What are your opinions on open versus concealed carry? What would you do and why? I think there are benefits to both but I would like to hear others opinions. Part of me says no one will mess with a guy that has a 45 on his belt. The other part of me says a guy with a 45 on his belt draws a lot of attention especially in a community that doesn't have many people open carry. What are your thoughts?
Yep, same here. What I love about Montana is that it is an open carry state, so if I'm headed out to the prairie I can open carry in town and not have to worry about anything. Otherwise, I just conceal my handgun, as long as I'm not going to work...grrrr... Oly
To me carrying openly is only marginally faster and slightly more comfortable. But that is far as the benefits go. Before I go any further let me say this " I am all for your right to open carry, I just think it is stupid" You give up your best asset, surprise. With proper training you can draw from concealment lightning fast. Your pistol can make you the target. Who gets shot first in a armed robbery? The gaurd. Why? Because he's armed. They may decide that they want you fancy colt commander on your hip and just wait to blind side you. Have you practiced weapon retention skills? Also except at some point to take a few minutes out of your day to talk to the police because somebody freaked out and made a man with a gun call. Didn't say it was right. If open carry is all you can do in your state then go forth and go armed, but it's foolish otherwise. But a good belt and holster combo can over come most comfort issues and training can get the speed.
I open carry when I'm out goofing off outdoors. If I still have a gun on my hip when/if I go to town... meh. Nobody looks twice. My husband realized he walked into the bank with his Para 14 on his hip. No one cared. Carry on school grounds, in the local government building... it's all okay. We're in the sticks. 'The shoot me first' caution against open carry really has no merit out here. If a criminal focuses on the guy with the gun on his hip, he's just going to get shot by one of the other half dozen people who are carrying concealed. Maybe up in the city it's different but there is hardly any crime around here anyhow.
Go view some security tapes and watch, and even if the other CCW's get the guy it doesn't make you any less shot.
My point is, out here, nobody is fool enough to rob a place at gunpoint. Not unless they have a death wish. I'm certainly not worried about being shot in that kind of scenario. Not here in the sticks. I'm probably more likely to be eaten by a lion, and that's not likely at all.
All it takes is once, even "out in the sticks". In this day and age, why give up your best defense, the element of surprise.
Conceal carry for me. Open carry brings a lot of unnecessary attention. I make every effort to conceal the firearm completely.
Conceal carry. I love my crossbreed holster and S&W bodyguard .380, only thing is you need a conceal carry permit but not one for open carry.
Man, if I were as paranoid as some of you guys, I'd never leave the house. Of course, if lived back in C'ville, I wouldn't open carry. Even if I were a big, huge dude like Raceway. You would be targeted. But out here, 100% not worried about it.
I can't think of a single time that open carry provides an advantage. I'll open carry when actually handgun hunting with a revolver but thats it.
If open carry is common where you are, why not? Open carry is legal here in Michigan, but it just isn't done except, occasionally, by people trying to make a statement or draw attention to themselves. I carry concealed. I would never open carry. It makes some people nervous. Why do that? It's no different from those women who want to promote breastfeeding by exposing themselves in public to make a statement. I nursed our daughters for a little over two years each. If I was out in public, I stayed covered up. Sometimes someone, realizing what I was doing, would grin at me. But I never exposed myself. I carry pretty much all the time. I have a purse designed for concealed carry which allows easy and immediate access to my Ladysmith. No one outside of my family knows that I carry.
I open carry when I am outside or in the woods doing things. Like others said it is more comfortable. However, I agree with the element of surprise as well. If I had t choose one it would be conceal carry. My favorite way to carry my Glock 30 is in a (left-handed) inside the belt holster, just above my right back pocket. I am right handed and doing this turns the grip of the weapon to the right. Most robbers ask for your wallet, not to empty your pocket. This gives me an advantage.
conceal carry only for me...open cause to many problems.. And not a big fan of talking to the police.
