Alright so neither of these are full sized guns (Glock 19 and 4″ Kimber) and the Kimber is a 9mm, but it still illustrates the point.
As the weather gets cold many people chose to change their carry gun to something with a larger frame, because they can conceal it more easily.
Considered thoughtfully, this isn’t a bad thing because it can provide more control, better recoil management and higher capacity… that isn’t what seems to happen though.
I had no intention of releasing a blog post today (and if I did it would have been on flashlights) but Michael Bane did 2 things today in his Down Range Radio Podcast that compelled me to do so.
First Michael gave the blog, the store and me personally a glowing recommendation that couldn’t go with a public thank you, so… Thank you!
(I recommend you listen to the whole podcast, but if you simply can’t his mention of WTBGU! starts at 16:20)
Secondly he talked about Winter CCW and living in North Carolina I sometimes forget what winter carry is in other parts of the country.
He touched on many of my hot points how deeply the gun is concealed, how pocket carry becomes more likely, choosing gloves that work for you, selecting coats… It is all great stuff and I’ll cover it as snow moves out of the land of the secret hidden bunker (upper elevations in Colorado) and down into the rest of the country. But he sorta glossed over firearm selection and I wanted to expand on it further.
If you have every read a gun magazine you likely know that all real men carry 1911′s (sorry Rob). They carry them in the shower, at the beach, little league games everywhere. Right?
Well no.
Government model 1911′s are big, heavy, expensive to buy and shoot. For short waisted people like myself, they are impossible to draw. They can be finicky to keep running for the average Glock shooter. And they have extra buttons and levers that defensive guns just shouldn’t have. (The 4 Reasons I Carry a Glock – Still the most popular WTBGU! post of all time).
However, in the winter when we are wearing a great big ole’coat we get the chance to live out this fantasy, just a bit, and carry that great big ole’gun that sits in the safe all summer.
I hate that logic!
First, a 1911 is a more complicated gun than most people carry in the summer. <full stop>
If you don’t train with a gun with a safety and you start carrying one that should be carried with it engaged your are implicitly saying “in a moment for crisis I will have the presence of mind to do something I don’t train for.” And for me it is even worse because with my grip I can’t always make them go off because of the beaver-tail and that button on the back.
Secondly, a 1911 typically holds 8+1, a similarly sized Glock 17 holds 17+1 and another company has a comparable model that holds 19+1.
Most importantly however, and the trap even non-1911 guys fall into is the idea that they want to carry a .45ACP for that “extra knock down power.” (Which doesn’t actually exist). What you want is to ensure the round you choose will penetrate through the heavy winter clothes… feathers are tough which is one reason that we shoot turkeys with 3″ loads.
I am admittedly a 9mm guy and I don’t see any logical reason for switching in the winter, but I want to know what you think. Am I off base with why many people switch to 1911′s in the winter (or do you even believe they do)? Do you think people can switch away from what they practice with all summer and not have any ill effects? And do you agree that Michael Bane has terrific taste in friends and blogs? (Ok, that last one was a pandering a bit)
If so let me know by posting a comment below, Tweet me @BalloonGoesUp or message me on Facebook and let me know! Also be sure to go to the store and sign up for the newsletter.
Ron is the Founder and President of When the Balloon Goes Up! He competes regularly in IDPA as an ESP/Expert, his focus is on concealed carry, home defense and analyzing equipment to find “Gear that Just Works!”
