Any EDC CCW'ers?

[woodsroad]

I lost ALL my firearms in a tragic boating accident several years ago as stated previously.

There, I fixed that for you.
I've tried to track down the origin of this meme, to no avail. But I'm pretty sure that it started on the old Cruffler C&R listserve, which dated back to 1991 or so. I don't remember exactly who coined it, but from there it went to arfcom and then out into the universe.

 

[PaulRVA]

The P365 SAS is a perfect semiauto carry gun. Low snag potential, very compact, exceptionally reliable.

If I could carry one, I would. Open carry is constitutional in Pennsylvania, but my clients wouldn't appreciate it.

The house gun is a Remington TAC 13 with a Streamlight, red dot and pistol brace. Compact, turns corners easily, flashlight illuminates the whole f'n house. I set this up when a bunch of meth farmers moved in across the lane from us. They're gone now (after a police involved shooting there), but the hand cannon stays. We have almost no crime in my township, until we do.

Tac 13’s are Great, I have one in my Jeep with #4 buck and my Original Issue Witness Protection which I purchased from my agency.
I have a 365 SAS and I’m considering adding a traditional slide with
trijicons although the mepro sighting system works fine you lose some reaction time getting your sight picture. Ive used Streamlight myself since around 1994 and use their TLR’s on a few house and truck guns.

 

[Hillcrest]

Peterson Pub Pipe. 'Nuff said ...

 

[Sobrbiker]

I lost ALL my firearms in a boating accident several years ago as stated previously.

Sounds good, but if you really think we’re at a time that that’s the answer, then it’s time to maybe pick them up.

 

[warren]

I've not seen mention of noting the backstop, particularly those of you who prefer weapons with great penetration power. An improper backstop, thin walls, adjoining living quarters or shops, no backstop on on open street with peds and traffic and such may mean you shouldn't engage because of the risk to innocent bystanders. Sometimes you simply can't engage an assailant.

Nor have I noticed, might have missed such, any mention of knowing the local laws, inside and out, backwards and forwards with regard to self defense and/or the defense of others.

And, for your own protection after being involved in a shooting answer no questions from the cops except to ID self. They are not your friends at this point in time. Your second call, after 911, is to your lawyer. Answer nothing, no matter how innocuous the question appears, until your personal attorney is on scene and you've consulted with him/her, privately.

 

[FurCoat]

I’ll disagree.
Children need to taught about firearms. The dangers, the benefits the seriousness of the responsibility in possessing one. If there are guns in the house, they need to be demystified for children, their use normalized and respected. My daughter learned the rules of safe handling very early on. She learned to shoot before a lot of kids learn to read. Now, at almost 25, she has no interest in firearms, but she doesn’t have an irrational fear of them, either.

Absolutely agree

 

[RookieGuy80]

I used to CC daily when I worked moving money from place to place. And when I worked in repo. Your Glock will be good if you like it.
I can certainly appreciate your feelings of firearms around your children. Believe me, Mrs. Rookie and I had several good long talks about that. It's certainly a balancing act with them around. But I'll say this. You cannot hide it from your children. You cannot really hide anything from children for very long. In the case of your gun, they will find it. They'll at least know where it is. That's something you're going to have to deal with one way or another. Keep in mind age and maturity and a slew of other variables which I honestly can't think of now.

After carrying for long enough, I learned where not to skimp. Don't cheap out on a holster. If it doesn't work for you, get another one. If it's not comfortable when worn correctly, you're either not going to wear it correctly or not wear it at all. Your regular belt isn't going to cut it either. Pistol belts cost that much for a reason and you'll want one soon. The other place I see too many people saving money is at the range. Get good and stay good. Shooting is a skill that will definitely atrophy if you let it. So you should definitely be a regular at your local ranges.

You mentioned about safety earlier. So you know the rules. Finger off the trigger until you're ready to pull it, all guns are loaded all the time even if you've just unloaded it, be sure of your target as well as what's behind, and don't point it at anything you don't want aerated. Seems simple enough, but this rules are written in blood.
There's 2 other rules that frequently get left out by should be included more. First, safely stored. On you is best. If you'll have to leave it in a vehicle, really know your area. I wouldn't around my hometown (Baltimore, Maryland, lots of theft) but others live in more civilized places and don't have the same concerns. In a safe is the second best place for it. The second is carrying while enjoying tasty adult beverages. Not because of any worries about aggression or anything like that. But I have seen people drinking lose the cigar in their hand or the glasses on their face. Alcohol can breed a certain carelessness that doesn't jive well with a firearm.

As far as tales, I'm sorry. I've concealed carried for a little over 20 years and never drew it outside of the range. All my fun or funny tales come from the range or hunting or the military. And if I can live out the rest of my days like with that streak, I'll be happy.

 

[warren]

Don't cheap out on a holster. If it doesn't work for you, get another one. If it's not comfortable when worn correctly, you're either not going to wear it correctly or not wear it at all.

Why not simply have your rear pockets modified, the lower half soft leather. A "belly gun" will fit comfortably, sitting below one's "cheek." No tell-tale bulges at the waist and in a natural position when you reach for your wallet if mugged. Your assailant will be surprised and possibly immobilized for a second when your meek compliance suddenly erupts into your fist spitting fire and lead. Another is a jacket/vest pocket carry. Nothing more disconcerting then when an outer garment spouts hot lead at three or four feet. If you can point a gun where you are looking, it's a necessary acquired skill, no acquiring of sights required, I doubt there will be return fire.

Another thing, so far unmentioned is, how to move to counteract where your assailant is likely to shoot. If they are right handed, their natural aim point is to your right of center of mass, step to your left as you bring your weapon into play. Left handed? move left. Is the assailant's weapon in fact real? Can you see lead in the chambers of a revolver. Is the assailant's pistol cocked? Is it the type which needs to be? Can you take cover and reduce the threat? Should you? Can you make the assailant's weapon inactive by grabbing it correctly, freezing the cylinder, blocking the hammer fall with your thumb? Can you grab the weapon, turn it into the assailant's belly and when let him pull the trigger? There are a myriad of correct responses to be learned and practiced until that are simply reactions to recognized threats.

I never taught on the range, I had subordinates to do that. I taught "Officer Survival", how to respond when attacked and take down an armed assailant who has the advantage, weapon drawn and armed, while minimizing your own exposure. Something to keep in mind, many people pull a weapon and then, reluctant to shoot, have it taken away and are dispatched with their own gun.

Food for thought. CCW classes generally do not prepare the attendee for armed combat. Specialized, long, involved courses are available though.

 

[warren]

Just a last note to help establish my bona fides. One of my jobs was to study, intensely, reports of "officer involved shootings." I looked for mistakes officers made and helped developed counter measures an officer could use when at a disadvantage. Having your weapon holstered while facing an armed assailant is being at a disadvantage. I learned from and helped others, charged as I was, with developing proper responses to such situations.

"Gunsite Academy" has a great reputation. Years ago, I sent more than a few officers there, primarily to learn sniper techniques/skills, or instructor skills. So, if you want to learn, check their latest reviews, speak to grads and prepare to shell out some dollars. Well spent dollars if things haven't gone downhill.

 

[Sig]

I realize this is a dead post, but I thought I would mention this just in case the OP is listening. There is some good info in this thread.....and some maybe not so good.
Anyways, besides learning your weapon, the most important thing is to learn YOUR local laws around self defense.
Laws can vary wildly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction..... especially is SA.
Besides being a semi retired veterinarian I am co-owner of a small gun shop and range in NW Pennsylvania. I have been a firearms instructor for over 20 years...on and off. We train CCWs, police and military.
I grew up around guns then in 2001, at 30 years old I joined the Army. I was done with grad school and wanted to follow my other dream. I became an Airborne Ranger, deployed 2 times to Afghanistan, 1 time to Iraq and one to Northern Africa. After 6 years of that, I became a CQC instructor in the Rangers 4th battalion for 3 years. We trained Rangers for urban and mountain combat.
Now I mostly teach soccer moms how to use their double action snub nose 38sp.
Anyways, if the OP is still out there, im here for you if you're ever in NW Pennsylvania. Or have any questions.
On a related note, before I mowed the yard today I decided to pick up a little. This is what I found in our yard that was "hidden". I always pick up brass, but some just get away. This may tell you how much we fire guns around here.

 

[K.E. Powell]

My advice is as follows:

1. Don't be that douchebag that makes carrying their whole personality. Concealed means concealed, so be low-key. Don't advertise that you carry, own guns, etc. Doing so is a great way to get robbed. And just to emphasize: please don't be some dopey asshole with a Punisher decal on their shitbox truck, constantly muttering about how he wishes a motherf***** would try him. These people suck and almost always give shitty advice.

2. Know your local laws inside and out, and disregard any legal advice anyone on this forum gave you that doesn't have any real knowledge on your nation's gun and self defense laws.

3. Spend more money on training than on gizmos and gimmicks. And not just firearms training. First aid/CPR training and de-escalation training are in many ways even more valuable than firearms training. Don't neglect those skills.

 

[Python 357]

in cooler weather when I wear a jacket I often carry a 6 1/2 inch S&W Model 29

 

[johnnyflake]

in cooler weather when I wear a jacket I often carry a 6 1/2 inch S&W Model 29

Now that is one beast of a handgun to carry concealed. I carried a S&W Model 29 - 6" - .357 mag for 18 years while on my hometown (Elmwood Park, IL) police dept as an auxiliary officer, back in the 1960s & 70s. Kudos to you, my friend!!

 

[anantaandroscoggin]

In the late '70s, I knew a guy who carried off-duty an original .44 Auto Mag. He was only a little bigger than I was at the time (I'm still 6'3", but fatter now). Regretfully, I never did think at the time to ask him what kind of rig he carried it in.

During the recent police farce with the Lewiston, ME shooting of recent days that saw two of my distant cousins I had never met killed, the cops claimed (falsely, it turned out) Card was seen in Monmouth. Since my town of Greene was smack between those two towns, I decided to carry my JXP-10 until the all clear was given.

It would be nice if instead of trying to disarm all citizens, our government would do something to take the homicidal psychopaths and sociopaths off our streets. Start perhaps with animal abusers, who are very often sociopaths training themselves up for a career as a serial killer.

 

[Sobrbiker]

in cooler weather when I wear a jacket I often carry a 6 1/2 inch S&W Model 29

And here I thought I was on the large side when I carry my 629-4 Mtn Gun…

 

[Sig]

And here I thought I was on the large side when I carry my 629-4 Mtn Gun…

I didn't mention it in my above post, it didn't really go with the message I was trying to give.
But, this is a different post.
I edc either a Glock 20 in 10mm or a Ruger GP 100 three inch .357 magnun.
Many of my fellow instructors dig on me for not carrying the ever popular 9mm......of which I have many.
My thing has always been carry the most effective tool you can effectively handle.

 

[Sobrbiker]

I didn't mention it in my above post, it didn't really go with the message I was trying to give.
But, this is a different post.
I edc either a Glock 20 in 10mm or a Ruger GP 100 three inch .357 magnun.
Many of my fellow instructors dig on me for not carrying the ever popular 9mm......of which I have many.
My thing has always been carry the most effective tool you can effectively handle.

15 yrs ago I didn’t bother with 9, but today’s 124gr ammo is nice.
Having been an instructor for a minute myself, I’ll carry anything I’m proficient with.
Rule number one of gunfights: have a gun.
Rule number two: you cannot miss fast enough to win a gunfight.
If you survive to rule number three: “I thought I was going to die” is the ONLY statement you make. If pressed further (and you will be), state you’re severely shook (because you thought you were going to die) and need the aid of counsel.

Cheers!

 

[Sig]

15 yrs ago I didn’t bother with 9, but today’s 124gr ammo is nice.
Having been an instructor for a minute myself, I’ll carry anything I’m proficient with.
Rule number one of gunfights: have a gun.
Rule number two: you cannot miss fast enough to win a gunfight.
If you survive to rule number three: “I thought I was going to die” is the ONLY statement you make. If pressed further (and you will be), state you’re severely shook (because you thought you were going to die) and need the aid of counsel.

Cheers!

Yes sir.
Either Speer Gold Dot 124 grain +P or Underwood 124 grain HTP for me.
Both have over 400fpe and are very effective.
Hard to beat an XTP bullet in any properly loaded caliber......in my opinion.

 

[warren]

If you survive to rule number three: “I thought I was going to die” is the ONLY statement you make. If pressed further (and you will be), state you’re severely shook (because you thought you were going to die) and need the aid of counsel.

After identifying yourself, the only answer to an LE officer is, "When my lawyer and I have spoken I may answer some questions." I advise this as a former copper. LE is not your friend in a time like this, your best interest are not a concern of theirs, no matter how protective/commiserating they appear at the time. I simply cannot stress this enough. Please disregard any advice to the contrary. Their goal is much different than yours! Your only thought should be, "I'll keep my mouth shut until I have proper legal advice." Anything you say will be reviewed by a prosecuting attorney. And, in the current political climate, he/she may be anti-firearm, anti self-defense, and so forth. Make the cops work their case, hand them nothing.

 

[warren]

I should add, your right to not incriminate yourself (5th Amendment) is as sacred as your 2d Amendment right. Use it.