A Perfect Combination

The Ruger LCP .380 in a D.M. Bullard Cross Draw holster

In Europe the round we call a .380 is referred to as the "9mm Kurtz", or 9mm "short". Which, basically it is. I think Ruger has done a great deal to make this caliber extremely popular with the average concealed carry person here in the USA. Now, I understand that there are a number of individuals and writers, many who are comfortable with the term "expert" even though that is handed around a little too readily in some circles, who will disregard and disrespect the .380 round and handgun. This is unfortunate because the modern self-defense .380 cartridge is an ideal choice for most concealed carry folks when coupled with a good, reliable pistol, such as the current generation Ruger LCP and a quality holster designed for how most of spend our days.
As I posted earlier, the FBI has decided that, all factors considered, the 9mm is the ideal handgun choice. I think the .380 (the "short" version of the standard 9mm) is also an excellent round when loaded with modern self defense bullets like the Hornady Critical Defense. My opinion about this goes beyond mere caliber and bullet ballistics, but includes more practical considerations for the average person. You have to look at the gun, ammunition and concealed carry holster as a system. They all must work in conjunction to provide the best firearm and concealment system for you. Not for a real expert or LEO or military operator with hundreds of hours of training to rely on, but for the average Joe or Jane who carries in daily life with minimal training.
Here is why I like this setup: the Ruger LCP is a very light, compact pistol, which, with the new generation trigger, is easy to shoot, is made in a safe double action configuration requiring no manual safety, is inexpensive and affordable for the average person and handles the modern .380 ammo.
The ammo is now easily capable of stopping a threat. I'm not talking about stopping power, which is more relevant to Sharps buffalo rifles or elephant guns than any pistol, but about deactivating and disposing of an immediate threat. Just the sight of a gun making a perp flee is "stopping the threat". That's the aim of a self defense weapon. Stopping the threat.
The remaining item in this system is just as important: the holster. A light compact pistol deserves an efficient, quality holster so that the weapon is carried as often as possible. Around the house, doing yard work, shopping for groceries, picking the kids up from school, driving the car, sitting anywhere. To my mind a good cross draw holster is perfect for this. See my much earlier and lengthy post on why the cross draw carry is much better than you may have been led to think. One major factor in favor of this style of carry for most of us is the fact that we spend most of our ordinary days sitting. Sitting in the car, in a restaurant, at our desks and in our homes. The cross draw is the perfect holster for this. Comfortable, accessible and concealable.
So, my own perfect carry system is a Ruger LCP loaded with modern self defense ammo and carried in a D.M. Bullard cross draw OWB holster. After using Bullard's holsters I know they are high quality and will do what they have been designed and built to do for years. There are a few other makers who specialize in leather gun gear, but none better than Dave Bullard's. Equal, perhaps, but not better.
As regular readers will note, I am a big fan of Bullard holsters. For good reason. I have carried and tested them for years and they work. Even better, after they break in, they become like old, comfortable friends that I can always count on. If this sounds like a plug for Dave's holsters, it is.
So, think about a perfect system for you. I believe a small, compact 9mm or .380 handgun loaded with modern self defense ammo in a good cross draw rig is about perfect.

Posted with Blogsy

Two Guns

The Ruger LCP in a D.M. Bullard Cross Draw holster

I think it is safe to day, two guns are better than one.

Of course, many people consider many guns to be better than one and if you are into guns, like guns, and collect guns, that is certainly true. But, for the person who is primarily, or solely, interested in concealed carry for protection, having too many guns isn't necessary or even desirable.

However, I want to put forward the case that for the average person who carries, two guns are better than one, even if only one is carried at a time.

Why would this be so? In my opinion, it is a good idea for most of us who are concealed carry gun owners because of the fact that much, if not most, of our day is spent at home and around the house and yard. Some percentage of our time is taken by activities that take us away from home, and some of these occur in places in which we are more likely to encounter individuals and circumstances that might require recourse to our carry weapon. The two general scenarios are suited to different carry guns. Here is why.

My basic premise is that if one has gone to the trouble and training to carry a concealed firearm, then it only makes sense to carry it as often as possible. Otherwise, what is the point? You don't buy insurance that is in force some of the time and not others, nor throw a spare tire in the trunk for some trips but not others. Why, then, leave your carry gun in a drawer, or locked in a safe some times, but not others? Although this makes logical sense, most people don't follow this general rule because, let's face it, carrying a gun all of the time, especially around the house, is a pain. Really. The damn thing is hanging off your belt, or poking you in the stomach or pressing on your hip bone. Maybe dragging at your ankle. (Why anyone would use an ankle holster if they weren't deep under cover or worked a corporate job in a suit, is beyond me.)

A shoulder holster at home? Forget it.

Good holsters will provide a greater level of comfort, but, in the end, after wearing your S&W or Glock all day around the house, you'll know it. You get used to it, but never really like it.

What's a person supposed to do? Not put your gun in a drawer someplace. As we all know, even though it's unlikely, bad things can happen to good people any time, any place, and that includes while you are in the back room going through boxes for that next yard sale, or in the garage kicking the lawn mower. "Oh, pardon me an sec, Mr. Bad Guy, I need to dash into the house/back room/den/office to retrieve my gun."

So, for me, the solution is to carry an effective but small and light handgun around the house. One that is comfortable because it's small and light, but effective enough by itself, or will buy me time to get to a larger weapon if the need dictates. This smaller gun, in a quality and comfortable holster that is always with me, will ensure that I have access to a firearm when and if it is needed.

Yes, the caliber police and the capacity monitors will not take kindly to the notion of a lightweight, small, and small caliber gun, but a simple reality check is enough to defuse those overworked arguments: any gun is better than no gun when you need one. Period.

My choice for AHC (around the house carry) is a new model Ruger LCP. It is "light" and "compact" as they say. It has an improved trigger for better shooting accuracy – put a LaserMax on it and the accuracy goes way up – and it fires the modern .380 self defense loads which are fine. I haven't yet heard of a big-caliber supporter who would volunteer to be shot with a .380 to demonstrate how weak-kneed the round is. Really.

A couple of good holsters and you have a system that you can carry comfortably around the house all day. Keep it on as a back up, or swap it out for something a bit larger with more capacity if you need to carry in a situation and place that you think requires it.

Be safe.

Reducing the Inventory. Reducing Complexity. Re-focusing

Ruger SR9c, Comp-Tac Minotaur AIWB, Kytex mag holder.

Bond Arms Snake Slayer, Remora holster,
BA Ammo holder with .410 Personal Defense Rounds

As with so many shooters, my personal inventory of weapons, accessories and holsters has grown far beyond what I need to be well equipped for personal defense.

I also have the proverbial box of holsters, except in my case, it is a large drawer full of holsters. As readers of this blog will note, I've tried and analyzed many holsters over the past months, reporting on what I see as their good and bad points relative to self defense carry. There are many different designs and executions of those designs. There are many ways to carry spare ammunition, a subject that really doesn't lend itself to debate - if you carry for self defense, then be adequately prepared with extra ammo. A gun with no ammo doesn't work. It looks like a gun, but it don't shoot. Case closed.

Laser sights. Night sights. Grips. Mag extenders, modifications (which I don't recommend in general) to the gun... There are many, many ways to spend money on more stuff for more guns.

But, I've come to the conclusion, what's the point? If you are interested in guns, shooting, target practice, and all of that, then fine. There is little limit to what you can spend your money and concentration on. But, if you are primarily interested in carrying a gun for self defense, and the legitimate defense of other innocent people who may need protection, all of the 'noise' of more stuff isn't going to do you much good for a couple of reasons.

One, it really doesn't matter if you have a leather or kydex holster, or mag carrier. It doesn't matter if you carry a Model 1911 .45, or a LCP .380. Strong side carry, cross draw, appendix and anywhere else - it's not all that important to the main goal of being prepared with your pistol for self defense situations. "No," someone is going to say, "you're wrong." Then comes one of the standard arguments: caliber (bigger is better vrs. accuracy trumps caliber), carry style (cross draw is too vulnerable to gun-grabs, and slow vrs. cross draw is better for driving and sitting), or (IWB is too uncomfortable and harder to get to, vrs. OWB less concealable and  harder to get to...)

And so on.

Two, if you have four different holsters, three different styles (IWB, OWB, SOB) and five different guns, you are setting yourself up for confusion, uncertainty and delay when, as the Marines so accurately put it, the shit hits the fan. Take the Bond Arms derringer and the Ruger SR9c for example. I had both of these guns - still have the Ruger - and can speak from experience. As the photos demonstrate above, carrying them in the same manner still presents significant differences and potential difficulties. It's easy enough when I'm just practicing moves like drawing from concealment, safety, presentation, reloading, but if that SHTF moment ever comes, I will be suddenly in full blown, adrenaline fueled, get-it-done-right-now mode. No luxury or time for consideration of what's in my waistband, or where, exactly, it's located.

If I'm carrying the Ruger with the manual safety on (I don't, but I don't recommend this practice to anyone. You have to make your own choices.), I have to click it off when I draw. If I'm carrying the derringer, the safety will be off, but I have to cock the hammer. It's a single action. (Which barrel will fire first? The bottom one for more accuracy and recoil control, if I've remembered to set the hammer accordingly.)

I can quickly squeeze off two, three or four shots (or more) with the Ruger with simple trigger presses. I have to re-cock the derringer with the thumb of my weak hand before I can shoot a second time. Third shot with the derringer? Well, first in the midst of all this fear, panic and craziness, I have to open the barrel latch, swing the barrels up and over, lock them there with my shooting hand thumb, strip out the two shotgun hulls, reach to my ammo carrier, lever up two shells so I can grab two together, bring them up to the gun, which I hope I've remembered to lock upright into my field of vision so I can also assess the situation while seeing the empty chambers, slide two shells into the barrels - all the way in - and close and lock the barrels into the frame. Oh, then I have to re-cock the hammer.

By then, I might be dead.

With the Ruger, once I've emptied the magazine, which will be eleven to eighteen rounds, depending, I have to push the mag release button, hold the gun into my field of view, slide a new magazine from the holder on my weak side, and slap it home and slap the slide back into battery.

Confusion. Mistakes. Too many options for a time that demands simplicity and clarity.

I am simplifying. The Snake Slayer, a fine handgun, is on the block. Someone will like it and find a good use for it. I don't spend much time afoot in snake country, although there are a few 'wild' dogs around here that would benefit from a face full of #4 shot. My holster collection is being reduced to a few that are simple, effective and concealable. I am carrying in only two locations on my body and none of my holsters are so comfortable that I 'forget I have it on'. That's pretty much BS anyway. Your conscious mind will become attuned to a good holster, but it doesn't forget where it is.

There are times and occasions when a good OWB holster works well and is appropriate, like a long day on your feet, walking, at the fair, around town. There are times when appendix carry is better, like in the car, or at the coffee shop or restaurant. Even walking around. My holster requirements have gone down by at least 50%.

The carry guns I depend on now, both Rugers - the SR9c and the LCP look and operate much the same way. Yes, I know that the LCP is hammer fired and the SR9c is striker fired, the triggers are very different, and the magazine capacities are very different. But, my hand and brain knows which is which when I put my hand on the gun and it knows how to achieve a self-defense sight alignment quickly (and when it's too close-quarters to worry about sight, or slide, alignment) with either. All I have to do then is press the trigger. Repeatedly, if necessary.

A couple of simple, effective and reasonably comfortable holsters for each pistol, one for AWIB, one for strong side carry. That's it.

If I need a separate mag carrier, I go with one from Kytex. I've reviewed them on this blog and I still recommend them. None better. With a gun in either carry position, the Kytex mag holder and spare mag is always in the same place. Don't have to worry about that.

Re-focusing
Finally, simplicity applied to self defense shooting itself.
The internet can be a good thing. Yes, there is a lot of crap flying around out there, especially regarding guns, self-defense, the Second Amendment and all, but I watched a couple of enlightening videos recently that I recommend to you. One was an interview by Rob Pincus with Lt. Col. Dave Grossman a literate, educated, soldier, former LEO and student of violence and combat, consultant and author of a Pulitzer nominated book on those topics. He was discussing the concept of the "sheepdog", the title of his new children's book. Now, I'd much earlier seen a video by Nut N Fancy, who is certainly opinionated and knowledgeable, but whose attitudes I don't always agree with. My understanding of 'sheepdog' then was that people who considered themselves to be that kind of person were arrogant and looked down on everyone else, who they, the sheepdogs, were out to protect. Whether the sheep liked it or not. An odious concept at best.

However, hearing Lt. Col. Grossman's explanation of the sheepdog cast a new light on this concept. There are people who rather than run from trouble, run toward it in order to deal with it. Fire fighters. Cops. Military. Teachers in 'bad' schools. Counselors. First responders. The 'average citizen' who rushes in to help or save. These are all sheepdogs and they don't look down on the people who are not. I believe anyone who elects to legally carry a gun for defense must consider themselves to have accepted the role, to some extent, of a sheepdog, if only for one's self and one's family. I believe the commitment goes much further and that, and it becomes a duty of protecting the innocent whenever that is truly necessary, whether through the use of a firearm, or jumping into a burning house trailer to rescue a trapped person. No one can make someone else be a sheepdog, but if you are carrying a gun for defense, you've already signed up.

I have to remark here that on a gun forum I used to moderate we had a few posters who declared that if they were ever in a place where a random shooter went active, their main and only responsibility was to get away to safety. Why, I asked, were the posters carrying a gun in the first place? I would wonder how a person could live with themselves if they had the possibility and means to stop such violence and they crawled out the nearest exit instead.

Re-focusing on the basics of shooting for defense. Obviously, when pushed to the point where there is no alternative but to shoot your weapon, one then is forced from the defensive to the offensive as a matter of survival. Offensive shooting with a handgun is not difficult. Anyone can learn the basics of drawing, presentation to the main target area and squeezing off rounds. You don't have to hit the bull's eye, or the 10 ring. You just have to put rounds into your target, which at normal self defense shooting distances of around 10 to 15 feet, is not difficult to do. If a normal person trains to do only this, that is all that is needed to be effective at self defense shooting.

And, accepting the fact that you are a sheepdog and you are able and committed to shooting the bad guy(s) if required.

Keep it simple. Restrict the number of your carry guns. Two, or three at the most. Make sure they are well maintained and you can shoot accurately enough to hit a man-sized target repeatedly and quickly. Carry in only one or two locations on your person. Avoid fancy or trick holsters. Keep it simple. No matter which caliber or calibers you choose, make sure you can shoot them accurately.

Where it is legal, always carry your gun.
Where it is legal, always carry your gun.
Where it is legal, always carry your gun.

The Bond Arms Snake Slayer Holster Report

As I mentioned earlier, I have been trying out my Bond Arms Snake Slayer derringer in various holsters for the puprose of determining, for me at least, which are most suitable for carrying this pistol concealed. I have used the following: Remora clipless (and modified with a kydex clip), the Bond Arms driving cross-draw, and the OWB belt clip holsters, and the D.M. Bullard OWB cross draw holster.

Bond Arms straight clip OWB holster

Bond Arms OWB clip

Bond Arms Driving Holster

Bond Arms Driving Holster thumb break strap

Remora (modified) with mag holder and kydex clip

This has been an excercise in expectations. Before embarking on this analysis, I had pretty well figured that the modified Remora and the Bond Arms driving holsters would come out on top. But, as with many assumptions and expectations, this did not prove out to be so. The short version - details to follow - is that, for me, the best concealed OWB carry holster is the D.M. Bullard cross draw. By a big margin. For IWB carry, the Remora with attached mag pouch, that I modified with a kydex clip and carry either appendix or cross draw, depending on the situation, works best. Strangely, though, I also have a D.M. Bullard IWB holster with belt loop for my SR9c which accommodates the Snake Slayer beautifully. I could also use this one as an IWB option, and sometimes do. Now to details.I found both of Bond Arms holsters to be extremely well made. Beautiful leather and craftsmanship. Nothing at all to complain about with either of them. What knocked them out of contention for me were design decisions, not quality of materials or workmanship. The OWB belt clip holster is plainly not suitable for conclealed carry if the retention strap is left on the holster. Although it is there to 'retain' the gun for OWB carry, it's really not needed for concealed carry, but instead is an additional, and unnecessary, impediment to a reasonably quick draw. If it was a thumb-break strap, then it might be more suitable, but as it is, you must unsnap the strap, then, hoping it doesn't get in between your hand and the grips, grasp the pistol for the draw. Frankly, one could use this holster without the strap and it would retain the pistol just fine, the fit is that good. Also, for concealed carry, this holster must be worn with a long cover garment because the holster rides so low on the belt. It is a fine holser for open carry though and I would recommend it for that without reservation.

The Driving (cross draw) Holster did not fare well as a general concealed carry rig for me. I was surprised at this. I've seen the videos and the photos and know this is an innovative and functional design. For sitting (including in a car, restaurant, at home, etc.) the design is very good, once properly broken in. However, when not sitting - standing, walking about, running, etc. - the holster did not work so well for me.

The Driving Holster had the longest and most difficult break in of the four. The fit was extremely tight. Not unexpected in a good leather holster, but certainly more tight than any other quality leather holster I've used. And I've used more than a few. After a few days of break in using the derringer tightly wrapped in a few layers of kitchen cling wrap, and many insertions and withdrawls from the holster, I got it to the point where it would grudgingly release. The thumb break strap also took a deal of flexing and snapping/unsnapping to attach without a struggle. Attaching the holster to my gun belt with the leather flap and velcro was easy enough, but it would not hold quite tightly enough, nor the end of the flap tuck under, or against, the holster, until the leather flap itself was sufficiently broken in to curl around the holster body and not spring away from it.

Once all that was in readiness, the thumb break and draw were easy enough to surrender to a firm pull, and the flap was attached securely to the belt and holster, I began working on the access and draw technique. The thumb break strap is attached so that it doesn't readily interfere with the draw. The holster securing-flap however, did not hold tightly enough to keep the holster from sliding along the belt until it fetched up against a belt loop and stopped, where I was then able to extract the pistol from the holster. After fooling with this for a while, I found the solution to be a combination of more break-in for the holster so the pistol did not fit so tightly but was on the verge of loose, a tightened belt (which I don't particularly like. It was tight enough to begin with.) and a tighter wrap of the leather flap around the belt, which can only be so tight because of the nature of the velcro securing patch. You can't pull it tighter like you could with a buckle, for example.

With the horizontal carry position, and the need to have a non-tight fit of the gun to the holster, a thumb break is essential, otherwise, the pistol will eventually, if not sooner, fall out of the holster. I don't worry about it discharging due to the rebounding hammer and the single-action design of the gun, but the Snake Slayer is no lightweight. If it lands on your foot, you will certainly know it. Not to mention, so will everyone else in the room.

My other objection to this holster for concealed carry is that it would, in my case at least, being tall and relatively slim, be restricted to times and places where I can wear a very loose shirt, or jacket, vest or some other concealment garment. Even with the horizontal, up front, orientation of this holster, I does not hide very well without a good cover. For me, light shirts and t-shirts are out.
My conclusion is that if one is primarily wanting a driving or sitting holster, the Bond Arms Driving holster will work fine, once properly broken in and used correctly. But for concealed carry, when one is moving around, sitting, standing, bending, and perhaps running, I don't think it is the best choice.
The modified Remora. I attached a black kydex clip where the mag pouch is sewn into the holster. This means it really does not move, which is an issue with Remora clipless holsters, regardless of what many reviews say. If you don't move around much, the cllpless versions are just fine. They basically stay generally where you put them, but, for me, they have moved around, swiveled, rotated and on occasion, depending on where I put them, began to work up and out of my waistband. I think the Remora with attached mag pouch is both a good idea, and, given the almost double surface area, makes for stable and extremely comfortable holsters. I just wanted the extra confidence of the clip, and this has worked out beautifully for me. One kydex belt clip. One chicago screw. One drilled hole. Shazam! An improvement to an already good holster.

The other positive thing about this rig, is that it perfectly fits the Snake Slayer and the mag pouch will hold three .410 shells flat, or you can get four in there in a diamond configuration, which doesn't add enough bulk to impact the concealability of the holster. The other good things are that this rig is inexpensive - under $30 - and can be worn cross draw or appendix carrry (my favorites) and is easily slipped on and off. I have this set up for my LCP as well.

Lastly, but in first place, is the D.M. Bullard OWB cross draw holster. Here are the good points: one of the best made leather holsters on the market today. Exact fit to the pistol to such a degree that it really required no break in. Really. I've had a number of Bullard holsters, and they all were excellent in fit, but they also required a small amount of break in. This one did not. Holds tight, but easy to draw. I'm not sure how this was accomplished, but I'm not complaining. Just the opposite.
The holster secures to the belt with a loop sewn on the back of the holster body and a forward-facing 'wing' of heavy leather for the second belt loop attachment. This serves to keep the holster close against the body and pulled in tightly to keep the butt of the gun from swinging outward. The nice thing about this design is that it does not require another layer of 'reinforcing' leather to be sewn around the holster mouth. It is just not needed. When I wear this one just forward of my hip bone, it tucks right in and disappears under almost any kind of shirt. When I am going into the 'city', I often throw on a light leather western vest over my shirt and that really makes the holster and Snake Slayer disappear.

I have often worn this setup around the house all day under a light sweater or long sleeve t-shirt and not only do others not know it is there, I sometimes am unaware of it as well.
I generally prefer OWB carry when I can and I can say without reservation, that the Bullard cross draw holster is the best I have found for this. It gets high marks in all of the categories:

• Quality
• Comfort
• Concealment
• Retention
• Fit
• Situational - doesn't matter what the situation, sitting, standing, moving about, running, etc. it performs equally well.

Holsters are very much a personal preference item. They are necessary, but all people don't like the same things. I've attemped to point out the various attributes, both positive and negative, of these four holsters in the hopes that this may help you in your choice of what works best for you.

Posted with Blogsy

Christmas Present from Texas

Well, not exactly a Christmas present, seeing as how I bought it for myself. A present to me, from me. It is a new D.M. Bullard IWB with Belt Loop for my trusty Ruger SR9c.

I've been carrying one of Dave Bullard's Belt Slide OWB holsters for my Ruger since I bought the gun. It's been through a lot and shows it, like a good leather holster will, but is still my OWB go-to holster for the SR9c. The design is such that I have also used it successfully to holster an LC9 and a Bond Arms Snake Slayer. Those were temporary solutions to a pressing need, but now it's reserved for the SR9c, as it should be.

Today I received the IWB from Dave Bullard's shop. Even though I know they have been working very hard to keep up with demand, hiring and training new people (not an easy thing when Dave's quality and craftsmanship standards are so high) and moving to a larger space to accommodate the increased work demands, the quality of my new IWB has not been compromised by all that.



It is not a good practice to say much about a holster when it is brand new. I've often found my initial enthusiasm to be misplaced because issues and irritations I had not considered come to light with actually using a holster day-to-day as they are intended to be used. But, in this case, I will say this: the fit to the pistol is right on and it's not so tight that it will take a week of break in before it is ready for duty. And, it's comfortable, right out of the box. The back of the leather is almost flat, with some moulding to the pistol shape, but not aggressively so. The 'sweat' guard (I'd call it a slide guard) cushions my delicate abdomen from the slide, yet the grips ride high enough for a good, quick grip on the draw.

I bought the version with the belt loop attachment rather than the metal clip. I don't like metal clips even though they are thinner than leather. I don't like the way the end sticks out. I know why it does that, to help you get the clip over the belt, but I've had issues with these kinds of clips before, snagging an overgarment when I lift it to uncover the pistol for the draw. The belt loop is not as thick as my belt, to put it into perspective. And, it is adjustable in cant so you can wear the holster pretty much where you like. I like the flexibility to wear my concealed firearm in different positions, depending on the situation. This one will move easily to the cross draw position when I am driving or sitting for long periods. Or I can swing it around to a strong side carry if I like.

I'll post more as time goes on about how this latest acquisition from D.M. Bullard is working out. But, since I've given many holsters the field test and I have thought long and hard about what is best for me, I think this one will become my main IWB holster, like Bullard's belt slide has become my favorite OWB holster.

Dave Bullard's website

Bond Arms Snake Slayer, first impressions

Bond Arms Snake Slayer
with Winchester PDX1 .410 ammo

It's big. It's stainless. It's heavy and it's made in the USA, Texas, specifically. Those were the first impressions.

Mine is the newer model with the improved trigger and broader hammer spur. It has the new style grips as well, with "checkering" in the form of snake scales and a carving of a mean looking rattler on them. They are somewhat larger in swell and sweep, giving a good, solid grip.

I have to say that in the hand, this pistol looks intimidating, especially if one is looking down those .45 caliber barrels.

I find the trigger to be crisp and positive, with sufficient pull as befits a concealed carry gun, but not at all heavy. I suspect the instances I have read in which people, usually internet posters (take that for what it's worth) complain about the heavy trigger. As far as I can tell, the trigger has always been fine. It's not the same kind of trigger as one finds on semi-autos, for example, because it swings back and down in a short arc. If the shooter keeps his or her hand from jamming underneath the cocked hammer and puts their finger properly on the trigger, it's just fine. Trigger problems are self-induced for the most part.

One aspect some people will have to get used to is the force and leverage necessary to cock the gun. If one has a proper shooting grip, cocking with the thumb of the shooting hand is not particularly easy. If the thumb is placed more forward on the hammer spur, greater leverage is gained, and it becomes easier. Still very firm, but it can be cocked this way. If a person has strong hands and grip, of course, it becomes easier. For many people though, women especially, cocking the pistol should be done and practiced differently. I suggest two methods that work well for concealed carry if one-hand cocking is an issue.

One: When drawing from concealment, the off hand will be used to pull the covering garment away for the draw. As the pistol comes out of the holster and starts toward the presentation position, use the off side hand, which will be right next to the gun at this point anyway, to fan the hammer back to the cocked position as the off hand hand rotates to assume the support position. If it is necessary to fire quickly, with one hand right after the gun leaves the holster, using the off hand to cock the weapon will have it instantly ready to fire, with the added advantage that the off hand will not be in front of the muzzle.

Two: Draw, present the gun in a two hand stance, then cock the hammer with the off hand's thumb. Very easy and quick, and the advantage that you can wait, if necessary, before putting the gun into "battery", or in this case, cocked and unlocked.

I have a .410 belt shell holder on order from Bond Arms, and Gordon Bond has offered to supply a holster or two for evaluation for concealed carry purposes. I'm looking into the D.M. Bullard cross draw holster for sitting and driving, and possibly an IWB from them as well, but I haven't heard back from Bullard.

Today is a trip to the "city" for errands, so I'll be toting the Snake Slayer as the main and the LCP as a BUG.

The testing goes on.

Elsie Pea; Block Training; Police Chief; Lasers again

My Moderator's Logo from the old Elsie Pea Forum

Not too long ago, last year, the old Elsie Pea Forum (LCP) was sold off to an organization that runs forums. Many of them. The Elsie Pea Forum had grown to over 10,000 members and it was all five of us could do to keep things in check. We prided ourselves in stopping spam before it got started, keeping the atmosphere polite, if not cordial, preventing flame wars and keeping posters to the topic: no religion, no politics, no hatred. I will admit that there were times when this was trying, but if truth be told, the members themselves were very good about policing the forum and keeping troublemakers in line. If the members couldn't reign them in, the moderators did.

I was a big fan of Have Gun, Will Travel when I was as kid. I still think it was a TV show ahead of it's time, so I picked the logo, above, as my moderator calling card. I still moderate, but a much smaller forum where many of the Elsie Pea refugees hang out. http://www.compactcarryforum.com

Have Gun. Will Carry

Of course, it is more than that as anyone who has carried a concealed handgun for any time will tell you. Lately, I've been around the block more than once over dealing with the extra baggage that comes along with concealed carry. Like many of you, I have a drawer full of holsters (and I only have three carry guns), extra magazines, laser sights, night sights, special springs and recoil rods, gun safes, various cleaning do-dads and storage and carry boxes.

Now, the entire picture is complicated by my use and evaluation of laser sighting devices. Saving the topic of the utility and usefulness of laser sights on a concealed carry handgun for another time, one big factor became apparent right away. When I received a Laserguard from Crimson Trace for my LCP I was faced right away with the fact that, other than a Versacarry rig, I had nothing to carry it in.

At this point, over the last two months with the CT, I have had it on and off the gun three or four times. I do now have a Jeff Hays cross draw OWB holster, which is very nice indeed and works better than any cross draw holster I've found so far, and I have acquired a Remora with attached mag pouch for it. However, my other holsters, carefully pared down from many I tried that fit right, work right and will last a long time do not work with the Laserguard. Hence, off with the laser and, like today around the house, on with the Bullard Bodyguard and LCP.

Having a laser on my gun is pretty nifty, although the jury is still out as to whether a Crimson Trace or LaserMax will find it's way on one of my carry guns permanently. But not being able to carry it as I wish, in the style and quality of holsters that I require, is a big stumbling block. But, I'll report more on this after the LaserMax units arrive for testing alongside the Crimson Trace.

Block Training

I got an email, and later a follow up phone conversation, with a small group nearby composed of experienced former LEO and NRA Firearms Trainers who have come up with a very good idea. I call it Block Training. It works like this. They have essentially taken a general two-day intensive handgun and self-defense training class and broken it down into 2 to 2 1/2 hour blocks. This way a person can afford to begin improving his or her real-world handgun self-defense skills without having to pony up a few hundred dollars for the course, lodging, meals and a thousand rounds of ammo all at once.

I hope to be able to attend one of the first class blocks and report on this concept in more detail here.

Police Chief

The Chief in one of the local towns nearby is leaving after a long military and police career. One of the more interesting things he had to say was that he, along with many other in law enforcement, support the 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms. To walk the talk, he is planning to set up and conduct concealed carry classes in our area. Now, if you want to take one, it is at least a two hour drive, and if you don't want to wait until they get around to holding a class within that range, you can drive another hour or two. I'm looking forward to that and it's got me thinking about getting my instructor qualifications and helping out.

Lasers Again

I've already whined about lasers and holsters, so I'll spare you that. The update is that I am waiting on what I have been assured by LaserMax is a package with at least one laser sight evaluation unit, plus other materials. If I don't see it this week, I'll be following up with them. Once that arrives, and the snow melts and the ground dries, I will be able to get some range time with both models and have some  personal experience that I can hopefully translate into useful information.

IWB Thoughts

There have been many opinions voiced and gallons of ink, virtual and real, consumed over the "best" self- defense carry gun. I have avoided most of this and settled on what you might call a "middle of the road" gun - a large capacity 9 mm semi - auto that fits my ergonomic preferences. At this point I consider the most important aspect of self defense carry to be carry. I subscribe to the notion that the most effective self defense gun is the one you have when you need one.

That requires you to constantly carry your chosen weapon. Simple idea, but often not easy to follow. Obviously, developing a personal system to comfortably and effectively carry a self defense gun is key to this. And, the holster is the crucial component. In addition to keeping the pistol oriented correctly, the trigger covered and held securely, but not too securely to inhibit a clean draw, the holster must be comfortable enough to carry regardless of when, where and how a person goes about his or her daily business.

Obviously, larger handguns are more difficult to holster well and carry for a long period. Another reason why the big caliber advocates have a fundamental problem when it comes to actually carrying the big guns for self defense. But, even so, there are many, many holster designs that attempt to answer those requirements. That is why many of us have accumulated our box-o-holsters.

In terms of basic comfort, the OWB (outside the waist band) is superior to the IWB (inside the waist band) design, but IWB designs generally are better for concealment. There are, of course, exceptions. Most of us will eventually settle on one of each as our favorite holsters.

For me, my best holsters share certain characteristics. Comfort, of course, but comfort alone is not enough. I don't want a holster so comfortable I "don't know it is there". I want to know it is there and where it is, but I don't want it to be a constant nag or pain. I have one IWB holster, an N82 Tactical, which is insanely comfortable (for a holster, let's stay real, we aren't talking about pillows here) but sometimes doesn't want to let go of my gun when I need to draw it. Not good. Fails a prime requirement - make the gun easily accessible all of the time, without fail.

Stability. When I put a holster in place I expect it to stay there. So far, every holster I have tried, IWB or OWB styles, that has only one clip does not stay in place. Not that it migrates from one side to the other, but it moves too much. The grip rotates down to the belt line. Or up so the end pokes into my shirt, printing "gun here!". Not good. I don't like getting out of the car and having to readjust the position of my holster. So, two clips or belt loops are mandatory.

The hybrid holsters built with two clips and a synthetic shell on a leather backing are stable, but I don't find them acceptably comfortable and they are hard to put on and remove. Besides, I don't like those clips with the "tails" that stick out. Just the ticket to catch on your shirt or sweater hem when pulling it up get to your gun.

So, loops - one big enough for stability, or maybe two loops - and reasonable comfort that does not impede access. And, a good place to accommodate an extra magazine would be good. So, I'm looking closely at the D.M. Bullard Texas Conceal Carry holster. Since I favor cross draw carry, this might be an excellent choice. A good belt loop attachment will keep the grips above the belt line and the flat, wider design incorporating a spare mag pouch, might make it stable and reasonably comfortable. If I am able, I will review this holster here and see how it stacks up against the other IWB holsters I have tried and reviewed.

Posted with Blogsy

New D.M. Bullard Bodyguard

I have a Bodyguard OWB holster from D.M. Bullard for my LCP. I have had it for about two years and It has become my standard OWB holster for that gun. It is comfortable, secure and provides ease of access. And, importantly it conceals the LCP with almost anything including T-shirts. When I carried an LC9 I also bought and frequently used one of David's Bodyguards with equal satisfaction. I have been carrying my Ruger SR9c in a Bullard Bandit for OWB but having put the LC9 up for sale and using the SR9c as my main carry gun, I decided to go for a Bodyguard because of the better all-around concealment it provides.

Some people try many different makes and models of things before, through personal experience and preference, settle on a few out of the many and stick with them. Like many of you I had a box full of holsters accumulated while searching for the "best". The "best" is, of course, a very subjective and personal decision, as it should be. I confess to being a native of Fort Worth, Texas and therefore partial to such things as boots, hats and holsters made in Texas, so it was natural that I was intrigued with David Bullard's work when I first encountered it. I now have many products made by David or his craftsmen and I am still gladdened by the consistent quality and craftsmanship of his work. But, beyond that, I have found that his designs work. To me a good leather hand made holster is a thing of beauty, but even more so when it does exactly what it was designed and intended to do. So now, my box of holsters is emptying out and I am depending more and more on Bullard for my needs.

My new Bodyguard for the SR9c arrived this week and I quickly put it to the test. Perfect molding to the gun. Even the slide striations and indent for the magazine release button are precisely molded in. The trigger is completely covered, which, should one choose, allows carry of pistols like Ruger semi-auto to be carried with the manual safety "off" with assurance that the trigger safety is always protected. The gun and holster are held firmly in place with a good gun belt, behind the hip at a steep cant for comfort and concealment. This design works very well for the smaller pistols and equally as well for the larger gun.

I broke the holster in quickly by wrapping the pistol in two layers of kitchen plastic wrap and holstering a few times. Now, it is held tightly but releases easily. Seemingly a contradiction, but true.

I will be putting this new Bodyguard to the test over the winter and into the summer when lighter garments will be in order and I will report on that experience. Many holsters feel and perform very well initially, but with use and time may exhibit issues and flaws not obvious during the "honeymoon" period. I certainly don't expect any with the Bodyguard, but you never know.

Posted with Blogsy

Holster Evaluation Results

Bear Creek's IWB for the LCP
A Damn Good Holster

I have a number of holsters primarily for concealed carry, and I have tried a few more than that. A few I have kept for a while, carrying them in various situations, dress and weather, evaluating which ones work the best for me. My goal is to arrive at two or three holsters that I carry in one or two positions so that I limit the possibilities for confusion should I need to react in a self-defense scenario.

All well and good, but it became obvious that I needed some method to my madness or I would be relying on memory and fading impressions, both of which are increasingly unreliable. So, I developed a simple chart with which to record and analyze my simple requirements. You will see that below. At the time I began keeping these records, I owned a Ruger LC9 along with the other two Rugers in the chart. I've since put the LC9 up for sale since I believe it is redundant to the SR9c which has many advantages over the somewhat smaller LC9. Regardless, I did collect data about that gun which is shown below.

The chart below is grouped by gun, then by score. A higher score is better than a lower one. I generally took the range from 1 (worst) to 5 (best). These are obviously subjective and relate to my preferences, habits and body type. Meanings of the rating categories:

Secure: Does the gun and holster stay where I put it, throughout a carry period. This usually involved sitting, standing, walking, some short running, kneeling, bending, and the normal activities you'd be engaged in throughout the day. I want a holstered gun to stay where I want it to be throughout my day. Period. This is a problem for IWB holsters unless comfort is sacrificed.

Comfort: Speaks for itself. If the rig is comfortable, I'll carry it readily and for long periods. Otherwise, it ends up in the drawer or on eBay. I don't have to "forget it is there". In fact, I want to know it is there, where it is and that it is not bugging me endlessly.

Cover: Do normal garmets cover the holster and gun in normal, everyday activities, or do I have to continually adjust for either comfort or, worse, concealment. This is also a major issue with most IWB holsters. It is closely associated with the "Secure" category, above. First, if the holster and gun can be worn comfortably in a way that conceals under normal garb, then, will it stay there. If it prints anywhere you put it on, then it fails this test obviously. If it swivels, rotates, shifts or otherwise moves into a place where it prints, this is a failure of a holster allegedly made for concealment.

T-Shirt: I wear T-shirts frequently in the spring and summer, so any IWB (and some OWB) holsters that are made to conceal will have to do so under a T-shirt. Around here, when fall really comes in, we can count on putting the T-shirts away until late spring, so this is a requirement that might be met with a 'summer' holster that works particularly well with T-shirts.

Final Notes
A category that doesn't appear in the charts but is assumed to be there for any self-defense holster is ease of draw. If the thing is hard to draw from, it's going back to the maker with a note, or in the trash.

The Bear Creek IWB holster pictured above was one of my first LCP holsters. It served me well and long. I sold it to a friend who was getting started with concealed carry. If I had it to do again, I'd keep it, and have Doug make one for him.

I currently have a new D.M. Bullard OWB cross draw holster made for the SR9c. I have been using and testing it for a few weeks - thanks to Dave for the opportunity. It is not rated in the charts. As I have noted in previous posts here, while the quality is outstanding, the combination of my body type and the size and heft of the SR9c contributes to the holster not pulling the butt of the gun in close enough to my torso. Regardless of where I position it, and I wear a heavy gun belt made by Doug Childers of Bear Creek Holsters, there is always a one to two inch gap between the gun butt and me, which produces printing under anything other than a jacket. I am still working with the holster and will have a more detailed final review here later.

Update: Since this was originally posted I have experienced and issue carrying the Ruger SR9c and a Versacarry in the cross draw position. When bending down sharply to pick something off the floor, the magazine button on my SR9c was depressed and the magazine ejected onto the floor. Caution is advised if you use a Ruger SR9 or 40 series semiauto with a Versacarry holster in the cross draw or appendix carry position. More information will be posted when I get feedback from Versacarry.

Holster	Type	Gun	Rating	Secure	Comfort	Cover?	T-Shirt	Comments
Bullard Bodyguard	OWB	LC9	17	5	4	4	4	Comfortable. Secure. Hides well. Draws well.
Remora	IWB	LC9	14	3	3	4	4	Versatile. Ambidextrous. Moves from position depending on your activities.
Versacarry	IWB	LC9	14	3	3	4	4	Minimal. Trigger open on one side. Inexpensive. More comfortable than it appears.
pjholster	IWB	LC9	12	3	1	4	4	Excellent quality. Light. Hard. Not comfortable in appendix or cross draw positions.
Remora Tuckable	IWB	LC9	12	3	3	4	2	Versatile. Ambidextrous. Moves from position depending on your activities.
Fobus	OWB	LC9	9	3	4	1	1	Paddle can be insecure. Minimal concealment. Requires cover.
Uncle George	Pocket	LCP	20	5	5	5	5	Quality. Ease of carry. Very concealable.
Galco Stow-n-Go	IWB	LCP	19	5	4	5	5	Inexpensive, well made, excellent clip, comfortable.
Nemesis	Pocket	LCP	19	5	4	5	5	Quality. Ease of carry, problematic access in front pocket.
Bullard Bodyguard	OWB	LCP	18	5	5	4	4	Comfortable. Secure. Hides well. Draws well. Very high quality.
Versacarry	IWB	LCP	18	4	4	5	5	Minimal. Trigger open on one side. Inexpensive. Very comfortable in this smaller size.
Remora	IWB	LCP	16	3	4	5	4
Bullard Bandit	OWB	SR9c	17	5	5	4	3	Comfortable. Secure. Needs cover. Draws well. Very high quality.
N82	IWB	SR9c	15	3	4	4	4	Comfort. Secure. Adjustable cant. Large.
Supertuck	IWB	SR9c	15	4	3	4	4	Big. Wide. Difficult clips. Better for bigger person.
Versacarry	IWB	SR9c	14	4	3	4	3	Minimal. Fragile. Trigger open on one side. Cheap
Remora	IWB	SR9c	12	3	3	3	3	Versatile. Ambidextrous. Moves from position.
Remora Tuckable	IWB	SR9c	11	3	3	4	1	Versatile. Ambidextrous. Moves from position.

		Comments
Versacarry	IWB	May break at clip hinge if over stressed. Trigger guard covered on one side only. Surprisingly comfortable.
pjholster	IWB	Hard, inflexible, and comfort depends on position.
Bullard Bodyguard & Bandit	OWB	Conceals surprisingly well with a loose T-shirt, but not perfectly. Comfortable. Secure. Needs cover. Draws well. Very high quality.
Remora	IWB	Basic holster. No reinforcement or sweat shield. All Remoras may shift position a small amount or significantly depending on where they are placed, and the activities engaged in. Some locations are more secure than others. For larger guns, between the belt and waistband is most secure. The tuckable versions work well with the same caveats as above.
Uncle George Holster	Back Pocket	The almost perfect pocket carry. Always in position. Light and flexible enough to be very comfortable, heavy enough to protect the LCP. Easy to draw. Conformed so you sit on the end of the panel, not the pistol.
N82 Tactical Pro	IWB	A good solution to concealment and comfort, with a couple of design flaws. Comfort is outstanding especially for the larger guns. Protection of the pistol is also excellent. The single clip means easy on and off, but permits the holster and gun to move, swivel and change position which may produce some printing. The gun is held in place by a designed "lip" cast in the plastic over the trigger guard which requires a slight inward twisting motion to release the gun on the draw. Something else to remember which adds a complicating factor in what may be a stressful situation.
Crossbreed Supertuck	IWB	Wide leather base, kydex holster with dual clips which can be difficult to engage. Adjustable in cant and ride height. Not as comfortable as the N82 Tactical, but more stable. Expensive.
Galco Stow-n-Go	IWB	An outstanding solution to a comfortable, effective and inexpensive IWB carry for small pistols. May work as well with larger handguns. And, it is inexpensive with one of the best clips on the market.