Armed Polite Society

Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: AZRedhawk44 on January 21, 2019, 08:48:34 AM

Title: Clothes shopping, fitting rooms, and pistol concealment
Post by: AZRedhawk44 on January 21, 2019, 08:48:34 AM
What is your preferred technique for checking fit on new clothing, in context of carrying?

Just buy and then return after trying on at home if it doesn't fit?
Carry loaded into the fitting rooms and try the item on?
Deliberately unload, but still carry, for the shopping session and have a cleared weapon in the fitting rooms for safety's sake?
Something else?

I carry like normal and leave pistol in the holster, and transfer holster and belt to the new item.  Just curious if there's a better hive mind approach to this.
Title: Re: Clothes shopping, fitting rooms, and pistol concealment
Post by: Devonai on January 21, 2019, 09:30:58 AM
All of my pistols have manual safeties.  The only one I actually use while carrying is if I've got my H&K USP, because I carry it C&L.

So, if not already on safe, the safety goes on before the pistol comes out of the holster.  Each of my pistols have safeties that can be manipulated while holstered.  As such, if I'm trying on clothes that require me to clear leather, the safety goes on and the pistol goes on the bench.  Try on clothes, reholster, and flip the safety off.
Title: Re: Clothes shopping, fitting rooms, and pistol concealment
Post by: MechAg94 on January 21, 2019, 09:38:31 AM
Same for me.  I just set the pistol on the bench and try on the clothes.  I don't want to go unarmed.  I should be able to unholster and reholster without incident. 
Title: Re: Clothes shopping, fitting rooms, and pistol concealment
Post by: Perd Hapley on January 21, 2019, 09:52:45 AM
What is your preferred technique for checking fit on new clothing, in context of carrying?

Just buy and then return after trying on at home if it doesn't fit?
Carry loaded into the fitting rooms and try the item on?

One of those two. I don't like messing with my firearm in the middle of the store, with no safe direction to point it, but I just try to be careful. I'm actually more worried about leaving it behind than I am about having a negligent discharge.
Title: Re: Clothes shopping, fitting rooms, and pistol concealment
Post by: lee n. field on January 21, 2019, 11:51:35 AM
What is your preferred technique for checking fit on new clothing, in context of carrying?

Just buy and then return after trying on at home if it doesn't fit?
Carry loaded into the fitting rooms and try the item on?
Deliberately unload, but still carry, for the shopping session and have a cleared weapon in the fitting rooms for safety's sake?
Something else?

I carry like normal and leave pistol in the holster, and transfer holster and belt to the new item.  Just curious if there's a better hive mind approach to this.

Walmart has a particular big-tall-fat guy slacks.  I've only seen them online, and wear only that for pants.  The pockets are big enough for pocket carry, the belt line is loose enough for IWB, and they last pretty well (compared to the cotton version of the same).

Shirts, plain polos 2xlt, sight unseen from (last time around) Penny's, which is a half step better stuff than Walmart.

In other words, I pretty much have figured out what works, and get that.
Title: Re: Clothes shopping, fitting rooms, and pistol concealment
Post by: HankB on January 21, 2019, 11:52:58 AM
Carry loaded into the fitting room. Since I either pocket carry or IWB, there's no need for the gun to leave its holster.
Title: Re: Clothes shopping, fitting rooms, and pistol concealment
Post by: T.O.M. on January 21, 2019, 01:33:09 PM
I use kydex holsters, so it's pretty safe to remove the gun and holster together, and try it on with the new pants.  Risk is minimal.

In my old job as a prosecutor, I went suit shopping once, carrying a J frame IWB.  Tailor noticed,  and once he saw my badge, he asked me to unload, and then let him tailor the suit around the gun.  He said he had a number of federal LEOs as clients, so he was used to it.