How does it really look to carry a weapon?

[Earthylady]

I'm getting ready to get my CCW. I'm a mom of 4 little kids ranging from 8 years to 10 months old. I'm trying to wrap my brain around HOW to actually carry a weapon in a way that it would be beneficial.

How do YOU carry your weapon so that it is available when it MIGHT be needed? While not being a burden in your every day life?

Thanks!

 

[eagleeyes]

welcome aboard..i carry iwb crossbreed holster situated at 3:30 around my waist and a good gun belt ..i found i can also wear the belt and holster on my bare skin when wearing elastic waisted skirts and such too........works well for me and can sit bend stand and carry children without the gun or rig in my way
best wishes to you stay safe mother of many ....just keep your gun safe from the kids and don't think they won't find it no matter where you hide it ......perhaps a good home gun safe is good idea as well

 

[justxboxin]

On the waist band on a belt

 

[Geezer Squid]

Well, we don't have little, or any for that matter, kids to worry about. My wife carries her Sig P238 (cocked & locked) either IWB or in a remora in her purse. With kids in the picture, I'd recommend IWB.

 

[Deserteagle]

Buy a small handgun and put it in a pocket holster. Keep the gun in your pocket.

 

[Firefighterchen]

I'm getting ready to get my CCW. I'm a mom of 4 little kids ranging from 8 years to 10 months old. I'm trying to wrap my brain around HOW to actually carry a weapon in a way that it would be beneficial.

How do YOU carry your weapon so that it is available when it MIGHT be needed? While not being a burden in your every day life?

Thanks!

I wear a nice sturdy belt made to hold the weight of a firearm. I use a nice holster made specifically for my firearm. I carry my Jericho 941 around the 3 o'clock position OWB.

A firearm in a place you can not get to in an emergency will do you no good. With children make sure you teach them about firearms (if you have not all ready done so) and be aware of where each of your kids and your firearm are at all times. I find it easiest to keep track of my firearm by having it in its holster on my belt all the time.

+1 on DE post. Pocket carry works as well.

No matter what you choose, train train train.

 

[walt629]

The first question is "what is your every day atire?" Do you wear dresses every day or do you wear slacks? Do you carry a purse all the time and how big is is? When you are around the house do you plan on being armed or only when you go out?

THere are so many issues you need to consider before you make the decision to carry a weapon. At the same time you're considering "HOW" to carry you need to be deciding "WHAT" to carry. If you already have a firearm that you are comfortable with, we would assume that will be your EDC (every day carry) and that is the weapon you need to outfit with.

If you do not have a weapon of choice already, before you worry about how you're going to carry, you need to find the right weapon for you.

The state you live in will determine or help you determine how you're going to carry. If you live in a concealed carry only state, the decision has been made for you. If you're fortunate enough to live in a state that permits open or concealed carry, you're in luck!

If you're going to conceal then some sort of an IWB (In the Waist Band) holster may benefit you. THere are a lot of them on the market but they all have the same thing in common. They serve to minimize the exterior appearance of the holster / weapon combination. (unfortunately it will make your hips look bigger) Some IWB rigs are designed to allow you to tuck in your shirt / blouse so that you don't have to have the shirt tail hanging out look.

If you are the type that goes for the shirt tail look and you're not carrying a comparatively large side arm, a Yaqui belt slide might work. The Yaqui (not a brand name but a type) is usually a minimalistic rig that rides the outside of the belt, holsters the gun but provides no mechanical retention system (the pressure of your waist against the confines of the holster hold the gun in place) but because of it's design rides very close to your body, allowing you to cover with a shirt or jacket.

IF you're going to conceal, take your gun and visit a friendly local gun shop. Ask them to help you make the decision on the holster selection. And when you find one you like, buy it at that gun shop.

If your going to open carry, there are also dozens of choices out there. But considering you've got kids around, I would hope you would select something with a mechanical retention so the weapon doesn't "get loose" around the kids.

And then there is purse carry. There are a couple of purse makers that fabricate them with 'hidden' pockets dedicated to the fire arm. BUt now you're really getting into the 'fashion' thing.

All of the above issue with the exception of the kids and open carry are the same issues I wrestled with my wife with, and she stil wants to get a purse so she can carry while wearing a 'summer dress'. so the search continues.

Just my opinions. Personally, I'm a big guy. I carry a Springfield XD40 4inch in a Crossbreed Super Tuck IWB rig. Regardless of what rig you decide on, a good quality belt is essential to successfully wearing your weapon everyday.

Good luck with your choice. Oh! Yeah... you might try this web site. -- Cornered Cat - Table Of Contents

 

[Earthylady]

Thanks all!

To answer a couple of questions, I'm in WI. I'm a total dirt loving farm girl so my typical attire is jeans and a t shirt or shorts and a shirt. Obviously safety is of utmost importance and we are teaching that to our children as well. I don't normally carry at home unless I'm going out in the woods or dark. I'm usually alone then though. I carry just for my own personal safety against any critters that might be around. Bear, bobcat, wolf, etc. At least getting a shot or two off might get me home alive and in one piece.

"MY" gun (the one that was purchased specifically for me and I would be carrying) is a 380 Ruger LCP. It's a tiny little thing, but it gets the job done. :yes4:

 

[White1]

I would reconsider carrying a 380 to stop a bear.

 

[Iam2Taz]

It is a good thing, most bears don't care for people and will run. Unless, of course, you get between a mom and her cubs! Then she will fight harder than about 1/5 of the human population. - Sorry, short rant.....

At any rate - Inside the waist band for public areas. On the farm I would go outside the waist band with a thumb break retention. I would also consider a bigger caliber pistol, with a longer sight radius, for that one bear who just doesn't understand. Having worked on a farm you probably do more than just walking along smelling the flowers. If you start climbing on an off tractors you will want the pistol secure. Just sayin....

Oh and practice as much as possible!

 

[ReadyToDefend]

Bear spray is better against bears. Spray sends our a cloud of stuff that makes them go away. Bullets are small and it is hard to hit something accurately when you are charged. That said, I carry both.
I also have the LCP, & love it. It is very acurate, but you must practice your draw, grip, & trigger staging.
See filaphotography on youtube for carry suggestions specificaly for women. Good luck

 

[Naybor]

My wife got a ccw purse at the following site:

GUN TOTE'N MAMAS - Concealed Carry Handbags by Gun Tote'n Mamas

She really likes it but says she has to watch her purse closer than without the weapon. It's also made of real leather at a good price.
It has a concealed zippered compartment that has a built-in holster that will accommodate various sized handguns. (She carries a .357 magnum revolver and she's good with it.)

BTW, it does have cut resistant straps which should help in case a BG tries to cut it off of you.

 

[GB-Boater]

For summer time carry in the pocket of your jeans, In the winter in your coat pocket.

Use one of the little pocket holsters that are extended on the bottom and hold the gun upright.
I have the wife tuck and sew the bottom of the strong side pocket so it holds the gun close to the top. (Like short sheeting) Works great.

For fending off most problems including humans, dogs, wolves, and probably bears read this little article:



Subject: Wasp Spray

I know some of you own GUNS but this is something to think about...---

If you don't have a gun, here's a more humane way to wreck someone's evil plans for you. Did you know this? I didn't. I never really thoughtof it before. I guess I can get rid of the baseball bat.

Wasp Spray - A friend who is a receptionist in a church in a high risk area was concerned about someone coming into the office on Monday to rob them when they were counting the collection. She asked the local police departmentabout using pepper spray and they recommended to her that sh get a can of wasp spray instead.

The wasp spray, they told her, can shoot up to twenty feet away and is a lot more accurate, while with the pepper spray, they have to get too close to you and could overpower you. The wasp spray temporarily blinds an attacker until they get to the hospital for an antidote. She keeps a can on her desk in the office and it doesn't attract attention from people like a can of pepper spray would. She also keeps one nearby at home for home protection. Thought this was interesting and might be of use.

On the heels of a break in and beating that left an elderly woman in Toledo dead, self defense experts have a tip that could save your life.

Val Glinka teaches self-defense to students at Sylvania Southview High School . For decades, he's suggested putting a can of wasp and hornet spray near your door or bed.

Glinka says, "This is better than anything I can teach them."

Glinka considers it inexpensive, easy to find, and more effective than mace or pepper spray. The cans typically shoot 20 to 30 feet; so if someone tries to break into your home, Glinka says "spray the culprit in the eyes". It's a tip he's given to students for decades.

It's also one he wants everyone to hear. If you're looking for protection, Glinka says look to the spray. "That's going to give you a chance to call the police; maybe get out." Maybe even save a life.

Please share this with all the people who are precious to your life.

Did you also know that wasp spray will kill a snake? And a mouse! It
will! Good to know, huh? It will also kill a wasp.!!!!

 

[mmckee1952]

A few items you need to do if your CCW, don't act as if you have a gun, don't wear the gun where you print the gun on your clothing and don't hug people. My wife has a Bersa 380 Thunder you might want to check it out, it's small and has enough power to get the job done and she only uses JHP's since you don't wan't to have the bullet pass through the item / person your shooting and possibly hit someone on the other side.

 

[Roscoeswat]

You have gotten good information on carrying. Let me add my two cents to the discussion on gun safety with small children.. When I first had kids, I was a deputy US marshal in Washington, DC. I kept my gun in a small safe and the kids had no idea that I carried. When I transferred to uS customs in AZ, I spent some time in uniform and brought a marked car home at the end of shift. The boys were 5, 6 and 10. I took them out to a safe place in the desert and helped them each fire my gun in a safe manner. They each kept their targets which we annotated with their name and the date. Prior to the shooting, I gave them a safety lesson in handling guns and told them that if they ever wanted to see the guns, I would get. Them out, give them the safety lecture and let them hold it. I kept that promise, tho it often wasn't convenient. Within a year, they had lost interest and I never had any gun problems with them. I bring that up as a suggestion for you since you are new enough to gun carrying, you might not have any ideas on how to go about teaching your kids about gun safety. It is a painful topic for me because a young cop friend got careless about gun safety and his son got ahold of his gun and killed the his sister. It was a tragic accident that courts too often, unfortunately. I'm sure there is someone in the know at your local gun range, or police or sheriffs department that would be willing to give you some good advice.

 

[Badwolf75]

Check out faliaphotography's utube channel. She has a number of excellent videos on the subject of concealed carry for women.

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2

 

[Treo]

"MY" gun (the one that was purchased specifically for me and I would be carrying) is a 380 Ruger LCP. It's a tiny little thing, but it gets the job done. :yes4:

Really, no one else can answer the question for you, you have to experiment and figure out what works best in your situation.

That said, a lot of people do pocket carry the LCPs. If you choose that method make sure you carry nothing else in that pocket and that use use an appropriate pocket holster

 

[Firefighterchen]

For summer time carry in the pocket of your jeans, In the winter in your coat pocket.

Use one of the little pocket holsters that are extended on the bottom and hold the gun upright.
I have the wife tuck and sew the bottom of the strong side pocket so it holds the gun close to the top. (Like short sheeting) Works great.

For fending off most problems including humans, dogs, wolves, and probably bears read this little article:



Subject: Wasp Spray

I know some of you own GUNS but this is something to think about...---

If you don't have a gun, here's a more humane way to wreck someone's evil plans for you. Did you know this? I didn't. I never really thoughtof it before. I guess I can get rid of the baseball bat.

Wasp Spray - A friend who is a receptionist in a church in a high risk area was concerned about someone coming into the office on Monday to rob them when they were counting the collection. She asked the local police departmentabout using pepper spray and they recommended to her that sh get a can of wasp spray instead.

The wasp spray, they told her, can shoot up to twenty feet away and is a lot more accurate, while with the pepper spray, they have to get too close to you and could overpower you. The wasp spray temporarily blinds an attacker until they get to the hospital for an antidote. She keeps a can on her desk in the office and it doesn't attract attention from people like a can of pepper spray would. She also keeps one nearby at home for home protection. Thought this was interesting and might be of use.

On the heels of a break in and beating that left an elderly woman in Toledo dead, self defense experts have a tip that could save your life.

Val Glinka teaches self-defense to students at Sylvania Southview High School . For decades, he's suggested putting a can of wasp and hornet spray near your door or bed.

Glinka says, "This is better than anything I can teach them."

Glinka considers it inexpensive, easy to find, and more effective than mace or pepper spray. The cans typically shoot 20 to 30 feet; so if someone tries to break into your home, Glinka says "spray the culprit in the eyes". It's a tip he's given to students for decades.

It's also one he wants everyone to hear. If you're looking for protection, Glinka says look to the spray. "That's going to give you a chance to call the police; maybe get out." Maybe even save a life.

Please share this with all the people who are precious to your life.

Did you also know that wasp spray will kill a snake? And a mouse! It
will! Good to know, huh? It will also kill a wasp.!!!!

- wasp spray has not been tested on humans for self defense so the effectiveness may not be good. There have been stories of wasp spray having no affect on people using it against wasps who sprayed it in their own face.

-not only is it a federal violation (hence the "It’s a violation of federal law to use in any manner inconsistent with this label. Never Use Indoors!” labeling), many municipalities only allow pepper spray if you want to use a less than lethal self defense spray. check your local laws.

like the other thread said, if you happen to be fighting off an army of wasps and you get attacked by a person by all means defend yourself with the spray. But if you want to buy a less lethal spray, get a less lethal spray not bug killer.

 

[eagleeyes]

i used wasp spray inside on a big scary spider once i sprayed and sprayed till it stopped moving thankfully it was in the shower when i sprayed it

 

[NavyLCDR]

Once you get used to it, carrying a gun becomes just as routine as carrying a cell phone. It is just as natural to put the holster and gun on as it is to put a cell phone or car keys in your pocket. As stated by Firefighterchen, always know where the firearm is in relation to the children, and the best way to do that is to keep the firearm ON YOUR PERSON. Anytime it is not on your person, the gun should be inaccessible to the children until you are certain they are mature enough and have enough training to safely handle the gun on their own.

Don't worry too much about concealment, printing, getting noticed. Wisconsin is an open carry state, so you are not violating any law if the gun gets noticed, and unless you have it duct taped to your forehead, 95% of the public wouldn't notice it even openly carried in a holster on your belt, and a simple shirt or blouse over the gun and 99.9% won't notice it with no real effort on your part to conceal it.