Your summer carry picks

Every officer has encountered the paradox of the job at least one time in their career. Sometimes, they just want to intervene in an incident, but it would not be wise. Sometimes they don’t want to intervene, but it would be unwise. Sometimes they are forced to intervene. The last thing we want to do is to be forced to intervene because of our carry system.

Without our winter clothing, carrying a firearm off duty adds an extra challenge in the summer. 

Summer carry

In the Twelve Rules of Off Duty Conduct (The February 2006 issue of LET), I wrote the rule that is an important consideration for Summer Carry: Carry the most effective firearm the wardrobe will allow. The term “most effective” was deliberate. It’s also elusive. I like to have cartridges that travel a minimum 12 inches in bare gelatin, expand to 150 percent, and perform after barrier. This type of performance is usually associated with a duty cartridge, full-size gun, with a full-size barrel. Unless the gun is limited to 2 shots like a derringer, this carry option will not go well with beach apparel.

There are a few things we can do in summer that we can’t do in other seasons. For example, if anyone has been following all the ballistic testing I’ve been doing, layered clothing is a factor. During the summertime, people tend to wear fewer layers. Therefore, theoretically, a lighter cartridge can be used. “Theoretically” because our purchasing decisions should be driven by the best performance we can find. However, it’s not unreasonable to find a product that delivers a lighter, faster moving bullet provided it can do all of the other things well.

The difference in weight in the pocket or on the belt between heavy and lightweight cartridge is dramatic. For example, 10 +P 9mm 124-grain cartridges weigh about 1930 grains. That’s 4.4 ounces. Liberty Ammunition offers a 50-grain, 9mm+P cartridge whose 50-grain bullets cruise along at about 2000 fps. Ten rounds weigh about 2.24 ounces. That’s an extreme weight difference, especially for those of us who carry a lot more than 10 rounds.

I have not tested a lot of extremely lightweight cartridges, including Liberty Ammunition. For 9mm, nominal performance leans toward the 115-124 grain range. Not everyone makes a law enforcement 115-grain JHP with a bonded core, but Winchester’s RA9MMJHP is a non bonded 115-grain cartridge that has good performance for summer carry.

Fire continuity

Carrying in warmer weather often precludes wearing those extra magazine pouches. If officers are going to carry their extra magazines discreetly, they will likely be in their pockets. The question is, which pockets? First, let’s be clear on this: If a person carries a firearm, they must carry reloads. The most likely source of semi-automatic handgun failure is the magazine. Getting back into the fight may be as simple as changing magazines.

Some magazines are way too fat for pocket carry. A practical person would switch from a Glock 19 to a Glock 43 just to have the flatter magazines. These will fit in the back pocket. I’m partial to the Smith & Wesson Shield, whose magazines also fit in the back pocket nicely. Use the non-shooting hand front or rear pocket for the first reload.

Revolver users will know this: the fastest reload occurs when the gun is placed into the non-shooting hand and that shooting hand works the speedloaders. This means that speedloaders need to be carried on the shooting side. I put one in the same pocket as the revolver. Use the thinnest, strongest, speedloaders one can find. Remember, quality speedloaders have a tendency to rattle when full. Your pockets should be roomy, but not loose.

Your gun

The off duty gun should have several characteristics. First, if possible, it should have a similar manual-of-arms (operating system) as the duty gun. That is, if the duty gun is a Glock 17, the off duty should be a Glock 19 or a Glock 43. I like the M&P/Shield combination. I carry a 40 Shield because it is thin and I can shoot it accurately. However, in retrospect, I would have chosen the 9mm Shield, which is exactly the same gun, only a little more controllable.

There are several models of revolvers that are as light as 13 ounces. The S&W M&P 340 CT has a Crimson Trace compact laser and can handle punishing .357 magnum rounds. One of our shooting group just got one and we have been shooting it a lot. With it, we punch A zone hits all day long. 13.3 ounces is light enough to carry when running.

When thinking about your system, ask  yourself: Will I practice with it? Can I re-holster and fight? Can I make a hostage shot (7 yards within a 3-inch triangle)?

Carry options

I use a Smart Carry holster when I need a medium sized gun and I’m wearing gym shorts. This is a device worn around the waist like an apron. It has pouches for a gun and a couple of magazines. Occasionally, I carry my Shield, magazines and a cell phone in the same rig. It rides below the waist and the gun is securely in the pouch, under my clothing. Users can move naturally in a pair of basketball shorts. The snag free design also doesn’t print with medium sized guns. The Smart Carry may be unconventional, but users can deploy quickly with it. There is a membrane called Cushmax that will prevent sweat from getting to the gun. Sweat is hard on guns and equipment. 

There are limitations to using this type of product. It is best used with an elastic waistband, although many use them under a pair of jeans. It does not require a particularly light gun, but the thinner the better. When I use a Smart Carry, it does not get in the way of any “calls of nature”, which is an important consideration. It will hide a J frame under a lightweight pair of running shorts without any print. Another limitation: When using a pair of shorts with a short crotch, it can be hard to sit. Users will have to experiment with different shorts.

Gould and Goodrich makes a pocket style holster that has a suede style liner and a tacky outer surface. The double layer of material in the holster tends to position the gun in the pocket so the gun stays oriented for a fast draw. It also serves to prevent the gun from printing. When I carry my gun in the pocket, this is what I use.

The Sticky Holster is a pocket holster that can also be used as a field expedient inside the waistband holster. The IWB style carry for this holster is a deliberate part of the design. Using it for IWB works well, but requires a little extra planning when…ahem…using the facilities.

Pocket carry does have its limitations. The draw is different. Just like a shooter needs to sweep any clothing away on a strong side draw, a pocket carry user has to exercise a little dexterity to find their pocket.

The best strategy for accessing the gun when carrying in the pocket is to get the hand on the gun early. That is, discreetly have the hand on the gun often. While this practice doesn’t mean that the user will have his hand on the gun “at the right time,” it will increase the number of times that the officer has accessed it, and therefore increase the speed. If done incorrectly, pocket carry does not allow the shooter to establish the master grip before drawing. The way to make this more predictable is to use grip tape on the gun, and a holster that breaks up the outline of the gun and positions it in the pocket.  TalonGrips is the product for that.

A waist pack is not the best option for summer carry, but manufacturers are getting smarter by offering them in more innocuous colors and designs. This is the slowest draw and the easiest to detect. The strategy is to draw early. The Galco Escort (Small size) waist pack is worth a look. It positions the gun in a Neoprene slot against a hard backing. It has a faster draw that most others. It also doesn’t bounce when running, which is why I used one for years for long runs. If only they would make this product in non-tactical colors. The Galco Escort is the only waist pack that allows the user to reholster quickly, without needing to zip it closed.

Kydex

Kydex is a great option. Many users have switched to appendix carry, using an inside-the-waistband holster. The draw is incredibly fast, compared to other carry systems. It tends to keep the gun in a place where an attempt to disarm the officer is immediately apparent. Therefore, a Kydex appendix carry option is very practical, for some officers. For others, it is uncomfortable in a seated position, and sometimes the speedy access to the firearm is inhibited. It is recommended that officers try this method out before switching to it. However, if it works for them, it is a tactical advantage.

Our Central Valley (Calif.) Jeremy Williams of Gun Craft USA builds Kydex holsters for this purpose. He has some great vids on social networking where he personally demonstrates his products.

Of all the things that Kydex will do for you, it will allow you to re-holster and continue the fight. This is a question that everyone can ask about their own personal carry option. Can you re-holster and go hands on?

Carry a tactical knife

When wearing lighter clothing, I tend to carry lighter blades. Officers will find that the most common weight reduction factor in folding knives will be the scale materials and liner width, not the construction of the blade. Liner construction is critical for maintaining the structural integrity of a knife. Cheaper knives tend to have cheap liner materials and pins. This is the part of the edged tool that one does not see when shopping from a display counter.

The other thing that is critical in selecting a “summer weight” knife is having something that has a similar operating system as the heavier version. Everyone knows that I advocate for Glock 22/Glock 27 and M&P9/M&P Shield combinations for duty/backup guns. This allows for officers to have the same operating system, with similar magazines and feel. With knives, use the same philosophy.

Other equipment 

Day or night, officers should carry a tactical light. For running shorts, the Streamlight ProTac 2AAA light is a great choice because of the 3 modes that give it extended runtime. It’s skinny and doesn’t take up much pocket.

Every officer should also have a dummy wallet. That’s the one that he uses when paying for milk at the convenience store. It has nothing that even remotely indicates he is related to law enforcement in any way. The real wallet has a badge and ID. It is best worn around the neck with the badge on one side, ID on the other.

Finally, officers simply cannot carry handcuffs in Bermuda shorts. One can carry the nylon zip-tie style ones in the waistband, if possible. Bear in mind that your agency likely has a handcuff product policy. For example, one local officer was carrying “thumbcuffs” off duty. It was a good idea, but the device was outside the policy of the agency. This is a liability magnet.

The less lethal option has to be pocket sized. I recommend the ASP Palm Defender. It works well, is refillable and the uninitiated usually don’t recognize them.

Refine your carry options for summer. Then practice, practice, practice.