After a while your awareness of your carry gun will be about the same level as you have for your socks i.e. if you make a conscious effort to be aware of it you will, otherwise it won't even register.
First time carrying was interesting, taught me alot
- Thread starter Jchrisls
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thisIslandEarth
.357 mag
Agree 100%+. My initial issue was feeling over-confident. Avoid, avoid is best policy unless you have no choice of course...
It has to be a last resort always I think. Initially, I found myself thinking I was what's the word - more of a bad ass. That's bullshit. I just needed to remind myself I'm the same idiot just better prepared.
thisIslandEarth
.357 mag
My final 2 cents on this one. Training, training and more training is the key. And even with training, just ask the military guys and LEO's on this site. If you've never been in a life threating situation before - you are going to piss yourself. Carrying and carrying with experience (of some kind ) are two way different things. OK, I'll shut up now and let the boys that have been there before tell you what an adrenaline shit-fest it's going to feel like if you're not prepared.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
Agreed. Mindset is important though and preparing yourself mentally and having a plan are important as well. You’re right and you won’t know how you’ll react in that situation until you’re there. Being more prepared than the bad guy is important.
Dr. Evil
20×102mm Vulcan
As Massad Ayoob says, "Every bullet that leaves your gun has an attorney attached to it."
Dr. Evil
20×102mm Vulcan
One of the reasons I recommend civilian force on force classes.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
I constantly run through situations in my head and say to myself this is how I would react in this situation. Sometimes it’s I’d walk away, sometimes it’s I’d escape out he backdoor, and sometimes it’s I’d come out shooting. I try to never have my back to the largest threat I perceive, but there are always curveballs. At a restaurant you think the main door is the biggest threat but a guy pissed at his wife could draw on her or some one could come in the back door that’s left open on a hot day. Don’t get locked into one strategy or one mindset either. Do the best you can and make it home with your family at all costs.
I don't bother thinking about what if's in a particular situation because I've never been in that type of situation. But I absolutely try to take note of exits, keep people in front of me if possible, and be as situationally aware as I can.
spat
.700 Nitro Express
But just like the socks, if you go out without them, *then* you'll be aware of it.
spat
.700 Nitro Express
If you train often enough and well enough, then you'll react the way you trained.
That's the purpose of training, so that you do the right thing *without* having to think about it.
Free the brain up for the big picture stuff.
Oh, absolutely true. I feel naked when I am out and about while not carrying. In fact I will go a step farther, I primarily shoulder carry and especially when walking I notice the holster and mag pouch up against me it feels a bit like being hugged. The lack of a holstered gun against my body feels..... disconcerting. Rather like going without undergarments.
We become so used to the feel of carrying that what we notice more is not it's presence but indeed its absence