Taking your CW to recreational activities, such as roller coasters and sledding

[GuyWithQuestions]

I know that this topic might sound pointless to some and useful to others, but I was wondering how you take you concealed firearm with you to recreational activities. For example, I'm supposed to go to a sledding activity with a large group of people in a week from now. I usually carry in one of those inside the waist leather holsters (that gives you the option of tucking inside the under shirt), no snaps or anything like that to undo to draw my piece from the holster itself. If doing something like sledding, would something like that bruise you up much if you fell off the sled and hit yourself right where the gun comes across your hip and back? Is there much possibility for it to come loose if you wipe out sledding? I adjust the tightness and check that it's adjusted properly by putting a loaded magazine in the handgun and then shaking the holster lightly to see if it falls out at all, but falling off the sled would have more force. Does anyone have strategies they use while doing activities like sledding?

I was also wondering the other day what those who concealed carry do while going on roller coaster rides? In order for defensive tool to be of use, you need to have it available as often as possible.

I was just curious what everyone does.

 

[Winchester 73]

No sledding in Florida,but if there were,my Glock 36 would be going downhill with me.
Think 24/7.Including roller coaster rides.
The right rig will overcome all obstacles.

 

[GuyWithQuestions]

Winchester 73,

Do you use any special type of holster on roller coasters, or is that not really needed as long as you've adjusted the tightness?

 

[Joey_the_Wolf]

Last Saturday I went to the South East Florida fair and rode all the "scary" rides at least twice each. There was one where it's like this "cage" type thing where you are somewhat reclined inside with another person next to you and it goes around like a ferris wheel, only the enclosed gondolas also spin 360 degrees and generally end up pulling alot of negative and positive G's. I guess somewhere in the neighborhood of 3-4 g's, or so it felt like... Basically, you end up spinning like in 3 different directions at once, very fast. It was extremely fun (if you are into that sort of thing), however, my flashlight, my wallet, and smaller assorted items like change and chapstick ended up on the floor, on the roof, smacked against the cage's side, smacked against my lady friend next to me, and generally thrashed all about. I was wearing cargo pants at the time, and I thought these items were secure. They were not... Had it not been for the cage, those items would have ended up somewhere amongst the public. Heck, I was SITTING on my wallet, and it was inside a closed pocket, and it still ended up on the floor next to my friend.
Had I been carrying a pistol in an unsnapped holster and spare mags in my pockets at the time they would have probably ended up all over the place, and that would definitely be a very very bad thing. It's a negligent/accidental discharge waiting to happen if a handgun comes loose and flies across the ride. It was a learning experience for me, because now I think "what if I had been armed". I would have never thought about that because one never encounters G forces and unusual fast movements like that in day to day life. So yes, in short, the proper gear is very very very important when carrying on themeparks with "fun" rides, or other places where things might get rough and random.

 

[Standing Wolf]

My life is worth defending wherever I am.

 

[Keegan]

Since I assume you'll be wearing a big, fat winter coat, what about an OWB holster with thumb break? Or an ankle holster?

 

[MarshallDodge]

The most rigorous activity for me while carrying is dirt bike riding. I put my Kahr in a fanny pack along with a GPS, flashlight, leatherman, etc. and don't have any issues.

 

[Winchester 73]

Do you use any special type of holster on roller coasters, or is that not really needed as long as you've adjusted the tightness?

Guy,I wear the Milt Sparks Versa Max II IWB,with Kramer Leather 1 1/4 belt to secure my Glock 36(.45ACP).
This rig is incredibly secure and I feel confident with virtually ANY activity.

http://www.kramerleather.com
http://www.miltsparks.com

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

I was just curious what everyone does.

As I lost interest in sledding years before I was old enough to carry, I've never found it to be an issue.

 

[gunsmith]

I'm supposed to try snowboarding soon

I was wondering the same thing myself

 

[86thecat]

I usually carry a Glock 20 in OWB with thumb break when cross country skiing or on horseback, haven't had any problems with retention even with the occasional wreck. In most areas the chamber is empty because the chance of an AD outweighs the need to cycle the action (imho).

 

[chris in va]

+1. Just carry it without chambering a round. I'd probably just zip my P11 in a jacket pocket or something.

Interestingly, Hershey Park doesn't run you through a metal detector, just asks to see your bag. King's Dominion on the other hand...jeez.

 

[GuyWithQuestions]

That would be so weird to carry it around without a round in the chamber, even dangerous because it could take down reaction time if I had to use it. My personal safety device is a Springfield XD, which has a firing pin block so that it's not supposed to go off unless you pull the trigger. I've heard they've done tests on handguns with firing pin blocks where they drop them on cement and they don't fire even with a round in the chamber?

Maybe I could just put it into the supplied XD gear holster (which holds onto the the gun quite well even if every other aspect about them is worthless) and zip that up into one of my coat pockets. I guess having it on me even in a coat pocket is better than not having it at all. Then I could put some padding between the gun and me so that if I fall on it it won't cause pain.

 

[RKBABob]

I'm going to recommend a fanny pack for the rollercoasters. Dorky as they might look, its the only way you'll be able to hang on for dear life on the rides, and not worry about what your concealed handgun is doing. You'll see a lot of fanny packs at the amusement parks... mostly worn by people who are concerned that their wallets will go flying, or fall out onto their seat as they exit the ride. If you have a zippered pocket on your clothes, that would be even better.

+25 on an empty chamber. You might have good trigger discipline now... but how aout when you feel your gun slipping while being thrown upside down toward the ground?

As for sledding, I think a zippered pocket or fanny pack would do wonders to keep your gun from being packed with snow.

I guess I'd be more concerned with keeping the darned thing clean and secure in these situations, and less concerned with getting to it in a hurry. Its a compromise.