My brush with TSA

[Soundguy]

As my asbestos underwear are being repaired, I will avoid the whole 1911 discussion.

Since my retirement, I only wear a belt to funerals and weddings, so my carry gun is now a S&W 638 with Crimson Trace grips in my pants pocket.

I like the look and concept of a 1911.. but not as a carry gun.

I have a shortened 1911 'style' 45 I used to carry.. but even that was still too huge..

for 'beater' playing at the range.. I have a colt systema / ballaster molina

soundguy

 

[TripleR]

Probably a wise thing in as much as everyone is on the bandwagon now. The post would digress to an oil thread like consistency in short order.....

I have a Colt 1911 Government stamped model in the case, never fired, as an investment, like all my firearms actually. My preference is long guns, the pistols just come along with the others. I've always been attracted to the Kimber, I appreciate the machining and care that goes into the build and it's domestic. My boss has a Sig and like the Glock, it's clunky too. It's a 9 however. Might as well pop a 22lr as a 9. I have tons of 9 brass in bags, 45's and everything else. I like to reload.

Far as a belt goes, I always wear one. My drawers go south without one.:laughing: I have no arse so there is nothing to wedge the pants on and incidentally, why I like the AR seat in the M. No arse to cushion the bumps. Must be a hereditary thing. My dad is minus as well, so was grandpa.

My pocket gun is a Bond 45LC/410. I never cared much for the little pop guns. I figure if I'm accosted in a wonderful place like Detroit, just peering down the hole of a 45 is deterrent enough. Especially, seeing the end of a red plastic personal defense 410 shell in one hole.....

That scenario is something I constantly dread. I prefer to avoid problems at all times.

The Kimber is a full size with CT laser and it's not light. It is, with the .22 conversion and that's how I usually shoot it, indoors on the range. It becomes a fun, lightweight plinker and accurate too.

I get more enjoyment from the long guns than a pistol. I like substance and caressing a beautifully carved stock.

I got interested in handguns while recuperating from an automobile crash. I had a new child and had to have help getting around. I had to use a walker and couldn't hold a rifle, so I didn't even own a gun. Someone tried breaking into our house and fortunately a Police Officer just happened by and chased him off. I realized had he not come along, I had no way of protecting my family. My wife and I drove out to the farm and got my old .22 rifle until I could obtain a handgun. I have had one around me or on me ever since. I couldn't stand, so I spent a lot of hours out at the farm shooting handguns from a seated position for exercise and to become reasonably proficient.

During my recovery, I hunted with a handgun and learned to really like shooting them. I still have a little trouble holding a rifle very long, but have some.

At heart, I am a "steel and wood guy", but I have to make things as light as possible, so thus the "plastic guns".

As to a carry gun, no one was ever killed by a loud noise, so I and my sons, both of whom are firearms instructors and one a former Airborne and Police Officer, recommend the gun you can hit with. The 9mm v .45 is a lot like the "oil thread", so I won't go there either. I remember when the "Wondernine" came out and studied the "Miami Shootout" after action report; interesting reading, but in the end not all that useful except as to tactics.

I was trained to never draw a weapon without using it, so the only thing and hopefully last thing anyone will ever see from my gun is a muzzle flash and not what is in the chamber. I had to go through FATS every year and never got out of there without getting "killed" several times. Things go south faster than you can ever imagine. Of course that is only my opinion and people should do what works for them.

I wear pants with elastic waistbands; haven't had a pair of jeans on in years. At 64, I am far more interested in comfort than looks or public opinion. Thankfully, I am somewhat isolated as the sight of an old man on a tractor in gym shorts etc. is not for the faint of heart.:laughing:

I like the look and concept of a 1911.. but not as a carry gun.

I have a shortened 1911 'style' 45 I used to carry.. but even that was still too huge..

for 'beater' playing at the range.. I have a colt systema / ballaster molina

soundguy

I actually love the feel and handling of the 1911 style guns. My son brought home a .45 Springfield Tactical with all of the bells and whistles and in spite of its weight, it was a hoot to handle. Now I wouldn't want to carry it very far. For a while, during a pretty hectic time, I carried a full size Colt 1911 and before that a Combat Commander, but even with daily carry, I was always well aware of its presence and neither turned out to be really reliable, so I went to something else. With the smaller, lighter guns, I couldn't tell I was even carrying one after a while. On more than one occasion, I had to turn around and go back home to get it when I discovered an empty holster.

My duty weapons were a Glock 27 and Glock 23 and before that a S&W Model 66 and S&W 649, so for liability reasons, I stick with one of those types. If I ever have to use one, I have verification that I have received lots of training with yearly certification. I don't get out much, so I probably don't even need a gun anymore, just force of habit I guess.

 

[Bird]

Since my retirement, I only wear a belt to funerals and weddings, so my carry gun is now a S&W 638 with Crimson Trace grips in my pants pocket.

99% of the time, I wear Dickies short sleeved coveralls (we used to call'em jump suits) so no belt. So my carry gun is the S&W 36, square butt, that was my off duty and/or plain clothes weapon since i964.:laughing: I do wear some slacks with a belt for the magazine holder and holster when I go to qualify with the 9 mm Sig P229DAK.

 

[TripleR]

99% of the time, I wear Dickies short sleeved coveralls (we used to call'em jump suits) so no belt. So my carry gun is the S&W 36, square butt, that was my off duty and/or plain clothes weapon since 1964.:laughing: I do wear some slacks with a belt for the magazine holder and holster when I go to qualify with the 9 mm Sig P229DAK.

My shoulders are shot, so I had to give up on coveralls a few years ago; very handy and comfortable though and lots of pockets.

It is hard to beat one of those old Model 36's; had a couple made much later and not quite the quality it seems. QC was kind of problematic for a while under different ownership and I had to work on about everyone I bought. QC is good now and has been for a while.

I have a 229, but it is the double/single action and in .40 S&W; very nice gun. Our department doesn't offer recertification to retirees, so I had to get a CCW permit.

 

[Bird]

My shoulders are shot, so I had to give up on coveralls a few years ago; very handy and comfortable though and lots of pockets.

I take it you're talking about how hard they are to get off your shoulder. I've been going to physical therapy for the past 6 weeks, and also got a shot of cortisone in the right shoulder the 25th of last month.

Our department doesn't offer recertification to retirees, so I had to get a CCW permit.

That's interesting because I'd been under the impression that they all did. I believe the law does read that retirees must have, at their own expense, within the past 12 months met the state's standard for active officers. So my old department does allow it. Retirees do have to provide their own ammo, but the department provides the targets. We can also go to the police range to practice if we wish. Under federal law, retirees must qualify annually, but under Texas law only every 2 years. In other words, once every 2 years to carry in Texas, but every year to carry outside Texas.

 

[ultrarunner]

I take it you're talking about how hard they are to get off your shoulder. I've been going to physical therapy for the past 6 weeks, and also got a shot of cortisone in the right shoulder the 25th of last month.



That's interesting because I'd been under the impression that they all did. I believe the law does read that retirees must have, at their own expense, within the past 12 months met the state's standard for active officers. So my old department does allow it. Retirees do have to provide their own ammo, but the department provides the targets. We can also go to the police range to practice if we wish. Under federal law, retirees must qualify annually, but under Texas law only every 2 years. In other words, once every 2 years to carry in Texas, but every year to carry outside Texas.

It can be even more restrictive... the local police department forbids reserve officers from carrying a weapon when not on duty... the firearm must remain at the station between shifts.

 

[Bird]

It can be even more restrictive... the local police department forbids reserve officers from carrying a weapon when not on duty... the firearm must remain at the station between shifts.

When I started and for many years thereafter, Dallas reserve officers wore a uniform but were not permitted to carry a weapon even on duty. I can't remember just when they started allowing them to carry weapons.

 

[ultrarunner]

I know it has been a bone of contention... other departments and the county do not have this restriction.

To be accurate, it is the rank and file reserves... a good friend was a Lieutenant in the reserves and the restriction no longer applied to him and he was free to check out a vehicle any time 24/7

He had to give it up when he became a Judge... something about conflict of interest.

The chief only has out about 30 CCWP for a population of 450,000. Many that can demonstrate the need go through the county Sheriff.

Not too long ago, there was a small town of Isleton that solved it's financial problems by having a liberal CCWP process... the DA put a stop to it because so many were issued.

 

[TRR]

I had to go through FATS every year and never got out of there without getting "killed" several times. Things go south faster than you can ever imagine.

I wish there was some way everyone with a CWP could go thru FATS. I got to do it once and it was quite an experience. I'm a reasonably good shot (as reported by other people) but all that goes to pot in a hurry when some is shooting at you. And yeah, I got killed more than once too.

 

[TripleR]

I take it you're talking about how hard they are to get off your shoulder. I've been going to physical therapy for the past 6 weeks, and also got a shot of cortisone in the right shoulder the 25th of last month.

That's interesting because I'd been under the impression that they all did. I believe the law does read that retirees must have, at their own expense, within the past 12 months met the state's standard for active officers. So my old department does allow it. Retirees do have to provide their own ammo, but the department provides the targets. We can also go to the police range to practice if we wish. Under federal law, retirees must qualify annually, but under Texas law only every 2 years. In other words, once every 2 years to carry in Texas, but every year to carry outside Texas.

Yeah, I have trouble getting them on and off my shoulders. Cortizone shots don't help any more.

Our department doesn't provide for retirees to recertify and has said they never will. Missouri law reads the same as the federal statutes in that a retiree need department ID and proof of yearly qualification from their department. I have the ID and badge stamped RETIRED, but no certification card. As a result, I have to renew my CCW every year and have the same restriction as to where I can carry as a civilian. Retirees with all the paperwork can carry anywhere an active duty officer can carry.

I wish there was some way everyone with a CWP could go thru FATS. I got to do it once and it was quite an experience. I'm a reasonably good shot (as reported by other people) but all that goes to pot in a hurry when some is shooting at you. And yeah, I got killed more than once too.

It is a real eye opener and it would be nice if it was offered to everyone, but the equipment and software is really expensive. Ours was set up with Glocks and a system to activate the slides for more realism though no recoil. Ours also tracked where your muzzle was pointed at all times during the scenarios. It is amazing how stressful it can be even though you know it's just a game.