re: Baws who carry: has it been worth it?

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Two guys got out and instead of walking into the station they split and started walking towards me, each about 10 yards apart. Hairs stood up, and I trusted my gut.

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Had a very similar situation at the gas station across the street from Racetrack on Siegen. I was putting air in a tire and two guys did the same thing. I wasn't carrying. I just packed up and left. Definitely saw the value in carrying after that.

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I have my permit but I wont carry until I find a holster that isn’t miserable to have on me.

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alien gear

I carry pretty much anywhere I can. To be honest, I have never felt like I really needed it, but that’s not the point of having it. Violence happens fast and unexpectedly. So yeah. It’s worth it.

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alien gear

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Have the appendix holster in a junk drawer. The clip that goes over your belt prints way too much and it puts the grip right under my last rib. Uncomfortable as frick. I need to find a good Kydex and call it done.

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Curious, how often do you train to use it? Not fire, but upholster positioning based on threat location, etc?

I always wonder if some of these cc folks actually train for the unfortunate.

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I’ll be honest. Not as much as I should. Part of it is access to training. Pretty much any training course worth a shite is north of $400. I will from time to time practice drawing from the concealed position and try to practice getting eyes and sights on target efficiently. I would really like to take a pistol combat course or something like that. The problem is cost. It’s just hard to pony up. I just try to do what I can.

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I don't carry but having lived in Atlanta for the past few years there have been a few situations in which having a firearm could've come in handy.

For you baws who carry, have there been situations in which you've actually had to use the firearm or the threat of it?

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First off, yes I carry everywhere. Secondly, no I have never had to discharge my weapon in self-defense. Thirdly, if you use the threat of it, then it better be a situation in which you are prepared to use it.

The by-product of carrying for me has been an increase in situational awareness. I find myself looking at things differently and always keeping my head on a swivel more than I did pre-carry. The best defensive tactic you can use it to recognize and avoid the situation beforehand. Deescalate, diffuse, and disengage from the situation.

i have the alien gear IWB, carry 5 oclock sucks trying to keep concealed, only wear with certain types of clothing

Yes, but I carry less than I should. I think you give off more confidence when you are bc it seems like almost every time I am the walk up beggars / thugs keep their distance. Just about every time I don’t, they come right over. Never had to use it and only had to put my hand on it once when a beggar wouldn’t leave me alone at the Essen Perkins Exxon. Once I moved my hand onto it, he got the point and walked off quickly. There were two college girls a pump or two over that he kept looking over at while he was bothering me. I took my time and waited for them to finish pumping gas before I left. He just sat on the curb watching them like he was just waiting for me to leave so he could go mess with them.

If we are hitting the road, it is always on me.

I never want to pull it or use it, and by myself it would take a lot more for me to do so, with the wife and kids the tolerance level is a little lower.

I shoot regularly and practice shooting up close and at weird angles and heights bc that is probably where I will end up if I ever do need to use it.

I shoot about twice a month. After my encounter I realize I was tactically dumb. Instead of becoming static I should have used my car as a barrier to get behind it.

I’m now a member of a range that allows movement while shooting. They guys I go with, we load each other’s magazines and will short stack em or put a snap cap I. To simulate failures. Movement on the beep and some burpees before a drill to get the heart rate up so it’s harder to aim.

I feel like if you are still you are easy to hit. Movement movement movement.

I also no longer try for the quarte sized group with a pistol; I work on smooth draw and follow shots. The small group as my instructor says is “pride”.

Where is your range?