How to Open Carry a Pistol Covertly

Quick tips on the best ways to open carry your firearm and still blend in and remain covert.

[dannyh]

Exactly how I open carry, I don't want the attention. But I also refuse to give my hard earned money to the government for a concealed carry permit that should be my right without payment. Plus its way more comfortable.

[tristanfreeman]

I'm 19, that means I can open carry in most states, some people will say "how did you obtain it you can't until you're 21". That's where they're wrong, it's called immediate family members and private sales. So my issue is accidentally attracting attention.

[AiricKnight]

Thanks for doing this for those who are eager to know this information.

[richarcm]

Aside from my previous comment....I appreciate your video.  Aside from a couple of quick and subtle jabs at open carriers you remain MOSTLY neutral.  I appreciate that.

do you feel is more neutral? 

Open carrying a black gun, in a black holster, against a black t-shirt and dark green shorts?

OR

Open carrying a black gun, in a black holster, against a WHITE tucked in polo or button down shirt with nice jeans or khakis? 

The ladder is more visible but also more professional.   In MOST cases when I dress nice but allow the gun to be visible when I get questioned the first thing I am asked is "Are you a cop?".  I feel that if you dress professionally and allow your gun to be visible...as long as you are practiced and remain confident...most people won't think twice.  They just think you are a cop.  Now clearly if you have a 24" long beard...that makes it a bit trickier. 

Preferably I like to dress nice because I think it attaches a positive image to visible guns.  I though do not want people to believe that I am a cop.  I want people to know that I am NOT a cop.  I want to dispel the myth that only cops and bad guys carry guns.    So I'll often mix it up between the two depending on where I'm going, what I'll be doing or who I will be around.

[richarcm]

I open carry, not because I want to be a "badass", but for several other reasons. 

One, I do not believe in begging politicians for permission to carry my gun.  I used to have a permission slip to conceal carry...but found that practice pretty ridiculous.  Once expired I never asked for permission again.

Two, I am one who believes that a visible gun is a visible deterrence to the average bad guy.   And ultimately I'd rather PREVENT violence upon myself than focus on being able to stealthily stop it AFTER it is initiated. 

Three, open carry to me is much more comfortable.   I don't have to worry about printing, it isn't wedged inbetween my pants/belt and my person, and its less prone to being subject to salty perspiration which can damage the firearm over time. 

Lastly, MOST gun owners are gun activists at some level.  They seek to get SOME level of attention in order to promote gun rights.   I can't think of many forms of successful activism that do not require methods of grabbing people's attention.   Some people do have mixed feelings about seeing someone with a gun.  But those are generally in areas where....they don't often see people with guns.  In areas where open carry has become an established practice....not so surprisingly...people don't think as much about it.  They will typically concern themselves more with the behaviors of the gun owner than of the gun itself.   Oddly enough..I've been open carrying for about 8 years now.  I've only had two people EVER say anything negative.  Both were in more conservative rural areas where I least expected it.  I think there are more gun owners who are products of media shaming, feel guilt or are scared of what others think of them than there are people on the outside who are truly as petrified as we have been taught to believe.  I've carried all around Pentagon City, in and out of NUMEROUS Starbucks, up and down the streets of UBER liberal Old Towns....never a problem at all.  Not with the people or police.  I've openly carried in and out of the VA state capitol and in and out of various state senator's offices.  No problems.  This perception, especially concealed carry proponents fear, is mostly self imposed.   Sadly from what I've seen this demonization of openly carried guns has come as much from the conceal carrying only gun activists as it has from the more prominent gun control groups.  That's been my experience.

[kekistanirefugee]

I like a bit lower ride so I don't have to lift my tshirt up so high on that side, it blends everything a bit better IMO. Safariland makes a cheap 2" low ride adapter.

[Static_Stormm]

Unfortunately a stainless slide makes that near impossible for me. I tend to wear dark clothes too. Great info though bro!

[DayEnt]

I'm 18 so i can't conceal carry my handgun so i have to open carry

[doranmaxwell]

Interesting theories... I like to look harmless which is problematic considering my size and how beat up I look but.. you don't either. you look like a threat to me.. one of the first I would single out and watch... I am kinda paranoid tho... My cane has a sword in it. my preferred carry is in a jacket pocket so that I can reach in to hand over my keys or wallet and then shoot right through my pocket. People would laugh at the idea but it is very very doable and a Jframe .357 like the 340 PD will work every time... course... you will set the coat on fire but... coats are realtively cheap given the alternatives. in past centuries they actually made canes that fired a single round. Rode chopped Harley's for 50 years so somewhat familiar with the whole looking like a badass thing and how badly it can go. Now I am just some old guy who can barely walk... a threat to no one. harmless.... not very prosperous it seems.. probly live off a too small pension. Certainly not someone who can hip shoot a rattler at 6' or hit a two liter soda at 100 yards. That would have to be someone who is a real badass or just some crazy guy who handloads and shoots a variety of handguns thousands of rounds a year just for fun. Basically? if there is a situation.... I am glad some young and fit guy like yourself is there. on the bad guy scale of who is the threat? you are like a 10 and lower my number to like 3 my SA comes from my paranoia you don't win fights by breaking your hands... when there are hard angled surfaces everywhere.

[darkmantv]

Thanks for the video yes I wanna blend in . I wish cc permits didn’t exist . But they do. I can only open carry I’m tired of people being nosey and shit . I rather follow the law than break the law and conceal it . Damn that’s what I should say. .im black I know it doesn’t matter but I was embarrassed when other guys ask me do I have a permit to carry. I’m not even gonna answer them . I’m just gonna walk away.

[Djwhatif]

I assume everyone has a gun especially if I Don't see it . 😅

[MrAvidOutdoorsman]

Its never made any sense to me that the "overlords" claim it to be legal only if everyone and every criminal can see your gun if you haven't paid money to conceal it! Such extortion of basic human rights to self preservation tools is disgusting

[TyDie]

“Covertly” open carrying is concealed carrying.

[saint]

Somebody has to go potty. Poor guy whining in the background. Looks like a good pup. I open carry and conceal carry. Makes no difference to me. Just depends on what mood I'm in and where I'm at

[Eric-twqx]

People don't wear black everyday, so this is useless advice. 😳🇺🇸🇺🇸