Protecting yourself

[Steve B]

When I started this thread I didn't expect it to become the "Hottest Thread" but I am glad it generated so many responses. Thanks to everyone that responded so far for keeping it civil and thanks to the Mods for allowing it.

 

[Nero]

We haven't got the gun-carry option either. Just have a good knife with you. If they're coming for your cam, they're probably coming too close. A knife works at close range. Evidently not something that requires two hands and your teeth to open.

I do indeed have one. It is one of those ones where the blade folds I to the handle but I practiced opening it with one hand.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk 4

 

[J-see]

I do indeed have one. It is one of those ones where the blade folds I to the handle but I practiced opening it with one hand.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk 4

Mine got a thumb-plate which hooks at the edge of my pocket and opens while I take it out. You only got to wear some decent fabric pants else you rip those off. However, suddenly standing in your underwear might scare some too.

 

[Nero]

Mine got a thumb-plate which hooks at the edge of my pocket and opens while I take it out. You only got to wear some decent fabric pants else you rip those off. However, suddenly standing in your underwear might scare some too.

Well not many people want to go near the crazy guy not wearing pants.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk 4

 

[Lawrence]

How do you guys conceal your guns?
Do you have shoulder/under arm holsters, small of back, ankle, handbag (hope not) or where?
Just interested

 

[Deezey]

How do you guys conceal your guns?
Do you have shoulder/under arm holsters, small of back, ankle, handbag (hope not) or where?
Just interested

small of back is dangerous. Fall backwards and you will break a vertebrae. Even plastic guns have a lot of metal in them. Ankle for me is too slow. And painfully obvious. Also lowers your head into a more dangerous position.

Iwb or in the waist holsters usually on the strong side (shooting side) are usually the best for most mid to full sized guns. Pocket carry in a pocket holster for the smaller stuff.

 

[Thumper_6119]

How do you guys conceal your guns?
Do you have shoulder/under arm holsters, small of back, ankle, handbag (hope not) or where?
Just interested

When I am at work, if I am not wearing a jacket, I wear an inside the waistband holster that conceals all but the grip below the waistband of my pants. The particular model that I have allows me to tuck my shirt in between my waistband and my handgun/holster. Inside Waistband Holsters - Minotaur Holsters - products new home - Minotaur MTAC Holster While the picture in the link makes the holster look bigger and bulkier than it actually is. It is quite slim. It conceals nicely, although it adds about .5 second to my draw time. Away from work, I have a couple of different setups that I can wear depending on what my attire is. If I am wearing shorts, which I almost always wear cargo shorts, and my shirt is untucked, I have a nice custom outside the waistband leather holster and magazine carrier that I use. I wear shirts long enough to cover them, and the holsters/mag carriers keep the gun/mags close to my body, so nothing is sticking out to give away that I am carrying (at least to the average person). This is the OWB (outside waist band) holster that I use for my everyday carry gun: Andrews Custom Leather The Hybrid Saddle Style without the thumbreak (thumb strap). I also have the double mag carrier that I wear with that setup.

Regardless of attire, I wear my handgun at my "4 o'clock", just slightly past/behind my hip, not quite over my right cheek. Most days, I carry a full size/frame 5" Kimber 1911 CDP Custom II chambered in .45 ACP. Somedays I carry a Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Pro Series 5" chambered in 9mm. But most of the time, I carry the 1911.

 

[Lawrence]

When I am at work, if I am not wearing a jacket, I wear an inside the waistband holster that conceals all but the grip below the waistband of my pants. The particular model that I have allows me to tuck my shirt in between my waistband and my handgun/holster. Inside Waistband Holsters - Minotaur Holsters - products new home - Minotaur MTAC Holster While the picture in the link makes the holster look bigger and bulkier than it actually is. It is quite slim. It conceals nicely, although it adds about .5 second to my draw time. Away from work, I have a couple of different setups that I can wear depending on what my attire is. If I am wearing shorts, which I almost always wear cargo shorts, and my shirt is untucked, I have a nice custom outside the waistband leather holster and magazine carrier that I use. I wear shirts long enough to cover them, and the holsters/mag carriers keep the gun/mags close to my body, so nothing is sticking out to give away that I am carrying (at least to the average person). This is the OWB (outside waist band) holster that I use for my everyday carry gun: Andrews Custom Leather The Hybrid Saddle Style without the thumbreak (thumb strap). I also have the double mag carrier that I wear with that setup.

Regardless of attire, I wear my handgun at my "4 o'clock", just slightly past/behind my hip, not quite over my right cheek. Most days, I carry a full size/frame 5" Kimber 1911 CDP Custom II chambered in .45 ACP. Somedays I carry a Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Pro Series 5" chambered in 9mm. But most of the time, I carry the 1911.

very interesting.
The reference to "draw times" conjures images of the West and in a dawn shoot-out you don't want to be confusing or forgetting what holster you are wearing - that .5 second could be the difference between a legend or a wannabe.

 

[Thumper_6119]

very interesting.
The reference to "draw times" conjures images of the West and in a dawn shoot-out you don't want to be confusing or forgetting what holster you are wearing - that .5 second could be the difference between a legend or a wannabe.

And being that I am from Texas probably only reinforces that image. Seriously though, with the point that "the bad guy gets the first move", response time can be critical in order to effectively defend yourself.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

How do you guys conceal your guns?
Do you have shoulder/under arm holsters, small of back, ankle, handbag (hope not) or where?
Just interested

I like to CC small guns. I have a very small Kel-Tec P-32 which is great for conceal carry. It has a small pocket holster that gives the gun a square imprint so you carry it in your back pocket and it look like a billfold. Quick to retrieve and comfortable to carry.

 

[Lawrence]

I would also be very interested to know how often people practice, how accurate they are etc.

I had look at the Kel-Tec P-32 that Don mentions above and we all know that the shorter the barrel the harder it is to be acurate - not quite like in the movies where the good guys can kill 8 people with 6 shots using a .38 special snubnose.

A slight deviation on trigger squeeze can miss by miles.

I ask because I used to sell guns and run shooting classes and people were always amazed at how difficult it is to hit a target that is close when using short barrelled guns.

Blame Hollywood.

 

[STM]

I was amazed when I got to Springerville. AZ, like TX, is an open carry state so you can carry, open or concealed with no permit whatsoever. There is a large sporting goods store right next to the hospital and at least 1 in 3 people there are sporting a handgun on their hip.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

I would also be very interested to know how often people practice, how accurate they are etc.

I had look at the Kel-Tec P-32 that Don mentions above and we all know that the shorter the barrel the harder it is to be acurate - not quite like in the movies where the good guys can kill 8 people with 6 shots using a .38 special snubnose.

A slight deviation on trigger squeeze can miss by miles.

I ask because I used to sell guns and run shooting classes and people were always amazed at how difficult it is to hit a target that is close when using short barrelled guns.

Blame Hollywood.

This gun is not for shooting someone a long distance away. It is designed for when someone is close up and you have no other options like getting away. It was described to me as a gut buster. At a couple of feet or less you are not going to miss even without aiming. Shooting at anyone for any reason should be a last resort.

 

[Lawrence]

I was amazed when I got to Springerville. AZ, like TX, is an open carry state so you can carry, open or concealed with no permit whatsoever. There is a large sporting goods store right next to the hospital and at least 1 in 3 people there are sporting a handgun on their hip.

Wow - that is unreal. If you can see 1 in 3 I wonder what % are carrying concealed.

I always thought carrying unconcealed would make you a potential target for a mugging if someone wanted your weapon. I shouldn't imagine it is too difficult for a couple of thugs to bash a guy over the head with a bar of steel and steal his weapon

 

[Thumper_6119]

I was amazed when I got to Springerville. AZ, like TX, is an open carry state so you can carry, open or concealed with no permit whatsoever. There is a large sporting goods store right next to the hospital and at least 1 in 3 people there are sporting a handgun on their hip.

Unfortunately, at this time, Texas does not have a provision for open carry. Oklahoma just passed open carry and implemented it September 2013. But as of right now, Texas still does not have open carry for civilians.

 

[STM]

Wow - that is unreal. If you can see 1 in 3 I wonder what % are carrying concealed.

I always thought carrying unconcealed would make you a potential target for a mugging if someone wanted your weapon. I shouldn't imagine it is too difficult for a couple of thugs to bash a guy over the head with a bar of steel and steal his weapon

Crime here is pretty low, lending more credence to the "an armed society is a polite society" meme. There has not been a homicide here in 7 years and so far this year only 6 incidents of "violent crime". After almost 2 weeks I have yet to hear a single police siren, though I have heard quite a few ambulance ones!

 

[Thumper_6119]

I would also be very interested to know how often people practice, how accurate they are etc.

I had look at the Kel-Tec P-32 that Don mentions above and we all know that the shorter the barrel the harder it is to be acurate - not quite like in the movies where the good guys can kill 8 people with 6 shots using a .38 special snubnose.

A slight deviation on trigger squeeze can miss by miles.

I ask because I used to sell guns and run shooting classes and people were always amazed at how difficult it is to hit a target that is close when using short barrelled guns.

Blame Hollywood.

Most movies and television shows are horrible PR for gun owners.

I usually practice a few times a month at range with handguns. I don't get to go out and practice with my bolt rifle as much as I'd like to since match grade ammo is a bit more expensive, and I don't currently reload. As with most things, shooting and marksmanship are perishable skills, so they must be practiced in order to maintain a proficient level of skill. (As you already well know).

 

[Thumper_6119]

Wow - that is unreal. If you can see 1 in 3 I wonder what % are carrying concealed.

I always thought carrying unconcealed would make you a potential target for a mugging if someone wanted your weapon. I shouldn't imagine it is too difficult for a couple of thugs to bash a guy over the head with a bar of steel and steal his weapon

It certainly can make someone that is open carrying a target if someone is determined to commit a crime in an area where there are multiple individuals, one or more of which are armed and would pose an impediment to the plans of the person about to commit a crime. But it is also a huge deterrent in a lot situations. Most human predators are not looking for a reputation of defeating people but rather are more concerned with the success of the criminal actions and being able to get away without injuries. Less work more pay type of thing/risk vs reward. Someone presenting even the slightest bit of organized resistance can be a deterrent. It is easier to catch slower, weaker prey. There are plenty of easy targets to be had that won't offer resistance (or at least, will offer less resistance). At least, that has been my experience in dealing with human predators.

 

[STM]

Most movies and television shows are horrible PR for gun owners.

I usually practice a few times a month at range with handguns. I don't get to go out and practice with my bolt rifle as much as I'd like to since match grade ammo is a bit more expensive, and I don't currently reload. As with most things, shooting and marksmanship are perishable skills, so they must be practiced in order to maintain a proficient level of skill. (As you already well know).

Doing your own hand loads is the way to go. I have reloaded all of my ammunition for the last 30 years. It costs me about 42¢ to hand load a .30-06, about 26¢ to do a .223. It took me a couple of months to finally find the right combination of case, powder, primer and bullet for my Rem 700 .30-06 but now with Sierra 150 gr hollow point boat tail bullets and 42.3 gr of IMR 3031 I can shoot a 3 round group at 100yds you can cover with a dime:



Granted, my rifle has been accurized. It still has the stock barrel but I replaced the walnut stock with a B&C composite one, had a gunsmith glass the bed and float the barrel 0.020" and adjusted the trigger pull to just under 2 pounds (which makes a HUGE difference!) This group was shot with only the rifle resting on the bipod and my left hand in a fist, forming a steady base for the butt of the stock. I airbrushed the rifle with Duracoat paints, which really are not paint but an epoxy resin. Very tough stuff!

 

[Lawrence]

^^^ that's good shooting

Like the photo too.

I best shut up - feel as if I have hijacked the thread (and that without weapon)