The press is making a big deal out of the Indiana mall shooting and how one first victim shot was carrying a gun that he never got to use. They are, of course, claiming that this is proof that carrying a gun won’t do you any good, because a mass shooter will just shoot you before you can use it.
We all know that this is bullshit. The fact that the first victim was carrying a firearm was just happenstance. After all, it was concealed to the point that police didn’t know the decedent was armed until they moved the body.
The guy who took the shooter down made a hit with a handgun from 40 yards. If I were that guy, I would be cutting a deal with the maker of my firearm to do some paid advertising: “When I have to hit a mass shooter in a crowded shopping mall from 40 yards away without hitting a bystander, the only gun I trust is my Blastomatic M6.”
All fun aside, this shooting and the Texas school shooting where the CCW holder made a headshot across a crowded church have given me pause. In both cases, the first person shot by the killer was armed. The guy who wound up taking the killer out did so at distance using some pretty good marksmanship.
In Florida during the summer months, I frequently have to wear clothes that make concealing a large handgun very difficult. For that reason, I usually carry a Smith and Wesson 642. Taking an accurate shot at distance with a snub nosed revolver just isn’t practical.
So I need to be able to make rapid, accurate hits from distance. That means carrying one of the pistols that I have that is equipped with a microdot. Now one of those two is an M&P 9c. The 9c is still a little bit too large for carrying in clothing that is comfortable in Florida’s July and August heat.
My other option is to carry my performance center Shield Plus. The only problem is finding comfortable leather for it. The only holster I have that will fit is my custom Milt Sparks. I am going to have to work on some more holster options.
10 Comments
George · July 19, 2022 at 3:28 pm
For a long-distance shot to take out a bad guy, how about the Austin cop who shot a shooter 100 yards away and took him out. The cop shot one-handed. While holding the reins of two horses.
https://medium.com/war-is-boring/cops-deadeye-aim-took-down-austin-gunman-at-100-yards-its-true-849b68c60583
Mark · July 19, 2022 at 4:37 pm
Have you ever looked into the SmartCarry holster? It works very well for me with a full size 1911 in clothing that is appropriate for Texas heat.
philk57 · July 20, 2022 at 7:45 am
Yes – the Florida made Smart Carry does work well with large handguns – mine is set up for a 1911 also. You need to clean the gun at least weekly as it tends to get pretty humid in there (unless you are carrying stainless). Quick access can be an issue with the Smart Carry system. I now carry a S&W Mod 19 in Appendix inside the waist band.
I regularly practice with it – each session includes at least several dozen shots at 50 yards. Man size targets are very achievable (they aren’t shooting back though).
Bad Dancer · July 19, 2022 at 4:57 pm
A Glock 29 was my first FFL legal eagle pistol in Alabama swamp weather daily. Since moving to the Godless North I EDC a Glock 20 and just suffer and whine about it . Though there are days a 43X with a microdot sure does appeal to me.
Would a “We the People” holster fit the bill? They do good work for a fair price.
An aside I love how optics on carry pistols are becoming more and more practical.
Paulb · July 19, 2022 at 7:59 pm
I have the same issue with concealability. I have a an XDS in 9mm for EDC, but no chance in hell I can hit anything at 40 yds reliably. It’s 50/50 if I put it in the air and let off a round whether or not I’d hit the sky. I am far more comfortable with my favorite 1911 but that’s just not kosher for S. FL daily wear.
nick flandrey · July 19, 2022 at 9:10 pm
I EDC a Shield in 9mm at 4oclock IWB every day in Houston using a N82tactical.com holster. They have changed the design a bit, the closest in construction looks like the OT2 Full IWB, or the OT2 G2 IWB.
It is a very comfortable holster, stays in place and is easy to don, and remove. Draw is fine and retention is good. Since mine has the elastic pocket for the pistol, I pull the holster and re-insert the gun before re-donning the holster, it is very difficult to re-holster with the holster in place.
They have models with a hard pocket that solve the issue.
I figure if I have to draw the Shield, I can either set it on the ground when done, or tuck it in a back pocket if needed, until I can mess with the holster.
Less than ideal, but every thing is a compromise.
My local store carries the N82 (squared) product line.
n
EN2 SS · July 19, 2022 at 11:33 pm
I have a hard shell IWB holster and carry at 4 o’clock. It would irritate me occasionally, so I cut a piece of sheepskin with the wool still on to fit the inside surface and glued it on. I really can’t feel the holster, just the weight. Living in Texas heat, still comfortable.
Jonesy · July 20, 2022 at 8:44 am
What I carry depends on the situation. Strictly personal protection vs I’m security in a church calls for a different set up. I wouldn’t carry a SW 642 for the latter.
Concealability isn’t as important to me now as it used to be. Of course I don’t want it to be obvious, but minor printing, etc. I don’t sweat it anymore. After 15 years of carrying, one thing I’ve learned is most folks are so oblivious to everything except what’s right in their face. Never had a comment or stare from anyone.
Keep it comfy, and make sure you can draw from it, keep it covered, but don’t worry about 100% invisible.
Walter Makowski · July 21, 2022 at 12:03 pm
I live in NE Florida and have concealed carry here for the last 35 years. I’m currently rocking a shield plus with red dot carried at 4 o’clock in an MTR brand belt slide holster. My cover garment is an untucked square bottom fishing shirt and there is no printing. I put on my gun when I get dressed in the morning and put it on the night stand when I go to bed, never experiencing any hot spots or discomfort, unlike when I carried IWB.
Will · July 21, 2022 at 9:50 pm
What makes you unable to hit at distance with your 642? I have a 442 that I could hit small drink cans at 40 yds with. IOW, I could do headshots at that distance. I had to attend to three things to make this happen.
1) Bigger grips. Boot grips and other dinky types allowed the gun to move during the trigger pull and recoil. I got the rubber full length (3 fingers) grips that also cover the backstrap. I cut the third finger area off, basically ending it about at the frame. Two fingers grip is enough. The backstrap cover keeps the gun from slipping around, and also allows a good practice session without beating up your hand.
2) I polished all the moving parts inside the gun, and the internal frame surface that they bear on, but not the sear engagement surfaces.
3) I recontoured the trigger face to get a slim, smooth, rounded surface. The triggers on these snubbies have changed somewhat over the years, so yours may be okay as is.
My gun shoots to POA at 40 yds with 125gr standard .38spl ammo. Not the only snubbie that seems to prefer this load. My 442-0 is not rated for +P, so not an option.
There are two ways to shoot the DAO gun.
Pull the trigger slowly, stop near the end of travel, steady the sights, and finish the pull.
Second is to just pull smoothly as quickly as you can without disturbing your sight picture. I could hit flying cans this way, although for a non-moving small target I tend to do the two-step pull.
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