CCW Habits: Good, Bad, & Ugly.

[dnittler]

Good on you for thinking about it.

I wouldn't consider that carrying groceries would tie up my hands since I would drop them and draw. Carrying a child is a different though, and I do try and keep strong side clear when possible when doing that (at least until my weak side arms gets to tired and I switch )

I don't know if this would help you any, but I typically carry a mid-sized or compact handgun (9 mike or 45) IWB strong side plus an air-weight J-Frame in my weak side front pocket. I find that a little j-frame in a front pocket is incredibly comfortable. Granted it won't work with certain pants.

My logic being (right or wrong *shrug*) that I have the ability to draw should the strong-side arm be pinned, damaged or otherwise preoccupied. There is certainly a downside to this in that the backup's spare ammo ends up in a speed strip in the strong side pocket, which makes for some joggling should the backup need a reload. Concealed carry, and life itself is an act of compromise, and I feel that the advantage I gain by having the ability to draw strong or weak side surpasses the advantage I would gain from having spare ammo for the backup in the appropriate pocket.

I know it has been mentioned previously, but practicing drawing and engaging targets at the range is advisable. Most ranges already have sandbags around. I’ve practiced drawing, firing, reloading and racking the slide one-handed. Be extremely observant of your muzzle during some of these drills to ensure you do not sweep the line.

Be safe.

[tombogan03884]

Good on you for thinking about it.

I wouldn't consider that carrying groceries would tie up my hands since I would drop them and draw. Carrying a child is a different though, and I do try and keep strong side clear when possible when doing that (at least until my weak side arms gets to tired and I switch )

I don't know if this would help you any, but I typically carry a mid-sized or compact handgun (9 mike or 45) IWB strong side plus an air-weight J-Frame in my weak side front pocket. I find that a little j-frame in a front pocket is incredibly comfortable. Granted it won't work with certain pants.

My logic being (right or wrong *shrug*) that I have the ability to draw should the strong-side arm be pinned, damaged or otherwise preoccupied. There is certainly a downside to this in that the backup's spare ammo ends up in a speed strip in the strong side pocket, which makes for some joggling should the backup need a reload. Concealed carry, and life itself is an act of compromise, and I feel that the advantage I gain by having the ability to draw strong or weak side surpasses the advantage I would gain from having spare ammo for the backup in the appropriate pocket.

I know it has been mentioned previously, but practicing drawing and engaging targets at the range is advisable. Most ranges already have sandbags around. I’ve practiced drawing, firing, reloading and racking the slide one-handed. Be extremely observant of your muzzle during some of these drills to ensure you do not sweep the line.

Be safe.

If your strong side hand is freed up to dig out the reload for the J frame, why not just draw the other pistol ?

[twyacht]

As the OP of this thread, I just want to say thanks for all the advice and personal input that I think helps us all become more aware of our surroundings and threat level.  99% of the time, there is no threat, I don't shop at 11:48 p.m, or other things that would put me in the wrong place at the wrong time.

However, with the 6:00 news showing more "Broad Daylight" attacks, robberies, assaults, etc,.. the SPEED in which things can go wrong at 4:15 p.m. has me "becoming even more aware".

I maybe odd or the only one, but I wake up to pee or get a glass of water in the middle of the night, when its all quiet and dark, and "study" or "case" my house. If I were to hear something from this side of the house, or that side of the house, what would my plan be. If I were to break in to this (my) house, what's the easiest way?

In the same mindset, I try (boy do I try), to do the same thing when in public. The case of the "What if's" cross my mind all the time. What would I do if?

I haven't learned enough, I keep trying and practicing (even with snap caps cause ammo's so expensive), as other threads have said: "Having Situational Awareness" of my surroundings really makes a difference.

Wish we lived in a better world, but we don't, and I will NOT be a victim.

Thanks for all the posts, as always, I learn much from this forum..

Tom W.

[dnittler]

If your strong side hand is freed up to dig out the reload for the J frame, why not just draw the other pistol ?

Sorry, I was mixing scenarios.

Scenario 1 - strong side pinned - can't get to primary - draw backup - in this scenario you're right in that the fastest reload would be to drop the revolver and draw the .semi-auto riding strong side IWB.

Scenario 2 - draw primary and for reason of a hard stop (slide lock after reloads or a malfunction that tap-rack doesn’t cure) I go to backup – It is in this scenario the reload of the backup becomes a little ticklish. It’s doable, but it involves swapping the J-Frame to my weak hand to grab the spare strip of .38s. Fortunately this is enough evolutions down the line where it isn’t as likely to be an issue.

The spare ammo for the backup is almost like my contingency of a contingency of a contingency plan. I don’t have a plan “Z” yet, but give me time and I’ll get there. 

[Ping]

One of the things that helps in my situation is the fact that my wife now has a CCW and we both carry. One can cover the other if need be while shopping with the baby.

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