Open Carry Gun Grab

Night Rider said:
I don't know how you would quantify how much is exaggerated.

I will defer to your expertise on whether or not this is common practice but I do have a question to ask you, If that kid hadn't practiced defeating the retention device on that holster how did he manage to get the gun out of the cop's holster that fast?

It may have been pure dumb luck but it sure looked to me like he knew exactly what he was doing when he drew that gun from the cop's holster.
Click to expand...
Well.. if even 5-10% know how to defeat the retention you basically have to anticipate that everyone can. Might be a bit more difficult for LEO because they basically know they are going to jail so in something like a scuffle a desperate person is capable of anything.

They are not all dumb but I wouldnt say they are smart either. Pretty dumb in the long run to be a criminal unless maybe you are going into politics and dont have a moral code. Maybe "opportunistic predator" would be a better word.

Stay safe out there. Im not a huge fan of LE but I do like the few good ones I meet/know. Either way Im not a fan of people not making it home after work. Kinda suprised more LEO dont use lanyards but a lot of these holsters have such good retention now I guess its just overkill.
 
I hear a lot of people talking about how open carry is okay in the woods.

This is the 21st century folks, those are not your daddy's Woods.

Around here, homeless people camp in the woods it's become a popular place for people to cook meth.

There are also a lot of very weird people out there on the trails.

Open carry gives the other guy information. Most people don't know that the other guy has decided to attack them until they do. By the time the other guy decides to attack you he's scoped you out a little bit and you're openly displaying your firearm he's come up with a plan to work around that.
 
Open carry is legal in PA for anyone who can legally buy a gun. I have only ever seen 1 person open carry here in the past 11 years and I am in a small town in the gun friendly part of PA
 
Open carry is legal in my state however I think it is foolish to open carry in town/public places. On my farm and or around my home I open carry off my property out in public if I carry it's out of sight. No need to advertise I'm armed nor to have someone try to take it or make the soccer moms nervous.
 
We taught all kinds of weapon retention skills in the old days. When holsters just had a thumb snap.

As holsters evolved, the training changed. Rather than fighting for the gun, trust the holster to do its job and “Become a blender” on the guy trying to take it. Literally. Try to kill him with your bare hands. Radio. Knife. Ballpoint pen. Your BUG.

For the last 15-20 years of my career. I carried this. In uniform. In the front of my waistband. Accessible to either hand. Totally concealed.

1691341867212.jpeg

That’s what I was going to go for.

I never open carry now that I’m retired. But, if I did, I’d only carry in a duty level holster. And, abide by the same philosophy.

I’m an appendix carry guy. But, lately, I’ve been trying out pocket carry with a P365. I don’t like that I can’t get to it with either hand or, while seated. But, sometimes I want to tuck in my shirt. Look a little more dignified. I’ve taken to carrying that Dozier again.
 
Last edited:
Space Ghost said:
I carry both openly and concealed, but mostly concealed. The only times I OC is when I'm dressed nice and have to have my shirt tucked in. In cases like that, I'm not going into rough areas.
Of course, I've still got my head on a swivel, and I am trained and ready with open hand, and blade techniques to prevent any assailant from successfully gaining control of my weapon.
I'm also blessed to have had my truck blown out from under me in Iraq, and I suffered a TBI, so I have a 93 pound German Shepherd service dog that follows me around everywhere.
I've seen first hand over the years that there are 2 reactions people have around her.
1. Oh she's so cute.
2. Oh crap.. a big ass dog! (as they move quickly away)
She's a good judge of character, and I'm sure she'd help me fend off any attackers. She walks on my gun side.

View attachment 1165106
Click to expand...
Your not alone if you have best friend right at your side!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4548.jpeg
    IMG_4548.jpeg
    155 KB · Views: 9
If I see a civilian open carrying anything like the beauties posted here you can be sure it will immediately draw my attention because I love the darn things. Its a sickness I suppose.

Anyway I tend to agree that OC is not the best way under most circumstances. I seems to me that advertising (unnecessarily) causes more harm than good.
 
I have a theory about open carry.

I strive to be “the grey man”. I carry, concealed. Always.

If I’m sitting in a restaurant, I notice Studley Hungwell sauntering in with his Glock 19 in an Uncle Mikes nylon holster. Generally cocking his hip out to make sure everybody gets a look at the gat he’s carrying.

If a take over robbery goes down, I have a plan.

I’m going to squeal like a little girl and shout: “Oh my God!! Do something, you have a GUN!!” While pointing at him.

I figure that will buy me plenty of time to get a good sight picture and, solve the problem.
 
Bob529 said:
This may seem like a weird question, but do you take your service dog to the range with you so that she is used to the sound of you firing your gun?

More importantly..... Thank you for your service!
Click to expand...
For 9 years she has been with me everywhere... 24/7. Rock concerts, race tracks, movie theaters (with loud soundtracks of gunfire and explosions) ball games with loud boisterous crowds... She's been on boats, planes... Only time I've been away from her in all that time is when she goes to the groomer for a couple hrs, or when I've been in surgery. However, like so many dogs, fireworks, thunder or gunfire just are her kryptonite. Not so much the gunfire, (thunder and fireworks is worse) but she still isn't all that comfy with it. She does have "Mutt Muffs" but generally, when we're at the range or during ceremonies where we have to fire volleys (I've been a VFW commander 7 years and am on the Honor Guard) she stays in the vehicle. (AC or heat on depending on season) Weirdly, other loud noises don't bother her. The .22 with can... no problemo. Wife refers to her as "the other woman".

Here she is just before .38 Special took the stage. Floor seats, maybe 15 rows back, small venue. Great show.

Brandy at .38 special.JPG

Napping at the track with her Mutt Muffs on.

at the track 2.JPG



She's also "internet famous". Just google "If your dog poops" then look for imigas. You should see me holder her up next to a sign. LOL.
 
Last edited:
Space Ghost said:
For 9 years she has been with me everywhere... 24/7. Rock concerts, race tracks, movie theaters (with loud soundtracks of gunfire and explosions) ball games with loud boisterous crowds... She's been on boats, planes... Only time I've been away from her in all that time is when she goes to the groomer for a couple hrs, or when I've been in surgery. However, like so many dogs, fireworks, thunder or gunfire just are her kryptonite. Not so much the gunfire, (thunder and fireworks is worse) but she still isn't all that comfy with it. She does have "Mutt Muffs" but generally, when we're at the range or during ceremonies where we have to fire volleys (I've been a VFW commander 7 years and am on the Honor Guard) she stays in the vehicle. (AC or heat on depending on season) Weirdly, other loud noises don't bother her. The .22 with can... no problemo. Wife refers to her as "the other woman".

Here she is just before .38 Special took the stage. Floor seats, maybe 15 rows back, small venue. Great show.

View attachment 1166117

Napping at the track with her Mutt Muffs on.

View attachment 1166118



She's also "internet famous". Just google "If your dog poops" then look for imigas. You should see me holder her up next to a sign. LOL.
Click to expand...
She is beautiful.
 
Space Ghost said:
For 9 years she has been with me everywhere... 24/7. Rock concerts, race tracks, movie theaters (with loud soundtracks of gunfire and explosions) ball games with loud boisterous crowds... She's been on boats, planes... Only time I've been away from her in all that time is when she goes to the groomer for a couple hrs, or when I've been in surgery. However, like so many dogs, fireworks, thunder or gunfire just are her kryptonite. Not so much the gunfire, (thunder and fireworks is worse) but she still isn't all that comfy with it. She does have "Mutt Muffs" but generally, when we're at the range or during ceremonies where we have to fire volleys (I've been a VFW commander 7 years and am on the Honor Guard) she stays in the vehicle. (AC or heat on depending on season) Weirdly, other loud noises don't bother her. The .22 with can... no problemo. Wife refers to her as "the other woman".

Here she is just before .38 Special took the stage. Floor seats, maybe 15 rows back, small venue. Great show.

View attachment 1166117

Napping at the track with her Mutt Muffs on.

View attachment 1166118



She's also "internet famous". Just google "If your dog poops" then look for imigas. You should see me holder her up next to a sign. LOL.
Click to expand...

Nice doggy! I was raised by two different female German Shepherds as a kid. Dogs are amazing. :)
 
I will stick with concealed carry. Whenever I see someone open carrying, I ask myself why?
In most cases they put theirselves in a position doing day to day tasks that they can be unarmed fairly easily....
When I have carried OWB it is still concealed with a coat or shirt.

Why tell anyone that you have a gun?
Shoot me first?
I want to be a victim?
Rob me with my own gun?

It's like putting a whole bunch of gun stickers on your truck and wonder why it got broken into. And how did the robbers know that you had a pistol in the console 🤔
 
AlexanderA said:
It's all about pro-gun propaganda. Show the world, so as to "normalize" gun carrying.

It doesn't work that way. All you do is antagonize people. (Besides all the tactical adverse consequences, such as being singled out as the first target, having the gun grabbed, and so on.)
Click to expand...
There are other reasons for open carry so it's not as simple as many seem to portray it.

And TTBOMK in all the decades of my personal open carry I have yet to get any negative feedback. But it is as with everything else, a behavior that depends on time and place and execution.
 
Generally alert capable looking people aren't targeted but if you are targeted, having good holster retention is essential as well as having a way to fight with your other hand. Seek out training on this. If you know what you're doing no one's taking your gun unless you're unconscious.
 
  • Like
Reactions: WYO
jar said:
There are other reasons for open carry so it's not as simple as many seem to portray it.

And TTBOMK in all the decades of my personal open carry I have yet to get any negative feedback. But it is as with everything else, a behavior that depends on time and place and execution.
Click to expand...
I open carried for 35 years. In uniform. I was constantly turning my gun side away from people. Jamming my elbow against the gun in crowds. Getting it tangled in seatbelts. Microphone cords. Using a stall instead of a urinal when I peed. Sitting with my back to a wall. In a crowd, standing with my back against a wall. Watching my partners eyes to see if he suddenly snaps over at something.

Now, I carry Concealed. Appendix.

Life is easier.
 
sgt127 said:
I open carried for 35 years. In uniform. I was constantly turning my gun side away from people. Jamming my elbow against the gun in crowds. Getting it tangled in seatbelts. Microphone cords. Using a stall instead of a urinal when I peed. Sitting with my back to a wall. In a crowd, standing with my back against a wall. Watching my partners eyes to see if he suddenly snaps over at something.

Now, I carry Concealed. Appendix.

Life is easier.
Click to expand...
All true but I don't get in crowds, go into stores or restaurants or bars more than once or twice a month. I'm not around microphone cords and haven't used a public restroom in many decades.

I'm not in uniform, but I am old and out of shape and so definitely a target when out and about. But I'm out of my car only a few times; pumping gas, getting mail from the mail boxes in a 55 and older community. I order groceries and restaurant meals online and pick up in my car. If I go to a doctors office or hospital I don't carry.

I live a few mile north of the Rio Grande and so it's hot and humid here so my normal dress is shirt, shorts, shoes and socks. I might wear long pants or a jacket three or five times a year.

Now I carry at my waist but 3-5 whether IWB or OWB and maybe a few times each winter in a Shoulder Holster under an unbuttoned short sleeve shirt.

Life is easier.

We are individuals and so circumstances vary.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
  • Locked
How do you carry? Open or Concealed?
2 3
Replies
50
Views
2K
sansone
S
Good Ol' Boy
  • Locked
Open Carry Talk (literally)
2 3
Replies
50
Views
3K
Frank Ettin
Frank Ettin
C
  • Locked
are police required to open-carry?
2
Replies
29
Views
2K
Art Eatman
A
M
  • Locked
Open Carry, Revolver or Semi
Replies
22
Views
1K
jad0110
J
C
  • Locked
Open carry question
Replies
6
Views
530
rms/pa
R
Back
Top