If you carry concealed, how?

[tollertwins]

FWIW - the husband got one of the 511 t-shirts.

I’ve been thinking about a low cross-draw shoulder holster (sorta like this:

http://www.oldtradingpost.com/old-west-store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_24_26&products_id=6401 but for semi-auto).

My really, really, REALLY big concern about shoulder carry has been falling on ribs, since my SIL broke all of hers and had slight lung puncture from falling off.

Is this something to really be concerned about? Or are broken ribs from falling off a fluke?

[Guilherme]

[QUOTE=tollertwins;6300320]
FWIW - the husband got one of the 511 t-shirts.

I’ve been thinking about a low cross-draw shoulder holster (sorta like this:

http://www.oldtradingpost.com/old-west-store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_24_26&products_id=6401 but for semi-auto).

My really, really, REALLY big concern about shoulder carry has been falling on ribs, since my SIL broke all of hers and had slight lung puncture from falling off.

Is this something to really be concerned about? Or are broken ribs from falling off a fluke?[/QUOTE]

With this you can walk around like Val Kilmer saying, “I’m your huckleberry!” :lol:

Actually it might work quite well, as the position is pretty close to a standard “cross draw” rig.

I’m a fan of the M1911, but not while mounted unless you are VERY skilled on a VERY well broke horse.

With a single action pistol you must cock the hammer before each shot. While this is relatively slow it’s also relatively safe. The risk of AD is low because you must cock the weapon before each shot. If your horse becomes fractious the risk of an AD shooting it is relatively low.

With a double action revolver the risk of AD is higher. Consider that if you’re using a pistol that you’re riding one handed. If a horse begins to act up there is a tendency to close the rein hand. The Army found out during the Age of the Horse Cavalry that was not uncommon for a soldier to close both hands. This meant that while he applied more force to the horse with the left hand the right one went “bang.”

With an autoloader the risk is even higher as the trigger pull for most auto loaders is short and relatively light. A fair number of cavalry horses were shot each year by junior troopers with the M1911. The answer was not to ditch the autoloader but to have a very intensive training program. I doubt most riders today do anything like the training done prior to 1948.

I don’t carry anything astride but a single action pistol. I’m not a professional and I won’t take the risk of an AD.

G.

[cowboymom]

[QUOTE=tollertwins;6300320]
FWIW - the husband got one of the 511 t-shirts.

I’ve been thinking about a low cross-draw shoulder holster (sorta like this:

http://www.oldtradingpost.com/old-west-store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_24_26&products_id=6401 but for semi-auto).

My really, really, REALLY big concern about shoulder carry has been falling on ribs, since my SIL broke all of hers and had slight lung puncture from falling off.

Is this something to really be concerned about? Or are broken ribs from falling off a fluke?[/QUOTE]

well… my husband has had broken ribs but from getting pulled off backward, not ever forward. He was a bullrider and he knows how to roll and protect. I would think that with a little practice and alertness you could protect and roll… but that depends on the person. I wouldn’t remotely worry about it, nor would my husband… we automatically tuck and roll when we come off.

[tollertwins]

[QUOTE=cowboymom;6300453]
well… I wouldn’t remotely worry about it, nor would my husband… we automatically tuck and roll when we come off.[/QUOTE]

I’m a broken 'ol lady who goes SPLAT!!! Fortunately, I also have a VERY quiet horse!

Interesting discussion on the SA/DA/semi-auto…That is something that I most definitely never thought of.

My hands aren’t strong enough to shoot single-action, but maybe carrying a revolver instead of the glock wouldn’t be a bad idea…(altho to shoot the last revolver I had well I had to get a trigger smoothing job done…).

Having wimpy hands is kinda an issue…

ETA: Have planned on carrying this some as well…maybe I should start with that since I can’t damage the horse with it…

http://www.jpxjetprotector.com/Piexon_JPX_with_Laser.html

[Guilherme]

[QUOTE=tollertwins;6300542]
I’m a broken 'ol lady who goes SPLAT!!! Fortunately, I also have a VERY quiet horse!

Interesting discussion on the SA/DA/semi-auto…That is something that I most definitely never thought of.

My hands aren’t strong enough to shoot single-action, but maybe carrying a revolver instead of the glock wouldn’t be a bad idea…(altho to shoot the last revolver I had well I had to get a trigger smoothing job done…).

Having wimpy hands is kinda an issue…

ETA: Have planned on carrying this some as well…maybe I should start with that since I can’t damage the horse with it…

http://www.jpxjetprotector.com/Piexon_JPX_with_Laser.html[/QUOTE]

My wife, who has neither very large nor very strong hands, does quite well with a Ruger Montado in .45Colt. She uses them for Mounted Shooting, also. A local gent did an excellent “action job” on them that really smoothed out the action without excessively lightening the trigger. You don’t want a “hair trigger” while mounted.

If the Montado is too big (it’s based on the Old Model Vaquero and that was not a small frame pistol) then you might try the New Model Vaquero with a 4 1/2" barrel. I use one of these and really like it. I want to get an “action job” but haven’t made it to the 'smith yet.

Stainless steel is the way to go for a mounted weapon. That way if you ever have to drop it while practicing in the arena you won’t do much damage to it!!!

Stay with the .45Colt round. It’s a good round for general use and if you want to do any Cowboy Mounted Shooting all pistols must be in .45Colt.

G.

P.S. The terms “.45Colt” and “.45LongColt” are synonomous.

[tollertwins]

Thx for the info!

[trubandloki]

@lawndart;6296841

I know Woolrich has just come out with a new line of clothing with a special pocket for handguns, under their tactical gear.

http://www.woolrich.com/woolrich/browse/subCategory.jsp?icCategory=MM_cat240010

Thanks for this link. Interesting stuff. I bet my hubby will be interested.

The bra holsters seem to require a person to have a pretty large cup size to be practical.

[Guilherme]

[QUOTE=trubandloki;6300879]
Thanks for this link. Interesting stuff. I bet my hubby will be interested.

The bra holsters seem to require a person to have a pretty large cup size to be practical.[/QUOTE]

I dunno about cup size, but they will require an extra shirt size or two so you won’t “imprint” (i.e., show an outline of the weapon). It is an issue for many men, as lots carry using an “in waistband holster” with a shirt that is not tucked in. You have to make sure that there is enough material to “blouse” over the weapon. I think the same issue could arise with “bra” holsters.

I have a “belly band” system that is a heavy duty nylon streatch material. It’s worn over a regular t-shirt and has a sewn pocket for my 1911 and one spare magazine. I wear a regular shirt over it. All of my “CCW” shirts are one size bigger than I normally wear to prevent “imprinting.”

There is a woman’s version of this. Since most women’s clothing is more “form fit” than men’s it won’t work unless you abandon any thought of “form fit” and go for the “shapeless sack” look. Not many women want to do that!!!

Again, if you’re astride, I would not worry about concealment. Ease of access should be the primary issue. As I think another noted, most officers are not going to “put off” by a clearly armed rider. The more professionally the rider handles their horse the less likely the officer is to become concerned.

As an aside, there’s a guy riding cross country to raise money for Guillain-Barre syndrome research. There was a photo of him in the local paper as he crossed our county and on the off-side of the horse is a clearly visible long arm. From barrel size I’d guess it was a 12 ga. shotgun (pump or semi auto). No handgun is visible.

Find what works for you. Be aware that it may take several tries to get that right system. Kind of like buying saddles, or even horses, don’t you know.

G.

[trubandloki]

@Guilherme;6300940

I dunno about cup size, but they will require an extra shirt size or two so you won’t “imprint” (i.e., show an outline of the weapon). It is an issue for many men, as lots carry using an “in waistband holster” with a shirt that is not tucked in. You have to make sure that there is enough material to “blouse” over the weapon. I think the same issue could arise with “bra” holsters.

When the weapon in its holster will stick out further than the contents of the bra does it will be hard to find a shirt that balloons enough that it is not obvious something is going on.

[SwampYankee]

Could’a used that “flashbang” yesterday, when some eejit in the woods thought it was cute that her pack of 4 loose dogs, over whom she had zero control, wanted to tag-team my horse. Fortunately he neck-reins well and I just kept spinning him to head each one. They weren’t that stupid–unlike their owner! :mad:

On his first time out wearing a bit, I might add . . .

[cowboymom]

I have very small hands-smaller than my 12 year old daughter’s-and I agree the Ruger is a comfortable gun for small hands.

[tollertwins]

[QUOTE=cowboymom;6301362]
I have very small hands-smaller than my 12 year old daughter’s-and I agree the Ruger is a comfortable gun for small hands.[/QUOTE]

Thanks! I’ve got like bird bones - my wrists are about 6" around and my ring finger is in the size 5 range…

I’ve never been able to shoot anything larger than a .38 in a revolver or a 9mm in a semi auto comfortably.

But it sounds like the lighter loads in the .45colt are not bad!

[cowboymom]

Keep trying different guns but consider wrapping your wrists, it really helps a lot and when you get used to it it’s no bother. I use vetwrap for extra wrist support…easy. Also some riding gloves provide that support. I’m more comfortable with it than without but in the summer when it’s hot I have a tendency to stop using it…

[LMH]

Similar topic-

Where is the best place to buy a Starter’s pistol to desensitize a horse to gun fire?

I checked Walmart and Dick’s-neither carry them.

Any other suggestions?

[Guilherme]

[QUOTE=LMH;6303950]
Similar topic-

Where is the best place to buy a Starter’s pistol to desensitize a horse to gun fire?

I checked Walmart and Dick’s-neither carry them.

Any other suggestions?[/QUOTE]

The first page of my Google search disclosed four sellers.

If you have a regular revolver you can buy blank ammunition for it. Autoloaders are pretty “finicky” about blanks and I’d not recommend messing with them.

G.

[LMH]

Here is a carry option…works under riding tights

http://masterofconcealment.com/pgroup_descrip/104_Concealment+Clothing/7068_UnderTech+UnderCover+Woman’s+Compression+Shorts/?return=?tpl=index&category_id=104&_Concealment+Clothing/

[didgery]

[QUOTE=LMH;6304732]
Here is a carry option…works under riding tights

http://masterofconcealment.com/pgroup_descrip/104_Concealment+Clothing/7068_UnderTech+UnderCover+Woman’s+Compression+Shorts/?return=?tpl=index&category_id=104&_Concealment+Clothing/[/QUOTE]

Looks like a potentially useful garment, but couldn’t they have hired models who didn’t look like hookers? Sheesh.

[Painted_Horse]

Don’t waste your money on a starter pistol.
Just start firing your gun a little farther away and work your way closer. Start maybe 15 yards off and aim AWAY from your horse, so the muzzle blast goes away.
Once the horse is comfortable with that, Move a little closer and closer.

I’ve trained many a horse with a 30-06 or 44 mag doing this.

[tollertwins]

RE: the master of concealment site (models notwithstanding…).

You REALLY don’ wanna fall off w/ a gun near your spine!

[AzuWish]

Not an endurance rider, but I carry out on trail (hogs, bears, gators, meth heads … Oh my!). I’ve found a lot of the conceal carry options do not work for a short, petite woman. For example, thunder wear and the T-shirts just don’t work if you aren’t a bigger person imo.

I carry a Ruger LCR 38 revolver. I have carried my S&W 357 magnum, but that’s too big and too heavy. I use a “in the pants” holster and have it aligned to the center of my spine. I wear breeches, so that’s an extra “hold” for it, but it definitely needs a belt for stability.

This has been the only thing that works for me. Unfortunately, even my LCR looks like a tumor out if control on me, so for every day carry, I have to go to my concealed weapon purse.

Never put a weapon on your horse. If your horse throws you because of a wild animal or meth head, you’re left unprotected.

I have not fallen with my revolvers or my semi auto (which I have since sold), but it would stand to reason you’re less likely to get hurt if it is center mass of you body vs off center. Think about how you typically fall to one side or the other. I’ve rarely seen anyone pancake one way or another. As animals, we typically fall to one side to protect vital organs, and because we’re falling off one side or another from another animal. Even tripping straight down while walking, humans won’t just pancake, they roll to protect themselves. If you have a gun on your hip or off center, you’re more likely to break a hip than protect your spine imo

And make sure, if you have a semi auto, you have safety on or a bullet not in the chamber.

BTW, love the newish legislation of carrying in parks!