Most people don't carry all the time because they listened to some "expert" or "instructor" that told them that only big guns work. They think a .25 or a .32 will just bounce off of someone or "just make them mad."
I see it in this thread, too.
If you really want to carry your full sized .40+ caliber gun, that's fine-but stop spouting that small guns are useless. They are far more useful than the gun left at home.
Small guns arent useless, but there are better choices, and they dont have to be small.
Most small guns really arent a novices gun either, and especially the "little" ones (and even more especially, those of larger calibers), contrary to what you often hear suggested. They normally take more effort to be competent with (ammo is also usually out of proportion price wise, making practice expensive), are often harder to access and deploy, and generally come with dismal sights, and chambered in a caliber that offers less then stellar performance, make your ability to reasonably do something with them, that much harder. Yes, if its all you have, youd be glad you have it, but Id be a lot happier, if I had something more realistic, and thats not really all that much harder to do, and again, contrary to what youre often told, on a daily basis.
Im not against smaller pistols, I carry one daily, but its a back up to my main gun. I simply see these smaller guns as just that, back up, last ditch and/or hand off guns.
Ive carried a number of them too, Baby Browning's, Colt Pockets, Beretta's, and Seecamps, etc., to name a few. The Seecamps being the most recent and last, before I realized I could, and do, do better with a Glock 26 in its place.
I fully understand the "have a gun" thing, but I believe it should it expanded to "have a gun that you shoot well with", and in most circumstances, not just one or two narrow scenarios that you might be running in your head. The real world gun fight youre likely to get, isnt likely going to be like them. Yes, have a gun, and do your due diligence, and learn how to use it. For your sake, and the sake of others. Thats all Im saying. Im not saying you need to be some IPSC, IDPA, SWAT, Seal, god, just reasonably competent and realistic in your skills. Nor am I saying that the state should mandate anything, it should not.
I agree with folks yapping about things like an ankle holster. Heard that the other day, that draw would take about a minute and half from that old guy. Yeah, deep backup blah, blah - understand that. But primary. NO.
As a primary, youre right, they are not the best choice, although they really arent all that bad with a little practice and use. I use one regularly, and they definitely have their uses and pluses.
My other secondary holster, and actually my favorite all around holster, are my Smart Carry's. I used to use one for my Seecamps, but now a 26 rides in its place. 19's, and even 17's (among other things) are doable in them too, and comfortably.
Old guys and ankle holsters-
If I bent down to get a gun off my ankle, it's very likely I couldn't straighten back up!
Or, If I was to raise my foot to get to the gun, I'd just fall over!
Hey, lets be fair here, thats not the holsters issue or fault.
Its also touches on something that is really a major problem these days, old guy or not. Lets face it, the majority of the population these days, is overweight, and out of shape, and many would probably fall over from heart failure, if put under stress. Ive been there, and saw the light. Ive carried and shot pretty much everything, fat and out of shape, and skinny and fit, and its definitely a lot easier, skinny and fit. Ive been injured too, in both, and again, way easier when skinny.
Im officially getting to be an old guy too, just turned 60 this year. I can easily drop to one knee and draw, draw my leg up and stand one legged and draw, and pretty quick too, but I do practice regularly. I also work at staying fit and in decent shape, and that pays benefits well beyond shooting, but really helps with shooting, and maintaining those skills.
