L2 Incomplete SCI Concealed Carry
I apologize in advance for being very excited about this topic. I also know I'm very new to the forum (first post), but I have a little experience on the issue at hand.
I've been injured (L2 incomplete SCI) for 8 years using a manual wheelchair and religiously carrying a compact pistol concealed for about 3 years. I currently use a TiLite Aero Z ultralight chair with a Roho JetStream 10 inch backrest and an Amovida Motion Control hybrid gel/foam seat cushion. Although my primary carry firearm is a Ruger SR40c, I carried a Smith&Wesson M&P 9mm for a while in a Serpa CQC Level 2 Retention rig before I sold it.
I carry at 3:30 on my person in a few different forward-canted holsters and have even found it somewhat comfortable to use my DeSantis S.O.B. rig, but it took some "trimming" of my spare foam back cushion to do so. Just like anyone carrying in the small of back, driving was undesirable, but sitting in my chair with it was very comfortable. It is sometimes hard to recommend a specific holster because many holster companies tend to make all of their holster models for the usual suspects (Glocks, j-frames, XDs, Sigs, M&Ps and 1911s) and only a few models for very specific firearms (Ruger SR40c, Baretta Nano, Chiappa Rhino, etc...) I have carried in a variety of holsters, both IWB and OWB from a few different brands (Galco, Uncle Mikes, Blackhawk, DeSantis, and off brands…), and have gotten away with it because I have good sensation and know when to adjust whatever rig being used so that I do not acquire any sores in sensitive areas. Through my trials and tribulations I found that paddle holsters are also unbearable. Another thing that helps when carrying this way is having little dump in the seating position (the height at the front of my cushion is less than 3 inches higher than the height of the rear portion of the cushion), this allows me to lean forward to present without laying my chest on my knees. I also am approximately 6 feet tall and only weigh around 165 pounds. Though I am fairly fit and thin, I have a very form fitting chair (only 15 inches wide) and have no problem clearing my cover garment and grabbing a firm fire-ready grasp of my firearm in the space between my person and the side-guards of my chair. Note: (side-guards are NOT arm-rests) I do not have handles or armrests on my chair.
I preface this next section as my very own personal opinion and not an attack at anyone for mentioning any similarly previously talked about topic/idea.... To each his own...
With all of that being said, I believe that we wheelchair users are no different than anyone else, in the sense that all of us are individuals with individual needs and abilities. What works for me may not work for you, but don’t write off a thought simply because someone without a disability or someone who spent 2 weeks in a chair says it’s hard to carry while permanently seated. Another big mistake is to make an immediate assumption that seated while driving is an analog for sitting all day in a wheelchair. I feel extremely comfortable sitting ALL day in my chair, and I would say that most, if not all able bodied folks, could not say that about sitting in a car/truck. They are two differently designed applications, that is all. Sometimes carrying in a chair can be more comfortable, for instance my back and side doesn’t hurt from the weight (strain) of carrying a full sized auto like a fully loaded CZ75. That is because the cushion bears the weight via the nose of the barrel while angling the firearm to be basically perpendicular with the ground. Also, I can present arms fairly comparably to my able bodied peers. As I lean forward to access my firearm, I end up in an optimal firing position so that I feel stable under quick groupings.
SHOULDER RIGS: I have a military issue universal large auto canvas shoulder rig and have had a hell of a time trying to get it adjusted to feel comfortable while still retaining stability of the firearm while repeatedly leaning back and forth to propel my chair around the range or in the desert plinking around. This caused the grip to bump up against my chest/side over-and-over again when pushing around and becomes more apparent when fully loaded.
PACKS/SATCHELS: I also find that me and most of my friends who use wheelchairs have plenty of packs and bags already in use to cart around supplies, medications, and various other must haves. Adding another, like a fanny pack or satchel, does NOT make sense to me.
CROSSDRAW HOLSTERS: Crossdraw holsters have my full support, if they work for you, use them! They have all of the same benefits that I talked about in the body of my response, and are even easier to acces while buckled-up in a vehicle. I just don't use them because I found I like drawing from about 3:30, and I don't feel it necessary to fix something that isn't broken.
I truly hope this helps someone, and if it doesn’t work for you I hope it inspires (after 8 years I hate that word!) you to try something for yourself. I have talked for a while with a few local gun shop employees on several accounts and they don’t seem to mind me taking the extra time it may take to test fit a holster on my person before walking out the door with it.
Try a holster on and move around a bit, if it doesn't work, then try another until one does. Stay safe and keep away from those two-legged critters….
Bonediggitty
