First public carry

[XnTx]

Today was the day. Spent the evening wearing my xd45 compact around the house in my IWB leather Blackhawk holster. Not bad. Wife didn't know. This morning I put on the heavy harness leather belt and positioned everything at about 430 with a 15-20 degree cant. I wore an old 2X shirt instead of one of my newer 1x ones. Everything looked good so off we went for breakfast. I've never snuck up on a restaurant before. Parking lot sign? Gun buster sign? 30-06 sign? Nope all good! I chose the booth with my hip next to the wall and enjoyed my breakfast. I could feel the gun had shifted when I stood up to go pay the bill, but the big shirt covered a lot of imagined sins. The exit was blocked by late arrivals so I had to navigate a few tables to leave. I made it back to the car and drove home. The wife never caught on so that part was a success. Total time out was about an hour and a half! The Blackhawk is destined to become the first occupant of the holster drawer. The holster is good but the wearability factor is not. I haven't given up on it, but I think there is an MTAC in my future. Next stop liquor store and Target...

[Teamless]

Sounds like a good first carry.
As far as the Blackhawk holster, while I have never had one, i cannot comment on how good (or not) they are, as I remember back to my first month of carry. I started with a Crossbreed holster, very comfy, but I always felt as if my shirt would always lift up and show my weapon, or that there was a huge neon sign following me, with an arrow pointing to the (now I know) imaginary or pretty much unseen bulge in my shirt.
But you cant go wrong with a good MTAC or Crossbreed holster.

As far as the shirt riding up when you stood up, there is no harm in adjusting your shirt if you think your gun is exposed, but in the long run, you will learn that most of the time, even though you think your shirt is riding up, it probably isn't as bad as you think it is.

Also, adjusting your shirt is normal for most people.
next time you are out in public, watch people who stand up, get out of cars, slide out of restaurant booths, etc, while I haven't done an official study on it, I would think that 20% of people adjust their attire in some way, and it is doubtful that anyone really would notice a thing.

I am aware of only one time of my carrying since April 2010, that my Springfield was actually exposed by a shirt riding up.
As soon as I realized it, I subtly corrected it and no one saw it, or no one made an issue out of it.
the thing to remember is if you do not look guilty, people generally won't make a big deal out of it, as they either think "He is a cop" "he is security" or "he is allowed to have that".

the more you go out carrying, the better you will feel about it, and less jittery you will feel. Maybe this post (viewtopic.php?f=53&t=33950" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) will make you a bit more comfortable about it as well... and from my post above, to this old post, you can tell that I have learned a lot and the figiditing does fade.

[RPB]

Thanks for the report

I started with a Kholster, http://www.kholster.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; still like them "ok" very comfortable but added Velcro on top of the clips and wear the clip over pants, but under belt (Comp-Tac belt with Velcro sewn under it) I like the Comptac belt and doubt I'll ever switch, I own two Comptac double layered Kydex reinforced belts with Velcro sewn in http://www.comp-tac.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Got a Concealed Technology ComfortCarry (with Comp-Tac's V-clips) http://www.concealedtechnology.com/en/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; It conceals well, has smooth horsehide next to skin and smooth leather next to gun; seemed not to "breathe in Summer, seemed hot, but I wear it to Church on Sundays. It's stiff (due to horsehide) and so not "broken in" good holster for not letting sweat reach the gun, but not as comfortable as a Kholster or what I've worn the last 2 years.

The above two methods have nothing showing above the belt, no visible clip etc, but require a belt with Velcro

The last holster I got (and wear the last couple years, for Glocks and XD45) Desantis Tuck This 2 http://www.google.com/search?q=desantis ... 24&bih=638" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Although MAYBE not necessary, I added sticky back Velcro on the clip, to help hold position and cant because it has only one clip.... It helps, and I love the comfort of this holster and the spare mag carrier helps hold position and cant a bit too. I'm losing weight/belt notches and have to hike my pants up sometimes, but it's the most comfortable and most concealed I found.,,, I bought extras in case they stop making them, so I'm set for years to come.

http://www.google.com/search?q=desantis ... 24&bih=638" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.google.com/search?q=desantis ... 24&bih=638" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Congrats on the success.

[XnTx]

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm actually doing better than I thought I would. Getting up from a restaurant has been the most challenging as the holster likes to come up and flop out of the waistband. I quick-stepped to the restroom to check things out and reposition. The liquor store was fun, took the dog to PetSmart for grooming (high maintenance golden retriever), stopped at the Italian Club in Addison at a sidewalk sale. I talked with people, moved around, bent over this way and that and handled all ok. Yep, I was self-conscious, but I'd already decided that if anything happened I'd just apologize, excuse myself and leave. It went ok.

Thanks for the link Teamless. There's some good reading there. I'm really looking forward to my first casual leo encounter. I'm really hyper-observant of signs, but haven't seen any yet.

RPB, thanks for the holster info. I'm going to read up on them. The blackhawk isn't terrible for a first carry, but I can see wanting to upgrade the more I carry.

[RPB]

the holster likes to come up and flop out of the waistband

That could be a problem. I have an all kydex holster for a PT709 with "standard over the belt clips" that does that ... I only wear it around the house.

That's what I like about J-hook clips ... like Tuck This 2 has (and you can get J-hooks for other holsters)
I wear mine at 3:00
The bottom lip of the J hooks under the belt;
video shows J clip
On some hybrid holsters I got some C-clips, cut off the top and made J-clips out of them
[youtube][/youtube]

[knljr]

Try these guys. I don't have my CHL yet, but as soon as I get mine I'll be ordering one of their IWB holsters. I've heard nothing but amazing things about the comfort and wearability of these.

http://crossbreedholsters.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Teamless]

but as soon as I get mine I'll be ordering one of their IWB holsters

last I heard, there was a 4 week + back order, so if you ordered a holster the same day you sent your CHL packet, if you had no issues on your packet, you could potentially get your CHL 2 weeks or so before you get your holster

[polisci]

I had a horrible "first carry experience", one that I use for my own personal success meter.. I was carrying a Springfield Champion 1911 in a cheap velcro type holster (stupid).. We went to the movies, thank God it wasn't packed. As I'm sitting in the chair, and constantly wiggling around, cause i'm a large fella, my 1911 falls out of my holster and onto the floor, safety on.. My heart sank.. I reached over, picked it up and put it in my front pocket.. nobody saw a thing.. Whew!!! So I figure, if this doesn't happen when I go out, things went pretty good....

[Teamless]

as you said

in a cheap velcro type holster (stupid)

Spend the money on a good holster, Comptac, Crossbreed or many others.

[RPBrown]

You must have a good belt and holster. I carry a 1911 or an XD45. Both in a Don Hume slide holster with a Don Hume belt. Have never had a problem.

[Texas10X]

Congratulations on your first public carry! Thanks, also, for the report. Your experiences help others, too.

[XnTx]

Maybe I should update this since I've been carrying a couple of months. My carrying is done outside of business hours since my employment restricts. Wardrobe allowing, I carry the rest of the time with my Ruger leather IWB holster. It is better now that it is more broken in and I'm more accustomed to it's and my limitations. I use a wide thick harness leather belt that works quite well. I seldom think of where I am going when carrying since it is becoming part of me. Quick hitch of the pants while walking and a glance for applicable signs and keep on going. I carried all Christmas around family and friends and shopping with none the wiser. Felt good. Felt safe. I do want to get a tuckable holster for more options, but the Ruger is acceptable for now and will remain a good jeans holster later.

[papasan]

I am a newbie to the CC scene and carry a LCP in a neck holster during the day and a PT 111 pro at night if we go out.

[tbrown]

I am a newbie to the CC scene and carry a LCP in a neck holster during the day and a PT 111 pro at night if we go out.

Do you have a pic of the neck holster? I carried a knife in a neck sheath for a while.