Concealed Carry Myths

[Fred Fuller]

http://www.shootingillustrated.com/index.php/18228/concealed-carry-myths/
Concealed-Carry Myths
Many new concealed-carry permit holders subscribe to a variety of myths that could have potentially deadly consequences. Here are five of the most common.
By Paul Markel
December 15, 2011

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My own particular favorite myth wasn't covered - the "carry rotation." As if inanimate objects get lonely when they don't get fondled once a week . I'm not smart enough to keep track of half a dozen different pistols that work different ways and get carried in different places. I carry one handgun, in the same place, in the same holster, all the time. And I have two backups for that gun, set up the same way.

 

[Strykervet]

Hey, that is pretty good info for new CC'ers. You should foward that to every gunshop in America too. Had my wife read that oh, seven years ago I wouldn't have that nearly worthless 317 sitting in the safe.

She carries a 649 now, carried a Glock for awhile until she ran enough rounds through it to understand she can't hold it properly. She prefers revolvers and is good with them, so whatever.

We carry all the time. All chambers hot. I've shot probably millions of rounds over the years, she's shot maybe a few thousand this decade (she isn't really into it like I am, but she understands the value of practice from time to time).

One thing I'd add is that some think you can carry and go get a nylon Uncle Mike's and a Walmart belt and adequately conceal, oh, say a Glock. Just doesn't work too well.

A good holster is paramount as is a good gun belt. My wife purse carries, but as they say, it is better than nothing. She probably couldn't get away with concealing it on her person at work anyway.

 

[Bobson]

Good read. Looking to start CC next month (as a first timer), so thanks for this. Will need to show it to the wife (she's starting next month too).

I kinda feel the same way on the carry gun rotation. I understand why some people do it, but it doesn't seem like a great practice to me. I get the muscle memory bit that some people refer to in defense of it, but still. It just seems safer to me if you eliminate as many variables as possible. Owning a backup gun that's at least the same design (like a G23/G27, or Sig P229 and P239) is also a sound idea. It's something I'll need to consider buying down the road.

 

[Harrod]

That was a great bit of info thanks for posting. I am looking to get my CCW here in about a year once i can afford the pistol.

 

[mljdeckard]

I agree 100%.

 

[ACP]

Thankfully I don't engage in any of that. Always carry, round in chamber, and I practice year-round with what I carry, drawing from concealment and all.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

I've actually sod a few of my handguns because I realized they don't serve a purpose. Not to say I don't like them, or that there is something wrong with having a big collection. It's just that I would rather have a small collection that I use a lot and know very well, and having other pistol just sit in the safe seems pointless. I had a Glock 19, a Walther P99 and a M&P 9. I ended up selling the Glock and the P99 because I just don't shoot them. When I go to the range with the intent to shoot pistols, I always take the M&P. It's what I carry, it;s what I shoot the best, and thankfully it's what I use for work. Why spend time and ammo on guns I don't really need when it could be better spend honing my skills with the one gun I know I will probably have on me if the time comes to use it? I'm not really a collector. All of my guns fill a specific role, and if that role is better filled by something else, I end up selling the gun and getting that. In the end, I'm glad to have small collection of guns that I have customized for me and practiced with a lot verses a large collection of guns I'm uncomfortable with and don't really shoot often enough to get better.

That's a great list Lee. That's something I would hand out if I taught a CPL class. There are a lot of CPL holders, even guys who shoot a lot and know guns pretty well, who fall into a lot of those myths. I even have myself early on in my carrying. Mostly out of lack of knowledge. The empty chamber one is a big myth. I'm in the military and we are required to carry with an empty chamber while doing garrison work. There are a lot of soldiers who have CPLs who carry like that because that's all they know. It's unfortunate, but most just don't know any better. Combine that with a healty fear and respect with what guns can do (which is a good thing mind you) it can be a recipe for carrying methods that are bad in practice, such as carrying un-chambered.

 

[jad0110]

I'm not smart enough to keep track of half a dozen different pistols that work different ways and get carried in different places.

I would agree with you there. Though I do have different guns I carry, all function the same (DA revolvers) and all point very well in my hands. All get carried in the same position (strong side IWB), except my 642 which is a dedicated pocket gun.

Here's another myth: a gun is like a lucky charm or magic talisman, and just having one turns you into Wyatt Earp.

 

[Loosedhorse]

They are all myths.

There are two truths: no one can tell you what your gunfight will look like; no one can tell you what it will take to win.

Unfortunately, it is hard to operationalize these truths into training and practice. We all try our best, but usually end up leaning on one myth or another.

 

[ball3006]

I carry different pistols. The one thing in common with all of them is they are the kind of pistol you just pick up and pull the trigger to shoot, Glock, Styer, Kel Tec, etc. No switches, levers, safetys to distract you from the situation at hand.....chris3

 

[bikerdoc]

In total agreement.

To expand upon the hand me down gun. My wife carries her dads 1971 charter arms 38.

Common sense told me when we first got it to have it checked out by our gunsmith. He replaced some innerds and after a couple of boxes of practice it was pronounced carriable. Gets carried daily and shot weekly.

 

[GEM]

That is a great article.

Thanks Lee for the heads up.

I'm going to share this.

Glenn

 

[george29]

I'm not smart enough to keep track of half a dozen different pistols that work different ways and get carried in different places.

I was brought up with the single action semi auto (1911,1903,BHP) and these are what I shoot naturally. OTOH, semi automatics have a much longer learning curve than a revolver; Decockers, double action, DAO, DAK, safe action, magazine disconnectors, slide release, grip safety, laser grip, exposed hammer, internal hammer etc etc etc. So even though my first handguns were a 1903/1911 and my uniform wear was a BHP, I much prefer S&W revolvers for CC and SD. Aim, squeeze trigger, repeat where necessary. I am a 357 kinda guy and feel that most everything in the lower 48 can be solved with that caliber. To my surprise and after dozens of carry guns, I found I am at my best with a 3" m-13. Someone once said Beware of the person who only owns one gun.

 

[David N]

Good article. Thanks for the link!

 

[BamAlmighty]

Those are my TWO biggest gripes!

Carrying unloaded... the other guy is going to have a round chambered, shouldn't you?

Occasional carry... that ONE time you don't carry is the time you will need it the most.

 

[flatlander937]

Thanks for that!

 

[X-Rap]

A myth not in the article but important none the less is that of total reliance on the gun. We don't get to choose the day or time and I have not seen statistics but I suspect there are more than a few encounters that start with very close physical contact and some of those would have better results if we had better combative skills in initial contact with an attacker. I also feel safe in saying that most attacks are a surprise and the close ones often a sucker punch or hit out of the blue.

 

[Bo]

"Now that I have a Concealed Carry Permit, I'm well protected". WRONG! PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!
I'm a strong believer in, if you're going to carry a gun, you should know how to use it.

 

[guyfromohio]

Practice gun.... so true. I have a few friends who CC an LCP, but never shoot it. I make it a point to put at least 50 rounds through my 642 at every range trip. And then I play with the fun-guns.

 

[SSN Vet]

Unfortunately, it is hard to operationalize these truths into training and practice. We all try our best, but usually end up leaning on one myth or another.

agree....

I've found that there is a skill set associated with being a good learner. (i.e. you learn how to learn), which can be aquired through many different endeavors.

I've found that the basic process for learning physical skills goes something like this...

1.) carefully observe (with an eye for detail) others who have refined skills
2.) carefully observe (with a critical eye) yourself as you attempt to immitate those with skill. (mirrors and video can be a great help).
3.) thoughtfully compare the two pictures and adjust your actions to better match those with skill.
4.) put a significant amount of dedicated effort into 1-3
5.) seek out venues to test your skills (usually via. some form of competition) and humbly make a correct assesment of you level of achievement.
6.) stick with it over a lengthy period of time.

Once I learned how to be a good learner, I found that I could improve myself at many different skills.

 

[mgmorden]

Good article. I will admit that I myself am guilty of not practicing with my carry gun as much as I should. Part of that is the cost of .380 ammo (I carry a Ruger LCP and a .380 Makarov, but tend to shoot 9mm's at the range). I'm thinking about purchasing a Kel-tec PF9 to work into my carry rotation though, which should help out with being able to practice a bit more with my carry gun.

 

[SSN Vet]

When you’ve decided to arm yourself against unknown, unanticipated threats, you need to do it as often as humanly possible.

In my mind, life is a never ending process of risk management. So I find it insightfull that the article compares carrying to an insurance policy.

However, life is also a never ending excercise in evaluating cost vs. benefit, and as such, there are certain things in life I deliberately chose not to insure.

In my specific situation, the cost and likelyhood of losing my job for violating company policy far outweighs the benefit of being armed while on the job and during my daily commute. YMMV. So I don't carry a lot more than I carry.

The author doesn't debate this, but perhaps oversimplifies it with his criticism of people with a "Carry Only When Needed" methodology.

 

[TexasRifleman]

I carry one handgun, in the same place, in the same holster, all the time.

I really wish I could do that. There are times though where I have varying needs depending on clothing requirements or where I'm going etc. There are times off-body carry is all I can manage, there are times a pocket auto is the best I can do, and then there are times I can carry my "usual" stuff.

I agree it's less than optimal but I'd rather have a choice of 2 or 3 carry options than not be able to carry at all. I do think that as much as possible the basic action type should be the same. And of course you have to be extra sure you remember which method you are using.

 

[Frank Ettin]

And excellent article. Thanks for linking to it.

 

[Ryanxia]

Good article for someone new to CCW otherwise nothing that isn't in every other CCW article