I think I left this comment on the site. (It didn't show up immediately.) ________________
It's a free country, so I'd never discourage anyone from the "better than stern words" motivation. For me, though, I just can't help but hear the classic Jeff Cooper anecdote in my head, which goes something like this:
I am often asked about the .25ACP, and my advice has always been to avoid it, because if you get one, you might load it, and if you load it, you might fire it, and if you fire it, you might hit someone, and if you hit someone--and he finds out about it--it's going to make him really angry.
Now, all that said, one thing that would definitely be on my short list is one of the NAA rimfire mini-revolvers. Those little things really can be secreted just about anywhere, and are less obtrusive than many key rings. Ammo is ubiquitous and inexpensive, and while there are obvious limitations with sights and trigger, for me this seems to be an appropriate "size-efficiency" compromise. It can serve for unexpected snakes with less blast than something serious, and it's the most unobtrusive "all-the-time-backup" I can think of.
Frankly, I just don't find an Airweight J, or even a Kahr CW40, to be appreciably bulkier enough than an LCP/Kel-Tec/Seecamp to make the difference between toting and leaving. For me, the size envelopes are the NAA, the Airweight/Kahr, the slim-line 1911, and then there is "bulky", or rather, "what is NOT comfortable to wear for 16 hours a day".
But again, it's a free country. If we are aware of our limitations, we can usually work within them. Hell, if we knew there was going to be a fight, we'd all be bringing rifles anyway!
Carry a snub like a Model 60 or SP101 in your pocket for the whole of a muggy Southern Summer day and try it again with something like the NAA Guardian or Kel-Tec P3AT and you might have a different view.
A small .380 is so unobtrusive I'm not sure I'd go all the way to a NAA mini revolver though.
I can understand your point, although an Airweight J is noticeably less beastly than a steel J, I think you'd agree...
...and ultimately, it all comes down to preferences. Not quite twenty years ago now, I spent my summer days in Austin and Bryan, Texas, with a steel 5" 1911 and a steel FireStar, in temperatures that no mortal human should ever have to endure.
Yeah, it was hot and uncomfortable, with or without any pistol. And, I can certainly recall one person who was extremely surprised that I would do such a thing. I was in no way "high-risk" or anything like that--just a regular guy--but it was worth it to me at the time. Certainly was on that particular day!
Incidentally, I solved my problem by getting as far away from that blast furnace as I could. Colorado was a decent interim step, but it turns out that the woman of my dreams wanted to live in Alaska. Far be it from me to be uncooperative!
It is amazing what we'll put up with when we're young.
When I first became a gunny I worked in a store which was right up against the tracks which divided our part of town from the "other" side of the tracks.
I carried a 6.5 inch 629 Classic inside the waistband every day.
If only they sold a five seven in a sub compact, I hear they can be used to take lions and tigers and bears. (/sarc)
I've been eyeballing a NAA mini for a while now. I've already got an airweight 642, but occasionally if is just a tad big. Now if I could only find a good deal in NE Ohio.
For those that remember the big NE blackout a few years back the pocket gun that night was a full size 1911 that fit nicely in the back pocket. Those big "ghetto" pants pockets let you stash all kinds of goodies as long as you wear a belt and keep them over your crack.
Good article. I have two of them.
ReplyDelete.357 mag snubby for Winter.
.380 for hot weather & really deep concealment situations.
PRACTICE is extra important with them. They're much harder to hit with.
I think I left this comment on the site. (It didn't show up immediately.)
ReplyDelete________________
It's a free country, so I'd never discourage anyone from the "better than stern words" motivation. For me, though, I just can't help but hear the classic Jeff Cooper anecdote in my head, which goes something like this:
I am often asked about the .25ACP, and my advice has always been to avoid it, because if you get one, you might load it, and if you load it, you might fire it, and if you fire it, you might hit someone, and if you hit someone--and he finds out about it--it's going to make him really angry.
Now, all that said, one thing that would definitely be on my short list is one of the NAA rimfire mini-revolvers. Those little things really can be secreted just about anywhere, and are less obtrusive than many key rings. Ammo is ubiquitous and inexpensive, and while there are obvious limitations with sights and trigger, for me this seems to be an appropriate "size-efficiency" compromise. It can serve for unexpected snakes with less blast than something serious, and it's the most unobtrusive "all-the-time-backup" I can think of.
Frankly, I just don't find an Airweight J, or even a Kahr CW40, to be appreciably bulkier enough than an LCP/Kel-Tec/Seecamp to make the difference between toting and leaving. For me, the size envelopes are the NAA, the Airweight/Kahr, the slim-line 1911, and then there is "bulky", or rather, "what is NOT comfortable to wear for 16 hours a day".
But again, it's a free country. If we are aware of our limitations, we can usually work within them. Hell, if we knew there was going to be a fight, we'd all be bringing rifles anyway!
Kevin,
ReplyDeleteCarry a snub like a Model 60 or SP101 in your pocket for the whole of a muggy Southern Summer day and try it again with something like the NAA Guardian or Kel-Tec P3AT and you might have a different view.
A small .380 is so unobtrusive I'm not sure I'd go all the way to a NAA mini revolver though.
I used to carry a Browning .380 under a t-shirt. Nobody ever noticed it.
ReplyDeleteScottJ:
ReplyDeleteI can understand your point, although an Airweight J is noticeably less beastly than a steel J, I think you'd agree...
...and ultimately, it all comes down to preferences. Not quite twenty years ago now, I spent my summer days in Austin and Bryan, Texas, with a steel 5" 1911 and a steel FireStar, in temperatures that no mortal human should ever have to endure.
Yeah, it was hot and uncomfortable, with or without any pistol. And, I can certainly recall one person who was extremely surprised that I would do such a thing. I was in no way "high-risk" or anything like that--just a regular guy--but it was worth it to me at the time. Certainly was on that particular day!
Incidentally, I solved my problem by getting as far away from that blast furnace as I could. Colorado was a decent interim step, but it turns out that the woman of my dreams wanted to live in Alaska. Far be it from me to be uncooperative!
It is amazing what we'll put up with when we're young.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first became a gunny I worked in a store which was right up against the tracks which divided our part of town from the "other" side of the tracks.
I carried a 6.5 inch 629 Classic inside the waistband every day.
If only they sold a five seven in a sub compact, I hear they can be used to take lions and tigers and bears. (/sarc)
ReplyDeleteI've been eyeballing a NAA mini for a while now. I've already got an airweight 642, but occasionally if is just a tad big. Now if I could only find a good deal in NE Ohio.
For those that remember the big NE blackout a few years back the pocket gun that night was a full size 1911 that fit nicely in the back pocket. Those big "ghetto" pants pockets let you stash all kinds of goodies as long as you wear a belt and keep them over your crack.