Another good question, but unfortunately it isn't as easy to answer as one about chosing a weapon. Choosing a weapon is a matter of purpose, then size, caliber and action type can be decided. But to determine a mode of carry that works for you has a lot of other factors that you need to weigh when choosing. What type of gun, how you dress, what the weather is like, will you be in the car or seated at a desk a lot. Do you need to find an alternative method for carrying? Maybe off body? I am going to try and cover as many of these as I can and list some of the pros and cons involved with each.
Strong side belt holster: probably the most common mode of carry, generally either a leather or polymer holster, either of the paddle type or belt slot type that rides on your strong side (if you are right handed it would be the right hip, if you are a lefty it would obviously be the left) hip or slightly behind. These holsters are the easiest to use generally speaking, and the easiest to draw and reholster. However they are also the least concealable, and you will have to dress around this setup. Some climates may not lend themselves to this. Obviously if you live in a hot and humid climate, a covering garment may make you uncomfortably hot and be a telltale sign that you are carrying to anyone who is carry savvy. But this method puts the gun close at hand and in a comfortable spot, if there is such a thing. The Blackhawk Serpa and Desantis Viper are good examples.
In the waistband holster: this method is far more concealable, and easier to dress around than the belt holster. However it can make the draw slower and more difficult (something you can hopefully overcome with practice) and reholstering can be difficult if the holster doesn't have reinforcement around the "mouth" to aid in keeping it open to accept your pistol. But generally you can conceal it with an untucked t-shirt. Some in the waistband holsters can be uncomfortable in hot weather as they tend to stick to your side once you start to perspire. You may also have to buy one size bigger pants to make tucking the gun inside more comfortable. Holsters like the Galco King Tuk, and Crossbreed Holsters are excellent examples of this type.
Shoulder Holsters: Shoulder holsters are generally of two types for carrying a defensive weapon, the vertical and the horizontal style. The vertical is more concealable than a horizontal holster, but the horizontal is most definitely easier to draw from. Both generally have the holster under the weak side arm and the mag pouch under the strong side. About the only way to conceal one of these is to use a covering garment and a sportcoat, or blazer works as well as anything. Often just wearing a button up shirt will allow the holster to "print" (show through the garment) so care has to be taken when wearing this type of rig as not to give yourself away. Also if you are a bigger person, like myself, wearing one can be just uncomfortable as most of the leather setups don't have enough adjustment to make it big enough and the nylon ones are generally of poor quality. Also the draw from a shoulder rig and especially the horizontal style forces you to sweep people behind you with the muzzle during the draw, and in fact covers people with the muzzle while carrying. E.G. Galco Miami Classic
Ankle Holster: for carrying a small revolver or auto pistol, the ankle holster is very concealable, as long as you are wearing long pants. Another thing to consider is the fit of the legs. Obviously skinny jeans would not work nearly as well as a pair of tactical pants, as the fit at the ankle would be too tight to allow access to the weapon, and would definitely make it obvious you had something there that shouldn't be. The draw is slower, and some poeple simply do not have the flexibility to draw from one quickly, if at all. E.G. Bianchi Triad
Cross draw holsters: this type of holster rides near the front of your waist on the weak side with the grip facing the strong side as to allow an easier grip with the strong hand. For someone riding in a car a lot, such as a salesman who has to travel, or someone "riding" a desk this type of holster makes drawing from a seated position much less troublesome. Especially where a seatbelt is involved. But it is harder to conceal, and it puts the gun closer to the front of your waist where a bad guy might be more likely able to snatch it from you in a fight. E.G. Kirkpatrick Texas Cross Draw
Small of the back holster: this rig allows you to carry the gun near the center of your back, generally with the grip facing your strong side. It is fairly easy to conceal...however: this type of holster forces you to put yourself into a position where you could very easily be put into an arm bar while goijng for the gun. It also puts the gun into a position where if you were to be knocked down and land on your back, a serious injury could occur as a result of a chunk of metal being shoved into the lower portion of your spine.
Off body carry: the most popular forms of off body carry are the purse or fanny pack carry. Many of both are available from companies like Galco. This mode of carry makes it easy to dress how you want and not have to worry about concealment nearly as much. However there are major drawbacks as well, if someone as going to rob you, odds are they would go for the purse or the fanny pack right away. So it makes your gun part of the target they are going for. Fanny packs especially advertise loud and proud that you are carrying a gun, so no element of surprise there. Also it is easy to forget about the gun when you get home, and simply toss the fanny pack or purse on a table or other habitual place where some unauthorized person may get ahold it. There are many other methods of off body carry including day planners, briefcases etc that all harbor the same advantages and disadvantages as the purse/pack. Galco makes excellent, if not costly, purses and packs.
There are other methods I didn't touch on, like belly bands, vests with special pockets, undershirts with built in holsters,etc. They all have their good and bad points. The trick is to find something that works for you, and go with it. Carry as often as you possibly can. Train and practice with your chosen method, and wear covering garments, if it applies, when doing so. The time to try and learn a new skill isn't when you desperately need it. Fumbling with a covering garment can ceratinly slow you down, and might possibly place you weapon on the ground for you.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
The ten commandments of concealed carry...
Carrying a lethal weapon in public confers a grave power that carries with it great responsibilities. Those who lawfully engage in the practice realize that. Those who are considering “carrying” need to know what those experienced people know.
If You Carry, Always Carry
The criminal is the actor, and the armed citizen is the reactor. The typical violent criminal arms himself only when he intends to do something with it. He picks the time and place of the assault, and initiates the attack. Therefore, he doesn’t need to worry about self-defense.
The armed citizen, the intended victim, does not know when or where that attack will come. Therefore, he or she must be constantly prepared and constantly vigilant. The “pistol-packer” learns to pick a comfortable holster and an appropriately sized handgun, and “dress around the firearm.” After a few days, or a few weeks, it becomes second nature to wear it.
When the defender does not know when the attack will come, the only reasonable expectation of safety lies in being always armed.
Don’t Carry If You Aren’t Prepared To Use It
There is a great irony that attaches to the defensive firearm. When you analyze a great many defensive gun usages (DGUs) you discover that the great majority of the time, the protection weapon does its job with no blood being shed. Usually, the offender who is confronted with the prospect of being shot in self-defense either breaks off and runs or surrenders at gunpoint.
Its most important asset turns out to be its power to deter. The irony comes from the fact that its power to deter is drawn directly from its power to kill.
Understand that criminals do not fear guns. They are, after all, an armed subculture themselves. What they fear is the resolutely armed man or woman who points that gun at them. Criminals are predators, and their stock in trade is their ability to read people and recognize victims. They are very, very good at reading “body language” and determining another’s intent to fight, or lack thereof. In short, you’re not likely to bluff them.
If you carry a gun, you must be absolutely certain that you can use deadly force. The person who is hesitant or unwilling to do so will, in the moment of truth, communicate that vacillation to the hardened criminal they are attempting to hold at gunpoint. In such a case, it is quite likely that the offender will jump them, disarm them, and use the hesitant defenders’ own weapons against them.
If, however, that same criminal realizes that he is facing a resolute person who will, in fact, shoot him if he takes one more transgressive step, he is most unlikely to take that step.
The irony: The person who is prepared to kill if he or she must, is the person who is least likely to have to do so.
Don’t Let The Gun Make You Reckless
Circa 1970, armed citizen Richard Davis invented the Second Chance vest, concealable body armor that for the first time could be worn constantly on duty, under the uniform, by any police officer. Some alarmists speculated that “being made bulletproof” would cause cops to become reckless. Those fears turned out to be totally unfounded. As any officer who has worn armor can attest, the vest is a constant reminder of danger and, if anything, makes its wearer more cautious.
It is much the same with concealed firearms in the hands of responsible private citizens. People unfamiliar with the practice fear that “the trigger will pull the finger,” and armed citizens will go looking for a chance to exercise their deadly power. This, too, is a largely unfounded belief.
The collective experience of ordinary, law-abiding people who carry guns is that they don’t feel a sudden urge to go into Central Park at three o’clock in the morning and troll for muggers. They learn that being armed, they are held to what the law calls “a higher standard of care” and are expected to avoid situations like traffic arguments that could escalate and, with a deadly weapon present, turn into killing situations.
Like an officer’s body armor, the armed citizen’s gun is a reminder of danger, a symbol of the need for caution. The late, great big game hunter and gun writer Finn Aagard once wrote, “Yet my pistol is more than just security. Like an Orthodox Jewish yarmulke or a Christian cross, it is a symbol of who I am, what I believe, and the moral standards by which I live.”
Get The License!
You’ll hear some absolutists say, “No government has the right to permit me to carry a gun! I don’t need no stinking permit! The Second Amendment is my license to carry!”
That is the sound of someone asking to go to jail. Like it or not, the laws of the land require, in 46 of the 50 states, a license to carry. In two states, there is no legal provision for the ordinary citizen to carry at all. Realize that things are not as we wish they were; things are as they are. If things were as we wish they would be, we wouldn’t need to carry guns at all.
If you are diligent about studying carry license reciprocity, and about seeking non-resident carry permits in states that don’t have reciprocity, you can become legal to carry in some forty or more states. It can get expensive, and it can get tiresome. However, allowing yourself to be made into a felon and being ramrodded through the courts is much more expensive and far more tiresome.
Bottom line: if you carry, make sure you carry legally.
Know What You’re DoingYou wouldn’t drive an automobile without knowing the rules of the road. Do not keep or carry lethal weapons for defense without knowing the rules of engagement. It is a myth to believe that you can shoot anyone in your home. When Florida rescinded the requirement to retreat before using deadly force if attacked in public, the anti-gun Brady Center introduced a publicity campaign claiming that the new law allowed Floridians to shoot anyone who frightened them. This, of course, was blatantly untrue, but a great many people believed it to be so because “they heard it on TV” or “they saw it in the paper.” Such dangerous misconceptions can cause the tragic death of people who don’t deserve to be shot, and can get good people sent to prison.
It is the practitioner’s responsibility to “learn the rules of the road” when they take the path toward armed self-defense. There are many firearms training schools, and at least one, the author’s Lethal Force Institute, specializes in teaching the rules of engagement. Information is available under the LFI section at www.ayoob.com. It is wise to take local classes that emphasize the rules of “deadly force decision-making.”
Similarly, a person who opens fire with a gun they don’t know how to shoot is a danger to all. If you need the firearm for its intended purpose, you will be under extreme stress. Learn to shoot under pressure. Quick draw from concealment, safe holstering, proper tactics, and much more are on the curriculum if you are serious about defending yourself and your loved ones to the best of your ability.
Concealed Means Concealed
A very few people carrying guns for the first time feel an irresistible urge to let others see that “they’ve got the power.” First-time carriers and rookie cops, usually young in both cases, may fall into this trap. It is a practice to avoid for several reasons.
In most of this society, the only people the general public sees carrying guns in public are uniformed “protector figures,” such as police officers and security guards. When they see someone not identifiable as such, who is carrying a lethal weapon, they tend to panic. This makes no friends among the voting public for the gun owners’ rights movement—you do not make people into friends and sympathizers, by frightening them—and can lead to a panicky observer getting the wrong idea and reporting you to the police as a “man with a gun.” This can lead to all sorts of unpleasant confrontations.
Moreover, a harasser who has picked you as his victim and knows you carry a gun can create a situation where there are no other witnesses present, and then make the false claim that you threatened him with the weapon. This is a very serious felony called Aggravated Assault. It is his word against yours. The fact that you are indeed carrying the gun he describes you pointing at him can make his lie more believable than your truth, to the ears of judge and jury.
MCRGO, Michigan Coalition of Responsible Gun Owners, is directly responsible for getting reform concealed carry legislation enacted in their state, and has been in the forefront of fighting for the rights of armed citizens in that state. MCRGO’s Steve Dulan, in the organization’s Weekly E’News of 6/23/08, had some cogent points to make on the topic of private citizens carrying handguns visibly in public:
“Open carry of firearms, subject to MCL 750.234d, it is legal to carry a visible pistol in public. MCRGO has not adopted an official position on this subject,” wrote Dulan, who continued, “I agree with Ted Nugent and many others that it is a bad idea in almost every situation. Tactically, you are giving up the element of surprise should you face a deadly force situation. Furthermore, you run the risk of being called in to 9-1-1 as a ‘man with a gun.’ I have been on police ride-alongs when this call comes over the radio. It creates a very dangerous situation for all concerned. I do not carry openly. I have a CPL (Concealed Pistol License) and take care to choose a gun and holster that, along with appropriate clothing, allow me to keep my gun concealed unless/until I need it to save a life.”
As cogent and valid as Steve Dulan’s arguments are, it still makes sense to have legal open carry available as an emergency option. If the wind accidentally blows your coat open and reveals the gun, an open carry provision assures you have committed no crime. If someone who has not yet felt the need to get a concealed carry license suddenly begins getting death threats, open carry provides an emergency avenue of self-protection until the paperwork can be processed to acquire the license to carry the weapon discreetly out of sight.
Maximize Your Firearms Familiarity
The more you work with the firearm, the more reflexively skilled you will become in its emergency use and its safe handling. If your home defense shotgun is a Remington 870, then when you go claybird shooting or hunting, use an 870 pump gun with a barrel and choke appropriate for each task. If you are a target shooter who uses the 1911 pistol platform at bull’s-eye matches and have become deeply familiar with it, it makes sense to acquire a concealable 1911 to use as your carry gun, so that the ingrained skill will directly transfer. If a double-action .44 Magnum is your hunting revolver, and another double-action revolver is your home defense gun, it makes sense to choose a carry-size revolver as your concealment handgun when you’re out and about.
Consider training classes or competition shoots where your chosen defensive firearm is appropriate to the course of fire. This skill-building will translate to self-defense ability if your carry gun ever has to be used to protect innocent life and limb. If training ammunition is too expensive, consider a .22 conversion unit for your semiautomatic pistol or a .22 caliber revolver the same size as your defensive .38 or .357. The more trigger time you have with a similar gun, the more confidence and competence you’ll have with the gun you carry, if you can’t afford to practice as much as you’d like with the carry gun itself.
Understand The Fine Points
Every state has different laws insofar as where you can and can’t carry a gun. It’s your responsibility to know all the details. In one state, it may be against the law to carry a weapon in a posted “no-gun zone.” In another, that sign may have no weight of law at all behind it. In a third, you may be asked to leave if your gun is spotted, and if you do not depart, you will be subject to arrest for Trespass After Warning.
In the state of New Hampshire, it is perfectly legal to carry your gun into a bar while you sit down and have a drink. If you do the same in Florida, it’s an arrestable offense, though you’re allowed to have a cocktail in a restaurant with a liquor license, so long as you’re seated in a part of the establishment that earns less than 50% of its income from selling alcoholic beverages by the drink. In North Carolina, you can’t even walk into a restaurant that has a liquor license, with a gun on. And, perhaps strangest of all, in the state of Virginia at this writing, it is illegal to enter a tavern with a concealed handgun, but perfectly legal to belly up to the bar and sip a whiskey while carrying a loaded handgun “open carry” fashion in an exposed holster!
A superb current compendium of gun laws in the 50 states can be found at www.handgunlaw.us. Review it frequently for possible changes.
Carry An Adequate Firearm
If you carry a single-shot, .22 Short caliber derringer, you will be considered armed with a deadly weapon in the eyes of the law. You will not, however, be adequately prepared to stop a predictable attack by multiple armed assailants. Most experts recommend a five-shot revolver as the absolute minimum in firepower, and the .380/9mm/.38SPL range as the minimum potency level in terms of handgun caliber.
It is a good idea to carry spare ammunition. Many people in their first gunfight have quickly found themselves soon clicking an empty gun. A firearm without spare ammunition is a temporary gun. Moreover, many malfunctions in semiautomatic pistols require a fresh (spare) magazine to rectify. Some fear that carrying spare ammo will make them look paranoid. They need to realize that those who don’t like guns and dislike the people who carry them, will consider carrying the gun without spare ammunition to still be paranoid. It’s an easy argument to win in court. Cops carry spare ammunition. So should you.
Carrying a second gun has saved the lives of many good people. When the primary weapon is hit by a criminal’s bullet and rendered unshootable…when it is knocked from the defender’s hand, or snatched away by a criminal…when the first gun runs out of ammo and there is no time to reload…the list of reasons is endless. It suffices to remember the words of street-savvy Phil Engeldrum: “If you need to carry a gun, you probably need to carry two of them.”
At the very least, once you’ve found a carry gun that works for your needs, it’s a good idea to acquire another that’s identical or at least very similar. If you have to use the first gun for self-defense, it will go into evidence for some time, and you want something you can immediately put on to protect yourself from vengeful cronies of the criminal you were forced to shoot. If the primary gun has to go in for repair, you don’t want to be helpless or carrying something less satisfactory while you’re waiting to get it back.
Use Common Sense
The gun carries with it the power of life and death. That power belongs only in the hands of responsible people who care about consequences, who are respectful of life and limb and human safety. Carrying a gun is a practice that is becoming increasingly common among ordinary American citizens. Common sense must always accompany it.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Rules for a fight
DRILL SERGEANT JOE B. FRICK'S RULES FOR A GUN, KNIFE, BASEBALL BAT OR FIST FIGHT
1. Forget about knives, bats and fists. Bring a gun. Preferably, bring at least two guns. Bring all of your friends who have guns. Bring four times the ammunition you think you could ever need.
2. Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Ammunition is cheap - life is expensive. If you shoot inside, buckshot is your friend. A new wall is cheap - funerals are expensive
3. Only hits count. The only thing worse than a miss is a slow miss.
4. If your shooting stance is good, you're probably not moving fast enough or using cover correctly.
5. Move away from your attacker and go to cover. Distance is your friend. (Bulletproof cover and diagonal or lateral movement are preferred.)
6. If you can choose what to bring to a gunfight, bring a semi or full-automatic long gun and a friend with a long gun.
7. In ten years nobody will remember the details of caliber, stance, or tactics. They will only remember who lived.
8. If you are not shooting, you should be communicating, reloading, and running. Yell "Fire!" Why "Fire"? Cops will come with the Fire Department, sirens often scare off the bad guys, or at least cause then to lose concentration and will.... and who is going to summon help if you yell "Intruder," "Glock" or "Winchester?"
9. Accuracy is relative: most combat shooting standards will be more dependent on "pucker factor" than the inherent accuracy of the gun.
10. Someday someone may kill you with your own gun, but they should have to beat you to death with it because it is empty.
11. Always cheat, always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.
12. Have a plan.
13. Have a back-up plan, because the first one won't work. "No battle plan ever survives 10 seconds past first contact with an enemy."
14. Use cover or concealment as much as possible, but remember, sheetrock walls and the like stop nothing but your pulse when bullets tear through them.
15. Flank your adversary when possible. Protect yours.
16. Don't drop your guard.
17. Always tactical load and threat scan 360 degrees. Practice reloading one-handed and off-hand shooting. That's how you live if hit in your "good" side.
18. Watch their hands. Hands kill. Smiles, frowns and other facial expressions don't (In God we trust. Everyone else keep your hands where I can see them.)
19. Decide NOW to always be aggressive ENOUGH, quickly ENOUGH.
20. The faster you finish the fight, the less shot you will get.
21. Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet if necessary, because they may want to kill you.
22. Be courteous to everyone, overly friendly to no one.
23. Your number one option for personal security is a lifelong commitment to avoidance, deterrence, and de-escalation.
24. Do not attend a gunfight with a handgun, the caliber of which does not start with anything smaller than "4".
25. Use a gun that works EVERY TIME. "All skill is in vain when an Angel blows the powder from the flintlock of your musket." At a practice session, throw you gun into the mud, then make sure it still works. You can clean it later.
26. Practice shooting in the dark, with someone shouting at you, when out of breath, etc.
27. Redardless of whether justified of not, you will feel sad about killing another human being. It is better to be sad than to be room temperatire.
28. The only thing you EVER say afterwards is, "He said he was going to kill me. I beleived him. I'm sorry, Officer, but I'm very upset now. I can't say anything more. Please speak with my attorney."
Finally, Drill Sergeant Frick's Rules For Un-armed Combat.
1: Never be unarmed.
1. Forget about knives, bats and fists. Bring a gun. Preferably, bring at least two guns. Bring all of your friends who have guns. Bring four times the ammunition you think you could ever need.
2. Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Ammunition is cheap - life is expensive. If you shoot inside, buckshot is your friend. A new wall is cheap - funerals are expensive
3. Only hits count. The only thing worse than a miss is a slow miss.
4. If your shooting stance is good, you're probably not moving fast enough or using cover correctly.
5. Move away from your attacker and go to cover. Distance is your friend. (Bulletproof cover and diagonal or lateral movement are preferred.)
6. If you can choose what to bring to a gunfight, bring a semi or full-automatic long gun and a friend with a long gun.
7. In ten years nobody will remember the details of caliber, stance, or tactics. They will only remember who lived.
8. If you are not shooting, you should be communicating, reloading, and running. Yell "Fire!" Why "Fire"? Cops will come with the Fire Department, sirens often scare off the bad guys, or at least cause then to lose concentration and will.... and who is going to summon help if you yell "Intruder," "Glock" or "Winchester?"
9. Accuracy is relative: most combat shooting standards will be more dependent on "pucker factor" than the inherent accuracy of the gun.
10. Someday someone may kill you with your own gun, but they should have to beat you to death with it because it is empty.
11. Always cheat, always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.
12. Have a plan.
13. Have a back-up plan, because the first one won't work. "No battle plan ever survives 10 seconds past first contact with an enemy."
14. Use cover or concealment as much as possible, but remember, sheetrock walls and the like stop nothing but your pulse when bullets tear through them.
15. Flank your adversary when possible. Protect yours.
16. Don't drop your guard.
17. Always tactical load and threat scan 360 degrees. Practice reloading one-handed and off-hand shooting. That's how you live if hit in your "good" side.
18. Watch their hands. Hands kill. Smiles, frowns and other facial expressions don't (In God we trust. Everyone else keep your hands where I can see them.)
19. Decide NOW to always be aggressive ENOUGH, quickly ENOUGH.
20. The faster you finish the fight, the less shot you will get.
21. Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet if necessary, because they may want to kill you.
22. Be courteous to everyone, overly friendly to no one.
23. Your number one option for personal security is a lifelong commitment to avoidance, deterrence, and de-escalation.
24. Do not attend a gunfight with a handgun, the caliber of which does not start with anything smaller than "4".
25. Use a gun that works EVERY TIME. "All skill is in vain when an Angel blows the powder from the flintlock of your musket." At a practice session, throw you gun into the mud, then make sure it still works. You can clean it later.
26. Practice shooting in the dark, with someone shouting at you, when out of breath, etc.
27. Redardless of whether justified of not, you will feel sad about killing another human being. It is better to be sad than to be room temperatire.
28. The only thing you EVER say afterwards is, "He said he was going to kill me. I beleived him. I'm sorry, Officer, but I'm very upset now. I can't say anything more. Please speak with my attorney."
Finally, Drill Sergeant Frick's Rules For Un-armed Combat.
Women and carrying concealed
The fact is that there are many women these days who are carrying a firearm for personal defense. Most of the products geared toward carrying a weapon are geared toward men, and many of these women are finding that it can be a difficult proposition for them to find a way that is secure, concealable, and comfortable enough for them to continue to carry. The fact is that not everyone, male or female has the attitude that carrying a gun is supposed to comforting, if not comfortable, and quit carrying because it is a hassle. I have put some thought into this subject, and while I don't hav all ther answers...I will try my best to help.
1. Get a belt-- The fact of the matter is that a good belt is the foundation for carrying a weapon on your belt. A cheap belt has the tendency to stretch and twist, with the added weight of the gun and allows your gun/holster to tilt out making it harder if not impossible to conceal. Most belts made for supporting a holster are straight, and for that rason really do not fit a woman properly. The secret to getting a good belt that will fit a womans ody id getting a cont.ured belt. A contoured belt is one that has a gentle curve to it when laid out flat on a table. Galco, Ted Blocker, and several other companies make a good contoured gun belt. Galcos are probably the dressiest looking, and are tapered in the front.
2. Get a holster-- Getting a holster is the next obvious thing right? But this can also be aggravating as again, most holsters are designed by men, for men. There are a few designs the do work well though. Holsters listed as being offset usually do not, as they generally tilt out a lot on a womans hip and do not lend themselves to concealment. In the waistband or tuckable holsters seem to be a better bet as many of the are more flexible and will fit the contours of a womans body better. Holster like the Galco "King Tuk" or Crossbreed Holsters "Supertuck" line are great examples of these. Keep in mind though, depending on how your jeans fit at the waist you may have to go one size bigger o keep from being uncomfortable.
3. Off Body Carry-- Another possibility is off body carry, like a purse or fanny pack. While there are certain circumstances where off body carry is necessary if you wish to go armed, (say you are going to a formal event or somewhere you need or want to wear a dress that does not have the possibility of carrying on your waistline) I would say they are few and far between. I generally discourage people, men and women from carrying off body. There are security issues that go along with off body carry. Not the least of which is the purse in the case of women is a target for muggers. If a mugger/robber is able to get that purse off of your shoulder, not only does he have your credit cards, ID, money, and keys....he also now has your gun. The same goes for a fanny pack. The other issue I see coming up is most women in my experience have a tendency to come home, toss the purse in a chair or on the table and forget about it, there is a loaded gun in there, and now anyone who grabs the purse has access to the gun. While there are purses that have locking zippers for the gun compartment, this still is not as secure as a lockbox or safe for your gun to be stored in. If off body carry is a necessary evil for you, there are companies that can help. Galco, the Concealment Shop, Gun Totin Mamas, and Coronado leather all carry CCW purses. Gun totin Mamas is probably the most fashionable, and affordable amongst these places....but a coach purse they are not. You may have to sacrifice a little fashion in order to be armed.
I have been carrying concealed for about ten years now, and one thing I have learned is nothing is a magic combination for carrying. I have a stack of holsters from over the years and I have sold more than I still own. It has taken me a long time to figure out a simple belt holster is the best for me in most cases, and maketake you a bit to figure out what works for you as well. Good luck, have fun shopping!
1. Get a belt-- The fact of the matter is that a good belt is the foundation for carrying a weapon on your belt. A cheap belt has the tendency to stretch and twist, with the added weight of the gun and allows your gun/holster to tilt out making it harder if not impossible to conceal. Most belts made for supporting a holster are straight, and for that rason really do not fit a woman properly. The secret to getting a good belt that will fit a womans ody id getting a cont.ured belt. A contoured belt is one that has a gentle curve to it when laid out flat on a table. Galco, Ted Blocker, and several other companies make a good contoured gun belt. Galcos are probably the dressiest looking, and are tapered in the front.
2. Get a holster-- Getting a holster is the next obvious thing right? But this can also be aggravating as again, most holsters are designed by men, for men. There are a few designs the do work well though. Holsters listed as being offset usually do not, as they generally tilt out a lot on a womans hip and do not lend themselves to concealment. In the waistband or tuckable holsters seem to be a better bet as many of the are more flexible and will fit the contours of a womans body better. Holster like the Galco "King Tuk" or Crossbreed Holsters "Supertuck" line are great examples of these. Keep in mind though, depending on how your jeans fit at the waist you may have to go one size bigger o keep from being uncomfortable.
3. Off Body Carry-- Another possibility is off body carry, like a purse or fanny pack. While there are certain circumstances where off body carry is necessary if you wish to go armed, (say you are going to a formal event or somewhere you need or want to wear a dress that does not have the possibility of carrying on your waistline) I would say they are few and far between. I generally discourage people, men and women from carrying off body. There are security issues that go along with off body carry. Not the least of which is the purse in the case of women is a target for muggers. If a mugger/robber is able to get that purse off of your shoulder, not only does he have your credit cards, ID, money, and keys....he also now has your gun. The same goes for a fanny pack. The other issue I see coming up is most women in my experience have a tendency to come home, toss the purse in a chair or on the table and forget about it, there is a loaded gun in there, and now anyone who grabs the purse has access to the gun. While there are purses that have locking zippers for the gun compartment, this still is not as secure as a lockbox or safe for your gun to be stored in. If off body carry is a necessary evil for you, there are companies that can help. Galco, the Concealment Shop, Gun Totin Mamas, and Coronado leather all carry CCW purses. Gun totin Mamas is probably the most fashionable, and affordable amongst these places....but a coach purse they are not. You may have to sacrifice a little fashion in order to be armed.
I have been carrying concealed for about ten years now, and one thing I have learned is nothing is a magic combination for carrying. I have a stack of holsters from over the years and I have sold more than I still own. It has taken me a long time to figure out a simple belt holster is the best for me in most cases, and maketake you a bit to figure out what works for you as well. Good luck, have fun shopping!
How to choose a handgun...
One question I seem to get asked a lot is "what handgun should I get?". There really isn't a one size fits all answer to that, but there are a few things a person can ask themselves that should help them choose. Hopefully wisely!
Purpose: What purpose is the gun going to be used for? Obviously if it's going to be an everyday carry gun having a .500 S&W magnum probably won't work for most people, and probably not most people. But it would be a great hunting handgun...conversly a ruger LCP would be one of my last choices for hunting...but it would make a good choice for carry. Pick something that works for what your intended purpose is!
Fit: A handgun needs to fit your hand, period. If it is too big you won't be able to comfortably manipulate it. If it is too small it may literally bite you. Too big or too small also tends to shift in your hand under recoil, and shifting your grip between every shot is going to make follow ups more difficult and take longer. I always tell people to pick up several guns (scheel's works great to actually put hands on a gun) and see what feels right to you. You should be able to reach the trigger with at least the first crease of your index finger, preferably further. You should be able to manipulate all the controls (safety if applicable, magazine release, decocker) withough having to shift your grip too much. The gun should point well for you as well. Meaning when you take a good firing grip on it and bring the sights up to eye level it should line up without any unnatural adjustments. Try the trigger if posssible, or even better actually shoot it if you are lucky enough to live near a place with a range where you can test fire a gun. Finding something that works for you is key.
Caliber: My recommendation is generally .380 or larger in any defensive handgun. There are however instances where this doesn't work. LIke the lady with the .44 magnum. She ended up with a .32 auto pistol because that is what she could effectively use. Too much gun is a mistake a lot of people just starting out tend to make. They read an article that tells them any handgun cartridge that doesn't "begin with a 4" won't cut it. and 9mm is too small and ineffective. I say the .22 you have with you is better than the .44 you left at home. 9mm rounds today and especially the ammunition listed as "+p" has more than enough power to stop an attack, and in fact, has nearly the same ballistics as some of the older .357 rounds. When you factor in the performance of today's defensive rounds, as compared to the "ball rounds" a lot of people are referencing....it's apple's and oranges.
Action type: Should you get a single action? Double? DA/SA, Safe action??? What the hell do these even mean? Well single action means pulling the trigger only does one thing....it releases the hammer to fire the weapon....double action both "cocks" the hammer back and releases it. DA/SA is both....and safe action means there is some kind of safey built right into the trigger...e.g. a glock, or springfield XD. Generally speaking the single action pistols are for people who are more experienced shooters, it's easier to have an "acidental" discharge, and they generally in both revolver and auto form, have eccentricities that require more training and practice to work out. The DA revolver generally doesn't have any extra buttons or geegaws on it so it is just a "point and click" affair, ditto for the DAO auto. The DA/SA guns require you to transition from one trigger pull (DA) to a another (SA) after the first shot, and some people have issues with that. The safe action seems to be the overwhelming choice for police the days (followed by the DAO) for liability issues and ease of training. Generally speaking they are the easiest auto pistols to use and cause people the least issues. They have the ease of a DAO pistol in use with a lighter (generally) trigger pull. Try some different guns and see what feels right to you.
I didn't go into too much detail here, nor did I approach holsters and optional carry methods. I will cover that another day...remember whatever you do choose you need to get proper instruction, and practice as much as possible. Carrying a gun is a big responsibility, and should be treated as such.
Purpose: What purpose is the gun going to be used for? Obviously if it's going to be an everyday carry gun having a .500 S&W magnum probably won't work for most people, and probably not most people. But it would be a great hunting handgun...conversly a ruger LCP would be one of my last choices for hunting...but it would make a good choice for carry. Pick something that works for what your intended purpose is!
Fit: A handgun needs to fit your hand, period. If it is too big you won't be able to comfortably manipulate it. If it is too small it may literally bite you. Too big or too small also tends to shift in your hand under recoil, and shifting your grip between every shot is going to make follow ups more difficult and take longer. I always tell people to pick up several guns (scheel's works great to actually put hands on a gun) and see what feels right to you. You should be able to reach the trigger with at least the first crease of your index finger, preferably further. You should be able to manipulate all the controls (safety if applicable, magazine release, decocker) withough having to shift your grip too much. The gun should point well for you as well. Meaning when you take a good firing grip on it and bring the sights up to eye level it should line up without any unnatural adjustments. Try the trigger if posssible, or even better actually shoot it if you are lucky enough to live near a place with a range where you can test fire a gun. Finding something that works for you is key.
Caliber: My recommendation is generally .380 or larger in any defensive handgun. There are however instances where this doesn't work. LIke the lady with the .44 magnum. She ended up with a .32 auto pistol because that is what she could effectively use. Too much gun is a mistake a lot of people just starting out tend to make. They read an article that tells them any handgun cartridge that doesn't "begin with a 4" won't cut it. and 9mm is too small and ineffective. I say the .22 you have with you is better than the .44 you left at home. 9mm rounds today and especially the ammunition listed as "+p" has more than enough power to stop an attack, and in fact, has nearly the same ballistics as some of the older .357 rounds. When you factor in the performance of today's defensive rounds, as compared to the "ball rounds" a lot of people are referencing....it's apple's and oranges.
Action type: Should you get a single action? Double? DA/SA, Safe action??? What the hell do these even mean? Well single action means pulling the trigger only does one thing....it releases the hammer to fire the weapon....double action both "cocks" the hammer back and releases it. DA/SA is both....and safe action means there is some kind of safey built right into the trigger...e.g. a glock, or springfield XD. Generally speaking the single action pistols are for people who are more experienced shooters, it's easier to have an "acidental" discharge, and they generally in both revolver and auto form, have eccentricities that require more training and practice to work out. The DA revolver generally doesn't have any extra buttons or geegaws on it so it is just a "point and click" affair, ditto for the DAO auto. The DA/SA guns require you to transition from one trigger pull (DA) to a another (SA) after the first shot, and some people have issues with that. The safe action seems to be the overwhelming choice for police the days (followed by the DAO) for liability issues and ease of training. Generally speaking they are the easiest auto pistols to use and cause people the least issues. They have the ease of a DAO pistol in use with a lighter (generally) trigger pull. Try some different guns and see what feels right to you.
I didn't go into too much detail here, nor did I approach holsters and optional carry methods. I will cover that another day...remember whatever you do choose you need to get proper instruction, and practice as much as possible. Carrying a gun is a big responsibility, and should be treated as such.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)