Anyone CCW With A Pistol lanyard?

[DonNikmare]

Just wondering what the conventional thought/practice on/with these is out there.
Also are pistol lanyards available and where?

If you do use one for CCW, what's your set up (secured to belt loop or belt, does the lanyard/cord just go down your pants or is it a strechable/retractable kind)?

Here is what I'm thinking about using, possibly. If I did use it, I would clip it to the closest beltloop behind the holster. This one's cord is only 22'' but I have a badge holder type with a strong nylon cord that is plenty long. Only 19 cents!


Any thoughts?

Nik

 

[P95Carry]

Nik - to be honest - never even considered it! Doubt I'll start now either - reckoning that Mr Murphy probably would ensure that in use, something would present to snarl things up!!

 

[nemesis]

At least you wouldn't have to worry about losing your gun. You may have to work on your draw so that you can play out the retractable lanyard while you reach for your gun. Some sort of a reel on the lanyard housing could be handy for reeling in a dropped gun too.

 

[lyricsdad]

Hmm those remind me of my HS Custodion's Keys.

I dont know if i would use one of those w/ a pistol. maybe around your neck w/ a long piece of rawhide like Tuco on the Good bad and the ugly lol

 

[thatguy]

I've been saying for years that a lanyard made sense for cops so why not civilians, too? Won't leave your gun in the restroom, or have it fall on the ground, and a crook trying to snatch it is in for a surprise when you yank it right back out of his hands.

 

[jmilliron]

Those things are crap. I have one for my badge at work, it needs to be replaced about every 3 months.

-jason m

 

[BlackJack]

While going through Ranger school, every rifle or pistol we carried was tethered to our web gear by a length of parachute cord called a 'dummy cord.' At first it was a big 'pita,' but you get used to it and adjust just like you do to any other inconvenience. And after you've been walking and stalking for days on end and the sleep monster gets after you, you realize that the only thing keeping you from losing your weapon is that little piece of cord.

Most of us don't operate in those kind of circumstances with our CCW. If you're that tired, go home and get some sleep. But if you can conceal a cord somehow, I can see where it might be helpful.

I do use a dummy cord when I'm hunting, mainly to keep from dropping my expensive 1911 in the dirt when I'm moving in the bush, but I can see how some would decide that its unnecessary.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

While going through Ranger school, every rifle or pistol we carried was tethered to our web gear by a length of parachute cord called a 'dummy cord.' At first it was a big 'pita,' but you get used to it and adjust just like you do to any other inconvenience. And after you've been walking and stalking for days on end and the sleep monster gets after you, you realize that the only thing keeping you from losing your weapon is that little piece of cord.

A dummy cord was used for your weapon, compass and CEOI. And it made sense.

On the other hand, a friend of mine (who has never been in service) was elk hunting. Climbing Mount Adam in Eagle County, Colorado early in the morning, he got overheated. He took off his coat, tucked it under the flap of his pack and went on.

An hour later, he reached for his $800 binoculars -- and guess what?

 

[Zach S]

I wouldnt bother with a lanyard for everyday CC. Could be a good thing to have if your hiking, climbing, rafting, or something.

I have one for my badge at work, it needs to be replaced about every 3 months.

I got mad at mine and threw it away. I keep my badge in my RR pocket.

 

[DonNikmare]

I never wear the ones I get from work. They are crap! I see many co-workers walking around with their badges hanging down a little as the spring device wears out.
However, they are cheap enough and could easily be switched out if used for CCW.
I don't yet carry but when thinking about it in future tense I have a fear of being made and some thug taking a running start and snagging the gun out as he runs by. Not sure how realistic a senario like this one would be but it's still a fear I have.

BlackJack, how were those secured? Did they just hang there off the butt of the gun or...?

Nik

 

[enfield]

Tuco used one in "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" so it must be all right.

 

[BlackJack]

"BlackJack, how were those secured? Did they just hang there off the butt of the gun or...? Nik"

Hey Nik, For the 1911 which I carried, just tied a loop with a bowline on the lanyard loop and rolled up the excess and tucked it into the hip holster. For use with a shoulder holster, later in line units, I just let the cord hang across my front--tied off to the lanyard loop on one end and the right shoulder of the web gear on the other. For hunting, I carry my 1911 in a Wilderness Safepacker with the lanyard tied to the loop on one end and the plastic carry loop on the front of the holster, with the slack tucked into the holster so it isn't as likely to hang up on branches and whatnot.

 

[logical]

And when a cop comes up to the aftermath of a justified defense shooting and, not knowing exactly who the good and bad guys are, tells you to drop your weapon.......and your retractable lanyard keeps flinging it back into your hand.....and now there are two justifiable shootings you've been involved in. One as the shooter, one as the shootee.

 

[mfree]

Not very logical, logical. The gun would retract, if it retracts, to the holster.

 

[logical]

Sorry...it was either that or what I really thought of the idea. I chose the higher of the two roads.

 

[lyricsdad]

[And when a cop comes up to the aftermath of a justified defense shooting and, not knowing exactly who the good and bad guys are, tells you to drop your weapon.......and your retractable lanyard keeps flinging it back into your hand.....and now there are two justifiable shootings you've been involved in. One as the shooter, one as the shootee.]

Or if this is clipped to your belt.. it is dropped and comes back and hits you in the jewels. ouch...

 

[DonNikmare]

Those things are not strong enough to retract the weight of the gun. If it is dropped it'll just slow down its fall a tiny bit nothing more than that.

The benefit they offer is that you would not have to worry about tucking in the excess cord/lanyard.

Sometimes, I have good ideas and sometimes stupid ideas. I have not decided which category this one falls in and that's partly why I put it out here to see what people think.

So far I can't think of too many draw backs to it except for adding an additional something that could print and call attention to the holster area. It seems to me that it would be a good idea to use one at least for out in the nature carry if nothing else.

BlackJack thanks for the explaination.

Nik

 

[logical]

I think a lanyard is a great idea out in the field/woods to avaoid dropping it/losing it...but it seems like a bad idea in normal daily CCW. Just seems too many ways to tangle in it or be otherwise restricted by it. Changing hands, etc.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I use lanyards, but not for CCW. I have several magazines on lanyards such that whn I practice my drills, I don't have to bend over and pick up spent mags of the ground (and hence they don't get dirty/muddy either) and I don't spend time backtracking my steps to find spent mags ejected during shooting on the move drills.

 

[lyricsdad]

Hmm that does make sense. would seem like a good idea for the magazine to have a loop in it for a lanyard. then you could just release the mag and not have to worry about it getting all gunked up w/ sand.

 

[nomadboi]

I carry my wallet on a chain... don't currently CCW, but it could be kinda funny to have your sidearm on a wallet chain kinda thing, carried in the back pocket.

"Hey, sure, I'll give you my money. Lemme just grab my wallet here..."

Gotta say, though- I do fight choreography for film/plays, and when I saw the police/military overseas with the lanyards on their sidearms, I was immediately picturing scenarios in which someone was binding one of them up with their own lanyard in a scuffle over the gun...

 

[skidmark]

lanyards & retractors

IF you are going to try any kind of retractor as a lanyard, you need to think about a few things.

How long is the cord? Will your gun get up into shooting position or come jerking to a halt just an inch short?

How strong is the "pull" needed to unreel the cord? You can go from one extreem of freespooling (anyone ever seen a fishing reel do that? ) to +75# (ever draw a bow that was too big for you? ).

Do you want it to automatically lock at the end of whatever pull you give it, or do you want the retraction tension on the cord all the time? Or - do you want to have to use one hand to lock out the retraction tension?

How strong is the retractor cord? How much strain will it take and not seperate from the retractor mechanism? How much strain will it take and not part in the middle?

Oh, yeah! How strong is the point where the retractor cord attaches to your gun? (Ever have one come loose & retract without any weight to slow it down? Don't ask, it was not a pretty sight. )

And how strong and secure is the point where it attaches to whatever you attach it to? Some of the cheap clips will rip right off your belt/vest/skivvies, while others will hang on so tight that if you exceed the cord length you get pulled until the place you connected to breaks/fails.

If I am concerned about weapon retention while CCW, I'm more likely to be using a thumb-break than any kind of lanyard. That being said, there have (and will continue to be) been many nights when a short length of 550-cord connected my (fill in the blank) to my wrist just in case I dozed off and needed rapid access on awakening. Sure beats trying to find (fill in the blank) when you were sleeping upright in the vehicle, resting your eyes under a bush in the boonies, or otherwise on 50% alert.

There are good uses for retractors. Several are mentioned by others - hunting especially. For those situations I recommend going to a scuba dive shop and looking at what they carry. Good connection points, good cord material selection, long enough cords, varying strength retractor springs with or without auto-lock, and strong enough to survive the saltwater exposure.

stay safe.

skidmark

 

[Cosmoline]

Actually I think it's a cool idea. I've been experimenting with modified calvary-type lanyards for rifles for some time. Having a line on your sidearm isn't a bad idea at all if it can be done correctly.

 

[Roadkill]

I never get into my kayak or canoe without a lanyard on my pistol. When I take my AK I have it tied with a 8' parachute cord to a boat cushion. I've been wet several times but haven't lost a gun yet.

rk

 

[BluesBear]

If you recall the original 1911s were issued with an additional lanyard loop on the magazine. There was a special two headed lanyard that connected to both the pistol and the magazine so that you wouldn't lose your magazine while reloading on horseback.

And original 1911 lanyard is worth some money.