This is a topic that's talked about A LOT, in a lot of different arenas. A quick Google will bring up countless forum discussions on it. For the sake of the BOTL, I figured I would share my experience so far in hopes of passing on any tiny bit of wisdom.
First, what is an NPE?
I hope there is at least a kernel of usefulness in this post for people considering "deep carry."
First, what is an NPE?
"NPE" stands for "Non-Permissive Environment." That clears things up not at all. What THAT means is an environment where carrying a weapon gets you in serious trouble. That could mean fired from your job. That could mean arrested. But that's the general gist. Basically, it's a place where, should you choose to carry, you're accepting that being found with a weapon is going to cost you dearly.
Why would you carry in an NPE?
Everybody has their own reasons. The most common is that people would rather risk losing their job than risk losing their life in a violent encounter.
Why does the title say "sortaNPE?"
The two environments I am going to cover are not actual NPEs - at least not in and of themselves...
I have held two jobs since graduating. Neither one has/had a policy against firearms. Last year I worked at a paving company, owned by a family member. There was no need to be discrete at the office. I could, literally, leave a rifle on my desk and nobody would care (I did it one day). My new job also has no policy against weapons on the premises.
BUT I CHOOSE TO TREAT THEM AS NPEs ANYWAY.
Why would I do that???I have held two jobs since graduating. Neither one has/had a policy against firearms. Last year I worked at a paving company, owned by a family member. There was no need to be discrete at the office. I could, literally, leave a rifle on my desk and nobody would care (I did it one day). My new job also has no policy against weapons on the premises.
BUT I CHOOSE TO TREAT THEM AS NPEs ANYWAY.
I could go on and on here. But, short version: it's FAR better for you that people not know you carry, for a plethora of reasons. Additionally, my last job required me to meet with customers, go to jobsites, etc. All stuff outside of the office. Some were actual NPEs. Some were simply situations where if people knew I was carrying, I would have a bad day (not get a sale, things of that sort).
Phase One: Mission Drives the Gear
The first thing you have to consider if you decide to carry in an NPE is your attire. At job #1, my dress code was slacks with a tucked in polo or dress shirt. Tucked in shirts are the tricky part because it means carrying on the belt is either not possible, or incredibly difficult. This left me with three options: ankle carry, off-body carry, or pocket carry.
I ruled out ankle carry because it is slow, cumbersome, and I don't like wearing pants that are wide around the ankles. Off-body carry was never really an option because I don't believe in it; it's stupid. Pocket carry was the only choice; it is easy and relatively fast. This also made gun selection easier on me. I knew I wanted a gun in a service caliber, with top priorities being concealment and deployment. J-frame. The j-frame is your best friend for pocket carry. Small autos, depending on the sample, may be easier to shoot and reload. But, they simply can't compete with J-frames for the ability to disappear in a pocket, and ditto for drawing from a pocket. I also wanted a gun that could theoretically be fired from inside the pocket.
My only real choices were S&W and Ruger's LCR. I'm not a big fan of S&W these days, but I hate Ruger. Their LCR has a better trigger out of the box, but it is bigger and I would argue less durable. I landed on the S&W 442 (no lock). The 442 and 642 are pretty much the gold standard of j-frames, and the 442 has a better finish. I added an Apex trigger kit and Crimon Trace LG-105 to make it more shootable. (I selected the 105s because they retain the compact size. More importantly, they're hard plastic instead of rubber. Rubber grabs the inside of your pocket and makes for a more difficult draw). For anybody considering pocket carry, my first and second recommendation is the S&W 442.
A pocket holster allows you to safely carry it, and also further breaks up the lines of the gun. This has served me incredibly well. I will never sell this gun because it's the "I don't have a reason to NOT carry anywhere gun" and it also excels as a BUG.
Phase Two: Today, and why my perfect setup is no longer perfect.I ruled out ankle carry because it is slow, cumbersome, and I don't like wearing pants that are wide around the ankles. Off-body carry was never really an option because I don't believe in it; it's stupid. Pocket carry was the only choice; it is easy and relatively fast. This also made gun selection easier on me. I knew I wanted a gun in a service caliber, with top priorities being concealment and deployment. J-frame. The j-frame is your best friend for pocket carry. Small autos, depending on the sample, may be easier to shoot and reload. But, they simply can't compete with J-frames for the ability to disappear in a pocket, and ditto for drawing from a pocket. I also wanted a gun that could theoretically be fired from inside the pocket.
My only real choices were S&W and Ruger's LCR. I'm not a big fan of S&W these days, but I hate Ruger. Their LCR has a better trigger out of the box, but it is bigger and I would argue less durable. I landed on the S&W 442 (no lock). The 442 and 642 are pretty much the gold standard of j-frames, and the 442 has a better finish. I added an Apex trigger kit and Crimon Trace LG-105 to make it more shootable. (I selected the 105s because they retain the compact size. More importantly, they're hard plastic instead of rubber. Rubber grabs the inside of your pocket and makes for a more difficult draw). For anybody considering pocket carry, my first and second recommendation is the S&W 442.
A pocket holster allows you to safely carry it, and also further breaks up the lines of the gun. This has served me incredibly well. I will never sell this gun because it's the "I don't have a reason to NOT carry anywhere gun" and it also excels as a BUG.
My new job is a similar dress code (shirt and tie), so this setup should continue its reign as King, yes?
No.
I now work in an office from 9-5 with the same people every day. People you see every single day start noticing the slightest details over time. Additionally, I'm not related to any of these people (advantage of family business is now gone). Additionally, I am one of VERY few men here and I am the youngest by quite a lot; I'm surrounded by moms. I am now the center of attention at this office. The ladies I work with notice EVERY. LITTLE. DETAIL. It is actually impressive how attentive they are. I am more than confident that the, "Hey, what's always in your pocket that you never take out?" conversation is coming soon. Time to adapt.
Where to from here?
After plenty of research, like I love to do, I have settled on the SmartCarry holster. This style of holster puts the gun in, basically, the least noticeable spot on your body: your crotch. People are not likely to stare at your zipper. If they do, and happen to notice anything, they certainly won't ask - at least not on a male. I don't mean to be crass, but it's true. I've settled on SmartCarry over its competitors (Thunderwear, etc) because it seems best made and best suited. It is made of thicker, heavier material which makes it more difficult to accidentally do something stupid.
While my 442 would be just fine riding in the SmartCarry, it's an opportunity to "go up" a gun. I'm currently shopping for a small to mid-sized auto; there's extra room, and they are more shootable. I was initially shopping for something with a safety to prevent any chance of an ND. BUT, after some careful research, I realized that was more dangerous: safeties can be disengaged somewhat easily in soft holsters, and short travel of such triggers would be potential for extreme danger should that happen. I am now shopping for something with a decocker, so that a long, heavy trigger pull is preventing any accidents. I have been eyeballing the CZ P-07, for a lot of reasons. But, it offers the decocker and an external hammer which allows me to be cognizant of the gun's firing status.
I will update when I have made a final decision, and when I have some time with the new style of carry. No.
I now work in an office from 9-5 with the same people every day. People you see every single day start noticing the slightest details over time. Additionally, I'm not related to any of these people (advantage of family business is now gone). Additionally, I am one of VERY few men here and I am the youngest by quite a lot; I'm surrounded by moms. I am now the center of attention at this office. The ladies I work with notice EVERY. LITTLE. DETAIL. It is actually impressive how attentive they are. I am more than confident that the, "Hey, what's always in your pocket that you never take out?" conversation is coming soon. Time to adapt.
Where to from here?
After plenty of research, like I love to do, I have settled on the SmartCarry holster. This style of holster puts the gun in, basically, the least noticeable spot on your body: your crotch. People are not likely to stare at your zipper. If they do, and happen to notice anything, they certainly won't ask - at least not on a male. I don't mean to be crass, but it's true. I've settled on SmartCarry over its competitors (Thunderwear, etc) because it seems best made and best suited. It is made of thicker, heavier material which makes it more difficult to accidentally do something stupid.
While my 442 would be just fine riding in the SmartCarry, it's an opportunity to "go up" a gun. I'm currently shopping for a small to mid-sized auto; there's extra room, and they are more shootable. I was initially shopping for something with a safety to prevent any chance of an ND. BUT, after some careful research, I realized that was more dangerous: safeties can be disengaged somewhat easily in soft holsters, and short travel of such triggers would be potential for extreme danger should that happen. I am now shopping for something with a decocker, so that a long, heavy trigger pull is preventing any accidents. I have been eyeballing the CZ P-07, for a lot of reasons. But, it offers the decocker and an external hammer which allows me to be cognizant of the gun's firing status.
I hope there is at least a kernel of usefulness in this post for people considering "deep carry."
Last edited:
