Deep cover, to secondary holster options
If I am carrying a j-frame in a paddle holster, I’m usually carrying a speed loader and about 3 reloads. J-frames work very well for deep cover and my primary mindset it to shoot and move and not expect to put up a fight for very long when I’m starting out with 5 rounds. I can increase my firepower and comfort by carrying the same gun, but with an OWB holster that can easily be reloaded. I strongly recommend that everyone considers having a paddle holster for every handgun they own. They also come in handly when going to an outdoor range where you don’t have to worry about putting the gun down on the table after every cease fire.
Sometimes smaller guns can work very well in pocket carry, but there are some situations where carrying in the pocket can be cumbersome in certain physical situations. If you are going to an environment where you don’t want to have to carry another gun, sometimes it’s a good idea to carry IWB or OWB with a paddle holster. Galco gun holsters has a paddle holster that can work very well for even a small 2 inch j-frame. I use one as a secondary holster option if I don’t want to pocket carry. We can always practice to improve our performances in drawing our guns, but there are certain methods of carrying that are defanitely easier and most likely faster.
I was trying to think about how to describe the situations that many in the 20-40 age range tend to deal with in the summer months that they don’t normally deal with when carrying. I’ve found it very difficult to carry a fiream to weddings because there is usually so much human contact from dancing to pats on the back and hugging. Many reading this might think it is not a concern at all, but you have to realize that not every social environment is going to be gun friendly and considering that there is usually heavy drinking, it is something to think about not bothering to carry.
There is another consideration in choosing a holster that you may not be that concerned about at first. Many in the CCW world may frown on having any kind of thumb break or locking system, but there are good reasons for thinking about this. I would have to say that many of the thumbreak holsters that I have used in the past were nylon and although they worked very well for their intended purposes, I would never recommend them for CCW. I am also going to state that I am not going to tell you which holster you should use because that is a personal choice and you should put some thought and research into selecting for yourself. I have trained with 1911 pistols and although they are my favorite 45acp pistol, I have missed the thumb safety too many times during self defense training that I do not consider it for CCW. I’m also aware that putting a thumbreak on the holster may compound the problem for such a firearm.
There have been many changes in the materials being used in modern sidearms. Many of the polymer firearms have a huge advantage over their previous counterparts primarily due to their corrosion resistance. Along with corrosion resistance, many of these firearms also depend on lubrication far less. Gun holsters have progessed as far as being made in materials that can handle sweat and dirt resistance. I’ve heard plenty of stories about people ruining the finish on various blued firearms just from one or two harsh weather environments and people not getting around to cleaning them in time. I’ve personally seen a few revolvers end up being horrible pitted after an operator sweat up a storm and never bothered to clean the sidearm.
I’m the type that goes through sticker shock whenever I go to gun shops or gun shows and see the prices the NIB guns cost. People seem to think that buying used means the gun is closer to breakage than a new gun. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are several manufacturers that are making incredible reliable and durable firearms that may have fewer than 500rds through. If you look at barrel life and frame life, those guns are in the equivallent of being in the early stages of grade school. There are plenty of used police trade ins that just have holster wear and probable only were shot during qualification each year by an LEO.
Suggestion 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.
Any 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.
We all know that Glocks are tough, I won’t say they are the toughest because there are other guns out there that may be as tough, but they are in the top tier of firearms. We know that everyone likes to talk and argue about all of the flaws in firearms and which guns are more reliable than others. Some handguns are meant for concealment and are not combat worthy and aren’t expect to put 500rds through them without cleaning to function flawlessly.
A great many years ago I wondered how people really knew which holster worked for them. It’s one of those things people don’t understand when they first start to carry a gun. The reality is that some holster designs are as pretty to look at in the same way we shop for clothing or for a car. Some people just need to get around from point A to point B and don’t need to show off.
When deciding on which type of method to conceal a firearm, one most always remember the environment you will be carrying in. All firearms can be carried in one way or the other, but some firearms will become extremely uncomfortable to carry in certain climates and or situations.