Cold weather carry methods

[sm]

OLEG !! You didn't consult Runt
That next shopping spree gonna cost you big time. I'd stay away from guns and coats...'cause your not gonna live this down.

Last cold day at the range, in my Woolrich wax cotton I had 2 ,4" mod 10's in one pocket, a model 65 and 15 in the other, and 3 j frames in the bottom 2 pockets. I 'm also wearing my IWB 1911 CCW. Stopped at the 'mart for coffee and smokes. Arrived at the range with the new students, Bug-eyed when I started unpacking the range guns--The other instructors wondered where the revos went, they had just grabbed ammo and semi's.

 

[Marcus]

Most of the time I wear winter coats that come just below waist level so that I can still use my prefered IWB strong side carry. It just takes a little extra practice. But when it gets REALLY COLD (to me anything single digit or below) I switch to big knee length down coats that make IWB impractical. That`s the only time I switch to shoulder rig. I`ve found that with a vertical shoulder rig you can just leave the top few inches of the zipper/snaps open with the flap still folded over and still slip a hand in and draw just fine. Marcus

 

[garrettwc]

originally posted by Tamara:
Dang if the two front/center pockets on my new Colombia jacket won't hold a 3" K-frame...

I was thinking the same thing, fixed sight revolver with a bobbed hammer should work nicely in an outside coat pocket. Your hands are in your pockets anyway. Why not hold onto the gun?

As for not checking with Runt...
You're on your own. Flowers might work, a trip to the gunshop might work better.

 

[PeacefulWarrior]

When I have to wear a suit in cold weather I wear my Galco Miami Clasic shouler rig,while I am not a big fan of shoulder holsters it is the only way to get to the gun quickly and safetly.
I wear a overcoat over my suit then leave it unbuttoed to about mid-stomach. I wear a wool scarf to over my chest area. When I need to get to the gun I just grab the lapel of my coat with my support hand then grab the gun with my strong hand. I make sure to wear gloves that are thin enough t let me handle my gun but not so thin my hands freeze. Sometimes I'll wear a white long sleeve ploy-pro shirt under my dress shirt so my chest don't get cold.

 

[Trisha]

The HK USP Compact goes in a Miami Classic, with an oversized thick flannel shirt (unbuttoned) over it, or a polar fleece shell (unzipped). Parka over the top (mine has velcro tabs on the storm flap next to the bi-directional zipper).

The only gloves are ones I've proven at the range.

Purse gun (3" 649) stays where it is (works fine as carry mode and firearm with chosen gloves - but reloads are slow; it buys time to get to hard cover and use the HK).

Simple; proven regularly at the range.

Trisha

 

[labgrade]

Does tend to get cold here in Colorado once in a while.

If having to actually be out in the cold, rather than out of the (warm) car to "the mall," (as if) etc., I'll beef up on the lightweight capilene type undergarments & a light layer of fleece or down vest. That keeps me warm, & the gore-tex lightweight windbreaker blocks the wind while giving my "overcoat" to conceal. Also, it's my summer outer garment so I'm comfortable & concealed as always.

IWB. A quick snap of the bottom button (I rarely zip up) & complete accessability.

I like to stay the same-same no matter the weather. Makes for decent consistancy.

 

[Zundfolge]

I don't believe I'm about to plug one of the goofy products the company I work for sells, but here's a good idea in gloves for CCW

http://www.wdrake.com/shop/product.cfm?icat_item_num=14864

 

[labgrade]

Ahem.

I gave mine to The Wife & she decided never to wear 'em. I won't even use those for cold-weather hunting. Although they do have somewhat of an alure, I still have no use for 'em. No flames, just a personal pref. I wear a Capilene lighweight & just keep my hands warm. I really do prefer a gloveless hand for anything.

Why not just stuff yer hands into a nice & cozy cargo pocket already designed for warmth?

Nothing beats just a hand.

(again, no flames intended. Just my owm preference & observation as to what works)

 

[Nightcrawler]

"Nashville cold". Hee hee. *snork*

Saw something on FOXNEWS this evening, about how it's been so cold in NYC, it's not gotten above freezing all week.

Well boo-friggedy-hoo, New Yorkers. My heart bleeds.

Oh wait, no it doesn't. My blood is frozen, because today the wind chill was TWENTY FIVE BELOW ZERO. Standing air temperature has scaracely been in the double digits all week.

Current temperature here in Marquette is zero. With the light breeze out it feels like 17 below, according to Weather.com.

Heh, just had to rib you southerners a bit. You guys really don't know what cold is. (I humbly stand aside for our Alaskan members, though, they've got us beaten.)

 

[labgrade]

& to just beat Nightcrawler's drum some - we had an 11-day record where the high never jumped above zero - the high, for the slowest amongst us.

-17F at 1PM & a bud & I went backpacking into the mountains for a coupla days.

We were on the edge of our gear & attitude BTW. Lucked out & we lived.

But, all our guns still shot as expected, but they were a bit harder to get at - that time.

 

[denfoote]

Cold!!??? Wassat???

Now come June, when it's 122 in the shade, we desert dwellers have a simular, although different problem. How do you cover the dang thing up???!!!!

I'm just about to walk out onto my balcony in my swim trunks and bear feet to smoke a cig!!!

 

[Woodchuck]

I carry my .357 snubbie in the right front jacket pocket of my columbia jacket. I carry a pair of brown cloth jersey gloves in the same pocket. No holster necessary. Cell phone goes in the left front pocket. Works fine. I usually walk with my hands in my pockets anyway, so I often have my hand on it.
Ya it's cold up here eh. I live about 12 miles west of Nightcrawler where it's 1000 ft. higher in elevation and usually 10 degrees colder.

 

[deputy tom]

In cold weather,which We're experiencing right now,I carry My 642 or 649 in My off side coat pocket.Both hands in pockets to keep them warm.The side benefit is that Your hand is on the gun and You can shoot thru the pocket if needed.tom.

 

[Nightcrawler]

Here's a more important question. If you live in a place that ACTUALLY GETS COLD (hint: that's not you, Texas. You either, Georgia.) can you operate your handgun with your heavy winter gloves?

With my thinsulate winter gloves (even those don't work so well when you're outside for extended periods, if it's 2* outside like it is now) my finger can barely fit into the trigger loop of my CZ-97.

Rifles are another story (mostly), but it seems to me that most pistols don't work well with real winter gloves.

 

[SodaPop]

I carry my Beretta 92FS in a Fanny pack summer/winter because I can strap it on outside of a jacket.

Since I only own a Beretta 92FS and Colt 1991A1 I really can't carry IWB. If I were you, depending on what kind of jacket you owned, I would consider carrying in an outside pocket on the winter jacket. My biggest winter CCW worry is... "will my gloves snag on the slide of my gun while firing." I took a pair of scissors to my gloves just to make sure nothing was stringing out.

 

[SodaPop]

can you operate your handgun with your heavy winter gloves?

You beat me too it!!

When I practiced firing my Beretta with one pair of gloves I owned I couldn't even tell if my finger was on the trigger.

I forget is its the L1A1 or the STG58 (or maybe even both) but the trigger guard actually can come off for winter combat. GOOD IDEA!!!

 

[Nightcrawler]

The trigger guard on my STG58A is big enough for my gloved finger by a good margin, though yes, you can remove it if you're wearing a space suit or something.

Kalashnikovs too. Even Russian hunting rifles like the VEPR and Saiga. THey're all designed for use with heavy gloves, and thus have big trigger loops and easy to manipulate controls.

I'll say one thing about the FALs sliding rear sight; it may not be real precise, but it's probably easier to manipulate with heavy gloves than trying to click an elevation knob on an M1A. (Haven't tried the latter, though, so can't say for sure).

Most pistols I've encountered are completely inadequate for use with heavy gloves. Even if the trigger guard wasn't too small, a lot of them have grips that are too short to get all of your fingers on if wearing gloves.

Somewhere there's a niche market for an Arctic pistol; oversized grip, trigger loop, and controls, designed for use with heavy gloves. Hell, you could even make the thing's frame out of white-colored polymer, and do the slide up in a winter camoflage polycoat finish or something.