Anyone unholster while sitting?

[thefish]

Mods, please move this If it fits better another section.

I'm wondering if anyone unholsters their carry weapon while seated. And if so, what do you do with it?

Personally, when carrying, i do not.

However, I was out to eat the other night, and this gentleman in his 60's I guess, got up from the booth across from me, to let someone else in the booth out. I noticed a holster, open carry style, on his hip. I thought, that's a little strange, empty holster, but whatever. Maybe he left it locked in his car or at home if he was drinking. Didn't give it much thought.

Then a while later, he got up to leave, and there was a 1911 in the holster. Stainless with rosewood grips. EMP possibly. He put on his jacket and the group left. After he left it got me thinking. What did he do with the gun while it was unholstered?

Thoughts? Anyone practice that?

 

[Bobson]

Never done it before in the context you described, but I have unholstered for a short while in the past, and carried on with an empty holster for a period of time. The other day I carried an empty holster intentionally all day long. Got one interesting conversation going with a guy who doesn't own a firearm, so I guess it was worth something.

Not sure why anyone would do it while seated at a restaurant, unless the gentleman in question maybe makes a habit of it at restaurants so that he doesn't have to unholster while seated if something were to go down.

 

[Havok7416]

I holster and unholster occasionally from a sitting position. It's not hard to do safely. However, I have yet to do it in public and truly can't fathom a reason to do so.

 

[Fast Frank]

I can only think of one reason to do it:

That big, heavy, hunk of metal isn't very comfortable some times.

In my mind, this is a dangerous practice and not advisable at all.

If something stupid is going to happen, it's going to happen while the pistol is being handled.

Having something stupid happen with a .45 auto in a crowded restaurant is just not O.K. under any circumstance.

In my opinion, if carrying a pistol is too uncomfortable for you then you need some better equipment or a different technique.

 

[ridurall]

I put my Kimber on in the morning on a good belt under my bib overalls and take it off when I get home and put it in a finger vault next to my chair if I'm relaxing. The only other times I take it off are for going to the doctor office where I can't carry, City Hall or my son's school. Whoops I almost forgot Mom's nursing home where they have a no carry sign. I've offered many times to scrape that sticker off but they won't bite. I own a pest control company and never take it off while on the job. I never know where I might end up during the day.

 

[MedWheeler]

I can't think of a time I've ever done it while sitting, or for the purpose of sitting, other than to actually draw (did that a couple of times while in law enforcement.)


Ridurall writes:

I own a pest control company and never take it off while on the job. I never know where I might end up during the day.

I have a cousin that worked residential and commercial pest control back in the eighties here in southern Florida. In the attic of a house one day, he found a significant amount of packaged cocaine. He made the mistake of telling his boss, who apparently passed it on to the police. Several arrests were made after a sting and raid at the address.

A couple of weeks later, as he was leaving a restaurant he'd just finished treating during the wee hours one morning, he was attacked and severely beaten (pistol-whipped) by several thugs who did not rob him.

Stay safe.

 

[Plan2Live]

Around here you can't carry into any establishment that serves alcohol for onsite consumption, including restaurants. Even Shoney's serves beer and wine! Add to that, some stores I go into have what appear to be enforcable no carry signs posted. Therefore I am forced to unholster then re-holster while seated in my truck and we don't have open carry so one has to be very discreet about this whole process which makes it very difficult to "look it in" to the holster. Too many things can go wrong while I am re-holstering blind like this. This is why I prefer to carry a DA/SA most of the time rather than Striker fired.

 

[SouthernBoy]

That would definitely be a no-no for me. My primary carry gun lives in its holster, whether at home or on my person. There is only one exception to that rule that comes to mind right away. When I have to go into my local post office, I unholster and then reholster when I get back to my car while standing up with the driver's door open (do not want to do this while seated). I am more of a mind just to remove the holster with the gun in it under those circumstances.

When I go to a restaurant and I think I might have a drink, I pick a booth where my gun is to the wall of the booth then uncover it while imbibing (I do NOT do much of this, I can assure you people), then cover back up after the drink. This is legal in my state. Most of the time I open carry anyway so it makes little difference. And most of the time I am in a restaurant while armed, I do not drink any alcohol.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

However, I was out to eat the other night, and this gentleman in his 60's I guess, got up from the booth across from me, to let someone else in the booth out. I noticed a holster, open carry style, on his hip. I thought, that's a little strange, empty holster, but whatever. Maybe he left it locked in his car or at home if he was drinking. Didn't give it much thought.

Then a while later, he got up to leave, and there was a 1911 in the holster. Stainless with rosewood grips. EMP possibly. He put on his jacket and the group left. After he left it got me thinking. What did he do with the gun while it was unholstered?

That is a lost gun that just hasn't happened yet

 

[Sam1911]

A holstered gun is a safe gun. A handled gun is not.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

A holstered gun is a safe gun. A handled gun is not.

I agree.

Holster up and LEAVE IT ALONE unless required to handle it.

If it feels like the gun "needs" to be removed in such a setting as the restaurant, in the example, then I submit that the carry rig/method needs to be addressed as a root cause.

Leave. It. Alone.

 

[Fred Fuller]

I'm wondering if anyone unholsters their carry weapon while seated.

No. The less coonfingering in public the better.

 

[torqem]

I use pocket carry, so I unholster and put the gun under my thigh while driving. Yes, I do know all the negatives about so doing. Thanks..

 

[TRX]

I use a shoulder holster. No problems with sitting down in the car, in a restaurant, or in the throne room.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

"coonfingering"!

I've gotta add that to my lexicon...

 

[torqem]

Shoulder rigs are slow

As slow as the pocket rig (hands hanging at sides), cause the shoulder rig lets your gun 'run away" from your hand when you reach for it. If you don't believe this, conceal it properly, get a $3 app for a timer on your Obama smartphone, and try an average of 5 draw and hit sequences, on the chest, at 5 yds. You will find that your average time is barely under 2 full seconds, at best, unless you cut 2 slits in your shirt and run a chest strap thru the slits, so that it does not show thru your open coat.

Fasten your coat, see the times averagewell over 2 seconds. Put a winter coat over your concealing garment (and add gloves) and you'll see your draw and hit strings get up around 3 full seconds. With your gun in your coat pocket, hands in pockets start position, it's just as fast as the pants pocket draw and hit (ie, 3/4 second).

 

[easyg]

Maybe he had to use the toilet and was afraid that it might fall in, so maybe he asked his wife to hold the pistol til he returned?

I pocket carry my Ruger LCP most of the time.
But when I get in my truck I take it out and put it in the console between the seats.
And when I'm home and on the computer I usually take it out of my pocket and lay it on the computer desk just to the right of the computer mouse.

 

[Bobson]

Maybe he had to use the toilet and was afraid that it might fall in, so maybe he asked his wife to hold the pistol til he returned?

Is that a legitimate concern with certain holster types? I carry with a Supertuck-type holster, and I've never tried any other type; but I've never had reason to be concerned that my firearm might fall out while using the restroom.

 

[Sam1911]

Err, yeah, those thing would be excuses for dropping a gun or having it out of the holster in public.

Excuses are what people call the poor choices they made which caused bad results.

Taking out your gun and handing it to your wife to hold -- in a public place? Err...don't do that.

Taking it out because you don't know how to go potty without dropping it? Wow.

 

[trigga]

i've always used a hybrid holster and with a good belt have never had it fall or slip out when i sit. the only time I had my gun fall out was when I was wearing cargo shorts and while getting out of the car, the gun fell out of my cargo pocket onto the curb. it was embarrassing but the only person who saw it was the passenger.

 

[JohnKSa]

I do not unholster in public places unless I absolutely have to. I do acknowledge that sometimes it is necessary to disarm and that is why my holster can easily be removed with my carry gun still holstered.

While the gun is in the holster, the trigger is covered--the gun is pretty much as safe as it would be if it were in a gun case. Once I unholster, it dramatically increases the chances of something really bad happening.

For those who do routinely unholster in public places, I have a question for you: What do you use for a safe direction when you unholster your firearm? Once it comes out of the holster, you should observe the muzzle rule and keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. Unfortunately, there is almost never a safe direction in a public place.

We all talk about the basic rules of firearm safety and how important they are, but too many of us completely disregard them when placed in practical situations. If we really believe in firearm safety then the first rule of firearm safety (muzzle control) should be sufficient to keep us from drawing our firearms in public unless it is absolutely necessary.

 

[torqem]

Overseas, one time, I was dating a lady, who normally carried her 1911 in her purse. She shot it in IPSC and could not afford other guns, guys, ok? She tucked it into her belt when we entered a restaurant, with it ccwed by her coat. She removed the coat after sitting down in a booth, then hissed at me "Here, take my gun". and handed it to me under the table, while she went to the powder room. I remember thinking "I really aint in the US anymore".

 

[tyeo098]

If the firearm you carry 'can get uncomfortable at times'...

You need to carry a different firearm.

 

[torqem]

Absolutely correct.

If it's not comfortable in your pocket holster, it's not likely to be ccw'd much.

 

[torqem]

Edit button doesn't seem to work? Anyhow, if you are not on upper floors of a building, how would keeping the muzzle pointed downward endanger anyone?