I spotted one!...

The "What Works, What Doesn't," "Recommendations & Experiences"

Moderators: carlson1, Crossfire


Topic author
jackal858
Member
Posts in topic: 9
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2010 8:28 am
Location: Arlington, TX

I spotted one!...

#1

Post by jackal858 »

So I haven't received my "plastic" yet, but I've been preparing for the day by wearing my holster (Kholster) and CCW (Taurus PT111) around the house. I, as many newbie carriers probably experience, I feel like there's a big neon sign over my head. I've asked my fiancé what she thinks, and knowing its there she says she notices it, but doubts she would otherwise. I'm sure it will take some adjusting once I actually start carrying.

Today, just before leaving to head my lunch break from work, I was reading some threads on here about spotting (or not spotting) fellow CHL carriers. Well I was sitting there watching the door at lunch, and I see a guy come in and I immediately notice a sizeable bump beneath his shirt grey polo on his right side. I immediately thought that I had seen a CHL finally after all this looking! I noticed also how he didn't swing his right arm quite as much while walking, tended to favor that side, and how the shirt seemed to fall on top of something that extended fairly far along his side (like resting on the back of a grip). I momentarily felt proud of myself for my observational abilities, and became increasingly worried that is how my handgun would imprint through my clothes! Then, much to my surprise, and somewhat relief, I see him lift his shirt, and pull the large touch screen cell phone from its holster. :oops:

I learned a lesson today before I even have my plastic: Even if someone sees a bump (which 95% of people won't even notice), they probably won't assume it's a firearm, but instead a monster cell phone. :lol:
8/7/2010: CHL Class
8/10/2010: Mailed to DPS
8/19/2010: Online information Available
8/26/2010: Fingerprints Approved
8/31/2010: Background Check Complete
9/2/2010: Mailed
9/7/2010: Plastic in hand
User avatar

TXlaw1
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 227
Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 11:30 pm

Re: I spotted one!...

#2

Post by TXlaw1 »

Good story, Jackal, and an excellent lesson for all to learn. Very few will spot your gun. Some may see a bulge but most of those won't have a clue or care. From the day after 9/11 I carried a fairly large semi-auto S&W as a LEO, every day everywhere. Not once did anyone comment about my carrying unless I first clued them in - like family and close friends. So act reasonably and get comfortable with carrying and you should have not problems. Good luck and thanks for the story and lesson. :clapping: :clapping:
Jesus said, "And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one." (Luke 22:36 NET) Also, Jesus said, "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own homestead, his possessions are undisturbed"(Luke 11:21 NAS)
User avatar

Beiruty
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 9655
Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:22 pm
Location: Allen, Texas

Re: I spotted one!...

#3

Post by Beiruty »

Most people will carry their cell phones to the front side, I mean at 1-2, If you see a bulge at 3 to 5, most likely it is not a cell phone.
Beiruty,
United we stand, dispersed we falter
2014: NRA Endowment lifetime member

Topic author
jackal858
Member
Posts in topic: 9
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2010 8:28 am
Location: Arlington, TX

Re: I spotted one!...

#4

Post by jackal858 »

Beiruty wrote:Most people will carry their cell phones to the front side, I mean at 1-2, If you see a bulge at 3 to 5, most likely it is not a cell phone.
Well that's where I'll be carrying mine, so let's hope that most people just assume it's a cell phone poking through.
TXlaw1 wrote:Good story, Jackal, and an excellent lesson for all to learn. Very few will spot your gun. Some may see a bulge but most of those won't have a clue or care. From the day after 9/11 I carried a fairly large semi-auto S&W as a LEO, every day everywhere. Not once did anyone comment about my carrying unless I first clued them in - like family and close friends. So act reasonably and get comfortable with carrying and you should have not problems. Good luck and thanks for the story and lesson. :clapping: :clapping:
Thanks. I'm trying to get over most of the initial break in of getting used to carrying it before I actually head out into the wild with it. I put it on most days when I get home from work, and just last night after wearing it around for about four hours I asked my fiancé if she knew I was carrying it, and she did not. The more I do this, the more comfortable I have become in realizing that it's not that big of a deal.
8/7/2010: CHL Class
8/10/2010: Mailed to DPS
8/19/2010: Online information Available
8/26/2010: Fingerprints Approved
8/31/2010: Background Check Complete
9/2/2010: Mailed
9/7/2010: Plastic in hand
User avatar

mikeintexas
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 718
Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2009 9:31 pm
Location: SW Dallas County

Re: I spotted one!...

#5

Post by mikeintexas »

Beiruty wrote:Most people will carry their cell phones to the front side, I mean at 1-2, If you see a bulge at 3 to 5, most likely it is not a cell phone.
I guess I'm out of the ordinary, weapon at 3:00, cell phone at 4:00.
User avatar

The Annoyed Man
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 2
Posts: 26848
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:59 pm
Location: North Richland Hills, Texas
Contact:

Re: I spotted one!...

#6

Post by The Annoyed Man »

I just look for the guys wearing MOLLE gear, and I assume they're carrying. Everyone else? Well, you never know....

But whenever I see an old guy with a photographer's vest on, I have to resist the urge to grin.
“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.”

― G. Michael Hopf, "Those Who Remain"

#TINVOWOOT
User avatar

C-dub
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 2
Posts: 13562
Joined: Sat May 16, 2009 7:18 pm
Location: DFW

Re: I spotted one!...

#7

Post by C-dub »

Full Load:
Glock @ 3-4 o'clock OWB
Cell @ 9-10 o'clock OWB
Dbl mag carrier @ 7-8 o'clock OWB

Light Load:
Glock @ 3-4 o'clock IWB
Cell in some front or side pocket
One extra mag in either front pocket

I've never spotted another, except for possibly someone with a fanny pack. You know, that extra little zipper that no one ever gets into in public!
I am not and have never been a LEO. My avatar is in honor of my friend, Dallas Police Sargent Michael Smith, who was murdered along with four other officers in Dallas on 7.7.2016.
NRA Patriot-Endowment Lifetime Member---------------------------------------------Si vis pacem, para bellum.................................................Patriot Guard Rider
User avatar

hangfour
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 269
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2010 2:15 pm
Location: Austin,TX

Re: I spotted one!...

#8

Post by hangfour »

Thanks for the story. I've been carrying for two weeks now and I have not even spotted a bulge anywhere. Today I went to the doctors office where I knew I would have to remove my clothes for an exam. I stopped in the men's room just before the exam and slipped my 9mm into my bicycle bag ( I rode my bicycle to the doctor's office) where it remained till the exam was finished. There was a sign on the doctor's building that said something like weapons of any type are prohibited (not a proper 30.06 sign) so I disregarded the sign. My doctors office is not in a hospital which, if I read the law correctly, are no-carry zones.

In any case, no bulges anywhere today ... thanks again for your story.
bob
There is an afterlife - what we do here matters!
Kahr pm9 (mama-bear)
Kimber pro CDP II (papa-bear)
S&W 38 special airweight (baby-bear)
User avatar

C-dub
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 2
Posts: 13562
Joined: Sat May 16, 2009 7:18 pm
Location: DFW

Re: I spotted one!...

#9

Post by C-dub »

Hi Bob.

Hospitals are no longer "no carry" zones unless they are properly posted, attached to or owned by a University.
I am not and have never been a LEO. My avatar is in honor of my friend, Dallas Police Sargent Michael Smith, who was murdered along with four other officers in Dallas on 7.7.2016.
NRA Patriot-Endowment Lifetime Member---------------------------------------------Si vis pacem, para bellum.................................................Patriot Guard Rider
User avatar

Oldgringo
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 11203
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2008 10:15 pm
Location: Pineywoods of east Texas

Re: I spotted one!...

#10

Post by Oldgringo »

If y'all spot one of these http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostomy_pouching_system" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, be sure to point it out.
User avatar

Excaliber
Moderator
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 6198
Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 9:59 pm
Location: DFW Metro

Re: I spotted one!...

#11

Post by Excaliber »

The Annoyed Man wrote:I just look for the guys wearing MOLLE gear, and I assume they're carrying. Everyone else? Well, you never know....

But whenever I see an old guy with a photographer's vest on, I have to resist the urge to grin.
I look on that getup as sort of a legal form of open carry. :lol::
Excaliber

"An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it." - Jeff Cooper
I am not a lawyer. Nothing in any of my posts should be construed as legal or professional advice.

Topic author
jackal858
Member
Posts in topic: 9
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2010 8:28 am
Location: Arlington, TX

Re: I spotted one!...

#12

Post by jackal858 »

Oldgringo wrote:If y'all spot one of these http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostomy_pouching_system" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, be sure to point it out.
I may not be good at spotting CHLs, but I have a keen eye for ostomy pouches! :lol:

:leaving
8/7/2010: CHL Class
8/10/2010: Mailed to DPS
8/19/2010: Online information Available
8/26/2010: Fingerprints Approved
8/31/2010: Background Check Complete
9/2/2010: Mailed
9/7/2010: Plastic in hand

xperthunter
Member
Posts in topic: 2
Posts: 53
Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2010 10:33 am

Re: I spotted one!...

#13

Post by xperthunter »

Untill my CB SuperTuck comes in i'm using a KalTec Leather OWB.

My load:
2:45- Springfield XD SubC
3:00- Inexpensive lockblade
8:45- Spair Magazines
9:15- Super Gerber and MiniMag

My wife knows my license was to come in but i did not tell her it arrived on saturday. I have carried all day, daily since Sat Morning. The wife has been with me several hours each day. Yesterday after dinner we were going for drinks and i mentioned that i needed to disarm first, she was shocked and asked if i had been carrying this whole time, and did i get my license in. My wife did not make me, i am pretty sure noone else will.
"Ad Securitas per Unitas"

CHL Valid through Apr 2015

Topic author
jackal858
Member
Posts in topic: 9
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2010 8:28 am
Location: Arlington, TX

Re: I spotted one!...

#14

Post by jackal858 »

xperthunter wrote:My wife knows my license was to come in but i did not tell her it arrived on saturday. I have carried all day, daily since Sat Morning. The wife has been with me several hours each day. Yesterday after dinner we were going for drinks and i mentioned that i needed to disarm first, she was shocked and asked if i had been carrying this whole time, and did i get my license in. My wife did not make me, i am pretty sure noone else will.
That's a good idea. My fiancé would probably not notice either. Though I'm not sure I'd be able to hide my excitement of finally having the plastic to pull it off. :lol:
8/7/2010: CHL Class
8/10/2010: Mailed to DPS
8/19/2010: Online information Available
8/26/2010: Fingerprints Approved
8/31/2010: Background Check Complete
9/2/2010: Mailed
9/7/2010: Plastic in hand

falcondriver
Junior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 1:54 pm
Location: Mansfield , TX

Re: I spotted one!...

#15

Post by falcondriver »

I only carry a small 380 inside the waistband or in pocket but my wife has never noticed in the last month or so. She isn't overly comfortable with idea. So I don't tell her. Not sure I can get away with that with a larger gun.
FD
Ruger LCP
Taurus 357
Taurus 38
AMT Backup 380
USAF 88-92
Post Reply

Return to “New to CHL?”