Anyway, this is my first winter carrying concealed and having to consider if my outerwear would hinder my ability to draw my weapon. I wear a knee-length wool pea coat with a hood and have been buttoning only the top two buttons so that the part that covers my hips is open, just in case I need quick access to my pistol. The coat is heavy and double breasted so that although the bottom half is unbuttoned, the fabric hangs in such a way that I'm still covered and warm.
And despite wearing a scarf and multiple layers, my hands have been bare until yesterday. I've been afraid to wear gloves because the thought of fumbling my gun or not being able to feel the trigger is just too frightening. Instead, I walk with my hands in my pockets because numb hands would be just as bad for shooting as hands muffled with wooly fabric.
But yesterday at Target, I noticed that fingerless gloves and "armwarmers" are in fashion now. Handy for gunchicks, I thought. I sorted through the various styles and found the perfect pair. I call them my "tacticool mittens." They are microfleece and come in a bunch of colors but I chose black, natch.
The mitten top folds back out of the way and buttons to the back of the glove, leaving two thirds of your fingers free. The thumb tip also folds back and there is a little grippy pleather section sewn on the palm. A pretty good deal for $10.
Of course, I'll be practicing with them on at the range sometime soon. I'll let you know how it goes.
20 comments:
Those are great. I have been using something like that for years and they are the best. Not only for guns but you have warm hands and you can actually use your fingers when needed. . . .
When you say "tacticool" my first reaction is: I wonder if she can store extra mags in pouch of the finger cover.
that would be pretty ninja.
Pocket holsters are you friend.
Very cool, in all the right ways. :)
Check out GT distributers:
http://www.gtdist.com/ProductDetail.aspx?PartNumber=HAT-KSG500X
tactically correct, AND cute!
Thoughtful post. Yes, please keep us updated with how your winter setup works.
I can tote a J-frame S&W Airweight discreetly in a front pocket holster in all weather and social environments short of skinny dipping. Then again, I'm a man, and our pants and shorts tend to come with actual roomy pockets that are good for something. (More institutionalized sexism.)
But it's good to have more gun on tap than a 5-shot .38+P. Once you move to a belt holster, things get more complicated, in the ways your post suggests.
Cargo pockets on winter gear are great and can carry a small gun.
A old fashion muff can carry a gun.
But the problem with womens clothing and gun carry is the reason many women carry in the purse. There are several that have a specific place for the weapon. Since the purse can be shoulder carry the gun is very available.
"I wonder if she can store extra mags in pouch of the finger cover."
I thought the same thing as soon as I saw the picture. A 7-rd Bersa mag is pretty small. Then again Breda has tiny hands, so that glove probably isn't as big as it looks.
I can see it now....
When the weather warms up, we'll have a picture of Breda in 511 Tactical cargo pants, a black tank top, and her shooting mittens!
And we'll all be jealous of Mike
Yup, Breda the ninja chick!
I just thought I should mention: Make sure none of your winter clothing has a drawstring with a plastic keeper on it that could interfere with your holster.
I have heard tell of folks who had NDs while holstering their weapons because the keeper made its way inside the triggerguard.
(OK so those people carried Glocks, but if you don't use your thumb safety you are in the same boat.)
WV: psinsful
You can get mitts like that with textured palms, (some kind of neoprene) Way better grip. I use them for duck hunting.
I use an identical style for hunting. Handy little pocket on the back for hand warmers, magnet to hold the flap back out of the way... I love 'em. I got very good at the just-right wrist-flip to expose a trigger finger without excessive motion to alert deer. Haven't tried them with my pistols yet...
You have pretty nails.
I've been wondering what I could wear over my frozen hands that would still allow me to draw (I might not have all the lake effect madness, but we still get snow and ice in Toledo, ya know).
I found the same gloves while shopping with a friend at Target and grabbed them. On sale.
I feel like I'm made of win right now.
In winter, my little .32 Magnum snubbie lives in my coat pocket, 'cause I'm a big ol' wimp and keep my coat buttoned up.
I am wereing a piar of U.S. Army surplus vintage 1958 shooting mittens guess I need to progress some?????
Good points have all been covered, but yes a good call on the mitts, they do work! Also, pocket carry works too, you just have to remember NOT to lay the garment over a chair (and possibly watch the weapon fall to the floor).
Six bucks at Wal_Mart. made in USA. And in camo or ninja-black.
Captcha: Airmit. As in Cold air mit.
Got my friend's son a pair of gloves similar to that for Christmas. He hunts all day once he's got his schoolwork done (homeschooled). I had him open them early since it's so cold there, and he reports that they help steady his hands--he's a fantastic shot any time, so I guess he'd know. ;-)
Those style gloves/mittens work wonderfully not only for keeping hands warm, but also for letting you sort keys, punch buttons and twist dials in the cockpit (or the car) while the heater has yet to (or, depending on type and modifications, will never) kick in.
Mine are wool lined with microfleece - I hate wool and it's itchy where the wool touches, but I can't beat it for warmth.
I go to an indoor heated range because I hate being cold. (Yes, I live in Alaska. Yes, I'm nuts.) So, I can't offer an opinion other than to say they ought to work right fine, as long as the weather's warm enough you don't have to worry about frostbite from touching bare metal with dry skin, and you don't get snow caught in the pocket to have to worry about wet skin.
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