How often do you carry. ****POLL****

[CraigAPS]

As a new gun owner I don’t have the confidence or skill yet to carry, but I like to go walking/jogging in the evenings so my significant other is encouraging me to work on it. Thoughts on how to know when you are ready to start carrying?

My advice, aside from taking a basic firearms course, is to carry at home. If it makes you feel more comfortable, begin carrying it at home unloaded. Get used to having it on your hip/waist. Then carry it around the house loaded (in the case of a semiauto, without one in the chamber). Work your way up. Do some unloaded drills like working on dry firing, unholstering, reholstering, etc. The biggest reason, IMHO, that one feels uneasy around something is unfamiliarity with that item. I started carrying a revolver. The heavy double action trigger pull made me feel comfortable. When I switched to a semi, the trigger pull was (relatively) super light, and that made me feel uneasy. So, I started carrying it with an unloaded mag in the house. Then, I worked up to a fully loaded mag, but without one chambered. After a little while, I was carrying it fully loaded with one in the pipe. Start slowly and work your way up.

 

[WebHobbit]

Ayoob is one of the best, but he does not teach Indiana la

Right....but he talks about laws of many states. I consider his books essential reading for anyone who carries a gun in any state.

 

[2A_Tom]

Well, that is great If you travel alot, but having read alot of Ayoob I was very ignorant of Indiana Law until I joined INGO and got set straight.

 

[WebHobbit]

Of course you should learn Indiana law. I'm just saying a lot of what he writes about applies all over the US. Concepts and general ideas....

 

[Take-A-Hike]

Great suggestions- thank you!

 

[bwframe]

Great suggestions- thank you!

You are not gonna go wrong taking classes with Coach over at Parabellum.

 

[rhino]

Since I've injured my right hand, my carrying days are severely limited for awhile. Only having one usable hand, especially it being your weak hand, affects everything -- the clothes you wear, which pockets you can use, belt operation, "hygiene" issues -- everything. Hopefully, this surgery will be successful and I'll get most of the function back or I'll probably be shopping for left handed holsters. . Generally speaking though, I carry wherever I legally can, everyday.

This is a good reminded to learn and practice how to shoot and manipulate your gun one-handed, with both your dominant and support hands, BEFORE you really need it!

 

[rhino]

You are not gonna go wrong taking classes with Coach over at Parabellum.

 

[Expat]

This is a good reminded to learn and practice how to shoot and manipulate your gun one-handed, with both your dominant and support hands, BEFORE you really need it!

Although I am right handed and shoot pistol that way. I grew up shooting rifles and shotguns left handed due to being left eyed dominant. It made me almost ambidextrous gun wise.

 

[rhino]

Although I am right handed and shoot pistol that way. I grew up shooting rifles and shotguns left handed due to being left eyed dominant. It made me almost ambidextrous gun wise.

We all need to be able to shoot both handguns and long guns from either side, with both hands, and with one hand at a time. You got a head start!

That's one of the reasons (among several) why people getting worked-up over eye dominance doesn't make much sense to me. Regardless of which eye is dominant and which hand is dominant, you have to learn to shoot left and right handed.

 

[2A_Tom]

Well, I am right eye dominant and need cataract surgery in that eye. I already had surgery on my left eye and I am actually more accurate with my pistol with that eye.

I have not attempted rifle that way YET.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

This is a good reminded to learn and practice how to shoot and manipulate your gun one-handed, with both your dominant and support hands, BEFORE you really need it!

Shooting is only a part of the problem. When your strong hand is out of commission for a period of time, it affects what you wear, what you can carry, and where on your body you can carry it. I'm not disagreeing with your point by any means, only stating if you cannot carry a gun, being able to handle it is a subordinate problem. For example, when all of your holsters are right handed, you're kind of screwed.

 

[rhino]

Shooting is only a part of the problem. When your strong hand is out of commission for a period of time, it affects what you wear, what you can carry, and where on your body you can carry it. I'm not disagreeing with your point by any means, only stating if you cannot carry a gun, being able to handle it is a subordinate problem. For example, when all of your holsters are right handed, you're kind of screwed.

Hehe... I have left-handed holsters for everything I have carried, do carry, or will carry.

I have an advantage, though. A long time ago, when I first met Louis Awerbuck (RIP), we were learning to draw and shoot and do other manipulations with our support side hands. I was clearly unable to reach my pistol with my left hand (until I started carrying appendix). He said to me in that gravelly monotone for which he was famous, "Joe, you need to carry two guns."

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Hehe... I have left-handed holsters for everything I have carried, do carry, or will carry.

I have an advantage, though. A long time ago, when I first met Louis Awerbuck (RIP), we were learning to draw and shoot and do other manipulations with our support side hands. I was clearly unable to reach my pistol with my left hand (until I started carrying appendix). He said to me in that gravelly monotone for which he was famous, "Joe, you need to carry two guns."

LOL! Ima cheapskate! I will say though if this turns out to be permanent, I will be in the market for LH replacements.

 

[rhino]

LOL! Ima cheapskate! I will say though if this turns out to be permanent, I will be in the market for LH replacements.

You should go ahead and get some left handed holsters. You should be carrying at least two guns anyway!

 

[lovemachine]

Because of a class I took with rhino, I started carrying Appendix. Just so I can access my gun with either hand. I can’t shoot worth crap with either hand, but I can sure reach it with either one!

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

You should go ahead and get some left handed holsters. You should be carrying at least two guns anyway!

You carry two in appendix location?

 

[rhino]

Because of a class I took with rhino, I started carrying Appendix. Just so I can access my gun with either hand. I can’t shoot worth crap with either hand, but I can sure reach it with either one!

 

[KG1]

I wear 4 holsters. 1 right, 1 left, 1 appendix and 1 sob. I got it all covered.

 

[jagee]

When I gorged myself and ate too much last week I decided pocket carry was my new best friend.