Practical NOT "Tactical" CCW equipment , training, & practice

[Glamdring]

I think I am getting very close to an optimum selection of gear for CCW/self defense.

I carry a pocket gun 24/7, front strong side (almost always a j frame, occasinally a P32). Also carry two folders an Endura (weakside rear pocket) & Native (strongside rear pocket).

I have never found Surefires useful inside buildings (they are to bright and blind me more than help) so my surefire rides in my car. I do carry a LED (red to save night vision) & leatherman micra on my keychain. Also carry a mini lighter (backup lighting & firestarter for outdoor/winter survival), with practice you can move around in very dark locations using the sparkwheel on the lighter for light.

I plan to get a pager like case to hold P32 and spare ammo for J frame. This will be worn on weak side for stronghand cross draw. Will allow for easy access if seated.

I am also working on offbody/car carry system that will hold 357 & ammo (most likely 20 rounds of 38+P in a box works in J frame and 357, plus 4 speedloaders; 2 with hardcast 180 LBT bullets and 2 with magnum HP's and a few other survival items (first aid, space blanket, etc. A mini BOB, have full size BOB in trunk this will ride near driver.)

I am also planning to get a vest. Had an incident at my night job few weeks ago, at a hotel I am night manager, that changed my mind about vests. Was kicking someone out for smoking pot. Had LEO there, but they made me be point (knock on door and confront guest), while they stood out of the line of fire.

To be fair I didn't expect weapon from this guy & I don't think the cops did. I was the only one to kept eye on his hands the whole time (the LEO let him get completely out of their sight at least twice. Anyway after he packed up and left then the LEO asked me if they could search room & then we found his stash and gun (older 22 auto wasn't colt but reminded me of Woodsman).

It took a long time to get him to answer the door when I knocked on it. I feel that it was very likely that he was covering the door with his 22 pistol and the long time after he realized who was there till he opened door was when he hid it. BTW I ended up have to show the LEO how to safe the gun, they couldn't figure out the heel mag release.

Anyway, that incident made me rethink vests. Once the door was open and I could see him, don't think it would have made a difference, but if he started shooting thru the door it could have.

***
Looking for serious suggestions on what I can do to improve at this point. Practical suggestions! I don't really care about weapon mounted lights or arguements about difference between this caliber or that caliber.

What I really would like is thoughts and experience from people who have had to deal with interpersonal conflict. Doesn't have to involve shooting. I deal with far more aggressive drunks than undead ninja grizzley bears.

I work out, weight lifting (I'm 5'10, 205 lbs & growing) every week.

When working the night job I do DT drills just about every night. Not full workouts with a partner. I usually spend 15 to 30 minutes a night (around 3:00 am when the normal world is sleeping) doing drills with the knifes in front of a mirror (rest room off lobby can be locked so I don't have to worry about sticking someone by accident, or that the boss might catch me ).

And I can almost always work in some simple empty handed stuff when standing behind front desk counter (1 & 3 step type drills or wing chun type chain punching).

I don't get to the shooting range as much as I would like, only average once a month would be lot happier with twice a month but I work 3 jobs. I do dry fire every week at home.

I am looking for ideas and advice other than the common bla bla about going to a shooting school. I could squeeze the money out for that if I felt it was worth the money. But to be honest, I am not very likely to need to shoot someone. And if I do it is going to be at close range with a pocket gun. I don't think Thunder Ranch or Gunsite or whatever is going to give me enough bang for my buck. I do think would be a better shooter after one of those classes, will probably go someday, but would rather spend the money right now on a class that taught verbal judo for dealing with aggressive drunks.

Example only drunk that I have had to deal with that I was ready to use lethal force on was an off duty LEO (wedding party) that tried to climb over counter after me (he must do this all the time, two of his non-LEO buddies grabbed him right away). I am fit enough that I am not worried about dealing with most of the drunks.

I felt that "reasonable man," would justified in being afraid of death or grave bodily harm from an off duty cop (he said he was a cop) that was drunk and aggressive & part of a group (he is only person that ever tried to climb over the front desk in the almost 3 years I have worked there).

My planned response was to go for headlock followed by headcrank or thumb to eyeball if he insisted on being unreasonable. Plan B was to bash his head with one of the various blunt objects on the counter. Plan C was to use weapon (there was crowd behind him, rest of wedding party).

He was only bad apple in the group. I just wish there had been some non threatening way to explain to him or his friends that he needed to get some mental help (he wasn't a local cop).

 

[Aikibiker]

The vest sounds like a good idea. Check out your local pawn shops and see if you can find a good deal on an old kevlar one. That is how I got mine. Also you might see about adding a leather jacket to your wardrobe. It shouldn't look to out of place in MN and can provide a degree of protection from knives.

I personally don't put much faith into knife drills. I have found that whenever I try to get fancy in sparring matches I tend to do silly things like cut myself. What I have found works best for me is the "folsom rush" basically you hold your knife in a convulsive grip either point up or down. If it is a folder make sure your grip isn't affecting the locking mechanism. Then rushing close to your opponent if possible try to take control of part of his body with your off hand. I like grabbing his right arm and using my left to "pump" the kidneys. I am a southpaw though so this may not work for you. Get some rubber training knives and some friends and play a game of cuts. The only rules to this game is first to three cuts to the opponent wins. (you might want to include eye protection though, I almost took out a friends eye once)

As always with any advice from the internet your mileage will almost certainly vary.

I would also suggest upgrading to a minimag light. They can make a useful fist load. (Not a kobutan, I don't know how to use one of those things, but I do know how to wrap my fingers around something solid like a roll of quarters to make my punches hurt more.)

Have you looked at www.donrearic.com there is some good information there.

 

[Glamdring]

Thanks for the comments.

I do plan to get a leather jacket, but I am still paying off college loans and don't have lots of spare cash. And I am still adding muscle mass with weight lifting (thinking at least 20 lbs and maybe 40) so am waiting on buying jacket.

My knife drills aren't fancy. I basically practice 2 or 3 combinations with each hand. Main combinations are attacking opponents weapon arm/leading arm while flanking. And lowline (gut/groin/upper thigh) slash and stab followed by shove with empty hand (this is basic defense against contact weapon, hurt them and then just stay out of their reach). Sometimes I will practice quick snap cuts at face or hand.

 

[82DABN]

Your most important weapon is your brain, all else is supplemental. Work on combat imagery while you are at work. Study the layout, think what you will do if and when something happens. The man with the knife. The drunk with the "gun" in his pocket, the multiple assailant attack. The power outage/ no phone/ shot fired. The woman screaming and the two guys walking away that see you as a witness. All the guns and knives, and pounds you bench mean nothing if you are not mentally and spiritually ready to defend yourself, possibly to the point of death.

You will never make your brain,heart or balls any bigger when you lift weights. I am a well over 6 foot, well over 200 pound, 20 year law enforcement and military veteran who has attended thousands of training hours involving the whole "tactical rainbow" and believe me, I found that if you are not MENTALLY prepared to take action(s) necessary for survival, you are doomed to luck and good fortune.

When the bullets, knives, punches start flying, it all goes to hell pretty quick. But with a good, solid mental plan, you can survive almost anything.

Keep it simple... Barry Bonds, possibly the best hitter of all time, still takes simple batting practice everyday.

 

[JShirley]

Hey, Guy, just got the FIST IWB Kydex holster in for my P-32 in tonight. Feels great, very low-observability, and faster and less liable to get me jammed up w/ hand in pocket. I'll let you know how I like it after a few weeks.

The Twin-Task lights from Streamlight are a really great option. (I buy LED's from Cases 4 Less.) These lights are very sturdy, cost effective, and have both LED and Xenon options. I bought their 2 cell Lithium for Byron for Christmas, and gave it to him early, since we've spent so much time in the woods. I have a 3 AA version en route for me. This particular model will give you about 80 hours of LED light that is very bright, but not "too" bright, like tac Xenons are in a lot of instances. Also, should make a good impact tool, that you can keep in your hand without attracting notice. (Used in a kubotan manner; too short to swing like MagLite.)

Best,

John