltbuckles to prove his marksmanship. Squirrel hunters make good riflemen apparently. He had a serious collection too - fun to visit with!

Another friend in SC lived across from a small town discount gun store. The place had more guns than a lot of "stores" elsewhere. He had SKS's for $88, .223 evil black rifles, etc. - the whole gamut, and lots of them! Serious rifle stuff!

Anyway, long boring answer to Chris's post and the responses, but thought the "travel specific" state of mind I'd been in the last three weeks might interest some...if for no other reason to avoid NY and MA! :rant:

 

[ibex]

How about off-body carry? A sidearm in a rucksack or shoulder bag (always kept within reach) allows for very light and comfortable clothing. It's not as comforting as a gun on your body, but beats being unarmed. Plus, you can make up for the lack of accessibility by carrying more ammo. :biggrin2:

 

[P95Carry]

Off body is OK if necessary and a suitable bag. This instance I related was such that I was down to absolute minimum and no bags etc - but as I said, piece was in truck very close by. Of course R9 could easily have been in pocket.

Richard - good trip by sounds of it tho not sure I'd even venture into MA!! I plan travel assiduously, and these days take great pains to avoid MD. As for going East re NJ, NY etc - ain't gonna happen.

So you came thru PA eh - well if en route to WV I'll bet you were almost within spitting distance - and ya didn't stop by! Shame on ya! :wink:

 

[dr_cmg]

I think Kel-Tec is going to be doing a big business if they release the PF-9 any time in the next month or so. 9mm, 12.7 oz. w/o mag, 2.8 oz. loaded mag, even loaded less than a pound, 5.85" length, 4.3" height, .88" width, 7 + 1 capacity, and will accept +p. If these things work they will be on everybody's summer carry list.

 

[Zundfolge]

Most of the people I know who complain about how uncomfortable/inconvenient CCW is are people who buy cheesy holsters like Thunderwear, belly bands and the ubiquitous God-awful Uncle Mike's nylon IWB holster.


Good leather is the key to daily carry. With a good molded leather (or Kydex if you must) holster designed to carry the weight of the gun and keep it from shifting you can carry a full size 1911 24/7 with more comfort than a KelTec P11 in an Uncle Mike's.


My Kahr MK9 or my Steyr S40 are both easily carried all day because I have good holsters for them.



Of course the fact that I can carry at work and I almost NEVER go to places that are off limits helps with the convenience factor (I have jury duty next month ... I'm not looking forward to sitting around unarmed for a day or three).

 

[rocky]

went without my carry gun this weekend myself. nice to be without a cover garment and just kick back and relax. the girlfriend and I dank a little and did some fishing. Still, in more populated areas I feel more comfortable armed.