Your personal carry rules/guidelines

[Ks5shooter]

Never leave home without it.

 

[sparkyv]

I am going to add this to my carry routine:

I carry a money clip with $100-$200 worth of cash and two prepaid VISA cards. It is to throw down if I get mugged.

It is a great idea, and I do have an extra wallet (though a money clip may be better so as not to accidentally throw down the wallet with my actual credit cards and various IDs and insurance cards in it).

Armored Farmer's throwdown is a good idea.

 

[Old Dog]

I ain't ever carrying a "throw-down" wallet with one or two hundred bucks and a couple pre-paid VISA cards in it... Maybe my old wallet with my sister's library card that expired in 1996, five ones and an Amazon gift card with no money left on it.

 

[Armored farmer]

I ain't ever carrying a "throw-down" wallet with one or two hundred bucks and a couple pre-paid VISA cards in it... Maybe my old wallet with my sister's library card that expired in 1996, five ones and an Amazon gift card with no money left on it.

I get that......
I use my NRA LIFE MEMBER money/card clip with pride.

When we go boating or to the beach, I leave my billfold secured elsewhere.
When I'm in a hotel, the card key fits in the cardholder. I can pull it from my pocket and hold the money/ card holder up to the card reader and it unlocks.
I keep a stack of $ingles ready to peel off for gratuity.....
It's personal choice, but I carry a decent amount of cash in it just so I don't have all my eggs in one basket.

 

[SterlingBullet]

Who here has thought it out and has a personal set of carry rules or at least guidelines? Who is flexible in their guidelines?

I have a personal carry philosophy: strong side carry, mostly IWB (when occasionally OWB, it's in the exact same spot), higher capacity (to the greatest practical degree), 9mm or more powerful, while I don't have one gun that I carry I do try to keep the manual of arms as similar as possible for simplicity (DA revolver, DA/SA auto for DA first shot and no external safety, or striker fired with no external safety), and I think I should carry either a reload or a backup gun (even if I never need the extra ammo, a new mag can fix a number of issues with an auto).

Well, I do usually keep to it, but not 100%.

I occasionally carry a snub in my pocket. When I do, it is usually as a backup gun (a 2nd gun is a faster reload than speed strips, speed loaders or a 2nd mag). However, I do sometimes carry in my pocket (even when it isn't a backup).

Even when pocket carrying a backup, I do follow the strong side rule. However, I've been thinking about carrying a backup (when I carry a backup) on my left/weak side in case my right arm is needed or is injured. Still, if I do that eventually, my primary will still be on my strong side IWB or (rarely) OWB but in the same spot (just a little behind the 3:00 position).

Reloads: Except when I carry a backup gun (usually in the late fall to early spring, i.e. jacket and coat weather), or a revolver with speed strips, I rarely carry an extra mag. It isn't too bad for my P365, but when carrying my PCR, a 2nd 15 round mag takes up almost as much pocket or belt space as a backup snub or P365 with 10 round mag would take. Though, except in the winter, instead of taking the backup instead of the extra mag, I usually go without either. The only time I consistently take a reload, is when I carry a revolver (speed strips carry pretty unobtrusively).

I prefer at least 10 rounds, and more is better. Pre-Bruen (when I carried part-time only when out of state on my UT non-res permit) I thought I'd mostly carry my PCR. Once I got my MD permit, I found I prefer to carry my P365 with a 12 round mag most of the time. 13 rounds (12+1) isn't bad, and it takes up so much less space than the PCR with a penalty of only 3 rounds. I also sometimes carry an 8+1 round 1911 (quite rarely though). That makes more sense than the next one... Despite preferring capacity when I carry an auto (and I would never carry a 6-8 round 9mm again), I feel pretty comfortable carrying a 6 shot revolver and a speed strip or two.

That brings me to my MOA semi-standardization, while I nearly always carry a gun with a DA first trigger pull and no external safety, maybe 5-10 days a year I find myself wanting to carry my S&W 1911SC and giving in to that desire.

Anyone else think out a set of rules/carry philosophy, yet remain flexible in their execution?

Who here has thought it out and has a personal set of carry rules or at least guidelines? Who is flexible in their guidelines?

I have a personal carry philosophy: strong side carry, mostly IWB (when occasionally OWB, it's in the exact same spot), higher capacity (to the greatest practical degree), 9mm or more powerful, while I don't have one gun that I carry I do try to keep the manual of arms as similar as possible for simplicity (DA revolver, DA/SA auto for DA first shot and no external safety, or striker fired with no external safety), and I think I should carry either a reload or a backup gun (even if I never need the extra ammo, a new mag can fix a number of issues with an auto).

Well, I do usually keep to it, but not 100%.

I occasionally carry a snub in my pocket. When I do, it is usually as a backup gun (a 2nd gun is a faster reload than speed strips, speed loaders or a 2nd mag). However, I do sometimes carry in my pocket (even when it isn't a backup).

Even when pocket carrying a backup, I do follow the strong side rule. However, I've been thinking about carrying a backup (when I carry a backup) on my left/weak side in case my right arm is needed or is injured. Still, if I do that eventually, my primary will still be on my strong side IWB or (rarely) OWB but in the same spot (just a little behind the 3:00 position).

Reloads: Except when I carry a backup gun (usually in the late fall to early spring, i.e. jacket and coat weather), or a revolver with speed strips, I rarely carry an extra mag. It isn't too bad for my P365, but when carrying my PCR, a 2nd 15 round mag takes up almost as much pocket or belt space as a backup snub or P365 with 10 round mag would take. Though, except in the winter, instead of taking the backup instead of the extra mag, I usually go without either. The only time I consistently take a reload, is when I carry a revolver (speed strips carry pretty unobtrusively).

I prefer at least 10 rounds, and more is better. Pre-Bruen (when I carried part-time only when out of state on my UT non-res permit) I thought I'd mostly carry my PCR. Once I got my MD permit, I found I prefer to carry my P365 with a 12 round mag most of the time. 13 rounds (12+1) isn't bad, and it takes up so much less space than the PCR with a penalty of only 3 rounds. I also sometimes carry an 8+1 round 1911 (quite rarely though). That makes more sense than the next one... Despite preferring capacity when I carry an auto (and I would never carry a 6-8 round 9mm again), I feel pretty comfortable carrying a 6 shot revolver and a speed strip or two.

That brings me to my MOA semi-standardization, while I nearly always carry a gun with a DA first trigger pull and no external safety, maybe 5-10 days a year I find myself wanting to carry my S&W 1911SC and giving in to that desire.

Anyone else think out a set of rules/carry philosophy, yet remain flexible in their execution?

That is quite a list of rules and guidelines; from your own extensive personal experience for sure. My rules are similar to what PapaG said: Have a gun, Be familiar with it, Practice meaningfully, Be insured, Know the laws, Carry it. I personally need to practice more and carry more frequently.

 

[commygun]

Great thread, with lots to think about for the inexperienced. A sticky in the making?

 

[The Night Rider]

I ain't ever carrying a "throw-down" wallet with one or two hundred bucks and a couple pre-paid VISA cards in it... Maybe my old wallet with my sister's library card that expired in 1996, five ones and an Amazon gift card with no money left on it.

I'd add a note cursing the thief

 

[wayneinFL]

I ain't ever carrying a "throw-down" wallet with one or two hundred bucks and a couple pre-paid VISA cards in it... Maybe my old wallet with my sister's library card that expired in 1996, five ones and an Amazon gift card with no money left on it.

I agreed with you for a second. Then I realized a $100 bill is like a $20 nowadays. Not exaggerating- when I first got married, I went grocery shopping with 3 $20s in my wallet, and tried to spend about $40. Now I bring 3 $100s and try to keep it at $200.

IF they do bother to look at it, $5 is going to tell them it's a fake. Kids get more than that from the tooth fairy.