A hammer is not your only tool

[Burt Blade]

A person on this forum used the phrase "behind the back ready position". The context was a discussion of a home intruder, and how one person responded. I inferred a criticism of the relatively low-intensity response to a home intruder. It seemed to me to have been the correct response based on the conditions described.

Here is the obligatory repetition of the classic old saw about the hammer-wielding man seeing all things as nails. As a general rule, society often makes life difficult for those who use firearms to defend themselves. Even when totally justified, it is often true that life as previously known is over for the shooter. The goal is not to count coup. The goal is survival and the preservation of life, Liberty, and property. (Individual ratios of those items may vary.) Or, just because you can, does not mean you should.

If your tactical mindset does not see the usefulness of a "discreet ready", like “behind the back ready”, consider the value of surprise and the speed advantage of the pre-drawn gun. Also, contemplate the difference between “covering” a weirdo who turns out to be a harmless idiot or plainclothes cop, versus merely having to get the sidearm discreetly back under your shirt. Also consider that many classes on "tactics" never really leave the "day at the gun range" mindset, and "behind the back ready" breaks the range safety "180 rule".

You need something in your tool bag between “condition yellow” and “lead item on the 11-o'clock news”.

Role-playing with inert weapons or non-lethal substitute weapons frees you from the fatal 180 mindset. (In the real world, your attacker is probably smart enough to avoid looking like a cardboard cutout, and often smart enough to approach from behind you.

 

[fjolnirsson]

Good post. Thanks.

 

[TallPine]

If I had an unathorized person in my house, he would definitely be looking at the wrong end of a muzzle.

But I live in a very remote area, so no one is just going to bumble into my house by mistake.

 

[Cosmoline]

Good point. Frankly, I've found myself getting around these issues by doing something a lot of experts frown upon--pocket holding. I know it's a no-no, but frankly there have been a good dozen instances either in motel rooms or out on the property where someone is approaching in an odd manner without being overtly aggressive. I've found the only comfortable solution is to keep my hand on a pocket revolver, ready to either draw or shoot through the pocket. Bad bad bad. I know. But what other solution is there?

 

[Moondoggie]

One of my best friends is a deputy in ND. He's also very clever when it comes to tactics/stratigies.

He related how he carries discretely "at the ready" when serving court papers to folks that have a history of being, uhm..."non receptive" to LEO presence.

He holds his BUG with his hat over it in his left hand before he knocks on the door....he says more than one potential problem has been solved by simply dropping his hat as a potential "problem child" was sizing him up with his primary carry holstered in plain sight. My friend is only 5'6", and almost always works alone with backup a long ways away. His "clients" are also aware of this.

He's also a black belt in several disciplines of martial arts, and, as I said...very clever.

I also see plenty of purpose in "behind the back ready", the element of surprise is just one.

 

[1911 guy]

Range mindset

Good post.

Also consider that many classes on "tactics" never really leave the "day at the gun range" mindset, and "behind the back ready" breaks the range safety "180 rule".

Very true. We are also careful at the range to never point a weapon at someone, yet that is the very thing we are training for (and hoping to never have to). Mindset must indeed be adaptable. Thanks for the head check.

 

[Imaginos]

Old Concept

Elmer Keith wrote about several old gun fighters who carried their Single Action revolvers in specially modified hip pockets with the gun butts angled outward. The long tail coats popular during the late frontier covered the weapons, and the guns could be drawn and fired quickly from this position. The technique of firing across one's own back was also mentioned as a viable close range tactic.

Interested parties can reference the chapter on holsters in Keith's book "Sixguns" for more info. However, I'm not sure I would want powder burns, or worse, over my kidneys, but in a tight spot you never know.

 

[HankB]

The technique of firing across one's own back was also mentioned as a viable close range tactic.

I'd really hate to be a couple of degrees "off" in the wrong direction if I were shooting across my own back . . .

I think Cosmoline's "hand on the gun in the pocket" is a very viable discrete way to be at the ready, and am skeptical about any "experts" that would simply condemn it out of hand.

Also a +1 on Tallpine's post.

 

[FPrice]

Someone (I forget whom) once said that the fastest draw is to have your gun already in your hand.

If you are expecting trouble, leave. If you can leave safely.

If you can't leave, be ready. Just don't do anything you can't take back if the threat is not there.

 

[Gifted]

I'd imagine a big problem with the gun in pocket gig is the trouble with little space to keep your hand off of the trigger but still be able to put it there quickly, and such. If you can do it safely, I'd say go for it. But make sure you aren't forced into a position where the chances of a negligent discharge are increased.

 

[HankB]

I'd imagine a big problem with the gun in pocket gig is the trouble with little space to keep your hand off of the trigger. . .

Two words: Pocket Holster.

 

[YammyMonkey]

A friend of my dad's told this story, probably 10-15 years ago. He lived somewhere in suburban GA from what I remember. His neighbors had had their house for sale for some time and finally found a place they liked so they moved out and their old house stayed empty for some time waiting to sell. There had been a few instances of property crime and less-than-upstanding people hanging around the area in this time period as well. One night my dad's friend sees the garage door open and a guy doodling around there by himself, no apparent real estate agent, car, etc... He walks over there with a dish towel draped over his hand/forearm and talks with the guy. Turns out the stranger was given the garage door opener by the real estate agent and lived not too far away, was just checking the place out, no big deal. A few weeks later that same guy and his family move in. One day the two new neighbors get to talking and the guy who just moved in says, "You know, it was dark over here that night, I could have been a bad guy just waiting for someone like you to come by, all by yourself, might want to be more careful." My dad's friend replies with "Buddy, if you had tried anything, my dish towel would have blown your @$$ away."

Apparently he had his .44 mag revolver hidden under that dish towel.

 

[chopinbloc]

A hammer is not your only tool

no, but it makes a hell of an impression
good less lethal choice too. especially tack hammers.

 

[Malamute]

I live in a rural area also. Pocket guns have their place even here. Occasionally someone will show up looking for someone in the area, or a realtor, or a friend riding along in someone elses vehicle coming to visit, etc.

Even with the true strangers of unknown intent, standing around with hands in pockets evokes no suspicion from them.

 

[TallPine]

Even with the true strangers of unknown intent, standing around with hands in pockets evokes no suspicion from them.

I dunno ... I answer the door all the time with my 357 plainly visible in a holster on my belt. They're on my property after all. If they don't like it then they can leave.

 

[Malamute]

I often carry a belt gun when coming or going from the hills, but just hanging around the place I don't always, tho something is generally within reach in a few steps.

I summer, I'm often in just shorts to stay cool, and drop a pocket protector in my Carhartts shorts pocket, or pants pocket if not dressed for the day yet when someone shows up.

 

[frenchwrench]

I use the behind the leg carry position when answering the door at night....

 

[benEzra]

Just for me personally, the "behind the back ready position" is not any faster than the "hand behind the back grasping the holstered gun" position, since you essentially still have to "draw" if the gun is behind your back; I seem to recall a biomechanics study in Police Marksman that found essentially the same thing.

The "hand on holstered sidearm" does put the arm in a little more of an unnatural position, but this may not be noticeable if your body is bladed away from the intruder, AND it gives you the option of leaving the gun in the holster and bringing your strong hand into play if (a) the situation warrants both hands but not a firearm, or (b) the "intruder" does prove to be harmless and you want the firearm to remain hidden (assuming you are wearing a cover garment). It also has the advantage of being slightly less susceptible to a rear disarm from a second person you don't see (though if there is an assailant behind you, you are already in trouble), and also slightly more discreet from the rear.