Have I printed too much? Beginner CC worries/troubles.

Glock 17 Gen 4, Hide it deep kydex holster, black. I've been carrying this combo in the 3 o clock position. I think my hip is actually swollen from it as well as pretty tender. I've been concealed carrying at work for 2 days straight so far. (I know I said I didn't want to CC at work...) I don't want to break my streak, but I feel like I'm doing a bad job CC. In the mirror, 3 and 4:30~ work, but I can't see 4:30 as well to check if my shirt got pinned behind my grip. The grip can poke a tad in the shirt, especially when bending, but it doesn't really scream gun. At 3 o clock the shirt will kinda settle a bit on the gun. (not 100% sure on 4:30) It doesn't look like a gun as far as I can tell, but about half the time you can tell something is there. (maybe I'm paranoid and overthinking?) I'm not really sure if the grip ever prints from the finger side (really making it look like a gun, I assume), however the shirt kind rests on the backstrap side.

I've also noticed my arm is just about always touching my gun. I even elbowed the sights a time or two, which was a bit painful. Back to positions real quick. 3 o clock is nice to sit and drive with, while 4:30~ I'm laying/sitting on a gun and can't see if I'm printing. Maybe if I sit in a chair and slide my back a bit, it will move my shirt in a way that shows my CC more then needed? (I noticed this with my other holster when getting in and out of my car)

Lots of people at my work are into guns and some CC and some CC on work, then there are people that do know about guns, but are not gun people as far as I know and I work with them mainly...

Here's are some parts where I messed up, because of my habits. I'm not sure if my gun showed at all in either of these cases, or it anyone saw... I usually use my shirt as a rag as I get dirty at work... I went to pick up my shirt and wipe something off my arm or face and realised what I was doing. Another time I was using a air gun to blow myself off and I blew up my shirt a bit and kinda freaked out slightly? I'm doing a pretty bad job at CC right?

Every once in a while I try to see if I can see "that person" print or anything. Usually I don't see anything. One time they showed me and I was blown away and had no idea.

I've got a shield 9mm and just got a CYA hoslter in for it, (very similar to my hide it deep) but I haven't shot my shield since I had issues putting it back together. (I put the slide back on without the sear deactivated and it took me some time to fix it and I'm not sure if I messed anything up) Idk if I should take a break from CC or continue with my G17 or take a chance with my shield that I'm also not that good at shooting. (it's only got about 65 poor shots though it)

Sorry for this mess of a thread/subject,
Higgins909

Why are you worried if someone knows?
Is carrying against company rules?

It seems your work doesn’t care, since you mention others carry also?

Printing is still concealed.


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Yes, you are doing a lousy job of CC. You should send me your Glock and your old broken Shield. And any ammo that you have.

No seriously, most people don't notice printing. Usually it is other people that carry that notice it. I don't have much of a problem with printing but if I did I would not worry about it.

Op, you printing depends on a lot of factors. Your iwb holster, your cloths, and your body type. Your body type may not be compatible with your gun and or holster choice. Also, try different guns at different times. Ie, my cz 75 compact feels and hides best at 2 o'clock. My sr9 e and xdmod2 work best at 3 o'clock. Xds at typical appendix. Sometimes if I want to be as active as possible and secret as possible, I will ankle carry my lcp2. But ankle carry is slow and combined with a little 380; here's hoping for a I don't need to use it day. Lol.

whoa... your hip is swollen from CCing? Is your belt too tight? personally i wear 2 belts. i wear my pants belt that i cinch down to a comfortable tightness. then i have my steel core gun belt on top that i have my setup attached to. that way i don thave to cinch my gunbelt down super tight. i can just wear it loosely and have it still distribute the weight of my gear around without having to cut off the circulation to my legs lol. it might be a bit unnecessary but it works for me.

and as others have mentioned printing is still concealed. I print a bit. i carry a full size M&P and no matter where i stick it theres a bit of a print. i was concerned for about the first week. after that I was just like eh whatever.. and no one has given me any strange looks or anything or come up to me and been like i can see your gun! for all they know it's a knife or a multi tool on my belt. and frankly its none of their damn business so idc what they think it is... lol. but you're just a bit paranoid. after a few weeks of carrying you'll start to realize that nobody is paying attention to you. people just scurry about with their busy lives like rats. completely oblivious to their surroundings... occasionally youll see a fellow who seems a little extra attentive to his whereabouts. chances are he's carrying as well... or he's about to do something bad... either way people wont notice your slight printing. just relax and enjoy life.

Grundy1133 said:

chances are he's carrying as well... or he's about to do something bad...

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Or checking you out. Lol.

Why not try 3:30, will get the muzzle of your gun off your hip; dress to conceal, wear loose button up shirts or T-shirts one size up. A quality belt is key to weight distribution. If your holster is cant Adjustable Tilt the grip of the gun slightly up. Lastly esp with a full sized glock, try an OWB pancake covered with a shirt.


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Sam7sf said:

Or checking you out. Lol.

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LMAO your avatar makes your post all the more creepy...

Grundy1133 said:

LMAO your avatar makes your post all the more creepy...

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It's the same face I make when I unbox a new gun.

people do not see emergency vehicle with lights and sirens on I bet other than a few fellow CC people no one notices.

I have some of the same concerns about my practice to CC at work. I’m not going to tell anybody I conceal; I can’t print. My work has a weapons policy that “with permission” will allow CC with a “training” with strict paranoid guidelines (that is going to make CC a pain), guidelines like no carrying in company vehicles (which we take to sketchy community areas in the public, thanks!). They are never going to get around to “teaching,” because they don’t have anybody qualified to teach it, and no one besides me has applied to be “trained.” I already applied two years ago now and they told me that when they get enough people, they will figure out how to do the “training.” Whereas two years later, I am still a sitting duck at work, a place where there is a good chance of someone not in their right mind being disgruntled? Thanks a lot.

My firearm is in a different position from you, OP. It’s right under my breast at my waist. There have been times where I walked past a door and clanked my gun against the door handle sticking out at the same level as my sights, and have been worried when kids have hugged me spontaneously and I have to turn in so they won’t press against the firearm. Another time someone was walking forward while looking back and I knew they were gonna bump me, and there was no way so could move fast enough, I had to put my elbows in so they wouldn’t bump my gun. Once I leaned back in my chair and stretched my arms and was worried my shirt rode up. Some of my shirts conceal the firearm better than others, as well. I won’t wear the shirts that don’t conceal with a grade of at least a B+, (yes I made that up) at work.

It’s just a risk I take. Off body carry is a riskier option. I don’t like to do that one at work. But carrying at work is a risk, as is not carrying is a risk. I consider the odds, that there is more of a chance of being found out and losing my job, vs the chance of me having to pull the firearm. However, the situation criticalness of not having a firearm when one is sorely needed is of more weight in my considerations.

I’m sure, OP, that you will figure out what to do.

It will just take time and practice to be comfortable with carrying.

Most people don’t think bulges are guns.

When I work, I carry a S&W Bodyguard in a Sticky Pocket Holster. At best it’s non noticeable, at worst it looks like a wallet in my pocket.

It’s also easy for me to leave in the car when I visit customers who don’t allow guns.


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Don't worry about printing. Most people will make up their minds about what the shape under your shirt is, if they even notice at all. If they do notice and think 'gun', they're probably carrying themselves. Most sheeple will think it's a big cell phone or something else because their mind doesn't go straight to 'gun' like yours is now. Heck, my wife prints like crazy, to the point she'll completely uncover the gun when bending over. In her case, no red blooded man would ever notice the gun so maybe a bad example.

Wildcat Diva said:

...worried when kids have hugged me spontaneously and I have to turn in so they won’t press against the firearm. Another time someone was walking forward while looking back and I knew they were gonna bump me, and there was no way so could move fast enough, I had to put my elbows in so they wouldn’t bump my gun.

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@OP, I work in I.T. in a building that's inside a datacenter "compound", with several companies leasing rack space and office space from the company running the datacenters. The "compound" itself is not posted. But some of the companies have posted "their" buildings 30.06 and 30.07. "My" building isn't, possibly because it hasn't occurred to them, possibly because the owner is pro 2A. Either way, I carry, either in a OWB belt holster or in my pocket, some of the guards are aware and don't care, some aren't. I'll try to be discreet about it and carry small guns like the Walther PPK, PPS, P99c and Kimber Micro 9, the latter quickly becoming my favorite in the concealment department. Doesn't show at all and weighs nothing, and still packs 8 rounds of 9mm.

I don't think that very many people in the world look for printing.

In my experience the vast majority of new LTC holders who think they are printing while carrying concealed are worried about nothing at all. I openly carry all the time and to be honest I doubt that 1% of the general population even notices that!

However, there are behaviors that indicate a person is carrying concealed, some of which I find myself doing on occasion; but I would still argue that the vast majority go unnoticed by the general public. While possible clues, none of them would be construed as suspicious even to law enforcement officials. Acting sketchy will more likely draw someone's attention then some of the habits listed in that article.

In this day and age, the vast majority of people are too distracted by their phones to have any reasonable situational awareness. Such concerns that someone may notice a new licensed individual carrying are normal but they fade quickly the more you do so. If someone were to detect it, you will be able to tell by their behavior (much like I see on the rare chance that someone sees me openly carrying). After a while you will realize that very few people will see or respond to the fact that you're carrying be it concealed or otherwise...

Cheers! M2

majormadmax said:

In my experience the vast majority of new LTC holders who think they are printing while carrying concealed are worried about nothing at all. I openly carry all the time and to be honest I doubt that 1% of the general population even notices that!

However, there are behaviors that indicate a person is carrying concealed, some of which I find myself doing on occasion; but I would still argue that the vast majority go unnoticed by the general public. While possible clues, none of them would be construed as suspicious even to law enforcement officials. Acting sketchy will more likely draw someone's attention then some of the habits listed in that article.

In this day and age, the vast majority of people are too distracted by their phones to have any reasonable situational awareness. Such concerns that someone may notice a new licensed individual carrying are normal but they fade quickly the more you do so. If someone were to detect it, you will be able to tell by their behavior (much like I see on the rare chance that someone sees me openly carrying). After a while you will realize that very few people will see or respond to the fact that you're carrying be it concealed or otherwise...

Cheers! M2

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This ^^^^

"Printing" is not and never has been illegal. It's all in the individual's mind. One has to get over it. In reality, especially in Texas and a few other gun states, nobody gives a shit if you're carrying or not!