Posted on 07/01/2007 7:21:06 AM PDT by grimalkin
Steady there, Laz.
www.usgalco.com
For you continuing education, I would suggest attending International Defensive Pistol Association shooting matches. They are a lot of fun and you don’t have to compete to pick up pointers. There are a lot of ladies who attend and they can help you with advice and suggestions.
I’ve heard of Massad Ayoob. I’ll definitely look into advanced training. One can never have too much of a good thing!
The best advice I can give is go to a gun store and try several different holsters and the bag. Buy what feels right.
The most important advice I can give is go to the range and practice practice and practice some more.
I’m getting really helpful advice. Thanks everyone. :)
I have the range on my schedule for every upcoming Sunday afternoon. My better half loves it and he likes it even more when I go with him!
If you choose to carry your defensive weapon in a purse, I highly recommend that it be a purse designed for the purpose.
There are a number of books available about Women and self defense with a firearm. The name Paxton Quigley comes to mind. You may also wish to read about various CCW carry methods. There are several available. I would also suggest that you read “In the Gravest Extreme” by Massad Ayoob.
I meant to say there are several *books* available on concealed carry options. Amazon.com lists some if you do a search for Paxton or “The Concealed Handgun Manual”.
I've taken two of his week-long classes. I recommend him
You might also take a look at fanny-pack holsters for casual times. Also, keep in mind that in a mugging, the first thing the guy's going to grab is your purse, in which case he also has your gun
While I realize it's kinda late to offer this advice, your first criterion for a carry gun is "Is it compact enough that I'd have no problem always having it with me?". A .22 in the hand beats a .44 mag left home because it was too bulky for your evening dress. Ideally, you should have two guns: one that's concealable enough that you will always be able to have it with you, plus another with hefty stopping power for times when you are more concerned about being well protected than max concealment
Yes. I thought of that. I am definitely going to purchase more than one holster option and modify depending on where I'm going and what I will be doing.
While I realize it's kinda late to offer this advice, your first criterion for a carry gun is "Is it compact enough that I'd have no problem always having it with me?".
I thought very hard on this one. I've practiced with my SO's gun on the range. It's a SIG P228 and while I was fairly effective with it, it was still a tad too heavy and large. This is why I decided on the Kahr. It's smaller, narrower and quite light, but not too light. My hands can get a solid grip and it feels very balanced. Of course, now that I've purchased one, I'm probably going to want to purchase another eventually!
Did you discuss your theory of carrying a gun with minimal stopping power but maximum concealabity like a .22 with him (Ayoob)?
My soft squeezy toy, aka Girl Friday ,wears a magnatriggered Mod 36 snubby using a Barimi grip vs a holster. It allows for use on dresses, pants , shorts and even jammies it is so compact. I drilled a small hole that secures a spare bianchi speed strip on about 4 inches of string that acts like a watch fob safety / dummy cord should the barimi grip slip off the waist band.
As to small autos, like the lightweight Kahr........ I’d go with a age old “free” OSS string holster for when she is wearing anything with a belt. Use cotton string in a 4 inch loop, doubled over the belt leaves a loop that will prevent the little auto from sliding down her waistband of dress or pants.
If ones ummmm Girl Friday is well ummm endowed there are holsters that hang between and below the cleavage of the bra inverted for small autos like the seecamp, beretta, walthers, kahrs etc (I am very fond of bras with thumbreaks !) Access is quick for the lady to jerk out her shirt tail reach up and pull the pistol......which should also properly distract or confuse the attacker for that “edge”........
Bigger guns always preferred of course......:o)
All that aside Galco has great IWB holsters as well as Bianchi and Kramer.
Some of the Uncle Mikes nylon and plastic clip holsters will do the job well if she wants a simple rig, inexpensive that will clip on IWB and they even have adjustable thumbreak systems. Stay away from the spare mag holster combos for obvious reasons.
My choice would be the uncle mikes as they are very durable, washable and the ones I have for IWB, pocket and ankle have lasted me for decades of almost daily use......
Best advice from my pistol instructor. Applies to more than firearms.
“Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.”
Best to you.
One lady stated it as “Practice makes permanent. Perfect practice makes perfect.” She was talking about feminine handling of a different type of gun, though.
+1, fer shur.
A person with a 22 automatic can get the hits and bring down the target, but there are a couple of problems.
1. A person with a 22 has to have laser-like focus on getting the hits. Hit the target in the head or neck. Most people can do it, but it takes more skill than just getting a center of mass shot.
2. Twenty twos are notoriously unreliable in terms of function. I know one man who carries a walther P22 and it is 100% functional. I know another who bought the same kind of pistol for the purpose of putting a legal silencer on it, and it just never worked right for him.
Stick with a 380 or larger and shoot for center mass.
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