New York Reload
I see a lot of posts regarding different aspects of pocket carry.
I do not pocket carry. I do use IWB holsters and OWB holsters.
I'm on the range at a minimum of once a month and I do dry fire drills at least twice week using the holsters and clothing that I wear. This includes AR15 work as well.
My question. Those of you who pocket carry do you practice getting it out of the pocket and on to the target? Live fire? Dry fire? While sitting or other positions other than standing?
Just curious
I started with a second gun primarily because I can, but then later because I want something to fight with if the sidearm is lost or disabled. Being a disciple of Mas Ayoob, I follow his teaching in his video on the "New York Reload" which you can watch on the Wilson Combat YouTube Channel.
Ayoob started in law enforcement using revolvers and he is a foremost expert with a Chief's Special. The question of having a j frame around was decided in favor a very long time ago. Here is how I interpret his teaching:
-I have my hand in my left front pocket anyway and speak to the threat in a disguising/defusing manner until the fight starts.
-The revolver comes out in the weak hand, and I drive it toward the threat and fire one-handed with either eye picking up the front sight as it comes up. I have spent many hours over many years learning to use peripheral vision to see that front sight as I bring up the weapon. This is hands down the most difficult part of all this.
-As I empty the 38, I simultaneously sweep the cover garment and draw the primary with the strong hand. Under a jacket or a sport coat this goes well, but under a summer shirt it almost never goes well!
-When the 38 is empty I drop it and meet the 3rd Gen with that hand as it comes to bear.
-When the 45 runs dry, I move to position 2, either cover or concealment or just anywhere else, while reloading. Shoot and move, yes, but I do not move while shooting. Does that make sense?
-As soon as it is reloaded, I resume fire until that mag is empty. That ends the drill.
Here are some lessons I have learned the hard way:
-My pocket pistol is a Model 38 Airweight Bodyguard. I think a Centennial would also work as this tactic requires a hammerless or shrouded hammer to work. I may carry a back-up gun in a holster sometimes, but there is not a speed advantage to pulling it first. I think you could learn to pull a model 36 from a pocket by using your thumb as a hammer shroud, slower maybe but effective. I don't have one so I cannot say.
-My sidearm is always a 3rd Gen usually a Model 457 45ACP. Sometimes a 3913NL or my CS40 but that makes no difference because I use the front sight for every shot. I can use a revolver as primary too, but sometimes I short stroke the trigger on the follow up shots.
-I dry fire practice over the bed or using a mattress on the ground. Ayoob shows this. For live fire the other day I put down the silver sun shield from the car to drop the gun on, which worked great over the grass and leaves which cushioned the fall. If you drop it on the bed it bounces a little, but if you drop it on a mattress on the floor or on the ground it will bounce off. You have to practice in a way that overcomes the reluctance to drop it.
-No reloads for the j frame. After I drop it I'm gonna move to another location even if only a couple of yards.
-Two spare magazines for the 45. Not that I think I need the rounds, but because sometimes when I shoot and move, I fumble drop the first magazine. Having a second mag right there takes all the worry out of it and I really don't want to go down looking for a dropped mag! I think this almost never happens anymore because I no longer worry about it.
-Dedicated practice mags. Dropping the mags while moving can mess them up. I have a promag piece of junk that I use for my dry fire mag drop. For live fire I never use the carry mags for practice. They get dirty and scratched. Just take care and inspect/replace them.
-Trigger. I got the 38 smoothed by a gunsmith. My 457 got smoothed from years of dry fire. Mostly I just needed to strengthen my fingers and wrists.
-Eyes up. This has been difficult to learn, to keep the eyes up on the threat and let the hands do the weapon. What I have learned was to always put the spare mags in the exact same place on my belt always facing the same way. Hackathorn, also on the Wilson Combat Channel, shows the reload I use. The index finger guides the mag in. The gun hand elbow is bent keeping the pistol up before the eyes. Inserting the mag the hand then is in perfect position to use the slide release and return to shooting grip.
What do you think? Am I on the right track? Please correct me with my thanks! I am no authority, Mas Ayoob is! Let me know your reaction to the Wilson Combat YouTube Channel if you watch it.
