Do you have a NAKED gun? Please don’t let you gun go naked. You wouldn’t let your child go naked. You wouldn’t go out in public, naked, would you?
Seriously, now that I have your attention, let’s talk about how you carry your gun. Some people spend a lot of hard earned cash on leather or nylon holsters that do not work. Now think about this: when you first pick up your gun, you should be “indexing” your trigger finger. This means that you should be keeping your trigger finger OFF the trigger until you are on target. Your trigger finger should be above the trigger guard area, “indexed” or pointed straight forward alongside the frame. Your trigger finger should NOT be in or on the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
A well designed holster actually aids in this very important part of picking up or drawing your gun. Several years ago, I read about an investigation into why so many people were having their gun go off “accidently.” The investigation found the shooters where keeping their finger on the trigger as the gun was re-holstered. As they shoved the gun into their holster, their trigger finger would catch on the edge of the holster, bushing the trigger finger up against the trigger! BANG! There was one particular brand of gun that seemed to have the most negligent discharges. It wasn’t the gun! It proved to be a fact that 70% of the shooters were using guns from this one manufacturer. No wonder 70% of the negligent discharges were from that model gun! These negligent shooters experienced the pain of shooting themselves in the leg as they re-holstered their gun.
Keep your finger OFF the “BANG SWITCH!” A well made holster will allow you to let the gun enter the holster with little effort. As you are drawing or picking up your gun, the holster should keep your finger off the trigger. This works properly, both for drawing from a belt holster or acquiring the gun from a drawer or safe. The sides of a properly designed holster will cover the trigger area, keeping your finger away from the trigger.
The same applies with re-holstering your gun. The top of the holster must remain gapping open after you draw so when you go to put the gun back into the holster, it is open and your finger automatically stays outside, away from the trigger.
A gun lying in the bottom of a woman’s purse is a serious accident waiting to happen. Mixing up a loaded gun with keys, lipstick, makeup kit, tissue paper, and who know what else, is NOT the safest way to carry a gun. There are some excellent holsters made of soft nylon with an outside that grips and stays in your purse as you draw the gun. With these “sticky holsters” you must remove the holster from the purse before putting the gun back in the holster. There are also some really finely made handbags for the ladies that are designed specifically to carry a gun.
This goes for you too, guys! “A 32 caliber gun in your pocket for fun” can result in a “not so fun” experience. What else ends up in your pocket beside “pocket lint?” Again, things like keys, coins, pack of chewing gum or pocket knives, can result in a bad experience when they get tangled up with your gun’s trigger.
There are some excellent leather holsters out there. Most shooters end up buying at least three or four holsters before they settle on one that works for them. In the last 10 years or so, a new material has become very popular and my favorite. It is called “Kydex” which is made in Israel. Some compare Kydex to the popular kitchen storage bowls, but a lot harder and stiffer. Kydex comes in a variety of colors including pink for the ladies, and of course black. Kydex holsters are molded to fit the exact gun that it is designed for. The newer ones have an adjustment screw to set the “retention” of the gun in the holster. My advice is to stay away from the soft nylon holsters except the “sticky” ones I mentioned above.
Don’t let your guns go naked!
By: Paul Foreman
Retired Deputy Sheriff, Lee County Florida.
NRA Certified Pistol Instructor.
AHA Certified Instructor in First Aid, CPR & AED.
Paul can be reached through e-Mail at Captureman@PaulForeman.com or his web site, www.PaulForeman.com
