Speed VS Power

[Alan Fud]

We all know that a .25 that you have with you can do more damage than a .45 left home in the safe. Let's change it slightly ... Suppose you work in an office where a tucked in shirt and dress pants is the norm. Wearing a jacket is not an option because it would make you stand out too much when nobody else is wearing one.

Under these conditions, your concealed carry options are limited. You could carry a sub-compact in a serious caliber (for example, a Kahr MK9 or a J-frame swnubbe) in an inside the waist belly band or a pocket gun in a less serious caliber (for example, an NAA Guardian in .32ACP) in your pocket.

In the event of danger, the gun in your pocket is more quickly accessible than the gun in your belly ban but the gun in your belly ban offers greater fire / stopping power.

Which way do you go? A small caliber gun in your pocket that you can bring into action in 2-3 seconds or a more powerful gun that may take twice as long (or longer) to bring into play?

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[10-Ring]

Really would depend on how much training you could really dedicate to your weapon and being able to deploy it effectively.

Bigger is better, but circumstances may dictate something else.

 

[benewton]

I think I'd opt for the pocket weapon.

'course, if the .380 Kel-Tech actually gets out, I'm not so sure I'd feel that weak!

 

[Blackhawk]

9mm Rohrbaugh R-9, which is the same size as a Kel Tec P-32, but it won't debut until mid February.

Meanwhile, in that extra 2-3 seconds getting the bigger gun out of the belly band would take, the BG would have 8 rounds from my P-32 in his body, or 8 of them would have 1 round each.

Mighty valuable seconds, those....

 

[faustulus]

Although every situation is different I would go with speed, because as we know "speed kills"
unless of course you miss.

 

[Art Eatman]

I figure the whole idea is to shoot until the danger is past. If "danger" is from several guys with guns, I'm probably in deep doo-doo no matter what I'm carrying.

What I'd hope is that I can get ready for action before the danger-guy knows I'm ready. If I can do that, I figure that a magazine's worth of misery from even a mouse gun is a good start.

One self-defense advisor opined that dressing for the part is helpful. Sure, it will vary with the job requirements, but he gave the example of a R&R-band's tee-shirt, hospital greens or sweat pants; a Gimme-cap turned backwards: That day-glo green fanny pack will never be thought of as having your 1911-sized critter inside.

, Art

 

[nemesis]

Under these conditions, your concealed carry options are limited.

I carry an Officers Model 45 in a tuckable IWB holster with my shirt tucked in. None of my co-workers have ever "made" me.

I have read that a majority of encounters conclude with the presentation of a defensive firearm and I presume that looking down the open muzzle of my .45 may have somewhat of a deterrent result. If not, 8 rounds of Golden Saber +P can be recharged with the other 7 that I carry.

I see few substantial reasons to rationalize sub-caliber weapons for personal defense. I did say "few".

 

[Poohgyrr]

A good question.

I'm in this situation more often than I care for, and use one of two solutions:

A M640-1 in a Renegade ankle holster with speedstrips. The sock goes over the rig to cover it when I sit and the pant leg rides up. With pants cut right, I can replace the J frame with a G27, but I have to be more careful and this is bulkier.

A S&W 908 with extra mag in a Bianchi Belly Ban, pistol positioned behind the centerline at my right hip. This requires my shirt to be slightly bloused.

I like the J frame a lot, but prefer the 908 as primary. A 3913 would work just as well.

I haven't been made, except by my wife and a friend who really knows me. Even they don't always spot it.