3 Questions To Answer After You Have Received Your Concealed Carry License

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Carrying a concealed weapon is a major responsibility and potential gun owners should think seriously before applying for a license. However, if you have currently obtained a concealed carry permit and are looking to get started with a weapon, there a few questions you should ask yourself first:

Should I Get a Semi-automatic Pistol or a Revolver?

Revolvers are perhaps the simplest concealed weapon to carry as they are extremely reliable and are easy to maintain. They come in a variety of powers; however, the standard .38 caliber is enough for most purposes. Whilst the simplicity and reliability of revolvers makes them an ideal concealed weapon, they do have a few drawbacks that may hinder your decision:

• Revolvers use a rotating cylinder to load bullets into the chamber, so they can only fire five or six shots before reloading is necessary.
• Reloading can be slow as individual bullets have to be inserted into the appropriate cylinders.
• Revolvers do not have safety latches, meaning the weapon can be fired at any time.

Semi-automatics are the slightly more popular alternative to the revolvers as they are easy to use and quick to reload. Where the revolver uses a cylinder for loading bullets, the semi-automatic used a detachable magazine, which makes it much easier to reload, even in a high-stress situation. Semi-automatic pistols may be the better choice for most people, but these guns do have a couple of drawbacks that have to be considered before making a decision:

Semi-automatics are loaded by pulling a slide mechanism back and allowing the component to slam forward. If you have particularly poor grip strength, you may find this process difficult. Semi-automatics can be prone to jamming; however, this is relatively easy to fix and should be second nature after extensive training.

How Often Should I Practice Shooting?

A responsible gun owner understands the inherent dangers of carrying a weapon and will regularly practice their skills in order to ensure they can handle their gun properly. When you obtain your concealed carry license, it's important to continue spending quality time with your gun and practicing at the shooting range so that you are fully prepared if you ever have to draw your weapon.

Whilst the amount of maintenance training required will vary between each person, it is important to put in enough practice so that you feel comfortable with your gun under pressure. As a rule of thumb, it is recommended that you practice live rounds at the shooting range at least once a month, firing a minimum of 50 rounds per visit. Remember, however, that this rule only applies to live target practice, and you should regularly practice reloading and drawing your weapon at home.

What Sort of Holster Should I Use?

Once you have selected a handgun, you'll need to choose a suitable holster for carrying the weapon. Whilst this may seem like a simple choice for the inexperienced, choosing a holster can be a difficult decision to make and is one that should be given proper consideration. Therefore, when comparing holsters, keep the following criteria in mind:

• Ease/Speed of Drawing – A concealed weapon is entirely useless if it's stuck in your holster, so make sure you choose a holster that gives you easy access to your weapon under stressful conditions. The exact holster you choose will depend on the type of gun you purchase; however, you should choose a holster that allows you to completely grip the handgun whilst also allowing you to release any retention mechanisms.
• Retention – Retention is an extremely important part of your holster's design, but the retention device shouldn't just allow easy access, it should also keep your gun secure under stressful conditions. If you are engaged in hand-to-hand combat, you don't want your gun falling from the holster. Therefore, choose a holster design with internal retention devices or thumb breaks that keep your gun secure until you need access.
• Trigger Cover – Even if your gun has a safety latch, you want to purchase a holster that covers your gun's trigger guard. You should make sure the holster material doesn't protrude into the trigger guard itself, as this could potentially depress the trigger, which could lead to injury.

For more information about obtaining a concealed carry license, a gun, and any necessary accessories, contact a company like Chauncey's Pawn & Gun.

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12 February 2016