I’m all about training as you mean to fight. I’m completely on board with the “beware of the man with one gun” philosophy. I’m as dumb as you wanna be when it comes to the Keep It Simple Stupid. So I train with my GLOCK 19. A lot. And I concentrate on the basics: move and shoot, shoot and move, clear the gun, reload, hit the damn target (and variations thereof). I have every confidence that I will do something useful in a defensive gun use, should I be able to unholster my firearm at the appropriate moment. But I don’t always carry my GLOCK 19. This OWB OFWG sometimes carries a Kahr PM-9. Or a Gemini Customs Smith & Wesson 642. And when I do I change the way I think about my self-defense strategy. For one thing, capacity . . .
When I’m carrying the Smith I’ve got five hollow-point .38s to bring to bear on the bad guy. There’s no way I’m reloading that bad boy during a full adrenal dump. Even if I could, I can’t. I don’t carry extra ammo. Well not until I published this article and outed myself.
Even though the Gem’s had a trigger job and I’ve practice plenty with my pistolero, I’m no Jerry Miculek. To ensure accuracy, I reserve the right to run towards my attacker. Maybe even place the gun into his or her armpit before firing.
Did I say bad guy? What if there’s more than one attacker? Then I damn well better make sure one or more of those five bullets finds its target. To do that, I might add proximity (as above) or take a little more time to aim. Or screw that and run away faster. Or start looking for a secondary weapon even as I use my primary. Long distance shots? Fuhgeddabouttit.
If I’m carrying my Kahr, I’ve got more options—as you’d expect when you’re hauling around an easy refill semi with six rounds in situ and seven in reserve. I’m way more accurate with the PM-9 as well; I can hit my target more reliably at a greater distance (10 to 15 yards?). All of which means I might fire more rounds at my attacker or attackers initially. Or maybe spread ’em out: a few initially and a few as I retreat.
The weapon also influences my choice of cover or concealment. With the Smith I know I better find cover because I’d be ballistically played. With the Kahr I might— I repeat might—choose concealment first; knowing that I’d still be in the fight.
If I’m carrying my GLOCK with 16 rounds in the gun and 15 in my pocket (as is my wont) I’ve got access to a world of ballistic solutions. For one thing, I can continue firing at an attacker—rapidly—until I know he’s done. Or I effect my escape or evasion. And still have bullets left if the threat continues or new threats arise. What’s more I can shoot my GLOCK accurately from 15 yards, maybe more, depending.
Rocking the GLOCK is more difficult—but more relaxing—than schlepping the Smith or carrying the Kahr. But I’m a bit fatalistic about all this. If push comes to shove you gotta make the best out of what happens using whatever you have. Establishing gun-specific performance parameters before the s hits the f can help.
I primarily carry my Ruger LCR .357 in my pocket. I shoot it very decently and I’m not worried about the fact it only carries five rounds because most of the stuff that goes down happens at really close range.
I’m better off drawing from my pocket real quick (and maybe discreetly having my hand on the gun before an attack) than pulling up my shirt, drawing from my IWB holster, etc. It’s just faster for me.
Fact of the matter is, the odds I’ll ever need to use a gun in self-defense are slim and the odds of me ever having to fire more than three or four shots in a self-defense scenario are far slimmer.
If I run out of .357 it’s time to pop smoke and unass the A-O.
Carry 2 j frames. That way you’re covered for malfunctions and a New York reload.
my event: An Armed US is a polite US
location: across the street from the Antis
wonder if we we could crash their computer system?
Robert – how much muzzle flash do you get from that 642 with those ports??
Some.
So why change guns then? Pick something that’s in the middle of all of that and run with it as your full-time carry. I picked a single stack 9mm- light, slim, good follow-up shots, 9+1 and another 9 in my pocket. Less messing around with different holsters, train with the same firearm all the time, use the same tactics. KISS, baby, KISS.
And yes, it is a 1911 (EMP), thank you for asking.
Since the media makes it seem like you can just order whatever guns you want and have them fed-exed to your front door, I can see how about 50% of people think we need stricter control.
Seriously. I cant tell you how many people i talk to think this is the case. I can guarantee a large majority of people want more gun control to close this completely false “loophole”
Damn I love Gemini Customs work. Mark over at Gemini still has my SP101, should be in my hands in 2-3 weeks, then I get to play “look at my pretty piece” with all my friends.
This is why glock is out for me. If mt primary hand/arm is taken out, my other hand is not strong enough to keep from having this issue with a glock.
You are so hot
The way I look at it, you’re unlikely to ever need even a single bullet, let alone 31. The odds are astronomically against ever having to fire the first round. Now if you have to fire the first round, unless you’re packing a 44 magnum you’d best squeeze off another 2 or 3. After that the odds of needing additional bullets drops dramatically. The last thought in the bad guy’s buddies’ minds will be whether that’s a 5 shot or a 6 shot revolver. In a country of 300 million people with 300 million firearms, there’s maybe one case a year where a non LEO or a non criminal needs to replace a 15 round magazine to continue the fight. The most important thing IMHO is not what you carry or even how prolific you are with it but that you are mentally prepared to handle the situation when it happens. Your brain is going to be telling you that what you are seeing can’t possibly be actually happening and once you do accept that it is happening you’re likely to panic. You can train all you want, and it’s fun and probably helps, but keeping a cool head is 99% of the battle.
So carry what you want and have fun shooting it.
Sorry for the auto correct on my phone changing some words and grammar in my note above. I should have done that on a real finger keyboard. I also didn’t know how to make paragraphing work on this venue. Word of clarification is also in order concerning Drill Sergeant School. Because I accepted reappointment as a commissioned officer again I was no longer authorized to attend DSS.
I believe that, in the Virginia race, the democrate was leading by large margins (double digit). After gun-control advocates jumped on the coattails to ride a “sure-thing” to victory, the margins shrank. I’m sure Obama care had something to do with it as well. But they were not helping their cause. If the repubs had a cleaner candidate, the race would have gone differently.
With the semi you also have to worry about contact shots. They could push the slide out of battery, or cause a malfunction if the first shot does go off.
I have virtually the same philosophy, although my primary carry pieces alternate between a Glock 23, 27, or Smith 340 PD loaded with .38 +P.
What is a Model 1898 Army Krag worth today in good-condition? Can anybody tell me? I’ve been trying to find out on the Internet but to no-avail.
Phone rings:
Sir do you own guns?
Nope. Lost mine in a boating accident.
If you owned guns again would you like stricter gun control laws?
Nope.
Click.
Maybe there’s more of us than we think.
disingenuous? ??? Is that really a word?!! Just say “The EPA forcing closure of the Plant ‘for our own good’ is as dishonest & lieing as a Chicago Dem-Socialist Politician!!”
HEYYYY!!! NOW I UNDERSTAND!!! THE EPA IS CORRUPT & DISHONEST!! Of course: They’re GOVT, arent they?
Now THATS a message ANYONE can understand.
I just got one yesterday, gonna scope it and try it out today. Do you know if it has a muzzle brake, or just a flash suppress on the barrel.
what.
Somehow, in Obama’s America, this makes sense.
Hey, why not? I wouldn’t have thought of it.
Probably, haha. Would need to be bathing in money, though. Would have other purchases to make if I can get full auto stuff now. ;p
No. Too much money feeding the guns I have.
Still specializing in making the ugliest cult guns on the planet. I take strange comfort in that.
Sounds like your friend could use an FNS-40. 🙂
Good article. Some of us have to make do the best we can.
Good article. Thank you. 🙂
Your article also applies to those who open carry. There are still places in these United States where the right to keep and bear arms is exercised instead of a licensed privilege. Those individuals engage in training too.
I think this is the best article for the contest as of yet.
I think its fair to say that the faces at the forefront of the administration are becoming less and less diverse, with the notable exception of Herman Munster.
Flectarn, Somali pattern! Very cool stuff and, like most things German, extremely well made. Very little fade with repeated washing. I actually own a full set – pants, shirt, M-59 style coat, even a vest. Bought long ago; it has held up better than any camo I’ve ever owned.
The world will be a smaller place.