Advise For The CCW Newbie
If you’ve done any asking around you know that there is definitely no shortage of opinions when it comes to concealed carry. That’s because there are just that many options out there. Everyone will like a different combination. It's just the nature of the beast. So how do you sort through all of it to glean the good info from the crappy advice? Be weary of the opinion that starts something like this, “This is the only ______ that will work”. If their opinion is so nailed down that they are willing to suggest it as the only possible solution...when there are thousands of options...they aren’t willing to listen to new perspectives, ideas, or products. Run from those advice givers as quick as possible. There’s a local shop here that does this all the time. You walk in and ask about starting out with a concealed carry gun and they will take you to one spot...the Sig P238 and talk about that pistol only. They have a shockingly long pistol counter but will always take you to the smallest and most expensive pistol they have. Why? The shop owner pappens to have one and thinks it's the best answer for everyone else because of it. If you’re lucky they may take you one counter over to the Sig P938...the 9mm version of the first one they showed you. If you ask about a holster for it, they will take you to the only holster they carry...the Kydex one they make in-house...and only in an appendix carry style. Sure they adapt it with belt loops so you can carry it any position but it's still the same style holster. One style isn't applicable for all situations. On the other hand, pay strict attention to the guy that asks a question before giving you an answer. For instance, you walk up to the gun counter and are greeted, you tell the person that you are shopping for your first CCW, setup and they ask you something like, “do you have a brand or pistol size in mind?” , that is the shop you spend some more time at. They are willing to put the time required to have you walk out of there with something you won’t have buyer’s regret over. So, you have found a shop willing to let you do some face to face research. What kind of questions should you ask to draw out the most information from them?
What do you carry? And why?
Is smaller really better? Or is something I’m more comfortable shooting better?
What are the holster options for something that size?
If you don’t have it in stock will you order if for me?
If you don’t carry it will you tell me where I can get the item?
Is it easy to get both practice and hollowpoint ammunition for that pistol?
What is the warranty like? Does it take long to get repairs done from them?
That’s just a few and I’m sure reading them you thought of a few more that you’ve been thinking about. The best thing you can do for that trip is to be armed with questions. They love a customer willing to accept them as the subject matter expert they have studied so much to become. Several years ago I was the gunsmith for a shop in Draper Utah. We had a first timer come in and just struck up a conversation. He would come in for an hour or two at a time and ask questions. Sure, he spent money in the shop but that isn’t what made him one of our best customers. We could tell that he wasn’t coming in to waste our time he was completely genuine with his questions. He also wasn't coming in to show off how much he really didn't know. Do your face to face research with sincerity and you will walk out with more information than you hoped to get. After helping more CCW newbies than I can count there’s another conclusion I’ve made that may shock you. Sometimes your friends are your worst enemy. There was one instance that really drove this home for me. It was about 10 years ago. I was working at a Sportsman’s Warehouse while working on getting my own garage gunsmith shop going. These two friends walked up to the counter and I asked them how they were. Without missing a beat one of the men blurted, a little too forcefully, a question about how much a particular Kimber weighed. My first thought was, “what the hell does that matter, douche?” I politely told him I didn’t know (after all, we had almost 100 different pistols under the counter how is anyone supposed to keep track of what they all weighed). Before I finished the last syllable he jumps down my throat about another Kimber’s weight. I told him I didn’t know that one either but didn’t tell him that I didn’t care either. This guy proceeded to chew me a new hole over the fact that there was a 1/4 ounce difference between the two so the heavier one couldn’t be considered for concealed carry. I told him, “I’m just a gunsmith, what do I know”, and I turned and walked away. So, here was a guy new to the game. You come in with him like a good friend would. And then act like such an ass that you chase away someone that has studied so he knows the firearms in question inside and out. He lost his friend some valuable information. We never saw those two again and it didn’t hurt my feelings. I'll only say this once...It's not the size or weight that determines whether or not a pistol is concealable. It's how you carry it. It all comes down to holster, belt, and clothing. All of which may have to be rethought to carry the gun you are most comfortable carrying. When it comes to carry gear know this...there are just as many accessory options are there are pistols. So there’s a lot to wade through but it also means that no matter what gun you choose there is a mode of carry for it. So if you end up comfortable with a bigger or smaller gun than you were expecting, don’t worry, there are still enough carry options to fill up a dresser drawer. Don’t...I repeat...Don’t let someone tell you that something is too big to carry. As long as
you are looking at sensible options...no Desert Eagles or 500 magnums...there is a way to carry it comfortably and keep it hidden easily. You can conceal anything from a .22lr to a 44mag. It may require some wardrobe sacrifices but that’s the game we play. Carry what you are most comfortable with. No one elses opinions matter. You are the one that has to carry it. Look, I think I’ve set you on the right path here. There are no clear “carry this gun in this holster” answers out there. That's why I try to bring you as many CCW gear reviews as I can. What works for a six ft tall 280lb man will not work for a petite woman. There is a lot of personal research to find your answers. At least now you have the knowledge to start your journey and maybe just a little more confidence to take that first step.
