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My wife and I have been talking about getting her a carry purse as soon as her plastic comes in the mail, so it was nice to be able to sit and read through this thread.

The Galco purses really are a bit expensive! Again, here's to me wishing I lived in the Houston area a little closer to all you guys, so that the wife and I could maybe get a look at one before we actually bought one!

And I thought my holster was expensive!

Not trying to change anyone's mind here, but just for the written record, I'm "voting" against the concept of carrying a gun in a purse.

-- John D.

I equate purse carry for women in the same catagory as tucked for men. Not at all ideal but sometimes the only thing available.

cloudcroft wrote:Not trying to change anyone's mind here, but just for the written record, I'm "voting" against the concept of carrying a gun in a purse.

-- John D.

Duly noted.

I believe the pros and cons have been pretty well discussed here in the past. The general consensus is consistent with your vote. However... lifestyle, circumstance, fashion wants, and other things....often dictate how a firearm might be carried by females.

As a father (of a young lady), I will take some small measure of comfort knowing she has her weapon with her, even if it is in her purse. Surely, this is preferable to leaving it at home. That is my aim...(sorry for the pun).

I vote against purse-carry as well, but just as Flint said about his daughter, it makes me feel a lot better that my wife has her pistol in her purse instead of having left it at home.

Yes, there are other ways to carry, but her wardrobe doesn't allow much, and the kind of wardrobe that it would take for her to be able to carry on her hip and conceal is just out of the question to her. I've tried, believe me.

To each her own--I'll let y'all know how this purse carry thing turns out on this end.

longtooth wrote:I equate purse carry for women in the same catagory as tucked for men. Not at all ideal but sometimes the only thing available.

I think that most guys have no clue how difficult it is for a woman to carry and conceal in a waistband type holster.

Purse carry has its drawbacks, but it sure beats NO carry.

longtooth wrote:I equate purse carry for women in the same catagory as tucked for men.

That's not the objection I have.

Purse carry for women is the same as "briefcase/laptop bag" carry for men: that is, it's off body, frequently out of the carrier's direct control, is the target of thieves, and is easily snatched.

I think "tucked" carry for both men and women would be pretty much the same. Something like Smart Carry/Thunderwear, a Kangaroo style system, or ankle (for men) or thigh (for women).

Kevin

Yea, & I personally dont care for any off body carry for security.

flintknapper and others,

Yes, I agree: A gun in the purse is A WHOLE LOT BETTER than the gun at home or in the car.

I'm reminded of that 1991 shooting spree at Lubys with Suzanna Gratia. For those who don't know about said incident:

http://www.gunownersalliance.com/hupp-10.htm

In this case, "the law" prevented her from carrying into Lubys. I'm SURE she wished she had carried anyway! Afterwards, she ran for political office and won, and has been a positive force in getting guns laws changed here in TX ever since.

Good for her.

Some people (non-criminals) DO carry regardless of what "the law" says, and to places "the law" says you can't.

Can't say that I blame them one bit.

Regards,

-- John D.

breakin' the law, breakin' the law
want waaaaah


anyway, my ol' lady wants a under shirt, belly band style holster for her Bersa .380. I tell her that the purse ain't a great option, cause, well, let's be honest, it takes her, like, an hour, to find her car keys!!!

as with any carry, it depends on your physique and body habitus.
if she tries hard enough, she can find a way to have it "on body"
anyone ever see them old 007 movies? those chicks ALWAYS had a gun on'em!!!

Any concern with the magazine of an "auto" being released due to the release button contacting the inside of the purse pocket?

I suppose this is another reason why some have admonished against carrying too many other objects in the purse. I know they have pockets/compartments just for the weapon, but it still seems possible to have something in the main part of the purse push against the gun.

Just wondering. Any problems with this?

Thanks,

Flint.

Many of the purses I"ve seen have special compartments on the outside of the purse where you stick your hand while you're walking to the vehicle. Unless you put things in that compartment along with the gun, I would imagine you'd be fine. (When I say "you", I mean your daughter.)

I would also like to recommend the belly band. My dad gave me his because he didn't like it. I think its neat. Rather than use the cheapie holster, I put my Bersa in the belly band and put panty hose up over it all when I go to church. (My husband finds this amusing.)
I think I recall from your original post that she is in school studying something in the medical field. I don't know if she's doing clinicals yet, or if her buildings permit her to carry, but my neice wears pantyhose under her scrubs since they help prevent vericos veins (sp?). The belly band under panty hose might be a good option for her if she's in scrubs.
I agree with you that the purse is better than nothing.

Again, I think its great that your helping her with the costs and encouraging her to be a fighter. She's got a great dad.

flintknapper wrote:Any concern with the magazine of an "auto" being released due to the release button contacting the inside of the purse pocket?

I suppose this is another reason why some have admonished against carrying too many other objects in the purse. I know they have pockets/compartments just for the weapon, but it still seems possible to have something in the main part of the purse push against the gun.

Never had it actually happen, no, but it's one of the reasons why I always tried to keep a carry purse as empty of non-essentials as possible. A purse with stiff pocket dividers will work better for this than one with simple cloth dividers that things can poke through.

Or, you could take an inexpensive Uncle Mike's and velcro it inside that one pocket to protect the safety and mag release, if you're using a non-CHL specific purse. Many purses designed specifically for carry come with a holster velcroed into the compartment.

Concerning Mag release:
Wife has never carried anywhere except in her purse. Been close to 4 yr now. Never had a Mag released due to getting hit. She keeps her pistol in a separate pocket completely by itself.
She carries everything else she ever thought she might, maybe, accidently could need if something happened. I dont see that to be an issue. Do agree that the lighter the better.

Mom purse carries when she wants larger than her 3AT in front pocket. She has never had a problem.

I carry in a smartcarry on the body whenever I can.

Occasionally I do carry in a purse that was modified by my husband. In a compartment completely by itself (notice that is a recurring theme on this thread), he installed a BladeTech kydex holster supported by an aluminum sheet to give the purse material rigidity. The bag or purse is a travel bag my mom got for a trip overseas. It looks like a small backpack that you carry cross the body. If I have my G19 in the bag, I carry it across the body so it is on my right side. If I am carrying on the body, the purse is carried on my left side. I do not take it off.

Before he put the holster in the bag, I was hesitant to carry cocked because I was never completely sure of the alignment of the gun. Once it was secured in place, I never hesitate to have it ready to go as it now has a secure trigger guard.

I would love to have an expensive Galco or Coronado purse, but I would never hesitate to shoot right through one if necessary. I think the important thing is still the mindset and the awareness of the responsibility of carrying a deadly weapon.