Practice (safely!) actually drawing and presenting your EDC. This may lead you to modify or re-think your EDC decisions as to what and how to carry.
Most important lessons learned from carrying?
- Thread starter BabaBlueJay
- Start date
UnstopaNole99
Member
There are many great comments and posts , so I would only be echoing those.
But I will say the longer you carry, the more natural it becomes. Like grabbing your wallet and keys before leaving the house.
Also, depending on where you store your firearms may have an impact on carrying vs not. I have a hand vault next to where I keep my keys/wallet, and grab my pistol from it when I am grabbing my other EDC gear.
If it is cumbersome or a bother to get your pistol, it may influence your decision.
Sent from my SM-G781U using Tapatalk
But I will say the longer you carry, the more natural it becomes. Like grabbing your wallet and keys before leaving the house.
Also, depending on where you store your firearms may have an impact on carrying vs not. I have a hand vault next to where I keep my keys/wallet, and grab my pistol from it when I am grabbing my other EDC gear.
If it is cumbersome or a bother to get your pistol, it may influence your decision.
Sent from my SM-G781U using Tapatalk
"Be absolutely sure of what you're looking at." I've told it before: Maybe 25 years ago, getting gas around 11pm, nobody around. I look in the window of the convenience store and the woman (sole employee) is frantically beating a guy with a mop handle. I saw "trouble," started toward the door, drew 6906 at "low ready." Suddenly, guy bolts out door and makes a beeline for the railroad tracks behind the store. I reholster, go in and ask her: "Are you OK?" Her :"What do you mean?" Me: "I saw you defending yourself, I thought you were being robbed." Her: "That was my old man, he wanted money and he wasn't getting any from me!" Me: "OK, I guess I'm just paying for the gas." Lesson learned. Joe
Inusuit
Member
I picked this up from other forums. Don't post anything on social media, including firearms sites, that could be detrimental to your cause if you use a gun for self defense.
Did you follow through?
I guess if I had to pick something it would be three things.
1. Keep the fact that you carry a handgun on a NEED to know basis.
I've told this story before but right after I got my concealed handgun permit I told a guy that was a friend of mine.
We were at the shooting range and he was thinking about getting his concealed handgun permit. I told him the process that I went through.
A couple of weeks later we were standing in the sanctuary at church having a conversation with a third party and out of the blue my friend told the third person "Smoke's carrying a gun right now." I don't even remember what the context of the conversation was that he would do that but I learned my lesson.
I don't have examples for the other two but they would be
2. Make sure you're educated on your local laws.
3. If you're going to carry a gun that should be your default setting. You carry everywhere that it's legal for you to carry.
I do have an reference for this one, Massad Ayoob wrote an article several years ago in which he said (Paraphrased) If you're ever involved in a self-defense shooting outside of your house at some point they're going to ask you why you were even carrying a gun.
He said that you're better off if you can tell the police that you always carry a gun no matter where you go and today was no different.
I don't remember how he worded it but if it comes out that you sometimes do carry and you sometimes don't carry the cops are going to ask you what was going on that day that was so special that you thought you needed a gun.
One More.
Before you close your gun safe double check and make sure your cat's not hiding out in the bottom of it
1. Keep the fact that you carry a handgun on a NEED to know basis.
I've told this story before but right after I got my concealed handgun permit I told a guy that was a friend of mine.
We were at the shooting range and he was thinking about getting his concealed handgun permit. I told him the process that I went through.
A couple of weeks later we were standing in the sanctuary at church having a conversation with a third party and out of the blue my friend told the third person "Smoke's carrying a gun right now." I don't even remember what the context of the conversation was that he would do that but I learned my lesson.
I don't have examples for the other two but they would be
2. Make sure you're educated on your local laws.
3. If you're going to carry a gun that should be your default setting. You carry everywhere that it's legal for you to carry.
I do have an reference for this one, Massad Ayoob wrote an article several years ago in which he said (Paraphrased) If you're ever involved in a self-defense shooting outside of your house at some point they're going to ask you why you were even carrying a gun.
He said that you're better off if you can tell the police that you always carry a gun no matter where you go and today was no different.
I don't remember how he worded it but if it comes out that you sometimes do carry and you sometimes don't carry the cops are going to ask you what was going on that day that was so special that you thought you needed a gun.
One More.
Before you close your gun safe double check and make sure your cat's not hiding out in the bottom of it
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I've seen people make some really stupid posts on gun forums . For some reason people from a certain State like to brag about how they would shoot any trespasser on their property because the law says they can . WTFO ?
fiasconva
US Veteran
If you make the decision to carry you should also have the mindset to use deadly force if it's necessary. Carrying for the purpose of scaring someone instead of using it to defend yourself will very likely get you killed. If you're not prepared to use deadly force you shouldn't be carrying.
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Practice.
Wear proper clothing.
Wear proper clothing.
.455_Hunter
Member
Limiting yourself to only one potential carry gun is completely unrealistic for many people who have varying threat matrices and varying NPE situations they must negotiate on a daily basis. For me, sometimes the best choice is a 4" 629 in OWB with cover garment, and other times the best choice is a .22 NAA Mini in my jeans pocket. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of simple minds.
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Try before you buy.
You don't have to have a bunch of nonsense attached to your gun at first. Save your money for practice. Then more practice.
You don't have to have a bunch of nonsense attached to your gun at first. Save your money for practice. Then more practice.
A good driver can drive many cars well.........Same with guns. I carry several. I can be quick with any of them. So your hypothesis does not apply to all..........Ever watch Jerry Mikulek? He does well with all
You nailed it perfectly.
OP
Great advice.
A gun is not a talisman. It is akin to an EpiPen. It is there when you need it.
Since CC was made legal here I have carried the same mouse gun in the same holster in the same pocket. I fail to see how that makes me simple minded.
I am at peace with my choice. Don't over think this.
Since CC was made legal here I have carried the same mouse gun in the same holster in the same pocket. I fail to see how that makes me simple minded.
I am at peace with my choice. Don't over think this.
Since my chances of an armed confrontation are almost nil, comfort is #1, for me. IE, small guns.
Miracle Man
US Veteran
I get that, completely
However, the bulk of us aren't Jerry Mikulek or Hickok45. A lot of us don't have the money or time to practice with hundreds of rounds a month with many different firearms.
There's another old saying "beware of the guy with one gun, he probably knows how to use it"
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