Suarez Close Range Gunfighting 1 Class

******Please take note, the dates have change for this class and CRG2******

 

 

I know it has been a long time for the readership.  But I’ve finally gotten a few minutes to  update everyone as to classes available (other than regular concealed carry classes).

 

We’re putting out feelers to know if there is interest in Suarez International’s Close Range Gunfighting 1 class.  Projected date is August 19-20, now August 26-27 2017.  It’s been a while since we’ve hosted a Suarez class.  These are really top notch trainers who truly rank on the international market.

This class will likely go if we get 5-6 students or more.

From the website:

“All training must begin with fundamentals. This comprehensive fundamentals class is designed to prep you for the more advanced courses such as Close Range Gunfighting. Through a carefully designed and detailed curriculum we are able to bring you up to a level of skill in a short two day class that previously would take over 4 or 5 days to achieve at other schools.

You will learn a complete presentation of the modern combative technique of the pistol which will put you in good standing for any defensive situations you may encounter in the real world.

We will also be incorporating fundamental Point Shooting techniques which will prep you for the more advanced courses such as Advanced Reactive Gunfighting. You will learn the components of various point shooting methods and integrate them into your existing skill sets. This knowledge will put you in good standing for any defensive situations you may encounter in the real world. No experience or prior training is needed to attend this class and it is specially suitable for beginners, or as a tune-up for accomplished shooters.”

More info on the class can be had on the website at this link.  The Mapleton class is still in its infancy and will not appear on the website until we’re sure it’s going to happen.

https://suarezinternational.com/crg-1-close-range-gunfighting/

 

Suarez International affiliate training classes at TTT range, August 2014

***note***  Date correction to the 23-24th of August, a Saturday and Sunday.

We are currently in talks with Suarez International to have them come and teach classes at our Mapleton range in August.  The course we are discussing is their Close Range Gunfighting 2 handgun class and it is likely to be timed to occur on August 23-24 as a two day class.

Details about the class can be seen here: http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/close-range-gunfighting.aspx

Prerequisites for this class are that you know how to operate a handgun safely and competently from a standing position.  You should be able to safely perform reloads, malfunction clearance drills and draw from a holster.  If you need a refresher or are unsure, that is no problem.  I will be certified to check you out and refresh/train you to a level which should give you the skillset to be on the curve and ready for the excellent CRG2 class.  If you already know how to run a handgun, Close Range Gunfighting 2 exists to teach you how to fight with one.

 

Planned for September 20-21 is Suarez’s Rifle Gunfighting 2 class.  Again, prerequisites for this will be competent rifle manipulation skills.  If you need a refresher, I will be offering private refresher courses to get you up to speed.  Once you know how to run a rifle, Gunfighting 2 class will teach you how to fight with it.  http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/rifle-gunfighting2.aspx

Both of these above classes are slated to be featuring the teaching styles of Brent Yamamoto, a Suarez International Tier 1 instructor.  I just got off the phone with him and he’s a real down to earth guy who is going to teach what he knows, not just a lot of hot air.  He knows a lot and loves to pass that knowledge along while still making the class fun.  He is big on repetition so your money will be well spent as you will really learn to do the stuff he teaches, instead of just talking about it.  http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/instructor-brent-yamamoto.aspx

 

Everyone who wishes for there to be high level training classes in the Eugene area needs to help support these first classes.  If turnout and response is good, 2015 will be an exciting year for training at The Tactical Toolbox as Suarez International will be highly motivated to offer their world class higher level classes, including Close Range Gunfighting 3-5, Rifle Gunfighting 3, Team Tactics, and other such really fun courses.

 

Contact me at tacticaltoolbox@yahoo.com or call me 541-268-1974 to express your interest and get more details to make your trip here possible.  If you have accommodation issues, please do not hesitate to ask.  There may be ways we can accommodate you here on our property.

 

Please send this out to all your friends who may be interested in high level training you cannot normally get in Oregon.

Newsletter #4: Concealed Carry Options 3

Issue #4, February 6, 2010

The Tactical Toolbox Newsletter provides product reviews, training thoughts, political thoughts and anecdotal tidbits about shooting, self-defense and current Toolbox community events.

In this issue:

***Concealed Carry Options: Part 3

Evaluating Concealed Carry Options: Part 3

In the first part, we covered the topic of evaluating concealed carry options, first discussing the threshold issues of: handgun size, climate, concessions in clothing/style, comfort vs. effective concealment, and issues related to carry methods.  In the second part, we discussed the different on-body carry options and how they bear on the five threshold issues.  In part three, we cover off body and special issues.

There are two general styles of carry with many options within each general category.  The two general categories are on-body and off-body.  On-body is where the handgun is more directly attached to the person, while off body means the handgun is concealed in a purse, fanny pack, backpack, box, etc.  In this final part of the series, we are going to discuss the different off-body carry options and their pros and cons.

Off-Body Carry:

Off-body carry’s purpose is to insert a gun into what should be a normal everyday item and not have it look like there is a gun inside.  There are two elements to this trick.  The first element is to choose an item that does not look out of place when carrying it.  Years ago, this author was taught how to spot suspicious people.  One of the general admonitions was to look for things that were out of place.  This included the carriage of large or medium sized duffels in the wrong context.  In other words, it looks fine to be carrying a duffel when one is obviously headed to the gym.  Conversely a set of golf clubs being dragged through a mall or through an office parking lot will appear odd if done regularly.  So, in choosing an off-body style of carry, consider what the carriage of that object appears like to the discerning observer.  A laptop bag is fine in a lot of contexts while a diaper bag can only be used by people with young children.  Backpacks may be fine under most circumstances, but subject to search by some stores or even prohibited due to shoplifting.  A violin or guitar case is probably most suspect due to movies and past criminal episodes in our nation’s history.  But, under the right circumstances, they can also work.

The second element of off-body carry is to not have the item you are carrying look like there is a gun inside.  The number one concern is, is the gun too heavy for the item?  Most non-purpose built fanny packs are not large enough for most medium sized handguns and will bulge and come apart at the seams under constant use.  Purses that are too small will look suspiciously heavy and overstuffed with a handgun and all the other items normally carried.  Conversely with a laptop case, because the computer normally carried in it is already heavy, a handgun carried in addition to the computer will not seem so much out of place or suspicious in the weight department.

At this point we will discuss the different methods of off-body carry and their individual pros and cons:

1.  Fanny Pack:

A fanny pack is a belt like pack popularized in the 80’s as an clothing accessory and utilitarian pouch for carrying all the necessities of the user.  What soon followed was a trend of holster manufacturers to adapt the design to carrying a handgun.  Handy, right?  It was fine for about all of twelve minutes as soon everyone knew that black generic looking fanny packs all contained guns.  And then, to further exacerbate the issue, they went out of style, leaving their use to those kind of fellows doing interior design work.  Now, the use of fanny packs for carrying guns is reserved for the few who can get away with it; that would include women with bad fashion sense and men secure in their manhood.

Even though they are nearly passé in the gun community at the moment, fanny packs are probably one of the best off body methods of carry in a technical sense.  The gun is secured to the person and has the fastest accessibility of any off-body method.  While purses are more often subject to snatching, fanny packs are a lot harder to accomplish due to their attachment directly to the body.  The draw stroke from a fanny pack is slower than most on-body carry methods.  As discussed above, concealability (due to knowledge rather than printing or visibility of part of the gun) is practically nonexistent.  Everyone who knows anything about guns knows there is a gun in it.  So, in this writer’s opinion, a fanny pack can work, but the circumstances are more limited.

2.  Purse:

Every woman has a purse (well, pretty much) and even some men.  But we are not here to discuss the men who use purses.  Some purses are purpose built to carry a handgun in a secret compartment.  Other purses are just fairly well suited to stowing a handgun because of the many compartments.  Because purses are not generally designed to carry a heavy item such as a handgun, they can be subject to wear and tear and other issues related to this dense item rolling around in the purse.  A good choice is to find a company that does make purses for concealed carry.

Cons to purse carry are that the draw stroke is slow compared to on-body carry and the gun is subject to stealing due to the valuables that normally reside in purses and their easy ability to be snatched.  Other cons concern non-purpose built purses not bearing the weight of a gun correctly or not having a special compartment for the handgun.  This raises issues of security to unauthorized persons (such as children) and accidental exposure of the gun to people while rummaging around in the purse.  If the handgun is not secured in a holster device in the purse, this might raise safety issues, depending upon the type of handgun and the method of carry.

Pros to purse carry are convenience and concealability.  First, the purse is something no woman really looks all that suspicious carrying, even if she happens to be at the pool and in a swimming suit.  So, the gun is quite concealed.  The convenience of the purse is that not much of a change in wardrobe or lifestyle is needed in order for the woman to be armed.  This is a major plus.  It is better for her to be armed than not, even though the method of carry is not as “tactical” as on-body carry.  The purpose built purses, it must be noted, are designed to be more snatch resistant as they routinely install hidden steel cables within the purse strap to prevent a mugger’s knife from cutting the strap to facilitate snatching.

3.  Laptop Bag / Messenger Bag / Briefcase:

While the messenger bag is a newer fad/invention and is a little metrosexual, it can be an effective off-body carry method.  The laptop bag, messenger and briefcase are mentioned together mainly because they are similar office related items.  In the appropriate settings, none of these are the least bit suspicious.  They are similar to purses in that there is likely plenty of compartments that would easily stow a handgun and they require about the same amount of time for drawing.

Pros are easy concealability and convenience.  In the right circumstances, except at the pool, one can carry one of these without raising suspicions.  It is convenient because the wearer likely already had a reason for carrying one of these.

Cons are it is snatchable and there are few options for purpose built laptop bags, briefcases and messengers.  Typical things carried in such bags are valuable and are therefore a target of thieves.  The carry is off-body and therefore not as fast as most good on-body styles.  Even if a man is carrying on his person, this method allows him to stow extra ammo, a backup gun and more without raising suspicion levels.

4.  Day planner:

Day planners are another nearly ubiquitous thing that does not raise suspicion in the office environment.  There are purpose built day planners.  The biggest con for this type of carry involves the size of the gun carried.  If it is too large, the day planner can appear unwieldy heavy.  The other cons for this type concern off-body issues.  Overall, this method could get a person a long way for carrying in a non-permissive office environment.

5.  Backpacks, bags, duffels:

Backpacks, bags and duffels are lumped together because they are environment oriented carry methods.  Each has its own environment in which it does not raise suspicions.  A good rule of thumb concerning these methods and most off-body methods is, if you already have a purpose outside of gun carry for the item, then you should be golden using it to pack your gun.  While these methods are more environment/activity oriented, they offer good convenience and good concealability.  The only thing to stay away from is tactical colored/designed items.  This changes the suspicion level.  It should be good old yuppie fashionable and not 5.11 Tactical branded.  One might appear great and fashionable to the gun crowd, but it would raise red flags for the discerning eye.

6.  Diaper bags:

This has been dealt with separately only because there are some special issues.  The first is security.  Because a diaper bag means it is around children all the time, the gun needs to be very secure.  The second issue is, the carrier has to have children of the appropriate age in order for the ruse to work.  As long as the carrier has children of the right age, the method is golden.  No one wants to root through a diaper bag looking for a gun.  Another issue is cleanliness.  Because children are present and the bag might be in contact with dirty diapers and spills, the gun should be secure from the moisture and dirt.  One of the newer designed pistols that are resistant to corrosion is a better choice for the diaper bag than an older gun more subject to corrosion.

7.  Special methods:

Special methods include violin or musical instrument cases, flower boxes, etc.; anything that might hide a gun either temporarily or situationally.  The rule here concerns whether the item hiding the gun is out of place.  First, the user should be prepared to produce an instrument or flower or whatever is expected to be in the case and use it!  Second, the method of carry should be reasonably secure to keep the gun from falling out and skittering across the dance floor, so to speak.  The object of concealed carry is to keep the firearm concealed.  Special methods of carry might include the stowage of a rifle or shotgun (due to the size of the carry method), but state and local laws must be consulted to find out whether the long gun can be legally concealed.  Generally, anything that can secure a gun and doesn’t look out of place for the setting, can be used to carry a gun concealed.  Bear in mind that these special methods are generally employed because of circumstances that might not allow other more secure forms of carry.

Commentary:

In the distant past in our country and the home country of our progenitors, the carrying of arms was an open thing to do.  While there were some issues in their past with the prohibition of arms, it was widely known the reason for such things.  It was because the tyrant prohibiting arms did not want resistance to his reign of tyranny.  Nowadays, we are told it is a safety issue.  The carrying of arms is now something only the “authorized” persons do.  So, no one bats an eye as a police officer walks by with an unconcealed pistol on his belt but if a regular citizen does, there is somehow danger in this.  But really, the issues have not changed from 400 years (and more) ago.  It is indeed a safety issue.  However, it is not a safety issue for the citizens at all.  It is a safety issue for the ones doing the prohibiting—as it always has been.

Schedule Your Training Now!

Check out the training schedule for the classes you want to take this year and get into contact to reserve your spot today.  These things can fill up fast and likely rain is going to bunch some classes up.  Check it out now!

Next issue: CZ75D P01 pistol review!

Newsletter #2, November 14, 2009

Issue #2, November 14, 2009

The Tactical Toolbox Newsletter provides product reviews, training thoughts, political thoughts and anecdotal tidbits about shooting, self-defense and current Toolbox community events.

In this issue:

***More on tactical optics—magnifier options

***Black Friday Special

***Evaluating concealed carry options–part one

Tactical Optics – magnifiers revisited:

Above shown the LaRue Tactical mounts and Aimpoint Comp M2 w/ Aimpoint magnifier.

After some backlash over the stuff I said about magnifier options like the EoTech flip to the side magnifier and the Aimpoint setup, I will have to re-examine why I said the things I did.  A partial quote follows of some of the issues one alert reader had:

Ok, about the optics… I think you should give more of your “mission” to validate your opinion or to lend it more weight. I just got the impression it was a “everybody should do it this way” type of argument. Also. Have you ever used an aimpoint magnifier? Some of the things you comment on, I wonder if you’ve really used. No offense man, just saying how it comes across.

Also, it seems a bit like you have valid points, but for those 5% of scenarios. I would rather plan for the 95% of scenarios than the 5% personally. Maybe I’ll read it again and then comment on it for your review.

The alert reader has several points:

#1 it seemed I didn’t properly describe my mission.

My response:

If it wasn’t clear enough, the mission parameters I was reviewing for were general civilian defensive rifle usage.  This means taking one rifle to engage potential threats from zero to 250 yards.  But I did caveat for the reader’s individual needs, such as, “If you only are preparing to engage an enemy at 50 yards and under and rarely over 75 yards, a red dot optic might work best.”

#2 the reader got the impression I was making an “everyone should do it this way” argument

My response:

I thought I was clear enough in the article that I was contrasting the optical equipment with the mission.  If close range only, the red dot would work well.  It was my opinion/conclusion that the magnifiers were not worth the money or weight/stowage trouble.  Perhaps I was too harsh?

#3 have I ever used an Aimpoint magnifier?

My response:

I do not have an Aimpoint.  I opted for the Eotech because of the ruggedness of the system due to its holographic nature.  If any little piece of the window is left, even if it is struck by a bullet (now just think where the bullet might go after it passes through the window) or flying debris, the reticle will be visible in the left-over window shard.  I also liked the overall lower profile.  It is not that the Aimpoint is an inferior piece of equipment.  It is just that I liked the aforementioned features better than what the Aimpoint had to offer.

On to the more relevant answer, I have tested my own Eotech by putting a ten power binocular optic behind it.  The results were impressive (although trying to hold a binoc up to one’s eye and steady the rifle is a really fun thing to do).  However the results, they did not convince me to go ahead on a $600-$800 optic that only had four power magnification.  My experience with shooting the AR with an ACOG left me with desire for even more magnification and with that, variable magnification (2x to 7x).  This is not, at this time, available in flip to the side magnifiers.

#4 it seems I am preparing for 5% of scenarios:

My response:

Yes, I am preparing for 5% of scenarios.  It is the 0.5% badguy that makes your day really suck.  I carry a gun every day for that < 0.01% of days.  Considering that a civilian scenario involving rifles is likely to unfold slower than one involving pistols, it is reasonable to believe a threat will take cover and be attacking from it.  It is also reasonable to assume one attacking from cover would present a very small target, possibly half a head.  My reasoning concerns weighing the need for that scope in the < 5% of scenarios versus the utility loss in using that high powered capable optic at close ranges.  I personally find it not interfering in the utility enough to outweigh its utility.  This personal discovery was echoed during training in that a novice rifle and scope user was trained to shoot at close ranges and didn’t seem to suffer from being required to use 2.5x optics.  A little practice and he was fine.

Conclusions:

My main concerns about the flip to the side are its cumbersomeness, stowage issues, and cost versus its overall utility.  I shall discuss each concern below.

Concerning cumbersomeness, I refer specifically to the fact that when flipped to the side, the optic is sticking out from the rifle and therefore subject to two things: lack of streamlining such that it might catch on team members or environmental obstacles–or it might interfere with ambidextrous use of the rifle.  I say “might” because I have not personally used these optics.  I only know general principles and designed certain features of my own tactical sling based on my experience in deep brush.  It grabs everything that has a hole in it or sticks out.  This unit sticks out when flipped to the side.  When the unit sticks to one side, that makes me wonder about ambidextrous use of the rifle.  Maybe our alert reader could share with us his experience in this area.

Second I would refer to stowage of the optical unit (when removed from the rifle).  This is not always a problem, but in the civilian sense, he isn’t typically suited up for battle on a schedule.  The battle comes to him.  If the optic is needed but is stowed, he has to retrieve and attach it.  Second, when not in use, he has to have a place to stow it separate from the rifle.  This takes planning and more gear.  Grabbing just the rifle, one extra mag, and going is not as much the option.  Discussing the virtues of detach only versus flip to the side is outside the scope of this article.

When considering the overall cost of an Aimpoint or Eotech plus the $600 optic, the total cost is likely in excess of $1k.  This opens up a wide range of possibilities for the shooter who is trying to maximize the range spread of his rifle.  If he is not trying to maximize his range spread and his utilization of the optic is controlled and mission specific, his motivations obviously vary.  So, if he is required to, say, clear a building and then sit on its roof covering a battlefield in which ranges wouldn’t exceed 150 yards because he was backed up by a real precision rifle, the flip to the side magnifier is a good choice.  For more general usage a consumer might be much better suited with a variable riflescope (with lighted reticle) as I concluded in newsletter #1.

Concerning utility, my biggest issues are from experience in the 100 to 300 yard range.  I found that an 3x ACOG was ill suited to the task of what I felt was true confident precision at 100 yards and beyond.  Maybe I was incorrect, but that was my experience.  It might have also been the reticle because the 100-300 yard ranges are obscured by the chevron.  I still felt I couldn’t see well enough with the optic to define my target too well at 300.  My concern with this was that I was shooting at a fluorescent pink painted 5”x10” plate at 300 yards and I could hardly see it any better with the 3x optic than I could with the naked eye.  I am assuming my threats will not be painted fluorescent pink and will be at least as small if they are taking cover.  So, with the magnifiers maxing out at 4x not giving enough magnification/definition for targets in the 100-300 yard range, I would instead opt for a regular rifle scope having a higher high-end magnification.  Here, the utility of the scope is probably much better than the magnifier (given we’ve spent about the same money on the scope as the magnification combo).

Again, the downsides of the scope option are lack of co-witnessing BUIS (back up iron sights).  During a fight, a damaged optic is much more easily ignored with the magnifier option.  Removing the scope, even with a quick detach system, would take a hair longer than the FTS magnifiers would to just flip them to the side.  To me, these are not enough reason to go with the magnifiers in general use over the lighted reticle scope given its gain in precision usage of the AR platform.

Your mileage might vary.  But hey, if the magnifiers light your fire, let me order you one today.

Black Friday Special!

The Friday after Thanksgiving will be a special day.  The sale day will extend through the end of Saturday.  I am not sure if the prices are ever going to get lower on the items I’m putting up on special.  On some items, I won’t be making a dime.

Something special about Friday and Saturday will be free gourmet coffee and those special biscotti for which my classes are getting famous.  Drop by and get some!  You won’t regret it.

Rifles:

FNH Patrol Bolt Rifle, all black, detachable box magazine, .308 Win, 24 inch heavy barrel.  Comes with a 10 power Bushnell Elite 3200 mil-dot scope with quality steel tactical rings, mounted.

This rifle is a quality mid-level precision rifle system.  Topped with a solid scope like the Bushnell Elite 3200, it should get good precision performance out to 1,000 yards.  Scope is not in stock and must be ordered.

MSRP without scope:           $1,208

Sale with scope:                       $1,208

Sale without scope:               $875

Next Generation Arms Patriot Model M4 Carbine Clone: 16 inch M4 profile barrel, PWS muzzle brake/flash hider, A4 flat top with stand alone detachable A2 rear sight, six position collapsible stock, M4 handguards, A2 grip, standard military spec two stage trigger.

This is the last of the inexpensive Next Generation Arms rifles.  While they are no frills, they are internally just as solid as the current Next Generation $3,600 top of the line models.  This rifle is a far superior alternative to the Colt LE series rifles.  This price and value cannot be beat anywhere and the two Patriots I have are likely to be the last ones I will get in.

MSRP:                          $1,600

Sale price:                $1,225

Next Generation Arms Minuteman w/ Noveske 14.5” double chrome lined: the same features as the above Patriot plus the exclusive enidine system tuned just for Next Generation Arms, and a top of the line Noveske 14.5” double chrome lined machinegun barrel with permanently attached suppressor.

This barrel upgrade is capable of 3/4 MOA and is far superior to regular mil-spec or other barrels due to its ridiculously long life.  14 ½ inches means that it is as short and light as you can get without paying a $200 NFA tax for a short barreled rifle.  Again, these Minutemen are last year’s models and won’t be coming back.  This is a one of a kind due to the custom barrel.

MSRP:              $2,250

Sale Price:    $1,600

Bushmaster A3 heavy profile fluted carbine: Regular Bushmaster carbine but with a heavy profile barrel fluted for accuracy.  This model has the detachable carry handle, collapsible stock, all the standard features in addition to the fluted barrel.

MSRP:             $1,299

Sale Price:    $975

Also available:

Polish Tantal AK74, 5.45×39                                                                         $650 two in stock

Next Generation Arms JC382 Patrol, dark earth                                  $2152 MSRP

Next Generation Arms JC382 Advanced Tactical, tactical grey    $2339 MSRP

Pistols:

All pistols in stock will be $20-$100 off marked price.  For women, all pistols come with a free hour of safety instruction.

Magazines:

Rifle:

All AR15 rifle mags in stock will be on special Black Friday Weekend Only:

Cproducts 30rd Aluminum, Magpul follower                   $9 ea.

Lancer L5 30rd                                                                              $16 ea. @ Cost!

Magpul window gen 1, black and foliage green                 $15 ea.

Magpul gen 1 foliage green                                                        $14 ea.

Magpul new gen window, green, black, dark earth         $18 ea.

Magpul new gen 20rd                                                                  $16 ea.

Pistol mags:

All pistol mags will be $2-$5 off.  Check in for availability and pricing.  We have tons of XD and hard to find Steyr mags as well as some Kel Tec.  Glock 22 and 23 mags available.  Some CZ and HK mags.  Many misc. and hard to find magazines in stock, too.

Evaluating Concealed Carry Options, Part One, Threshold Issues:

This is going to be a multi-part series concerning the issues surrounding concealed carry methods.

Just one step into the section of a gun store that contains holsters or onto the internet home page of a holster manufacturer is enough to apprise the shopper there are myriad options available for concealed carry of a handgun.  Online, whole sections are dedicated to confusing acronyms and holster names such as IWB, pancake, paddle, and fanny pack.  To a new shooter or someone uninitiated to these things, a confusing array of delicious boating apparel is not what he or she was expecting to see.  In the actual store, everything might look so foreign to the shopper that he or she can’t figure out how such contraptions might be used to secure a handgun or to what part of the body it might be attached.  The reason for this article is to give an overview of some methods of carry and their advantages and disadvantages.

The purpose for all those holster designs is that people come in all different shapes and sizes and their carry needs vary almost as greatly.  A method that works for a large individual might not work for a slighter one.  Conversely, we fat folk cannot always utilize methods used successfully (or more pointedly less painfully) by the slighter folk.  The differences in people run across the gender line, too in that women are not proportioned the same as men.  Carry options for men don’t always work for women.  Exacerbating this overall problem is the carry needs issue.  Some feel the need for larger handguns; others live in very hot climates.

Because the nature of an object is that it is separate from its owner, some manner of stowing it on the person necessitates a system.  This means a gun is not natural to keep with you.  You weren’t built with holsters or pockets on your body.  Everything is a compromise.  This article contrasts the compromises.

Pictures courtesy of Galco.

Threshold Issues:

When looking to conceal your handgun, several questions need to be answered first:

#1 Overall, how big of a handgun is sufficient to make me comfortable in defensive use?

#2 In what type of climate is it going to be concealed?

#3 What concessions am I willing to make concerning clothing options?

#4 Comfort vs. concealed effectively?

#5 Am I willing to deal with the issues arising from my chosen method of carry?

1. Overall, how big of a handgun is sufficient to make me comfortable in defensive use?

I am first assuming the reader has gone through the appropriate hoops to obtain the proper permission to carry a handgun concealed in their jurisdiction and otherwise follows all relevant laws.  Either that or a reader is contemplating concealed carry and wants more information on the subject and is thus, reading this article.

This issue is a large one and bears on the method of carry as much as almost anything else.  The larger the handgun, the fewer places to hid it effectively.  Factors a prospective gun packer (PGP) will have to contrast will include the caliber selection (in my book 9mm Lugar is the minimum), frame size and barrel length, shootability/utility, shooting comfort, and ammunition capacity versus the practicality of actually carrying it.  The first rule of gunfighting is to have a gun.  The second rule might be to carry a big enough gun.  It has to be powerful enough and accurate enough to be effective.  But too much power usually means size or controllability issues.  This means too much recoil to control the gun or the gun is just too darned large to pack around.

Mainly what I am arguing against are guns just too small to do any good as a primary defensive handgun.  A good question to ask yourself is, “If I knew there was going to be trouble and had to pick a handgun, what would it be?”  If the answer to this is within reason, then we can start looking for a concealment option.  If the concealment options aren’t favorable for this, a different choice would be best.  If my first choice is too big, I usually opt for a shorter barrel and/or grip length, while retaining the same action type (revolver or pistol) and caliber as the original (as long as the original wasn’t A. a Desert Eagle .50 AE, or B. a magnum revolver of .41 cal or larger).  This cut-down usually makes the concealed carry option more palatable.

2. In what type of climate is it going to be concealed?

The climate makes a large difference on what is carried where.  As a general rule, less clothing necessitated by warmer climes is detrimental to concealment.  Some handguns combined with some body types make for a nearly impossible combination for concealment in hot weather.  When I lived in Oregon, it almost never got so hot I sweated too badly.  When I lived in Kentucky, it was so hot and humid in the summer, I sweated so badly I dared not carry my beloved Kimber 1911 .45s.  They would most assuredly have rusted to uselessness.  I instead carried an HK as it didn’t have rust issues (and it wasn’t nearly as beloved).  However, because the HK didn’t conceal well under a t-shirt, I had to opt for a fanny pack method.

3. What concessions am I willing to make concerning clothing options?

A person who does not carry a pistol concealed dresses according to style or likes and dislikes based on factors that didn’t involve carrying a pistol under his/her clothing.  When starting to carry concealed, you may have to adjust your wardrobe.  The latest fashions were likely not designed with carrying a pistol in mind.  Now, some of my readers might have already been perusing the 5.11 tactical store.  Some might think that fashion will have to be tossed out the window entirely and we’ll all be walking around in khaki colored fishing vests and modified BDU’s looking like out of place fly fishermen.  This is just not so.  There are a lot of options and holsters designed with the suit wearing office worker in mind as well as the knit polo shirt wearing blue collar worker.

However, the fact remains, your concealed carry method may be modified by how far you’re willing to change your fashions.  Is it worth it to look a little fatter in order to carry your pistol with you?

4. Comfort vs. concealed effectively?

Sometimes it is somewhat uncomfortable to be carrying your favorite blaster in certain spots.  The most complained about concealment options are, in order, appendix (AIWB) and inside-the-waistband (IWB).  Both methods place the handgun inside a holster (hopefully) which is located inside the pants of the PGP.  Appendix carry has the gun up front usually just to the right of the belt buckle.  IWB might be in one of several different locations, which include behind the right hip, in front of the left hip, or just right in the middle of the back.  Normally people tighten their belts to hold their pants secure.  There is usually not a lot of extra room in there.  As typical Americans, maybe there is a little less extra room in there.  This usually translates into pain and suffering.  What might be the conundrum?  The conundrum is that both the appendix and IWB carry methods are fast and more secure than others.  A lot of the time, the real question for men is, how much pain is too much?  For a lot of women, their bodies are not conducive to right hip IWB and appendix carry doesn’t fit their wardrobes.

Other issues concerning comfort are the weight of the pistol or revolver in a pocket in a jacket pulling on the PGP’s neck.  The comfort issues there are mainly related to weight/size of the gun, rather than location.

5. Am I willing to deal with the issues arising from my chosen method of carry?

Bending over.  Some carry methods either restrict or prohibit this: the butt of the handgun sticks out or outright slips out from under the clothing or the barrel of the pistol is pointed at the PGP’s groin such that bending over becomes painful.  The PGP is saying to himself, “Satan himself designed this thing because the father of all lies talked me into buying it!”  Purses and off-body styles of carry put the gun at risk of being lost through forgetfulness or theft.  Bathrooms are harder to visit with some carry methods than others.  Where do you put the danged gun?  It’s not like they designed those stalls with PGP’s in mind.  Each carry method needs to be fully understood how the PGP is going to deal with the issues that particular method creates.  No method is going to be perfect for all situations.

Continued next issue: Part 2 Carry Options!

This letter brought to you courtesy of The Tactical Toolbox.

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