Carrying at the beach

[BehindTheIronCurtain]

So my question is, how do you carry at the beach? Thunderwear is great, cargo shorts, fine, they can hold any small thin 9mm or even a 40 sw would be fine with how small they come these days, but what about gong in the water? I hear from some that most modern guns will be fine in the water esp. Glocks, and other heavy duty reliable polymers, but is this true? With how dangerous beaches can be these days, the beach os a place i would really love to be carrying.

 

[Mp7]

ok, let´s hope this thread stays picless

 

[JVaughn]

I've had the same concerns myself and never came up with a good solution either. I agree that Glocks will function just as well wet or dry, probably many others as well; but you are really going to have to clean that sucker that night. I cringe thinking about the damage salt water would do to the action.

 

[MedWheeler]

I haven't found a way yet, either, if I intend to go in the water. If I don't, I'll carry at least my P32 or more, depending on how I'm dressed. Most of the time, it's me, my wife, and our young daughter, and we won't all be in the water at the same time. I have at times left my gun in the beach bag on the sand, while either me or my wife is seated with it, but I don't like doing that since I have no guarantee that one of us will always be able to stay there. Plus, it would technically be unlawful to leave my wife up there with it since she does not have a carry license, so it usually stays in the truck.

 

[NH_OPERATOR]

I am fairly certain you need a special barrel for the glock for underwater use though (please correct me if I am wrong), shark attack may be a legitimant threat in your area. =D

 

[Mr.510]

I just wear shorts with my regular gun belt, IWB holster, and mag pouch. I have to wear a shirt for cover, but most people at the beach didn't really want to see me without one anyway.

I would *never* wear a gun into water on purpose for recreation. This isn't much of a problem for me as I can't swim anyway.

 

[Nushif]

To me, carrying at the beach kinda "feels" like carrying in the bathroom. Personally, I usually have a backpack at the beach, and the friendly folks at Beretta even make one with a built in holster ... I know "purse carry" or in this case "backpack carry" sucks, but at some point .... fun is a risk.

 

[armoredman]

Plastic baggie it, make it as airless as possible. Then holster in your favorite method.
Just guessing - the nearest beach is several hundred miles from here.

 

[saltydog452]

With the notion that 'something is better than nothing', in times, and pounds past, a .22 NAA revolver in an otherwise mty cigarette 'flip top box' offered some consolation.

Saran Wrap/Baggie was for ID, CC, room key, and maybe a Jackson.

salty.

 

[Bobson]

One THR member in another thread mentioned that he swims with his Glock 20 on a fairly regular basis with no problems. I believe it was one of the "hiking gun" type threads that came up a few months ago.

 

[lyrikz]

I feel sad the day you have to bring a gun to the beach. Happy you are allowed to, sad you feel the need to.

 

[JohnBT]

It depends whether it's an isolated beach or a crowded urban beach. Most of the time I'm carrying a fillet knife with a 6" or 7.5" blade. I take a fishing pole whether I'm fishing or not, so the knife doesn't look out of place.

 

[BehindTheIronCurtain]

Ever since i read the story of a young couple that was killed in Puerto Rico by two escaped convicts (both from other countries in PR illegally) i have always wanted to carry at the beach.

I hope to fanangle my license in PR as i visit twice a year. When i go to the beach i go during the day at Luquillo, a quiet nice family beach, or the hotel private beaches which are pretty damn safe, but if i go to an unknown beach in another area, i'd like something with me.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I used to use a bangstick in Hawaii. Pretty much lived in the water though. Sigh.

 

[NavyLCDR]

With the proper attire, nobody will likely notice the gun....

<Ahem...>

 

[Shawn Dodson]

I feel sad the day you have to bring a gun to the beach. Happy you are allowed to, sad you feel the need to.

Criminals go to the beach too, especially here in FL, just like the criminal who went to Mt. Rainier National Park and murdered the park ranger a few weeks ago. We don't get to pick the time and place when trouble finds us.

My wife and I like to walk along the surf at Canaveral National Seashore. Federal law changed a couple of years ago which allowed me to lawfully CCW there. I don't go in the surf and I don't carry any differently than I do anywhere else.

I enjoy boogie boading there but I've never thought of taking a gun into the water. Maybe if I held it between my teeth Tarzan style?

 

[Shawn Dodson]

With the proper attire, nobody will likely notice the gun....

Yeah, like a boot gun.

 

[JustinJ]

With how dangerous beaches can be these days..

First, one what do you base the assertion that beaches are "dangerous" in a way that a gun is needed? And second, what do you base the assertion that beaches are more dangerous today than in the past?

Lighten up, leave the gun in the car and just enjoy the beach. Millions of people go to the beach every day and somehow manage to make it home safely. Be vigilant and smart but a don't let fear of crime take away from enjoying your life.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Just shove it down your bannana hammock/Speedo.

If there exists an invisibility garment, it's that.. all eyes avert when you gots one a them on. True story.

 

[Prosser]

Couple years ago I took my girlfriend to Ocean Beach in San Francisco.
Very crowded, place I surfed a lot. Parked in my usual area, went down and walked around. First greeting was by a very large pitbull, giving inspection.
We smelled like a cat, so we got inspected. Once he figured we were not cats, he went on his way. I had no gun, and, I had forgot to pack the pepper spray.
The owner was a very drunk, tattooed gang banger of the Mexican variety(yes, I know the gang from my work in the SF school district, 14's IIRC). It dawned on me that both of us were at the mercy of both the dog, and the owner.
REALLY didn't like that feeling.

Baggy for the 360PD, and a large can of pepper spray next time. Still.
How do you go surfing and leave your gun in the car?

This holster might actually work, since you have to have a wetsuit on around here, or, a shirt if you are on the beach as a general rule:

http://www.pistolwear.com/holsters.htm

I guess a Glock might work, but you'd have to clean it everytime, and, all of them are kind of blocky.

 

[X-Rap]

Water sports would just require to high of a degree of retention so if I intended to get wet I would have a trusted person on shore to keep the gun. (good idea to have someone on shore when in the water regardless)
If just going to the beach to hang out and wade in shallows, pocket carry, belly band, hanging around the neck would all work depending in how you were dressed.
I have been wearing the belly band under my sweats and it his not hard to conceal a J frame below the belt line even without a shirt so I think the same could be done with a swim suit or cargo shorts but with cargo shorts I think I would prefer pocket carry.

 

[Prosser]

My friend just dunked, and ruined his iphone. I was looking at some of the waterproof cases for cell phones, and couldn't help but think you might be able to fit a small gun in one. The one I like pumps all the air out of the package.
That might work well with a gun.

Another crazy idea is I have a vacum sealer I use to freeze food. I' thinking I could put a Kahr or 360PD in that? Vacum seal it, and pull the trigger through the bag, if need be?

Sounds like a fun range report...

http://www.quantum-wireless.com/sto...e-dc-13.html?gclid=CJzIt7qs6a0CFQ5_hwodHlyZ6w

 

[Loosedhorse]

Maybe if I held it between my teeth Tarzan style?

I have boated with the gun in a dry bag. I gave a thought to, if I had to swim for it, inflating the bag with air, reclose, and off we go.

I would have a trusted person on shore to keep the gun.

Makes the most sense...but make sure they are licensed, if that's required where you are.

 

[NOLAEMT]

My wife has a factory hardchrome ruger lcp that she carries when she feels it is necessary ( I wish she would carry all the time, but sometimes is better than never I guess).

When we last went to the beach I carried it in my pocket, I didnt take it swimming, but even in trunks it was hidden in a pocket, and the hardchrome makes it pretty corrosion resistant.

 

[Prosser]

My understanding is the internals on most guns are pretty much toast if they are dipped in salt water, and, the gun is not torn apart ASAP, and cleaned.