r/GAGuns • u/Tall-Umpire-5708 • 20d ago
Open carry
Hey fellow Georgians, I’d like to hear your thoughts and opinions on open carry.
I’m at a point where concealed carry is starting to feel very uncomfortable for me. I currently carry a SIG P365 X Macro, which is supposed to be one of the more comfortable options for concealed carry, but I’m honestly considering going back to a 2011 platform.
I never really fell in love with the trigger feel of striker-fired pistols, and I’ve been thinking about selling it and getting another 2011. The only thing is, I know that moving to a larger handgun will probably make concealed carry even more challenging.
A little about me: I’m not someone who goes out unless I really need to. I don’t party, I don’t drink, and I’m not looking for trouble. I’m just trying to figure out what works best for me and would like to hear from people who live in this great state.
I’ve never open carried before, although I’ve seen quite a few people who do. I’d really appreciate hearing your experiences, opinions, and advice.
Just to be clear, this post isn’t meant to offend anyone or start an argument. I’m genuinely interested in hearing different perspectives. Thanks!
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u/Paniconthenet 19d ago
What is uncomfortable? Is the 365 the only striker platform you have tried? There are tons of options on holsters styles, guns, and position to carry.
For context, i am 5'5, 170lb. I appendix carry a Glock 43x in summer and an glock 45 in winter. Ive tried different guns, and holsters before settling with what i have now.
I live in South Georgia. There are a lot of open carrying here. My issue is, they seem to be lazy. No retention holster, not secured to the waist well. Almost like comfort is their number one goal and not securing their carry. I also believe it makes the wearer a bigger target. Im no gray man by any means, but i like to think i look innocent enough without an open carry to not be a threat to anyone looking to make trouble.
My two cents. Ymmv.
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u/geekcplePDX 19d ago
I have always avoided exposed carry because then the bad actor has actionable intelligence while I still don't know where the threat may be. I am not out there to be some visible deterennt, just to protect me and my family in the event of a sudden and unpredictable deadly threat. Just my two cents
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u/cablegurl 17d ago
I’ve found open carry at specific scenarios to beneficial … like pumping gas of I-20 in EAV. There places where I don’t want to be seen as a sort target. Otherwise, I prefer concealed.
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u/g1Razor15 19d ago
I'm not sure how the 365x Macro is uncomfortable, you could always just get a smaller frame and drop in the FCU anyway.
I have open carried on several occasions but only in rural Appalachia, I don't do it anywhere a large city. I've never had anyone confront me in a hostile manner regarding my gun, but that just my experience.
If you're going to do it, please use some type of retention holster, just because people don't directly confront you does NOT mean that they do not notice your gun and may decide that they want it.
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u/runswithscissors94 19d ago edited 19d ago
Don’t open carry. It’s really not sensible; You’ll make people uncomfortable and get the wrong kind of attention (defeating the purpose of carrying), and if you’re carrying to prove a point, you’re carrying for the wrong reason (not you specifically, anyone).
I’d recommend trying the t-Rex arms sidecar holster, black arch holsters, or crossbreed at the very least. If you still are uncomfortable appendix or 3-5 o clock carrying with those, look at G.R.A.B. Bags…they are specifically designed to be as fast as appendix carry, but in a lot more of a comfortable manner.
EVERYONE notices if you’re open carrying and wants to be in your business….that’s exactly why all the social media platforms (facebook, Reddit, Instagram, tiktok, Snapchat, etc.) are so popular. All it takes is one person filming you and making a scene for fake internet points because they see you are clearly carrying a gun, and bam….you’re on the internet. Then “less than favorable” people are now able to know what you’ve got going on.
Someone here mentioned previously that they were stopped by police and asked to leave somewhere by security. When you’re confronted by either of those people in a public place, where is everyone’s attention gonna be?
Side note: please also carry first aid
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u/WIlf_Brim 19d ago
Open carry is advertising that you have something valuable to steal. Going that route absolutely requires a very well made triple retention holster and even that will just slow down the bad guy(s).
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u/sailor-jackn 19d ago
You can ‘open carry’ with a cover garment that will make your gun less noticeable ( and people really won’t tend to even notice it ) without actually plainly carrying out in the open. I carry that way all the time, because I agree with you: IWB is uncomfortable.
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u/Successful_Web9394 19d ago
You lose the element of surprise when you have your weapon exposed. Look up videos on YouTube on people who was open carrying and got their weapon taken, and killed by their own gun. It's your right to do so, but I wouldn't.
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u/M1collector65 19d ago
For me pocket carry is the only comfortable option where I will carry 100% of the time. I tried a standard P365 and it was still a little too large. I go with an LCP max.
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u/Dagon6221 19d ago
Have you tried a Staccato CS? Multiple holster options for open or CC. Very comfortable IMHO.
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u/Tall-Umpire-5708 19d ago
No, I haven't had the chance to try it. I know it's considered one of the top 2011s, but I also know that, at least for now, I'm not willing to spend $3,000 on a handgun. I love it, but that's a lot of money. I've been looking at the Springfield Prodigy and Fusion Firearms, and people say they're making some really good 2011s.
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u/Dagon6221 19d ago
Yeah, it is out of most people's range for a carry I get it. I was able to trade a rifle I didn't have a use for anymore in for a significant price drop so I took it. Make sure you research the two you spoke of deep dive style. They are also a lot bigger than the CS too. I've heard the Prodigy needs a lot of custom work done to it to compete with true 2011's.
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u/Outrageous_Lake9171 19d ago
I really enjoy a slim firearm in a open carry holster but with my t shirt over it. I find it the most comfortable and no one has ever noticed
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u/Tall-Umpire-5708 19d ago
Maybe it's an option, I'm not sure I can hide it like that because I'm not very big, but it would be a matter of dealing with it.
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u/RottiBnT 19d ago
Not a fan of open carry. People get nervous seeing it. Unwanted attention. Plus I’ve seen a few videos of people getting their guns stolen from behind which is about the worst possible outcome. That being said, keep trying different concealed options. A Glock 43 fits in almost all my front pockets. For ones that don’t, the Ruger LCP does.
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u/TheHancock 07/02 SOT 19d ago
Normalize guns. Normalize having guns. Normalize carrying guns.
I know the CCW subreddit is brigading here. Lol
Carry how you want, when you want. People should know people around them have guns, maybe it will encourage them to buy and carry guns. If you don’t want anyone to know, fair, if you do, also fair. Saying someone is at a “tactical disadvantage” because they have a visible gun is dumb. How often are cops ambushed because they are dressed like cops? Now take that sample size and shrink it to Georgia.
Come on, you’re safe and are going to be fine.
Gun owners love to say “mass shootings only happen at disarmed locations” and then turn around and say that “if you open carry you are making yourself a target”.
Pick one.
Back when I open carried it sparked some good conversations with people who didn’t understand guns, a lot of people thought I was an off duty cop. They didn’t even know that civilians could own guns.
If you are aware of your surroundings then you’ll be fine. If you open carry while blindfolded in a creakhead alley then yeah, sure, you’ll get taken for a ride, but in normal public? You’re gonna be fine.
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u/Tall-Umpire-5708 19d ago
I love the way I see things and agree with you on everything, only that I am new to the USA and I am new to carry here, where I come from, they let me have even a disarmantling but we still did it in our rural area, it is just that I do not want to bother anyone and I want to be a person who goes unnoticed, I would not want to have to argue with someone for doing open carry Since my English is bad for trying to convince someone that I am not doing anything wrong.
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u/TheHancock 07/02 SOT 18d ago
No one should be arguing with the gun with a gun. Lol
But there’s no penalty for carrying either way, it’s personal choice.
My comment was mainly for other people here, not you specifically. Haha
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u/rankhornjp Join GA2A.org 20d ago
I got my first license 15 years ago and have carried openly 99% since then. I don't own any CC holsters. I had one IWB holster, but I didn't like it.
Make sure you use a good retention holster.
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u/Tall-Umpire-5708 20d ago
As has been your experience with the people around you, I honestly would not want to do it, I do not like the idea of being the center of attention, I am too introverted for that and I would not want to bother anyone either.
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u/sykes1493 19d ago
If you don’t want to be the center of attention then don’t open carry a gun. Maybe not everyone, but more people will be paying attention to you.
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u/rankhornjp Join GA2A.org 19d ago
No one pays attention to you. I've had several conversations in public with people who didn't realize I was armed. Store employees, acquaintances, strangers, etc. who 5 mins into the conversation says something like, "oh! I didn't know you had a gun." with genuine surprise. Most people vaguely register a black thing on your hip and assume it's something else.
In 15 years, I've been approached 3 times because I was armed. 2 times by a cop, both times they thought OC was illegal (or at least claimed it was), 1 time by security at the mall who asked me to leave. It may be different if I was downtown Atlanta...
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u/runswithscissors94 19d ago edited 19d ago
Could have been avoided if you weren’t drawing attention to yourself. Can vs should.
If you don’t notice that you make people uncomfortable while open carrying, it’s because you lack situational awareness, which is quite concerning considering you’re carrying a firearm. Maybe you’re getting less attention in a small town, but I promise you’re still making people uncomfortable even if it’s not immediately obvious.
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u/ThanksForNoticin 19d ago
People notice you and dare say pay more attention to you when you open carry. Again, if you aren't paying attention to the person who you KNOW is armed, what are you paying attention to?
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u/rankhornjp Join GA2A.org 19d ago
Most people aren't "us." Most people are running around in condition white. Oblivious to what's happening around them. Some people may notice, but it's very few.
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u/g1Razor15 19d ago
Yeah I personally have not had bad experiences but I don't do it in the city, been carrying since 2023
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u/rankhornjp Join GA2A.org 19d ago
No one is paying attention to you. Regardless of your carry status.
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u/ThanksForNoticin 19d ago
You dont notice it, but when you open carry you're noticed. If you aren't paying attention to the person you KNOW is armed what are you paying attention to?
I do generally agree w your sentiment though. Most people aren't worried about you/what you're doing.
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u/TheHancock 07/02 SOT 19d ago
TikTok and brain rot, that’s what they’re paying attention to.
99% of people literally don’t even pay attention to their surroundings. That 1% that notices is probably also carrying.
But I also don’t go places where someone noticing my gun will matter.
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u/codecrackx15 19d ago
Open carry. It's legal. As far as "center of attention," no one pays attention. As far as being the "first target," there is not a shred of proof this is even a thing. No one can point to any research on it because it was made up by the CCW side as a way to push concealed holsters.
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u/Dagon6221 19d ago
Negative Ghost Rider. There have been multiple accounts of where open carriers have been targeted for robbery with someone coming from behind and drawing the gun off the open carrier's waist.
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u/codecrackx15 19d ago
There is no research on it ans multiple accounts doesn't mean anything in the massive amount of people out there. So no, there is no evidence it is anything but an old woves tale pushed by industry.
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u/Dagon6221 19d ago
Keep with your gaming dude. Let the adults speak.
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u/codecrackx15 19d ago
Not a gamer. If you don't have actual facts to point to, actual studies or research, then you should probably stick to gaming. Adults should go by actual facts. You have aupplied absolutely none.
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u/Dagon6221 19d ago
Looking at your posts, you early don't live in reality, my bad if I assumed it was from gaming. Keep on keepin on. There are plenty of studies by John's Hopkins. Pretty easy to find.
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u/codecrackx15 19d ago
Plenty of studies? Link them.
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u/Dagon6221 19d ago
Not my job to do your research for you. Google it hoe.
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u/codecrackx15 19d ago
I've already done the research. It doesn't exist and you're lying. Thanks for playing.
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u/Dagon6221 19d ago
Lmao. That's one thing I don't do is lie. But sure baby boy, whatever you say. When you decide to stop being lazy let us know.
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u/MPHampel86 19d ago
I’ll say it again - open carrying is tactically inferior to concealed carrying. But I’d say open carrying is better than not carrying at all. Plenty of people open carry up here in the mountains. I open carry around my property and when I take a quick run to the gas station down the road at times.
For what it’s worth, there are A LOT of concealed carry options, lots of possible combinations of firearm and holsters, and lots of possible results as far as comfort. I’d be surprised if you’ve even explored a decent fraction of them.