Do you always ready to draw??

[Capt.Jim]

The other post about "if you are carrying ALL the time" made me think this...

I came across many people who CC leave their home armed but they wear their gun in a way that made it impossible to draw within a second if they find themselves face to face with an unexpected threat.

Because of their heavy coat, zippered up winter clothing, motorcycle jacket, etc... Time to time they dress up in a way that prevents to draw quickly if the situation requires it.

That's a very important question we should be thinking.
You see those holster commercials or demo videos where a guy lifts his shirt and grabs his gun from his holster at 4 o'clock position of his hip and voila!

Well, I never saw anyone riding a motorcycle dressed like that (just a blue jean and a light shirt)... Or walking around a ski resort or walking into a Starbucks on a rainy day!

Do you?

 

[pcgunner]

That's an interesting point and not sure how to accomplish a good quick draw - anyone have any technique videos on this subject?

 

[bigwheelzip]

I'm not always able to "fast" draw, but life's full of compromises. I hope that situational awareness might help to speed the process, but even the Secret Service has sometimes failed to protect their Principle.

 

[Adk.IBO]

That is why I pocket carry a small gun along with my .357 in a Kangaroo Carry that's harder to get to. On the motorcycle? I like to ride, and wear ATGATT (all the gear all the time). That's a chance I'm willing to take. It's a small chance, and if I feel uneasy I unzip my suit and unbutton my shirt a bit (only stopped fueling in an unfamiliar place ect...). Stopped for any length of time the suit comes off. Pocket carry has it's advantages, and so does other methods. Do what works for you! If it's nothing- duck quicker and pray harder.

Stay safe, John

 

[Hapworth]

Speed, concealment, practicality, comfort, etc. -- these are all competing interests and everyone has to find their own balance between them.

If we wanted to be as ready as possible all the time, we'd walk around gun in hand, low ready, Condition 0. Perfect concealment would probably place the gun duct taped to our lower back underneath a sweater and winter coat.

Neither of these extremes is viable.

For me, true concealment is important. I know this means a loss in draw time. I try to compensate for this with situational awareness, practice drawing from my actual rig in street clothes, and maintaining a basic ability to run, grapple or punch if there's no other choice in order to escape or to protect myself until I can draw.

There are situations where slow draw will be enough, and situations where it won't. There are situations where fast draw won't deploy in time to protect, and situations where you won't have time to even remember you're carrying before you have to get your hands up or your legs moving.

We do what we can, find our preferred comprises, try and prepare for the likeliest (or scariest) scenarios, and ultimately hope for the best.

I am often surprised at how many fellow folks who carry seem to feel assured that a cowboy draw and one round will have them covered...

 

[BAM-BAM]

I'm not always able to "fast" draw,

but life's full of compromises.

I hope that situational awareness might help

Pretty good summery of real life....................

LOL
Even in "the old west" ( picture 1950s fast draw rigs) they had thongs over the hammer........most of the time to keep from losing their colt........

 

[Derosa]

What he said ^^^.

 

[PersDef]

Under the described circumstances, I agree with others who have stated that a concealable coat/jacket pocket carry weapon and situational awareness are the best approach.

 

[growr]

It is ALL a compromise....you make do with the best possible in your situation.
Randy

 

[flyerdoc]

Pretty good summery of real life....................

LOL
Even in "the old west" ( picture 1950s fast draw rigs) they had thongs over the hammer........most of the time to keep from losing their colt........

And to this day thongs are just as skimpy...thank goodness

 

[nodpete]

I've never understood this "You have to practice quick draw" theory. I would think that in most cases, you would want to be discreet about the fact that you're carrying. I can see that if you are in a situation where someone enters shooting a quick draw would be called for, but if the bad guy is just holding a weapon and threatening I would want to draw my weapon as quietly and unseen as I could so as to have the advantage of surprise should I get the opportunity to gain control. It certainly can't hurt to become proficient in drawing as rapidly as you can and not carrying in such a manner as to not be able to get to your weapon quickly but I think those occasions are rare. Just my thoughts.

 

[BAM-BAM]

And to this day thongs are just as skimpy...thank goodness

Got to give this one a big thumbs/small thong up!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Whitwabit]

Situational awareness is a must .. Knowing what is going on 360 degrees around you may well keep you out of any situation where a fast draw is needed verses a discreet draw of your weapon if needed !!

Remember very few of us will ever have to even draw our weapon in a life and death struggle .. but being aware can and will make the difference many times !!

 

[Smoke]

A long time ago I worked at a location on the edge of town where I was the only person on site for my entire shift.

I walked around the fence all night SLOWLY practicing a four point draw and reholster. I bet I drew that gun a hundred times every night, not fast just steady.

One night I was walking the fence and spooked an antelope(?). It jumped up, ran right by me and cleared the fence before I knew it was there.

It wasn't till after wards that I realized my gun was in my hand. Muscle memory

 

[Cal44]

I usually pocket carry a J frame.

I find grip choice matters. Many rubber grips make sliding my hand into the pocket slower because my hand can't slip by the grip easily.

Wood works better, but I like rubber better for recoil damping.

I think there is only a slight difference of less than a second, but that amount of time might matter.

 

[haywood]

One in my pants pocket. One AIWB. If I have A coat on I will move one to the Coat Pocket.

 

[shotgun693]

Even in "the old west" ( picture 1950s fast draw rigs) they had thongs over the hammer

The 'thong' is a 20th century invention. Most holsters of the 19th century were worn high and deep. If you ride a horse you put a gun on the left side.

 

[BAM-BAM]

The 'thong' is a 20th century invention. Most holsters of the 19th century were worn high and deep. If you ride a horse you put a gun on the left side.

LOL I know; was making a joke.... those 50s Hollywood Movie/TV rigs were built for speed................and still had/have a retention device....


the only way to meet the OPs 1 second draw (and shoot?) is have the gun in hand........or walk around like Matt Dillon........ LOL

 

[The Big D]

'Quick draw,' per se is so mathematically rare that anyone who practices it is essentially wasting valuable practice time.

In fact, quick draw whilst not OC-ing is well nigh impossible.

In my 40 plus years of toting a gun I can count on just a few fingers the number of times when anything remotely akin to a quick draw was necessitated. And all those occasions were whilst I was a LEO...not an armed citizen.

As an aside, very rarely was my 'use' of my gun preceded by a conscious decision to draw. The vast majority of times it simply 'appeared' in hand. This may make little sense to other than LEO's.

Be safe.

 

[jlrhiner]

I always use my butler to keep me on my toes.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbUD7FRStbY[/ame]