Drawing-How do you deal with a heavy jacket in winter.

Bill_in_TR

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South Carolina
Most of the year I only have to deal with t-shirts, sweatshirts or pretty light outer jackets. Practicing my draw does not involve dealing with heavy clothing. But when I have to deal with freezing temperatures and below I wear a fairly heavy jacket. As the old cliche goes a good jacket that keeps you warm covers your ass. As expected I find this significantly affects the ability to draw.

I was curious how folks deal with this. Do you change weapons? Do you pocket carry? Or do you resign yourself to being more encumbered and try to be even more cautious than normal? Any technique tips for dealing with heavier jackets?
 
My heavy winter coat is a car coat that zips / unzips from either end. That configuration lets me zip up to my neck but then unzip the bottom a foot or so, allowing the coat to flare out to reach trouser pockets or anything sles nearr my belt.
 
My heavy winter coat is a car coat that zips / unzips from either end. That configuration lets me zip up to my neck but then unzip the bottom a foot or so, allowing the coat to flare out to reach trouser pockets or anything sles nearr my belt.
Hmmmm. Don't have a jacket like that but it seems like a good idea.
 
I think pocket draw is a pretty slow draw, it helps to get your hand on it first but that goes for every draw. Even if you are standing, really bad idea from sitting positions.

Some things I will draw through or between but if your zipped up you have to lift and shift. Unless I am in coveralls, I hope I have a shoulder holster (on the outside) or a rifle in hand if I need something quick with them on.

If you have a par timer, with a start buzzer, you can see what what you can do in a given amount of time very easy. It doesn't leave a lot of speculation but there is always practicing different techniques to see what one you are best with, using different firearms and methods of carry.
 
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Like the OP, I don't have to wear heavy jackets very often. But hot or cold, heavy or light clothing, my gun stays at 3 o'clock.

Normally I wear an open-front concealment garment. I train to throw it out of the way using only my dominant hand. Jerry demonstrates (I want to be this fast!):


When I do have to zip up a heavy coat and need to draw, I pull the coat up as high as I can with BOTH hands, hold it there with my non-dominant hand, and draw with my dominant hand.

But I want to work in Mike's one-handed technique:

 
I've talked about this before.

Even when it's cold in Eastern Colorado it's dry and that makes a difference.

I try to dress in a way that I can have a light outer layer as a cover garment. Especially when I'm going to be in and out of the car or when I'm going someplace like church, where I'd be expected to remove my outer coat.

I wear the Polar Tech Grid Fleece under a flannel shirt, under a fleece vest or pull over. thats usually good down to about 30°. especially going from the house to a car to indoors.
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When I'm going to be out in it for awhile I wear a heavier fleece that is still light enough that I can get to my gun under it without too much effort.
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If it's frigid cold I wear my old Columbia Parka which has pockets big enough to put a Glock 19 in a pocket holster in.

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Waist-length clothing/jackets just aren't very warm overall in very cold conditions, unless you are a college kid or 20-something that doesn't stop moving, and only realizes how the hell cold it is, if they stand still for 10 minutes.

Three solutions (over than walking around wide open):

1) Pocket Carry - the original reason for pocket carry, while wearing a heavy coat. Switch the gun to your waistband when you need to take your coat off.

2) Appendix Carry - depending on the cut of your coat and the fastening options, this is usually a faster and less cumbersome draw than hip carry under a proper winter coat.

3) Slotted coat pocket - these were popular with high-end men's raincoats (London Fog comes to mind), to access your inner jacket/pants pockets while it was raining. Back in the day... I had a favorite winter coat tailored by a seamstress so I could access my holstered revolver through the front pocket. With practice you could draw a moderately sized handgun through the pocket. With a revolver you can generally just fire right through your coat at close range.

On a related note, check out your gloves. Many types will foul on the trigger or frame cutout and prevent either firing or trigger reset. Others are so slick the handgun will want to squirt out of your hand on recoil. Unless you want to walk around bare-handed - or practice ripping your glove off quickly - find a pair that you can shoot with.
 
Um, unless I'm out in sub-zero temps for an extended length of time, i.e., longer than it takes me to get from my vehicle inside a business or vice versa, I simply don't zip up my outer garments.

Now, if I'm out walking the dog on my rural road, hopefully, I have a few seconds warning time... Cross country skiing or snowmobiling, I'm simply not worried about a fast draw. Honestly, OP, you're in South Carolina and you worry about this?
 
You're going to have to practice and experiment with your carry set up and your clothing choices. Heavy jackets are going to slow you down no matter what. It's rare for me to wear a heavy jacket unless I'm spending extended time outdoors. I don't need one to go from my house to my vehicle. The jacket lives in the back seat in case I break down.
 
A shoulder hoster might be a better choice for carry under a heavy winter coat/jacket than waistband carry.

In March 2022, an Everett, WA police officer was shot and killed by a psychopath he was arresting, and who was carrying a pistol in a shoulder holster under a heavy winter jacket.
 
I generally favor winter coats with snap closure, two I have been particularly fond of are a M65 with liner, and a Fallraven parka.
Both have zippers that I practically have never used, instead just fastening the storm flap snaps, this allows me to use my left hand to rip open the coat instantly, while sweeping the now opened coat out of the way with my right hand during the draw, no different than with an unbuttoned flannel shirt or other light cover garment.
 
Honestly, OP, you're in South Carolina and you worry about this?

I don't know which South Carolina you guys are talking about but it was 23 degrees in the early morning hours this past week and it didn't get above freezing until later in the morning. I am an old guy with a cardiac condition and don't tolerate cold like I used to. So I find myself using a heavy, hip length jacket to stay comfortable. Fortunately it has big open pockets with no flap. Pocket carry and draw are not difficult but I am not crazy about pocket carry because when you get inside and want to take your jacket off you have to take the gun out to switch it too your waist.

I just was looking for how other folks handled the situation. It seems like many of you handle cold better than me from the way you say you dress.
 
I generally favor winter coats with snap closure, two I have been particularly fond of are a M65 with liner, and a Fallraven parka.
Both have zippers that I practically have never used, instead just fastening the storm flap snaps, this allows me to use my left hand to rip open the coat instantly, while sweeping the now opened coat out of the way with my right hand during the draw, no different than with an unbuttoned flannel shirt or other light cover garment.

Sounds interesting as the coat I wear also has a zipper and a storm flap with snaps. I might try wearing it with just the snaps for closure.
 
Most of the year I only have to deal with t-shirts, sweatshirts or pretty light outer jackets. Practicing my draw does not involve dealing with heavy clothing. But when I have to deal with freezing temperatures and below I wear a fairly heavy jacket. As the old cliche goes a good jacket that keeps you warm covers your ass. As expected I find this significantly affects the ability to draw.

I was curious how folks deal with this. Do you change weapons? Do you pocket carry? Or do you resign yourself to being more encumbered and try to be even more cautious than normal? Any technique tips for dealing with heavier jackets?
Depending on how cold it truly is, I will try hard to keep my coat undone.
That means I will make sure I have access to my primary.
If that is not possible, I will pocket [ coat ] a BUG that is snag free [ I have a few ].
And I have carried in a pocket with MANY different handguns.
 
This topic isn't an unusual one for both LE and private persons lawfully carrying handguns. Even cops who wear duty jackets or longer car coats need to adjust their skills to any variances in their seasonal clothing. Sure, it can be a bit easier for uniform use, as some car coats may have had side cuts so they could be opened and fastened around the gun belt holsters, but inclement weather and having a rain-soaked weapon and holster can still be a concern. The standard 'Tuffy' jackets can simply be lifted up and over the holstered weapon to give some clearance.

I remember attending an outside training week created for plainclothes and 'street enforcement' folks who wore low profile clothing, and one of the requirements of the class was that cops attending had to bring and wear realistic plainclothes or discreet clothing appropriate to their assignments, and which specifically concealed their belt weapons. Students were told that no camera or fishing vests would be allowed. ;) It was being held in the end of winter, so the temps were cold when using the various outdoor ranges at the hosting agency. One of the topics was to acquaint students with how to draw from under different types and layers of concealment garments, and require they demonstrate the ability in various range sessions throughout the week.

Now, while my plainclothes assignment allowed me to wear a lightweight suit or sport coat, I decided to dress more appropriate for weather conditions that week, and even used different layers. Why not? I often did that when working my other assignment as an instructor on our own outdoor ranges. A sweat shirt, under a zippered fleece and/or a long ski parka. If I could qualify drawing from under those types of concealment garments, I didn't expect my usual sport/suit coat, and the occasional dress rain coat, I wore in my normal duties to be problematic. Train hard, to learn to hope to fight easy, right?

Bottom line, when the basic drill assessment of drawing from under concealment garments and engaging a threat target was done at the beginning of the class, I was able to do the timed drill in less than 1.5 seconds on the first try, which was the recommended goal of the class. By the end of the week I managed to take almost half a second off that time, even wearing the layers.

I still think of the lessons taught in that class when I wear my various retirement clothing, no matter whether I'm wearing a belt-scabbarded weapon or one pocket-holstered ... and that class was a little more than 20 years ago. Of course, it helped that when I'd returned to my own agency I continued to practice drawing and presentation wearing various clothing that was appropriate for seasonal conditions, and I'd thanked the then-head instructor for making us practice that sort of thing as members of the firearms training unit. (Ditto being able to clear stoppages while moving, and even going prone to roll under concealment or cover, but that was another story of lessons applied during that week's training. :) )
 
While everyone is focused on drawing their weapons... we made a point of looking at tactics for close quarter encounters for our officers - all those years ago (but I'm afraid the knowledge was not passed along very well at all...). Basic stuff in any encounter - first -keep your distance, never be close enough for a possible opponent to grab you - and before that, every foot of distance between you and potential trouble is golden, since it allows you to plan your tactics before the balloon goes up... Secondly, your initial moves while not threatening in themselves provide you with the advantage needed to survive an attack - and win... The moment you sense a problem you should be maneuvering towards cover for you - not for a potential opponent - him (or her) you want out in the open - and in the light if it's a low light situation... As you're moving in a non-threatening manner... prepare to drop anything you're holding (briefcase, clipboard, your phone...) if needed while at the same time un-zipping or un-buttoning whatever you're wearing that will prevent or slow down access to your weapon (if you're armed...). None of this is a threat to a potential opponent - and if the situation turns out to be non-threatening... shouldn't be seen as a threat (unless your'e dealing with someone who's also been trained..).

I'll stop here, much more to be said... as always, in my mind, your tactics in a critical situation are more important than anything else in determining the outcome... One other point to mention - after any critical incident review yours and others actions after the fact if you're able to. If part of a crew have everyone else involved present (police work)... See what worked and what was not a good idea at all. Mistakes recognized are important, changes made even more important for the next mis-addventure...
 
A shoulder hoster might be a better choice for carry under a heavy winter coat/jacket than waistband carry.

In March 2022, an Everett, WA police officer was shot and killed by a psychopath he was arresting, and who was carrying a pistol in a shoulder holster under a heavy winter jacket.
Bianchi shoulder holster in Wisconsin Winters. CZ 97b or Glock 21 carried. This isn't a bad way to carry if your driving either. IWB or even OWB is much too slow with a seat belt.
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I remember the shoulder holster years. Revolvers and pistols. The vertical, horizontal and downward canted ones. Leather, plastic and fabric ones.

For my professional and personal(off-duty) needs, their disadvantages eventually out-weighed some of the advantages. Still have some of the SH's stored away in some of my boxes of holsters, though.

Gave a nice leather 'Miami Vice' style shoulder holster to one of my detective partners. I was no longer interested in wearing it, and he liked it. He had a habit of carrying his full-size can of OC spray in the inside breast pocket of his suit coat (on the same side of his holstered weapon). The can occasionally managed to shift in his movements and engage - and unsnap - the thumb break, and the tension adjustment of the holster eventually let the weapon slip out of the holster. One day, when we got out of our unmarked car and his duty weapon fell on the ground, I told him it was embarrassing to have that happen in Public, and to at least move his damned OC to another pocket. :scrutiny: :neener:
 
Well there have been a number of interesting suggestions. I believe I may look for a different cold weather jacket that might make my access to my carry gun a little easier. As some folks have questioned I don't have to deal with really cold conditions too often. But the situation does come up often enough this time of year...or maybe I'm a wimp. I don't care for the shoulder holster solution myself. But I may try moving the location where I carry normally. The vast majority of the time I carry at 4 o'clock OWB. And of course I need to motivate myself to practice something I will seldom use.
 
Tried a shoulder holster years ago... it lasted about a month. Never tried one since (and that was over years and years of being armed both on and off the job...).

This retiree found a great use for a shoulder rig.
I used it when I was doing off duty stuff and wanted my hand ON THE GUN.
it was easy to have my hand under my jacket and ready to go.
Yes it was not done on a daily basis,for those moments when it looked bad and I might need to go FAST to the gun.
It was always a BUG worn that way,not the primary.
I still own at least a dozen rigs ,but only wear one in the winter if it is a comfort to be that prepped.
 
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