Carry/concealment for swimming, other water activities?

I sometimes take a small 9mm with me kayaking, and I'm not alone. When you're out 'in the boonies' it's nice to have a friend along. Unchambered, in a Ziploc and stuffed in my PFD or drytop pocket.

Years ago I did a trip on the Lower Gauley in WV. At the time I wasn't into firearms yet, so was somewhat taken aback when I saw a revolver fixed to the underside of a kayak when we stopped for lunch. It didn't scare me or anything and I remember thinking, "that kinda makes sense".

Same when I go river fishing.

Swimming? No. That would be ridiculous.
 
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When I go kayaking I have a few options. Camelbak makes both a backpack and lumbar pack with compartments that contain a holster (demon and goblin) which may work for you.

I have also have a wilderness safepacker that works very well. It attaches to the webbing between the front and back panels of my PDF under my arm.

All three options offer protection from splashing and bumps. None would work great for submersion.
 
Thank you so very much for helping us understand what we need to adequately defend ourselves. You obviously have much more command of the subject than the rest of us who mistakenly believe that it will take more than the mere sight of a small caliber weapon to stop a threat to our lives. Have you considered teaching courses through which you could better pass on your extensive knowledge of this subject?
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I never claimed to know more about the subject than anyone else, I simply gave a personal opinion...and am sure you know what they say about personal opinions. :D

If carrying 5 guns and 20 loaded magazines make you feel safer, more power to you. However, I personally feel more than adequately protected with a revolver. It's all a matter of personal preference. Feel free to disagree with me. That's why I come here, to get the full range of opinions on various gun-related subjects from fellow gun enthusiasts.

And if I offended anyone, I apologize. That was not my intention.
 
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I never claimed to know more about the subject than anyone else, I simply gave a personal opinion.
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Opinions are typically prefaced by such disclaimers as, "In my opinion..., IMO..., Personally I believe..., etc." Now go back an read some of what you wrote:

I am really concerned about the "mall ninja" mentality of some posters here
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No you don't need 3 or 4 guns on you at all times...you don't really need 4 or 5 loaded magazines on your person
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Unless you are a mafia member or drug dealer and someone wants to kill you bad, criminals will almost always run away when you pull out a gun
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If you are that paranoid, build your own pool in your backyard, put up 7 foot tall electrified fences, and lay a few bobby traps around the perimeter of your compound
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These aren't opinions my friend, they're statements of what you consider to be fact coupled with inflammatory jabs at those who have arrived at different conclusions. If you don't want to offend people, drop the personal slights. Please, by all means, feel free to share your own opinions. But keep it respectful, allow others the freedom to disagree without tagging them with derogatory labels, and consider that perhaps some of us come from a different life experience that has led us to different conclusions and individual decisions.
 
Judge not, lest ye be judged yourself. This is a firearms board, where most folks are actively involved in protecting themselves. If you have times you feel like you don't need protection, bully for you. The OP does, so if you have nothing helpful to recommend to him, your happiness is as close as a different thread.
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Took the words right out of my mouth..Or mind. Whatever.

I don't like this whole "let me bash him/her for asking a question" +1 +1 +1


Anyways, haven't done it before..When I'm fishing yes. No direct water yet though. I'm sure I'd us the bag too though.
 
I remember reading an article by Leroy Thompson where, on a personal protection detail, he wore a .25ACP (Beretta or Walther, I think) in a crotch holster while his partner had a Browning Hi-Power near her on shore. Maybe a small auto in a SmartCarry under your swim trunks might be the answer.....

Personally, I wouldn't rely on a firearm to operate well while swimming in a public pool. I usually choose a folding knife hidden in my swimwear with pepper spray in my bag on shore.

Now, near a lake or other outdoor water bodies, I like the stainless revolver idea. Perhaps even a .45LC/.410 shot derringer, depending on snake issues. Something that would resist water corrosion but be reliable to operate.

YMMV....
 
I don't understand all of the criticism about a legitimate question. You ask 'why' and I ask 'why not?"

The drive to the lake, pool, beach, river, ocean, etc. may be 1/2 hour or so, or maybe a hike through the woods, etc. These things aren't always just across the street. And besides, emergencies don't make appointments and can happen anywhere.

To answer the question, if I were going out kayaking or someplace where I wanted to protect my gun from water or saltwater, I would consider a durable ziplock back. You could probably still get it into your holster, knowing that when you draw you just tear the bag off of it. Shooting through the bag may cause the gun to malfunction (a semi-auto may not cycle and a revovler with exposed hammer may jam). If you wanted something designated for swimming, you could wear 'board shorts' with a zippered pocket. Get a small lightweight pocket pistol like a Keltec P3AT (14 oz loaded), vaccuum seal it, and put it in your shorts pockets. If needed, you could draw it, tear off the plastic, and bingo.
 
Isn't a revolver better for outdoors sporting activities than a semi-automatic? I would imagine a revolver is less likely to malfunction in a dirty/humid environment and the larger and generally more powerful calibers offered in revolvers (ie..41 magnum, .44 magnum, etc) would be better for defense against bears and other large critters.

Please correct me if am wrong, I do have an inherent bias in favor or revolvers and classic firearms such as old fashioned wood stock bolt action rifles and pump shotguns.
 
I would not carry into any public pool, or private for that matter, for obvious reasons (some metioned above). Unless you have a completely composite firearm your obviously not doing it any good by submersing it..not saying that they won't take it, but I'd just rather not unless I have a specific purpose for being in less than ideal situations (which are sometimes unavioidable). How'd you like to really need your firearm/ammo and have it misfire due to it previously being submerged?

Not to mention that "blueish" skim that you'd leave behind from carrying in a well maintained sidearm. :D

Good luck!

tacoma
 
I don't wish to take this thread off into another direction, something I am sometimes accused (and guilty) of, but lately I have been taking more into consideration when thinking about new handguns, namely resistance to rust and corrosion.

Some makers, Glock, for instance, make a big deal of how their products stand up to harsh conditions, in this case, wet conditions. It seems like half the time I go to the woods it rains (but I go anyway) and the rest of the time, it is merely damp everywhere. On top of that, I sweat. So if a particular handgun is supposed to be good enough to go through the dishwasher, that's a good thing. One maker even has a Navy version of one of their models, though I don't think it is marketed in the US.

Normally, stainless steel is good enough, though I find I don't care for the two-tone look, now that I actually have one (a Ruger P345). There are black-finished stainless guns and other with proprietary finishes that supposedly hold up just as well. Options abound and Parkerizing is still around.
 
First, allow me to say that it always bothers me when someone on a firearms forum berates someone for their choices when it comes to arming themselves. "Need" is a choice that is determined by the individual. If a person feels the need to carry a weapon in a particular circumstance, then it's not my place or anyone else's for that matter, to question or legitimize that need.

Now with that said, my daily carry weapon is my Rossi 462. Because of it's SS conctruction, I take no special steps in the way I carry and I carry it fishing, camping, motorcycling, ect.. It has seen rain, snow and even taken a dunking while I was trying to land a 17 lb. catfish (landed the fish despite taking a swim). A cleaning and lube, and it's ready for the next adventure! For an "outdoor gun", stainless steel is the way to go.
 
I won't comment on the pool issue, but I've done quit a bit of canoeing and kayaking. A stainless revolver is my choice, such as the S&W models 60, 63 and 66 ( or their newer equivilants). I prefer revolvers and the loads can be far more flexible in centerfires.

The ammunition is sealed on the case edge and primer with a thin coating of polyurathane to assure waterproofing for more than a quick dump.

For canoeing, any decent comfortable belt, shoulder or fanny pack holster should serve. Just be sure a belt holster rides high enough to prevent poking a hole in your fine cane seat.
I normally carry a day pack clipped into the seat frame or thwart, but I'd rather have my handgun closer.

A cockpit type kayak, such as my Perception Sonoma, presents more difficulties because of the close fit. ("You sit in a canoe, but wear a kayak.")
I find a an unanchored shoulder holster such as Bianchi's old Agent (model 9) Berns-Martin style works for me. As an alternate, a small gun pack worn in front, on your lap works for some. While I generally kayak with a deck bag in front of me, again I'm not really comfortable not having it on my person.

On a couple of occassions I've carried my handgun in a pocket of my PFD (lifevest), but, again, I don't always have it on on the water and even less so on dry land.

One trick to assure retention is to equip your piece with a lanyard. My "water" guns are fitted with neoprene grips, so I tie a short lingth of heavy line (nylon or monofiliment) or 3/8" nylon sewing tape thru the frame at the butt so it protruds thru the seam in the grips. Use a length of 550 cord with a spring clip as a neck lanyard and even someone as klutzie as me can keep a pistol from the deep six.
 
Milt Sparks Colon Classic at the pool?:D

But really, at the pool I would probably consider a backpack with all my stuff, fishing I usually take the IWB rig. I have found that a shoulder rig flops around way too much when making long casts for those weary bucket mouths.

One has to be very careful about security of a firearm not located on your person though, things tend to disappear in a heart beat around a pool!
 
The original poster has had 4 posts to date...this question especially with regard to the "pool" scenario smells like a troll to me...Gotta say BS to this one. Rod
 
As an avid kayaker and 24/7 CCW, I have some experience here. I volunteer and teach kayaking lesson to include bracing, rolling and self rescue year round. I will just drop my LCP into a water bag and throw it in lap attached by a clip or sometimes clipped and tucked under the deck bungee. Never came loose and nobody has ever asked about what is in the bag.
 
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