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Open carry or Conceal carry?

10K views 230 replies 91 participants last post by  Maxx702 
#1 ·
For those that live in the states to have the option to open or conceal carry which one do you prefer and why? Me I prefer conceal carry because I feel no one needs to know what I carry unless I want them to know. Also some citizens respond negatively when they see firearms:couch:. "Out of sight out of mind"
 
#31 ·
+1 to concealed carry. When I OC, I knock my OWB holster on everything. I have an IWB sheath for my flashlight and multi-tool, as well, because I hate stuff on my wasteband. Plus, everything stays concealed, and the appearance is very clean and natural.
 
#35 ·
I live in PA, so I CC daily. Only way I OC is if I'm outdoors and really secluded (hunting, hiking around as my nephew says "aminals wiff teefs.") I find OCing draws too much attention, and isn't neccessary. Not to mention, if I'm OCing in a bank or something, don't want to be the first guy to get shot when robbers burst in...lol.
 
#224 ·
My dad open carries everywhere he goes. We are in rural SD and he has never had any comments or issues...
But why resurrect a six ear old thread? :deadhorse:

The urbanites do not understand the rural thing. Also a relative has property that is seasonal access which means when it snows no one is going to see you without a snowmobile. He mentioned that one year he only saw one human in a 90 day stretch. :cowboy:
 
#38 ·
Worry about open carry gun grabbers? I think it would be the most sensible thing would be to Use a retention holster

How many do this?
 
#42 ·
I carry on my belt OWB at 3:00. With my belt loop in the middle between the two loops of the holster it give a little adjustment if need be for chairs or car seats. It' comfortable, I'm not always changing this holster or that one for weather or momma's house, I don't have car holsters and town holsters or trail holster or Burger King holster. It is where I carry every gun I carry from a Redhawk to a 1911 or Glock. It works, it's what I want to do and I don't give flip who likes it or don't or who sees it.

In the winter if I have a jacket on then it's "concealed", in the summer or if I go inside a restaurant in the winter and take my jacket off then it is open carry. But I'll guarantee one thing, if I need it, it will be right there in the same place, held the same way, it and ever other gun I've ever carried has been for decades.

People make way to big a deal of worrying over your enemy's feelings. To hell with them.
 
#47 ·
I prefer concealed carry over OC. I recently moved from one OC, Constitutional Carry state to another. Shortly after getting moved in, my wife & I went out to dinner. Only at the restaurant did I realize I my pistol was uncovered - was carrying AIWB. I had forgotten to pull my shirt over the gun when leaving the house. That explained why I was getting some odd stares at the restaurant. Anyway, legal open carry laws cover carriers in those rare moments when we are not our at our best.. best dressed, that is. All other admonishments about open carry still apply. The best defense against a gun grab begins with a well-concealed handgun.
 
#48 ·
I've had three instances where I was in full uniform, wearing a duty belt with a Safariland level 2 retention holster. The bad guy knew that I was absolutely aware of their presence and they still tried to take the gun off me.

You will never convince me that any one of those guys would have thought twice about trying to take a gun of some random open carrier using an Uncle Mike's clip on holster.

Having said that I fully support your right to make your own decision in the matter. but you better have a plan for WHEN someone tries to take it off of you.

It's funny that this topic came up today because earlier this afternoon I was out walking my dog and I ran into the new neighbor who is moving in and who happened to be open carrying. I was just kind of watching the guy and you could tell he was going about his business but he kept looking at me like he was waiting for me to have some reaction or say something about his gun.

You can tell a lot about somebody by their choice of gun. This guy was carrying a Springfield XD in some kind of Kydex holster. I couldn't tell if it was retention holster or not but I could tell that he didn't know a whole lot about guns and he didn't feel real confident carrying a striker-fired pistol.

Tamara Keel has said there's a difference between carrying a gun and carrying a gun AT you. This guy was carrying his gun AT me. I ignored him and continued to walk my dogs with my Glock 19 in the pocket of my jacket.
 
#49 ·
Im same, i’ve seen too many people open carrying, they always attract my attention and because it is uncommon, it rings all my ‘gun’ alarm bells. If everyone did it, i’d be more for it from a perspective of normalcy, but i’d likely still CC, because the element of surprise is still a viable option.
 
#50 ·
I've had three instances where I was in full uniform, wearing a duty belt with a Safariland level 2 retention holster. The bad guy knew that I was absolutely aware of their presence and they still tried to take the gun off me.

You will never convince me that any one of those guys would have thought twice about trying to take a gun of some random open carrier using an Uncle Mike's clip on holster.

Having said that I fully support your right to make your own decision in the matter. but you better have a plan for WHEN someone tries to take it off of you.

It's funny that this topic came up today because earlier this afternoon I was out walking my dog and I ran into the new neighbor who is moving in and who happened to be open carrying. I was just kind of watching the guy and you could tell he was going about his business but he kept looking at me like he was waiting for me to have some reaction or say something about his gun.

You can tell a lot about somebody by their choice of gun. This guy was carrying a Springfield XD in some kind of Kydex holster. I couldn't tell if it was retention holster or not but I could tell that he didn't know a whole lot about guns and he didn't feel real confident carrying a striker-fired pistol.

Tamara Keel has said there's a difference between carrying a gun and carrying a gun AT you. This guy was carrying his gun AT me. I ignored him and continued to walk my dogs with my Glock 19 in the pocket of my jacket.
Good thing we will never try to convince you that an Uncle Mike's clip on holster is a good carry method lol

I'm interested in knowing the totality of the circumstances that created those three opportunities, though.
 
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#51 ·
Concealed carry for myself and my wife. Both have us have carried concealed daily since the mid 80s. Only time I opened carried was when working in uniform as a LEO. Even during my plain clothes days - concealed carry it was.
 
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#52 ·
I respect open carry laws for what they are, endowing freedoms on individuals that want to exercise them. I personally would highly recommend NOT open carrying during your everyday public routine. This is coming from someone that open carries 40 hours a week for work, and is mandated by department policy to NOT open carry outside of work.

Be a responsibly armed citizen however which way you chose, but don't make yourself a target, the gun on your hip is your equalizer, why show all your cards?
 
#88 ·
I respect open carry laws for what they are, endowing freedoms on individuals that want to exercise them. I personally would highly recommend NOT open carrying during your everyday public routine. This is coming from someone that open carries 40 hours a week for work, and is mandated by department policy to NOT open carry outside of work.

Be a responsibly armed citizen however which way you chose, but don't make yourself a target, the gun on your hip is your equalizer, why show all your cards?
:agree:
 
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