A Defensive Shooting - What Happens to You After?

Legally carrying a gun, training how and when to use it, understanding of your legal and social responsibilities are all prerequisites for the responsible citizen. Knowing what may happen after one must use a gun in self defense, understanding your legal rights and what you should, and should NOT do, are just as important. The best way to get this vital information is to take a quality class taught by someone with experience, knowledge and your interests at heart. I took such a class offered by Colorado Handgun Safety and wrote about it on this blog:

http://sdcarry.blogspot.com/2012/03/legal-aftermath-of-defensive-shooting.html

This class is being offered again and I urge all of my Colorado readers to attend. Read my blog entry to see why.

This is important!

The Legal Aftermath of Defensive Shooting: Taught by an attorney - A great follow-up for concealed carry permit holders.

This class is three and one-half hour presentation of Colorado concealed carry and firearms law, taught by a practicing attorney. This class will include a review of Colorado use of force case studies both justified and unjustified, legal definitions, and the "Make My Day Law" as well as question and answer opportunities with the attorney. If you wondered, "What is Next?" after your concealed handgun class, this is it. The Legal Aftermath of Defensive Shooting class will detail how there are only two outcomes to a defensive shooting: Complete Justification or the loss of your freedom.Your concealed handgun class gave you a basic overview of concealed carry law. The Legal Aftermath class provides you the opportunity to ask an attorney all of the "What-IFs" you have wondered about. Presented by Colorado Handgun Safety Inc. and our Attorney, The Legal Aftermath class is designed to give you a greater understanding and peace of mind about your abilities and responsibilities when carry a concealed firearm and defending yourself or your home.
This class is designed for gun owners who have their concealed handgun permit or have attended a concealed handgun permit class.

View Class Schedule and  Reserve your class now

Visit     http://www.coloradohandgunsafety.com for more information.

Swindle CRKT Review follow up

It's been about six hours since I posted my review of the Swindle on CRKT's website. I checked again a few minutes ago and, although there are two reviews of the more expensive ribbed handled Swindle, mine has yet to appear...

Now, I'm giving CRKT the benefit of the doubt here. Maybe it's a lengthy process to have a customer review actually appear on their website, but I don't see how that could be unless they are inspected and approved (or rejected) by CRKT before allowed to appear on their site. I certainly hope this is not the case, or if it is, that critical and constructive reviews are treated with equal measure to the ones praising the products.

If we don't learn, we don't improve.

I'll report back tomorrow on the status of this interesting episode.

The next day.
It's now been 26 hours since I posted the review on CRKT's site. It's still not there. The rating I gave, 3 starts of 5, shows, but none of my comments that illustrate that rating. I sent another message on CRKT's 'contact me' page about this.

Comp-TAC AIWB Holster, New Mexico and the Golf Course

 This is the new, unworn Comp-TAC Minotaur AIWB (Appendix In Waist Band) holster with kydex clips.

AIWB for the Ruger SR9c

This is the reverse side of the holster above showing the stitched in liner that covers the hardware necessary for the clips and screws to remove and replace the holster kydex shell. This is a good thing, since you can purchase a different kydex shell for a different gun and use the same leather backing and attachment hardware for it at a much less expensive price than buying a completely new holster for that other gun.

AIWB inside

The two photos above were taken when the holster was removed from the package and packing. It was unworn at that time so that you can get a good indication of the quality and amount of work that goes into these Comp-TAC holsters.

I particularly like the inside lining covering all of the hardware. I had a Crossbreed holster once that took a beating when I adjusted it a number of times for depth and cant. The Minotaur, on the other hand, uses screws with embedded nuts for adjustment and shell replacement, getting around those strange leather fasteners that dig into the leather with three sharp prongs. After removing and reusing those prong fasteners, I always bent one or more of the prongs and they never worked right again. You don't have to worry about this with the Minotaur. The clip screws are for an Allen wrench, thoughtfully provided by Comp-TAC along with the holster, and you merely unscrew the clips, remove the screw and the rubber bushing between the clip and the leather, reposition the clips and screw everything back together.

For me, the clips were set lower than I like so I moved them up for a deeper carry. Although the bottom of the clips protrude past their mounting points, once you have found the cant and depth you like, they can be trimmed off if you so desire. I did not find them to be a bother so I have left them alone.

My Ruger SR9c fit snugly and positively into the shell. All good, so I slipped the holster under my waistband and belt and slipped the kydex clips over my thick 1 1/2" belt. This was far easier than with metal clips and, once in place, the clips are unobtrusive against my black belt.

I received the holster the day before a family trip to New Mexico. I thought this was a good time to test the Minotaur, appendix carry of a larger handgun in a real-world scenario that would involve driving, getting in and out of the car, restaurants, National Monuments, and tourist-infested Santa Fe. So, I took the SR9c and an extra large capacity magazine and me and the Minotaur and the rest of the family took off. 

Over the next two days I carried my SR9c constantly, often in the midst of hordes of tourists, in museums, on shuttle busses, climbing around ancient Indian ruins and in public places where the mere thought of a legally armed citizen amongst them would have sent certain of my fellow vacationers into meltdown. Nobody saw a thing, and I was amazingly very comfortable with the holster. The Ruger rode safely and securely, never budged and stayed comfortable even during long periods of sitting.

After returning home, and spending a hot afternoon playing eighteen holes of golf, still wearing the Minotaur and the Ruger SR9c, I removed the holster and took the photos below.

 Note that the leather is virtually in the same condition as when I first received it. The shell still holds the Ruger as it should.

This photo shows the lining covering the hardware on the reverse side of the holster. Even though it has been worn through four very hot days with lots of activity and sweat, little evidence of this shows. The slight bulges where the screws are covered is more pronounced in this photo than in reality. They are not noticeable when the holster is on.

I took this photo to show how much the bottom of the holster has conformed due to sitting and rising. The leather protrusion you see, slightly bent upwards, is none the less flexible and serves to protect the top of your thigh from pressure from the pistol and kydex shell. It does that nicely and contributes to the comfort of this design.

This side shows almost no deflection.

A view from the bottom of the leather backing, lining, rubber bushing and kydex clip.

I will admit to the following advice: don't wear a large handgun in any holster while playing eighteen holes of golf, especially in the appendix position. Golfing has a lot of bending at the waist both from swinging the clubs but also from clambering in and out of the golf cart.

So, my first extended experience with Comp-TAC's AIWB Minotaur is overall very positive. It is very well thought out in terms of comfort, security of the weapon, range of adjustability (I think anyone could find the right combination of ride height and cant that suits them best, and even better, the holster is designed to, and will take, constant fiddling without breaking down, stripping screws or bending those prong-nuts many holster makers use) and provides outstanding protection for your firearm.

This model especially is very nice since the pattern of the leather backing in combination with the kydex clips is built specifically for appendix in-waistband carry, which I am liking more and more. I'll have more to say on this mode of carry, but I can say that I think this is one of the better made holsters out there. It incorporates an innovative, effective design and is backed by some good customer service people. I also have a Comp-TAC Minotaur which is designed to be worn strong side. I won't be carrying it, but I will take some comparison photos to illustrate the differences. Why? Because some holster makes would keep the same design for both strong side and appendix carry, counting on the user to fiddle with adjustments to get the right position but Comp-TAC has specifically designed the AIWB Minotaur for that style of carry. To me, this shows their commitment to customer satisfaction and excellence in design and production.

As I carry this holster more and compare it with other similar "hybrid" IWB designs, I will keep you updated on what I find.

Adios Swindle

I've had three issues with my CRKT Swindle, two minor, one major.

First, the two screws at the back of the handle were not the same length, and one protruded enough to be uncomfortable. A sharp little piece of metal standing proud of the handle. Not good. I suppose I could have removed that screw and filed it down a bit until it was flush, but I shouldn't have to do that with a knife like the Swindle.

Second, the flipper verges on being painful to operate. It is short and has a steep and steep radius where it meets the index finger when pulling it back to open the blade. I think the flipper should be a millimeter or two longer and have a more shallow corner, where the index finger meets it and applies most of the initial pressure to open the blade. I got used to this, but my finger still had a perpetual slightly tender spot from using the flipper.

The third, and major issue for me is the pocket clip. Many reviewers have waxed almost poetic about this clip. Its shape, how it blends into the swayback design, the fact that it is spring tensioned to open then grip the fabric of the pocket. It is well designed and integrated with the knife overall, and it doesn't sit on the side of the handle getting in the way of a comfortable grip, but it doesn't hold as securely as I was led to believe.

Clip the Swindle to the pocket in a pair of jeans with a nice seam sewn into the top edge of the pocket and it holds pretty well. But, clip it into the pocket of a pair of pants that has a thinner fabric, especially one with no large seam sewn into the lip of the pocket, and watch out. It may, or may not stay put. I know this because my Swindle is now gone.

As long as I was wearing my usual pair of Wranglers jeans, the knife clip showed a pretty tenacious hold as long as it was turned so that the knife was in line with the pocket. But, if the knife turns 90 degrees to the outside fabric of the pocket, the clip loses some grip. If you carry the Swindle in pants pockets that are not made of thick fabric, pants that are made for hot weather wear, especially of synthetic or a blended material, watch out. The clip does not hold as securely as it should. That is how I lost mine.

Wearing a pair of synthetic blend hiking pants for fly fishing, using hip boots that did not come up to the knife or pockets (so there was no interference), I started out the day with the Swindle, and ended with it missing from my pocket. Having not used it during the day, I can only assume the clip was not strong enough to hold it securely and it loosened and eventually fell out. I can only hope that someone appreciative of knives found it.

So, Swindles are lovely and extremely useful as EDC light-duty knives, but watch that clip.

PS: A brief post script since I posted the entry above. Wanting to get this feedback to Ken Onion and CRKT, I logged into the CRKT website and posted a review outlining the observations above. (Their site shows the Swindle as "coming soon." Funny, I got mine a few weeks back. I've been back a few times to see if it appears on their site. So far, nothing.

Then I went looking for contact info on Ken Onion's sites so I could send him a brief email and point him to this entry. No way to actually contact Ken that I can find. I registered for his forums so I could try there but don't have access yet. Something tells me this is too hard. A customer should be able to quickly contact the maker, and in this case the designer, of a purchased product with feedback.

Perhaps this will eventually work out. Either way, I'll report back here later.

The Swindle

I want to say a bit more about the Onion designed CRKT (Colombia River Knife and Tool) Swindle. I've been using it for about everything from kitchen cutting and slicing chores, opening boxes, cutting plants, etc. for a few days. Today I noticed that the blade has an interesting and useful characteristic that one normally associates with assisted-opening knives. Closed, the blade does not move inside the bolsters. Putting a small amount of pressure on the flipper is necessary to get it moving, then it springs open like an assisted opening knife. Then, when one closes the knife, it swings closed smoothly on its ball bearing pivot until it is almost completely enclosed within the bolsters at which point it springs tightly close over the last eighth of an inch of blade travel.

How is this done without springs or torsion bars?

A close look reveals that the liner lock piece of the bolster has on the end of it's inner edge a small protrusion. When the blade is fully closed, this protrusion fits neatly into a mating indent in the rear side of the blade, locking the blade into place. The indent and protrusion are small enough, and the liner lock flexible enough so that when a small but meaningful force is applied to the flipper, the protrusion is forced out of the indent by blade movement. Once clear, the finger force applied to the flipper is enough to carry the blade swiftly out on its ball bearing races to lock solidly open by the liner lock.

The reverse happens when the blade is closed. The liner lock is pushed outward, moving the blade along the liner lock protrusion, which keeps the liner lock away, until at the very end of travel the liner lock is released to press inward, putting the protrusion back in the indent, holding the closed blade in place.

Neat. Simple with no extra moving parts.

Difficult to get photos of, but if you get to see a Swindle, take a close look and you'll see easily how it works.

Onions

Well, Ken Onion knife designs to be specific.

There are times when it may come down to a knife that stands between you and a serious threat. Few of us are knife fighters but having a good knife is much better than having nothing. Not to mention that the knife is our most ancient and useful tool. Yeah, a stick or a rock can be a tool, but you don't have to set out to purposefully make a stick. The so-called aeschulian hand axe, the earliest tool associated with hominids was primarily a cutting tool chipped from stone.
There are literally thousands of knives to choose from these days. I like the ones that are made for a purpose, that work like they should, stay sharp, fit my hand and the tasks they are made for and made to last.

If this seems like a commercial for Ken Onion designs and the Zero Tolerance line of knives, well, I suppose it is.

Posted with Blogsy

Remora Micro Clip holster and a laser equipped LCP

I have one of Remora's new Micro Clip holsters. I wanted to test it for fit with a laser sight, and for retention. My personal experience with small Remora holsters is that they don't stay where I put them throughout the day. I tend to carry my LCP in the appendix position. I used to carry cross draw, but I feel the appendix IWB position is more secure, more concealable and faster to access than cross draw. So, wearing the LCP constantly while doing all the things one does during the day which involves a lot of bending and twisting of the trunk, my experience is that a small Remora will move around and needs constant adjustment. I suppose if I really cinched up my Bear Creek gun belt, that might help, but I like comfort so that's not going to happen.

Micro Clip end view

The button protects the snap for the clip on the other side.

The clip unsnapped from the other side.

A size comparison.

The clip can be easily put on either side because of the built in snaps. This has a down side though. The clip swivels. Easily. Put the holster on, clip it to your belt and it can still move back and forth. Of course it won't come out, or off the belt, but it still can and does swivel a bit.

I think this is a good first effort on Remora's part to solve the issue of small holsters not being as secure in place as the larger ones. I carry a Ruger SR9c with a big magazine in Remoras, AIWB (Appendix In Waist Band) with little concern that the gun/holster will move around. It may, slightly, but usually not.

There may be no easy solution to the small holster issue since there is so little contact area to provide enough friction to keep it in place all day.

Crimson Trace Is Participating

Crimson Trace has agreed to participate in my comparison review project by providing a new Defender series laser sight for the LCP.

After a number of missed phone calls, missing emails from CT to me (CT rep Mike Faw sent timely replies to my queries but my mail server decided to route them to the trash folder. Why? Unknown at this point, but I am investigating.) I had a conversation with Mr. Faw this morning - thanks to his call and followup to our interrupted conversation - and he will be sending a Defender sight.

I will be able to perform a direct comparison and analysis of the Defender and the LaserMax CenterFire for the same platform. This is good in more ways than one. Not only are the two companies now in competition in exactly the same market niche - add-on laser sights for the popular series of light and compact carry pistols - but this is a very important improvement for these types of self defense handguns.

I will speak to the Ruger LCP, being I have that particular weapon, and because it is extremely popular.

The LCP, and those like it, are difficult to shoot for most people in two regards. The form factor being very small, coupled with a long double-action type trigger, make the shooter's grip and trigger action very important, and, without significant practice, difficult to control properly. This coupled with the extremely short sight radius and rudimentary sights provided on the gun, makes anything other than 'up close and personal' shooting distance accuracy problematic.

Add these factors to a highly stressed and emotionally charged self defense shooting scenario and the likelihood of missing the target and hitting something or someone else you don't intend to shoot very high. Hence, the need for better sights.

In my view, this is where personal laser sights on these types of handguns really come into their own. It's not that the shooter can get a highly accurate shot placement with the laser, it is that the average gun owner can get shots at least on target, speaking of a realistic self defense scenario where you are trying to hit the center of mass of an assailant. In fact, it gets better because the shooter is not required to bring the weapon up to a "standard" ready to fire position with good sight alignment. Such a move may not be possible for a number of reasons in a real situation. Just getting the laser dot on the target is enough.

So, with LaserMax and Crimson Trace now offering sights in the same market niche, aimed for the same customers, I will be able to do a thorough comparison and report on my findings.

As to the cooperation of the companies involved, at this point, I have them about even considering the fact that both were undergoing certain organizational personnel changes when I first approached them about this project. This created delays that were not reflective of the two companies customer service practices and philosophies.

I will soon be able to begin and bring you the ongoing comparisons and results of the efforts of these two companies and their products.