I frequently read comments to the effect "When I'm just going out for a loaf of bread, I just drop a J-frame in my pocket, otherwise it's a.45 with extra magazines..." I'm guily of the same thing but lately thinking this is faulty reasoning, like saying I don't use my seat belt if I'm just going to the store near by. Why do we think that the fact it's a quick trip for us means there won't be a situation? As I read elsewhere, are we really convinced that having 5 shots in our J-frame will solve the issue of multiple attackers at the local convenience store? Why do we think going farther or for a longer period means we should prepare better? I'm moving toward carrying the little gun only when my clothing just won't conceal something bigger. It seems to me the test is: "What do I want in my hand if I have to use it?" (RPGs and ARs not included).
Do you let your destination determine what you CCH?
- Thread starter wgp
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M2 Carbine
member
Yes, I'm afaid I do.
I figure if I ever have to use the pocket .380 that I usually have with me, the first thing I think will be, What in the heck am I doing with this little thing instead of the 45 I should be carrying.
Flyincedar
Member
No. And neither does what I'm wearing. I dress around what I carry. Cooler weather I usually carry OWB and a hoodie or jacket, summer means I can wear whatever and IWB.
I carry based on what I'm wearing. I decide what I'm wearing based on my destination. I'm dressed differently when I go to work and when I'm going to the mall. I dress differently in the summer than I do in the winter (which may be within a few days of each other here in Texas.) That said, I usually just carry either a J-frame or a Glock.
Deanimator
Member
I carry a J-Frame Smith in a pocket holster when I know I'm going to have to disarm. It's much easier to put gun and holster in the glove box than to try to deal with a tuckable IWB, which is my usual rig when I don't expect to disarm.
Guess so. Daily a Glock 23 or J frame. 45 if I can get by with a light jacket. I feel comfortable with my J frame but I don't with my PPK/S I bought years ago and use little. Run to the convenience store I stick the Glock in my back pocket and wear my shirt out.
I'm guessing that this may be a regional type of thing. If I had to go to any store where I thought that there was even a slim possibility of multiple attackers, I wouldn't go there.
I would like to hear from others on this line of thinking. It this type of crime common in inner cities?
22-rimfire
Member
I carry a Glock 23 if I am nervous about my destination. That usually means I have to do a job in a bad part of town with a known crime problem. Sometimes I take additional security with me. Otherwise it is a J-frame revolver. Honestly, the reason I do the Glock is because I want the handgun to be seen and take the J-frame when I want it completely concealed.
To expand on what I'm talking about: my rule, as I suspect with others here, is that if there is a place I think is so dangerous I would not go without a gun, then I won't go there at all. If we follow that line of thought to its logical conclusion, we would not carry a weapon at all. But we do, and it has to be because we know that you can't predict where a threat will arise. Witness the police officers recently shot at a coffee shop, the Tuscon shooting at a mid-day political event, the college shootings -- all happened at places we would really not expect. So, if we carry a weapon because we want to be prepared for the unexpected, why do we grab a little gun for a short outing and a big gun for a longer outing, if we have a choice? As I previously said, I'm guilty too -- mid-day today I made a quick trip to the neighborhood grocery store with my J-frame, but tonight, to the same store, my Glock 23.
Deus Machina
Member
+1
If there's a place I won't go without a gun (more than otherwise; I don't want to go anywhere without a gun), I won't go.
Outside that, yes--if I'm going to be gone the whole day, or have some time, the CZ gets strapped on. If it's a quick run to the store and I don't want to undo my belt and finagle my holster into place, just to deal with it at home, or if I'm going somewhere I'll have to disarm anyway (work, school, tax collector's office, etc.) I drop the M85 in my pocket, and into the glovebox when I get into the car.
If there's a place I won't go without a gun (more than otherwise; I don't want to go anywhere without a gun), I won't go.
Outside that, yes--if I'm going to be gone the whole day, or have some time, the CZ gets strapped on. If it's a quick run to the store and I don't want to undo my belt and finagle my holster into place, just to deal with it at home, or if I'm going somewhere I'll have to disarm anyway (work, school, tax collector's office, etc.) I drop the M85 in my pocket, and into the glovebox when I get into the car.
kyletx1911
Member
my holster stays on the time, even in shorts but if i am sports shorts i carry my rock island,
4in in my pocket to run in the store and run out then my pistol goes under my leg till i get home
4in in my pocket to run in the store and run out then my pistol goes under my leg till i get home
earlthegoat2
Member
I do this too but in a different and less logical way. I am more apt to carry a larger gun with me for short trips because it is increased firepower that I wont have to carry all day.
For instance here is an example: (note I may or may not own these guns but it is indicative of the type I would choose for said trips)
Take out the trash/take out the dog: Beretta 92 in the waistband (I live in an apartment so I cant just "let the dog out")
Quick trip the grocery: K Frame in a pistol pocket holster IWB
Staying in a hotel in a seedy portion of Atlanta: HK P7 with 4 loaded mags (this is a true story and the closest I ever came to having to use my weapon and I was very glad I brought what I did, Im pretty sure there were multiple drug deals going on the next door down and someone mistook my room for the one they needed to go to. It took some gentle persuasion to get them to leave.)
General concealed everyday carry: J frame in the pocket.
For instance here is an example: (note I may or may not own these guns but it is indicative of the type I would choose for said trips)
Take out the trash/take out the dog: Beretta 92 in the waistband (I live in an apartment so I cant just "let the dog out")
Quick trip the grocery: K Frame in a pistol pocket holster IWB
Staying in a hotel in a seedy portion of Atlanta: HK P7 with 4 loaded mags (this is a true story and the closest I ever came to having to use my weapon and I was very glad I brought what I did, Im pretty sure there were multiple drug deals going on the next door down and someone mistook my room for the one they needed to go to. It took some gentle persuasion to get them to leave.)
General concealed everyday carry: J frame in the pocket.
cheygriz
member
Each area, and activity, has a "threat level." (first day of police academy)
Choosing your weapon, like the police do, according to where you're going and what you're doing makes perfect sense.
Unless you want to try to be "Hopalong Cassidy" riding to rescue a damsel in distress, you don't need a brace of .44-40s in a fast draw rig and a Winchester to go to the corner market for pork chops.
When you've had to carry a weapon every day, everywhere you go, for 20 or 30 years, you quickly lose your love for big, heavy service type weapons if there's virtually no chance they'll be needed.
A nice little Beretta .25 ACP that just drops into your pants pocket will serve you just fine. (Of course, it doesn't give you that "macho" ten feet tall feeling that your big 9mm or .40 does
)
Choosing your weapon, like the police do, according to where you're going and what you're doing makes perfect sense.
Unless you want to try to be "Hopalong Cassidy" riding to rescue a damsel in distress, you don't need a brace of .44-40s in a fast draw rig and a Winchester to go to the corner market for pork chops.
When you've had to carry a weapon every day, everywhere you go, for 20 or 30 years, you quickly lose your love for big, heavy service type weapons if there's virtually no chance they'll be needed.
A nice little Beretta .25 ACP that just drops into your pants pocket will serve you just fine. (Of course, it doesn't give you that "macho" ten feet tall feeling that your big 9mm or .40 does
)Yes and no.
In my state of residence I'm required to disarm if I enter an establishment that sells alcohol by the drink (even if it's a restaurant with a beer license), a private residence if I don't ask for and receive permission to carry, and all the usual places. So for normal errands that might include such places I pocket carry due to the ease of disarming then rearming. If I'm traveling or sitting in the car for any length of time I carry IWB due to the ease of accessing my weapon and the comfort of IWB carry.
In my state of residence I'm required to disarm if I enter an establishment that sells alcohol by the drink (even if it's a restaurant with a beer license), a private residence if I don't ask for and receive permission to carry, and all the usual places. So for normal errands that might include such places I pocket carry due to the ease of disarming then rearming. If I'm traveling or sitting in the car for any length of time I carry IWB due to the ease of accessing my weapon and the comfort of IWB carry.
BADUNAME37
Member
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Yes, if I am going to the next state which is ten minutes from here, I do not take a firearm. I could carry openly, however I don't want to be hassled by the police because the public on their cell phones are all calling in about "this guy with a gun!"
I have an alternate weapon I carry (in the vehicle, not on my person) which has two doses of pepper spray that shoot at 90 MPH.
I have an alternate weapon I carry (in the vehicle, not on my person) which has two doses of pepper spray that shoot at 90 MPH.
I carry the same thing no matter where I am headed. A Star PD isn't big but I like that .45 hole in the end.
The only variation is that on a cross country road trip I put another Star PD in a small zippered bag. It rides on the console so the wife will have a gun to use should the need arise for some extra firepower.
Greg
The only variation is that on a cross country road trip I put another Star PD in a small zippered bag. It rides on the console so the wife will have a gun to use should the need arise for some extra firepower.
Greg
scaatylobo
Member
Read an article a few decades back ,written by a well known writer and LEO.
He said that if you think you need a gun - ever ,then dress to carry ALL the gun you could need.
You never hear of ANYONE saying they had too much gun for a confrontation.
Fashion being the silly thing it is,many will choose to ignore this.
And it could cost them their life,but they will make the excuse that "it wont happen" to me when I go for bread,milk,cigarettes,gasoline etc.
And very possibly that is the case,BUT no one ever did a study to find out that if ANY of those victims that were shot,knifed,beated etc = had the option of being armed and decided that their pants were too tight or their shorts too fitted.To actually EDC a real gun.
My life is not precious to me and so are the lives of those I am with.
I choose to dress so as to be armed with a real firearm,that is MY choice and you can carry your pocket mouse gun and hope for the best.
BUT,we all know that if you ever have one of THOSE pucker factor moments [ YES,had a few ] then you will wish,PRAY for a real gun.
Bets of luck with your choices.
Remember Mumbai ?.
He said that if you think you need a gun - ever ,then dress to carry ALL the gun you could need.
You never hear of ANYONE saying they had too much gun for a confrontation.
Fashion being the silly thing it is,many will choose to ignore this.
And it could cost them their life,but they will make the excuse that "it wont happen" to me when I go for bread,milk,cigarettes,gasoline etc.
And very possibly that is the case,BUT no one ever did a study to find out that if ANY of those victims that were shot,knifed,beated etc = had the option of being armed and decided that their pants were too tight or their shorts too fitted.To actually EDC a real gun.
My life is not precious to me and so are the lives of those I am with.
I choose to dress so as to be armed with a real firearm,that is MY choice and you can carry your pocket mouse gun and hope for the best.
BUT,we all know that if you ever have one of THOSE pucker factor moments [ YES,had a few ] then you will wish,PRAY for a real gun.
Bets of luck with your choices.
Remember Mumbai ?.
yeti
Member
Since one of the first rules of carrying a gun is to carry a gun; if I am just running out for a few minutes I'll just drop the J frame in my pocket. It just goes along with keys, wallet, glasses, gun.
Once the big gun comes off it doesn't go back on until I plan to keep it on, and besides between 10:30 and 11:30 pm, the store is like a cop shop anyway, between the locals, the county sheriffs, BP, customs, and an occasional Statie it's probably the safest place in 50 miles.
Once the big gun comes off it doesn't go back on until I plan to keep it on, and besides between 10:30 and 11:30 pm, the store is like a cop shop anyway, between the locals, the county sheriffs, BP, customs, and an occasional Statie it's probably the safest place in 50 miles.
JohnBiltz
Member
I put my G26 on when I get up and take it off when I go to bed. Its there in between those times summer or winter. I may change how I carry it depending on how much driving vs. walking I will be doing. The only concessions I make is if I don't like the area I might carry a spare magazine. If I'm traveling over 60 miles away I put a long gun in the trunk.
Kurt S.
Member
You're dang skippy on that one.
However, I guess I am one of the few that does consider destination in mind. My EDC is usually a Keltec P3AT, but if I am on a road trip I'll usually take my S&W M60 in .357.
Walking my little dogs around the back property at night, I'll slip a .22 of some kind in a pocket.
Due to peculiar laws in Texas, if you are hunting on certain public lands you need to have a CHL to carry a sidearm, and at those times I'll carry something with a "4" in the caliber.
Deltaboy1984
Member
I take where I am going first then I chose to dress to fit the Piece I am carrying. I have a Charter undercover and a Sigma. I wear a jacket and when I carry the Sigma either IWB or OWB. The 38 I pocket carry or I have a great OWB I wear at 8 o 'clock since I am a South paw!
Of course it makes sense. It's the reasoning of an intelligent person. Some of the yim-yam above is quite astonishing, e.g., "carry a real gun..." If it fires bullets, it's a "real gun."
This is a common topic I've seen here and elsewhere many times. There will always be a contingent of people - usually Glock owners who only own one gun (their Glock) who avow that it's the only thing they carry. Bully for them.
My city has areas that are extremely safe, as evidenced by the crime maps issued periodically by the Sheriff's dept. You can see where the murders, rapes, robberies and so forth tend to occur. My city also has the 4th most dangerous neighborhood in the U.S., where your odds of being a victim of a violent crime are around 1:6, in a standardized period.
Our downtown area can get a little tough after dark. It's also where the risk of multiple attackers is greater than, say, the upscale mall where crime is almost unheard of.
For shopping or such, in my local district, a J-frame is a good choice. I'm adding an LC9 to the lineup for this kind of duty, too. The kinds of crime I'm most likely to encounter will be the sort where a shot or two fired defensively will probably end the problem.
Heading into a high-threat area, I want the 18 rounds of 9mm and a reload.
NMGonzo
Member
Short answer = yes.
Hiking
Store
Work
etc
all different needs.
Hiking
Store
Work
etc
all different needs.
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