Carrying Empty Holster (Waiting for CHL)

[WickedOwl]

Hey Guys and Girls,

So I'm in the process of obtaining my CHL and it will probably be another month and a half or so before it arrives (assuming I didn't screw up the paperwork). I have ordered an IWB holster for the firearm I plan to carry, but obviously won't be able to use it with the pistol until the plastic arrives. I am, however, considering wearing the [empty] holster around for a while to get used to the feel and get in the habit of strapping it on every day.

My question is: Is there anything to worry about by wearing an empty holster, especially in an area restricted to CHL? I imagine someone catching sight of the holster somehow and opening up the question barrage with "What is that?" "Is that for a gun?" "You have a gun?" "Where did it go?" etc. which could lead to a long encounter with law enforcement.

I'm pretty sure it's not illegal to carry an empty holster anywhere, even restricted areas, but is it advisable? Especially with the possibility of having to explain why I'm carrying a concealed handgun holster into a posted 30.06, 51%, college campus, etc. to law enforcement.

And as a side question, is it a bad idea as far as leather break-in to carry an empty holster for an extended period of time? I am getting the Crossbreed SuperTuck horsehide if it makes a difference.

Thanks!

[Middle Age Russ]

AFAIK, there is no restriction anywhere for wearing a holster. "Concealed is concealed" gets repeated around here quite often, and this should be true of your holster as well. In my opinion, it is good practice.

Best of luck for a quick turnaround of your license application, and welcome to the forum.

[Teamless]

There is nothing illegal about wearing an empty holster.
I think wearing it to get used to it is a good thing, and also you CAN wear it around your house, with the weapon in it, so you can get used to the weight of it.

If someone sees your holster, well, that is good for you, as you would learn how they saw it and how to prevent it in the future, so it doesn't happen when you are carrying a weapon (legally).

Who did your order your holster from? In some instances, your CHL could arrive before your holster!

[The Annoyed Man]

I'm going to take the opposite argument. There is nothing about carrying an empty holster around that will be like what it is to carry it with the weight of a loaded gun in it, and I don't think there is any value in getting used to carrying an empty holster.

However, there is tremendous usefulness in carrying your weapon around the house in your holster and getting used to that while waiting for your plastic. In fact, an empty holster should feel weird to you so that you don't forget to take your gun with you when you leave the house after your plastic arrives. There have been at least a couple of threads here over the years about people who left home with an empty holster and didn't realize it until after an encounter in which they might have needed the gun. I have never worn an empty holster longer than it took to put it on and then stick a gun in it.

[Scott in Houston]

One upside, dark as it may be, if something happened to you with an empty holster, you could make a good political case for carrying! In other words, if you were attacked and couldn't defend yourself, and only had an empty holster, it would make a good visual for a news story to show the case for CCW.

[WickedOwl]

Who did your order your holster from? In some instances, your CHL could arrive before your holster!

I ordered it online from Crossbreed. They say the shipping times are 4-6 weeks, so if that's the case it should be here by the end of June based on when I placed the order.

In fact, an empty holster should feel weird to you so that you don't forget to take your gun with you when you leave the house after your plastic arrives.

That's a good point. I had not considered that.

In other words, if you were attacked and couldn't defend yourself, and only had an empty holster, it would make a good visual for a news story to show the case for CCW.

I'd rather not volunteer to be the poster boy in this case.

[C-dub]

One upside, dark as it may be, if something happened to you with an empty holster, you could make a good political case for carrying! In other words, if you were attacked and couldn't defend yourself, and only had an empty holster, it would make a good visual for a news story to show the case for CCW.

I'm with TAM on this one. I don't see any point in wearing an empty holster out in public. Now, since you don't have either yet and you license may arrive first this all may be a moot discussion. However, if your holster does arrive first, strap it on, stick your gun in it and wear it around the house open or concealed until your plastic arrives.

[Teamless]

so if that's the case it should be here by the end of June based on when I placed the order.

I love my crossbreed holster, and the wait is worth it.
I think mine, when i ordered it, said 3 - 4 weeks. I believe it came in 5 weeks.
I hope yours is more on the 4 weeks than the 6 (or longer)

[C-dub]

Good night! I intended on quoting TAM and somehow got G192627 quoted. That's what I get for checking in from my iPhone.

[Keith B]

so if that's the case it should be here by the end of June based on when I placed the order.

I love my crossbreed holster, and the wait is worth it.
I think mine, when i ordered it, said 3 - 4 weeks. I believe it came in 5 weeks.
I hope yours is more on the 4 weeks than the 6 (or longer)

+1 on the Crossbreed. I just got mine recently, and am kicking myself for not having one sooner. Great holsters!!

However, I spoke with the folks at Crossbreed and they said currently they are at 6 weeks for shipping. Hope that was just being cautious and they will get you yours sooner. Due to that lag time, I ordered mine from http://www.midwayusa.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; as they had one for my G26 in stock. Same price, but no NRA discount. However, the shipping is cheaper, so in the end I paid about $3 more to get it in two days.

And i agree you are best to just carry around the house once it comes in if you haven't gotten your CHL yet. The Crossbreed should break in with a couple of days wear and you should be ready to go!

[texanron]

I agree with Teamless and TAM on this one. Do not wear the holster out and about empty. Wear it around the house with your gun in it.
I ordered a Crossbreed holster and I'm still waiting on it to show up. It'll be 6 weeks I've been waiting come Memorial Day!

[WickedOwl]

Due to that lag time, I ordered mine from http://www.midwayusa.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; as they had one for my G26 in stock. Same price, but no NRA discount. However, the shipping is cheaper, so in the end I paid about $3 more to get it in two days.

I wish I had known this at the time! I guess that's what I get for being impulsive! I suppose it doesn't matter too much; the plastic won't be here for a while.

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I've learned a lot from this forum already.

[JJVP]

I'm going to take the opposite argument. There is nothing about carrying an empty holster around that will be like what it is to carry it with the weight of a loaded gun in it, and I don't think there is any value in getting used to carrying an empty holster.

However, there is tremendous usefulness in carrying your weapon around the house in your holster and getting used to that while waiting for your plastic. In fact, an empty holster should feel weird to you so that you don't forget to take your gun with you when you leave the house after your plastic arrives. There have been at least a couple of threads here over the years about people who left home with an empty holster and didn't realize it until after an encounter in which they might have needed the gun. I have never worn an empty holster longer than it took to put it on and then stick a gun in it.

[JJVP]

so if that's the case it should be here by the end of June based on when I placed the order.

I love my crossbreed holster, and the wait is worth it.
I think mine, when i ordered it, said 3 - 4 weeks. I believe it came in 5 weeks.
I hope yours is more on the 4 weeks than the 6 (or longer)

I have 2 crossbreed supertucks, one for my Taurus PT111 and one for my Ruger SR9c. Love them. Both came on less than the 4-5 week stated on the web site. It was more like 2-3 weeks each. They were ordered at different times, months apart. Looks like they are getting busier at crossbreed.

[sugar land dave]

Crossbreed is a great choice for your IWB holster! If yours is as comfortable as mine, you will be quite pleased. Concealing should be no problem, and if anyone should notice a bulge, you can tell them it is a medical assistance device.