My recent experience with Open Carry on my own Property:

[DSARGE]

I'm sure that dutch oven peach cobbler distract them too much to notice.

[shootthesheet]

Never feel exposed. No more than I do with a long gun as my only protection. I wonder if there are people that feel exposed when hunting because a criminal will know they are armed? Isn't that the same thing? I would think people would feel less vunurabe when open carrying because they can get to the weapon quicker.

It can be better for a criminal to not know someone is armed. In other circumstances the sight of the weapon will deter criminals. It is like trying to choose the right carry ammo, for me. Nothing is perfect so I make an informed decision and am aware of the possabilities.

[txinvestigator]

Never feel exposed. No more than I do with a long gun as my only protection. I wonder if there are people that feel exposed when hunting because a criminal will know they are armed? Isn't that the same thing? I would think people would feel less vunurabe when open carrying because they can get to the weapon quicker.

It can be better for a criminal to not know someone is armed. In other circumstances the sight of the weapon will deter criminals. It is like trying to choose the right carry ammo, for me. Nothing is perfect so I make an informed decision and am aware of the possabilities.

The hunting comparison is not valid unless you live out in the boonies.

[longtooth]

txi.
There is not even a real valid comparison between the attitude about guns & CHL here in Deep East Texas & in the big cities such as DFW, Austin, Houston.

It amazes folks in the cities that here we have a clearing room in the local gun shop for when we are trading a carry piece.
Needed an allen wrench one day for the grip screws on a gun & did not know the size. Told the hardware store owner what I needed & How did he want me to bring it in. He looked at me & said hand it here. He looked at the screw heads & guessed right the 1st time. Handed it back & I reholstered.
I dont even know how to function in the environment you guys have to live in.

[packina45]

I normally ditch the cover garment as soon as I get home. Couple of days ago, answered a knock at the door. It was the lady next door explaining that she wanted to cut some tree limbs and needed to get in our yard to cut some that were hanging over the fence.

Long story short, went outside with her so she could show me where she was cutting, introduce me to her brother, etc. I was wearing an XD45 OWB in a Fobus paddle, khaki shorts and a black tee-shirt (tucked).

Not so much as a blink from either of them, I really doubt either of them even noticed the gun. Act natural, make eye contact, and don't mess with it or draw attention to it, and the average person probably won't notice.

If it works for OPEN carry, you quickly discover that a little printing when carrying concealed isn't the issue you think it is.

[pbandjelly]

makes you wonder how nice OC would be full time.

people really would just get used to it.

ah, well....

[dihappy]

I am a Christian, and I feel it is my duty to try to convert Mormans as much as it is for Mormans to convert me.

You do realize this is a contradiction, considering that Mormonism is indeed Christianity (look at the name: The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints).
hmmmm.

From a Born-Again Christian point of view, this is indeed not a contradiction.

imo open carry inside the home isnt a bad idea. I do believe that open carry in the presence of others or in your yard puts you at a disadvantage in that anyone wishing to do harm now knows that you carry and where you carry.

[KBCraig]

I also shuck my cover shirt when I get home, and don't worry about covering when someone rings the door bell, nor if I need to step outside for something.

I do slip my cover back on when we have teen visitors we don't know well. But that's unusual, because my daughter's closest girlfriends (those most likely to be here) not only know we have guns, they go shooting with us.

[longtooth]

Act natural, make eye contact, and don't mess with it or draw attention to it, and the average person probably won't notice.

If it works for OPEN carry, you quickly discover that a little printing when carrying concealed isn't the issue you think it is.

This is the message in a nutshell. Act natural because it IS natural.
Good job packina40.

[ScubaSigGuy]

hey TxI whats this level of holster you speak of??

A level 1 holster has at least one active level of retention, such as a thumb strap, or like the Blackhawk Serpa with the button on the holster that must be depressed to release the handgun.

A Level 2 holster has two types of retention. Typical is one with a thumb snap AND a required cant or twist of the handgun to release the weapon.

A Level 3 has 3 levels of retention. A common type has two snaps, like a thumb and finger snap, and a cant or twist of the firearm required to release it.

Blackhawk is incorrectly labeling their Serpa as a level 2 and the Serpa Auto Lock as a level 3. They are actually one level less.

A holster that only retains the weapon by tension is NOT a level 1 holster.

Examples of level 1 holsters;






Example of Level 2; It looks like a 1, but in addition to the rotating hood some type of twist or cant is required.



Level 3, the snap on the body of the holster is a dummy. There is a thumb snap and another snap, and a cant is required.

I learn something here EVERY day. I was wondering about that as I recently purchased a Serpa for my 229. I do like that it came with the paddle and belt options.

[ScubaSigGuy]

It amazes folks in the cities that here we have a clearing room in the local gun shop for when we are trading a carry piece.

??? Clearing room?

[longtooth]

It amazes folks in the cities that here we have a clearing room in the local gun shop for when we are trading a carry piece.

??? Clearing room?

At Bill's it is actually a corner. It is a place you go to "clear" your loaded weapon. I guess if you walk in there you are expected to be armed. In there if there is a reason to unholster you may. Go away from the visitation seats, candy machine, & smoke stand & remove mag, clear the barrel, if revolver unload. Do you business then rearm.

Why would you need to unholster?
Trade the one I have on today because I saw something I wanted.
I have been in there when a customer was asking about a Walther P99 & its Smith twin,???. The President of our shooting range had one. There was a show & Qs / As.
What kind of holster you got there? Answers follow. Can I see it. Let them try it on.
I need a holster for my????????? & want to try the fit.
Grips purchased go on before leaving. Done that several times. Mine & Mom's too.

[ScubaSigGuy]

It's a good idea. I know that they would freak out at the range / shop I frequent here.

They always looked at me funny, because I check any weapon(even new) that they hand me to make sure that it isn't loaded (they have quite a collection of rentals as well), until one of the guys thanked me the other day. I usually ask for one of the rentals if I want to check the holster fit and they have the same pistol available. I never wanted to assume that the last person who had it didn't leave one in the chamber.

I did make a mistake there once... I noticed that my grips had loosened up on my new CDP, while I was on the range. So I made sure that weapon was clear, removed the mag, and locked the slide back. I walked out to the front of the store because I knew that they had the allen wrench I needed (I always keep one in my range bag now). They handled it well, and kindly asked me to make sure that I put the pistol in a case before bringing it out. I guess that I just got too comfortable there. I knew that the pistol was safe and I was carrying it flat in my hand and didn't want to make two trips. But, in hindsight I clearly understand. not to get OT but it just made think of that situation.

[Venus Pax]

You said you baked that peach cobbler in a dutch oven. Was it a cast iron dutch oven? Did you bake it at 350?

[frankie_the_yankee]

It can be better for a criminal to not know someone is armed.

In most cases I would agree.

In other circumstances the sight of the weapon will deter criminals. It is like trying to choose the right carry ammo, for me. Nothing is perfect so I make an informed decision and am aware of the possabilities.

About 7 years ago I visited Phoenix on business, accompanied by a colleague. The trip was arranged on very short notice, and the only hotel available was a Travelodge that was described by our admin as being "almost brand new".

The colleague was also a good friend and knew I had a RI CHL and that I regularly carried. I brought my carry piece at the time, a Ruger SP101, because I knew that open carry was OK in PHX.

The Travelodge turned out to be "almost new" as advertised, but we realized as we approached it that it was located in a rough part of town. Lots of graffiti, people hanging around, litter, etc.

When we went out to do our business, I kept the gun in the car. Afterward, we went out for dinner. I wore the gun in an IWB holster when walking around (in a nice area near ASU) and while dining. Even though I didn't see anyone else carrying openly (and I looked), no one gave us so much as a second glance.

Later on, we headed back to the Travelodge. As we neared it, I decided to pick up some stuff to munch on while watching TV, so we stopped at a quickie mart. There were some people who looked like they were loitering inside, and they did not look like very nice people. The Ruger was in a Galco holster from which I had cut off the thumb break. (I normally carried concealed, and didn't really need it as the holster held the gun firmly.) So the holster had no retention features of any kind.

I was INTENSELY aware of the possibility of a snatch, and briefly debated with myself whether to leave it in the car. I decided to take it with me.

I went inside and picked out a few items. The loiterers were near the check out counter, and I would have to walk right past them. I pinned my right arm to my side and approached the counter. I was at a very high state of alert, and was mentally running through how I would respond if any attempt was made at a snatch. (Drop all the munchies, backpeddle some, draw down and, depending on what THEY did, perform the indicated response.)

Then, as I got to within a few feet of them, one of them said to the others, "Hey! Spread out. Give the man some room. Can't you see he needs to pay for his stuff?"

It was like Moses parting the Red Sea, as the group (4 or 5 people) moved aside and gave me PLENTY of room.

I paid for my stuff and left.

I'm pretty sure they noticed I was carrying. And I'm pretty sure they either had no intention of attempting a snatch to begin with, or were more worried about getting shot in a snatch attempt than I was about them trying it in the first place. (Most likely the former.)

All that said, I prefer open top holsters, and I prefer to carry concealed. The exception is on my own property (I have a small spread.), where I can exert total control over access. (i.e. no crowd is going to gather without my permission.) When people come over to visit, they think whatever they want to think. Mostly, there are no comments of any kind.