All posts tagged Defensive Shooting

Why should you consider a locking holster?

I’m sure that many of you that have taken CCW classes probable know that the faster you get your gun out the more likely you are to get the first hits in.   In some people’s minds putting safeties on firearms and putting guns in locking holsters will slow you down.   That is somewhat true for some firearms and some holsters, but the better the design on the firearm the less likely that is and for some gun  holsters, there is absolutely zero slow down.    I’m not a big fan of thumb break holsters because I’ve had bad experiences with them not snapping properly and I could never tell if they were tight or now.

One thing I have found that in any type of physical turmoil, guns and gear will fly off of you.   I’ve seen it one too many time at Carbine training classes where secondary weapons and magazines go flying.   The Blackhawk Serpa holsters are my favorite because the holster locking system actually can help a novice shooter get use to keeping their finger straight and off the trigger when drawing the firearm because that is where your trigger finger is when the gun is released from the holster.

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New Crimes and home invasions

There has been a recent out burst of home invasions close to where I live.   Home invasions have always been something that occurs, but recently there has  been a new twist in the way it is being done.   Several older folks were the targets of invasions because they were easy targets.  Now a recent rash of daylight invasions where the  bad guys broke into the house while people were in it, ran up to the master bedrooms grabbed jewelry and valuables quickly and ran right out the same door they came in.   Most of the incidences occurred within less than 1 minute.   You might be in  your basement and hear a break in and by the time you call the police and come up stairs the person is already tossing something out a window to his counterpart or already out the door.

 

Crime is something that is always evolving, you will find the dunce novice criminal, but there are people that are good at what they do.   Smash and grabs have also become more common because criminal just want the fast easy money and don’t want a confrontation.   Think about making sure your Gunvault gun safes are properly mounted and out of sight even if it’s hidden in the obvious places.  Even bolting down a computer or monitor is something that can slow a bad guy down and help give the Cops a chance to catch them.

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Ankle holsters how will you know it will work for you?

One problem I have run  into and some of our customers have asked about is how do they know if a holster will work for them.   The answer is the obvious one, you gotta put it on and try it out.   The majority of our customers are responsible, but we’ve had people walk up to us and lift a shirt or a jacket and  show us what gun they are carrying, and if I didn’t know they were customers, I would probable have pulled a firearm on them and yelled “Freeze”.   I saw a funny quote at a gun shop that warned shoppers to not expose firearms because there would be severe consequences.

 

Finding a gun shop that actually stocks gun holsters is a chore.   Many gun shops in my neck of the woods only stock the big sellers, which are usually paddle holsters or tactical holsters.  Finding good concealed carry or CCW holsters is hard.   I went shopping at several gun shops that stocked Galco holsters, but not a single one had a place for me to try on an ankle holster and the clerks seemed annoyed when I asked.   The best way to shop for holsters is to find a distributor that has a good exchange or return policy.   That way if you know it doesn’t feel right you can just return it.   Holster packaging seems to be designed for holsters to taken out and put back in, there’s a reason.

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Beretta 92FS open carry and non-CCW environments

I do a lot of security evaluations on commercial and private properties.   Much of what I find is obvious to those with street smarts, but not every has those.  Unfortunately some of the best prepared gun owners I know are the ones that had crimes committed against them and they had to learn the hard way.   I’m  not any different in those regards, but there are plenty of crimes I have studied just by watching the news and reading the local newspapers.  I actually  highly recommend that anyone that is considering take the big leap and taking defensive firearms courses to spend one month of reading weekly newspapers about the crimes that are committed in their home towns.

Just tonight I saw a story about a completely innocent guy who walked out of a Target shopping store and was in the wrong place at the wrong time, a drug addict in a bad move just started stabbing him.   What would you have done?   I have been carrying a Beretta 92FS in a Fobus holster for several years now, which is one of my primary CCW in the winter, and the reason I am carrying this holster is that it paddle holsters are easy to take off and put on and getting into and out of a bank with high security like metal detectors, means the guns have to come off.

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5.11 tactical holsters do they still make clothing?

I’m not going to get on the bandwagon and say 5.11 is a bad company, but I will say that the company has far out extended itself.   I have an own many items from 5.11, but after a failed attempt and trying to get back into wearing some of their stuff with the 5.11 jeans, I’m really annoyed that if I want to try to order any of the other pants online, I’m probable going to have sizing issues.  I have to wear a full size large in the pants that I presently own and I have no idea how they got so out of  hand when it came to consistency.   I see 5.11 watches and holsters, but I’d like to see them go back to making clothing right.

The 5.11 thumb drive holsters are another way of doing something, and if it floats your boat, they float it.   I don’t like jumping around with too many  holster variations because like driving many different vehicles in a short time  period, there will eventually be a time you reach for something and it’s not where you thought it was.  Retention or locking holsters can be very important,  but sometimes its nice to just put on  Fobus holsters and you’re all ready for Winter/ Jacket carry or open carry.  Sometimes you have to stick to the  basics and consistency is paramount

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Are there bigger 9mm than the Beretta 92FS?

I’m trying to think here, but I can’t think of too many.   The Sig 226 is the closest firearm that I can think of.   There are always trade offs between firearms and if you want the power of a +P 9mm with 15rds,  you really can’t beat the Beretta 92FS.   The gun has a long enough history of being proven to be reliable, and in my many years of owning a shooting them, I have never had any problems with it.   Finding used 92FS magazines is easy and there will probable be as many of them laying around 20yrs from now as there are 1911 magazines.

I have a few family members that have served in the Military and each and every one of them has mentioned that the gun is so darn big.   If you are carrying a loaded M9 pistol, and you are 5’6″  I can understand the gun is probable big for you, but do you really want to do guard duty with a Walther PPK when guarding the entrance of a base?  Having a good gun holster like Blackhawk holsters or a Galco shoulder holster might help offset weight.  I have no idea why the US Military is still afraid of putting hollow point ammunition in sidearms, but the 9mm +P does not have a good reputation.   Private contractors are a different story and it seems that the 92FS still has a good reputation with them.

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Blackhawk Serpa Holsters

I’m in the midst of a major change in the type of holsters that I am carrying.   I’m really getting tired of carrying IWB every day and it’s starting to get to me these days.    I was always very fond of Fobus gun holsters but after several days of Level III defensive shooting training, having a holster with a retention locking system, thumb snap or other, was very important.   I am also very fond of the Blackhawk mag holsters because they also have a retention mechanism that helps keep them in place.   I’ve seen more magazines to a stray at Level III training than firearms and both incidents are bad for an operator.

I see a few of the new thumb release devices from 5.11 tactical and I believer there are a few others, but I find the Blackhawk holsters to be a better and more natural feel.  I think there is nothing wrong with a non locking system for concealed carry, but for paddle holsters, it is something to consider depending on your work environment.   There are different levels of alertness and there are different levels of firearms that you can deploy.    Having a .380 pistol is better than none, but having a .380 pistol for street work for LEO is not a smart weapon to deploy.

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Another way of doing things, the Fobus Level II

I don’t carry with a Fobus paddle holster very day, but I’m probable sporting some of their stuff a few times a month.   I recently found out about the Level II holsters from Fobus with the thumb lever.   I have to say that I have not had a lot of experience with these so I’m not going to rave about them or pass any criticism on them.   There are many ways of doing the same job and the job that a gun holster is suppose to do for you is hold your firearm.   I have tossed a few holsters in the trash after wearing them out, but I spent a lot of money on upgrading some of my primary medium and full size holster selection after sitting in on a few Carbine courses.

There is no difference in my opinion between a 1911 cocked and locked and a Glock 19 in a Blackhawk Serpa holster.  Each one of them is not ready for firing until a finger, take your pick, releases a safety in one way or another and the gun comes out and plays.   Fobus holsters are very well made and I have yet to ever break one.   They are not bullet proof and they will hurt to roll on, but they get the job done for $20-$30.   My Beretta 92FS always goes in a Fobus holster because it’s the most comfortable way of carrying it.

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Why you should still consider a locking system for open carry

Open carry discussions have been banned from several of the gun forums that I use to dwell on because they became so full of “what ifs” that people would always find a way to tear the other persons logic down and if you were a Moderator, it go annoying really fast.   While Open Carry is legal in many States, all you have to do is look at the statistics for the number of Police Officers that have been killed by their own firearms.   The snap button system works for it’s intended purpose, but it is an old way of doing something. When you are carrying a full size handgun, paddle holsters tend to be a more comfortable option.

You should always be aware that you may run across an expert criminal, but from my experience, many robberies ect. are not really the best tacticians.  If you are open carrying, remember that you firearm is a liability to you know if you are not aware of your surroundings.   There are several new locking systems but the best that I know of are the Blackhawk holsters.   The Blackhawk Serpa system is more reliable than a thumb snap and it’s easier to put your firearm away.   This system prevents you firearm from flying out in a ground scuffle and it also slows down someone that is trying to get your gun from you.

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IWB causing discomfort?

There have been several times recently where I have serious considered changing the type of gun I am carrying because after working 7 days a week in over time IWB has taken it’s toll.   I’m noticing I am getting bruising on the side where I carry my firearm and it really has gotten uncomfortable.   I find IWB to be the best concealed carry method for me, but it will catch up to those who carry all the time and do a lot of physical work.   My Sig 228 is a medium sized auto that is one of my favorite and I don’t feel like spending another $500 for a smaller firearm.

When you move from carrying a firearm inside the waistband and want concealment, you are probable going to have to consider wearing a vest or a jacket.   Once you get into Summer weather, a vest may not work for you at all all.  The Galco holsters that I like to wear as outside the pants holsters are the Galco Combat Master.  These have an angled slant to them which I prefer to defensive shooting.   Everyone has different body types and arm lengths so this may not work for you.  Many of my friends like the Roto holsters for the same reason.

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