Concealed Carry: Your EDC

[barryk]

I can help a little more on a few issues.

1) Grip issues female shooters: If you purchase Mike "Ox" Ochsner's book "Red Dot Mastery...A Proven System to Quickly Master....", among other training items related to neurological based firearms training, you will find a section on hand strength. He provides a chart showing results of a large participant study measuring hand strength of both males and females through different age groups, and how hand strength begins to lesson as one ages. This loss of hand strength happens quicker in females than males, and it is worse considering that our (female) hand strength is typically less than a male's hand strength to start with. (Mine is now upper 40s down from 50s, and my co-instructors, all male, are at 90-100+.) Huge difference. And yes, they are more accurate with their handgun than I am using the same caliber. This issue affects the ability to operate a slide, but even more important, the ability to control higher calibers, 9mm being included.

There is no point in showing most women (and some men, depending on age and previous hand injuries or medical problems) various ways to rack a slide or continually trying to correct them to reacquire their sight alignment and sight picture quickly coming off recoil, because for many of them, they cannot and their second shot is going to be off the target. As you noticed, they can't control the recoil.

After reading Ox Ochsner's discussion, I purchased a battery powered "hand grip dynamometer." You can get them on Amazon. Now I am not guessing when working with a student. We can quickly measure their hand strength. I then have a better idea of what to recommend as a firearm they might enjoy using, and once they see the numbers on their own hand strength, they no longer feel they have to justify why they can't operate a certain gun. It is like buying clothes, buy something that fits today. And know that how something fits today might not work for us as we age.

This dynamometer is a great tool with kids and parents who get frustrated with teaching their kids accurate shooting with a handgun. (I run a youth marksmanship program.) Have both the father (usually) and the youth use the dynamometer. The father quickly sees the difference in hand strength ability; the youth now understands it might take him a few more years to shoot as well as his dad. The frustration disappears because everyone is happy as they measured the "why" of the situation.

2) I have boxes of holsters, and I have a number of custom holsters. None come up to par with the Phlster Enigma for a lady in terms of how most of us continually change how we dress; we need a universal solution. The company offers periodic online video classes on how to adjust their systems to one's body type; they just had one last week. One can participate or just watch and learn from others participating. What other holster company does that?

3) Off body carry is a necessity for many females for many reasons. They won't let go of their cross-body bags--they are wearing them cross body. There are good brands and designs and bad ones. Zendira, with magnets, no zipper, allows for quick and properly positioned draw. (The smallest version uses a trigger guard--that is a bad design and dangerous on re-holstering.) All the larger models use a sticky back Kydex holster specific to the gun model. There are state statutes regarding showing a gun, so off-body that unzips with a flap that lowers and exposes a gun compartment before one draws are negatives. If one needs to use a gun, they need to reholster (when law enforcement arrives) into their off-body easily and safely given their likely state of mind after an incident. I would worry more about proper off-body purses for safe draw and reholstering than I would about a female leaving her gun purse or bag somewhere. (Remember, our car keys are in the purse! We can't go anywhere without it!)

A number of issues I've run into can be addressed with Ox Ochsner's book. It is self-published and could have used better editing. He also tells the reader of his own issues. Don't let that detract from the base of information as a starting point. I've used several of his techniques to isolate why students are not able to do what I ask of them (it isn't always the firearm), and some of these techniques help those students overcome the problems. Two of his methods have helped me solve my own problems.

I hope some of this helps from a female perspective.

I have not really addressed the grip issue and I need to research that more. I tell my students not to get a "death grip" on the gun but high up on the tang for proper slide operation and recoil recovery....just keep a firm grip for control. However, use of a dynamometer to determine where they are may be of assistance in choosing revolver or semi-auto along with caliber.

I did a quick Google search on Red Dot Mastery by Mike Ochsner and would be interested in other training items in the book. I have not tried a Red Dot though I can see eliminating the sight alignment issue should simplify shooting for most people. I hesitate to try it....might like it....then I'd want one. I like to keep things simple to minimize screw-ups and potential technology failures....but....that's just me. I think it's good for a new student to learn how to use irons first and then if they want to progress to more technology for better shooting, that's fine.

I need to check in more about Phlster Enigma as these may be a better option for women. I understand women use more dress options which can complicate the concealed carry....guys basically wear the same stuff and concealment is not so much of an issue.

Off-body carry and the re-holstering concern is something I have not thought about....need to research more on that too.

Again....thank you for the input from a female perspective....it is appreciated!

 

[barryk]

@Hunter-Habib all you have to do is produce the W&S 32ACP to your assailant and ask, "Pretty, ain't it?" If the beauty of the piece does not diffuse the situation, then discharge three rounds into said assailant and ask again. I believe the next response will be in the positive.

For me, I was not aware of the P365's existence until one day I was walking through a big box sporting goods store NOT looking at firearms when a counter representative got my attention. He showed me the piece and when I held it, I thought, ergonomically, it was the most perfect handgun ever devised. I did not buy one that day, but was determined to own one at some point. LSS, I purchased the original P365 and the first XL version and found the original with the 12-round mag to be the perfect carry gun in an Alabama Holster kydex pocket holster. I carried the 15-round mag as spare in a cargo pocket. This was my EDC for several years without issue.

Then the SIG P320 saga began. I don't own one of those and I have no opinion or commentary on the issue (or non-issue), but it made me look seriously into the sear mechanism of the P365. As a result, I decided to stop carrying the P365. If you look at the sear mechanism on the P365 compared to a Glock Gen4, for example, there is a big difference in engagement and movement. The P365 sear only drops away from the firing pin while under spring tension; the Glock firing pin is held back without spring tension, then trigger engagement pushes the pin backward then the sear drops away. The Glock system is much more robust and failsafe.

For this reason, I abandoned Sig and now carry a Ruger LCR 357 mag loaded with 38+P outfitted with a Ruger branded Lasermax laser sight in an Alabama Holster kydex pocket holster. Spare 5-Star speedloader in their kydex belt carrier.

Yeah, the SIG P320 gave me pause also, but I'm sticking with my P365 though the sear arrangement is similar.....again, can't argue with the reliability of the Glocks. Your combination of LCR using 38+P ammo is definitely sound.....carried speedloaders for my Ruger Redhawk years ago and with practice, they can be very efficient.

 

[barryk]

A Webley & Scott Model 1908 in .32 ACP with 25 extra rounds of GECO 73Gr round nosed steel jacketed FMJ solids. It has one very serious flaw. It jams after three shots.

This May, I’m hopefully replacing it with a Beretta Model 81 in .32 ACP.
View attachment 756023View attachment 756022

A piece of history!

 

[barryk]

S&W .460 in a chest holster!

Definitely a stopper!

 

[JMM]

I change my EDC depending on where I'm going, which one shot the best for me lately, printing and general convenience. Most days I carry a Glock 30S with a Vanguard Raven trigger guard/wing/wedge. It is my truck gun and I just grab it when I get out. I have a couple of LW Commanders built for me by Novaks that get a fair amount of wear. A Staccato CS24 w/comp, light and Red Dirt trigger is a favorite in a AIWB rig. In the winter, I typically throw a HK P7M8 in my jacket/vest pocket. Amazing accurate and reliable.

Side note: I have an acquaintance that did shoot his balls off with a 365. AIWB holster and some sort of mishandle on the reholster. Life flight helicopter from the ranch and long hospital stay.

I had the same setup and with an unloaded gun, could not recreate the trigger pull. Still lost confidence in the carry and ended up selling it.

 

[barryk]

I change my EDC depending on where I'm going, which one shot the best for me lately, printing and general convenience. Most days I carry a Glock 30S with a Vanguard Raven trigger guard/wing/wedge. It is my truck gun and I just grab it when I get out. I have a couple of LW Commanders built for me by Novaks that get a fair amount of wear. A Staccato CS24 w/comp, light and Red Dirt trigger is a favorite in a AIWB rig. In the winter, I typically throw a HK P7M8 in my jacket/vest pocket. Amazing accurate and reliable.

Side note: I have an acquaintance that did shoot his balls off with a 365. AIWB holster and some sort of mishandle on the reholster. Life flight helicopter from the ranch and long hospital stay.

I had the same setup and with an unloaded gun, could not recreate the trigger pull. Still lost confidence in the carry and ended up selling it.

Maybe I'm too old but I just have reservations about AIWB.....with a IWB at 4 o'clock it is still always pointed in a relatively safe direction.

 

[jruby]

Sig p290rs in a sticky holster in my front pocket with a spare in my left back pocket. Fortunately not had to use it. Ammo is 147g buffalo bore hollow points.

 

[A Frame66]

My EDC is Hellcat pro with spare mag in mag pocket.

 

[Brickman301]

I alternate between a S&W 442 Ultimate Carry in 38 SPL, a Kimber Micro 9, and a Tisas B45BA (a Commander-style 1911 clone.)

I’ve been thinking about buying a 442 Ultimate carry in 32 H&R. I should have bought one when they 1st came out.

My most carried is my S&W 636 air weight. I actually practice with it very often.

When working / walking around my hunting property, I usually carry my Kahr CW40.

Like others have posted, I do occasionally carry a S&W EZ 9mm. I bought it for my wife, but she didn’t care for it much. I really like that pistol, and it shoots rather well. I just don’t carry it much

 

[Green Chile]

EDC could be a lot of things and it's often a bobtail Kimber 1911 commander in 45 that has been carried a lot. Some other options that I like are these tuned S&Ws with custom grips in .357 and 45 auto rim...

or the Nighthawk 10mm or Nighthawk Browning Hi-Power.

 

[Brickman301]

I’ve always been interested in the Phlster Enigma holster system, as I think it would work well for me.
I use the old low tech, smartcarry holster, that is kinda similar. It works very well, when I go for my walks/runs though the city’s parks. It’s especially nice when it’s hot outside, and I’m only wearing a tee shirt and running shorts. Very easily concealed, comfortable and doesn’t move around much at all.

 

[PARA45]

90% of the time I carry a G-19/G-17, inside a OWB Cobra holsters, at my 4 o'clock. Sometimes, I'll carry a Springfield Armory 1911 in 45 ACP in a Galco holster.

 

[HookMeUpII]

I carry a Sig P365x in a Tier 1 Concealed Xiphos Elite with Ulticlips, AIWB. I've gone through several holsters and this has been the only one I've ever felt semi comfortable with. The Ulticlips were the game changer. I can slip the rig in my belt in 10 seconds and remove it in the same time. The only grip I have is the Ulticlips can be a little sharp.

I have nothing but good to say about T1C and Ulticlips.

I also sometimes carry with an Eberlestock cross body/fanny pack. This is a last resort when I just can't conceal well enough AIWB.

 

[HookMeUpII]

Side note: I have an acquaintance that did shoot his balls off with a 365. AIWB holster and some sort of mishandle on the reholster. Life flight helicopter from the ranch and long hospital stay.

I had the same setup and with an unloaded gun, could not recreate the trigger pull. Still lost confidence in the carry and ended up selling it.

There are only 3 explanations:

1) Piece of loose clothing wedged in between the trigger and the holster, on re-holstering. I always carry with clothing between me in and the rig. Whether it's an undershirt, tucked in flannel with a jacket over, etc. It's just my comfort level as I don't like how irritating the rig is against my abdomen. This is my biggest fear.

2) Crappy AIWB where the trigger guard folded over and captured/grabbed the trigger. This is why I just ponied up and went with a T1C. Guys who run leather holsters AIWB, and even 4 o clock, are running this risk.

3) He accidentally pulled the trigger and didn't realize it. This is my second biggest fear, especially on re-holstering.

 

[Nyati]

Walther PPK/S

 

[barryk]

EDC could be a lot of things and it's often a bobtail Kimber 1911 commander in 45 that has been carried a lot. Some other options that I like are these tuned S&Ws with custom grips in .357 and 45 auto rim...

View attachment 756271

or the Nighthawk 10mm or Nighthawk Browning Hi-Power.

View attachment 756273

Very Nice!

 

[shootist~]

Walther PPK/S

Very nice, Mr. Bond.

 

[Shootist43]

I suppose like many of you I've carried a number of different "concealed pistols over the years. My first was a Para Ordinance "Companion with the carry option." Its' LDA trigger was and still is one of the best there is. It points normally like all 1911 type pistols. But it is heavy and only holds 7 rounds. I've owned Berettas, Rugers, Glocks, and Sigs but didn't like or stay with them. Several years ago, I was introduced to the Smith & Wesson M & P 2.0 Metal (17 & 1.) From that time on, everything else stays in the safe. She rides in an IWB Kydex holster at 4:00.

 

[Hillbilly Marine]

I tote a Charter Arms Bulldog DAO 3 inch .44 Special. I was raised shooting revolvers from an early age and still, at age 61, I still prefer them. Owned and shot a freight car full of semi autos but none feel as good as an 1851 Navy, a 4 5/8 inch SAA, or my Smith Model 25.

 

[Art Lambart II]

I appendix carry a S&W M&P 2.0 Metal in 9mm with a Holosun SCS in a Tenicor Valo 5 holster on a Tenicor Zero gun belt. I carry this rig all day every day, the secret to carrying a full size handgun is high quality gun belt and holster made for your specific carry style. When you use a cheap belt and holster your carry gun gets smaller and smaller and you change your self-defense strategy to hope and pray rather than plan and execute.