I do feel a bit of an obligation to explain how pepper spray works and how to determine the strength of any spray you might consider purchasing.  This is important because there is some confusion about how hot a spray should be in order to insure that it is effective against a potential attacker.

First, let’s talk a little about the idea behind what is more properly called ‘OC Spray’.  The ‘OC’ stands for Oleoresin Capsicum.  OC is a strong irritant of any mucus membranes it comes in contact with.  The sensation generated by exposure to OC is one of severe burning of the affected tissues.  If sprayed in the eyes, it causes profuse tearing, burning, pain and can cause temporary blindness.  A friend of mine in law enforcement that has been sprayed with OC in training says that it feels like “drowning with your face on fire”.  Not a pleasant experience to say the least…

This experience of burning eyes, running nose, coughing and having difficulty breathing can continue for 30-45 minutes depending on the amount of spray used and it’s strength.  The strength of the spray not based on the percentage of active ingredient, but rather is based on the number of Scoville Heat Units or SHUs that the spray has.  Scoville Heat Units are a measure of ‘heat’ in peppers.  A mild jalapeno pepper might have a SHU rating of 1,000 to 1,500.  Tabasco might carry an SHU rating of 30,000 to 50,000.  The hottest pepper in the world, the habanero, carries an SHU rating of 300,000 to 500,000.  Compare those to the rating of popular pepper sprays which can range from 2 million SHUs to 5.3 million SHUs.  As you can see, these sprays are really hot.

As you have no doubt experienced, different individuals can have different levels of sensitivity to peppers.  My father-in-law can put incredible amounts of crushed red peppers on food.  What he relishes is completely inedible to me.  Similarly, some people will be less susceptible to pepper spray due to ‘conditioning’.

Since pepper spray is many times used by law enforcement and correctional officers against their ‘clients’.  Some of those individuals develop a higher tolerance to the effects of the spray.  While OC spray will always have some effect, even on a heavily conditioned individual, they may be able to continue to function if the strength of the spray is near the lower end of the range.

That is one of the reasons that I recommend a spray by Fox Labs.  The Fox Labs product is highly refined and the SHU rating for it tops out at 5.3 million SHUs.  It is the hottest OC spray available.  Even the most ‘conditioned’ criminals have a difficult time fighting through this stuff.  It is truly ‘wicked hot’ as my friend from the east coast would say.

If you plan to carry OC spray for personal defense, there are a few of things to think about on both the positive and negative sides:

1. It will do you no good if it is in the bottom of your purse, in your pocket or in your briefcase when you need it.  It needs to be accessible.
2. There is a high likelihood of ‘cross contamination’ if you use OC spray.  What I mean specifically is that you might be exposed to it when you spray someone else.  This is not something you want to be experiencing for the first time when you are in trouble.  I’m not saying that you should blast yourself in the face with it, but you might want to understand what you might have to deal with.
3. You cannot just ’spray’ someone without justification.  You need to be under threat of assault at a minimum to be justified in using OC spray.
4. You might also want to think before using OC spray in enclosed spaces.  Several people were killed during a panic to get out of  a Chicago dance club when a bouncer used OC spray on an unruly guest inside the club.

After considering all those things, you might ask yourself “Should I carry OC spray”?  Here is the answer for me:  one of my students probably prevented a robbery or worse by using pepper spray.  She had it in her hand when she was grabbed from behind at an ATM.  She sprayed the robber/rapist in the face and got away unharmed…

You can decide for yourself, but I don’t go anywhere without my OC spray…

This week I had a question come in about concealed carry and open carry in Arizona. The question was basically this: Since Arizona has open carry is there any restriction on AZ CCW permit holders regarding open carry?

I thought it was an interesting question that deserved some clarification, particularly since some states actually require their concealed carry permit holders to keep their firearms concealed at all times.

In Arizona, open carry of firearms is permitted anywhere it is legal for a person to have a firearm. “Open Carry” applies when a person in possession of a firearm can be clearly seen to be armed by a casual observer. In other words, the firearm is in plain view for anyone to see.

If a person wishes to carry a firearm concealed on their person or in their vehicle, they must be in possession of a valid CCW permit either from Arizona or if a non resident, another state whose permit is recognized by Arizona.

The fact that a person has a concealed weapons permit does not require that they conceal their firearm. There are some occasions when I carry openly, particularly if I am out in the wilderness or if I am teaching at the range.

Possession of a valid CCW gives a person the privilege of carrying their firearm concealed. This provides a tremendous tactical advantage should they encounter an armed attacker. Maintaining the element of surprise is extremely important as depending on the situation, the firearm may or may not come into play immediately or at all.

In my opinion, it is a good idea to keep your firearm concealed if you have an Arizona CCW permit, but it is by no means a legal requirement.

Question: As a new CCW permit holder, and a woman of, shall we say, ample curves, I’m finding it difficult to manage concealed carry.  Arizona temperatures don’t lend themselves to covering garments, and my curves make IWB carry difficult and conspicuous (unless I opt for very baggy clothing, not appropriate in my professional and social circles).

While I recognize that some amount of wardrobe adjustment is necessary for concealed carry, I’m not willing to completely change my style in order to accommodate a firearm. What are some of the best options for concealed carry, when the wearer is neither straight up and down, nor super slim and wears “office casual” most of the time? Breasts and hips do get in the way sometimes. I’m afraid most of the options I’ve found thus far tend to ignore the feminine factor, making women look somewhat on the “butch” side. Not a look I aspire to. Help?

Answer: Concealed carry for women does tend to be quite a bit more complicated than it is for most men. This is due to several factors. 

Women’s fashions tend to be more ‘form fitting’ and in some cases garments are made of less ‘structured’ materials than men’s clothing.

They do not generally include a ‘platform’ to support the weight of a gun and holster (like a sturdy belt).  

Then there are the body shape issue that our questioner addresses.  This tends to cause traditional strong-side holsters to ride too high or stick out at angles that make concealment awkward.  

Let’s deal with each of these in turn.

Strong side carry is possible, but women need to find a holster built for their shape.  Blade-Tech, Kramer and Del Fatti make some good holsters designed specifically for women’s bodies.  Understand that this will require a sturdy belt, which will not always work with women’s fashions.

Strong-side inside the waistband holsters can work for some, but dues to the ‘form fitting’ issues, will probably not work for most.

In the absence of a belt, paddle holsters provide a reasonable alternative for strong side carry.  Small of the back carry may also be a possibility for some.  I know a female CCW instructor in the Yuma area who effectively conceals a full-sized 1911 using a “small of the back” holster.  She is 5 feet tall and weighs around 100 lbs.  Her usual attire is jeans and she generally wears a casual cover garment over a camisole top. 

In general women need to think ‘outside the box’ a bit.  One possibility is the choice to carry a smaller firearm.  During the summer months in Arizona, sometimes I will forego my usual USP Compact .40 S&W for a smaller more concealable pistol in the form of a Kel-Tec P-3AT.  This small pocket pistol weighs 11 ounces fully loaded and a capacity of 7 rounds.  It is small enough to put in a pocket, or with an optional clip, you can slip it into a waistband.  

It is so light that I have carried it inside the waistband of a pair of gym shorts with no issue.  While I would much rather have a .40 caliber handgun, .380 Auto is not bad under the circumstances.  

A pistol of this type would easily conceal in a variety of women’s fashions.  It is light enough and small enough to conceal virtually anywhere.  The street price for these guns is around $250, so the price is right as well.  

Other methods include ‘off body’ carry. This means that you will have your firearm in a purse, briefcase or ‘daytimer’ style carry device. Coronado Leathers and Galco make some very high quality, fashionable purses and totes designed for concealed carry by women.  Many are designed to look like much more expensive “Coach” style purses.

If you intend to carry off-body, there are some additional factors to consider.  First is the obvious issue of control.  You cannot leave your purse, backpack or day-timer lying around.  You must bear in mind that it can be a little suspicious if you are ‘attached’ to your carry platform constantly.  The draw from any of these methods of carry is slow and awkward at best.  In my classes I ask how many have forgotten and left a purse or day-timer or backpack somewhere.  The number that answer in the affirmative is ample reason to consider another course of action.

If you are going to carry in a purse, the handgun should be isolated in its own pocket or compartment to avoid getting anything stuck in the trigger guard. There are lots of things in a purse that could easily get stuck in a trigger guard (lipstick, mascara, keys, pens, etc.).  I am reminded of an occasion when a female acquaintance of mine discharged her pistol by pulling her car keys out of her purse.  Thinking they were ‘stuck’ she gave them a yank and was rewarded with a loud ‘BANG’.  Fortunately, no one was hurt.

Another thing to consider about concealed carry in a purse or backpack is that things like this tend to be the targets of a ‘grab and snatch’ by muggers and thieves.  You don’t want to reward their efforts with your firearm.

Many have also mentioned fanny packs as a possibility for women’s concealed carry, particularly when dressed in casual attire.  Simply understand that for many people, especially law enforcement, criminals and concealed weapons permit holders, “fanny pack=gun”.  

Another option is the Defender Gun Belt which is made of a sturdy elastic band that wraps around your waist and closes securely with discrete velcro tabs. The gun is held in place by a second section of elastic banding that is double stitched at all stress points, and there’s even space for a spare magazine.  

The Defender is worn inside the pants so that you don’t have to wear a jacket or a concealment shirt. Depending upon the shirt and slacks chosen, it will probably take a few seconds to get a gun out of the Defender.  Also, a person’s weight doesn’t seem to play as much of a role in the ability to wear the Defender.  The Defender comes in two sizes: Model 1 with a 3″ wide belt for small handguns such as the AMT Back-up (.380 and .45), Colt. 380 Government and Mustang, Para-Ordnance P-10, Taurus PT-22, PT-25, etc.; and Model 2 with a 4″ wide belt for medium to large guns such as the Para-Ordnance P-12 & 13, Taurus semi-auto PT-58, PT-908 and Taurus revolvers Model 65,66 and 85CH. 

A third concealment system to consider is the Conceal-It Secret Gunbelt, which is made of medical-grade elastic for durability and comfort and can be worn around the waist like Defender, or by adding on the included attachments, can be worn underneath a semi-loose shirt.  

The Conceal-It holds semi-automatic firearms up to a 9 mm Glock 19 and most revolvers. It’s easier to access a firearm when the Conceal-It is used as an around the waist concealment system, but in those cases where it’s worn under a shirt the seconds it takes to reach underneath it are more than made up for by the fact that you have a gun with you at all. 

The Confidant is ideal for women who live in warm climates or who are required to wear dresses in the workplace. A slightly loose style of clothing completely conceals the gun without requiring a jacket. This system could even be worn with elastic shorts and a loose T-shirt.

The Confidant is sized extra small through extra large, and makes a very small package that won’t take up a lot of room on your shelves. When selling the Confidant, advise your customers that a tighter fit is preferable to a loose one. If the Confidant is too loose, the butt of the gun tends to flop around. Of course, this can always be remedied by adding darts.

Kramer Handgun Leather also offers a holster designed for women called the Women’s Belt Scabbard. Addressing the complaint that regular holsters ride too high and place the butt of the gun in a woman’s armpit, the Women’s Belt Scabbard drops the gun slightly, placing it in a lower, more accessible position for women.

The belt slot is lined with molded plastic formed at an angle that tilts the gun butt out slightly, preventing the gun from hitting a woman’s rib cage. The gun is carried strong side in the “FBI tilt.” Kramer claims that the holster was designed exclusively for women, so much so that it does not conceal properly when worn by a man.

The Women’s Belt Scabbard comes in a variety of attractive leathers and must be worn with a stiff belt that can support the weight of a gun. There is no retention strap on this holster, as it is molded to fit a specific gun model.

Mitch Rosen of Mitch Rosen Gunleather, in Dunbarton, N.H., also offers a holster specially designed for women called the Nancy Special. Rosen’s holster was designed for his wife, Nancy, and works on the theory that a woman’s hips push the muzzle away from the body. To solve this problem, the Nancy Special rides slightly higher than regular holsters and has a slight muzzle-forward rake. This prevents the muzzle from being pushed out and helps keep the butt of the gun away from the rib cage.

This is not an exhaustive list, but should give women a few ideas to work with.  The key is to think creatively, but also stay focused on safe concealed carry.

I recently received a CCW license but am struggling to find a convenient carry method. I seldom wear a jacket and am not thrilled with an ankle holster. What option do you recommend for year-round (especially summer) carry? So far I’ve found a ‘belly band’ most comfortable. I am carrying a Kahr PM 9, if that matters. Thanks for any insight.

Erik 

Answer:

Hi Erik,

You are discovering the difficulty that comes with making every day carry of a firearm part of your routine.  You are correct, it is quite difficult to find a way of concealing a firearm without a cover garment.  

As far as suggestions go, the belly band is not a bad idea, but it is very difficult to get to quickly.  Personally, I use an inside the waistband holster with an untucked shirt.  It is consistent with the current ’style’ for men and does a nice job of concealing a small semi-auto.  

There is another device that might work well for your Kahr.  It is a rubber sleeve that has a metal clip attached that can be worn inside your waistband.  The draw is accomplished by pulling out the waistband slightly with the off-hand.  The gun rides fairly deep.  Check out www.covertcarrier.com

I’m not sure if Kahr makes a pocket clip, but that might be an alternative as well.

I’m not a fan of off-body carry (briefcase, day timer) or fanny-packs, since they scream ‘gun’.

Take a look at a good IWB holster and some minor wardrobe modifications, it might be the best compromise of speed and availability…

I am looking into getting my Concealed Carry Permit and after looking at a few guns and was wondering if you could give me your opinion on the quality and reliabilty of these guns.  I live in New Orleans and there are plenty of ranges here so the gun would be for enjoyment as well as protection. The Guns are Walther PPK Sig-Sauer P232 Baikal IJ 70 (the one I looked at was chambered with 9×18).  Thank you for taking the time to look at this.

Thanks,

Casey

Answer:

Casey,

Thanks for your question.  If you are looking for my opinion of the best overall choice of the three you mentioned, I’d go for the SIG P232.

Here is my reasoning.  In my own experience, the SIG P232 functions flawlessly, is easy to conceal, has easily available ammo and accessories and is manufactured by a well known, broadly supported manufacturer.  This means that if your gun ever needs work, you’ll have no problem finding a gunsmith that can work on it or finding parts for it.  I know at least 2 other owners of the P232 and they absolutely love their guns.  The fact that they are extremely reliable is a very important factor for concealed carry.  You want your gun to work every time.

As far as the other two you mention, the Walther PPK is a decent gun with an enduring design.  The design is fundamentally unchanged since the 1930s.  Here is my issue with the Walther PPK.  First, there are reliability issues with many Walthers.  I had a student in a recent class who experienced jam after jam.  He finally switched to a different gun to complete the course.  There are also some issues getting parts for older style Walther pistols.  It is a gun that is more popular with collectors due to its history and the association with the old ‘James Bond’ character.

The Baikal is essentially a Russian made knock off of the Walther.  Some often refer to this gun generically as a Makarov.  They are very similar pistols in many ways.  There are some differences in operational design, like the fixed barrel on the Baikal.  While I have not personally shot this gun, from the research I did it seems to have reasonable levels of reliability, at least after running a few hundred rounds through them.  It is not unusual for some guns to require a ‘break in’ of a couple of hundred rounds before they loosen up enough to be reliable.  I would suggest that any type of accessory or parts will be pretty hard to come by.  Also, the 9×18 ammo is non-standard.  I would stick with either .380 acp or 9×19.  Non-standard ammo is expensive and hard to find in some places.  That fact alone would eliminate the Baikal for me.

If you are open to looking at some  more modern designs, the Glock 19 and Springfield XD 4″ barrel in 9mm are tough to beat in terms of price, reliability and ease of operation.

I am looking for a good gun and concealment method to carry.  I currently have a Glock 22, but I think it is a bit too wide to carry comfortably (from what I hear).  I would like a Glock 26, but it is the same width of my Glock 22. Do you have any experience with a Glock 26 or similar gun, or any suggestions for a semi-auto that is comfortable to carry preferably IWB?  I need to go shoot some, but I am not sure where to start.

Thanks,

Justin 

Answer:

Justin,

Thanks for your question.  Your Glock 22 is a nice pistol.  The issue with concealed carry for a Glock 22 is the physical size of the gun, not so much the width.  Depending on your physical size, concealing a full sized Glock on your person could be difficult.

Regarding the Glock 26 for concealed carry, unless you specifically want a 9mm, I’d suggest you look at the Glock 27.  It is the same caliber as your G22, the magazines from the 22 will also work in the 27 (nice for practice), and in my opinion, you  get a little more stopping power in a .40 cal that in a 9mm.

I personally have a Glock 26 that I bought as a backup gun early on.  If I had it to do over again, I’d buy a Glock 27 instead.  Now the 26 is in my rental inventory.

To talk a little about concealed carry, I would investigate ‘inside the waistband’ carry of a 26 or 27.  You can get some nice inside the waistband holsters from either Blade Tech, Sidearmor or Galco.  The Blade Tech and Sidearmor holsters are kydex.  The one from Galco are leather.  Bear in mind that you will need to allow an additional 1.5 inches or so in your pants size.  I normally wear a size 36 waist, but for IWB carry, I wear a size 38.

If you aren’t prepared to revamp your wardrobe, you can also get outside the waistband holsters from the same manufacturers.  By the way, for civilian concealed carry, I would probably avoid any ‘retention straps’ or the like.  You just won’t need them.

Personally, I carry at the 4:30 position on my body (think of your belly button as being at the 12:00 position).  My G26 will nestle right into my back hip on the right side and with a loose shirt or t-shirt, the firearm will not be visible.  Similarly, you can wear a sweatshirt or jacket as a cover garment.

As far as the width issue that you mentioned, I personally don’t see it as an issue.  The width of the Glock is not significantly more than most other pistols in the same caliber.

If you want something that is VERY concealable, you might check out the Keltec P-3AT.  It is a 380 auto, very light weight and very tiny.  It is strictly a backup or deep concealment gun though.  If you want a real combat firearm, stick with your Glock.

Just a final comment about concealed carry, you mentioned wanting something to carry “comfortably”.  Unfortunately, concealed carry of a firearm is seldom comfortable.  I am reminded of what an instructor told me very early in my shooting career…”Concealed carry is not comfortable, but it is comforting…”

Something to think about…