Newbie Transitioning from Hip to Concealed Carry
Greetings everyone!
What a great forum you've got here! I've already learned a lot and have miles of reading ahead of me I'm sure.
I've been "gun naked" since leaving the organization where I carried one professionally on my hip. As a new "concealed protection" packer, I have so many questions. I've not made a purchase yet. I can't can't figure out an armed response to the "10 feet - 3 seconds - someone loses" scenario. I'm used to arriving "on scene" with a team on an L.E. platform, everyone with one in the chamber - single action ready. Now I have to get the darned thing off my ankle or out of my pants, put one in the chamber, and fix my sight. I think my 3 seconds are up.
Anyone had real world L.E. experience who could make a reasonable translation to concealed carry techniques for me? I don't want to shoot at ANYONE, but I've had to before and with the new entanglements of concealment, I still want to be able to retrieve my weapon, deter my attacker without shooting if possible (I never believed in "if you pull it, you fire it") and shoot cleanly and safely if necessary - all within my 3 second life expectancy.
I'm won't ask the "what's the best concealed gun question". I've already read some excellent posts about that. I'm looking at a Glock 23, a Springfield XD 40, an MK40 and an S&W M&P 45ACP or a S&W short 357MAG - all with Crimson Trace or equivallent.
Up until now, I've always handled "situations" with a short tactical 20GA, but they don't conceal very well when I have to go into towns where walking around carrying a shotgun makes dishonest people nevervous
Thanks for "being here" for guys like me.
Armed N. Free