I made the switch to AIWB a little over a year ago after reading a thread on another forum where a person was robbed by a group of six individuals who surrounded him. The person in question had a permit but wasn't carrying that day. I asked him if he would have drawn when he realized what was happening. He reflected that his usual carry method of a hybrid holster, IWB, at 4 o'clock wouldn't have been conducive to a draw anyway; armed or not, that draw would have been interfered with and the encounter may have ended in him getting shot with his own gun. There's no substitute for situational awareness and early warning. But, in addition to being a reminder of that lesson it also caused me to think more about how I carry.
As someone who carries in cities as a rule where crimes with more than one perpetrator may be more commonplace, I realized there was more peace of mind for controlling the weapon by having it in my line of sight just about all the time, rather than behind the hip. This isn't just for encounters like in the example, but even in day-to-day situations like being aboard a crowded train.
This video reminded me of why I made the switch to carrying appendix, and gave me some other thins to think about. I thought others may find it thought-providing as well. While it's catered toward LE, the link outlines some other considerations for fights at extreme close quarters, or that go to ground. I understand AIWB isn't for everyone, but even if that's your thinking going in, perhaps consider the "what if" scenario of someone on top of you–how you'll employee your CCW, what to do if it's out of reach (i.e., behind the hip while on your back), back up weapons, unarmed combat. Better yet, go train it.
As an aside, the series also has entires from Paul Gomez and Jim Cirillo. Great minds since passed on. All the more reason to seek training while we can from those we respect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2tJex_9wNY
As someone who carries in cities as a rule where crimes with more than one perpetrator may be more commonplace, I realized there was more peace of mind for controlling the weapon by having it in my line of sight just about all the time, rather than behind the hip. This isn't just for encounters like in the example, but even in day-to-day situations like being aboard a crowded train.
This video reminded me of why I made the switch to carrying appendix, and gave me some other thins to think about. I thought others may find it thought-providing as well. While it's catered toward LE, the link outlines some other considerations for fights at extreme close quarters, or that go to ground. I understand AIWB isn't for everyone, but even if that's your thinking going in, perhaps consider the "what if" scenario of someone on top of you–how you'll employee your CCW, what to do if it's out of reach (i.e., behind the hip while on your back), back up weapons, unarmed combat. Better yet, go train it.
As an aside, the series also has entires from Paul Gomez and Jim Cirillo. Great minds since passed on. All the more reason to seek training while we can from those we respect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2tJex_9wNY
