White Color CCW options

Galco HolstersSuggestion for CCW are always need to be preceded by “for what environment”.   Yes defending yourself from a BG is why you are carrying, but there are so many ways to carry a firearm that there is not a do everything gun.   We don’t want to carry the smallest capacity and caliber into known hostile environments, but we have to be careful we aren’t overdueing it.   What do I mean?  I know what to look for when I am wondering if somebody might be packing.   I’ve seen gangsters and drug dealers adjust their pants in the same spot and seem to move things which is a dead giveaway that they are packing.

Someone in a white color environment with an untucked shirt is also going to stand out and if you are packing a gun that is too heavy, an experienced observer is going to notice you adjusting yourself.   It is very common for those in a suite and tie to carry in a pocket, but one other option to consider are Galco Holsters called an Ankle Glove.   There is a bit of training that must go with ankle carrying, but it’s worth looking into.

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Guns & Gear and preparation

Tactical Rifle CaseWith the advent of the accessorized rifle or carbine, people are putting so many things on rifles these days that need to be screwed on, locked in, and battery operated that Murphys law has some really cold things to say about this.    Every screw on your carbine is going to come loose at some point and every battery operated device will fail at some point.   I’ve seen a lot of accessories that fit in the pistol grip, buttstock or other areas and this is nice for some purposes, but any of those operators were spending more than a day with their setup, they find that they aren’t carrying enough tools sand gear on their guns to get through 48hrs of hard use.

Real preparation for hard use of your accessorized firearm is to get a good range bag, drag bag or tactical rifle case.  You really should think about matching a good soft gun case that can be used as a shooting matte, tool box, battery storage and gun parts.   Keep atleast one back up bolt with firing pins, store batteries in a sealed case even if you already have some battery storage on your gun and pickup a mult-purpose screw driver set that is very small and won’t punch holes in your gun case even if it gets toss around.

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Training with primary and secondary mags

Gun MagazinesPromag and Mec-Gar make decent magazines, I wouldn’t suggest them as primary magazines, but factory new magazines can be pricey.  I would suggest regardless of which number of magazines you are normally carrying, keep 3 or 4 range mags for each handgun you own.

Whenever you get to the point where you are putting hundreds of round down range to train for work of for your concealed carry firearm, you may want to consider getting some secondary gun magazines for training and blasting and save your primary magazines for carrying.   I would strongly suggest that you put enough rounds through your primary mags but there’s no need to burn those out too fast.

 

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Factory Magazines for the Mini 14

Ruger MagazinesThere are several well known secondary rifle and pistol magazines, but Factory magazines are usually the best to obtain.    Factory magazines are made by the companies that manufactur the firearms and that’s usually where you’ll get the best magazines.   There are exceptions to the rule with rifles.   Magpul isn’t making firearms, but they do one heck of a job of making a reliable and durable rifle magazine.    Sturm Ruger is the largest firearm manfacturer in the United States.   They make more guns and sell more guns than anybody else.

The Ruger Mini 14 is a rugged and reliable 5 shot carbine and there is still much debate about which magazines feed reliable.   Ruger is now selling 20rd magazines to the public which they did not due for decades.   The Mini 14 was the gun that suffered more under the Assault Weapons Ban passed in Congress in 1994 than any other firearm IMHO.   Everyone seems to want to make this gun and assault weapon, but the reality is the 5 shot Carbine spits a lethal round, but your safest bet for most purposes is to keep the Ruger Magazines made by the factory around since those are defanitely the most reliable.

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Seasonal Transitions for CCW

Fobus HolstersAny experienced and well trainied CCW holder will tell you that it may be wise to change your holster or carry gun during the change in seasons.    I’ve spotted more than a few CCW holders out in the open when it was pretty obvious that the machismo took the best of them and they just had to keep carrying that 1911 IWB at 5 o’clock in the summer months as they were 5’7″ and didn’t realize that when they were standing in line at the super market that I could see the T-shirt bunched up around the belt line.

Concealment is suppose to mean concleament and there are a few places in the State where a Sheriff may fine you if he can spot your firearm.   We’re free to carry in whichever fashion we prefer, but some ways of carrying firearms can hurt you if you fall down or things get physical.    I often recommend people consider pocket carry or IWB in the warmer months and in the Fall or Winter, they should consider a good jacket that opens easily and a paddle holster.   Fobus holsters will only cost you about $20 and they area easy to take off and put on and IMHO are more secure than a clip on OWB holster.

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Stock up on Replacement magazines

Promag MagazinesPromag magazines have gone through the decades being one of the top end of the replacement or after marketa magazines and they are still holding up.    Pistol reliability has drastically increased over the last 15yrs and so has the machining and manufacturer of rifle and pistol magazines.   Whether you have a Keltec P32 or a Mini 14, you can find Promag magazines at a reasonable price and use them for primary or secondary uses.   During the assautl weapons ban of 1994 until the sunset of the  ban, Promag Magazines earned a reputation for being a good option.

Another good reason for trying Promag mags for your guns is there 100% Warranty against any defects and they will repare or replace them if you have a problem.   Some guns may have issues with anything but factory magazines, but we have good things about the company and there service.  Some of our top magazine sellers are the M1 Carbine 10rd magazines which are brand new and make for great range blasting.    Our second most popular rifle magazine are the Ruger Mini 14 magazines which a great for those living in NJ or CA.   The Mini 14 is one of the few guns that won’t give you legal problems and Ruger mostly sells the Mini 14 with a factory 5rd mag.

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IWB for Concealement

Don Hume HolstersThe concealed carry market is exploding with various tactical apparel and holster designs.   Most gun owners that are not in law enforcement have the ability to select whichever firearm suits there comfort level and that will change depending on the environement they are in.      Sometimes the idea of getting a $150 or higher shoulder holster sounds like fun and you can announce to everyone in the room that you are carrying a full size handgun, but that’s not really concealment.   It’s hard to really give suggestions on what is best for concealment, because some of the best shooters I know carry a small auto or revolver in a pocket and I wouldn’t want to mess with them.

Carrying OWB may be more comfortable in seated positions, but this is still depending on how big the gun is.    I’ve hit my funny bone more than a few times with OWB holsters, but they seem to get more use in the Winter months when wearing a heavy jacket.    IWB seems to give an user more versatility in the clothing they wear as long as the shirt is not tucked in.   Don Hume Holsters makes several clip on IWB holsters that are easy to take off and are held securely as long as you use a proper belt.

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Military Jacket for the modern CCW carrier

Tactical JacketWe we get into discussions with people that are looking for clothing that doesn’t make them look like they are carrying a gun, we listen to what the customer has to say and then we give them some options.   We realize that dressing all tactical and clipping a folding knife onto a front pocket is usually a giveaway, but there is more to think about other than “what if they think I look like I carry a gun”.    Well, how many times have you seen an Obama hippy pot smoking hippy with a camoflauge jacket on or cutoff camo pants?   Does he look like he’s easy prey for a robber?
If you are working the narcotics department and you don’t want to look like a cop or that you just walked out of boot camp, we understand, but being situationally aware is far more importantant than worrying about what other people think of you.     The Eotac Style 502 Field Jacket is a modernized CCW tactical jacket that has that vintage look, especially if you go for that lizard patter camo.   The pockets are designed for carrying modern flashlights, phones, knives ect and won’t be as clumsy to use compared to military surplus jackets.   Check out the Style 103 Field vest also that is basically the same desing, but without sleeves.    One thing you have to remember about this jacket though is it is a jacket and not a coat, it is also not a firearms retention device and not meant to carry a large gun in the pockets.   We do get customers that order these and seem to think that because it is a CCW style jacket that it means you can put a gun in it.   We’d recommend worrying about a different holster design than trying to conceal a firearm in this.

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Levels of Security

Galco HolstersSome users like to bash the clip on holster designs and the reality is that a clip on isn’t as secure as a paddle or belt design, but if you match the right belt to a holter, it is a fine CCW option, especially if you are going to be taking the gun and holster off while you are out.   I personally prefer the vertical shoulder holster design, but I’ve been tempted to wear the Galco Miami Classic holster on occassion.  They are defanitely one of the nicest shoulder holsters out there.

 

One of the most well known leather holster manufacturers is Galco Holsters.   They make some of the nicest belt holsters you can find.    When you get down to it, all of these holster options are really preference because nobody can tell you that something can’t work for you.   Some holster designs like Kydex are better in warm and sweaty environments, but when you’re looking for a rock solid setup, you can’t beat the security of a belt holster.

 

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Tactical Vests as a range bag

How many times have you gone to the range for a day and forgot your sight in tools?   How many times did you forget ear plugs?  How many times did you forget the following, gloves, batteries, targets, screwdrivers and on and on.   Well this Eotac Style 101 vest has so many pockets that if you don’t keep your stuff organized you’ll lose it in the vest.  If you do keep your gear organized and assign each pocket for specific tools and practice,  the next time you walk out the door to go shooting, you’ll have all of your neccessities in your vest that you always bring with you.   You can even keep empty or loaded mags in it and have it become your active shooter bag for civillian SHTF purposes.

Sometimes I hear people snicker when they hear Tactical VestTactical Vest.   I guess its because so many of us have stories about the guy that shows up at a gun range and is ready for the tactical ninja battle of his life, but can’t shoot for ____.   He’s wearing all black, has a low end AR15 with a red dot on it and isn’t grouping his shots very well.   For those that are in law enforcement, we think about SWAT Teams or special operations.   Well, there’s another application for tactical vests.   A place to put all of your shooting accessories that goes to the range with you and it’s on you at all times.

 

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