Cold weather carry methods

[Oleg Volk]

I am at a loss for ideas here. Nashville weather turned very cold, and I have to wear a heavy coat all zipped up. While I have no worry of goblins, the neighborhood is teeming with miscellaneous unrestrained dogs. I'd like to have some method of dealing with them.

Currently, I can't draw from any belt or IBW holsters, or from pant pocket. My big flap pockets and lapel pockets on the coat are hard to access quickly. Other than putting a Y-harness over the coat (too conspicuous), what options do I have for quickly accessible carry of something reasonably potent and operable with thick gloves?

 

[Walosi]

Being only 70 miles distant, we share the same weather (especially this week ) but we're a bit more rural here which may allow some leeway. I go to a "belly" rig when it gets into single digits. I wear a heavy T shirt, or long-sleeved undershirt, shirt (wool if possible, dress shirt with tie if forced) and a heavy wool pullover. The outer coat goes over this, but stays open, at least enough so that the off-hand can clear it. Sweater covers the gun, and is cleared by the gun hand. The gloves are another problem - I don't wear them, usually. If I'm out long enough for the cold to get to my hands, I wear loose mittens which I can "wipe" off against my side.

 

[Eamonn Wright]

Although I'm not too high on shoulder rigs, I've found that they are a decent answer to the cold weather/heavy outer garment question. I wear several layers in this weather (15 f) and have no problem wearing a Mitch Rosen shoulder rig over all, and directly under a jacket or parka. Outer zipper goes 1/2 way down, hand goes in jacket, & onto weapon. No fumbling under fleece or sweatshirts, etc. No printing under winter jacket, either.

 

[Peetmoss]

Oleg what is very cold?

The low here this week has been below 0 and high about 15. I have no problems drawing my Glock from my OWB rotoholster from Sidearmor in these conditions. My cover garaments are a insulated flannel shirt and a carhart barn coat both unbuttoned. I was very comfortable. Myself I am wondering how hard it will be to carry the G19 in spring and summer were my cover garments will be limited by the high tempeture.

 

[justice4all]

Snaps, rather than buttons or zippers, are the preferred method of closure.

Wear gloves either big enough to wipe off, or small enough to not create a problem.

Carry a full size under your coat, and something like a snub nose in whatever pocket works.

Pay more attention, because you will be slower.

 

[boing]

New coat?

Pocket-carry pockets for my P11 have become the first thing I look for in a new coat.

 

[Walosi]

Eamonn & Peet, our weather lately has been right in there with yours - had a 4 here last night, and the lows are supposed to be at or below 20 all next week.
The Carhart coats (especially with blanket linings) are some of the best cover garments out there. I wear one over a Carhart quilted vest, with a 624 in a DeSantis shoulder rig. Bulky enough and common enough, around here, that the combo is totally unnoticeable. If Oleg is moving in business circles, even in the "Country Capitol", he may not be able to take advantage of them.

 

[Walosi]

NEW COAT

There is an outfit in Nashville called The Burlington Coat Factory. Cover garment fever can become as obsessive as holster lust at times, and I've threatened to take a run though that place despite Nashvilles' congested traffic and mall crowds. And the fact that when I bring it up, the wife hides the credit cards.

 

[JOE]

it's -20 up here..........yes-20 and i carry my .44 mag 3" crossdraw...........

 

[Walosi]

JOE -
I've been looking for a CD rig for a 3" N Frame - what are you using?

 

[JOE]

A $ 16 UNCLE MIKE'S ........nylon...........

 

[mrstang01]

Walosi,

If your taste runs more to leather, I heartily recommend El Paso Saddlery for N frame leather, they'll get my order shortly for one for my new to me 3" N frame 624 Lew Horton Special.

 

[JOE]

LEW HORTON.........NICE.........I JUST GOT ONE OF THE 25TH ANNV.........IT'S A HANDFULL.......

 

[mrstang01]

I'm anxious to get my hands on it, it should make a dandy cold weather / home defense revolver.

 

[denfoote]

Cold snap??? What's that?? Here in the valley of the sun, it got up to 76 degrees and will fall to the unheard of temp of 44 tonight!!
I wear what I always wear. Jeans and a loose t-shirt. I carry the "piece" in a Galco IWB holster, which is covered up by the shirt. Sorry if this ain't much help, but if you got it, flaunt it!!!

 

[sm]

Fingerless wool gloves come in handy.
many a time whilst hunting used one for shooting hand and a regular glove on off hand.

Good idea to check CCW with gloves, Murphy's law you know.

 

[Dave Williams]

I got a

really nice Columbia(I know I know they are antis, but it was FREE and I'm on a budget) coat as a gift. It has slash pockets in on either side on the chest, and they are an absolutely great place to have a concealed handgun. You can walk around casually with your hands in your pockets with gun in hand. Very nice.

Dave

 

[Wildalaska]

Method 1

Shoulder rig over fleece vest, under half buttoned coat...

Method 2 (my preferred)

Mouse gun in pocket...

Rip off gloves with teeth, grab gun, bang!

Important note..never, during winter, carry SOB...

WildiknowwhatwinterREALLYisAlaska

 

[STEVE M]

Hi Oleg, I didn't know you moved down here. I live in Smyrna

and work in Nashville. You didn't say how long you are going to

be out in the weather. If I'm moving from parking lot to building I

just wear thin leather gloves (no liners) and have my coat

snapped, but not zipped, and rely on my SIG220 on my hip. If

I'm going to be out in the elements for a while a S&W Centenial

Airweight is added in the outer coat pocket. If need be it can be shot thru the pocket.

For the canines you mentioned a walking stick works about as

well and helps when the sidewalks get slippery.

 

[Betty]

Oleg, Oleg... you posted and didn't bother to ask your Runt to see how it's done?

- Wear a coat that's flexible, easy to move around in. Preferably with not alot of snag points. Mine's a heavy nylon with a zipper, so movements are easy without alot of friction.

- Don't zip it up. That inhibits movement and makes your gun hard to get to.

- Make sure the sleeves aren't too long or you risk the slide of a semiauto snagging on it when firing.

- Wear nice tight gloves that you can grip your gun with - mine are leather Thinsulate gloves.

If you're carrying around the belt and not the coat pocket, I find it easist to draw like this:

- If you carry anywhere in the strong side to SOB position, put your gun hand flat down on your hip. Move your hand up against your thigh, naturally brushing your coat up over the gun. (Don't pick a coat that's too long!)

- Keep moving your hand up until you reach and grab your gun. Now draw as you normally would - it should be a quick and easy draw without the coat in the way. I've found this way easier and alot faster than trying to move the coat aside like a curtain and digging my gun out from around it.

There is an outfit in Nashville called The Burlington Coat Factory.

There's been plenty of Runt sightings there.

Don't worry about mall traffic - Burlington Coat Factory is located in the remains of the 100 Oaks Mall; a near-dead mall that survives through very few shops. Take 65 South all the way there - southbound traffic isn't that bad if you avoid rush hour.

They do have a nice selection of coats & clothes that can conceal most everybody's guns.

 

[Tamara]

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

That's pretty cool!

 

[Walosi]

The only thing about pocket carry is to retain your "presence of mind". I have an old Woolrich Black Powder coat that is a winter favorite. Went into the office one Sat. AM some years ago on a "help" call, and took it off in too much of a rush. My 686 snub came out of the flap pocket, chipped the grips, dinged the rear sight blade, and came to rest at my secretarys' feet. She picked it up, and dusted it off while I spoke at length to several dieties, and tried to live it down. She thought it was funny - said she had never dropped her Det.Spec. out of her purse. No, I didn't consider a purse, but I take the coat off carefully, now

 

[Bainx]

I'm with Peetmoss on this. I can carry and draw my Glock from an OWB holster most rapidly in this cold environment!

 

[El Tejon]

The Land of Frozen Orange?

Go coat shopping. Take her with you, a cheap date (remember the shoes).

When wearing my work coat, I leave it unbuttoned. Having a lot of drop helps access the weapon(s). Off duty in my yuppie scum attire, I wear a Filson that I can lift out of the way or vampire draw.

Whatever you decide, be sure to test it out in dry practice.

Stay dry, stay warm.

 

[agtman]

Cold weather and unrestrained pooches ...



Oleg, you guys down in Tennesse have it way too warm. My area's been more like what upstate N.Y. is seeing: temps in the -10 to -20 range, aggravated by high winds.

If you have to go out all bundled up with thick sweaters, scarf, gloves and a heavy coat and still deal with the rampaging doggies in your neighborhood, then I'd recommend using a shoulder holster much like what Eamonn Wright describes. The particular holster is up to you and what your budget permits. I like Galco's.

As far as using gloves, that isn't necessarily a problem with getting your gun out of the shoulder holster - it's just a flick of the thumb-snap - but it may impact getting your gloved trigger-finger inside the trigger guard and, obviously, a gloved finger will affect trigger control. A lot depends on what gun you're using.

Bu it's probably the fastest set-up for accessing your gun w/o having to unbutton and unzip your "cold-weather" stuff.

HTH.