Txinvestigator suggested in another thread that for many, keeping similarly operated handguns for self defense may be wise. There was a heated discussion.
I add the complexities of changing the positioning of your gun--where you carry--either concealed or not, and your spare ammo. And your other force options--knife, pepper spray, or anything else. And no one mentioned different jam clearance techniques.
I know most of us have experimented with different holsters/methods of carry and guns. Often we suggest that different clothes require different guns and/or carry methods and positions. Changing the carry method affects where spare ammo is carried and how. Different guns also require different loading and jam clearance techniques.
I suggest it makes sense to have the fewest different weapons possible, the fewest different carry methods possible, and the fewest different carry positions possible. I believe this because keeping it simple has a greater liklelihood of success in a true life and death, adrenaline dump situation.
There are many tales of those who through muscle memory fail to do what they need to do with a gun in a crisis, including some well trained individuals. This does not mean everyone will react this way, but until you have actually been in the death defying situation, how do you know?
I had a neighbor who is a cop on our local force. As a two-year rookie he was clearing a building that had a reported break-in at night. He got to the last hiding place available, a bathroom. He had his gun and light in each hand, crossed in the Harries carry he had been trained on. As he swung open the door he turned on his light and blew up the toilet. Whooops . . . wrong activator switch. Three day suspension for improperly discharging his weapon.
I have not been in such a situation, but if I get in one I do not want that to be the time to find out that I cannot find my gun, its safety, my reload, or deal with a myriad of other self-imposed complexities that might suddenly overwhelm me. It only takes one mistake, it takes only one two-second mental/physical delay, to become the loser in a deadly encounter.
What if I am waking up and still have some cobwebs in my head? What if my senses are dulled by pain--having just been hit in the head? What if I have been shot and hit--say twice--and am seriously wounded but still in the fight? What if I am having to use only my weak hand? In other words, what if my mind is not working normally, but instead is incredibly focused on survival and not able to process multiple inputs to make varying decisions on where guns are or how to operate different safeties, and what reloading or jam clearance technique to choose from, and where my spare ammo is? What single technique/option is my stressed brain going to choose for me by default? Will it be the correct one?
With all the varieties of guns and carry methods available, if one has a goal of keeping it simple and carrying a single handgun with a single manual of arms, in only one position, for all situations, what would be the disadvantage?
My solution? As a civilain with a carry permit I tote a Kahr P40 in Thunderwear, with a spare hi-cap mag in the left pouch. No safety, one reliable gun, one trigger action, one carry method, same place, all the time. Pull, point, shoot. This gives me confidence in its simplicity.
Of course, there are trade-offs and sacrifices each of us makes when reaching the decision on how best to carry what. I am not suggesting that everyone do what I do, only that some who are searching for a simpler solution might consider a method that works for me.
Fire away. CB3
I add the complexities of changing the positioning of your gun--where you carry--either concealed or not, and your spare ammo. And your other force options--knife, pepper spray, or anything else. And no one mentioned different jam clearance techniques.
I know most of us have experimented with different holsters/methods of carry and guns. Often we suggest that different clothes require different guns and/or carry methods and positions. Changing the carry method affects where spare ammo is carried and how. Different guns also require different loading and jam clearance techniques.
I suggest it makes sense to have the fewest different weapons possible, the fewest different carry methods possible, and the fewest different carry positions possible. I believe this because keeping it simple has a greater liklelihood of success in a true life and death, adrenaline dump situation.
There are many tales of those who through muscle memory fail to do what they need to do with a gun in a crisis, including some well trained individuals. This does not mean everyone will react this way, but until you have actually been in the death defying situation, how do you know?
I had a neighbor who is a cop on our local force. As a two-year rookie he was clearing a building that had a reported break-in at night. He got to the last hiding place available, a bathroom. He had his gun and light in each hand, crossed in the Harries carry he had been trained on. As he swung open the door he turned on his light and blew up the toilet. Whooops . . . wrong activator switch. Three day suspension for improperly discharging his weapon.
I have not been in such a situation, but if I get in one I do not want that to be the time to find out that I cannot find my gun, its safety, my reload, or deal with a myriad of other self-imposed complexities that might suddenly overwhelm me. It only takes one mistake, it takes only one two-second mental/physical delay, to become the loser in a deadly encounter.
What if I am waking up and still have some cobwebs in my head? What if my senses are dulled by pain--having just been hit in the head? What if I have been shot and hit--say twice--and am seriously wounded but still in the fight? What if I am having to use only my weak hand? In other words, what if my mind is not working normally, but instead is incredibly focused on survival and not able to process multiple inputs to make varying decisions on where guns are or how to operate different safeties, and what reloading or jam clearance technique to choose from, and where my spare ammo is? What single technique/option is my stressed brain going to choose for me by default? Will it be the correct one?
With all the varieties of guns and carry methods available, if one has a goal of keeping it simple and carrying a single handgun with a single manual of arms, in only one position, for all situations, what would be the disadvantage?
My solution? As a civilain with a carry permit I tote a Kahr P40 in Thunderwear, with a spare hi-cap mag in the left pouch. No safety, one reliable gun, one trigger action, one carry method, same place, all the time. Pull, point, shoot. This gives me confidence in its simplicity.
Of course, there are trade-offs and sacrifices each of us makes when reaching the decision on how best to carry what. I am not suggesting that everyone do what I do, only that some who are searching for a simpler solution might consider a method that works for me.
Fire away. CB3