Good thought provoking topic. For me, I carry a government sized 1911 in .45 acp year round here in New England where we have four seasons. In church on Sundays I wear a blazer so that works fine. The rest of the time, polo shirts or tee shirts untucked in summer and polo shirts with a sweater spring and fall work. I look for shirts that look good untucked with kakis, shorts or jeans. Basically cater my wardrobe around the 1911 in an IWB, strong side 3 o’clock. Working from a home office, this works for my situation. The situational awareness piece is key when outside the home. I see people walking through parking lots with their faces buried in their phones, more likely a fast moving SUV is going to ruin their day. Thank you Howard for all your good video content.
Get a micro 9 and carry it everyday. A backup too maybe. For some types of clothing, or places, only the backup. Or stay with a mid sized auto, all the time, switch to a micro 9 when needed. If someone is stuck in the 70s then a wheelgun.. whatever, have a reliable gun, or 2, and always have one or both, a reload or 2 is nice as well. A lot of options, a lot of holsters.
When going swimming at the pool, I always pocket carry my S&W Model 629 Deluxe 6.5" 44mag. It might take longer to draw when needed, but it's always been an ice-breaker with the ladies.
Funny thing is when I go kayaking or to the beach I always carry a North American arms .22 mag folding handle in a ziplock bag. No joke I hate being naked with no gun.
I carry POCKET, APPENDIX, and 3:00 OWB depending on what I am wearing and the season and with different handguns. I don't think at that moment I will be confused where my pistol is. Hope not, may take another half second to fix the mistake though
Great presentation, I have a CCW from Alabama. I have two firearms I use for CCW. I have a Glock 43x mos with a 407K Green Dot. I use Shield Mags which gives me 15 rounds in a small package. I also have a CW380 for pocket carry. I am new to CCW having moved from CA. Thanks for the great video.
@@BrotherPhilo1958 I'm near Weiss Lake. Around here jokes are still funny and I'm no longer a ''white guy''. Now I'm just ''a guy''. It's one heck of a change.
I just came across your channel a few days ago and in that time I have learned so many things that never would have crossed my mind before. Just the section on fitting the gun and ammo one carries to the season respective of the type of clothing an attacker might be wearing was an eye-opener. Most people like me go to sites which just talk about the gun rather than situational topics that might save our lives. I pride myself (rightly or wrongly) on having a creative mind and I tend to be able to anticipate many things regarding conceal carry, but there is nothing like professional advice. Thanks so much for the excellent content I have seen so far and I am looking forward to watching many more of your videos.
Thank you. Living in Minnesota, it's much like Ohio in that we also have 4 seasons. Last evening my Pastor and I went to a rather formal event and we both carried small .380's in our suit jacket pockets. Thanks for your very helpful presentation.
A sport coat or blazer is my dirty little secret for ccw. If I have to be more dressy than an unbuttoned plaid shirt then I up my wardrobe game with a jacket. I can carry my glock 17 in either case just in different positions with different holsters.
After many years carrying concealed, the only two methods that allow consistency no matter where I'm going, what I'm doing, or how I'm dressed are the Smartcarry, or pocket carry. Of the two, I prefer pocket carry. It's more comfortable and allows me to pre stage my hand on the gun in an iffy situation while still appearing casual. I do think consistency is important, as much as possible. I recall reading of a plainclothes officer who carried differently depending on dress, and in an officer involved shooting, he had to pat himself down to find his gun. He was saved by his partner. So, I almost exclusively pocket carry. To mitigate some of the drawbacks to this, I actually dual pocket carry. This allows ambidextrous access, while also addressing the lower capacity of typical pocket guns. It's also very discreet, no concerns with hugs, pats on the back, or bumps passing in the hallway. Those situations have happened to me several times carrying on the hip or shoulder holster, fortunately without social fallout. Obviously, the "full size fighting pistol" (sic) crowd would not approve, but it works for me. Good topic sir!
👍👍Thanks HR, yeah I carry different guns in several different ways depending on the weather and how I’m dressed .It would be very hard to carry the same way year round.
Bianchi's Law based on Army veteran, sworn LE officer 👮🏻 & holster designer, maker: John Bianchi is: Carry the exact same gun, the exact same way, in the same holster/style of holster, all the time. Bianchi knew a LOT about police gear, 🚔 & tactics.
I love how you’re always speaking in a practical way. Some of these other channels try to convince you that you need to be carrying a 15+1 on your hip and 45 extra rounds of ammo..just to go get the mail.
Great video,very informative..Like you I have many handguns but I carry a Glock 43 loaded with 124gr.+P Speer Gold Dots all year round in a inside the waist ban holster on my strong side hip..Two extra magazines with +2 extensions in my front left pocket and I also carry a SOG Spec Elite 1 clip knife in my right front pocket .My wife carries a G26 with a extra 15 round G19 magazines(same ammo) in her front left pocket and a SOG Spec Elite 1 clip knife in her right front pocket..We always have situational awareness when we leave the house. My dress is blue jeans and a polo type shirt that covers the G43 . My wife carries her G26 in a appendix carry holster and her shirt covers her G26 no matter if she is wear pants or shorts. We live in the south so we really don't worry about cold weather.We only go out in the daytime and never go in warzone areas that we see on the evening news.. Again great video👍👍
I use the Ankle Holster for Church. To many potential hugs or need to remove my suit coat to help around the church. I carry Walther PPK/S .380 ON THE ANKLE, low profile.
Great video, very informative! For what it's worth in relation to weather affecting bleed outs, my understanding is it cuts both ways. You bleed faster and more profusely if you're hot, BUT, while you bleed slower when cold, clotting occurs more slowly (sort of. Blood gets thicker but not enough to actually stop flowing), making a bleedout from wounds you might otherwise survive more likely, it just takes a little longer. According to an EMT I spoke to, there's also a saying in the emergency medical community that goes along the lines of "you're not necessarily dead until you're warm and dead", because someone who was in below freezing temperatures might be revived more easily if they haven't lost too much blood. This actually happened in Denmark about 10 years ago, a group of teenagers were killed in an accident where they lost half their blood, but because they were submerged in icy water and went hypothermic, six hours later they were resuscitated. That all being said, apparently it's not a big difference normally and may or may not apply to defensive shooting scenarios (more likely in Alaska than the Midwest where we're from unless we're ice fishing or something) but it's interesting nonetheless
During the winter months I carry a full size M&P 40 in a Safariland ALS OWB In the summer I carry a M&P shield in the same type holster I like having some type retention built in my holster. I use Hornady critical duty ammo to insure expansion in heavy clothing I do have other handguns all without manual safeties
I have a glock 19 and a glock 23 same model, just a different caliber. Pretty easy to switch between them. If I threw a 1911 in there, you can guess that manual of arms would be different and well as many other factors. Peace and Grace and may we never need them for the intended purpose and just for fun and training.
I’m a little late to the party in watching this video but it’s an interesting topic. When going through the academy years ago, our instructors hammered in the importance of muscle memory when drawing a firearm. However, for the reasons mentioned in this video, I’ve had to learn how to carry in different ways. For the past few years, I only carry firearms that do not have an external/manual safety. This removes some variables and just works for me at this stage in life. Outstanding Hawaiian shirt and great video. Thank you!
The more i watch you the more i think your videos are of the better education type, i appreciate what you do brother. I love the no rambling off subject and no annoying noise alot of the others have. I hate the videos with blasting crap music.
I carry openly at work, but of course do not want to "scare the horses" going to and from. So I have work polos a couple of sizes too big and wear them unbloused, draped over Mr. Glock. And just tuck them in at the job. No one yet has asked me about my carry gun. Now that it is cooler, I wear a jacket, unzipped, as a covering garment. If one cannot do as I do, you might want to carry a smaller version of your usual firearm. If you carry a G-19 you may want to look at a 43x. Other manfacturers have similar product lines. As far as carry ammo goes, I looked at tests between the 147+p and the 124+p versions of my carry rounds and decided on the 124+p as it penetrated further in testing...
To your first point, it has always amazed me how oblivious people can be. After close to four decades of carrying a firearm everywhere I go, I can only think of one or two occasions, where someone noticed it.
2:13 I had a defensive encounter once; late at night, just got off work.. walked out back, looking around then this huge thing about as big as one of those larger beach balls rolled out from around my lawnmower box. This thing was alive! I had a flashback to the original gremlins movie right after they learned you shouldnt feed them after midnight or they turn into monsters. In the span of
to stay sharp on immediate action readiness before i leave the house i do a few draws with the way i carry, what this does is it reminds you if say you switched your carry method, think of it as a runner who stretches every morning getting ready to run, once you dress for the day take a little time to simulate draws on your main carry gun and a back up for a threat
I've had a bit of a change of heart about what I carry these days, and it has been related more to a change not only in employment, but a change in setting. This is not exactly what you had in mind perhaps, but I'm aware that you are no longer in law enforcement. I made that transition only a few years before you, and it sort of changed everything for me. Prior to retirement, I lived in a small community where I also worked. We didn't always have an officer on duty, and I drove a take home police car. I could be expected to have to take law enforcement action on little to no notice, so I insisted on carrying a duty grade weapon, typically a Glock 19, at least one spare magazine, a flashlight, restraints and a cell phone. These came in handy a number of times. I only resorted to a "little gun" when I was out of my jurisdiction. This load out was pretty easy to do because there was no problem if someone saw my duty pistol. It wasn't like anyone in my town didn't know I was a town cop. But then I retired and moved to another state where hardly anyone knew me. For a while I still insisted on my larger, combat capable handgun as inconvenient as it might be at times. I was still thinking like a cop. Then I had a very good conversation online with my friend, Claude Werner, who has researched well over 7,000 shootings, and he took the position that for me, and for him too, the "mission" had changed, and so had our "enemy" He said that as a private citizen with no police duties, I no longer had to win a fight with a criminal, defined as taking one into custody, and especially not one hardened enough to willfully attack an armed police officer. Rather, he said, I'd be more likely facing an opportunistic criminal who, if he knew I was armed, would just as soon skip the attack, which would be an ambush, and go pick on someone else. He suggested that my job, as a private citizen would be to "break contact" perhaps using my firearm, and the type of threat I'd be facing could be managed with a smaller and more convenient handgun. I've been trying this on for size, and as an old retired guy sunning myself down here in south Florida, I think he might be right. So the duty-sized Glock is sort of in retirement now and serving as a home defense weapon. While I couldn't bring myself to carry a mouse gun, I do carry a much smaller 9mm, on the order of either a Kahr P9 that I've had for years, or one of the original Shields which I also like a lot. Truth be known I'd probably be okay with my 2.5 inch Model 19 or even my Model 49 with a couple of reloads. For me, I think it is more important to stick with the same manual of arms in what you carry and keep the number of locations where you carry your handgun to a minimum. Of course that is easy for me to say now that I live in a place where there is one season and everyone dresses casually. Given that I am no longer a cop, and I know quite a bit about private citizen shootings, I truly don't care that much about high capacity as I do an easy reload. My Kahr holds 8 rounds and my Shield holds 9, and I'm fine with either and always carry an extra mag or two. Both guns are light and super comfortable, it is just at the moment I don't know which I like better. I do have a standard that any gun I carry these days, I can shoot well out to 25 yards (defined as hitting an 8.5X11 piece of paper under time pressure). This isn't because I think I'm going to have to shoot at that range, but I'd like to be good at half that distance in the real world. I guess what I'm saying is that I have had to "recalibrate" my mission parameters since I'm not a cop anymore, but rather just a grumpy old man.
I don’t know if I’ll ever recalibrate to that point. I just enjoy carrying my larger handguns when circumstances allow. Then again, in northern Ohio, I wear enough cloths to conceal an M60 4 or 5 months of the year. Thanks for the comment Brother Tom!
I change what I carry because of the season and friends aways laughed at me, but listening to this video I'm more comfortable with my decision. The other thing, situational awareness is a necessity if you carry.
As a former Doc and current medical worker, when it comes to your opinion for winter carry of heavy calibers, there is a direct correlation of shock happening quicker in colder environments, especially if the person shot is not wearing appropriate winter gear. However, on the off chance you get people like me and other Chicagoans who wear full wool peacoats, those heavy calibers are still a safer bet to carry simply to get proper expansion of hollow point ammo.
Nice one hrfunk, thank you. I wonder if the instructors who insist on "same carry, all the time" POV are maybe being jaded realists, thinking their students will not practice much, and therefore a diverse skill set isn't likely to be pursued. Basic fail-safe instruction for people who aren't likely to train, in other words. Most of my pistol shooting is from a competition holster/belt setup, but about 5 weeks ago I shot a concealed carry match, using my P-10C from appendix, inside the waistband. Cover garment was a sweatshirt. Most folks who ran concealed were using standard IDPA style photog vests with close-riding OWB holsters at 3 or 4 o'clock. I noticed a difference in my draw time, mainly because of the decreased number of reps drawn from AIWB concealed.
Here is something to consider. How many defensive encounters involving armed citizens end in tragedy because the victim could not produce his/her handgun quickly enough? I don’t know the answer to that question, but I suspect the number is fairly small.
I personally pocket carrying 90% of the time. My Smith & Wesson 342 airlite ti centennial. 11 oz unloaded I installed full size rubber hogue monogrips on mine and it still fits in my pocket no problem.. I do carry it in a DeSantis Superfly pocket holster with velcro on flap to prevent printing. I could easily fit this in my pocket and draw no problem... The other pistol that I pocket Carry my Taurus TCP 380.. which is drop Dead reliable and accurate out to 50 ft.. first time at the range after I purchased it new out of the box 400 continuous rounds without any stoppages! .
It's an interesting thought that in cold weather people take longer to die because they don't bleed as much from wounds, I thought about this and it does seem rational, however, in cold weather your body does vasoconstrict to keep blood away from the surface, this allows you to retain heat, but the smaller the pipe the greater the pressure assuming the content of liquid remains constant, in the summer your pipes(or veins) would be larger but you would have less pressure in the tube, I would theorize that because your body shunts blood away from your extremities and vasoconstricts that a wound in the extremities of a man would bleed less in the cold but if you hit an artery it would bleed more, I'm an Emt and part of my local protocol for shock trauma is to keep an individual warm even hot with blankets and a heater on the way to a hospital, idk the purpose of this I would think if heat increased bleeding or hindered an ability to clot that this wouldn't be the case, anyway great video
ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL!! Howard, THANK YOU, I greatly enjoyed this video, in large part because it so well encapsulated some ideas I have had for decades. I’ll begin by suggesting that the “one handgun, carried in identical manner, for every occasion” crowd isn’t living in reality, as you describe clearly in this TH-cam. Yes, I understand “muscle memory” . . . and yes I agree that law enforcement officers (especially, patrol officers) occasionally have the dire challenge of SUDDENLY and UNEXPECTEDLY being confronted with a deadly threat (e.g., the INCREDIBLY RARE traffic stop, where a 60+ year old lady draws a weapon). HOWEVER, how relevant is this to the smart, lawful, judicious, defensive citizen? I strongly believe it’s essentially inapplicable. Before I continue with my “second paragraph thoughts,” I want to further suggest that this matter is a subset of the “to be effectively armed, one must carry a very high capacity, striker-fired, polymer-frame, ultra-modern, RMR-equipped, 9mm autoloader (for example, your Sig M18). Both premises - and this is my KEY POINT - presume that all threats will be “apocalyptic” AND “unanticipated,” when in fact VERY, VERY few citizen defensive scenarios are. Isn’t it far more probable danger will be signaled when the back door is kicked in at 0300, the thuggish teenagers on the street corner are acting reckless and tough, or shots are fired down the block, etc. . . . when the prepared and armed citizen has at least a few seconds to evaluate the situation and to ready himself? Vital facts include: (a) the probability of a lawfully armed citizen requiring his weapon is small; (b) the likelihood of his needing to fire his weapon - psychological stops - is smaller still; and (c) the possibility of requiring more than four or five rounds to successfully and lawfully terminate the legitimate threat is even smaller. Furthermore, the “muscle memory” advocates base their approach on “no warning” defensive scenarios. While such situation are possible, I firmly believe they are so unlikely that they can fundamentally be ignored . . . for most of us, essentially all the time. More specifically, a citizen who is lawfully carrying a concealed firearm, can be unexpectedly surprised . . . BUT: (a) situational awareness appreciably reduces that possibility and (b) common sense further decreases it (to illustrate, I don’t go to an ATM, in the worst part of DC, at 0230 . . . rather, I use an ATM, in my nice suburban Fairfax County neighborhood, at noon). Now, to be sure, were I required to go somewhere (and/or at some time) that was clearly more dangerous, both my sidearm(s) and my mindset would reflect that threat profile. So, I absolutely believe that defensive equipment - and training - should be principally founded on realism, on scenarios that are somewhat probably, not those that suggest the ordinary lawfully armed citizen is James Bond. My, five round, 2.25 inch barrel, .357 magnum, SP101 (stoked with top-tier .38 Special +P’s) OFTEN meets all realistic defensive needs . . . I don’t need to carry a 12 gauge Remington 870, loaded with 00 Buck, to shop at the neighborhood grocery store. = = = = = = = = = = P.S.: As to your question concerning extreme cold reducing blood flow from wounds, I read a terrific history of the Chosin Reservoir battle some years ago. It clearly indicated that the lives many of our older, First Marine Division, brother-in-arms were factually saved because temperatures were so cold that their blood froze, effectively sealing otherwise fatal wounds. Okay, I don’t think that sort of freezing can be expected in Northern Ohio, BUT it does support your thesis.
Thank you, Roy! As I said in the video, I think so much of the perception surrounding defensive use of firearms is inspired by Hollywood. There is also an element that stems from the "action shooting" crowd. While exciting and fun for entertainment purposes, I'm not sure how realistic those fantasies may be.
@@hrfunk And, my friend, I have some concerns that a zealous, politicized, anti-2A prosecutor could attempt to use “super duper”equipment (particularly the weapon and its ammunition) to suggest malevolent intent. “The defendant was armed with three 17 magazines, no peaceable citizen requires this for defense, he was looking for trouble.” Okay, I absolutely disagree with the foregoing, HOWEVER, it’s currently realistic in much of the United States (just listen to the manure New York’s Governor is spreading on the campaign trail)
While there will certainly be exceptional circumstances, I think I'm already in a fairly exceptional circumstance when I need to fire a shot in self defense. Philadelphia is just up the street from me, so I'm not saying that lightly. Shootings are also just about a daily thing in the greater (ha!) Philadelphia area. Based on my personal habits, I've gone to a simplified carry approach where I'm just packing a S&W M&P340. It's a five shot J-Frame just like your 342Ti. It's perhaps a shade heavier as it has the steel cylinder. I can "comfortably" handle light magnums, although 38Spl+P is a heck of a lot more comfortable to shoot! In my mind, it will handle most situations. Also it is just one firearm to maintain proficiency with. Most importantly, it is just super easy and comfortable to carry in all seasons. Apart from the five round limitation, I would say the biggest issue is avoiding walking through metal detectors because it is just that comfortable. 🤣
In central AZ the Untucked shirt is the most common concealed carry appeal. Cooler weather a sport T-shirt with untucked & unbuttoned outer shirt sports shirt is common. Thus, the HellCat with expanded magazine capacity is the best all year around concealed carry.
I've only ever carried 357 when I knew I was not going indoors that day like hiking in bear country. 9mm again mostly outdoors in cold weather to defeat heavy clothing. I mostly end up carrying standard velocity .38 Spl. or 380 ACP and I'll give you my reasons. First, if a threat occurs it will not be in a manner of my pick and choosing. I don't go looking for trouble. I would want to stop a threat without fear of over penetration. The wall behind a bad guy could be solid brick or could be sheet rock. I'm not going to get to choose. Secondly, I don't EDC wearing hearing protection and likely am not going to get the chance to insert ear plugs. I want to stop a threat without long term damage to hearing if possible.
I've had my CCW for over a decade and carry everywhere. I can honestly say that my perception about carrying met reality. You have to be adaptable. Traveling by car for hours with your seat belt on, that Glock starts to hurt your strong side. Do you have to go into the office for the day? My company is not pro 2A. Do you have to climb a ladder or bend over? Over time you will come across situations like these and will have to make decisions about how and what you will be carrying. One size does not fill all.
Again another excellent video Mr funk... I always thought about winter time perhaps a perpetrator will be wearing long johns a heavy hoodie and a extremely heavy jacket or even a leather motorcycle jacket...? In that scenario how's my little 380 hollow point out of a short barrel pocket pistol going to penetrate those layers and expand? It's not! This also applies to the snubby 38... Yes caring Lehigh bullets.. another Phillips head screwdriver tip bullets can help.. but I believe 357 is probably the way to go.. for me anyway.. I also believe from everything I've seen that 9 mm does have fantastic penetration... I would like to pick up some of those Lehigh or something similar for my 9 mm
@@hrfunk yes I agree definitely..at least FMJ will penetrate..layers .... Also I don't believe that Myth about bullets over penetration . & striking innocent people on the other side of the perp.. more likely a missed round.. very unlikely bullets will over penetrate a person's body and have enough velocity to do any damage... So fmjs definitely would be great when dealing with a heavily clothed perpetrator
'Exactly'.......to everything you said in this video. I hope a lot of new gun owners watch this video. Also, a lot of older, myopic, gun owners as well.
“Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.” Having been involved in defensive use(but prior experience with “adrenaline dump”) scenario and spending 2days during a deposition, one better know their firearm functions and choice of ammo just as much as muscle memory. That Generally HKp30sk, Summer SW 638(shrouded hammer 38). Winter carry HK45c. Always have a Ka-Bar TDI on weak hand beside spare mag. Sadly, nowadays(almost everyday) armed carjackers are 12-16 yo; shooters too. We live in different times. Love my Hawaiian 🌺 shirts! Lol
I frequent non-permissive environments that won't even allow me to have an unloaded gun locked in my automobile's cargo compartment with ammunition stored in a different locked container. That means I have to leave my gun at home when I visit those locations. My work-around is to learn as many guns as possible so that if I'm in reach of someone else's gun, I can effectively use it. Some areas have extreme temperature swings, 30 to 50 degrees over a four-hour period. Or the outside weather is significantly different from the climate-controlled building interiors. Wearing a great coat and hat to deal with winter weather but then stepping into the balmy "68 degree" office building or restaurant means peeling off layers and potentially leaving the outer layers unattended or under the control of another. Sometimes the opposite is a problem--it's triple digits outside but air conditioning feels positively arctic, and a sweater or light jacket might be needed. Working out a carry method that works well for all of those conditions takes experience. Having multiple carry methods and switching between those methods several times during the day may be difficult. Worse, my clothing has to be appropriate for the time and place. When everybody is wearing all-white clothing with aprons (food service, for example), dressing up like Johnny Cash is inappropriate, and using Richard Boone's costume from "Have Gun, Will Travel" means that I'm sticking out in the herd. Plainclothes police don't sweat it when they're in their office and in shirt sleeves because they're almost the same as uniformed police--nobody will bat an eye when their firearms are visible. I'm no cop. Many people feel offended that I'm "stealing valor" and, in their imagination, pretending that I'm a law enforcement agent. Concealed carry is tactically sound in urban areas. It's hard to keep up the chameleon act with multiple concealed carry modes--and impossible to do so with just one concealed carry mode. Motorized police ran into problems with their revolvers back in the Thirties--and went to cross-draw until "reasons" forced everybody to carry their revolver on a strong-side belt holster. I have a reprint of Bill Jordan's "No Second Place Winner" and Jordan discussed how motorization forced police to switch from superior six-inch revolver barrels to the four-inch. Jordan also speculated on using a .22 WMR snub nose alloy-framed pocket revolver in really hot weather when a jacket was out of the question, but normally Jordan recommended wearing the service revolver all of the time in a belt holster outside the waist and covered with a suit coat--unbuttoned, of course. It was customary to button the suit closed at the time, so there goes Mr. Chameleon, but "No Second Place Winner" was published before wearing seat belts became mandatory--and then wearing lap-and-shoulder safety harnesses. I retired from military service in 2010 and went from standing or sitting loose as just more cargo in military vehicles to five-point roll-over harnesses in mine-proof tactical vehicles. I was supposed to wear full battle rattle that just kept getting bulkier and bulkier--body armor, helmet, a gas mask carrier on my side, load bearing harness, plus whatever else. Sometimes I couldn't fit through the hatches with all of my gear. Wearing the required seat belts and locking my rifle in the weapon racks was an example of "safety measures" creating more hazards. When part of war zone convoys I had to have weapon out and ready--not in the rack. I don't know how police today solve their weapon access and security, but non-police have some of the same issues. Put a dedicated car gun in a quick-access car safe? Back in the Twenties several models of holsters that mounted on steering columns or dashboards were commercially available. Car-mounted holsters or a holster mounted on a seat belt might not be legal depending on jurisdiction, and there's the security of firearm to consider. Normally, "get off the X" when driving means DRIVING. I'm prejudiced--cars are bullet magnets. When stopped, "get off the X" means putting distance between me and the bullet magnet--if possible. If my gun is mounted to the car, I might forget it--there are horror stories of police pistols falling out of holsters while in the car and the unlucky cop reached for an empty holster in an emergency. Modern orthopedic car seats have lumbar support, very comfortable--but not for wear with a gun belt. The pistol butt will wear a hole in the seat. Compact cars and lacking the limberness of a contortionist make it hard to draw from an ankle rig. All I can come up with is having multiple gun and holster systems that are switched out as required during a routinely active day. One method is the Conventional Wisdom but there's going to be different situations with their specific issues to be solved. You've covered part of them.
@@hrfunk On one side of the fence it is, but on the federal reservation side it's "no dangerous weapons." Since there's a flight line, lethal force is authorized--obviously.
Great video. I agree with you and have offered similar opinions to other people over the years. One reason I switch to carrying a full size in winter, is due to the lack of dexterity from the cold. In my opinion, from personal and professional experience, it is much easier to function a full size vs compact or subcompact in extremely cold environments. Thanks again for a great presentation.
Well explained and justified, as always, Howard. If I might just add one thought, though, it bears mention that HOWEVER you choose to carry, it is critical that you PRACTICE with that combination of weapon and carry mode, even if no more than doing a half hour of dry-fire presentations in front of a mirror. You may not get to the point of establishing muscle memory, but you will be at least familiarized with the characteristics of the draw and the firearm, and of any potential hiccups the combination might cause. PS. Sorry I've been absent for a while. Life gets in the way. And if you've been following any of what has transpired up here in Canada in the last few months, you may have some indication of the reasons...
As a retired LEO myself, I started to carry an appendix style. I was also trained to think about "what if" situations and how would I need to react to different scenarios. I still will carry at 4 o'clock in certain situations.
I guess it could happen. But for me forgetting what gun you're carrying and where it's located on your body is like forgetting you left your kids in a hot car.
H.R. I can see the Man in your scenario of the Man walking with his Woman being distracted from possible threats. If she is his Dream Lady. By the fact that she is a reasonably good looking woman who is a Christian, Honest, Loyal and has a good Relationship with the Truth. that likes to clean guns as much as she likes to clean house. She has roofing skills almost as good as her mechanical skills and owns a reconditioned 1969 Camero. Just saying. 🤔 Best Wishes from Montana M.H
I agree with you that under stress we can still adapt to the situation. When I’m carrying a pocket pistol, I’m well aware that there is a handgun in my pocket. When I carry larger semi autos IWB appendix carry, I am again aware that I have a handgun against the front of my body. In an emergency I don’t believe I would be so disoriented that I wouldn’t remember where my pistol is. That being said, I practice drawing and shooting from both of my preferred carry methods. Thanks HR!
Personally, I think the best preparation for concealed carry is to be thoroughly familiar with the handling and shooting characteristics of anything in your collection you might carry. You should know instantly what you have available and exactly how to grip it for best results. I typically carry either a Ruger SP101 or a Colt Defender 1911 and in either case I never have to stop and think about the manual of arms for either firearm. Familiarity breeds cohesiveness.
I wish someone did more reviews on the.. Ruger lc9s pro.. what a fantastic micro 9.. 17 Oz unloade mine is the pro model with no external safety or magazine disconnect... If you want the non-pro model it has those features.. and the wonderful $230 ec9 economy model that my friend owns works fantastic.. 7 + 1=8 .. 10 round magazines available.. I believe this is a good compromise for a carry pistol.. light and slim and carries well.. and personally eight rounds of capacity and one extra mag of seven is plenty of ammo for me. I doubt if I'm going to be getting into a situation with Hans Gruber in his crew 😜🤣
I purposely shoot multiple divisions in USPSA/IDPA at a competition so I can shoot/train with my different carry firearms. I will shoot BUG, Revolver and then a production/limited/stock division. Then, of course, throw in the MP5 in PCC for the pure fun of it.
WOW!....what a workout on this vid with all the costume changes....dont think you'll have any worries when wearing the scary Hawaiian shirt....🤣....fun vid..
Shorts, shirt(s), jacket all year 'round for me. I do a 'concealed' open carry. My Taurus is OWB but my jacket's mostly concealing it. If for whatever reason it flaps open and reveals the firearm, usually no one cares because stores are sparse at 6am. Besides, who cares? Here in Indiana nobody really gives a darn.
Recently discovered your channel. New subscriber! I really like your use of cross-draw holster for its multi-size pistol use and comfort in most situations. I only heard negatives about cross draw holsters up to now, you do it with such ease, I suppose it is due to hours of practice. Most people are critters of habits. I appreciate this video and channel encouraging people to adapt and embrace change in a very subtle and well spoken manner.
Good video. In S FL it is mostly a sweatbox. I can carry a .380 pocket pistol or just carry a snubbie or model 26 and not care if I print. But we have no open carry so options are limited. Shorts and a T are normal for me. Just wear the T shirt outside the waist ban and use an in the waist band holster. It works for me. As for carrying limited capacity a speedloader for a J frame or extra .380 mag is easily concealable.
HR, the main difference between you and us "citizens" is that you've been an LEO and most likely experienced real life threats where you've needed to brandish your firearm. We get out there and shoot a lot at our sportsman's club. we shoot many different pistols and rifles. We've taken many great classes. The single most important thing I've learned is this. If one hasn't ever been in a real life scenarion where they've needed to brandish, we never know exactly how a person will react. Many will freeze completely. Many will not be able to even feel their own hands. Some will be able to react perfectly, but I'm guessing that's a tiny percentage, even with tons of range time. The huge positive here is that the odds of a citizen ever having to brandish is so super tiny, it's comforting to know that. That doesn't mean don't train. That doesn't mean don't always have great situational awareness. It means stay proficient but know that unless your life is in immenent serious danger (life threatening) you'll most likely never have to even brandish. The best teacher we ever had said this, the best gun fight in the world is, the one you're not in. I couldn't agree more.
Though I’ve spent a lifetime in law enforcement, I’m still one of “us citizens.” I also believe training and preparation can go a long way toward preparing people for armed encounters. The trick is finding the right type of training. Maybe I’ll make that the topic of a future video.
I have carried many many guns in many many holsters, pockets, belt pouches etc since 1980. I have had to draw many of them for real several times and NEVER made this error.
Good video! In the beginning of carrying I was definitely in the mind set of "one gun same carry all the time." It just is not practical. I make sure to carry a handgun I am capable of concealing and can handle well. If I change carry location from say appendix to strong side in the waistband then I just practice a few draw strokes and mentally rehearse where I would draw from.
Bianchi's Law 😉... I carry left hand, OWB about 90% of the time. In the 1990s, I wore my 96D .40 in a left hand Aker Comfort Flex holster. 2 spare mags, off side.
Very good. I noticed you left out the small of back location, which is probably good because in the past that proved to be problematic. For me., anyway.
I'm more concerned about whether to get a horizontal or vertical shoulder holster. Vertical horizontal I'm flagging everybody behind me but those vertical holsters almost always have to have a tie down
Also really hurts getting hit in the lip. My buddy had to squeeze that BB out of his upper lip like popping a giant zit so our dad's wouldn't kill us for getting into a BB fight. It was years ago but still makes me laugh. Damn that had to hurt and his older brother said "come here, I'll pop that out". He said get away I'll take care of it and he did. We never did get into trouble for that but I doubt our dad's were fooled...lol
Also an attacker may not be a competent one and actually help you defend yourself due to their not being very familiar with firearms or may not even have a firearm.
You are right. Situations and clothing and carried gun changes. I carry a S&W 637 about 6 months, a G43 3 months, and a G19 out of a year. That is based on AVERAGE temps and places I go and time of year. That said, most days, I am at the ranch in S. Tx and the G19 really gets worn the most. Adjust the mind as you adjust the clothing, and remind yourself what you are carrying, etc.
Very helpful and I am sending this to a new shooter that I am training.
Great info as always, thank you & God Bless!
I've had lots of emergency vehicle operations training. None of it was in the exact same family cars/trucks/SUVs I've had. Still saved our lives.
Good thought provoking topic. For me, I carry a government sized 1911 in .45 acp year round here in New England where we have four seasons. In church on Sundays I wear a blazer so that works fine. The rest of the time, polo shirts or tee shirts untucked in summer and polo shirts with a sweater spring and fall work. I look for shirts that look good untucked with kakis, shorts or jeans. Basically cater my wardrobe around the 1911 in an IWB, strong side 3 o’clock. Working from a home office, this works for my situation. The situational awareness piece is key when outside the home. I see people walking through parking lots with their faces buried in their phones, more likely a fast moving SUV is going to ruin their day. Thank you Howard for all your good video content.
My pleasure Steve. Thanks for watching!
Get a micro 9 and carry it everyday.
A backup too maybe.
For some types of clothing, or places, only the backup.
Or stay with a mid sized auto, all the time, switch to a micro 9 when needed.
If someone is stuck in the 70s then a wheelgun..
whatever, have a reliable gun, or 2, and always have one or both, a reload or 2 is nice as well.
A lot of options, a lot of holsters.
When going swimming at the pool, I always pocket carry my S&W Model 629 Deluxe 6.5" 44mag.
It might take longer to draw when needed, but it's always been an ice-breaker with the ladies.
You must be a strong swimmer!
@@hrfunk he can only swim in a circle
Funny thing is when I go kayaking or to the beach I always carry a North American arms .22 mag folding handle in a ziplock bag. No joke I hate being naked with no gun.
cross train @6:35 yep
Many Thanks, Great instructional video!
I carry POCKET, APPENDIX, and 3:00 OWB depending on what I am wearing and the season and with different handguns. I don't think at that moment I will be confused where my pistol is. Hope not, may take another half second to fix the mistake though
Great presentation, I have a CCW from Alabama. I have two firearms I use for CCW. I have a Glock 43x mos with a 407K Green Dot. I use Shield Mags which gives me 15 rounds in a small package. I also have a CW380 for pocket carry. I am new to CCW having moved from CA. Thanks for the great video.
How about that. I escaped CA and chose Bama about 4 years or so ago. How was the culture shock?
@@ElainesDomain Loving the change
@@BrotherPhilo1958 I'm near Weiss Lake. Around here jokes are still funny and I'm no longer a ''white guy''. Now I'm just ''a guy''. It's one heck of a change.
You’re welcome Phil. Thanks for watching!
I think you made the right move. I went to school in Alabama, and I liked it.
I just came across your channel a few days ago and in that time I have learned so many things that never would have crossed my mind before. Just the section on fitting the gun and ammo one carries to the season respective of the type of clothing an attacker might be wearing was an eye-opener. Most people like me go to sites which just talk about the gun rather than situational topics that might save our lives. I pride myself (rightly or wrongly) on having a creative mind and I tend to be able to anticipate many things regarding conceal carry, but there is nothing like professional advice. Thanks so much for the excellent content I have seen so far and I am looking forward to watching many more of your videos.
You are most welcome. Thanks for watching!
Thank you. Living in Minnesota, it's much like Ohio in that we also have 4 seasons. Last evening my Pastor and I went to a rather formal event and we both carried small .380's in our suit jacket pockets. Thanks for your very helpful presentation.
My pleasure Bill!
A sport coat or blazer is my dirty little secret for ccw. If I have to be more dressy than an unbuttoned plaid shirt then I up my wardrobe game with a jacket. I can carry my glock 17 in either case just in different positions with different holsters.
Hot weather small guns. Cold weather big guns. Absolutely.
My lcp II 22lr works well in my suit coat inside pocket. It's light enough not to pull the jacket down.
After many years carrying concealed, the only two methods that allow consistency no matter where I'm going, what I'm doing, or how I'm dressed are the Smartcarry, or pocket carry. Of the two, I prefer pocket carry. It's more comfortable and allows me to pre stage my hand on the gun in an iffy situation while still appearing casual.
I do think consistency is important, as much as possible. I recall reading of a plainclothes officer who carried differently depending on dress, and in an officer involved shooting, he had to pat himself down to find his gun. He was saved by his partner.
So, I almost exclusively pocket carry. To mitigate some of the drawbacks to this, I actually dual pocket carry. This allows ambidextrous access, while also addressing the lower capacity of typical pocket guns. It's also very discreet, no concerns with hugs, pats on the back, or bumps passing in the hallway. Those situations have happened to me several times carrying on the hip or shoulder holster, fortunately without social fallout.
Obviously, the "full size fighting pistol" (sic) crowd would not approve, but it works for me.
Good topic sir!
Thanks! And thanks too for a great comment!
👍👍Thanks HR, yeah I carry different guns in several different ways depending on the weather and how I’m dressed .It would be very hard to carry the same way year round.
Bianchi's Law based on Army veteran, sworn LE officer 👮🏻 & holster designer, maker: John Bianchi is: Carry the exact same gun, the exact same way, in the same holster/style of holster, all the time. Bianchi knew a LOT about police gear, 🚔 & tactics.
So why did/does Bianchi manufacture so many different holsters?
I love how you’re always speaking in a practical way. Some of these other channels try to convince you that you need to be carrying a 15+1 on your hip and 45 extra rounds of ammo..just to go get the mail.
Thanks! But I have seen some scary things in my mailbox!
Great video,very informative..Like you I have many handguns but I carry a Glock 43 loaded with 124gr.+P Speer Gold Dots all year round in a inside the waist ban holster on my strong side hip..Two extra magazines with +2 extensions in my front left pocket and I also carry a SOG Spec Elite 1 clip knife in my right front pocket .My wife carries a G26 with a extra 15 round G19 magazines(same ammo) in her front left pocket and a SOG Spec Elite 1 clip knife in her right front pocket..We always have situational awareness when we leave the house.
My dress is blue jeans and a polo type shirt that covers the G43 .
My wife carries her G26 in a appendix carry holster and her shirt covers her G26 no matter if she is wear pants or shorts. We live in the south so we really don't worry about cold weather.We only go out in the daytime and never go in warzone areas that we see on the evening news.. Again great video👍👍
Thank you!
As always very informative, your channel is one of my favorites, thank you!!!
I use the Ankle Holster for Church. To many potential hugs or need to remove my suit coat to help around the church. I carry Walther PPK/S .380 ON THE ANKLE, low profile.
Great video, very informative!
For what it's worth in relation to weather affecting bleed outs, my understanding is it cuts both ways. You bleed faster and more profusely if you're hot, BUT, while you bleed slower when cold, clotting occurs more slowly (sort of. Blood gets thicker but not enough to actually stop flowing), making a bleedout from wounds you might otherwise survive more likely, it just takes a little longer. According to an EMT I spoke to, there's also a saying in the emergency medical community that goes along the lines of "you're not necessarily dead until you're warm and dead", because someone who was in below freezing temperatures might be revived more easily if they haven't lost too much blood. This actually happened in Denmark about 10 years ago, a group of teenagers were killed in an accident where they lost half their blood, but because they were submerged in icy water and went hypothermic, six hours later they were resuscitated. That all being said, apparently it's not a big difference normally and may or may not apply to defensive shooting scenarios (more likely in Alaska than the Midwest where we're from unless we're ice fishing or something) but it's interesting nonetheless
Thanks Finn. Like I said in the video, I can’t support my theory scientifically, it just makes me feel better.
During the winter months I carry a full size M&P 40 in a Safariland ALS OWB In the summer I carry a M&P shield in the same type holster I like having some type retention built in my holster. I use Hornady critical duty ammo to insure expansion in heavy clothing I do have other handguns all without manual safeties
I find food for thought in every one of your presentations, Boss.
This was a smorgasbord!
Thanks Lonnie!
I have a glock 19 and a glock 23 same model, just a different caliber. Pretty easy to switch between them. If I threw a 1911 in there, you can guess that manual of arms would be different and well as many other factors. Peace and Grace and may we never need them for the intended purpose and just for fun and training.
I’m a little late to the party in watching this video but it’s an interesting topic. When going through the academy years ago, our instructors hammered in the importance of muscle memory when drawing a firearm. However, for the reasons mentioned in this video, I’ve had to learn how to carry in different ways. For the past few years, I only carry firearms that do not have an external/manual safety. This removes some variables and just works for me at this stage in life. Outstanding Hawaiian shirt and great video. Thank you!
My pleasure Luther. Thanks for watching!
The more i watch you the more i think your videos are of the better education type, i appreciate what you do brother. I love the no rambling off subject and no annoying noise alot of the others have. I hate the videos with blasting crap music.
Thank you. I’m constantly trying to improve my presentation.
I carry openly at work, but of course do not want to "scare the horses" going to and from. So I have work polos a couple of sizes too big and wear them unbloused, draped over Mr. Glock. And just tuck them in at the job.
No one yet has asked me about my carry gun.
Now that it is cooler, I wear a jacket, unzipped, as a covering garment.
If one cannot do as I do, you might want to carry a smaller version of your usual firearm. If you carry a G-19 you may want to look at a 43x. Other manfacturers have similar product lines.
As far as carry ammo goes, I looked at tests between the 147+p and the 124+p versions of my carry rounds and decided on the 124+p as it penetrated further in testing...
To your first point, it has always amazed me how oblivious people can be. After close to four decades of carrying a firearm everywhere I go, I can only think of one or two occasions, where someone noticed it.
2:13 I had a defensive encounter once; late at night, just got off work.. walked out back, looking around then this huge thing about as big as one of those larger beach balls rolled out from around my lawnmower box.
This thing was alive! I had a flashback to the original gremlins movie right after they learned you shouldnt feed them after midnight or they turn into monsters.
In the span of
to stay sharp on immediate action readiness before i leave the house i do a few draws with the way i carry, what this does is it reminds you if say you switched your carry method, think of it as a runner who stretches every morning getting ready to run, once you dress for the day take a little time to simulate draws on your main carry gun and a back up for a threat
That's a good idea. I do that myself sometimes.
Practice with what you carry.
I've had a bit of a change of heart about what I carry these days, and it has been related more to a change not only in employment, but a change in setting. This is not exactly what you had in mind perhaps, but I'm aware that you are no longer in law enforcement. I made that transition only a few years before you, and it sort of changed everything for me.
Prior to retirement, I lived in a small community where I also worked. We didn't always have an officer on duty, and I drove a take home police car. I could be expected to have to take law enforcement action on little to no notice, so I insisted on carrying a duty grade weapon, typically a Glock 19, at least one spare magazine, a flashlight, restraints and a cell phone. These came in handy a number of times. I only resorted to a "little gun" when I was out of my jurisdiction. This load out was pretty easy to do because there was no problem if someone saw my duty pistol. It wasn't like anyone in my town didn't know I was a town cop.
But then I retired and moved to another state where hardly anyone knew me. For a while I still insisted on my larger, combat capable handgun as inconvenient as it might be at times. I was still thinking like a cop. Then I had a very good conversation online with my friend, Claude Werner, who has researched well over 7,000 shootings, and he took the position that for me, and for him too, the "mission" had changed, and so had our "enemy" He said that as a private citizen with no police duties, I no longer had to win a fight with a criminal, defined as taking one into custody, and especially not one hardened enough to willfully attack an armed police officer. Rather, he said, I'd be more likely facing an opportunistic criminal who, if he knew I was armed, would just as soon skip the attack, which would be an ambush, and go pick on someone else. He suggested that my job, as a private citizen would be to "break contact" perhaps using my firearm, and the type of threat I'd be facing could be managed with a smaller and more convenient handgun. I've been trying this on for size, and as an old retired guy sunning myself down here in south Florida, I think he might be right.
So the duty-sized Glock is sort of in retirement now and serving as a home defense weapon. While I couldn't bring myself to carry a mouse gun, I do carry a much smaller 9mm, on the order of either a Kahr P9 that I've had for years, or one of the original Shields which I also like a lot. Truth be known I'd probably be okay with my 2.5 inch Model 19 or even my Model 49 with a couple of reloads. For me, I think it is more important to stick with the same manual of arms in what you carry and keep the number of locations where you carry your handgun to a minimum. Of course that is easy for me to say now that I live in a place where there is one season and everyone dresses casually. Given that I am no longer a cop, and I know quite a bit about private citizen shootings, I truly don't care that much about high capacity as I do an easy reload. My Kahr holds 8 rounds and my Shield holds 9, and I'm fine with either and always carry an extra mag or two. Both guns are light and super comfortable, it is just at the moment I don't know which I like better. I do have a standard that any gun I carry these days, I can shoot well out to 25 yards (defined as hitting an 8.5X11 piece of paper under time pressure). This isn't because I think I'm going to have to shoot at that range, but I'd like to be good at half that distance in the real world.
I guess what I'm saying is that I have had to "recalibrate" my mission parameters since I'm not a cop anymore, but rather just a grumpy old man.
I don’t know if I’ll ever recalibrate to that point. I just enjoy carrying my larger handguns when circumstances allow. Then again, in northern Ohio, I wear enough cloths to conceal an M60 4 or 5 months of the year. Thanks for the comment Brother Tom!
Excellent video as always. I also subscribe to the idea of 45 for winter.
Great points. 👍
I love this channel. That model 19 carry comp is one sweet piece.
Thank you Luke!
Great presentation and ideas HR!
Thanks Darrell!
Excellent
👍thanks great discussion great advice.
Great video HR. Thank you for your knowledge and experience. I appreciate you. Godspeed
Your welcome Tom. Thanks for watching!
I don't know, when I carry a handgun, I am always very aware of where it is. I don't think I would be searching around my waist for the gun.
Great topic and presentation.
Thanks Don!
Damn good quick draw Mr. HR.
Interesting thoughts on cold weather bleeding. Great Video!
Thanks Ryan!
I change what I carry because of the season and friends aways laughed at me, but listening to this video I'm more comfortable with my decision. The other thing, situational awareness is a necessity if you carry.
As a former Doc and current medical worker, when it comes to your opinion for winter carry of heavy calibers, there is a direct correlation of shock happening quicker in colder environments, especially if the person shot is not wearing appropriate winter gear. However, on the off chance you get people like me and other Chicagoans who wear full wool peacoats, those heavy calibers are still a safer bet to carry simply to get proper expansion of hollow point ammo.
Thanks, I’ll certainly defer to you on these matters.
Very good Presentation I am generally doing what you are showing. again living In a four Season State...Semper Fi
Semper Fi Bill!
Excellent presentation Howard! I agree with everything you said.
And sometimes, less can be more, depending on the variables.
Nice one hrfunk, thank you.
I wonder if the instructors who insist on "same carry, all the time" POV are maybe being jaded realists, thinking their students will not practice much, and therefore a diverse skill set isn't likely to be pursued. Basic fail-safe instruction for people who aren't likely to train, in other words.
Most of my pistol shooting is from a competition holster/belt setup, but about 5 weeks ago I shot a concealed carry match, using my P-10C from appendix, inside the waistband. Cover garment was a sweatshirt. Most folks who ran concealed were using standard IDPA style photog vests with close-riding OWB holsters at 3 or 4 o'clock.
I noticed a difference in my draw time, mainly because of the decreased number of reps drawn from AIWB concealed.
Here is something to consider. How many defensive encounters involving armed citizens end in tragedy because the victim could not produce his/her handgun quickly enough? I don’t know the answer to that question, but I suspect the number is fairly small.
I've chosen 1 gun for self defense which I carry in the same holster at the same place on the body, always. That's the way I was trained 20 years ago.
And so we’re many people.
@@hrfunk Why change what works?
I personally pocket carrying 90% of the time. My Smith & Wesson 342 airlite ti centennial. 11 oz unloaded
I installed full size rubber hogue monogrips on mine and it still fits in my pocket no problem.. I do carry it in a DeSantis Superfly pocket holster with velcro on flap to prevent printing. I could easily fit this in my pocket and draw no problem... The other pistol that I pocket Carry my Taurus TCP 380.. which is drop Dead reliable and accurate out to 50 ft.. first time at the range after I purchased it new out of the box 400 continuous rounds without any stoppages! .
Cargo pants and a blazer screams shoot me first. Love your channel.
Thank you!
Your looken good brother. Stay healthy.
Thank you!
An excellent video, you cover the topic very well.
Thanks Steve!
It's an interesting thought that in cold weather people take longer to die because they don't bleed as much from wounds, I thought about this and it does seem rational, however, in cold weather your body does vasoconstrict to keep blood away from the surface, this allows you to retain heat, but the smaller the pipe the greater the pressure assuming the content of liquid remains constant, in the summer your pipes(or veins) would be larger but you would have less pressure in the tube, I would theorize that because your body shunts blood away from your extremities and vasoconstricts that a wound in the extremities of a man would bleed less in the cold but if you hit an artery it would bleed more, I'm an Emt and part of my local protocol for shock trauma is to keep an individual warm even hot with blankets and a heater on the way to a hospital, idk the purpose of this I would think if heat increased bleeding or hindered an ability to clot that this wouldn't be the case, anyway great video
Thanks Sam. As I mentioned in the video, I would not try to argue this theory medically. It's just something I've always sort of believed.
ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL!!
Howard, THANK YOU, I greatly enjoyed this video, in large part because it so well encapsulated some ideas I have had for decades.
I’ll begin by suggesting that the “one handgun, carried in identical manner, for every occasion” crowd isn’t living in reality, as you describe clearly in this TH-cam. Yes, I understand “muscle memory” . . . and yes I agree that law enforcement officers (especially, patrol officers) occasionally have the dire challenge of SUDDENLY and UNEXPECTEDLY being confronted with a deadly threat (e.g., the INCREDIBLY RARE traffic stop, where a 60+ year old lady draws a weapon). HOWEVER, how relevant is this to the smart, lawful, judicious, defensive citizen? I strongly believe it’s essentially inapplicable.
Before I continue with my “second paragraph thoughts,” I want to further suggest that this matter is a subset of the “to be effectively armed, one must carry a very high capacity, striker-fired, polymer-frame, ultra-modern, RMR-equipped, 9mm autoloader (for example, your Sig M18). Both premises - and this is my KEY POINT - presume that all threats will be “apocalyptic” AND “unanticipated,” when in fact VERY, VERY few citizen defensive scenarios are. Isn’t it far more probable danger will be signaled when the back door is kicked in at 0300, the thuggish teenagers on the street corner are acting reckless and tough, or shots are fired down the block, etc. . . . when the prepared and armed citizen has at least a few seconds to evaluate the situation and to ready himself? Vital facts include: (a) the probability of a lawfully armed citizen requiring his weapon is small; (b) the likelihood of his needing to fire his weapon - psychological stops - is smaller still; and (c) the possibility of requiring more than four or five rounds to successfully and lawfully terminate the legitimate threat is even smaller.
Furthermore, the “muscle memory” advocates base their approach on “no warning” defensive scenarios. While such situation are possible, I firmly believe they are so unlikely that they can fundamentally be ignored . . . for most of us, essentially all the time. More specifically, a citizen who is lawfully carrying a concealed firearm, can be unexpectedly surprised . . . BUT: (a) situational awareness appreciably reduces that possibility and (b) common sense further decreases it (to illustrate, I don’t go to an ATM, in the worst part of DC, at 0230 . . . rather, I use an ATM, in my nice suburban Fairfax County neighborhood, at noon). Now, to be sure, were I required to go somewhere (and/or at some time) that was clearly more dangerous, both my sidearm(s) and my mindset would reflect that threat profile.
So, I absolutely believe that defensive equipment - and training - should be principally founded on realism, on scenarios that are somewhat probably, not those that suggest the ordinary lawfully armed citizen is James Bond. My, five round, 2.25 inch barrel, .357 magnum, SP101 (stoked with top-tier .38 Special +P’s) OFTEN meets all realistic defensive needs . . . I don’t need to carry a 12 gauge Remington 870, loaded with 00 Buck, to shop at the neighborhood grocery store.
= = = = = = = = = =
P.S.: As to your question concerning extreme cold reducing blood flow from wounds, I read a terrific history of the Chosin Reservoir battle some years ago. It clearly indicated that the lives many of our older, First Marine Division, brother-in-arms were factually saved because temperatures were so cold that their blood froze, effectively sealing otherwise fatal wounds. Okay, I don’t think that sort of freezing can be expected in Northern Ohio, BUT it does support your thesis.
Thank you, Roy! As I said in the video, I think so much of the perception surrounding defensive use of firearms is inspired by Hollywood. There is also an element that stems from the "action shooting" crowd. While exciting and fun for entertainment purposes, I'm not sure how realistic those fantasies may be.
@@hrfunk
And, my friend, I have some concerns that a zealous, politicized, anti-2A prosecutor could attempt to use “super duper”equipment (particularly the weapon and its ammunition) to suggest malevolent intent. “The defendant was armed with three 17 magazines, no peaceable citizen requires this for defense, he was looking for trouble.” Okay, I absolutely disagree with the foregoing, HOWEVER, it’s currently realistic in much of the United States (just listen to the manure New York’s Governor is spreading on the campaign trail)
thanks for the video ...
My pleasure Rich. Thanks for watching!
thanks
While there will certainly be exceptional circumstances, I think I'm already in a fairly exceptional circumstance when I need to fire a shot in self defense. Philadelphia is just up the street from me, so I'm not saying that lightly. Shootings are also just about a daily thing in the greater (ha!) Philadelphia area. Based on my personal habits, I've gone to a simplified carry approach where I'm just packing a S&W M&P340. It's a five shot J-Frame just like your 342Ti. It's perhaps a shade heavier as it has the steel cylinder. I can "comfortably" handle light magnums, although 38Spl+P is a heck of a lot more comfortable to shoot! In my mind, it will handle most situations. Also it is just one firearm to maintain proficiency with. Most importantly, it is just super easy and comfortable to carry in all seasons. Apart from the five round limitation, I would say the biggest issue is avoiding walking through metal detectors because it is just that comfortable. 🤣
In central AZ the Untucked shirt is the most common concealed carry appeal. Cooler weather a sport T-shirt with untucked & unbuttoned outer shirt sports shirt is common. Thus, the HellCat with expanded magazine capacity is the best all year around concealed carry.
I've only ever carried 357 when I knew I was not going indoors that day like hiking in bear country. 9mm again mostly outdoors in cold weather to defeat heavy clothing. I mostly end up carrying standard velocity .38 Spl. or 380 ACP and I'll give you my reasons. First, if a threat occurs it will not be in a manner of my pick and choosing. I don't go looking for trouble. I would want to stop a threat without fear of over penetration. The wall behind a bad guy could be solid brick or could be sheet rock. I'm not going to get to choose. Secondly, I don't EDC wearing hearing protection and likely am not going to get the chance to insert ear plugs. I want to stop a threat without long term damage to hearing if possible.
its about
practicing ENOUGH
w/ what you have and
prioritizing movement
when drawing seems
imminent
As per concealed carry, good common sense coverage.
I've had my CCW for over a decade and carry everywhere. I can honestly say that my perception about carrying met reality. You have to be adaptable. Traveling by car for hours with your seat belt on, that Glock starts to hurt your strong side. Do you have to go into the office for the day? My company is not pro 2A. Do you have to climb a ladder or bend over? Over time you will come across situations like these and will have to make decisions about how and what you will be carrying. One size does not fill all.
Should be interesting so will stand by.
.....quick question - what coat are you wearing at 14:45 ? - looks warm & comfortable without the bulk. TIA
It’s an Austrian military version of the American M65 field jacket. I quite like it.
@@hrfunk Thank You much.
Again another excellent video Mr funk... I always thought about winter time perhaps a perpetrator will be wearing long johns a heavy hoodie and a extremely heavy jacket or even a leather motorcycle jacket...?
In that scenario how's my little 380 hollow point out of a short barrel pocket pistol going to penetrate those layers and expand? It's not! This also applies to the snubby 38... Yes caring Lehigh bullets.. another Phillips head screwdriver tip bullets can help.. but I believe 357 is probably the way to go.. for me anyway.. I also believe from everything I've seen that 9 mm does have fantastic penetration... I would like to pick up some of those Lehigh or something similar for my 9 mm
Someone could probably even argue the case for FMJ ammo under those conditions.
@@hrfunk yes I agree definitely..at least FMJ will penetrate..layers .... Also I don't believe that Myth about bullets over penetration . & striking innocent people on the other side of the perp.. more likely a missed round.. very unlikely bullets will over penetrate a person's body and have enough velocity to do any damage... So fmjs definitely would be great when dealing with a heavily clothed perpetrator
Good stuff.
'Exactly'.......to everything you said in this video. I hope a lot of new gun owners watch this video. Also, a lot of older, myopic, gun owners as well.
Thanks Rob!
Funk, U are VERY squared away! :) Dig your channel.
Thank you Hay!
“Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.” Having been involved in defensive use(but prior experience with “adrenaline dump”) scenario and spending 2days during a deposition, one better know their firearm functions and choice of ammo just as much as muscle memory. That Generally HKp30sk, Summer SW 638(shrouded hammer 38). Winter carry HK45c. Always have a Ka-Bar TDI on weak hand beside spare mag. Sadly, nowadays(almost everyday) armed carjackers are 12-16 yo; shooters too. We live in different times. Love my Hawaiian 🌺 shirts! Lol
Aloha!
Ever consider carrying a semi auto chambered in .357Sig rather than the .357 Magnum 6 shooter, for greater capacity, when carrying in cooler weather?
I've considered it, but I've never done it. Maybe someday.
I frequent non-permissive environments that won't even allow me to have an unloaded gun locked in my automobile's cargo compartment with ammunition stored in a different locked container. That means I have to leave my gun at home when I visit those locations. My work-around is to learn as many guns as possible so that if I'm in reach of someone else's gun, I can effectively use it.
Some areas have extreme temperature swings, 30 to 50 degrees over a four-hour period. Or the outside weather is significantly different from the climate-controlled building interiors. Wearing a great coat and hat to deal with winter weather but then stepping into the balmy "68 degree" office building or restaurant means peeling off layers and potentially leaving the outer layers unattended or under the control of another. Sometimes the opposite is a problem--it's triple digits outside but air conditioning feels positively arctic, and a sweater or light jacket might be needed. Working out a carry method that works well for all of those conditions takes experience. Having multiple carry methods and switching between those methods several times during the day may be difficult. Worse, my clothing has to be appropriate for the time and place. When everybody is wearing all-white clothing with aprons (food service, for example), dressing up like Johnny Cash is inappropriate, and using Richard Boone's costume from "Have Gun, Will Travel" means that I'm sticking out in the herd.
Plainclothes police don't sweat it when they're in their office and in shirt sleeves because they're almost the same as uniformed police--nobody will bat an eye when their firearms are visible. I'm no cop. Many people feel offended that I'm "stealing valor" and, in their imagination, pretending that I'm a law enforcement agent. Concealed carry is tactically sound in urban areas. It's hard to keep up the chameleon act with multiple concealed carry modes--and impossible to do so with just one concealed carry mode.
Motorized police ran into problems with their revolvers back in the Thirties--and went to cross-draw until "reasons" forced everybody to carry their revolver on a strong-side belt holster. I have a reprint of Bill Jordan's "No Second Place Winner" and Jordan discussed how motorization forced police to switch from superior six-inch revolver barrels to the four-inch. Jordan also speculated on using a .22 WMR snub nose alloy-framed pocket revolver in really hot weather when a jacket was out of the question, but normally Jordan recommended wearing the service revolver all of the time in a belt holster outside the waist and covered with a suit coat--unbuttoned, of course. It was customary to button the suit closed at the time, so there goes Mr. Chameleon, but "No Second Place Winner" was published before wearing seat belts became mandatory--and then wearing lap-and-shoulder safety harnesses. I retired from military service in 2010 and went from standing or sitting loose as just more cargo in military vehicles to five-point roll-over harnesses in mine-proof tactical vehicles. I was supposed to wear full battle rattle that just kept getting bulkier and bulkier--body armor, helmet, a gas mask carrier on my side, load bearing harness, plus whatever else. Sometimes I couldn't fit through the hatches with all of my gear. Wearing the required seat belts and locking my rifle in the weapon racks was an example of "safety measures" creating more hazards. When part of war zone convoys I had to have weapon out and ready--not in the rack. I don't know how police today solve their weapon access and security, but non-police have some of the same issues. Put a dedicated car gun in a quick-access car safe? Back in the Twenties several models of holsters that mounted on steering columns or dashboards were commercially available. Car-mounted holsters or a holster mounted on a seat belt might not be legal depending on jurisdiction, and there's the security of firearm to consider. Normally, "get off the X" when driving means DRIVING. I'm prejudiced--cars are bullet magnets. When stopped, "get off the X" means putting distance between me and the bullet magnet--if possible. If my gun is mounted to the car, I might forget it--there are horror stories of police pistols falling out of holsters while in the car and the unlucky cop reached for an empty holster in an emergency. Modern orthopedic car seats have lumbar support, very comfortable--but not for wear with a gun belt. The pistol butt will wear a hole in the seat. Compact cars and lacking the limberness of a contortionist make it hard to draw from an ankle rig.
All I can come up with is having multiple gun and holster systems that are switched out as required during a routinely active day. One method is the Conventional Wisdom but there's going to be different situations with their specific issues to be solved. You've covered part of them.
May I ask where you live?
@@hrfunk Do you know Hill Air Force Base? I'm across the street from the place and I'm a retired veteran.
@@alancranford3398 Thanks. I thought that would be a more firearm friendly region.
@@hrfunk On one side of the fence it is, but on the federal reservation side it's "no dangerous weapons." Since there's a flight line, lethal force is authorized--obviously.
Great video HR! Alot of food for thought!
Thanks Dan!
Great video. I agree with you and have offered similar opinions to other people over the years. One reason I switch to carrying a full size in winter, is due to the lack of dexterity from the cold. In my opinion, from personal and professional experience, it is much easier to function a full size vs compact or subcompact in extremely cold environments. Thanks again for a great presentation.
My pleasure. Thanks for watching!
I always carry 2 guns
Well explained and justified, as always, Howard. If I might just add one thought, though, it bears mention that HOWEVER you choose to carry, it is critical that you PRACTICE with that combination of weapon and carry mode, even if no more than doing a half hour of dry-fire presentations in front of a mirror. You may not get to the point of establishing muscle memory, but you will be at least familiarized with the characteristics of the draw and the firearm, and of any potential hiccups the combination might cause.
PS. Sorry I've been absent for a while. Life gets in the way. And if you've been following any of what has transpired up here in Canada in the last few months, you may have some indication of the reasons...
I have indeed. My sympathies.
As a retired LEO myself, I started to carry an appendix style. I was also trained to think about "what if" situations and how would I need to react to different scenarios. I still will carry at 4 o'clock in certain situations.
I guess it could happen. But for me forgetting what gun you're carrying and where it's located on your body is like forgetting you left your kids in a hot car.
H.R.
I can see the Man in your scenario of the Man walking with his Woman being distracted from possible threats. If she is his Dream Lady. By the fact that she is a reasonably good looking woman who is a Christian, Honest, Loyal and has a good Relationship with the Truth. that likes to clean guns as much as she likes to clean house. She has roofing skills almost as good as her mechanical skills and owns a reconditioned 1969 Camero.
Just saying. 🤔
Best Wishes from Montana M.H
Very smart thinking great video as always. I always look forward to your videos extremely well explained common sense firearms knowledge
Thanks Kevin, I'm glad you liked it!
I agree with you that under stress we can still adapt to the situation. When I’m carrying a pocket pistol, I’m well aware that there is a handgun in my pocket. When I carry larger semi autos IWB appendix carry, I am again aware that I have a handgun against the front of my body. In an emergency I don’t believe I would be so disoriented that I wouldn’t remember where my pistol is. That being said, I practice drawing and shooting from both of my preferred carry methods. Thanks HR!
My pleasure Chris. Thanks for watching!
Personally, I think the best preparation for concealed carry is to be thoroughly familiar with the handling and shooting characteristics of anything in your collection you might carry. You should know instantly what you have available and exactly how to grip it for best results. I typically carry either a Ruger SP101 or a Colt Defender 1911 and in either case I never have to stop and think about the manual of arms for either firearm. Familiarity breeds cohesiveness.
I wish someone did more reviews on the.. Ruger lc9s pro.. what a fantastic micro 9.. 17 Oz unloade mine is the pro model with no external safety or magazine disconnect... If you want the non-pro model it has those features.. and the wonderful $230 ec9 economy model that my friend owns works fantastic.. 7 + 1=8 .. 10 round magazines available.. I believe this is a good compromise for a carry pistol.. light and slim and carries well.. and personally eight rounds of capacity and one extra mag of seven is plenty of ammo for me. I doubt if I'm going to be getting into a situation with Hans Gruber in his crew 😜🤣
I purposely shoot multiple divisions in USPSA/IDPA at a competition so I can shoot/train with my different carry firearms. I will shoot BUG, Revolver and then a production/limited/stock division. Then, of course, throw in the MP5 in PCC for the pure fun of it.
Great video as always. Worth getting up a 5 AM I'm the People's Republic of Washington for! Thank you, Sir!
Thanks Michael! (Now go back to bed!)
@@hrfunkLol, I did, Sir!
Chance favors the prepared mind! Situational awareness is the key to life itself and Panic kills 🎃
WOW!....what a workout on this vid with all the costume changes....dont think you'll have any worries when wearing the scary Hawaiian shirt....🤣....fun vid..
Shorts, shirt(s), jacket all year 'round for me. I do a 'concealed' open carry. My Taurus is OWB but my jacket's mostly concealing it. If for whatever reason it flaps open and reveals the firearm, usually no one cares because stores are sparse at 6am. Besides, who cares? Here in Indiana nobody really gives a darn.
Recently discovered your channel. New subscriber!
I really like your use of cross-draw holster for its multi-size pistol use and comfort in most situations.
I only heard negatives about cross draw holsters up to now, you do it with such ease, I suppose it is due to hours of practice.
Most people are critters of habits. I appreciate this video and channel encouraging people to adapt and embrace change in a very subtle and well spoken manner.
Thank you so much! And welcome aboard!
Good video. In S FL it is mostly a sweatbox. I can carry a .380 pocket pistol or just carry a snubbie or model 26 and not care if I print. But we have no open carry so options are limited. Shorts and a T are normal for me. Just wear the T shirt outside the waist ban and use an in the waist band holster. It works for me. As for carrying limited capacity a speedloader for a J frame or extra .380 mag is easily concealable.
HR, the main difference between you and us "citizens" is that you've been an LEO and most likely experienced real life threats where you've needed to brandish your firearm. We get out there and shoot a lot at our sportsman's club. we shoot many different pistols and rifles. We've taken many great classes. The single most important thing I've learned is this. If one hasn't ever been in a real life scenarion where they've needed to brandish, we never know exactly how a person will react. Many will freeze completely. Many will not be able to even feel their own hands. Some will be able to react perfectly, but I'm guessing that's a tiny percentage, even with tons of range time. The huge positive here is that the odds of a citizen ever having to brandish is so super tiny, it's comforting to know that. That doesn't mean don't train. That doesn't mean don't always have great situational awareness. It means stay proficient but know that unless your life is in immenent serious danger (life threatening) you'll most likely never have to even brandish. The best teacher we ever had said this, the best gun fight in the world is, the one you're not in. I couldn't agree more.
Though I’ve spent a lifetime in law enforcement, I’m still one of “us citizens.” I also believe training and preparation can go a long way toward preparing people for armed encounters. The trick is finding the right type of training. Maybe I’ll make that the topic of a future video.
I have carried many many guns in many many holsters, pockets, belt pouches etc since 1980.
I have had to draw many of them for real several times and NEVER made this error.
Good video! In the beginning of carrying I was definitely in the mind set of "one gun same carry all the time." It just is not practical. I make sure to carry a handgun I am capable of concealing and can handle well. If I change carry location from say appendix to strong side in the waistband then I just practice a few draw strokes and mentally rehearse where I would draw from.
Bianchi's Law 😉... I carry left hand, OWB about 90% of the time. In the 1990s, I wore my 96D .40 in a left hand Aker Comfort Flex holster. 2 spare mags, off side.
For some, multiple guns are not practical.
Very good. I noticed you left out the small of back location, which is probably good because in the past that proved to be problematic. For me., anyway.
I really don’t care for that method, so I tend not to discuss it.
A good discussion. I would have been interested in hearing more about draw techniques to avoid flagging oneself from a shoulder holster.
Check out ayad masoob he has a video shows techniques on specifically that.
I'm more concerned about whether to get a horizontal or vertical shoulder holster. Vertical horizontal I'm flagging everybody behind me but those vertical holsters almost always have to have a tie down
Maybe I’ll tackle that in a future video.
"Will Your CCW Get You killed?"
No....but a Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot, range model air rifle will shoot your eye out.
🤣👍
Does it have a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time, you dead eye? 😉
Also really hurts getting hit in the lip.
My buddy had to squeeze that BB out of his upper lip like popping a giant zit so our dad's wouldn't kill us for getting into a BB fight. It was years ago but still makes me laugh. Damn that had to hurt and his older brother said "come here, I'll pop that out".
He said get away I'll take care of it and he did. We never did get into trouble for that but I doubt our dad's were fooled...lol
Also an attacker may not be a competent one and actually help you defend yourself due to their not being very familiar with firearms or may not even have a firearm.
Great video, hrFunk! 👏
Thank you!
You are right. Situations and clothing and carried gun changes. I carry a S&W 637 about 6 months, a G43 3 months, and a G19 out of a year. That is based on AVERAGE temps and places I go and time of year. That said, most days, I am at the ranch in S. Tx and the G19 really gets worn the most. Adjust the mind as you adjust the clothing, and remind yourself what you are carrying, etc.