Winter Carry and You
It’s -5° and you’ve just gotten into your car. You’ve got a coat on, a hoodie, a long sleeve and short sleeve shirt, and a base thermal layer. Nestled under that mountain of clothes is the gun you trust for your personal defense. You’ve spent time practicing your draw, you’ve gotten training, and you feel confident in your ability to use a defensive firearm, and now you are in a situation where if you needed to access your gun, it would take you 20 min and a pair of scissors to get to it. At least Chicago winters are short and mild. Are there any good options for winter carry? Are you doomed to being either safe or cold?
Train in Your Winter Gear
The first step handling winter carry better is to train for it. Put on your whole winter gear and start practicing your draw. Can you clear your coat? Can you draw with your gloves on? Does your holster work with your winter setup? Are you training with the gun you typically carry or did you swap it out for something bigger? Many people carry larger guns in the winter since the the extra layers make it easier to conceal, but it’s important to train with them. You can do reps indoors or outside, but its helpful to do at least some outdoor cold weather training so you know how your motor skills will work when your hands are cold. If you run a light or a red dot, it’s also good to know how they will work in cold temperatures. Will the glass fog up when going from warm to cold?
Find Clothing That Supports your Winter Carry
Another important consideration is the clothes you wear in the winter. You may want to choose a coat that give you easier access based on where you carry. If you carry appendix, a knee length wool overcoat with buttons will likely make it easier to draw, but would be rough for strong side carry. For strong side, a shorter coat that is lighter and easier to clear can be a better option. Likewise, finding gloves that fit your trigger guard and still allow you to manipulate the controls are a great investment. Some people will dress around the gun they carry or the position they carry in. I’m not really a fan of changing how I dress to carry a specific gun, and in some circumstances, it can make you stand out even more, but for some, it’s a good option.
Considerations for Car Winter Carry
How you carry in the winter when driving can be one of the most complicated issues to solve. Even if you have a relatively carry friendly setup, sitting down in a car with your seat belt and the steering wheel can make it seem nearly impossible to successfully draw. To the extent that you can, try to minimize the clothing that’s in the way by putting layers over the seat belt instead of under them. While it’s not always an option, getting into a warm car is much easier to deal with, as you can unzip/unbutton layers or even shed them entirely for the duration of the trip.
Ultimately, if you live in a cold climate, being prepared for winter carry and doing what you can to minimize the impact is a worthwhile pursuit. The best way to be prepared is to train so that you are ready should you ever need to rely on your firearm.
Any gear mentioned in this post was purchased for my personal use. I have not been compensated or incentivized by any company for any product reviews, highlights, or opinions.
Upcoming Live Fire Classes
Defensive Pistol Fundamentals – 1
Saturday, January 27th – 9am to 1pm
This class is a live fire training opportunity to work on defensive pistol skills. This first class will focus on fundamentals, including grip, site picture, and draw.
Intermediate Defensive Pistol – 2
Saturday, February 24th – 9am to 1pm
This intermediate defensive pistol class will focus on taking the next step in your firearms proficiency with items like target transitions, reactive targets, and reload drills.
Next Level Defensive Pistol – 3
Saturday, March 30th – 9am to 1pm
This next level defensive pistol class is an advanced class for practicing shooting and moving, transitions, and reactive targets.
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