[This post is part of our series, What I’m Carrying Now. If you’d like to submit a photo and description of the gun, holster and gear you’re carrying in the new world in which we live, send it to us at thetruthaboutguns@gmail.com with WICN in the subject field.]
A reader somewhere in Iowa writes . . .
We live in a modest suburban neighborhood in Iowa. Things are pretty calm here, even during this third week of March. The coronavirus is only something we hear about and, for the most part, we’re taking the recommended precautions. With that said, though, the gun stores are busy and ammo is about as easy to find as toilet paper or hand sanitizer.
No change in what I’m carrying. The 1911 is a .45, Springfield LB Operator with a Viridian X5L flashlight/green laser combo. The holster turns it on when drawn. I have recently ordered the MTR Leatherworks custom shoulder rig (similar to Galco Miami Classic, but will also turn on the Viridian). Ten week lead time on that before the virus screwed everything up.
When the 1911 is not on me, the SIG is, even at home. (Except at work. Bad words inserted here.) It’s a P938 Extreme (9mm) with the SIG red laser and Uncle Mike’s size 3 pocket holster with a strip of hook Velcro to help keep it where I put it. Sometimes, like when traveling, I carry both.
The 1911 holds 8 in the magazine and one chambered, with spare Wilson Combat 10-round mags. The SIG holds 7, plus one chambered. The wife made some denim mag pouches that hold three spare magazines each. I can fit them both in a cargo pocket. That’s 39 rounds of .45 and 29 of 9mm total.
A Gen 3 GLOCK 23 (.40 S&W) with the same Viridian sight sits in the safe in the bedroom and I’m breaking in and upgrading a 9mm Springfield Range Officer Elite Operator with the same Viridian for future carry. (Recoil…I ain’t as young as I used to be.)
Federal HST is my current carry ammo: 230 grains for the .45, 180 grains in the GLOCK, 147 for the 9mm 1911 and 124 in the SIG. None of it is +P.
On my belt I carry a Leatherman Wave multitool and Leatherman Cree flashlight. In my pocket is my go-to knife; believe it or not, a Cutco I’ve had for fifteen years. It has a pocket clip, good steel, good lock, and keeps its edge. What more could you want?
Then there’s a Buck folder, a Victorinox mini, Speedy Sharp sharpener, earplugs, pocket change, spare battery for the flashlight or Viridians, Ronson rechargeable lighter (I don’t smoke), USB drive, comb, wallet, phone and duplicate sets of keys (anointing oil in that tube, not something white and powdery).
I wear a dozen feet of paracord in an ankle bracelet with whistle in the buckle and a toy quality compass.
Not pictured: The GLOCK, the other 1911, spare mags and pouches, and a boonie hat with 25 more feet of paracord for a hat band.
A Boker assisted opening clip knife (Automat Kalashnnikov 74) that lives in whatever jacket I’m wearing, along with a Vanquest pocket organizer full of more flashlight, batteries, fire starting stuff, a few Bandaids and some writing materials.
I need to add a first aid kit, and maybe a pair of water wings. If I ever fall in the lake, I’m going straight to the bottom!