A reminder to check yourself!

[Screamin'Eagle]

Any permit holder can probably vividly remember their first wally world walk and how it felt like everyone could see our firearm. And then we got used to wearing it and it became a part of us. That was me.

Today I got home and took off my jacket. As I went to grab my holstered gun to take off my shoulder rig, to my horror the thumb break was unsnapped and there was no gun. I searched both my house and vehicle before stopping down to the PD to report it lost. After I reported it lost, I started back tracking my steps, and eventually found it. The lesson here is that even if you wear a holster with retention, you need to make sure you are checking in some fashion to make sure it is still there. Our gear can grow into who we are and become such a part of us, that we no longer have the "sticking out like a sore thumb" feeling to remind us that our firearm is there or not there.

I took the time to post this because loosing your firearm could have drastic consequences; I know I never ever thought out all the consequences of loosing my gun. I was fortunate to have the Lord's blessing this evening. I have never felt a feeling before like what I experienced tonight. If someone bad had got a hold of it I don't know what I would have done. Don't let this happen to you!

 

[yeti]

I have to know... where did you find it? And how small is it that you didn't notice it was gone?

 

[Zombiphobia]

Can you tell us where it was, and how the police officer you reported it to looked at you when you told them this?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

That's a scary thing to reach down for your handgun and it's not there. It's just a good thing you were home when it happened instead of being in a SD situation.

 

[rainbowbob]

Have you considered a different carry method?

I want a secure weapon that I don't have to constantly check. Checking is a "tell" to anyone paying attention.

 

[bigfatdave]

Good thing you had that retention strap!

Does your holster actually retain the gun without a silly strap, or is it a scabbard the gun drops into (out of)?

 

[heavyshooter]

Don't leave us hanging!

WHERE WAS IT???!!!!!!!!!

 

[outerlimit]

Oh man, if that happened to me I'd probably have a heart attack! I pocket carry 99.5% of the time, so hopefully I would notice if the pocket rotted off and it fell down my pants leg.

Another person here wondering.. where did you find it? In the gents at Walmart?

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

Any permit holder can probably vividly remember their first wally world walk...

Wally world walk, AKA taking a meaningless and utterly boring occurance (carrying a gun legally for the first time) and making a big deal out of it. It's difficult to count the number of times I've seen guys in NRA hats and photographers vests looking real nervous at wal mart.

As I went to grab my holstered gun to take off my shoulder rig, to my horror the thumb break was unsnapped and there was no gun.

I'd strongly consider switching to something other than your shoulder rig, like a quality kydex IWB or OWB holster. they're both less expensive and more practical.

 

[ForumSurfer]

As I went to grab my holstered gun to take off my shoulder rig, to my horror the thumb break was unsnapped and there was no gun.

Yet another reason I like IWB carry. I can feel it when it is there. Comforting, but not the most comfortable. Comfortable enough for daily activities and work with a g19 or a commander sized 1911.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

With lots of guns that weigh +/- a pound, it probably would not be too hard to have the loss go unnoticed. Of course, we have some perfect people around here that will admonish anyone less than perfect, but I'm sure it is not beyond the possibility for most of us. I do "check" periodically, but even the "professionals" won't catch me, as I do it about as discretely as scratching myself in public or picking my nose.

 

[ForumSurfer]

With lots of guns that weigh +/- a pound, it probably would not be too hard to have the loss go unnoticed.

I’ll agree. Myself, I wasn’t giving the guy a hard time because it could happen to me if I carried differently. I feel the grip against me when I carry IWB, though…to it is a rather empty feeling when I can tell the holster is there, but the familiar pressure above the belt isn’t.

As far as worrying about being made, IMO no one is going to notice if you brush your forearm against it while you’re reaching in your pocket for wallet, keys or what have you. Perhaps maybe the occasional LEO that has a very sharp eye…but if you’re legal, it is what it is so no worries. I can be absent minded at times, so I have to consciously make an effort until it becomes second nature or what happened to the OP could happen to me. Pretty simple for me. I just carry in a way that I can constantly feel the weapon against me and casually “check” just to be safe. I’d rather risk being made than discover a worn out snap or rivet on a quality holster caused me to lose retention.

I’m just glad everything worked out for the OP. Just reading about it caused me to have a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach wondering what would I have done.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Okay....a show of hands. How many of us upon reading this automatically checked our own?

 

[RKBABob]

I periodically do a mental and tactile check of everything on my person throughout the day, and especially when departing stores and restaurants. Wallet, comb, keys, chapstick, cell phone, and that other thing... yep, its all there. Takes about 3 seconds, and nobody has ever approached me as to what I was doing.

I hope Screamin' Eagle gets back to us.

 

[oldbanjo]

I always check mine, I've carried a Gun for a lot of years and I'm so used to it that I can't tell that I have it. I also fell my front pocket to be sure I have my wallet.

 

[oldbanjo]

Let me add this. Years ago I was running behind a Policeman, His 38 fell in the dirt, I grabbed it and continued running. When he reached for his Gun he almost ****, I handed him his Gun. I don't run today, but any time that I have run with a Gun my hand is on my Gun.

 

[bigfatdave]

Okay....a show of hands. How many of us upon reading this automatically checked our own?

Does testing the degree of retention offered by all my holsters count?
(pretty damn good even without some silly snap-strap, none need a visit to MrsBFD's hair dryer for Kydex tweaking)

I periodically do a mental and tactile check of everything on my person throughout the day,

Me too, I generally mutter to myself "wallet, keys, phone, stabby, light, bangbang, more bangbang as I pat myself down in private at home before heading out the door or when I get out of the car, the basic checklist is routine and I notice anything extra I'm carrying which makes a good reminder to drop off mail or stick something in the car or whatever.

 

[clutch]

I haven't lost a gun from a holster but last week, I made it home from the range and got distracted. When I headed into the house, I was short one dry box with two firearms.

I was thinking what do I do, I'm sure I loaded everything back into the car and the range is 40 miles away. I was just about to drive back like a maniac when I noticed my dry box sitting on a utility trailer. I had started into the house and noticed some tools laying on the spare tire mounted to the tongue. How I forgot what I was doing during the time it took to take the tools back to my tool boxes in the garage makes me wonder.

What a sigh of relief when I realized my brain fart was only local.

I still want to know where the OP found his piece.

Clutch

 

[clutch]

Wally world walk, AKA taking a meaningless and utterly boring occurance (carrying a gun legally for the first time) and making a big deal out of it. It's difficult to count the number of times I've seen guys in NRA hats and photographers vests looking real nervous at wal mart.

As far as the NRA hats and decals on my car. Once I had my ccw, all public signs I'm a gun owner went away.

On another note, I keep trying to spot people that carry concealed, still haven't spotted one but I keep looking.

Clutch

 

[Dwrice]

As far as the NRA hats and decals on my car. Once I had my ccw, all public signs I'm a gun owner went away.

On another note, I keep trying to spot people that carry concealed, still haven't spotted one but I keep looking.

Clutch

Strange, most people who are carrying concealed give themselves away by consently touching their weapon or the way they wear their clothing (ie tuck in their entire shirt other then where they have their gun. Many also have their premit the first thing you see when they pull out their wallet. I would like to say cops don't do this but they are the worst offenders.

 

[Dwrice]

As far as the NRA hats and decals on my car. Once I had my ccw, all public signs I'm a gun owner went away.

On another note, I keep trying to spot people that carry concealed, still haven't spotted one but I keep looking.

Clutch

Many also wear shirts and hat related to firearms. Many cops where cop related items.

 

[ritepath]

So how long is he gonna leave us hanging?

 

[BP Hunter]

WE'RE STILL ALL HANGING HERE!! SO WHERE DID YOU FIND YOU GUN??

 

[rogertc1]

I touch myself...

 

[jimmyraythomason]

WE'RE STILL ALL HANGING HERE!! SO WHERE DID YOU FIND YOU GUN??

We didn't have to wait this long to find out who shot J.R.!