Real World Conceal Carry Experiences

So, about a month ago, I finally received my Texas "CHL" in the mail. These things are called all kinds of things ranging from Concealed Handgun License to License to Carry and just about anything in between. The reality is that here in Texas, it allows the holder to carry a handgun (aka pistol) either "concealed" or "open carry". Given the kind person that I am, it's unlikely that I'd ever carry a firearm in the open..... maybe in the woods or something like that, but certainly not walking around town!

I've carried my gun every day since receiving the license that I wasn't working (which means, being at school). And since being on break, I've literally carried it every single day. This is what I've learned.

Some months ago, in preparation for conceal carry, I bought a smaller pistol; a Walther PPS. Compared to my PPQ or MR9, it's thinner, lighter, shorter in length and not as tall in height either. It was the right call. I carry this gun inside the waistband at what's commonly called the 4 O'Clock position, behind the right hip as is seen above. That dude is carring a 1911 type pistol, and I certainly can't imagine myself doing that with my double-staked duty pistols! I don't take it out when I get in the car. I've carried it under a jacket, sweatshirt, and untucked collared shirt. So far, so good. The other thing I was right about? My PPS is the one on the right, or the "M1" version. The other one is the "M2". I'd rather have the M2: see how it's design is pretty much that of the PPQ? However, the M1 has one critical advantage. It's mag release is the paddle style, same as my other two pistols. I haven't had automatics (pistols) for long, but I sure don't want to have to learn different magazine releases for different gun that I use on a regular basis! There are some sacrifices though. See how flat the grip is and how few contours there are?

The PPS moves around in my hand more than I like when I shoot it. So I tried the Talon grips.... basically skateboard tape die-cut for the pistol it's made for..... feels like sandpaper. I carried the gun like that for a couple of weeks, but I found that my shirts would get hung on it and I kept having to pull it down.

My solution ended up being the Hogue Handall Jr. grip sleeve. Gives me the feel of the M2 with the all important paddle-style mag release of the M1.

One of my most concerning issues was how the gun was going to feel in my back while driving a car. After carrying for a few days, I noticed that I didn't have a problem while driving. Then I realized that it was because we have these cheap mesh back supports in our cars. We normally keep them to allow a little airflow back there during our 9 months of summer here in Texas. It turns out that these $5 devices give me enough flex to keep the gun from digging into my back! There's nothing better than effective and cheap. 

We'll see how well these things work when dealing with the full-sized PPQ carried in an "Outside-the-waistband" holster!

Status Update For My 2nd Amendment

I apologize for my blog inactivity, but I'll have to trot out my work excuse. I'm now the Assistant Swim coach and the Swim coach at my school, so I've been pretty busy. What that entails is to leave for practice at 4:45 each morning and come home about 7:30 each evening, ..... plus, into the second grading period of the school year!

On the other hand, my plan to create a small arsenal is going quite well. OK, not the stockpile that this guy has amassed, but I've done pretty well..... being up to 7 guns in a bit under a year since I first got started in just short of a year. I'm especially proud that they all fit into a plan and not just random pieces and that I've been able to do it without debt.

So, what exactly is this plan? In a word; it's purpose, in that every gun I own has a purpose and not just a random piece. ??? It starts with my belief that because we've been given the right, then it's our responsibility to defend ourselves. You know: the 2nd Amendment and stuff.....

It all starts here; with the handgun. I chose this as my first purchase because, the pistol is the most flexible. It doesn't do one thing all that well, but it can do virtually any thing. Home protection, personal concealed carry, you name it. I actually started out with an HK VP9, but after some trading around which included a Walther P99, I ended up with the PPQ that I wanted all along. It's a fantastic weapon that fits my hand well and shoots great. It also gets the majority of my handloads which to date have been exclusively 9mm. The other handgun that I own is my latest acquisition which is the Walther PPS, and it is in fact an "M1" version as well so that both have the European style "paddle" mag release. I bought this not too long after taking the Texas LTC (Licence to Carry) class. And as soon as the bureaucratic wheels of government slowly get turning, I'll start to conceal this firearm.

 

A major part of my system is this. It came to live with us this summer. In my system, each gun has a job to do and this one holds down the job of "intruder stopper". Is it sexy? ..... no Is it cool? .....a little bit with the Magpul SGA furniture and yes, mine wears the heat shield too (not because I need it, but because it was cheap and kinda cool in a WWI, trench gun way). But it has an essential job. If something goes "bump in the night", I'm reaching beside my nightstand for this Mossberg 500 "Persuader" and jacking a round of #4 Buckshot into the chamber..... the 3rd shell in we move on to "00"... It doesn't get taken out for random range days, and nobody is going to oooh and ahhhh over it when they come over, but it has a very important job. Equipped with an 18" barrel, and a white-beamed weapon light, it'll be just fine. 

And while we're on the subject of shotguns, there's this that fulfills the role of "survival" all-in-one gun "just in case". It was cheap ($65 shipped). It folds up, as you can see, and with adapters (of which I own a 9mm one), can handle darned near any cartridge. There are supposed to be other barrels coming for it as well, so that should be cool in case it ever comes to fruition, but $65!!!

Then, last month, the big one happened; the "battle rifle" got finished!  It's basically like the one in the image above, built on an Aero Precision upper, lower, M-Lok free-floating handguard/rail, with a 16" stainless barrel chambered in .223 Wylde. I'm not going to get into a ton of detail here, but this essentially gives me a do everything long-gun. It's not legal to hunt deer with here in Texas, but if push came to shove, it could do that. People can and do hunt hog with them and the .223/5.56 is an outstanding varmint cartridge. However, at the end of the day, it's a battle rifle and all that that implies! One of the strengths of the AR "platform" is the flexibility. Eventually, I'll most likely build an actual hunting "upper" based on the 6.5 Creedmoore chambering as well as a .300 AAC (Blackout) on a shorter barrel as well. Both could be done on the same "lower" that I already own, and the 300BLK wouldn't even need a new bolt or magazine! The gun was pretty much all finished down to offset iron sights about a 2 months ago.....

..... then this happened! I had picked up a cheap 1-4x optic and was going to go with that until some time in the future when I came across a local ad for a Primary Arms 1-6x with the aclamed ACSS reticle. It's used of course, be in good shape for $180 complete with a quick-detach mount DONE!!!

NOT SO FAST! Yes, it was done in so much as it was ready to shoot regular .223/5.56 ammo, but you can't shoot that at a lot of indoor ranges, plus it's expensive. On top of all that, it's been the wettest fall in decades here in North Texas. But, I found this conversion for 22 long rifle. Yes; yet another reason to get an AR. I know that the 22lr is actually .223 vs. .224, but it's close enough to work just fine on most guns. I was able to try it out on mine last week and it shoots just fine. Now I have an option for when it won't stop raining and I can't go to the outdoor range. And at close to 5 cents per, I'll happily shoot 22lr for training purposes all day. Oh yeah, I picked it up used from the same firearms classified for $125. And I'm not done yet!

This weekend, I've arranged to pick up a Walther PPQ/22LR from a guy locally. Again, it's purpose is to allow me to practice inexpensively while maintaining the feel of the full-sized weapon in my hands. I really excited to find it. I also have some other projects going as well, so stay tuned.