That’s ok I’m good glad you helped.
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Welcome, brother!!!
GREAT, well thought out questions. We all started there once.
My advice–take it for what you paid for it. 
I will tell you what I would recommend, not what I did–because there are things I did I wouldn’t recommend.
Reading/training:
–“In the Gravest Extreme” by Mas Ayoob.
-“Concealed Carry and Home Defense”-- USCCA
-“30 Days to Concealed Carry Confidence”–USCCA.
-get as much training as time and money can afford. It’s better to sweat in training that to bleed on the street. I like the USCCA’s class and the NRA CCW class. At that point, the training gets expensive and extensive (3-5 days, hundreds to thousands of dollars).
-Great web sites like this one, pew pew tactical, Coloin Noir (more political), warrior poet, etc.
-SHOOT AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE. I mean, weekly. Dry fire every day. Practice drawing from your holster every day (safely–unloaded) from every position (in the car, on the ground).
To sum it up, never stop training, never stop learning. Put a call out on this forum if you don’t have peeps to shoot with–I’ll bet you can find someone to help coach you in Wisco. If not, get a mount for your phone and video yourself shooting, drawing, etc. Work on your form.
One other thing–I’d say stick with dry firing now until the price of ammo comes down out of the stratosphere. We are again in interesting times.
To your questions:
- Carrying–carry as much as you are comfortable with. I don’t recommend carrying with an empty chamber–to me,it is like not carrying. You might spend the rest of your life racking the slide. If you’re going to carry at all , either do or do not, there is no middle ground. Always carry the gun in the same condition so you can build muscle memory. That will rule the day in a stress encounter.
- Nothing made me uncomfortable. What I focus on most is the gravity of my decision.
- Carrying, for me, is exercising my 2A rights to defend myself. I like not being a sheep. The worst thing for me was having to work in an environment that did not allow CC (health care). Interesting note, shortly after I left the job and moved out of state, there was an active shooter in the hospital. I will not work in an environment again that does not allow CC. My job is not worth my life.
Si vis pacem para bellum
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@Aaron25 Thank you so much for the amazing reply. I have been utilizing USCCA’s plethora of training as much as possible basically every day as well as learning a lot from Warrior Poet and Colion Noir! I don’t know much about Pew Pew Tacitcal but will soon as I start reading their articles. Your info is EXTREMELY helpful and I appreciate it so much! I will have a sit-rep for everyone soon as I have been going full-steam ahead to carry constantly and as many places as I am comfortable with. Thank you again!
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Please keep in touch with any questions or concerns. Best to you!
Aaron
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Bingo! Dawn, just mentioned the reality check for me. Legal training! The outcome of your actions. Various scenarios that might not be as they are first perceived. I would not disagree with anything said by the community but knowing how the courts look at shooting and how police will probably react did change my attitude about awareness and avoidance. I have had to learn to guard my comments as I guard the concealment of my firearm.
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Thank you all so much for all the amazing replies thus far, and keep them coming! Really feeling the sense of community already. Its only been a couple days since I first posted it but already have a huge amount of confidence with carrying and have carried everyday at home and just to the storage units and to grab a coffee lol. No other places with more people around. Here is how I felt (for those who are just starting to carry as well and just cause its fresh on a first-time-carrier’s mind).
It was strange the first day or 2 but honestly, I feel pretty confident in having it. I was focusing too much on the fact that I had the firearm on me, than what to do with it if the need arose. It already is feeling part of my EDC and I am even started having a round in the chamber to get comfortable. I started obsessing on the fact that its there. After I remembered the multiple safety features on my particular firearm, and the main safety features of sound mind, and that fleshy stick on the end of my hand. I got WAY more comfortable. I live in an area of certain social standings and do still worry slightly about what people might be thinking if for some reason they see or I print and they notice, but, like anything else frankly, I don’t need to explain myself to a neighbor I barely speak to why I act or think a certain way.
I definitely am excited to get a LOT more training in which will further solidify my confidence, but I am having some difficulty finding some in my area (don’t worry, i’ll take that discussion to the proper forum under “Training”).
I have a busy weekend of errands, which includes multiple range visits including one to my local LE Training Center which is open to the public on the weekends. I plan to have a small SITREP of that on Sunday. I hope this is helping other first-time carriers as well and maybe even helping others just to see how others are experiencing things! THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL FOR THE GREAT REPLIES!
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- I would never consider concealed carrying an unloaded gun. I carry both semi-auto and revolver and both are fully loaded.
- Carry around the house and yard to find issues with the carry, does it shift, does it rub your skin, etc. Put the holster and gun on when you get up and leave it on all day at home.
- If you can’t roll around on the floor and have the gun stay in the holster, get a better holster.
- Do not handle a loaded gun in a public area, that means dressing rooms, toilets, etc. Leave the gun in the holster. Guns fire because the trigger is pulled, a holster covers the trigger and discharges can’t happen.
- I never carry in public with a new holster. I have been carrying for over 30 years and often find, at home, what I have to adjust on the new rig at home, not in public. Use your mirrors at home to check out printing, etc. Get your family to help.
- Young children can ask, sometimes loudly, “Mommy/Daddy, do you have your gun”. Enough said.
- How I carry varies, if I will be around people who I feel will be alarmed or upset with the gun present I carry in deeper cover. Often I carry a small gun OWB under a shirt. Detectable? Yes, but not to the casual observer. I carry a gun only where I can legally carry so I am not worried about having to be undetectable.
- Watch your habits, I saw a man in public wearing an untucked shirt grab his belt with one hand and his holster with the other to lift his pants up. No question he had a gun.
- I suggest, if you can legally, put the gun on it the morning and leave it on all day, especially at home.
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Great question. We had a post a few weeks ago, I think just about everyone is anxious over printing at first. Printing is really not as big of a deal as you think (this may change in certain states like California). No one really pays that close of attention.
The other big step is “one in the chamber”. Make sure you have a safe/ quality holster. I highly recommend a quality carry belt. If you are uncomfortable carrying one in the chamber you can do a couple of things: rack the slide of your gun and carry liken this for a few days, then finally work up to one in the chamber (you want to carry one in the chamber: there’s other threads on this). Jus be weary if you did need your gun during this time, you would have to rack the slide before it will function. What I would recommend this instead, learn how your gun works. Learn about all of the safety devises. Learn that the gun will not fire unless the trigger is pulled. And just carry 1 in the chamber right away. You will be thinking in the back of your head that the gun is gonna go off in you pants… it’s not (as long as your firearm is in a good quality holster that covers that trigger and keeps the gun held with good retention). From my understanding Most negligent discharges are from holstering (shirt gets caught in holster and pulls trigger) and lack of trigger Discipline (keeping that finger off the trigger unless you are on target). No matter what, when you start carrying one in the chamber it’s a bit nerve racking, but it goes away.
I would play around with holster positioning. See what’s most comfortable and most concealable. When I first started I carried about 5 o’clock because my gun would not print, but I found with sitting and bending over my shirt would get tucked under the but of the gun. I shifted my holster to about 3:30 and that is by far the most comfortable and concealable place for me.
Practice carrying at home, and on trips to the store. Than work up to full time.
Keep educating yourself! Stick with it (I stopped for a period of time). The anxieties of carry do go away. There will always be more to learn.
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It is clear that you are aware that CC is a major commitment as evidenced by your questions! My biggest recommendation is to get the proper training in self-defense and practice, practice, practice before carrying ANYWHERE. There are few things more deadly than an untrained person walking around with a loaded firearm. The USCCA is an excellent resource for professional self defense classes. I have taken beginners up through advanced strategic & tactical defense. You have no idea how much even a seasoned shooter learns in training with a professional instructor. That said - you also need to make the mental commitment to yourself that you can shoot a bad guy if need be - meaning potentially killing someone if you have to. Not everyone can make this commitment. This is VERY, very important & a must for CC. If you can commit to this & training, your firearm should always be chambered when you carry or it does you no good (every millisecond counts in a gun fight). Again, proper training & confidence in your abilities eliminates the fear of walking around with a chambered firearm (I went thru that phase!). My biggest concern at the end of my whole preparedness was the print of my firearm. Finding the right holsters, holster position & clothing may take trial & error & a few wasted bucks on unused holsters before you find what works for you, but you will!! Most of us have some unused holsters laying around in a drawer😁
Best of luck to you!! There are a ton of great people on this community - don’t hesitate to ask us questions!
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The odds that you will need a second mag in a dynamic critical incident are very very low.
The main reason I carry a second mag on my belt is the first 2 rounds are the CCI Snake Shot.
Being here in Central Texas I’ve had to do a quick Tac Reload on many occasions.
Well said @Carol
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It sounds to me you are not ready to carry. You might be better off with pepper spray. You need to be solid on your belief of being willing to kill somebody, when and why. In most real World scenarios you will most likely be killed. You cannot decide if you should carry or not, or loaded or not. Your indecision makes me fearful. I would suggest getting more training, carrying a gun is not a solution if you have not settled the psychological aspect first.
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@Niels I can understand your concern for someone who may be indecisive and thanks for the reply! However, I have not been indecisive of whether to carry or not or what that means in a defensive situation. Should a situation present itself, I will protect myself and my loved ones. Period. As with most life changes, I wanted to learn from the experiences other’s have had, particularly starting out. Carrying a firearm is no light decision so yes, I have made the psychological resolve of what that means but with any new experience that comes with questions and some concerns, at first. It would be strange, in my opinion, for that not to be the case.
Though, your reply does come at an interesting time as I was going to update some folks on where I stand. See post below!
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SITREP: As many of you know I have just began carrying and mentioned I would post an update and again, appreciate everyone’s amazing replies! I have dove into training and getting that scheduled and of course, utilizing USCCA’s fantastic library of information. I had lots of range time this weekend, but more importantly, I have been carrying every day, all day (where allowed), in condition 1 and I feel fully confident. Oddly, especially with the limited training so far, I feel a sense of relief. In the sense that I have control over my own safety once again and with that continued training, I can further that control. In the area I live in, carrying a firearm is not the most… “celebrated” we’ll say and I think I had built up something that, really above all, is about safety and not a political statement, or the likes thereof. The reason I decided was for safety, and the is and will remain my primary reasoning. Furthermore, applying my already well-known knowledge of firearm safety and practicing has already washed those concerns away. I took tips from everyone, have a great Nexbelt, and plan to buy many more, may need to find a bit more comfortable CC holster. And purchased some new clothes to fit my CC but keeping with my lifestyle. Conferred with friends and family about me printing, and that essentially solved everything. I am excited for continuous training and really appreciate the understanding replies.
If anything other than helping me, I hope this helps some other newcomers or anyone, for that matter who may just need a place to vent concerns. This community has shown me that and very appreciative of it. Stay safe everyone!
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Take a look at Stealth Gear and Alien Gear. Both are pretty well known, comfortable, holsters. As with everything, you’ll have to find out what is right for you.
Assuming you don’t end up with a drawer full of failed attempts at finding what is right for you, make sure you always have a backup. 2 is 1 and 1 is none. If you’re getting ready to leave your house and discover something wrong with your holster, you will be glad to have an extra one laying around.
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Thank you @Seethe! That is great advice, not something I thought of about having a backup holster. I am definitely taking a look at those you recommended today as well!
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I had several classes in before CC was legal in my state. By the time it became legal I was comfortable with caring. Fully loaded and 1 in the chamber. However when my 2 children wanted to CC they both had completed several classes and carried the gun empty in the house getting use to carring it and finding their preferred place to carry.
The biggest problem I had was in my home state it was really anti gun so I was always worried about the no gun signs. I resolved that issue by moving to a gun friendly state. I carry everywhere I go.
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Hi WiscoViking
My name is Hugh and I am new to USCCA. Like a whole lot of the people here I didn’t carry in public for quite a while after getting my CCW. Now I carry almost all the time both at home and where it is legal for me to do so.I had a dermatologist appointment last week and I left the gun in the car for that for obvious reasons.I have quite a few handguns but there are only 2 that I carry with a round in the chamber and I do this for safety reasons. I don’t carry a striker fired gun chambered unless it has a safety solely because I want to be as sure as possible I don’t have an accident. I carry with an OWB holster on my belt at about 3:00. I, like others, was worried about others noticing that I was carrying and that made me afraid to carry much even though I would not be breaking the law doing so.
In the summer I carry a Sig Sauer P365 with the safety on in a Mitch Rosen holster. I like this holster because it fits snugly to my body and the printing is minimal and it has good retention. I find that wearing a dark, loosely fitting shirt or a patterned shirt make it very hard for anyone to notice I have a gun on me.
In the winter I carry a Sig Sauer P226 Legion also in a Mitch Rosen Holster. This is a hammer fired gun and although it does not have a safety it does have a de-cocker so my first round if fired double action which greatly reduces the chance of an accident. The other gun I carry ready to fire is my S&W 686 with a 6" barrel and that is for protection out in the forest.
I now feel very comfortable carrying in public and even though I am aware I am carrying I don’t dwell on the fact I have a gun with me. It really becomes quite normal but I did have to make myself start. I also feel quite comfortable with my firearms as I try to go to the range every week.
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I am continually encouraged when I read all of the excellent replies. It tells me that there is hope for our nation. To keep it short, the key to concealed carry is exactly that, conceal and carry. I see people every day who just got their permits. They are excited, nervous, empowered, proud, and most importantly aware. That extra piece of gear that you are now carrying has the capability to end life. Don’t ever forget that. But, don’t let that thought ever make you become the victim. Your state granted you the privilege to carry a concealed firearm because you met their standards. They trust you. Now, you have to trust yourself. You are no longer one of the sheep, but instead a sheepdog. You are equipped to defend yourself from the threat of deadly force. It is a grave responsibility. The key to success lies in consistency. Consistency is built upon training. Train safely and regularly like your life depends on it, because it does. Follow the advice that so many people have responded with. Those people who have responded were in your shoes. Train, be confident and be prepared to defend yourself. The USCCA offers invaluable training and experience. Take advantage of it. Stand in front of the mirror and repeat, “I am no longer a sheep. I am a sheepdog.” The rest of your concerns such as whether or not to carry with a loaded chamber, holsters, printing, clothing issues, and so on, will fade away as you equip yourself with the most important piece of gear you have at your disposal–your mind.
Carry on with strength, dignity, and knowledge. Welcome, Sheepdog.
Best Regards,
Donnie
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More information on legal seminars please
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