Winter Carry
OK, so I was thinking about things the other night as I was shoveling snow. Carrying a defensive firearm during the winter time takes more thought than in the summer due to things like layers of clothes, gloves, and hoods that block your peripheral view. Extra thought has to go into not only what you carry, but what you are wearing to keep you warm. A big mistake that people make this time of year is thinking that carrying in the winter is the same as summer carry. There are some major differences that come into lay this time of year (Unless you live in a warmer climate than Minnesota). Let’s explore some of the areas to think about.
Outerwear: Adding layers to keep you warm is great for concealment. It makes it easier to carry and be discreet. The down side is that it also adds to the time necessary to get to your gun in the event that you need it. I tend to choose outerwear that allows freedom of movement. You may still have to unzip your coat to get to your gun, but it is easier to do so if you can move quickly to do so. Coats with elastic drawstrings on the bottom are great for keeping the cold out but they have a tendency to snag on the bottom of a holster. In the event that you have this type of jacket, practice grabbing the bottom of your jacket and pulling it up over your gun. This tends to work well to minimize the snagging. For other types of jackets, remember that you have more to get through and practice drawing in the attire that you will wear out of the house. Remember that when practicing your draw, your gun MUST be empty.
Gloves: Gloves are another major factor in winter time carry. I spend a lot of time choosing new gloves. Here is what I look for in gloves when I am buying for myself. Gloves should allow your fingers to move freely and not be too thick, they should have something built into the palm to allow for positive retention of the firearm. Leather gloves are great for this. The other factor (one that is hard to test in a store) is whether you can operate your pistol with them on. I got a great pair of winter gloves for Christmas, but I know that I cannot fit the finger in the trigger guard of my pistols. As a result, I know that when wearing those gloves I will have to shed the glove before grabbing my gun. The two methods that I have found that work best for this are either using my weak hand to pull the glove off and then grab the gun, or if my weak hand is occupied (with packages, or my kids) then using your teeth to bite the tip of the middle finger of the glove and pull it off. This allows the freedom to grab your gun. The least of your concerns should be where the glove lands. No matter how much you like those gloves, if they prevent you from defending yourself, they are discardable.
The final consideration area is where you carry your gun in the winter. A lot of people like to carry small of the back because it is relatively easy to obtain your gun with either hand, it conceals well, and it tends not to get in the way of items normally carried on the belt. The major concern for this method of carry in the winter time is the possibility of slipping on ice. Falling on ice and landing on your back hurts, add a gun slamming into your spine or kidney and you could be in a lot of trouble. If you choose to carry in this method in the winter, use caution when walking on ice or snow. Choose footwear that gives you positive traction, and if you do happen to fall, try to pivot slightly in either direction to avoid landing straight on your gun.
These are some areas to consider in winter time carry. I wish you all a safe winter.