It's winter, you're carrying concealed, and...

[ISCS Yoda]

So, my question is inspired by the current cold snap, since I wear a coat VERY infrequently, and because my many years of routinely carrying a handgun holstered in my pants pocket was altered about a year ago (but not in the winter cold, obviously) when I decided to daily carry a larger .38 revolver IWB or OWB under a vest or light jacket. Not a problem. The problem is on a morning like today, when I bundled up with my usual vest, then a heavy coat and scarf, hat, gloves, etc. Okay, I shed the gloves and hat in the truck but not the coat so it's still part of the equation.

I'm sitting there thinking to myself, "Self, there is no way you can reach that revolver if you need it while you are bundled up like that".

Walking with gloves on and a buttoned up coat is even worse.

What do you folks in cold-weather-land do under these circumstances? It's weird to realize I never think about it because I so rarely have a coat on. Now I'm thinking about it so I am asking.

Thanks.

 

[kenv1950]

I just use a Sticky holster IWB front just make sure at least one layer covers it, I'm skinny so it works for me. Just something you deal with in the north east. Catskill Mountains Upstate NYS. Never an easy access when layered

 

[BAM-BAM]

Walk'in in Penn's woods...I'll switch from IWB behind my right hip to a Miami Vice shoulder rig or a OWB cross draw........ ....

pull down the jacket/coat zipper.... reach in and draw.

also flannel shirt with a fleece vest.....allows me to shed outer coat and still look...........LOL........ LL Bean stylish......

then there always the j-frame in the outside pocket!!!!!

 

[haywood]

When seated in a car and have a coat on I will move my pants pocket gun to the coat. Sometimes when walking around also.

 

[arjay]

Out in the woods,I switch my owb holster to a cross draw.Raise coat with left hand,draw with right.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Parka's have big enough pockets to drop your holstered rig right in there.

 

[RobO]

Certain clothing manufacturer makes a hoody with a zipper inside the front pouch so you can reach your appendix carry weapon.

 

[Topsarge]

I was a photographer and have a left over photographers vest. It has 16 pockets. Plenty of room for even my large N frame snubbies. My wife just bought me a vest for Christmas that has a large inside pocket made for concealed carry. I keep it unzipped part way and can reach in crossdraw like a shoulder holster.

 

[eahicks]

Carry a second small pistol inside a coat pocket.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Donn]

FWIW, the bad guys don't like the cold either, and as they're usually on foot, they're not out and about. Is this a hard & fast rule? No, but it's the way things are during the winter months. That, and good situational awareness should give you ample time to acquire your weapon should the worst ever happen.

 

[Rpg]

Unbutton the coat.

 

[deno56]

I carry my Sig P938 in a pocket holster in coat pocket.

 

[Wise_A]

I was a photographer and have a left over photographers vest. It has 16 pockets.

Oh! A Shoot-Me-First vest.

Unbutton the coat.

Solid option, especially if you dress in layers. I don't need to zip my coat 95% of the time, because I'm wearing anywhere between 3 and 5 layers underneath it. It's only howling winds and/or subzero when I get cold.

I carry my Sig P938 in a pocket holster in coat pocket.

Another good option. Just move the pocket outwards.

 

[Beachcomber]

Here's a link to a YouTube video that demonstrates the BERNE ECHO ONE ONE concealed carry coat. This may be the solution for accessible "Winter Carry"...

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYvAJgHXcYM[/ame]

 

[Fred_G]

Rarely gets cold enough to wear more than an extra shirt and a light jacket here in Louisiana. Got great advice a few years ago from an instructor: Practice drawing with what you will be wearing. A fan can be used to simulate wind.

 

[WR Moore]

If you're in your car, you have a much more effective response under your right foot. Or, you will once you move it to the accelerator pedal.

Make sure you can safely get your trigger digit into the trigger guard with gloves on. Then place that pistol in a coat pocket.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I clicked "like" on a few but I really like all of the responses. Sometimes you forget "where you came from". I could easily toss a little .25 ACP or a M642 into my coat pocket. I am not sure why that didn't occur to me. I also am not sure why it didn't occur to me to switch to a cross draw holster for the car. But now I'm way better prepared to deal with rare cold days so THANK YOU ALL AND MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY CHANUKAH, HAPPY NEW YEAR, etc.!!!

 

[Smoke]

I have a job that requires me to be outdoors in all weather conditions and I've had time to experiment and find what works for me.

In general I don't wear a coat at all unless I am going to actually be out in the weather for longer than 30 minutes or it gets below 10 below. If it gets that cold I wear a Columbia Parka and carry a small gun in my pocket and my belt gun on my belt.

Normally I use several light layers and carry my gun under the outer layer as normal. I use the Army's ECWCS system under my outer layer and if I'm out in it I throw on a USGI fleece and I'm good.

 

[Muss Muggins]

My winter dress is generally a couple layers of UnderArmour or Nike DriFit shirts and a quarter zip pullover of some sort. On the rare occasion when I wear something bulkier, like a Carhartt or a bike jacket, I slip a NAA or a KelTec in the pocket. I guess that makes that pistol a primary, and what's in the holster a BUG, but so be it . . .

 

[Nevada Ed]

So you really think that gun will work against...........

the poor skinny BG that has 3 shirts, 2 flannel long sleeves ,
a heavy vest, scarf and a Navy pea coat on, to keep warm in the cold weather?