Over the last week or so, have you noticed the drop in temperatures? What does that mean for all of us citizen defenders (CCW folks)? Soon if not already, you will be wearing multiple layers over your defensive handgun. That means it’s time to start practicing to defend yourself while dressed for cold weather.
Here are 3 tips for getting ready for cold weather carry.
1. Practice dry fire with lots of layers on.
The struggle with winter clothing is getting the firearm out quickly in a draw. The more layers you have on, the more you have to get past to draw your firearm from the holster.
Practice getting through those layers in dry fire. Don’t forget to develop a good Double Rake Draw, where the primary hand clears all or some layers first, then the support hand clears the rest of the layers, and finally the primary hand gets to the firearm. This way if you miss a layer, you can just continue digging the firearm out with the next rake. We can teach you this Double Rake technique.
2. Practice with gloves.
If you wear gloves when it gets cold, you should regularly practice with your defensive firearm with gloves on. Gloves deaden your sense of touch with the firearm, making it harder to find slack out, slide stops, magazine releases, or even get a proper grip. If you don’t practice while wearing gloves, your gloved hands likely won’t perform as desired in a real-life situation.
3. Consider your clothes carefully.
Clothes designed to keep you warm can limit access to your firearm. For example, a jacket with the cinched waistband can cause a headache if you’re trying to draw and it keeps getting in the way. Consider a jacket that you can just button or velcro instead of zippers, or one with a double zipper set up so you can loosen the waistband for easier access.
Remember, too, that the more layers you have on, the more you have to get through to get your firearm. Put on enough layers to keep you warm, but not so many – or so tight – that you can’t clear them.
Practicing under these cold weather clothing conditions will make all the difference in getting to your defensive firearm in the winter. Add those layers to your dry fire practice time now and be ready.
Learn these skills by attending our next CCW class. To learn more contact us at 770-853-8340
Train hard and stay safe,
Wayne