EDC Pistols and Accessories

     One of the things I see people get wrapped around the axle about is what pistol is good for Every Day Carry (EDC.)

     I have seen folks carry American Arms 22 magnum revolvers in an elastic band in their hat all the way to a sawed off lever action Marlin 30/30 under a trench coat. They all serve some of the same purposes. One is just more devastating than the other.

    I know if I'm expecting a gun fight I won't be getting a pistol. My AR-15 or Remington 870 will be in my hands. However, I would never be afforded that convenience.

Author's Redrup Custom Glock 19 with Haley Strategic INCOG holster

    The first thing I tell folks when they ask me what they should carry is, "What can you afford?"

     It is said if you buy cheap you are going to buy twice. I'm probably going to get some folks on this one. But, I don't recommend most guns that cost below $250 new from a gun shop. They usually can't take the constant beating of dry practice at home and running on the range. I have seen several inexpensive guns literally fall apart on the range. They are your hands, face, and eyes. You risk what you want with them. I usually won't allow them in my classes. Don't get me wrong. A $45 pistol will kill you just as fast as a S&W 500 Magnum. You got to ask yourself, "How much is my life or my family's worth to protect it?"
I have no answer for that. I want reliability above all else.        

Author's Sig Sauer P238 Scorpion in 380 ACP with Zero Concealment Rig

    The next question is usually what caliber to purchase? That is yet again another loaded question. Do you get as small as a  22 Long Rifle or as large as a 500 S&W Magnum? Yet again, budget is one of the things that come into play. Can you afford to practice with that caliber. Even at these inflated market values it is still cheaper to plink to practice with 22 LR than it is with 45 ACP. Next is lethality. People say that if you shot them with a 22 LR or Magnum all it would do is make them mad. Then some say that 45 ACP is the only caliber to carry on earth cause it will throw their enemy across the room and will kill them with the first shot. Obviously they have not dealt with any one ingesting bath salts or on Methamphetamine. The thing is people have been killed by all of these calibers large and small. I can tell you there is a reason why there has been a growing trend to go back to 45 ACP for a reason. But if you are not willing to carry a heavier, thicker, and lower capacity pistol then it is not for you. What kills a person is either blood loss (shock,) organ failure (heart,) or nervous system failure (brain and spinal column,) or a combination of any of the three.

     The smaller the caliber generally the smaller you can make the gun if conceal ability is the issue. When I am at a place where less clothing is optional (beaches, gyms, and hot weather) I usually carry a smaller pistol like my Sig Sauer P238 Scorpion. It fits in most of my smaller bags or I can wear it in shorts and a tank top without most folks noticing it. When you see me in overalls around the house or outside this gun will be on me. It is probably the smallest caliber gun (380 ACP) I will carry alone on my person. I have had American Arms 22 Magnums in my pocket before. But I always had something bigger with it on me.

Author's Springfield Operator with Surefire X300 light and ZCS Kydex

     Shot placement and what the bullets do when it hits the human body is the next topic for caliber. I really really really do not recommend full metal jacket ammunition for carry if you can get around it. Hollow point ammunition is the better way to go. But which is best? Yet another heated debate. A good bonded or solid copper round with good weight and velocity that functions well in your gun is the way to go. I use Speer Gold Dot in my duty 1911 due to department policy. It is a good round over all. I carry 124gr +P Speer Gold Dot in my Redrup Custom Glock 19. In my Scorpion is Winchester DPX 95 gr. There is also Golden Saber, Extreme shock, Hornaday (Zombie Max, Critical, and Personal Defense,) and Corbon to name a few. But all of the most exotic magic bullets will not do a darn thing if you don't put them where they need to go. I teach three zones to aim for during a fight. The hydraulic area (chest cavity,) the electrical area (brain and spinal column,) and the mechanical area (pelvic girdle.) These three areas do not guarantee the fight will stop. However, it sure will increase the odds. I put a CCI Blazer in 22 LR in your eye socket will have better odds of you ended a lethal threat then a Speer Gold Dot in 50 AE in your big toe. But you don't shoot once. You shoot often enough to make the threat stop. End of story.

     Carry options.  Depends on your state's laws on the books. The great state of Tennessee is a carry state. Some are concealment only and some are anyway they want as long as they are not a felon or been convicted of domestic violence. My department's standard operating procedure dictates concealed carry only. I am also a fan of Kydex. Some of my friends prefer nylon or expensive leather. Yet again is a budget and job issue. There are many on the market you just have to experiment like I have. I have a tote full of all kinds of holster for different guns over the years of doing just that. The holster needs to be somewhat comfortable. You are always going to know the gun is on you no matter what. I have not met a holster maker yet that can make a holster disappear or not be 100% convenient to the wearer. Guns and holsters should be 'comforting' not 'comfortable.' Inside the waistband for concealed carry has been the better of the choices in the warmer months. During colder weather you can get away with a holster that is worn on the outside of the body under a coat, vest, or fleece pullover. The holster needs to also do its job of holding the pistol in place when you are running, sitting, or fighting on the ground. If you go to draw your gun after falling and it isn't there that was an epic failure on your part.

     There are several informative avenues for gathering information. I use YouTube a lot as well as other forums on the internet. However, always be open minded to new things and do not be information incestuous with one source only. And just because Jim Bob Cooter at the local Rod and Gun club carries his pistol tucked in the back of his jeans does not mean you should too.

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     Tim Davis, Jr. is a full time law Enforcement Professional, martial arts, and a part time firearms instructor. He has firearms experience spanning over 15 years ranging from several schools in advanced tactical response to time spent in Afghanistan working with their law enforcement program. Tim is the co-owner of Appropriate Action in Englewood TN.



    
                                                                                                       

Every Day Carry (EDC)

     More times than not I get asked what I carry on me from day to day that gets me by. Not just in a tactical sense. But in a practical way.
     I have two EDC's pretty much during the course of my week. When I am working my day job as a Law Enforcement Officer, and when I'm out and about in jeans and a shirt with the kids. Both fill about the same niche but just a little different.
     At work I have a duty belt and at least 14+ pockets I can carry things in. I could list my pens and all but lets just get to the nitty gritty of it.

Author's work EDC

1. Springfield Lightweight Operator 1911 with Surefire X300 in a Safariland 6280 holster. (200gr  Gold Dot) Two spare magazines on the belt. My first pistol shot was a WWII Army 1911 owned by Charles Pedrotti back in the early 90's. I have owned and carried several other types of pistols but, my heart belongs to the 100+ year old design of the 1911.

2. Asp 26" Stainless Baton

3. Two sets of Peerless hinged handcuffs. I keep several pair of 'Flexies' in the car as well.

4. Two main flashlights (seeing a pattern here?) One is a Streamlight HP and the other is an old school Surefire Z2 that I used in Afghanistan. On my person I actually have at least five sources of some kind of light. (Lighter counts)

5. TASER X26 (its at the office)

6. Wallet, lighter, keys (spare cuff key, Streamlight micro, and spare medication,) and Contact wet drops. Car exhaust while working school zone dries out my contacts horribly. As far as keys I actually carry two for my patrol car and four handcuff keys in different spots on my body. (Yes I am paranoid.) People go, "Tim you don't smoke." And they are correct. However there have been times a little fire goes a long way to making the day a little easier. I'm all the time burning loose threads on my uniform with it.

7. Zero Tolerance folding knife, Houdini Rescue tool, and a little everyday cutting knife. I keep the large folder "working sharp" don't use it for opening envelopes, boxes, or containers. That is what the little knife is for. The rescue tool is for wrecks with injuries that someone needs help getting out of.

8. Two multi-tools (One Gerber on the belt and a Swiss Walmart special I keep in my pocket.) There is barely a day that goes by that I don't use either of them for something at the office or in the car.

9. Work and personal cell phones.

     If you notice a theme here is that at work I have almost two of everything on me (some three and four). On a long 12 hour shift away from home odds are something will not go right and you can't go back to the house and go get your spare. A lot of these are job only related. But people can take a lesson in redundancy.

Author's "off duty" EDC

Off duty is a little bit on the lighter side of things. I don't wear a duty belt so I have to prioritize what I can carry on me in my pockets.

1. Redrup Custom Shop Glock 19 (124 gr +P Gold Dot) in a Haley Strategic INCOG holster. Spare magazine (not pictured) carried in an old school Fobus single carrier. 

2. Same Wallet, keys, multi tool, wet drops, lighter, and knives as I have in my pockets at work. Yet again I end up using even my lighter a bunch to either get rid of loose threads, burn the ends of rope or paracord, light a candle when the power is out, etc, and etc. Never know. You might be stranded on a rough patch of road on a cold night and need a fire. I don't know about you but I'm horrible at rubbing two sticks together for that purpose. I carry a camp fire starter in my Bug Out Bag.

3. Badge with identification in the event I have to take action while I'm off. Remember, friendly fire isn't.

4. Personal and work cell phones. How many times have you had your phone go dead or out of signal and the person right next to you has four bars? FML right? Well even a good prepaid phone along with one in your regular service area is a good thing to keep around. Even a battery powered emergency charger would be a good idea to keep around when a car or wall charger is not available.

     I'm sure folks can take away or add what I am showing. I have a few items in both setups that I will not reveal to the public for security reasons. I'm working on getting a Surefire Backup to add to off duty when the funds become available. Just not at the moment. Some people will ask why I don't carry cuffs on me? I just don't have a good place to put them. I keep flexi-cuffs in the door of my truck and you can tie someone up with almost anything sturdy enough.

     Your individual EDC will depend on what you do in your daily lives. I have an oath to defend the constitution of the United States and the State of Tennessee that I must keep 24-7. Whereas a civilian can drop a few items on this list. Now what I carry today may change in time depending on what is going on in my life. I can think of five or six variations I have done already. This list is also seasonal. Holsters change depending on my dress for the day. Hard for me to carry in an appendix holster when I'm wearing a suit for a funeral or formal function. And while I'm out at the gym I carry something a little smaller for a firearm and only what I can fit in my fanny pack.
  
     You can't plan and prepare for EVERY situation you run across. I guarantee there is not enough room in your Dockers or Levi jeans to get the job done. Don't ever get stagnant and only do one thing. You may regret it.

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     Tim Davis, Jr. is a full time law Enforcement Professional, martial arts, and a part time firearms instructor. He has firearms experience spanning over 15 years ranging from several schools in advanced tactical response to time spent in Afghanistan working with their law enforcement program. Tim is the co-owner of Appropriate Action in Englewood TN.