Hello guys and gals. I got an e-mail from NRA store. The concealed vest looks interesting for me. Here in Florida a vest would be a fall and winter coat. Does anybody have any info about the vest? Do they wear larger or smaller in size? Any info would be great. They are great looking vest.

Shoot me first please.

quote:

Originally posted by schmit55:
Shoot me first please.

Agreed. I had one for a little while, and I did not like it. It might conceal your gun, but it made me stick out in a crowd more than I liked. Enough so that people would ask me stupid questions like "are you going fishing?", or "are you a photographer?". And it wasn't curious questioning, it was sarcastic "poking fun at the kid with pee stains on his pants" type of questions. So, I guess if you don't mind carrying a fishing pole with you or have a couple Canon EOS's around your neck, you'd be incognito.

Being a LEO that travels for work a lot, I can tell you that the 5.11 vests are worn by so many LEO's now that it is considered the new "fanny pack" of concealment attire in the community. Any time I go to DC or to any large event controlled by Feds (like a political convention, POTUS appearance, etc.), there are so many cops wearing them you'd think it was a 5.11 commercial. To make things worse, this is a 5.11 vest with the NRA logo on it.

Sorry to be so down on them, I'm sure that's not the response you want, but that is my experience with them, and this particular one is a terrible idea.

5.11 does make a great " Under armor type" shirt that can be worn under about any clothes. I wear mine under a Hoody and it will hide a Full size p220st..

Thanks , I appriciate the information. I'm new to concealed carry and I want as much info as posible.

I usually wear a light vest in the summer and I guess I'm not the kind of person that people feel comfortable asking sarcastic questions of because I've never gotten one.

As for "shoot me first," describe three examples, please, of incidents in which something like that has happened. I see it cited as a reason to avoid vests and belt packs all the time, so it should be easy enough to do—if it's valid.

All that being said, I dislike trying to carry a gun in any kind of cover garment. The only time it works for me at all is if the gun is very light and the garment is heavy like a winter coat. Because of how the gun is secured in most of them, it's also very slow to draw from. It may be better than nothing, but it's hardly my first choice.

Best is a good holster; for extra concealment look at carrying inside the waistband.

One great advantage of my being in a "Hoveround" wheelchair--I can carry and hide both a full size 1911 and a model 29 .44 magnum without drawing the slightest bit of attention--and certainly no one would ever expect it from some old guy in a wheelchair!!

A light vest other than a 5.11 might be fine, I agree. I do it on occasion as well; with something like a Columbia Fleece vest and do not get the sarcastic questions. I was specifically addressing the tacti-vests like the 5.11 because that is what the OP was asking about. Combine a vest like that with a NRA symbol...still a poor choice in my opinion. Perhaps I'm a little over zealous about this since I am continuously looking for concealed weapons in my current assignment.

However in regards to your other comment, being tactically lax because someone can't point to an instance yet (though there may very well be some) of a shooting because a criminal ID'd or mistakenly ID'd someone as a CCW or a police officer because of an all too common concealment tactic such as this is extremely naive. In my opinion, no example is required, 1 example is more than needed, and I can't imagine why 3 examples would be the "magic" number for reconsideration.

The goal of covert concealment is to blend in and look like everyone else; not to provide a clue. They (criminals) know. They study tactics used by LEO's and the law abiding, and sooner or later, they exploit them for their benefit. If you believe otherwise, you are a fool. That's what criminals do; they are opportunists.

It makes no sense to me to do anything, even in the slightest, to possibly invite victimization. Is that enough to avoid them? It is for me. So,wear your fanny pack; wear your 5.11 vest. Hopefully you won't be the statistic to cite here...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ejes,

quote:

As for "shoot me first," describe three examples, please, of incidents in which something like that has happened.

I'll bet you go around taking away other kids Kool-aid too, meany.

That's like asking on 9-10-01 for an example of terrorists Not wanting a ransom.

I find that the 5.11 vests are VERY heavy. I've worn them in colder climates on occasion, but they haven't budged off the hanger since I moved here to Tampa.

WRT vests being "the new fanny pack," it really does depend on where you live, and what kind of vest you're talking about. I'll freely admit, the 5.11 vest is the WORST of the lot, it's so obviously trying to be "tactical" that it's really sad. However, there are lots of places in the US and in other parts of the world where a generic looking tan vest is not at all out of place in normal daily attire.

I do remember, though, one night working in San Antonio, a bunch of us ended up on a training mission in a local country-western joint - I mean like 12 agents; and every one of us was wearing a vest of some kind, because my agency at the time would have fired anyone for THINKING about wearing an untucked shirt at work, and it was July - WAY too hot for a jacket. At one point, one of the waitress walked up and asked "is there a Bass Masters convention going on?"

So, while I'm not against vests altogether, I am against the 5.11 specifically. I'm also completely with Sigfreund on not recommending carrying any kind of "real" gun in the "concealment pockets" on these vests (or similarly style jackets). If the gun is small enough and light enough to ride naturally in that pocket, you can conceal it under an untucked t-shirt in a good IWB holster...

Regards,

Kevin

I have a 5.11 vest and it is a lot lighter than the other I tried (Woolrich).

The holster portion really is only good for very small pistols. 380's or Airweight revolvers are all I would recommend. A Glock 26/27 would fit but is kind of heavy. The "weight balance" waist straps are worthless.

As for sticking out, all I can say is that it must depend on where you live. Seattle tourists and nature people wear them (camera vests) all them without a second glance. I wear one all the time in the summer. Oh, and it has about 100 pockets for stuff.

quote:

Shoot me first please.

Bullshit.

Most manufacturers produce what customers want to buy. Right now, in modern America, "tactical" is "in". Tactical in appearance, tactical in the name; these are selling so the manufacturers continue to crank them out.

Let the children have the toys they want to play with.

As for me, I put away all the "tactical" crap when I got out of the Army many years ago.

Here's the key I think, does what you wearing make a complete picture? If you're wearing a shirt and jeans that the vest (whichever kind) sticks out from, then maybe someone will notice. on the other hand, if you're wearing a vest with khaki shorts and shirt, you're simply a sportsman or coming home from your job at the zoo. I am a photographer, so I can easily and legitemately explain away a khaki vest. As a matter of a fact, I slip one or two accoutrements (an empty film cansister or a light meter) in a pocket as a distraction device. Why am I wearing this vest? oh, I was taking some pictures a little while ago, or maybe I was just going to run down to walmart and get this developed, either way, if your smart enough to realize the possiblities, your smart enough to be distracted by the props. See this nifty light meter I got? only $79.99 at True Value.

I sometimes wear a carhart vest with my favorite red flannel shirt and jeans. No one even blinks. I actually have a 5-11, some carharts, some flannel vest, even have a cut off fatigue shirt like what BJ wore in M*A*S*H. You have to give people something to look at that explains away the obvious, they will want to believe what they see and not take the time to become suspicious. Simply stated, the well dressed man should be well dressed.

Shoot me first? Not if I squeeze before you do.

I take a different tack. First, sport coats are fashionable, even with blue jeans. Second, they cost less than some of these vests we are talking about. Look at other conceal carry professionals. FBI, local detectives, secret service. They dress nice for a reason. It visually separates them from the element.

Being real simple about this. If there is an "issue", there will be at least four possible responders. More criminals. Inert observers. Fellow, but unfamiliar, CCWs. LEO. I want 3 out of the 4 to look at me and the criminal and have less doubt about who is who. The worse possible case is the responders think it's a hillbilly debate.

If I survive, I definitely want to look professional. I know this won't sit well with some. I don't make the rules of society. I just try to figure out the best possible case. Besides, the only place I wore my one sport coat was funerals. I was tired of having such negative feeling about a piece of clothing.

If you choose this route, I have found Men's Warehouse to be phenomenal in helping with fitting. They invited me to wear the gun during fitting. I was shocked at their support. They explained they do it for LEO all the time.

Paul

As others have pointed out, it really depends on your environment.

Spend a few evenings outside:
- busy supermarkets
- busy department stores
- busy restaurants
and similar places.

Observe what people are wearing where you live.
Look at what they're wearing while thinking "would that make a good concealment garment?"

In some areas, a vest works well. Other places, a sport coat works better. It all depends.

Tripple Barrell and Uncle Paul have hit it upon the head with a large hammer. Conversely, after a amiable conversation with a store manager who did indeed seem to understand my lot, I will now be dealing with Men's Wearhouse. In the meantime, I refer to my comment of some moments ago.

quote:

Originally posted by tanksoldier:

quote:

Shoot me first please.

Bullshit.

+1!

Well, everytime I see one I look at the guy to determine if he is just a tool or a tool with a tool.

LOL, this should be good...