The Frontier Sixshooter Community Message Board - I think it was Clay Allison

I think it was Clay Allison (reply)

Charles — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 19:36:46 +0000

that when asked why he carried a gun all the time, replied: "I don't need it very often, but when I do, I need it pretty damn bad."

I carry a Glock 19 on the belt in a good fitting slide type holster. I wear a large open overshirt and the Glock conceals very well.

Even so, I would have let the guy have my $80.00, but if it looked like something more than a simple stick up and I could see he was distracted for just a second, I think I could have come out on top.

If ever we need the gun we carry, we need to stack the odds in our favor as best we can. I also carry a Ruger LPC in my weak side pants pocket if case somebody grabs my gun hand, I can have a surprise for him with the other hand.

If ever I need my carry weapon, I need it right damn now and not after a series of moves to present it and get a round in the chamber. Draw..aim/point..fire! is all I am interested in.

Cholla has a pretty yellow flower, but (reply)

Charles — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 19:23:55 +0000

if you just slightly brush against it, the very thin spines will embed themselves in you and are the dickens to remove. I know some cowboys that swear the spines will jump up to three feet from the plant to attack you. Cholla is hell on horses.

And a BIG knife... (reply)

stonewalrus — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 01:04:33 +0000

never runs out of bullets... Just kidding - don't bring a knife to a gunfight but having one along ain't a bad idea either.

I agree, mostly. I would never talk a man ouit of carrying a (reply)

Rob Leahy — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 21:56:16 +0000

J frame.

Thank you for the offer..... (reply)

~JM~ — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 18:46:09 +0000

Why are you carrying a Kel-Tek with an empty chamber?

With the proper pocket holster there is no danger of that gun going off in your pocket. Just make sure that the trigger is covered. The properly holtered gun should be in the same side pocket as your primary shooting hand. Pulling that gun with a chambered round & pulling your wallet or the same thing. With a bit of practice the gun will clear your pocket faster than the wallet.

You are a fortunate man in this event.

~JM~

Good info below.....if it IS marginal for pocket size... (reply)

John Meeker — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 14:58:37 +0000

then I already have packin' belt pistols. In winter, in an outside coat pocket, you can about carry a cannon, as most of you have, It's that summer and/or inside building carry that I where want to add the rounds. Maybe another vintage 642, ;~`) Can't have too many hammerless S&W: shoulder holster, ankle carry, pockets, IWB's --

I'm on the fence on the 'pocketability' of some of these... (reply)

Slow Hand — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 10:12:28 +0000

I've not tried the shield or XDs but they seem a little large for jean pocket carry. I've carried my 442 for so long it's hard to go with anything different. I had a Kel Tec P-11 and PF9 and while both were about the same length and height as a J frame, both seemed to show much more than the little Smith. I think it's due to the flatness of them. Flat makes for great IWB carry but it seems to make them stand out more in a pocket.
I'm probably being too self conscious in these days where so many carry huge cell phones and other junk in pockets, but I was always aware of the shape in my pocket. I don't wear tight jeans but I have pretty beefy legs so especially when I sit down, they get a little snug on my thighs.

As to wearing a mini-9 on the belt, that just seems silly to me. With a good holster it's just as easy to carry and conceal a compact version of a fu size gun. That gives you early double the capacity, better sights and sight radius and a better grip with only a little more weight and girth. Not worth the trade off to me!

if the Shield trigger is anything like my M & P Compact (reply)

stonewalrus — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 01:22:27 +0000

It has a great trigger.

S&W Shield has a far better trigger than the LC9... (reply)

Rob Leahy — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 00:03:57 +0000

I carried one in my left front pocket before my XDs. (reply)

Rob Leahy — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 00:02:53 +0000

Many many Gunsite folk carry them for summer un der shirt use in IWB or tuckable mode.

S&W Shield seems to have good press... (reply)

stonewalrus — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 19:21:03 +0000

Yes, my compact is a little fat for pocket carry although I do with oversized pockets. I would think the Shield orLC9 would be about ideal. I would probably have a Shield but it hadn't come out yet and I got an awesome deal on my used compact.

good press...Gunblast review -- as to 'pocket sized'..... (reply)

John Meeker — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 14:24:43 +0000

I dunno, myself. Maybe someone here can kick-in. At 450$, roughly, it should be 'budgetable', for most folks.

S&W Shield seems to have good press... (reply)

John Meeker — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 14:15:48 +0000

Competitive & Tactical shooter/martial arts nephew researches the heck out of self-defense issues and technology -- then goes and uses them with good trainers. Apparently the Shield is highly regarded in his circle, for concealment and practical payload.

I know I feel a lot better armed with a 38 snubby than a 32. (reply)

stonewalrus — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 01:21:25 +0000

Better yet my M &P compact 9. I used to have a Keltec and pack my LCP some but ifI really have to use it it's not much gun! Ask yourself, what is the minimum caliber you would want to stop an agressive dog attack with? You may be confronting somebody just as vicious on two legs...

I did something really, really stupid last week...... (reply)

Paul — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 00:53:49 +0000

I've been cogitating on this since you posted. It brought to mind a late night walk down one of our main avenues years ago. At that time of night there's no one around, usually, and we'd walk the dog last thing before turning in after an evening calling/teaching/etc. It was somewhere around midnight and up the avenue a ways I saw a guy that "didn't fit". I told my wife to cross behind me to where I'd be between her and the guy and I passed my cane (always carried when walking the dog, for use in dealing with other canines mostly) to my left hand. The guy walked up to a few feet from us - with my eyes on his face the whole way, and asked "Would you give me a coin?" to which I answered "No sir, I give money to no one. Have a good night." He passed on by and I turned slightly to keep him in view for a ways. My wife said, "Did you see that knife?" to which I replied, "Yes." - but I'd not seen it enough to ID it other than a long object in his hand. Her crossing behind me signaled that we were aware of our surroundings. Shifting the cane indicated readiness, albeit he had no way of knowing readiness for what. Watching his face/eyes signaled lack of fear. All together he got the message - there's bound to be more willing victims down the road.

Polite refusal to bow before such demands is something most crooks aren't sure how to react to. They are conditioned to think that everyone is a victim ready to roll over, and when they don't then the perp isn't sure what to do - unless they've crossed the bridge where they are willing to take a life for no reason. Looks like your guy fits that category.

When the guys got us the PPPPPP I had to make some conscious decisions as to manner of dress. Rob's pancake makes for a handy concealed carry piece - but it has to go under an untucked shirt or coat/vest/jacket. So my mode of dress/wardrobe has had a complete makeover. Sometimes I'll use appendix carry or IWB, but both of those dictate a cover garment also. For me it's worth the effort.

Uncowbow, Where is your neighborhood (NM) (reply)

RidinLou — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 23:08:34 +0000

Luckily is not a problem here, Yet!

it IS nasty! (reply)

Rob Leahy — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 19:51:37 +0000

I did something really, really stupid last week...... (reply)

Murphy — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 17:54:02 +0000

Glad you came out okay Harry.

I've read all the replies to this post and there is a lot of wise advice here. I don't believe there is any such thing as the perfect way to carry concealed that fits everyone. Nor, the perfect gun for everyone for that matter. There are too many factors involved that influence what works best for any one person.

Murphy

Prickly pear, igrows here at 5,000 ft. Cholla is a Sonara (reply)

cubrock — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 15:36:11 +0000

Thanks. I had no clue where either grows or even how high you were. I've just read so many stories about how nasty cholla is. :)

Prickly pear, igrows here at 5,000 ft. Cholla is a Sonara (reply)

Rob Leahy — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 15:16:44 +0000

desert plant.