Just realized that it was 20 years ago that I started carrying. That got me thinking about what I've learned in that time. Thought I'd share.

Over the past two decades, I've carried while living and working in over 10 states. I've carried everything from a full-size 1911, Glock, K- and L-frames, and even Ruger single-actions, all the way down to stuff as small as a Kel-Tex .32 and a .38 Derringer. I've carried open and concealed, and I'll admit that at times/locations, I've carried in spite of what the ridiculous laws were in some jurisdictions. I've carried open and concealed.

Here are the things that I've distilled down. Some of this might make sense ; some might not make much sense at all.

1) Jurisdictions matter. If you value your ability to defend yourself and your family, and you value your Constitutionally protected rights, then living where those things are also valued makes a difference.

2) Voting matters. See above.

3) Carrying every day is what matters. The .45 in your truck or on your nightstand does you no good and is a helluva lot less than the .32 in your pocket. Find something that you CAN carry every day, and carry it. Every day. I have several that I trade in and out of the rotation, but I carry at least one every day.

4) Reliability matters. A used, dead-reliable pistol without any "prestige" is a helluva lot better than a brand new, fancy, unproven or unreliable pistol. I've owned some high-dollar, "prestigious" makers that just didn't prove reliable. They are gone. I carry a couple less prestigious pistols that have never failed me and that I trust. If the time ever comes that I have to use one, the make won't matter but the reliability will.

5) K.I.S.S. matters. Carrying and using a pistol that you carry should not require a lot of thinking. It should be natural, and it should be instinctive. We're fortunate to live in an era with a lot of very simple, very reliable pistols. From Centennial J-frames to Glocks and M&Ps, this doesn't have to be difficult. If you can and choose to carry a 1911 or a BHP or something else that requires a lot of practice to master, then that's a great choice - if you dedicate yourself to mastery and practice. If not, then choose something more simple and easier to master with less effort. FYI - I carry a BHP quite often, and a 1911 fairly regularly. I put a lot of rounds through them, and I trust them and myself with them. A Glock or an M&P or similar is easier. A revolver is easier yet.

6) Ammunition matters. The bullet is what does the dirty work. Choose well. For me, I've found a very easy way to choose is to check with local LEOs carry. There are generally a couple or more local agencies (sheriff's offices, town/city PDs, state police), so you have a few choices. You're hard pressed to choose poorly if you find one of those loads that works reliably in your pistol.

7) Holsters matter, and belts matter more. A good holster makes carry easy. A great holster makes carry comfortable. A poor belt renders even the best holster nearly worthless. Money spent on these two items is money very well spent.

8) Open carry matters. You may never choose to carry open, but it makes a huge difference. Open carry lawful means that even if you slip up and "show", or you're seen putting the holster on, or the pistol in, etc., then you're covered. I've found that it also makes a huge difference in flexibility. Being able to carry open means you have options. It also makes carry much more "socially acceptable". I currently live in a jurisdiction and an area where OC is widely accepted and practiced. I seen a lot of people carrying daily, and no one pays them any attention at all.

9) "Other stuff" matters. I try not to carry a "bat belt" worth of schit. In addition to the pistol, I carry a wallet, watch, cellphone, good lock blade, and either an SAK or a small multi-tool. There is a very small, very powerful light that I'm also carrying now and I think it is earning a permanent spot. That's it.

10) "Bragging rights" don't matter. If you carry something that works for you, that you carry every single day, that is reliable for you, and that you are confident in and trust, then what someone else thinks of it doesn't matter.

does this mean you'll stop giving me schit about the colt?

Do you REALLY bet your ass on a .25ACP?

I'm betting my ass on the 9mm at 4 oclock.

the 25 is ballast so I can walk near straight

started carrying when I was 15. 4 inch barrel Colt .38, stuffed in my pants. Guess that would be some 54 years of carrying.

Points above are well taken. Simple, reliable, effective, consistent. That means the weapon, load, holster and belt. All play a part.

Laughing. Gotcha.

good post!

DAMN, I did the same thing, only 59 years ago. It was a 4" colt Cobra and now resides in my daughters safe, yep still in the family. Grandpa bought it in 1952 and gave it to me when I turned 15 to carry while fishing and hunting, I carried it a bit more often!

All valid points and good advice. I have had folks tell me I was carrying useless "mouse gun" more than once, my stock answer was always "OK, can I shoot you with it right now?". They always answered with an emphatic NO!

Funny that eh?

Yeah, but at least you don't carry a .25ACP.

Well said. Good post.

Very practical advise.

Thank you for the pointers sir.

Never steered me wrong before, and I'll be making sure to get a good belt for carry in the very near future.

Yep. Good common sense stuff.

That can't possibly be true, it goes against everything stated in this thread (insert sarcasm here):
http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/9830212/Open_Carry_vs._CC#Post9830212

I started carrying at 14 years old and started with a Model 10 4 inch and 36 2 inch . My favorite load was the Winchester 158 gr SWC some ended up calling the FBI load

i have a couple of .25acp's, a colt and a walther.

i started carrying a .22 oc probably around age 11. Course just about every other boy in town was doing the same thing. Nobody thought it was odd or unusual.
I never had a thought of it as self protection against humans, it was for rabbits, stuff like that.

Hell yeah! brother...

I should add a little bit about that walther, it was delivered to me by the widow of a guy that had been in the rainbow division during WWII. The extractor and firing pin had been removed at her insistence. Came with a pancake german shoulder holster. Those little guys were only issued to high ranking gooberment officials and high ranking nazi's. They carried them mostly for cerimonial functions most likely. My problem was finding the parts to relight it. This particular model was only made for a few months circa 1934.. I even got a email from a walther, at walther in Germany stating he didn't know where to get the parts. So i had a machinest gunsmith friend make them. When he had it done, he said it was one of the few guns he had worked on that he thought about saying he "lost" it.
I pulled out a single shot .22short colt derringer made by ulberti today. Threw it in a pants pocket. Ain't much of a gun, but it's for that "get out of my face moment" as somebody said. They all have their place.

I did for a LONG time and still have it, a Colt 1903 "Vest Pocket" .25. Been known to drag it along as a BUG to my J frame a time or two to this day.

a number of years ago my wife and i were doing a lot of hiking in the phoenix mt parks system. Up a trail that not far away they had found at different times two decapitated women's bodies. It's a 115 in july in arizona, shorts and tshirt are pretty normal, and hard to stuff a gun someplace. And my wife hiked by herself sometimes. So we bought a bra gun. A little beretta .22 semiauto that fits right in there between the hooters. Couldn't tell it was there. My comment was seven rounds right in the face, throw the gun at them, and run like all get out. They probably aren't gonna follow you. Never had reason to use it, but it was better than a sharp stick. You couldn't tell she had it, didn't print, and i would like to see the average lawdog say i want to search your bra. Course it was legal with a ccw anyway.

t lee
i have that baby browning 1903. Took me probably an hour first time i tried to take it apart.
There is nothing new to this. I should post a couple of pictures of some cap and ball single shooters the size of those north american .22's or smaller. Made for a vest pocket.

7) Holsters matter, and belts matter more. A good holster makes carry easy. A great holster makes carry comfortable. A poor belt renders even the best holster nearly worthless. Money spent on these two items is money very well spent.

OK, maybe this didn't quite deserve to be number 1 on the list, but I'd have to rate it in the top 3.

It bears repeating.

HOLSTERS MATTER AND BELTS MATTER MORE.

Yep they are pretty neat, start another thread and post away.

Yeah, I had that thought.

James Bond carried a .25 in the early days ...

Great post...I've got 45+ years in and as having done 30 in LE only disagree with:

6) Ammunition matters. The bullet is what does the dirty work. Choose well. For me, I've found a very easy way to choose is to check with local LEOs carry. There are generally a couple or more local agencies (sheriff's offices, town/city PDs, state police), so you have a few choices. You're hard pressed to choose poorly if you find one of those loads that works reliably in your pistol.


Most LE agencies don't carry "the best", most of the time it is "low bid" from a list that someone in a lab coat says is the best. Whatever your stopping power theory is, find your own "best".

Bob

I believe this is overall pretty darned good advice.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but what size hooters are we talking here? Does it take a pretty big set to properly conceal a bra gun? Been trying to get the wife to carry sometimes, haven't tried out that method yet.

Pix or it didn't happen Ron!







just joshin ya, no insult intended towards your bride

'laskans...

:-)

We'll need photographic evidence, please

Good post. I have found that first you must make the determination that you will carry every day and follow through. As you said, if it is not on you it will not do you any good. The next thing is a damn good belt!

I pretty much agree with all of that other than a few picky points. I would add that skill with the safety equipment matters and trumps some of the other things.

As far as "other stuff" goes, for CCW in an urban environment I never carry a knife, watch or multi-tool. I do carry a SureFire light and a kubotan de-jammer with a spare truck key on it, but I can substitute a tactical pen or just use the flashlight for that if I am not driving my truck.

One of the clips on my IWB holster broke. I have spares but they are 235 miles away and I will not be there for several more days. I have been carrying my 1911 just tucked into my pants and it has been staying where I put it rather well. Not as comfortable as my holster but a lot better than not carrying at all.A good belt is a must. In my case it is a double layered harness leather belt from Filson.

It was a serious question, but I understand if you don't want to incriminate yourself.

I have Mexican carried a lot. You get a slight edge from the holster as far as static positioning of the gun as far as your draw and also I think the holster protects the gun from sweat a bit.

I agree with you. I will be using my holster again when I get to the farm on Thursday. In a month or so will order extra clips from Milt Sparks to keep more spares on hand.

well, it requires a personal inspection and fitting, but it's for the cause. Most hooters create a space right behind that little ribbon in the center, perfect place to hide stuff. Look at it this way you can experiment.

now the real thing is to be able to hide a n frame revolver in there.

My first carry gun back in the 50's was a .38 S&W Chiefs Special. In the late 60's I got a .25 Baby Browning. Back then the all that was available was HB ammo. Had a DS tell me if I ever had to shoot a bad guy through a screen door I'd better open the door first.

Good info thanks....

Good post 4Ager. You are on a roll lately!

I have been carrying daily for 34 years this month.

We are still searching for Asphaltangels perfect edc, but since she has only carried for five years I am more than OK with her changing guns every now and then until she finds the ideal, for HER.

My EDC stuff on my belt is the same as yours. Gun on the right hip, Leatherman Charge GTI and small, good flashlight (Thoughtful gift from RJM here) on my left hip. With a full size 1911 in 10mm on the right hip, there is something to be said for ballast! .

I learned too late the value of a good, stiff belt. My Safariland belt makes carrying a breeze compared to a clothing store belt.

I have packed my 329PD around quite a bit for daily carry. Several companies make a good pancake holster for these and with the 329PDs light weight and a good stiff holster the same light vest or open sport shirt that conceals my 1911 conceals my 329PD also quite well.

You missed the point of his comment completely.

FWIW, the only thing "on" my belt is the holster. Also, two of the belts I use are "store bought"; one from LLBean, and one from a local feed & seed. Neither are "tactical" in any shape, form, or fashion.