Earlier this month, my good friend and Police1 Colleague Lindsey Bertomen and I had the distinct pleasure spending a full morning at Media Day at the Range — the semi-official opening of SHOT Show 2014 — at the Boulder City (Nev.) Rifle and Pistol Club. We then spent our afternoon at the Clark County (Nev.) Shooting Complex, attending an invitation-only event hosted by Sig Sauer at which a dozen or more Sig specimens were available for testing.
During our day of “work” we were given the opportunity to shoot three excellent “micro-sized” handguns: the Beretta Pico, the Glock 42, and the Sig Sauer P290RS. I encourage you to check out Lindsey’s outstanding article in which he shares his thoughts on all three pistols.
Here, I want to share three quick thoughts to keep in mind if you elect to purchase and carry one of these excellent “pocket guns” — whether that be as an on-duty backup gun or an off-duty concealed carry gun.
I will say this again in the close, but let me be clear right up front: This list is just the beginning. It’s intended entirely as the starting point.
That disclaimer dutifully disseminated, here are my “3 Ds” of pocket carry.
1.) Designate that pocket your pocket-gun pocket. Into your chosen pocket goes nothing but your gun (and its holster, because that’s how you should be carrying). No combs, coins, cards, or cash. Nor should you discard there any other “pocket litter” like chewing gum wrappers or retail receipts.
2.) Do regular pocket maintenance. I was speaking about pocket guns with a buddy of mine recently and he gave me some awesome advice — which he had been given someone else at an earlier date. Once a week (at least) turn the carry pocket inside out and vacuum it. No lint, dirt, or other detritus allowed!
3.) Decide to make repetitions from the pocket a training priority. This should go without saying, but use a cleared weapon in a safe environment and practice. Take into account different types of clothing that may be worn during different seasons and incorporate that into your practice sessions.
As is frequently the case with the tactical tips I write in this space, I’m simply aiming (pun very much intended) to get the conversation going. I chose three things starting with the letter D.
Without the added input of you — my beloved Police1 Members — the above is doomed to remain a woefully incomplete list.
For example, I never got close to talking about the prospect of reholstering a pocket gun (you may want to prevent lasing yourself when reholstering by pulling the holster from the pocket and applying it to the gun, as opposed to the other way around).
I never got into a discussion on the issues involving backup magazines: where to keep them, how many to carry, etc.
Never talked about how the gun prints on your clothing.
You get the idea.
So please, add your ideas in the comments area below. Who knows, your advice here may one day save a brother or sister officer’s life one day.
Stay safe my friends.
