CCW Tips

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HB

HB

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Wanted to start a thread for CCW tips you guys have picked up over the years. While I love to learn by doing, listening from other's experience can save you a vast amount of time and money.

I'm new to CCW but not to firearms by any means. Currently I have a Keltec P32 with an ankle holster and pocket holster. I also am deeply in love with a s&w 642 whether its in a pocket holster or Bianchi IWB setup. While neither inspires much in terms of firepower they are both discreet and HOPEFULLY will get the job one should the need arise.

Just a few general questions to get the ball rolling...

What is the safest way to transfer a gun from my person and store it in a car if I have to enter a government building?

I think leaving a gun in a car is asking for it to get stolen and loading/unloading constantly seems dangerous if I were to simply chain it to my seat. Not to mention bullet setback in a semi.


What is the safest way to holster up in the morning?

It would seem clipping the gun in holster to your belt would be best but there may be a better way. Currently I clip in the holster then button my pants and tighten my belt.


What do you do with your carry gun when you get home?

If I'm home for the day generally I just leave it where I leave my keys, wallet, etc. At night I leave it near my bed, rinse and repeat the next day. I also like to practice my draw with snap caps which is easy in the revolver. Bullet setback and danger of unloading/loading keep me from doing it with the semis much. I'm not afraid of a chambered round but "playing" with a gun can lead to a ND. I'd hate to buy an identical gun just to practice with :D



I'd like to leave caliber/gun wars out of this as you should carry what you are comfortable with. There has been a huge spike in robberies in my area and I don't want to be face down with a gun pointed at me. This is why I got my CCW. Grocery stores, banks, and even restaurants have become targets for easy money (with shots being fired in some instances).

I doubt I'd pull my gun in most circumstances because it could escalate an otherwise "clean" getaway but if the perpetrator shoots one guy I figure he won't hesitate to shoot more. I have enough holes and scars as is.

If you have any tips to increase my comfort level in responsible carry please weigh in.

Thanks,
HB
 
The best gun is the one that's on you. I've carried for 7-8 yrs but often found myself leaving the gun in the car or at home for various concealment, clothing, holster issues.

My current best solution is an S&W 442 with a remora holster and I've never carried more consistently and more often in more circumstances. I keep a zippered rug in my driver side door pocket and the whole pistol/holster combo goes there if it's not in my appendix. My XDM 9 is a much better shooter but I leave it more than I take it, so... the the 442 it is.
 
What is the safest way to transfer a gun from my person and store it in a car if I have to enter a government building?

The safest way to transfer a gun is to leave it holstered and move the entire holster to whatever location you desire.


What is the safest way to holster up in the morning?

I leave my gun in the holster at all times, unless I have a real reason to remove it, such as actual use, cleaning, or storage requirements which require me to remove it from the holster.

The safest way to holster up is to leave your weapon in the holster. Do not remove the weapon, holster up, and then holster the weapon.


What do you do with your carry gun when you get home?

Depends on the circumstances. Usually, once I don my holster, it stays on me until I'm ready to take a shower, go to bed, etc. When I remove it, I remove the holster with the weapon in it.


By the way, please ensure that whatever holster you use actually provides proper protection of the safety (if your gun has one) and the trigger.
 
Have at multiple holsters of different styles for your carry gun so you can change strategies with the seasons /other needs.
2. Resist the urge to check on your gun during the day. Leave it alone. If it truly needs concious checkups then you're carrying it wrong.

I wear an owb belt holster so it goes on when I get dressed. Gun never leaves the holster during suit-up. I don't take it off until I go to bed.
 
You WILL waste a lot of time and money figuring out what works for you.
 
Yep, if you looked in my holster drawer you'd think I collected them.

If you carry a lot outdoors in the summer in the Deep South a stainless handgun might be a good idea.
 
I have kids do when I disarm, it goes in a small safe. I have several throughout the house, but my carry guns go in the one in my bathroom.
 
Leaving a gun in a car while entering a prohibited place is far from "asking for it to get stolen", unless you're figuring on leaving it on the dash of your convertible. I entered my city's police HQ just today, a prohibited place in my state, and lo and behold, my gun was still in the center console of my locked pickup truck when I returned.
I pulled the gun and holster (IWB) together when doffing and donning it.

If you remain concerned about storing your gun in a vehicle for longer periods, such as while at work, consider a locking box to place the holstered (and still loaded) gun within, then secure that within your vehicle. There is no need to fool with a gun to load/unload it for storage within a vehicle.

Holstering up in the morning happens as soon as I get dressed. The gun goes in the holster, and that goes inside my belt, but outside my pants, in a manner known as "inside-the-belt" carry. This manner of carry is used with an IWB holster, but I find true-IWB carry uncomfortable.

My gun stays on me until I undress. Most of the time, it becomes my bedside gun, so it gets removed from the holster and stowed in its spot for such duty. If it's not doing bedside duty, it goes unholstered in the safe or bedside lock box. It remains loaded at all times.

On some occasions, I use a smaller gun in a pocket holster. The safest way to place this gun into carry is to holster it first, then insert the holster/gun combo together into the pocket. Never try to insert a gun into an already-pocketed holster.

Since my pocket holster grips the pocket interior fairly well (which is what it's supposed to do), I do draw the gun alone when removing it. I stow the gun loaded in its appropriate place of storage (this gun never does bedside duty), then remove the holster from the pocket.
 
Never never never

HB,

You should remove your gun from the holster when you get home. I just put mine on top of a book on my nightstand. Same place, every night with the gun canted so that I can see the night sights glowing in the dark.

Never leave your gun in a holster. Please, I talk from first hand experience. My agency used to allow pancake holsters for on duty carry. One officer just left his S&W model 13 in the holster when he got home at night and when he was putting on his pants to go to work, the holster had unsnapped and fell out of the holster. He reached for it as it was coming out of the holster and grabbed just right so that the gun fired.
The round missed him and hit the floor, but the muzzle blast traveled along his finger and split open the flesh. He described as looking like a hot dog coming off the griddle!
The round was a .357 magnum and the blast was a lot more than a .32ACP or .38 Special, but I would advise against leaving the gun in the holster. Take it out, secure it in a safe or gun box if you are not going to keep it handy as a house gun.
I do not have any children living at my home, so I do not worry about them, if you do, secure the gun.

If I am going out and do not want to carry my duty gun, it goes in my safe and I take out something easier to conceal.

Jim
 
When entering a “Muggers welcome” building/zone, the gun gets secured in the truck. The holster stays on my belt unless I’m pocket carrying. It’s to much of a hassle/exposure to try to remove the holster in a parking lot.

In the AM, the holster is usually already on my belt so my gun goes into it when I’m dressed. After years of constant travel and hotel rooms, everything I carry is always in my pants pockets for a quick exit in an emergency.

When I get home, my gun goes on the dresser until I go back out. It never gets unloaded except for cleaning. No kids in the house so there’s not many areas of the house that I don’t have a gun within arm’s reach.
 
golden said:
HB,

You should remove your gun from the holster when you get home. I just put mine on top of a book on my nightstand. Same place, every night with the gun canted so that I can see the night sights glowing in the dark.

Never leave your gun in a holster. Please, I talk from first hand experience. My agency used to allow pancake holsters for on duty carry. One officer just left his S&W model 13 in the holster when he got home at night and when he was putting on his pants to go to work, the holster had unsnapped and fell out of the holster. He reached for it as it was coming out of the holster and grabbed just right so that the gun fired.
The round missed him and hit the floor, but the muzzle blast traveled along his finger and split open the flesh. He described as looking like a hot dog coming off the griddle!
The round was a .357 magnum and the blast was a lot more than a .32ACP or .38 Special, but I would advise against leaving the gun in the holster. Take it out, secure it in a safe or gun box if you are not going to keep it handy as a house gun.
I do not have any children living at my home, so I do not worry about them, if you do, secure the gun.

If I am going out and do not want to carry my duty gun, it goes in my safe and I take out something easier to conceal.

Jim
Click to expand...

I'm failing to see why this experience amounts to "never leave your gun in a holster."

There were several "fails" in your story, none of which adds up to your conclusion.

???
 
We have a couple of these; one mounted in each vehicle. There are different brands and cost ranges available for essentially the same product.
http://safeswebsite.org/car-gun-safe/aries-best-car-gun-safe-22707/

The box actually locks into a sleeve that's permanently mounted to the vehicle. Easy to slide in and out of the sleeve and if mounted properly provides security that's about as good as it gets.
 
What is the safest way to transfer a gun from my person and store it in a car if I have to enter a government building?
Take it out of the holster and put in a small safe that is locked to the seat frame or other part of the car not easily broken.
It is irresponsible and in some states illegal to leave your firearm in your car without being locked up in a safe.


What is the safest way to holster up in the morning?

Do not leave it in a holster all the time, especially in a leather holster as it is not kind on some finishes. Also you should do a press check every time you holster a firearm to ensure it is chambered and ready for use. so put on your holster and press check your handgun then place in your holster.


What do you do with your carry gun when you get home?

I carry at home usually until I get ready for bed. If I do take it off for the evening it is placed next to me in whatever room I am in.




If you have any tips to increase my comfort level in responsible carry please weigh in.

Train well and train often. There is no substitute for training.
 
mnhntr said:
Do not leave it in a holster all the time, especially in a leather holster as it is not kind on some finishes. Also you should do a press check every time you holster a firearm to ensure it is chambered and ready for use. so put on your holster and press check your handgun then place in your holster.
Click to expand...

If the holster one has isn't good for the finish on a gun, then why would one use is for half the day or longer to carry their gun in the first place?

Cleaning and maintaining one's gun once in a while, as needed, is what is required for proper maintenance and preservation. Same with one's holster.

If the holster has degraded so badly that corrosion is a serious concern, then toss it and get another.

http://www.galcogunleather.com/qa.html#Care+and+Maintenance+of+Leather
 
Thanks for the tips so far. Its always good to see a little debate as well, the more opinions presented the better.

I'm still looking for a good "safe" for the car but not sure how much it really matters. I imagine most can easily be smashed open with a hammer and spending $300 to protect a $300 dollar gun doesn't make a ton of sense.

HB
 
If the holster one has isn't good for the finish on a gun, then why would one use is for half the day or longer to carry their gun in the first place?

Cleaning and maintaining one's gun once in a while, as needed, is what is required for proper maintenance and preservation. Same with one's holster.

If the holster has degraded so badly that corrosion is a serious concern, then toss it and get another.
Click to expand...
The chemicals used to tan leather and dyes used to dye leather can over time ruin some gun finishes. Like wise the chemicals we use to clean our guns are not always good on leather. I agree to maintain both but it is just in the nature of chemicals that some do not mix.
I'm still looking for a good "safe" for the car but not sure how much it really matters. I imagine most can easily be smashed open with a hammer and spending $300 to protect a $300 dollar gun doesn't make a ton of sense.
Click to expand...
Its not the cost of replacing the gun you need to worry about but the cost of a trial for being negligent in letting a criminal get your unsecured firearm and use it in a crime.
 
[QUOTEI think leaving a gun in a car is asking for it to get stolen and loading/unloading constantly seems dangerous if I were to simply chain it to my seat. Not to mention bullet setback in a semi.
][/QUOTE]

Why? If hidden with no other valuables in sight, why do you think thieves will target your car above all others?

What is the safest way to holster up in the morning?
Click to expand...

Mine goes in my pocket holster

What do you do with your carry gun when you get home?
Click to expand...

Take it out of my pocket
 
What is the safest way to transfer a gun from my person and store it in a car if I have to enter a government building?

A small gun vault gun safe that can easily be hidden under the driver's side seat that comes with a cable that can be attached to your seat so it can't be removed can be had for $20-30 dollars depending on where you look. That's where I keep mine if it has to be stored in my truck. I just keep the key to the safe on my key ring for my truck.


What is the safest way to holster up in the morning?

Best way to do it is to put your holster/belt on after getting dressed and once the holster is secure you can holster your weapon safely while making sure to keep your trigger finger away from the trigger guard.

What do you do with your carry gun when you get home?

I carry at home a lot, but when I do take my carry gun out of its holster it goes in the biometric safe I keep on my nightstand with my home defense gun (there are two shelves in my bio safe to keep the guns separate).

there is nothing unsafe about holstering/unholstering as long as you remember the rules of gun safety and do not become complacent whilst handling your weapon.
 
mnhntr writes:
but the cost of a trial for being negligent in letting a criminal get your unsecured firearm and use it in a crime.
Click to expand...

He wasn't indicating he would be open to leaving it unsecured.


I know of no cases in which the owner of a lawfully-stored firearm that was subsequently taken unlawfully and used in a crime was criminally charged.

Even in civil cases (hey, virtually anyone can be sued for pretty much anything!), actions against such owners prevail so rarely as to make it a non-issue.

The vehicle itself is the safe; conceal your valuables within, lock it, and go. To worry so much more over this would also open you to the concern that, should a burglar get your gun from your home, or even off your person, and subsequently use it in a crime, you'd also face legal action and/or criminal prosecution.

Now, that being said, I would lock one, if I had to, in a secondary container within the locked vehicle. That's more of a security strategy; it has nothing to do with concern over legal action. I actually had a firearm stolen from a locked and burglarized vehicle in 1989. It was recovered in 1992 after being thrown by a suspect in a foot chase, which had followed a car chase, which had followed a drive-by shooting. All four suspects fleeing the wrecked vehicle threw down guns; mine was one of them.
 
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In some states it is illegal without a safe. The vehicle is not considered locked up as it has glass.
 
^^ Then that becomes a state-specific concern, probably for a new thread over in "Legal."

Compliance with law is a given element in discussion here on THR.
 
Op here. To keep it on topic I'm not concerned about legal action should my gun get stolen. Smash and grab is common here, sometimes with many vehicles getting targeted. And no I don't leave a laptop case on my seat. Just rather not put another gun in the hands of someone who's comfortable breaking into cars for the equivalent of $20 in electronics.

Edit: Once again thanks for the tips. I shoot weekly or biweekly so cleaning/holster wear isn't an issue. 70 bucks isn't much for a new holster when you spread it over a year of carry and practice ammo. I'm used to carrying a loaded gun in the woods but it's new to me in the city.
 
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Dropping weapon and other stuff

Don't try and catch a falling weapon.
You don't know what your going to grab.
The option of a lanyard when around water or elevated areas is worthwhile.
Learn to not touch or finger or pat your weapon. This prevents touching the trigger and your clothing will not print as much.
If you pocket carry, be sure and check out your new slacks for deep pockets.
A handkerchief, hat, or magazine can cover a out of pocket pistol if need be. Even a big Gulp soda will work in a pinch.
Try and avoid carrying your car keys, packages etc in your strong hand.
Its not show and tell time off the range.
 
mnhntr said:
The chemicals used to tan leather and dyes used to dye leather can over time ruin some gun finishes. Like wise the chemicals we use to clean our guns are not always good on leather. I agree to maintain both but it is just in the nature of chemicals that some do not mix.
Click to expand...

Gun leather is not typically chrome tanned. They're bark tanned or vegetable oil tanned. Therein lies the difference, and it's a whole world of difference.

Likewise with the dyes...dyes which cause corrosion issues aren't used.

Now, this isn't to say that there aren't gun leather products out there which DO use tanning and dying processes which may be detrimental. But quality makers don't and you can always ask the makers if it's not clear.

If a person has gun leather made with poor tanning and dying chemicals, then the gun will suffer for it just from the body wear time. Which goes right back to what I said previously: if the gun leather is causing problems with corrosion, then the answer is to get rid of it in favor of another (proper) holster.

Take care of the gun leather properly, as one would take care of the gun.

Now, all this concerns one's CCW. Not routine storage requirements for longer term. A CCW should be removed from the holster at least on some periodic timeframe (up to the user, based on conditions) and the gun wiped clean and properly maintained. This is because carry weapons are subject to contamination by sweat, moisture, dust, and dirt simply because of the way they're handled/carried. Wiping the weapon down with a gun rag and ensuring it's free of moisture and dirt, and occasionally lubing it as required should be routine.

Longer term storage requirements, however, are different. Guns should not be stored in their holsters, or other similar containers, which may cause retention of moisture. They should be stored somewhere clean, relatively low humidity, in a constant temperature environment which is not conducive to moisture condensation, and such that there is free air flow around them. Periodic inspections/maintenance should be performed as required based on these conditions.
 
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