(转) Winter concealed carry tips for CCW permit holders

dart · 发表于 2014-11-12 06:15

http://www.examiner.com/article/winter-concealed-carry-tips-for-ccw-permit-holders

Winter concealed carry tips for CCW permit holders
As we Michigan residents struggle through another winter this is a good time to review tips for effective concealed carry during the cold weather season.

The biggest difference between warm weather and cold weather carry is that we wear more clothes to protect ourselves from the cold in the winter months. These extra layers can make a big difference for concealed carry. Here are some tips for staying safe while staying warm:

Beware of gloves – Gloves can cause several problems with handguns. Overly thick gloves can keep you from getting your finger into the trigger guard to fire the pistol. Even thin gloves can affect your feel for the trigger and may damage your trigger control and accuracy. Finally, slippery gloves can reduce your control of the pistol by allowing it to move or shift in your hand during recoil. If you do wear gloves, make sure to practice with them to identify and correct any problems.

Practice in your winter gear – The best way to make sure your winter carry solution works is to try it out at home first. After making sure your gun is unloaded (always double-check) put on your winter coat and practice drawing from concealment. You may need to unzip your coat to allow you to sweep it aside during the draw or you may prefer the method where you pull the hem of the coat up high with your support hand during the draw. Either way, make sure you can access the gun with a secure grip and then perform a smooth draw.

Carry a second gun – If you find you have difficulty drawing your gun from under your jacket consider carrying a second gun in a more accessible location. A small revolver or semi-auto in an outside pocket may be quicker to access than a larger handgun buried under your clothes.

Shoot in the cold – Once you’ve tested your draw at home it’s time to hit the range. Find an outdoor range that will let you draw from concealment and do some live fire to make sure everything works as expected. Practice your draw, shooting, and reloads. This is the time to discover and correct any unexpected surprises.

Use a modern lubricant – In extreme cold weather traditional oil based lubricants can become gummy, slow the action of the pistol, and cause malfunctions. To avoid this use a modern lubricant designed to work effectively in cold weather and avoid over-lubrication.

Protect your gun – You need to protect your gun from the elements as well as yourself. Condensation can form after the gun is brought in from the cold into a warm building. Your gun may also be exposed to corrosive road salt. Because of this make sure to inspect it regularly, clean it, and oil the finish as needed. If you normally carry a blued or Parkerized gun you may wish to switch to a more durable polymer or stainless steel gun during the bad weather months.