What I'd Like To See on Down Range

[DonWorsham]

I am one of the dinosaurs that still carry a wheel gun for self defense

Doug,  I wouldn't call you a dinosaur,  I'd call you smart.  Especially if you pocket carry. I look forward to Michael's upcoming piece on pocket carry.

[Pathfinder]

One other thought along with the pocket carry. How about carry issues and options for guys what ain't skinny? Especially those who wear jeans that are, shall we say, baggy? I can imagine there's not much worse than a pocket carry where you telegraph the fact you've got a S&W in your pocket.

Or are you just happy to see us . . . .?

[Moosedog]

Just like everyone else...GREAT SITE!  Even better that big brother here at work hasn't filtered it.  I'll add another guy that would love to see some CCW stuff.  Would love to read about or see video about real encounters and what works/doesn't work.  As a pocket knife guy I'd like to see some stuff about good tactical pocket knifes. 

[sash]

I'll second the idea that a show on revolver carry would be nice.  That's all I carry.  I'd also like to see a show on the new Smith "retro" revolvers.  Maybe a USPSA sectional or nationals show, focusing on the revo division. 

Also, I'm about to be deployed to Iraq, and wouldn't mind seeing a show about Infantry types over there, and weapon maintenance.

[DonWorsham]

One other thought along with the pocket carry. How about carry issues and options for guys what ain't skinny? Especially those who wear jeans that are, shall we say, baggy? I can imagine there's not much worse than a pocket carry where you telegraph the fact you've got a S&W in your pocket.

Pathfinder, I'm not skinny (5'8 or so and 250lbs), I wear these... http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=231345

The front pocket is deep enough to cover the gun and allows me to have a firing grip on the gun...easy to pull from the pocket and engage. The other pockets allow me to put my keys on one side and my cell phone on the other.

I carry this way all day long, even where I'm not allowed, and no one notices. Take a look at other men at work, most of them have something in their front pockets.

I carry a Taurus 605 spurless hammer and/or a S&W 642 (when it is not back at the factory as it is now).

[Sponsor]

[canon6]

Let me agree with Sash about the S&W retro revolvers,  I am lusting after the 44 Special   Doug

[Michael Bane]

As much as I hate to agree with Worsham on anything, I ain't skinny either and pocket carry works for me. I think it goes back to a comment from Walt Rauch — who I am bringing down to Colorado to film some stuff for DOWN RANGE — the rounded lines of a small revolver don't print nearly as bad int he pocket as a small semi-auto. I pretty routinely pocket carry a Colt Mustang .380, and it'll print like crazy in the right pants (standard jeans_. The broken lines of a small revolver don't necessarily shot "gun int he pocket!"

However, I've done a little experimenting on the whole subject of printing and gun-recognition, and I don't think it's as serious an issue as gunnies think. Unless you've got the pistol grip sticking out of your pocket, most peole's eyes will roll right over an object in your pocket for a couple of reasons — (most)people don't like to stare at other people's groin area and, mentally, there are satisfactory alternate explanations for lumpy pockets.

There have been time when I thought a gun was printing too badly, so I stuffed a Kleenex in the top of the pocket. I always liked Jerry Ahern's pocklet holsters (he no longer has time to make holsters, since he's running Detonics now) because they had a pocket on the outside of the holster for an expired credit card or one of the many leftover hotel keys one might have, which helped break up the outline.

I keep a Taurus Ultra-Lite Titanium .38 snubbie as the Door Gun — this goes back to CCW "tactics." My carry SIG is usually upstairs when it's not on my belt. By keeping a snubbie next to the door, I have a gun to slip in a pocket for quickie informal trips. In addition to the gun, there's a couple of loaded speedloaders, a DeSantis "Nemesis" pocket holster (good and, even better, cheap), a bright yellow fanny pack and a SureFire light. In other words, I make it as easy as possible for myself or my Sweetie to always carry a gun, whether we're running to a convenience store or going out for a hike or jog.

That's the kind of stuff I'll be covering on DOWN RANGE...more tactics than strategy. First tiem CCW holders tend to make it harder on themselves than they need to...Worsham  will back me up on that! You start out with all this stuff you've got to carry, and, too many times, it's not worth the effort ot "suit up." The best plan is to integrate the gun into your lifestyle in a way that minimizes hassles, and often that means more than one gun...

BUT THAT"S ANOTHER EPISODE!

Michael B

[Pathfinder]

Sounds good, Michael. Tactics is what I think we all need to evaluate, one of the lessons from SG at Gunsite as I recall. Use it or lose it, so keep practicsing. Running topics like this on DRT will help us all evaluate alternatives, especially as you noted for us CCW newbies.

As I work in the business world, sitting at a desk, something other than carpenter jeans would also be useful! 

I liked the idea of a door gun, etc. Stuff like that is great, lessons learned as it were so the rest of us don't need to go through the sometimes painful learning process.

There's a joke in there someplace about stuffing your pants (pocket) with kleenex, but I'll let someone else do it.

[MUVYMAN]

As a newbie CCW'er, the main reason I'm so excited about this site is the wealth of information I KNOW we're gonna get from ya Michael. Can't wait!

[Middle Man]

An interview with Chris Muir (and maybe his characters from Day by Day)