Recommendations concerning holsters, belts and equipment in general

From your Instructor

First a good question:

QUESTION:  Could you please recommend some good defensive and practice Ammunition brands. I have a nine millimeter I am carrying but just good brands and if possible prices would be appreciated.  I have a shotgun (Ruger over/under ) and it doesn’t recommend buckshot in the manual. Is bird shot OK for home defense?  Is it effective?

ANSWER: That’s another great question from a great lady trainee. Thanks for reading and asking, and kudos for reading the manual first.

Good defensive ammunition is available more and more now at retailers (Academy, Carters, Gander Mt. Bass Proshop, Wal Mart etc.). I’ve found lately that Wal Mart has had Federal and Winchester ammo in more plentiful supply. Calibers are sketchy so you will have to search for things like .45 ACP or .357 Sig. These are ball or full/total metal jacket rounds for the most part and they are still reasonably priced there. The Winchester in the white box is just fine for both practice and defense as is the Federal.  If you want more potent and powerful defense ammo of hollow point or other configurations I personally recommend the following brands and type:  Speer/CCI Gold Dot , Cor-Bon any type, Hornady TAP, or Personal Defense, Federal Hydra Shok, Winchester Ranger, Remington Golden Saber and Glazer Safety slugs. I use and carry this ammo. For 9mm specifically I carry Federal Hydra Shok and 147 Grain Sub sonic, and Winchester Ranger. I would call around for this ammo to see who has the best price or order it online from Midway, Cheaper Than Dirt or Shooters Supply etc. Don’t overlook the gun shows but their prices aren’t as low in some cases as local retailers.

You are correct in not using 00 buckshot in you over and under. Bird shot is just fine in the home and down the hallway it will definitely knock the predator down. You were very correct in reading the recommendations in the Ruger manual.

EQUIPMENT:

I RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING HOLSTERS AND BELTS:
 Make sure the holster is available for your specific make and model of gun.

Holsters: I have found a paddle holster that works and is halfway comfortable to wear for long periods of time The Blackhawk SERPA CQC. Has a lock built in so the gun can’t easily be snatched and definitely will not fall out. It is also fast to draw from. It comes with both a paddle and belt loop and you can adjust it for cross draw or strong side and angle. It’s about $35. To $40. Or less. Don Hume Leather Goods of Miami Oklahoma has a great inside the waistband holster and a JIT Slide leather high quality relatively low price and a great strong belt the B1 lined. 5.11 Tactical has a great belt for about $35.. Dillon Precision has a catalog called the Blue Press that has some incredible holsters at great prices. I have one from Mitch Rosen (for Dillon) and it is beautiful and fits my XD like a glove. Galco The Fletch is a great holster of incredible quality and reasonably priced in town you can find it a carter’s, Collectors, Bass Pro and others. Safariland is available at police supply stores but go on line and check for their line of more civilian geared products. Bianchi has several great models available at the same in town outlets I mentioned and The Pinch model has a lock too. Do not buy ballistic nylon holsters for daily carry. They absorb and transfer sweat, and are dirt and lint magnets. They are great in the woods or on the ranch but if it’s hot you’re going to have a rust problem from sweating. Do not buy a cheap belt. I can never stress that enough. It could cost you your life. Seriously. Buy a good gun belt and a good holster they will protect you and your firearm and remember….”If you buy cheap, you’re gonna buy twice.” Please trust me on this. Next to your gun it is the most important component of you personal defense. Ladies every purse I have seen from Galco, Safariland, Coronado, De Santis, Bianchi is all excellent quality and very well engineered. I understand 5.11 Tactical now has them and they can be found at the aforementioned retailers and Pro Defense in Webster. Guys you can get a “man sack “from Maxpedition  or Galco and I just ordered one from Dillon called the Concealed Carry Tote that looks like more an a briefcase/laptop carrier. Check out that Blue Press they have top quality products at very reasonable prices. Galco belts are top quality but run in the $60. To $100. Range. They are worth every penny and you’ll only buy once.

If you have a rail for mounting a light on your weapon, Streamlight makes the TRL-1 and TRL-2 (with laser, surefire, and insight make similar ones but the Streamlight TRL-1 is a good light for around $75. Bucks and you can get them at Academy and the other retailers (although Gander Mtn. and Bass Pro are so high I won’t buy there). Sure fire and Streamlight make handhelds that are called Stinger and Nitrolon G2 that are very reasonable as are Maglites. Lights and magazines buy them and buy a bunch of them. Have them in depth as I like to say. Cabela’s has a series of lights (made by Sure Fire) that are excellent and very affordable. Check their website.

 If your firearm came with two magazines buy no less than one more, preferably two more.  This is the absolute minimum you should have for your own safety and they are available almost everywhere or you can order them from the firearms manufacturers. Go on line to Midway USA and Dillon and Pro Mag and order as many as you can afford or got to the gun store and ask or Academy and check the racks. Carry at least one spare magazine whenever you are carrying your weapon. ALWAYS HAVE AT LEAST ONE RELOAD ON YOUR PERSON AT ALL TIMES. TWO IS EVEN BETTER. GUNS GO DRY IN A FIGHT ALWAYS. 90% OF ALL MALFUNCTIONS IN SEMI AUTO PISTOLS ARE MAGAZINE RELATED. IF YOU SHOOT REVOLVERS BUY SPEEDLOADERS!  NO EXCEPTIONS!

 You will really only have to make this expenditure once and your life is worth it. Isn’t it?

Thanks y’all…………Eddie Your Instructor.