Posted on 07/01/2007 7:21:06 AM PDT by grimalkin
Hello!
Yesterday, I purchased a firearm for personal safety. I'm a lady and tried out at a few different pistols, but finally decided on the Kahr CW9. My better half went with me and made sure I got a good price and all required accessories. He's an experienced gun owner (he mainly carries his P228) and will help me get familiar with and break-in my new pistol.
Anyhow, my dilemma is with conceal/carry options. I am applying for my carry permit next week. Are there any recommendations for non-bulky conceal/carry items for women? Purses and bags are OK as long as they are not horribly ugly and are worn cross-body. Belt holsters are not really an option as I wear a lot of dresses. I'm also looking at a belly band, but frankly, prefer the purse option. I'm a very small and short person and I don't want anything too bulky. Are there any good merchants/websites anyone can recommend? I'm also open to any "outside-of-the-box" recommendations. Thank you!
I don't seriously advocate a .22, my point was against focusing so much on stopping power that you get a gun that you wind up never actually having on you
And when I took his first course, the gun I brought with me was my .38 snubby. Ayoob was impressed that I managed to pass the police qualifier with it, including the 25 yard range part
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Common sense, if you have enough common sense to learn how to use it, you have enough common sense to how how to carry it safely. If not stay the hell away from me.
Actually the topic is just back door advertising.
I certainly can't argue with that but I think there are better compromises.
And when I took his first course, the gun I brought with me was my .38 snubby. Ayoob was impressed that I managed to pass the police qualifier with it, including the 25 yard range part.
That is impressive, but given a choice - maybe you don't have one, personally I would go with something like a Detonics .45.
The thing is though, how much bigger and heavier is your .38 snub nose over a small .22 semi-auto, which as someone else said is typically not reliable and has little stopping power? I'd even take a .22 magnum or small center fire Derringer over an ultra small .22 long semi-auto.
I (and Al Gore) recommend paper, instead of plastic. It’s more eco-friendly.
I admire your decision to take your own safety into your own responsibility. I pray you never have to defend yourself to the ultimate extreme, but hope you train, practice, and stay alert.
If you end up wanting to carry on your body, look at Kel-Tec’s .380 pistol. That sucker is so light and slim you can forget it’s in your pocket. Next time you’re in a gun store ask to pick one up, just to see what I mean. It’s only 3/4 of an inch wide, which is almost invisible.
My other carry gun is a Glock .45
When I'm needing to be passing thru bad areas late at night, I carry the .45. When I'm more concerned about max concealability, I carry the .38
My girlfriend, the lovely Anne from Boston, got her CCW at the first of the year. She found a few bags she really liked that were purpose built for CCW. They have a special pocket that is held shut with velcro.
On a lighter note, here are some options when you have on a dress...
When you plan a more casual evening you may consider this option...
If you decide to go 'tactical' on somebody..
Everyone else beat me to it with the links. At least one of those manfacturers carries a thigh holster, making for easy concealable access for a wearer in a dress. I wouldn’t know if your new weapon is of practical weight for that, but I’m awful leery of purse carry because that’s the first thing a mugger is going to go for.
When I worked nights and thus wore my equalizer, I used a soft Uncle Mike holster. Depending on what I was wearing, I carried at the small of my back with my shirt tail hanging out or in a pants pocket with only the belt clip showing on the outside. Since it had no retaining strap, I only donned it for the walk between work and parking lot, locking it in a drawer while working.
Very nice product, AFAICT. I'll have to get me one of those.
Try here: http://www.usgalco.com/HolsterP2.asp
One caution - do NOT just carry it loose in a purse. You wouldn't believe how much lint and Kleenex fragments find their way into the barrel and action.
Thanks! I’m no more than a couple of hours drive from Philly.
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