I am a very, very lucky girl....

[moriah]

... and I take back every mean thing I've ever said about my stepfather (to be fair, haven't said anything mean in awhile since he stopped drinking daily, but ... yeah).

After several breakins in my neighborhood, I've been looking at getting a concealed carry license, and I've taken a basic pistol class. I've tried out several guns at the range and the one that I liked best was the Kimber Pro Carry, but it did have a bit of a strong recoil being a .45. I'd been looking at cheaper weapons, however, because honestly I couldn't lay down that much money for a firearm.

My stepfather has been very supportive of the idea of me carrying. I'd told him about the results I'd had trying things out at the range. He's been attempting to try to overcome my mother's fear of guns -- she's able to shoot a .22 but that's it -- and so the idea of one of her daughters being comfortable with them is appealing to him because he hopes she'll see there's nothing to be afraid of (respect it, don't fear it!). Also, even though he only married my mom about five years ago (I'm 30) he wants nothing to happen to either me or my sister.

He called me today and wants me to drive down to see them this week. I was curious and asked why this week was so special, because I'd had plans for this week while I'm off. So he told me....

He found a Kimber Ultra Aegis II for a very good price, too good to pass up. He got to shoot it and has put 100 rounds through it without any problems. He originally thought it might be a good weapon for Mom, and had her try to shoot it. She had no trouble with reaching all the controls, but the 9mm still had too much recoil for her and she said she didn't want it (I honestly think she doesn't really want to shoot at all, and if she's afraid of guns that probably really the best way to go).

She and I have the same sized hands. So they want me to have it.

I am a very, very lucky girl.

[X_Digger]

1. Congrats, that's a cadillac of 1911 style guns.

I love love love my 1911 style guns, but I could never afford a Kimber.

That's one of my 'if I won the lottery' items.

Have you thought about how you'll carry? ie, what kind of holster, in what position?

[moriah]

2. A bit....

... I've been looking at corneredcat.com's page discussing concealed carry options for women.

I'm short and plump, shortwaisted and well-endowed. I'm thinking at first of getting a belly band -- because it seems to be the most versatile of options and I do not currently own a single belt. It would let me try out several positions without having to buy many holsters.

I definitely do *not* think hip or kidney or small of back is going to work well for me. Looking at my current wardrobe the place that has the most natural space to hide something is under the bust (not a single shirt I own is tight through the midriff). And while I wouldn't care in a self-defense situation if I had to flash someone or reach in my shirt to get a gun, it would be pretty awkward to draw from that position. Maybe I'll end up with appendix carry... that seems to be the most likely.

[X_Digger]

3. Being 'less than optimally shaped', I can sympathize

A belly band might work for me, but it would be a bit restraining.

When I was on the road a lot, I considered a shoulder holster. I could have drawn while seated in the car or standing. In the winter, it'd be fine, but in the Texas heat of summer, the appropriate cover garment would bake me to a crisp. I can't imagine it'd work for a well-endowed woman, either.

Have you seen 'thunderwear'? (http://www.thunderwear.com/) Or the 'smart carry' line? (http://www.smartcarry.com/)

I ended up with multiple options. I have a fanny pack that I wear with shorts and a t-shirt, a maxpedition messenger bag that I sometimes use, (http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=49) and a crossbreed supertuck that I use when I'm dressed nicely. I'm left handed, so the supertuck rides at about 8:00, behind my left hip.

[moriah]

4. I considered shoulder....

... I have a feeling that I'll probably end up using several different carry locations based on my clothing. I really don't want to go buy a lot of new clothes just for concealment, and since I don't want a bunch of people to know I'll be carrying I'd rather not make a lot of changes in how I dress.. might raise questions.

While a large chest might make draw from a shoulder holster more awkward, from what I've read it's actually easier for a well-endowed woman to conceal with a shoulder holster than it is for someone smaller -- there's more space under the arm without having the gun show through in the back. But I don't wear many blazers or cardigans.

I wouldn't object to the restraining with a belly band -- heck, I've worn a corset on more than one occasion, so surely it can't be worse than that. I could use it to try pretty much any IWB position.... as well as higher, in the midriff area or under the bust. Whatever I choose, though, I know it's going to be awkward. The only way I can think to counteract that is LOTS of practice on drawing. Reholstering is something I would likely be able to take my time doing, and it'll be safer to put the gun in the belly band holster before putting it on at all, but some practice there won't hurt either.

Honestly, I'm a forgetful person, so I don't think off-body carry would be a good idea. The fanny pack would stay on most of the time, but it's pretty obvious when someone starts wearing one why they're wearing it. I don't wear shorts anyway -- I'm a ginger and even in the summer I'd rather wear jeans to keep from blinding other people or getting a sunburn on my legs. If clothing made it impossible to use a location on the torso, I think I would go for an ankle holster. The inconvenience of drawing from one would suck, but better that than to forget the bag I had the gun in somewhere and a kid find it.

[X_Digger]

5. More options are always better.

I'm lucky that I wore a fanny pack before I got my CHL, so upsizing it slightly wasn't a big deal. Yah, my wife tells me I have _no_ fashion sense.

Sounds like you've thought through all the options. A good book that I could recommend for further reading is Massad Ayoob's Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry- http://www.amazon.com/Gun-Digest-Book-Concealed-Carry/dp/0896896110 . His pros / cons / best practices for different kinds of carry are very very detailed.

[old mark]

6. In warm weather, I carry my pistols in a fanny pack...not a "gun" type pack, but

one of several sporting or commercial logo packs I got at thrift shops. I have been doing this for over 10 years...I can carry large pistols and extra mags easily, and have never had a problem with this method.

I also have several holsters of various types, but in the cold of winter, I prefer just to dump it in a coat pocket. I think easy access is most important, and trying to dig a gun out uf a holster buried under several layers of winter clothing is not a very good method.

My wife was raised anti-gun, but when I taught her to shoot, she loved it immediately...she has an old S&W Model 15 Combat Masterpiece 4" revolver. She is very good with it.


mark

[moriah]

7. Yeah, access is definitely an issue....

... which is why even though the most obvious carry spot for me would be midriff looking at how my clothes hang, it'd be a PITA to get to up there. And I'm planning on buying an ankle holster because that may be the only way I'll be able to carry sometimes, but ... it's going to take practice to learn how to get to it there.

Glad your wife loves her pistol! ;)

[moriah]

8. Update -- finally got the Aegis, and have been to the range twice..

The *only* control I have issues getting to is the slide lock to push upward while racking it back to lock. I can do it, but I have to grip the pistol nearly sideways to do it -- which means I have to stand sideways at the range to keep it pointed downrange and keep from muzzle sweeping anyone. (I cheat most of the time by popping an empty mag in to lock it back. Heh!)

I've put 100 rounds through it now myself, and only one malfunction, which was my fault I think -- it failed to feed the first round from the magazine. Tap, rack, and bang. It was the last mag out of a 50 ct box of ammo, so there were only two rounds in the magazine. I think I failed to seat the mag all the way.

The recoil is not a problem at all for me to handle, and I'm working on my accuracy with it. I already know it is far more accurate than I am! :)

[X_Digger]

9. I hear that kimbers can be mag snobs..

Wilson Combat and Chip McCormick seem to be the most reliable mags. Stay very far away from promag.

I have Chip McCormick mags for my 1911, and they've never failed to feed, even with hollow points.