Share some little things

[DeepSouth]

There have always been a few 'little things' I do to help keep an advantage. Some of these things I wan't even really aware I did until I started carrying. I figured we could share some of the little things we do almost by nature so others can possibly pick up good habits.

I'll start, anytime I'm in a public building like a restaurant I will be sitting where I can see the door, I will also be sitting with my back to the wall if possible. I have done this as long as I can remember but I didn't really notice until I started carrying.

In another thread I noticed people talking about being sure to keep room between you and the car in front of you in a drive through so you could leave if you had to, that's a good idea. I'm one of the people that tries to make room for the folks behind me and pull up a good bit. That is what gave me the idea for this thread.


If you have any little tricks you do to help you with strategies and/or tactics, share them. Someone like me may benefit from them.

 

[JDoe]

If I am approached on the street by an unknown person I position myself so the light is in his eyes and I have a clear exit if I need to run.

 

[smince]

I always try to use a stall instead of a urinal. It would be very easy for someone to pin at least one arm by just shoving you against the wall.

I leave the space between vehicles at traffic lights or stop signs also, not just drive-thru's.

 

[meytind]

I always try to use a stall instead of a urinal. It would be very easy for someone to pin at least one arm by just shoving you against the wall.

I leave the space between vehicles at traffic lights or stop signs also, not just drive-thru's.

This. I also always try to sit with my back to a wall with a view of the exit at restaurants like your mentioned.

 

[WTBguns10kOK]

Move out of a crowded area of the country. It's like 10,000 in 1.
That and always working on peripheral vision. No need to look to see.

 

[markallen]

When I walk in a parking lot, I walk in the center of the right of way, and stay away from walking along cars. Same as when I walk down a sidewalk, I split the difference between the curb, and buildings.
I listen for noises, such as car doors, dropped keys. Sometimes you can even catch a whiff of tobacco of someone standing behind something.
I also glance for shadows under cars, and between cars. Sometimes you will see a cast shadow before you even see someone walking between, cars and buildings.
And the whole time I'm walking I will glance around, and even behind me. Not enough to draw attention to myself, but just enough to know what is around me.

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // Practice weak hand, start with .22s and don't stop moving up until you can shoot your carry choice.

Carry a small camera preferably video capable.You can photograph documents, display positions of individuals at the scene ... all might come in handy in the event you need to respond with force and defend yourself in court, months later.
Even interview bystanders if you have the chance.

Carry a trigger lock or cable with a tag attached containing your name, address, phone number, just in case you need to surrender your firearm or leave it unattended.

Carry a map book of the state or states you frequent in your vehicle.

Carry a whistle, not too many BGs are going to be blowing a whistle trying to get the LEOs attention. Most folks will at least look in the direction of the sound. If down and weak it could be your only way of getting noticed. Heck give one to a friend.

I too like to sit in the corner with a view of the entrance/exit. I think everyone should read all the Louis L'amour novels several times for tips like this and other tricks to look out for and to use. Why not have fun reading with a few good tidbits thrown in.

Never be overconfident.

Don't rely on someone you are with to be aware for you.

Public bathrooms are tricky, if there is too much risk I say do #1 in a gatoraid bottle in the car and hold #2 until a more suitable place comes along. A lady friend who travels where there are few bathrooms between stops has a form fitting funnel for this, I think she obtained it from the hospital.

Know where you are in case something happens and keep solutions simple.

Keep someone informed of your plans especially if leaving for a number of days.

If you are going somewhere you are extremly glad you have a firearm. Take two, preferably in the same caliber using the same mags. or utilizing the same speed loaders.

A strong flashlight on pulse is a great first response, if it was nothing say you thought it was on regular beam, if it is something you have them cold. Whenever I'm alone at the indoor range I shut off all the lights I can and practice shooting from 21 feet in with my flash light on pulse. At night I carry the light and a multitool in a swivel pouch left side. I just swivel foward and turn it on weak hand and fire strong hand or two handed.

I look foward to reading others tidbits, thanks for the opportunity.

 

[ilikepancakes]

Practice shooting in realistic positions, like with a cell phone between your shoulder and cheek, from the ground on your side, or with a bulky object under your other arm. You'll feel stupid doing it but might be useful someday!

 

[TheProf]

1. Keep your situational awareness in extra high alert...when leaving your front door and walking up to your car. Do the same when arriving at your house (especially if you are the first one home). You never know who may be waiting.

2. When walking in the parking lot...get in the habit of scanning to your left and right. Ge that head swiveling from left to right....and be able to mentally acknowledge the movement every person within your 100 feet.

3. Upon entering your car... immediately lock your doors. Do this even before starting the ignition of your car.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

I used to undo my belt and unbutton the top button of my pants to pee.

...Then a buddy of mine got the crap beat out of him while peeing. When he let go, his pants dropped to his knees and he couldn't run, get into a good stance to keep from falling over, or widen his base to throw a good punch...

Now I only pee out of the zipper and don't undo my belt or pants button. If it came down to it, you could still run or fight with your roger dodger flopping around out of your fly.

1. Sprint for cover
2. Return fire
3. Tuck wiener in
4. Zip fly up

The order of 1 and 2 could be switched or done simultaneously depending on the situation. The order for 3 and 4... not so much...

 

[JohnKSa]

1. When you arrive somewhere in your vehicle GET OUT and walk briskly to the door. I see people who park and then sit in the car another 5 or 10 minutes doing stuff in their vehicle before they get out. That gives a predator a LONG time to decide if he wants to move in, to pick a reasonably favorable moment to do so, or time to maneuver around to intercept the person on their way to the door when they finally do get out.

2. When you walk out to your car, get in, lock your doors, START IT and DRIVE AWAY. As above, I see a lot of people who get into their cars and sit there for quite some time before finally leaving--that gives a predator a lot of time to maneuver and approach.

3. Have a flashlight. These days they make very small and convenient flashlights that put out a LOT of light. Besides the unlikely possibility that you might need one for a tactical situation, they frequently come in very handy for more mundane tasks.

 

[heron]

Cities are full of highly reflective surfaces that can be used as mirrors to help you spot potential trouble. Look -- THINK!

 

[tnhillbilly]

As far as situational awareness in urban areas when walking out and about:

1) I keep my eyes moving at all times, looking for shady characters/activities at least a 1/2 block ahead. I try to anticipate potential problems before I am within speaking distance.

2) When walking I try to be perceptive of footsteps behind me. If a sunny day out, when applicable, I pay attention to shadows cast on the ground around me to "see" what is going on behind me.

3) Similarly, I employ reflections from store and car windows to see who/what is going on behind me. That glass makes a pretty good mirror.

4) Peripheral vision is your friend. I am blessed with an exceptionally wide field of vision, so I can get a pretty good idea of what's going on around me without having to rubberneck around. Handy for watching those shadows and windows too.

 

[HunterBear71]

I like to park a little distance away from other cars in the lot if possible. I have to walk a little further, but i feel like it is more difficult for someone to hide near my vehicle or sneak up to it while i am in it.

 

[h20fowl]

NEVER carry a bag, purse, backpack, laptop or anything else in your gun hand!!!!
At stop signs or lights never pull even with a car all ready stoped, make them turn around if they want to look at you. If your the first vehicle at a stop, stop short, youd be amased at how many people pull right up to the intersection, again putting you slightly behind them you can watch them in their vehicles and they have too make a effort to look back at you.

 

[Corporal K]

When I encounter shady-looking characters, I always lock eyes with them for a second or two, then look away as opposed to look down. I'm not giving them the hard stare or "mad-dogging", but just a look of "I see you and I'm not hardly scared".

 

[Oyeboten]

If you carry, keep your Gun clean, and well lubed, and check function now and then...ideally, by some Range time practice. Learn to take it apart for thorough cleaning and lubing, as lint, dust, and who knows what can and will get deeply into it and into it's mechanism over time and carry.

Car wise, if passing into conditions which seem iffy, consider to have the Arm under your right thigh rather than where-ever it would otherwise have been.


Keep your Vehicle's Gasolene Tank topped off as a matter of habit, so it stays 3/4 full or better...keep your Tires looked after and no worn ones...same with all round vehicle upkeep - Brakes, everything, so as to avoid inconvenient stops or breakdowns in possibly compromising situations or environs.

Be a polite, courteous and patient Driver...allowing others their impetuousities, aggressions, poor manners or amentias with no pointed interest or emotional involvement, deftly slowing or turning off if need be, or otherwise letting them pass on ahead where you are out of their way, and not a candidate of their potential interest or mishap, and where you can then not worry about them being next to or behind you or interested in entering into contests of resentment with you.

Observe the Widsoms of Nature - wherein, no aggressing or predatory Animal is guarenteed of being patronized by any would be prey...and the wisest of would-be-prey, have already elected not to be 'there' in the first place, having sensed or noticed in the literal or figurative winds, things/conditions/entities/probabilities, they prefer to avoid.

 

[Dunkelheit]

When i drive somewhere by car i always park it in that direction iam planning to leave later. In public garages i reverse into the parking space.

 

[KodiakBeer]

Interesting stuff, much of which I've never considered. I live in a small town and only worry about matters when I visit Los Anchorage or go out of state. When I travel, I check ccw reciprocity with my own Alaska permit (the only reason I keep my permit current, now that they've done away with the need).

The only thing I can add, is to do your practice shooting in the proverbial old gravel pit instead of at a range. You can practice in a 180 degree arc, from awkward positions and at various ranges and various sized objects. For example, I recently shot one-handed out of my car window with my seatbelt on at an object to my left-rear, just to see how accurate I could be and check both my carry pieces for limp-wristing jams. Sounds silly, but I did that after watching this series of limp wristing tests:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh9JhCyFFxA&feature=related

I suspect if I get in trouble, my opponent won't stand still at seven yards while I double-tap him from a practiced Weaver stance. I'll probably be grappling with him, or he'll be coming at me from behind, or grabbing me through the window of my car.

 

[Guillermo]

when sitting in a booth I always try to have my strong hand towards the wall, less likely to be constrained

 

[Shawn Dodson]

Keep a simple sketch map of your commute route in your vehicle, with major cross streets and landmarks identified along the way, so you can quickly identify your location in case you need to call 9-1-1 for any reason. Include compass points so you can report if you're north/south/east or west of an intersection or landmark.

When entering a public establishment take note of emergency exits and opportunities for cover/concealment. Also take note if the chairs are sturdy enough to break out a window. If you sit in a booth, sit on the outside, facing the entrance. If you have to use force to save a life do it with surprise, move off the X, and be ruthless.

If somebody approaches you on the street and asks, "What time is it?", look them right in the eye and hold your arm out so they can read the time for themselves off your wristwatch. It creates an unexpected situation and causes his/her OODA Loop to reset.

If a "panhandler" requests money tell him/her, "Sorry, I don't have any cash.", and drive-on.

When I walked through downtown Seattle at night, after a ball game, concert, or a night out with the boys, I'd carry my flashlight in my support hand to create an ambiguous situation for potential bad guys (e.g., "What's that guy got in his hand?").

If you suspect that somebody is attempting to converge on you while walking through a parking lot, slow down your pace or change direction and observe how the person(s) reacts to the change.

 

[Mainsail]

Sometimes I crouch behind a dumpster or in a dark corner and ambush whoever runs by. If the distance is short, I swap from my rifle to my shotgun to try to drop the SOB with as little ammunition expended as possible. If their weapon is better than mine or my ammo is low, I’ll pick up their weapon. I try not to waste my grenades on a single kill. I’ll throw a flash-bang if I think there’s someone hiding in a room before entering.

Well, that’s what I do in Call of Duty. In real life I just live and breathe and have my being while maintaining situational awareness.

 

[Coyote3855]

In another thread in this section, a poster commented on carrying while running. He said even his I-pod bothers him while he runs.

So here's my little thing: I never wear an I-Pod or talk on a cell phone when I'm walking. Situational awareness goes 'way down.

 

[smince]

consider to have the Arm under your right thigh rather than where-ever it would otherwise have been.

I'd disagree with this. If you are rammed, your gun can go flying and you may not be able to reach it. IIRC, this happened to one of the agents in the 1986 FBI/Miami shoot-out.

Better to keep it in the holster and practice drawing from there while seated in the vehicle.

 

[TheProf]

1. Call me boring......but I think this is a wise advise. Avoid bad guys by avoiding certain times and places where statistically they are more likely to be found. I try to avoid the "night life"...bars, clubs, etc.

2. Keep night time shopping, traveling to a minimum.