Spring Carry and Gardening

The weather here in Southern Arizona seems to have decided to stop snowing and that it's Spring. A pleasant change but pretty fast. Suppose that's the nature of the desert. This brings up a couple issues worth discussing.

Carrying a gun in the fall and winter is easy. Pack whatever you want then put on a coat. It's the good times for sure. The benefits of packing a full sized piece without any of the issues of concealment. Spring and summer are what separates those who practice high percentage/ consistent carry from the fair weather strap on a heater in the winter or when they are going to wherever and want to pose.

Warm weather carry is not hard with a bit of planning. Get an inside the waistband (IWB) holster and get started. Blackhawk makes a decent one at a great price. You can choose to carry a compact pistol like a Glock 19 or subcompact pistol like a baby Glock or J frame which makes things easier. While I do not like following the rabbit hole of smaller guns down to a really small gun like a Beretta 21A/ NAA .22 revolver, etc but  they certainly beat not having a gun at all. On the other side of the coin you can dress around a bigger gun (though most won't and it will stay in the glove box/ nightstand/ safe) or open carry.

The endstate is to not let the weather getting warmer stop you from carrying.

The garden is coming along pretty well. The green onions from the store definitely sprouted in the cup of water. Turns out the roots need space below them and once I lifted them off the bottom of the cup they went crazy.  Now they are sitting in a pot of dirt. The potatoes (also from the store) are sort of going. They definitely have white shoots coming from the original taters and a couple are growing some leaves. I am optomistic that the rest will catch up. Hopefully they will get to growing and in a week or so I'll put them into a container.

The garden is coming along. So far I am really enjoying it and find the whole thing quite calming. Maybe I will try to do a second wave of stuff and or try to grow some more herbs.

Dry Fire Practice- Little Things

This evening after putting Walker to bed I conducted some dry fire training. It was pretty good. Definitely getting used to handing the smaller J frame and it's trigger. One nice thing about a DAO revolver is that you cannot cheat and thumb cock it so you just have to get comfortable with the trigger. I am eager to get it out to the range and put some more ammo through it. This trip will coincide with zeroing the new scope for the AR after it arrives.

Did notice one interesting thing when shooting the wheel gun. My Blackhawk IWB holster came out with the gun a couple times. Admittedly it was probably just because I was repeatedly drawing without taking the time to really reset the holster. That consideration aside it is still no bueno. An easy fix is to undo the velcro on my rigger belt, slip the holster in and then re velcro the belt. The bottom of the plastic clip sort of looks like an upside down T that hooks on both sides of the belt keeping it solidly in place. I will probably talk more about this holster at some point. It's not perfect but for $10 picking one up when you get a gun then figuring out another option down the road when your budget allows (if you even feel the need to) is a solid option. Elitists will hate it but a $10 holster that is good enough for casual use or to get you started on a busget has some real value in the market place.

Next I shifted to rifle work. I haven't rocked iron's as primary sights for awhile and wanted to get used to using them in a CQB type setting. Also I needed to knock some dust off the old muscle memory. Rifle work was good. Weapon manipulation and target acquisition were solid. Also spent some time training with the tac light. With it located at about 1:30 the setup is pretty natural. The only minor issue is if I get lazy about grip my thumb can obscure the sights. Optics sit slightly higher so this should be less of an issue. If a bit more training will not fix this I will look at other mounting options or a pressure switch.

The point I am trying to get to is that we find flaws and weak points in our gear, systems and capabilities when we use them. Little things come up and we figure them out by setting stuff up differently or training appropriately. Occasionally something big pops up that must be dealt with. If you just buy a gun, a holster and a bunch of hollow points  then load up the gun and stick it in the holster to occasionally travel with you these flaws never appear. It is true that you may live a charmed life and never have these unknown flaws become huge problems but not everyone is so lucky.

Get out and use your stuff. Getting out and shooting is great but with the limited availability and high price of ammo these days it may be hard to do often. Dry fire is free and you can do it at home so there are no excuses.

Just Do It!

What Did You Do To Prepare This Week?

I got a new heater. Also picked up a bunch of accessories I have been wanting. A Safariland paddle holster that will accomodate a Glock with a TLR-1. If I like using the light on my Glock down the road a nicer setup will be acquired. A stainless steel guide rod and a Lone Wolf 3.5 pound trigger connector round things out on the Glock front.

Got a set of boot grips for the new heater as well as an en cheapo holster (till I figure out what I want), and some speed loaders. Tossed some more speed loaders and speed strips into the order just because.

Lastly I picked up a Costa Leg Rig. Pretty sure that on a rigger belt is going to be my answer to the 'battle belt'.

Picked up a few odds and ends at the grocery store. Looking at making a decent sized order this week.

Well that is what we have been up to. What did you do to prepare this week?

Niche Gear

Do you have something that isn't used often but sometimes it is just right?

For me a shoulder holster is a great example of this. I generally do not like them as a way to carry. To conceal it you have to wear a pretty heavy over garment so you could pack OWB on the belt anyway. However for long car trips a shoulder holster is the ticket. Far more comfortable and accessible than any other on the body option. The one I am using these days is a Galco Miami Classic which was previously reviewed. A great holster but pretty spendy which drives a lot of folks away from them. Once upon a time I had a Blackhawk Shoulder Holster. You will not mistake it for a Miami Classic however it worked just fine at a cost I could afford at the time.

Another nitch item I have is a Hill People Gear Kit Bag. I haven't really reviewed it but TEOTWAWKI Blog did a solid review awhile back. This piece of gear is the answer for concealed carry with a heavy pack. However that isn't something I do much. Probably shouldn't have bought it when I did but oh well. They are a cool company and it is a good product. In coming years as the kids get older and we are more active in the outdoors it will earn it's keep. Still really want a Mountain Sarape. It seems like a woobie on steroids that can do a lot of things.

What is a niche piece of gear for one person might be a key EDC item for another. A longtime co conspirator carries his High Power in a Miami Classic every day. On the other hand a leather IWB holster like I use all the time is rarely in his rotation. Different lifestyles and situations make some items more important and others less so.

Common sense says you should not put much energy or money into nitche items until the more everyday ones are addressed. However at some point it makes sense to get a few useful items even if they are not useful all the time. While I do not like throwing money at problems sometimes there is just a right tool for the job and it makes sense to have that tool.

What nitche items do you own and use?

EDC Contest Entry #5 J in Dallas

 Hey Folks, I am pleased to bring the first entry for our EDC Contest. First we will quickly recap what is going on. The broad strokes are this. I want to share and discuss the stuff we carry around every day AKA EDC. Taking pictures of our stuff and talking about it is my goal.

The prizes will be as follows:
1st Place: 3 Sport Berkey Water Bottles donated by LPC Survival ($69 value)
2nd Place: 1 Blackhawk Holster donated by LuckyGunner.com ($50 value)
3rd Place:  1 Snare-Vival-Trap cough garote cough donated by Camping Survival ($17 value)

Wildcard: This one goes to whoever I want to give it to for whatever reason I feel like. It will be a grab bag donated by yours truly. The exact makeup is TBD depending on what I have lying around  and may include books, gear, medical stuff or even a couple silver dimes. ($30+  value)

Check out the details and my example post here. 

 Onto Entry #5

Hey Ryan,

Here is my EDC load out entry.

·         GEN 4 GLOCK 26 9mm

·         SPARE G26 10-ROUND MAG

·         BLACKHAWK BE WHARNED FOLDER

·         STREAMLIGHT MICROSTREAM FLASHLIGHT

·         SAMSUNG GALAXY III

·         DPD BADGE AND CREDENTIALS

·         BURTS BEESWAX

·         BIANCHI 100 & DESANTIS CARGO NEMESIS HOLSTERS  

-J FROM DALLAS

Ryan here: First of all I would like to thank J for his entry. It takes some guts to put yourself out there in front of others and some motivation to put an entry together. [Remember that before flaming anybody, lets keep the dialog constructive.] I will share my thoughts on this entry down the road.

As always everybody is welcome to leave their thoughts in the comments section.

Also check out previous entries: EDC Contest entry #1 by Jacob and EDC Contest entry #2 by Max and EDC Contest entry #3 Mike in Wisconsin and EDC Contest entry #4 Thomas.

What Did You Do To Prepare This Week?

I filled up the gas and water cans. Have been fiddling with my everyday carry a bit. Speaking of which everybody who likes free holsters and water purification sport bottles should get their stuff together and enter our awesome contest. Also I made an appointment to get my eyes checked and pick up some more glasses.

A few 2A prep things happened this week.

Finally got around to joining the NRA. In the past I haven't been very concerned with them. However right now they need money and new members to bolster their street cred to protect our constitutional rights. Seriously if you are a gun owner but not an NRA member and can afford $30 a year I strongly suggest joining the NRA. Along those lines one quiet morning I took the time to write my senators and congressman.  We could debate the usefulness of this but it certainly does not hurt. The socialists statists democrats definitely have folks writing to press their case and FreeFor need to do the same thing.

Not saying I am somehow special for spending $30 to joint the NRA and doing a bit of writing to folks who probably will not listen but damn it I did something to help the situation. Doing anything positive is a lot more effective than just bitching about a situation you do not like. Maybe you can donate some money to good pro gun causes, or write elected officials and the  'letter to the editor' in the local paper. Maybe you can get other gun owners to do these things. For goodness sake do something.

Of course my efforts in this arena do not mean we haven't picked up a few last things. In general I abhor panic buying but if you have 5 minutes till the store closes you grab as much of the important stuff as possible. Thankfully we've been at this for awhile so it is more of a 'sprint through the finish' than a frantic dash to grab anything. Picked up another holster and a couple hundred rounds of good CCI .22 ammo. There isn't much out there I NEED at sane prices right now. Can use some more .223 but I am going to wait for things to normalize. 1) I think thing will calm down (well ammo at least) as supply catches up to demand and 2) my 'crazy' budget is beyond busted.

Anyway that is what I did to prepare this week. What have you been up to?

EDC Contest Reminder: Just Do It

Now that you are all coming out of the Turkey and Eggnog induced coma it is time to get your entries together.

The broad strokes are this. I want to share and discuss the stuff we carry around every day AKA EDC. Taking pictures of our stuff and talking about it is my goal. Looking both at broad tools (pistol, folding knife, light, multi tool, etc all) and specifically digging into the this vs that of a Wambanger 29 vs a Doohickey A3.

The prizes will be as follows:
1st Place: 3 Sport Berkey Water Bottles donated by LPC Survival ($69 value)
2nd Place: 1 Blackhawk Holster donated by LuckyGunner.com ($50 value)
3rd Place:  1 Snare-Vival-Trap cough garote cough donated by Camping Survival ($17 value)

Wildcard: This one goes to whoever I want to give it to for whatever reason I feel like. It will be a grab bag donated by yours truly. The exact makeup is TBD depending on what I have lying around  and may include books, gear, medical stuff or even a couple silver dimes. ($30+  value)


Check out the details and my example post here. 

Just Do It!

Note: Some good stuff happened today for my real life preparations so this is the post for today. May have something good for tomorrow though.

What Did You Do To Prepare This Week and Dog Update

I spent a lot of time writing a post and shortly after publishing decided it had to go back to the drawing board. Not that my mind has changed on the issues but it didn't seem likely to go anywhere particularly productive.

So here we are. In a lot of ways this week was pretty good. The running went well. Lifting and rucking not so much. On the plus side I'm down a couple pounds. I think the illusive reasonable and fits into my life diet code may have been cracked. Will talk about it awhile down the road when things are a bit more conclusive.

My EDC/ GHB is pretty much set as is the car kit. Right now I am running some stuff in the normal bag I haul around every day and just making sure to bring it when I leave the house. This helps keep the amount of 'my crazy junk' in the car to a minimum and is more useful when I have to ride with someone else or whatever. I have a bit of tweaking to do and will write about this stuff sooner or later.

Project AR Upgrade showed up which is pretty cool. It was test fired and zeroed which was big fun.

Slapped some night sights on the Glock 19 which was cool. Picked up one of those new Ruger 10/22's and a Galco Matrix paddle holster also and purchased 200 rounds of .357 magnum ammunition.

Still trying to weigh different options and make some choices. I'll probably do a post and ask your thoughts shortly.

Coming down the pipe: This week I will lift 3 times (1 down), do 3 PT oriented workouts (1 down), run 3 times (1 down) and ruck twice.  Looking to do some trial stuff on our various alternative cooking methods and fiddle around with the little solar charger we have. In the next week or two I will announce a contest. Still lining up prizes and figuring out some details but it should be pretty solid.

Dog is working out really well. He is very easy going and low maintenance. Nudges one of us when he needs to go to the bathroom and generally fit right into the family. Kiddo is still learning how to be nice to the dog but that is a work in progress.

Dog is not exactly a fierce warrior beast but he definitely pays attention to where we are and shows decent guard dog potential. He rarely barks (3x in a week I think) but seems to do it at the right times. That being said most of the home security benefits of a relatively large dog are as a deterrent. The goal is not necessarily to make an impenetrable fortress (thought that is a fine idea)  but for your place to be a higher risk for the crooks) than the one across the street so they rob them instead.

Anyway that is what has been going on this week and a view of what's coming up.

Product Review: Galco Miami Classic

Today we will be talking about a pretty classic holster. So classic in fact that it has the word classic in it's name.

Before talking specifically about this holster we should spend a moment on shoulder holsters in general. Shoulder holsters are a rather niche system. They are great for people who spend a lot of time driving or seated, always wear a jacket or for whatever reason can't/ won't wear pants with a pretty solid belt. Driving and not wearing gun friendly (pants w/ a legit belt) are the two times I like shoulder holsters.

They are as discussed a sort of niche system but in said place they are the right piece of leather for the job. Sort of like an earthquake survival guide is just the right way to get ready for an earthquake a shoulder holster is the right way to get ready to carry on the body for long drives. Anyway onto specifically talking about the Galco Miami Classic.

I have owned a couple shoulder holsters in the past. One was a knock off of this system (seriously I think it was called a Falco) and the other was a cheap Uncle Mikes nylon setup. Neither were particularly impressive. That being said as discussed previously shoulder holsters have a place.

I was in the market for a shoulder holster for two reasons. The first was a long drive across the western US.  Secondly I wanted an option to carry, mainly at home, in comfortable clothing. Having tried cheap holsters I wanted to get a good one. The option was pretty simple for me and seeing one at a decent price ($139) simplified matters.

The Good: This thing is comfortable. After a few minutes of fiddling with the adjustments it fit wonderfully. On multiple occasions I forgot that I was actually wearing it. The material and quality of construction are top notch. The fit of the pistol and magazines is tight but right. I can't see retention being an issue with this setup.

The Bad: These things are expensive. MSRP is $189.95. They seem to be all over the net for about $150. Mine was purchased at a big box sports store for $139. A steep price tag for sure.

That being said it is worth considering this is not just a holster but a system. If you look at the price of a quality leather holster, gun belt and mag pouch from a top end American (I think) manufacturer this holster might seem a bit more sanely priced.

The Ugly: Did I mention that the Galco Miami Classic is spendy?

Overall Assessment: If you are looking for a shoulder holster this is a great option assuming you have the money to spend. They are not cheap but are really nice.

Day 1 On The Road

Tonight I find myself in Twin Falls, Idaho. It was a pretty long day on the road.

Went through a part of Eastern Oregon I have never seen before. Man that place is empty. It seems to lean towards ranches which makes sense as it is essentially desert. In case you wondered those ranchers unanimously favor Mitt Romney as measured by their signs. Also I pretty much paralleled the Oregon Trail (except opposite Wagons East style;) for awhile which is sort of cool. 

The Galco Miami Classic I recently purchased was comfortable all day long. More on this will follow.

Today I drank entirely too much coffee/soda and generally ate junk today and am currently paying for it. Tomorrow I need to ration the caffeine a bit and eat some actual real food.

Realized that tomorrow I will be going through James Dakin's back yard.  If I would have realized that earlier I'd have tried to meet him for breakfast or something. Oh well, that's life.

If I was a better blogger pictures would have been taken of my great lunch in a cool little place, all the sites and generally cool funny things but well I didn't do that. Anyway that is what has been going on today.

The Little Stuff

Some little things let you make the most of what we already have.

Maybe you just like shooting and are not all that big into preparing to be a guerrilla or whatever. Spending a couple/ few hundred bucks on a setup might not be something you want to do. However an old school ALICE setup can often be had for less than $30 or you can get a MOLLE rifleman's setup for $40.

You may or may not want to get new cool guy guns. One could argue with some validity that any reasonable choices including revolvers, bolt or lever action rifles and all manner of pump shotguns are just fine. Buy some ammo for your Grandads old .38 or .44 and some buckshot for the bird gun or whatever guns are lying around the house and call it good.

Slings are really useful if you are going to carry a rifle around a lot. Having a well thought out quality sling for your practical rifles is important. For the others at least have something. Heck a half dozen extra cheap slings 1, 2 tacked onto an order at some point might not be a bad idea.  Some folks will be caught short and for 5 or 6 bucks now you could help them out.

The same could be said for holsters except they are more of a hassle. A rifle needs 1 good sling (though it may take awhile to find which one that is) while pistols usually need multiple holsters. Which ones depends on the gun and what you want it to do. For an all around setup for a general type handgun a concealment and an open carry/ tactical type holster are a solid solution. For a smaller gun you might have a pocket holster and an ankle holster or whatnot. This is the benefit of sticking with a platform or two instead of 5 or 6. Getting good holsters for the guns you use and something for the others and a few to spare is prudent. While an el cheap $20 Uncle Mikes holster is nobody's first choice it beats sticking the darn thing in your back pocket or waistband. Beggar friends and neighbors do not get to be choosers.

Good durable work gloves are something that is easy to forget about. Many life patterns these days do not require them often so it is easy to miss. However if you are going to start doing a lot more manual labor like digging a bunch of fighting positions they are important. 2-3 sets per person would not be a bad idea. You could do it for not a lot of money. Also unlike boots they come in just a few sizes which would make them a more practical gift/ charity item if that is your thing.

Needles and fishhooks cost next to nothing. Yes you can fabricate them but literally spending the change from your couch cushions and the console of your vehicle would give enough of both for years. Or course you would need thread and fishing line also but they are not exactly expensive either.

 There are probably a dozen other things that fit into this sort of category I cannot think of right now. While they don't always the basic categories we look for

Product Review: Bianchi 100 Professional

Today I want to talk about my concealment/ EDC holster the Bianchi 100 professional. It is an inside the waist band (IWB) leather concealment holster that attaches to a belt with a metal clip. Onto the usual format.

The Good: It would be an exaggeration to say everything but just a small one. The holster is high quality with good stiff leather but it is flexible enough to have the bit of give that makes leather more comfortable than alternatives. Draws are fast and smooth. Retention, relative to open top concealment holsters, is good. The handgun will stay in the holster if it is turned upside down and shaked. Also pleasingly the leather is stiff enough that you can reholster with the holster on your body which is not possible with nylon or thinner leather holsters.

It conceals well and (in conjunction with a decent belt) is comfortable to carry all day long. I am pleased to say that I can wear it under a shirt against skin and it is comfortable. I have not experienced this in other IWB holsters and attribute it to thoughtful ergonomics and a lack of sharp edges. Fit and finish are great. The cost is a bit over $40 which considering the quality of materials and workmanship is a heck of a deal.

The Bad: Sometimes the  metal clip will not stay securely on a belt. It will not fall out due to belt tension but if the clip comes loose it can migrate up a bit. Additionally  the holster can migrate a little bit. Not a big deal but this requires a minor adjustment which breaks the cardinal concealed carry 'don't touch the darn gun' rule of not getting made.

I think for a concealed carry rig the clip has enough benefits to outweigh the minor downside. I really like being able to put it on or take it off fast and easily. The holsters that have loops with snaps work but are less convenient. To me this benefit is worth slight movement.

The Ugly: Nada.

Overall Assessment: I think it is a heck of a holster, especially for the price. You might be able to do better but could definitely do worse.

Warbelt Fun

As I set up the personal gear I want the topic of pistol belt/ war belt's has come up. Got to love the name these things got. Probably some marketing genuis, the old give it a cool CDI Rambo sounding name so folks will buy one plan. Basically the war belt is a padded, molle type belt or belt sleeve one which stuff like a holster, mag pouches, etc can be mounted. Anyway the ability to mount all manner of MOLLE stuff onto a belt easily would be nice.

Thanks to the joy of the internet I got to look at a lot of other people's setups. One of the more comprehensive and interesting threads is the Ultimate Battle/Scout Belt Thread; formerly Sigboy Scout Belt  over at Zombie Squad. Folks seem to go in two directions. Some basically do a modern version of the old school LBE. These folks are running 4+ rifle mags, 2+ pistol mags, a holster, a knife, some admin pouches, maybe a canteen or two. These folks definitely run suspenders, often big padded H type ones we remember from the LBE era. Other folks use it more as a beefed up pistol belt with some mags, a holster, etc. Depending on their body type and how many mags they are running these folks may go with a thin set of suspenders or not. These folks will typically use a chest rig or run additional pouches on a plate carrier if needed.


So I have been thinking this could be a good way to go. I am definitely going to fall into the second group. I will rock the gear but I am not so sure about the big ole MOLLE belt. I have seen setups like this on a normal rigger belt. Just a pistol, 1-2 spare mags each rifle and pistol and maybe a knife. To me the idea of having what basically amounts to a pistol belt set up for the range, home defense and times where I want a gun but don't need a full load out is appealing. Also something that would work as part of my overall setup instead of a whole nother rig appeals to my cheap side. 

I still have to do some thinking on the matter but this is my plan. An ATS or HSGI war belt, two double taco mag pouches (though the cheaper condor rig I just bought may fill the role in the short term due to cost), a holster probably from Safariland, a knife, maybe a small admin pouch to hold a compass, etc to fill out the level 1 kit, and possibly a minimalist trauma kit.

Are you running a warbelt? If so what type and how do you like it over just a pistol/ duty belt?

Warehouse Raid

While I was home I checked out the warehouse. Almost everything was just fine. A medium (not dripping) coat of oil has kept things just fine except one piece on one gun. The suboptimal piece of metal was given some TLC, oiled up and put away.

Last time I was home I had to dig all around to find mags, ammo, etc for the weapons I carry/ use while home. I decided to take an ammo container and put the stuff I want while home in it. The contents were 3 glock mags, an IWB holster, an OWB kydex holster, 2 boxes of 9mm JHP, 4 rifle mags and a few hundred rounds of ammo. It worked perfectly. I grabbed a Glock and the box and was good to go. When we went on a longer trip I loaded up a couple mags and grabbed the rifle.

I noticed that I need to add a knife to the box. Not having a normal EDC knife was kind of annoying. Sticking a knife in there would let me have one here and just grab it with the other stuff would be convenient.

If you have a cache or keep some guns with a friend or whatever it might be a good idea to put the stuff you would want to pull out first thing in a convenient and accessible location.

Wall Street Occupiers, Crony Capitalists and Shoulder Holsters

Our good friend Hermit left a couple of comments which I feel like replying to on the main page. It also brings us to other points worth talking about.

This whole Occupy Wall Street protest thing. I am completely ambivalent about it. Moreso I think some of the regional spin offs are just stupid. Instead of standing around and bothering productive people they should do something to better their own circumstances.

To this recent post "Quote of the Day" Hermit said "I was thinking I'd like to go throw some molotovs at Goldman Sachs myself. The more I think about getting screwed in 2008, the more I think I should start learning the words to "The Internationale"."

I can definitely see his point. This is one of those times where there are multiple complaints which can be logged against a group from different angles. I do not think they are bad people because they make a lot of money like the protestors do. However it is quite apparant to me that at least some folks involved knew what was going on and were "Shooting the Moon" so to speak. Like Enron but on a massive scale. I think there are/ were some issues of crony capitalism, fraud and such going on. I don't know much about securities and banking laws but to me it is pretty apparant that some bad stuff was going on. Lots of people should probably go to jail.

There is a saying that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" and sometimes (if just temporarily) that is true. However other times the enemy of my enemy is also my enemy. To me this whole Wall Street protestors thing falls into that scenario. I am not a fan of crony capitalism and the fraudulent practices which it leads to but the last thing we need is more government involvement (which breeds more crony capitalism) and socailist redistribution. I do want change but not the change these protestors are advocating, if they can form a cohesive enough message to even say what they want.

On my recent post about Appendix Carry Hermit asked if I prefer it to a shoulder holster. The simple answer is yes. I carry IWB because it lets me wear a normal shirt (albeit a loose one) and conceal a compact sized pistol comfortably. This lets me wear a slightly modified version of my normal attire and carry.

Shoulder holsters require a relatively heavy (not a light shirt) over garmet like a windbreaker, vest or a warmup jacket if not a coat for concealment to work. I could go for a vest but for somebody my age (as Hermit has noted older men in the south wearing vests is common) a vest, particularly a 5.11/ photographers type vest screams I am concealing a gun. They do have a place in my book as they bring a couple of benefits. First they do not require pants with a belt to use. This is an advantage sometimes as you can just toss one on, cover it up and be discretely armed. Also they are particularly good for long drives and carrying particularly heavy handguns.


Thoughts?

Appendix Carry- Day One

While I have been overseas I have thought about a lot of things in a more abstract fashion. Appendix carry is definitely one of the things I have came to see the benefit of. It makes for a very fast draw and has retention benefits also (particularly in concealed carry, open is another discussion). Today I tried it for the first time.

I was carrying a Glock 19 in a Bianchi 100 professional holster with a generic probably worn out rigger belt. I liked it a lot. [It is worth noting that folks who carry appendix seem to wear their pants a bit higher than I normally would. This puts your piece more in your abdomen than all around your hips and legs and private parts. For this style of carry to work pants need to be right about belly button height not 2-3 inches lower where they naturally fall on my hips.] I enjoy that my handgun is in front of me and easy to conceal yet ready to quickly draw if need be. Previously I was carrying at 6 oclock in the small of my back which is easy to conceal but makes for a sucky draw and poor control. 

With my pants a bit higher than normal for me  this method of carry was reasonably comfortable. I found it better to have it at 1230 (think of your body divided up by clock hours where 12 oclock is belly button and 6 oclock is butt crack) where things were soft instead of out to the side where there were more bones involved. Sitting was not uncomfortable as my handgun was bumping against soft tissue, only bending down to pick something up past a 75-90 degree angle was mildly unpleasant.

Don't buy into the myth that you need to have a tiny waistline to carry this way. I am certainly not morbidly obese but you are also not going to see my stomach oiled up in a magazine advertisement any time soon. In that regard I probably fall into the average range. Unless your gut is huge if you buy pants and a belt that fit this should be a viable carry method.

I like this method for concealed carry because I think it has a lot of advantages. I may post more thoughts on this subject later. Hope you have a nice day,
-Ryan

SERPA Holsters

I mentioned SERPA holsters in a post about equipment soldier’s use and got a couple comments about them. They more or less matched up with some relatively recent reporting of people having negligent discharges when using the holsters. So here are my thoughts.

When I first saw them I thought it was a gimmicky idea and would be a flash in the pan. Man I got that one wrong, I totally missed the pulse of a community I am a part of. Before anyone asks personally I do not like SERPA holsters. Maybe it is for the best that I do not buy individual stocks.  The reason I do not like SERPA holsters is that they have a method of retention that uses the index finger. I am used to thumb break and open top friction type retention holsters. I have a lot of muscle memory in thumb breaks and just pulling the darn thing out is pretty much as easy as it gets. My personal experience is that in times of stress and fatigue we revert back to muscle memory. I can’t get over visions of myself trying to pull the darn thing out and pressing random stuff with my thumb only for it to stay fast in the holster.  They work fine I guess but I see no reason to stray from what I am used to.  That sums up my strictly personal opinion on the matter.
As to the SERPA and negligent discharges I find little to no reason to buy into it. Sure you have to extend your finger to draw the weapon but personally I draw that way anyway as it puts my hand where I want it. I index my finger along the frame above the trigger until I want to shoot something. If you don’t stick your bugger picker into the trigger guard and go flopping it around wildly the darn gun probably will not go off. That is strictly a software issue (in your darn head) not a hardware issue, at least in the way you might think.
It reminds me of when a couple of big PD’s (back east, NY I think) switched to Glock’s some time back and had a few embarrassing high profile negligent discharges. Those Glock’s were not faulty in any way. They fired when some cop stuck his finger into the trigger guard and pulled the trigger, intentionally or not. The reason is that the new hardware (the Glock’s) exposed a weakness that had always existed in those shooters. Those cops grew up on double action revolvers (and had maybe spent a short period using DA/SA auto’s but let’s not get sidetracked from our current side track). Not that you should but one could walk around with their finger on the trigger of one of those old DA duty guns all day long, about no way you could fire it off by accident. Now a Glock is another matter as they have a substantially lighter trigger pull than a DA revolver.  I sort of see the same thing with SERPA holsters in that a new piece of technology is exposing weaknesses in shooters fundamental weapons handling.

Without doing a ton of research I suspect two things are involved in this supposed chain of ND’s. First after people hit the release button instead of immediately indexing their finger they unintentionally keep it bent and are applying pressure onto the holster as they draw. When the weapon clears the holster this pressure brings their bent finger into the trigger guard with disastrous results.  The second (which I suspect is the root cause) is folks who are trying to proverbially run when they should be walking or jogging. I would bet that if the same shooters (prior to these ND’s) were asked to draw their pistol and then fire 3 rounds at a target in no particular hurry they would be fine. However if they are out of breath, trying to run while shooting at 3 targets simultaneously and be cool like Quick Draw Delta Dan or Speed Shooting SWAT Jimbo you can get disastrous results. As for why they are SERPA holsters part of it is probably that they are immensely popular with the “I’m going to go to super cool guy class” types.  Also the training issues we talked about before. At least that is what I suspect.

As to classes banning SERPA’s I bring you the 8 pound NY trigger AKA avoidance instead of training. NY decided that too many cops were having ND’s so they got a substantially heavier trigger made. Banning SERPA’s is avoidance of hardware that may be less forgiving of a particular weakness than other hardware.
I have never seen, though have heard of from 1 reputable source (fanboy’s in forum’s do not count) about a SERPA holster locking mechanism jamming. I have never seen an ND which was related to a SERPA holster.

In closing if you own and like the SERPA holster then by all means keep using it, just don’t stick your trigger finger into the trigger guard unless you mean to. No hardware will solve that problem.

Equipment Soldiers Use

I was asked about this and figured it would be a slam dunk easy post. Everybody likes gear and writing about what I know is just too easy. Wrong, the thing is that when you are so used to something it is just what it is, as opposed to significant or noteworthy. If asked a very specific question about gear I can talk for a long time but looking at our whole organization is difficult because it is what I am used to. In any case I will do my best.
Slings- Almost everyone uses some form of a two point sling. Those who do not go with the generic issue two point typically purchase an adjustable two point sling. There are so many makers and models to choose from that you rarely see the same one twice. No clearly defined trends except two point adjustable. Once in a blue moon (less than 10%) are one points with a few of the two to one type floating around. Some folks who carry M16’s still use the three point but that is mostly because they are issued.

Holsters- The Blackhawk Serpa series is heavily represented and has a distinct majority, I would estimate almost 2/3rds. The rest is split between Fobbit’s with shoulder holsters, various other kydex type holsters, assorted leather and nylon jobs. Some quality products from name brand companies and some generic poorly made junk.

Knives- Almost everyone carries some form of a one hand opening type folder of some make or model on their person. Most are midsized 3-4 inch blades and made by major manufacturers such as Gerber, Spyderco, SOG, Benchmade, etc all. Whatever happens to be selling in the PX/ Clothing and Sales had a slight lead but in terms of knives we are totally all over the place. Of the remainder a few carry piece of junk one hand opening folders, a few carry big (5in+) sheath knives and there is a totally random tiny minority like me and my medium/small belt knife. You see a few more sheath knives attached to body armor or kit but not too many. However I would wager almost every soldier has a decent sized knife (often a KaBar) in a duffel bag or a tuff box.

Multi Tools- Everybody has one (if just because they are issued) and they are usually Gerber’s because that is what sells at the PX and is issued. Some live on belts, others on kit and most in rooms or rucksacks.

Boots- Not as many Danners as a few years back. Maybe it is that we are spending more time in hot climates or maybe that the Army is finally issuing some decent kit to us so folks don’t need to go out and buy that. Lots of light boots with soft soles are worn by Infantry and SOF guys. I wear Altima ExoSpeeds though I have heard the new Nike’s are nice and some folks like Rockies or Oackley boots.

Socks- Some folks wear various commercial hiking type socks but more just use the issue ones.

Bags- The Army really got it right with the new small framed molle ruck. It is an awesome 72 hour type bag. This saves young soldiers a $150+ purchase that was almost a requirement to function and I am happy for that. You still see the odd Blackhawk or Camelback or Tactical Tailor type 72 hour bag carried by someone who has been around more than a couple years though.

Belts- People either wear the standard issue tan belt or go out and purchase a riggers belt from somebody or another. All the ones that are not Chinese junk are functionally equivalent as far as I can tell. For those carrying a holster a stiff riggers belt is very helpful.

Cold Weather Gear- Thankfully again this is an area where the Army has gotten their act together. Soldiers do not need to go out and spend hundreds of dollars any more for the cold weather stuff they need. We are issued lots of fleece, gore tex and thermal clothing to stay as comfortable as possible.

Water carrying- Most folks have a camelback, generally issued but you see an aftermarket pouch (typically the better more molle compatible one) occasionally.

As a disclaimer I should note that products sold in our clothing and sales/ PX get a huge boost in purchases and thus use. Young soldiers often do their shopping within walking distance and because of our busy work hours (and laziness) many folks just get what is convenient. This accounts at least in part for the trend towards Serpa holsters and a Gerber multi tools.

To be honest I can’t really think of anything else but if you have a specific question I can probably go into a lot more detail.

What Did You Do To Prepare This Week?

I got a bit of ammo this week. 2,200 rounds of .22 long rifle, 45 shotgun slugs and 3 boxes of rifle ammo. Also got a chance to inspect our firearms battery and do some maintenance (more on that tomorrow). I unpacked and inspected a bunch of stuff and much to my pleasure everything was as it should be. Going to finish the repacking as soon as I get to the store for some one gallon plastic bags.

I saw a couple M1 Carbines for sale.

Put a new collapsible buttstock on my AR. It took a second to figure out and getting that little spring in right and the plate down was annoying but it didn't take 5 minutes. My rifle is now nice and as it should be. Also that means I have a spare buttstock and buffer/ buffer spring lying around which never hurts.

Started using a Biachi 100 professional to carry my Glock 19. This deserves its own post at some point but to skip ahead a bit, if you like carrying IWB then order one. It is a very nice holster at a very good price.

Been making an effort to keep up with current events better. I have been off in the woods so much that it has gotten out of my routine. I try not to get all doom and gloom but it is good to stay abreast with current events. I don't need to spend an hour reading the news but 15 minutes a day is probably a good idea.

Merry Christmas!

What Did You Do To Prepare This Week?

The early part of the week I was busy with work. Did some good training which I may talk about later. Also I read most of a book on investing. Got home late Friday. Saturday I decided to inventory a bunch of stuff including our cash and precious metals. I had a pretty good idea what we had but now I know exactly.

Put another 20 Euro's into our foreign currency reserves. Also I counted and divide up all of our Euro change. Going to change in E30 at my next trip to the bank and put it into the reserves also. It is amazing how change can add up, especially since there are one and two Euro coins as well as 50 cent pieces.

Ordered a 1,000rd case of 9mm Federal 115 gr JHP from Lucky Gunner for $350. The price is usually $380 which is very competitive already but it is on sale for the awesome price of $350 until the 16th. The holidays are definitely an expensive time of year but if you are a bit light on defensive 9mm ammo and have the cash to spare this is a great deal. Also I was pleased to see that they don't stick it to you for shipping. It looks like they just pass on the actual cost of shipping and forgo the punitive 'handling' charges.

Personally I store 3 tiers of ammo for defensive rifles and handguns. The first is real premium stuff (Federal Hydroshok's, Corbon, etc), ya know the kind that costs around a buck a bullet or more. Stocking up is really cost prohibitive so I just keep a few boxes of this stuff. Next is the more generic type of JHP or soft points. This stuff probably isn't quite as good as the real high dollar ammo but it is at a price where I can actually afford to stock up on it. Certainly I would be better off loading this stuff than ball and it doesn't usually cost that much more. This is the Walmart white box hollow points and the like. Lastly is cheap ball ammo which I store mostly for practice.

I also purchased a nice two point adjustable sling. Did some looking and ended up purchasing a Vickers Padded Sling. For most folks a generic sling works fine but I have recently found them to be wanting. As I spend a lot of time carrying a rifle the added utility and comfort should be well worth the $52.

Ended up reordering a Biachi 100 professional holster for my Glock 19. Thought I had got one already (sometimes unfamiliar websites are finicky AKA I am just stupid) but when I went to check on the order it said I didn't exist. Reordered from another site and actually saved $16 which was an added bonus. Hopefully it will get home soon enough to use it at home.

We are headed home for the holidays which I am looking forward to. Haven't been home in awhile so it will be good to be able to see everybody. It looks like I am going to be able to spend some time with my co author's Ryan and Chad which I am excited about. Unfortunately it doesn't look like it will be the three of us. However between getting a bit spread out geographically, varying travel/ work schedules and grown up type life commitments we have to take what we can get.

The manager of the warehouse which receives and stores stuff for me said I am going to have my own early Christmas just opening everything. I will have to pick up some ammo cans and properly store the ammo in them. Also I need to organize spare parts in some meaningful way. I am definitely looking forward to shooting.

Considering it was a short week in terms of prep time I am pretty happy how it turned out.

What did you do to prepare this week?