I don't care when I'm out and about - open carry is legal in WA state; however, I do care at work...not that it's illegal, but I don't need to explain to everyone/anyone since it's none of their business...So, I do my best to keep concealed.
If it's noticeable, I've done a very poor job of concealing it, thus negating a very important benefit of concealed carry. In Virginia, we have a choice -open carry or concealed carry. I choose concealed because I don't want folks knowing (or even wondering) if I have a gun on me. I carry compacts, the smallest current ones being an XDs 4" or my S&W 442.
Most of the folks I'm around don't know I'm carrying and (I think) would be uncomfortable if they did know. I carry a Shield because I want it to be undetectable. Fortunately, my normal attire is polo shirts or untucked shirts of some kind so I didn't have to alter my wardrobe much for CC. Only once that I can remember have I tucked a dress shirt in over my AG Cloak Tuck 3.0 and even then I had a dress jacket on over that.
My wife only notices when she puts her arm around my waist, but I also wear a survival bracelet on my right wrist to signal to her that I'm carrying.
I try to keep it concealed, that said in summer attire or even in winter clothes depending on how I move the outline may be visible. Typically it's a Officer 1911 or sometimes a HK USP Compact so they're not exactly micro guns.
It's not the end of the world if someone sees the outline, I'm breaking no laws, but I'd prefer to keep it concealed if possible. I carry with IWB's pretty much exclusively.
I experienced a medical episode that made me drop 45lbs and 3 inches from my waist unfortunately. I am now over it and working my weight back up again. That said, I am currently at a 29 inch waist and carry a service model XD iwb at 4 o'clock. No printing, no one knows. I usually wear jerseys or Carhartt long tailed shirts untucked with jeans or jean shorts. They say small can't conceal a big gun. Boy were they wrong.
Normally off duty I keep a tin around my neck just in case I get questioned about my weapon. Few weeks ago in Walmart I was approached by security because someone must've seen it when I reached up to grab something. I never try to make it known that I'm carrying off duty.
I have given my wife the duty of letting me know when she can see mine. I carry appendix. If Im wearing something that might give me away, I switch from extended mag, to the flush 13rnd. XD Mod2 9mm subcompact. I try to be conscious of it, but not overly preoccupied.
People are usually so oblivious that they don't notice.
I'm not really sure why someone would bother to look at me long enough to even notice. Even if someone saw it, I look about as dangerous as a golden retriever.
the majority of the public wouldnt notice of you were open carrying. nobody is going to notice a little bump under your shirt unless youre stretching up to grab something and they stare right at your side. i was worried about it at first but i dont really care anymore. oc and cc are legal here so whatever.
I have three modes of carry:
CC - no one will see or suspect a thing.
Not obvious - totally to mostly covered, but visible at times, i.e. OWB holster covered by jacket. No problem if seen, as OC is legal.
OC - self-explanatory
It's noticeable if you know it's there and my carry position. But to 99% of the public it doesn't look like a gun. One of the perks of carrying appendix is no one will look at your crotch lol
I also have the option of CC or OC. I choose CC and am just switching to appendix carry. I try for concealed, but am not bothered by covered.
As a side note, I try to silently pick out others that are potentially armed. When I pick out another armed person. I try to figure out what tipped me off as to their armed status. Usually it is something in their wardrobe that alerts me to look closer, i.e. 5.11 hat, etc... I have even seen a Sneaky Pete holster in the wild...
Clinger Atom, just be prepared for a 4-6 week wait. I can hide my XDsc where my XDs prints. This is due to the the belt clip on my Atom which is over the trigger guard and pulls the grip in tight. My XDs holster has the standard FOMI belt clip over the slide and prints slighlty.
Really never think about it. Depends on the shirt it may print a little but Nobody has ever said anything when I'm in the public eye but I really don't care.
I think I'm usually invisible. The only time I think anyone noticed was at a Gas station late one night. I was in a hurry and didn't throw on my cover garment. The attendant started a conversation and in the midst she appeared to look at my hip and winked. Realized that the material of that shirt was clinging to the grip. Ooops
I carry a XDs or a g19 aiwb. The XDs hides really well. As for the g19, I'll get a little print of the mag, but really, it's not noticeable. Maybe once the wife had to tell me I was noticeable, but she was looking for it.
Ive learned what it "feels" like to be printing so I'm not really overly concerned as much. I think the paranoia makes you more conspicuous then anything.
Loose fitting clothing is the key. If concerned about printing when carrying, I always consult with the wife before exiting the house. The longer you carry concealed the better you get at doing it.
I carry appendix, either the XDMod2 (9mm) or the P938. I don't wear loose clothes. I wear a size 31 waist pants. I don't wear baggy pants, i don't go up a size. Sometimes a t-shirt untucked, sometimes a polo that is tucked. No one ever notices. I use a Vedder Light Tuck with both guns. I had to explain to my wife why i wouldn't go into the post office with her a couple days ago. she had no idea. The only one that can make me consistency is my 9 year old son. But he notices everyone that is carrying. He spots the OC overtime, and he will often point out CC when we are out in the community. He's really quiet about it and he uses a code word, so no one knows they've been made by a 9y.o.
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