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My plastic came in today, so I'm officially legal! I thought I would feel more excited about it, but I actually just feel relief and a quiet calm that I can now legally protect myself, my wife, and my son if I ever have to. I feel satisfaction about reaching this goal. I feel proud that I live in a country and a state that still allows me to protect myself. And I feel thankful to all the people who fought to allow me to keep this right.
To celebrate, I'm taking the family out for dinner and out around town, maybe do my Wally Walk tonight.

My plastic should be here any day now, so I decided to install a holster in the center console of my car for long trips and to be able to secure it when I CAN'T carry without it flopping around or getting bumped.
I got a Blackhawk Serpa holster made for the Ruger SR9 (they don't make them for the SR40C). with a quick disconnect adapter. It was a little snug but fit and locked just fine so I snagged it. I flexed the barrel portion of the holster a bit to widen it just a hair so it would fit better. I ended up having to remove my center console to get the angle I needed to install the female end of the adapter. Here's the final result. It clicks right in and is over to the side so I can still put a few things in there if needed. The trigger is completely covered and the whole thing is secure so it doesn't get jostled. The best part is it came with two female adapters so I can mount the other one under my desk at work or hang it from a piece of L-shaped Kydex wedged in between my mattress and box springs. I can then just attach the gun-still in the holster to wherever I need it.

Female end of the disconnect


Holster attached.


With the gun.

I didn't like the LC9 either. Not sure exactly what it was but the trigger pull was strange to me. I like the long trigger pull on my LCP just because there's no safety. If you like Ruger but don't like the LC9, take a look at the SR9C. It's identical to the full size SR9 but a shorter barrel and shorter butt.
I ended up with the SR40C and absolutely love it.

I decided to pick up a small pocket gun for when I run or for when I'm out in light shorts. I also ride a motorcycle so my EDC will be difficult to get to quickly while on the bike with my leather jacket. I have a small zipper pocket on the inside lining of the jacket that is perfect for this.
I chose the Ruger LCP after shooting a rental. So far I'm really happy with it. I've taken it to the range twice and feel it is more than adequate as a backup gun.


On a side note, my status updated to manufacturing today so there's a light at the end of the tunnel!

Thanks again to everyone for sharing their input, wisdom, knowledge, and experience. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far.

Went with my brother and a few other guys from work to Bass Pro in Grapevine today for lunch. My third time shooting my SR40C which will be my EDC once my license arrives.
I'm feeling much more comfortable with it now.

This is at 7 yards.

Hey Guys, thanks for all the feedback and tips so far.
One question I had. I didn't find out until way after I had submitted all of my documentation to DPS, that you're supposed to send along any official documents about any past records? I didn't know you were supposed to send this along, I kinda figured that's what the background check was for.
Anyway, I have a small blip from back in 2001 (11 years ago) for a $40 bounced check (my wife's fault actually ) that I turned myself in on PR, was booked, and sent right back out the door. It was immediately dismissed. I listed that on the application as dismissed because it does still show up in a search.
I know this won't affect my eligibility as it was 11 years ago, but I wonder if it will hold up my approval. I've seen several here post that they already have their plastic after submitting their documents at the same time or after I did. Do I need to try to get a copy of this dismissed record to them now? or wait to see if they ask for it (not much of a background check if they ask me for records)? Or just leave it alone and quit checking the DPS site twice a day?

CBuchanan wrote:Great post. Way to take it serious and get everything done. Nice guns as well. I have been pushing my mom and grandmother to get thier CHL. I take it your wife has shot her revolver? My grandmother had never really shot a handgun minus a .380 one time. Only one round. I took her to the range to fire her new S&W .38 special and it scared the crap out of her. I helped teach her how to fire it and am trying to get her to take some beginner classes.

Yes, she shot a full box with it yesterday. She loves it. I shot it a few times as well. I'd say it kicks about the same as a 9mm semi, maybe a bit less. But it's smaller, lighter, and the grip is shorter so you probably feel it a bit more.

GunNewb wrote:Another really good option is the Ruger lc9. It's much more comfortable than the SR9C and it shoots the same caliber. I wear mine in a Disantis Intruder (crossbreed type holster) and the thing just disappears.

I actually looked at the LC9 originally when I bought the full-size SR9. I liked it, but it was just too small for my hands. I couldn't get a good grip on it.
After wearing the SR40 for a couple of days and getting to shoot it yesterday, I'm totally happy with it. It's a good trade off from a the full size 9mm in terms of smaller size yet a bigger punch. Too bad they don't make an LC40

Good points all around. I may decide to keep both.

On a side note, after work today my wife and I headed of to Shoot Smart and tried out our new friends.

I love this 40 cal.!!


And I bought my wife a Charter Arms "Chic Lady" to carry in her car.

She'll be getting her CHL soon as well. She has always been a revolver girl so I let her pick out her pistol. The case cracks me up.

so as a little follow up. I've been carrying around this SR9 full-size throughout the house for a week or so now, and I finally resigned to the fact that for my size and shape, it's just not as comfortable or concealable as I would like for the types of clothes that I wear. It took me a long time to figure out the right spot, height, and cant that was both comfortable and didn't cause the butt to stick out. I hated this because I absolutely LOVE the gun and the holster is custom made for it.

SO....

I went down to Cabela's today and test fit the SR40C (same exact gun, but 40 cal and compact) in my crossbreed holster. It fit like a glove since except for the butt and barrel lengths, its identical. It was on sale so I took the plunge and bought it!
Got it home and am wearing it now. HOLY COW, what a difference! After sitting for a few minutes I literally can't tell that I'm wearing it! Plus with the shorter butt it completely disappears under just a T-shirt with this holster! I can't wait to shoot it. I've shot similar compact 40 cal.'s before and didn't experience any real noticeable recoil differences so I'm sure I'll love it.

All in all a good day. I'm much happier with the way this one feels and conceals.

lol yeah, sorry about that. I'm a lefty so the last picture looks "standard".

Hello everyone, I figured I'd finally come out of hiding, quit lurking, introduce myself, and post a little bit about my CHL experience so far.
I grew up in West Texas (Lubbock area) and have been around guns my whole life, and had always been taught to have a healthy respect for them.
After having numerous discussions with my father, brother, friends, and co-workers over the years, I had long decided that I WOULD get my CHL at some point, but for some reason I kept putting it off. I guess the incident in Aurora CO finally pushed me over the edge. I have a wife and a 6 year old son. Upon reading about that tragic event, my mind immediately went to the "what ifs". I know that I would not be able to live with myself if my family was ever put into a situation where their lives were in danger and I was not in a position to be able to defend or protect them only because I didn't take my decision to get a CHL seriously enough actually go through the process. That very day, on July 20th, I signed up for a local CHL class to be held the next day on Saturday the 21st.
I decided to go Texas Gun Pros in Fort Worth because of all the great reviews I read about them. I have an old 9mm that my step father gave me from when he was in the Marines, but I knew that I would not be carrying this pistol. I had been eyeing a couple of new guns for a while, so I made the short trip up to Cabella's and picked out a brand new Ruger SR9.

I had fallen in love with this gun after shooting a rental at the range a few months before. The next morning I headed up to Texas Gun Pros for my class. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the 10 hours. The instructors were friendly and very knowledgeable. The first time I ever fired my new pistol was during my proficiency test portion of the class. I scored a 247/250. The first 2 shots were the bad ones as I had never fired this gun or any gun for that matter in a long time.

I got my fingerprints done the following Monday the 23rd and had everything all packed up and mailed off by that afternoon. I also ordered a Crossbreed Supertuck Deluxe holster for my new handgun.

So now what? What to do while waiting for my plastic to arrive?

Well first off, I hopped on this forum and have basically read through the entire thing by now. I'm grateful for such a place full of great tips and experiences. My holster came in so I've been wearing it around the house (empty) so that I can break it in and find a good sweet spot. Also to make sure that there were no pinch points and that the holster wouldn't flip the safety or push the mag release.



I've been practicing my draw over and over and am looking for a good followup training class.
Today was the first day that I carried around the house in "condition 1" - full magazine, a round chambered, safety ON. It's a very different feeling, that's for sure. Even though I fully trust myself, my gun, and my holster, I have never conceal-carried a loaded and cocked gun on my person before. So that took a little while to get used to.
At this point I feel comfortable enough to take my Wally Walk as soon as my plastic arrives, although I don't know when that will be. Today is the 4 week mark from when I mailed everything off.
Anyway, Thank you all for the vast wealth of knowledge contained in this forum. I really appreciate all the time and effort you have all spent helping out the new folks.
Take care and be safe!
-Trent
*edited to replace the word "clip" with "Magazine" lol.