Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

This is my first time, I do not have a concealed permit so I'm OCing around my neighborhood. I'll let yall know how it goes!

I'm nervous a heck right now!

We'll start collecting the bail money

Relax. Wife and I OC in Lorton/Springfield when we lived there.

Well everything went almost fine, there were a few nervous people. There were a few looky-loos, heh one car went by slow turned around and came back.

A few things I learned:
1. Tuck in my shirt, long shirt on a windy day = not good.
2. It's hard for me to smile and not look up to something.
3. My gun, which I thought was light, is in fact heavy after I load it.

I also at one point heard sirens and was like "heart meet my stomach"! It was also probably a good thing I didn't chamber a round because if I actually had to use I was so nervous I'd probably blown my foot off.

Time for the Walmart OC. You can do it!

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Lol, I thought that my gun felt heavy at first, too. After a while, though, you'll start feeling weird without it.

Practice smiling, it will look more natural.

Glad things went well for you.

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glad it worked out ok. if you don't have one, get a real stiff belt, as wide as your holster will fit, as it will help spread out the weight.

A good belt will help with the weight. I like the Galco contours.

Never OC'd and its not my cup of tea anyway but to you for trying it!

Thanks and I have a wide heavy belt, I can't stand the thin ones, and lol got it at walmart!XD

But dang it felt like the whole dang world was staring at me and at any minute a cop could show up. For some odd reason it helped watching a western shortly before!

I think that, given todays atmosphere, it's probably normal to feel like the world is staring at you. I kinda felt the same way, at first. But, after I got used to carrying, it dawned on me that most folks really weren't paying attention, after all.

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I remember my first time OCing. Since them hours and hours of OCing in public you'll get to a point where you don't even think of it as strange but you do have to be aware of what your doing and how its being perceived, go out of your way to hold doors, leave an extra tip, be really friendly. I think of the last time I forgot I was OCing was when I was camping. Me and a buddy OCed the whole time dawn to dusk and when we went into the town for a few thing we forgot and we both wondered why we were getting some strange looks lol!

Also consider some fplks might be reacting to your not-yet-acquired comfort level. If you're looking around at people to see their reactions, it might be drawing attention to yourself.

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It's been a while since I've OC'd on the regular. I did it all the time in PA when I lived in Pittsburgh.

I just walked out to my neighborhood Starbucks to grab an iced coffee and an apple fritter, Glock 19 in Safariland holster.

There were tons of people in there relaxing, reading papers. The chairs are all against the wall too so everyone is naturally pointed towards the center of the store. No biggie, just minded my own business and ordered my coffee. As I was waiting for my order, a Fairfax County cop was in line, I saw him glance at me for a second but that was it.

One thing I learned while OCing is that if you look like you know what you're doing, no one will bother you. Most people see a holstered gun and think "law enforcement" not "maniac gun nut". Get yourself a good belt (I use belts from TheWilderness.com), and a high quality holster that works for you, and has some form of extra retention. If you have to adjust your holster or hold your pants up, you're doing it wrong. You should not have to come close to touching your pistol, except when in crowded areas (I lay my forearm against the outside to guard against a grab and ensure I don't bump anyone with the sights or something).

I'd also recommend checking out Massad Ayoob's books "Combat Handgunnery" and "In the Gravest Extreme". Plenty of tips for carrying and self defense from a recognized industry expert on those subjects.



Si vis pacem para bellum

follow me @DiscipleofJMB

I have a great belt, believe it or not walmart does sell decent belts, and my holster is a Fobus high impact polymer evolution roto holster. Honostly despite the fact it's made in Israel it is a very nice holster, way better than kydex and won't wear out like leather.

I wear my holster more towards the front not only for comfort but also to prevent anyone from grabbing it from behind. I'm also planning on buying a secondary, albeit smaller pistol (a derringer as a matter of fact), when I get my CHP so that I can conceal it in case anyone disarms me.

thekinetic wrote:I didn't chamber a round because if I actually had to use I was so nervous I'd probably blown my foot off.

You carried a gun without a round in the chamber?

ProShooter wrote:

thekinetic wrote:I didn't chamber a round because if I actually had to use I was so nervous I'd probably blown my foot off.

You carried a gun without a round in the chamber?

Agreed. I know I'm new here... but carrying is deadly serious. If you need it, you're going to NEED it. Train to become proficient with your weapon (marksmanship, different scenarios, malfunction drills, reload drills, proper/safe/fast draw, tactics etc.), learn and know retention drills, practice excellent situational awareness. Chances are you will never need your firearm for defense, but god forbid you do - you must be able to walk away from the encouter alive and in good legal standing.

We have the right to carry but we also have the responsibility to be fully prepared for and aware of the consequences should you use it. Be safe and ready, above all else.

Si vis pacem para bellum

follow me @DiscipleofJMB

I did it to guage a reaction of the people in my neighborhood, not for protection. Now that I've guaged their reactions I can be a little more comfortable wearing it chambered.

Good on you for taking the leap to OC.

Statistically speaking I am already of the frame of mind that I will never have to use the weapon to defend myself. I think it is more important to exercise my rights while providing a stellar example of a responsible and considerate gun owner.

Just another comment: I think all gun owners should extend offers to take those who might have an irrational fear of firearms to shoot. Going to a range, experiencing the steps taken to create the safest environment possible and the experience of the sport of shooting will knock out all that irrational fear from watching CNN instantly.

I am late to the game, but kudos!

And, I applaud your judgement to leave a round unchambered until you feel more comfortable. Only you know where you are at. When you are ready, you can make the switch, if you feel you need to.

Another option is simply to train unchambered. The israelies go even further: they have no mag or round in the firearm in its holster. They practice to draw, load the mag, and load the round during draw. I hear people talk about time lost, and such, but the israelies are nothing to sniff at. Figure out where you want to be, and do that, don't be swayed by the crowd.

Your current decision also has major advantages: anyone trying to grab your gun will be surprised when nothing happens!

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