● COLD WEATHER CARRY: The Fail-Safe Two Handed Draw

During the winter months Open Carry is especially advantageous over concealed carry methods because we often find ourselves wearing multiple layers of clothing. When we must conceal carry it causes issues when we only practice draws from a well-preparedw stance with best-case clothing. With constant practice, a warm-up and perfect preparation, you might be able to draw and fire one or two rounds from concealment in 1.5 seconds. This is a very good time, but few people can do it cold, on demand, even with extensive practice.

Typical range work is infrequently a reflection of reality. I am more concerned with how a person can draw in response to a threat, without a warm up, wearing what they normally wear and carrying, for instance, a bag of groceries across a parking lot. When it comes down to it, I am actually more concerned with identifying the threat at the earliest possible moment and having the will to deal with it, versus developing a good draw to get you out of a situation you could have avoided or tactically and proactively dominated beforehand.

With multiple layers of clothing that can include both pullover and open shirts and jackets, it is easy to fumble the draw. For many reasons, the first draw we teach is often the "fail safe" two-handed draw. It is not the quickest draw, but it is the most certain and adaptable, and it includes elements of other draws allowing the skill to quickly transfer.  

The draw is basically the same with appendix or hip carry. First, reach around both sides of your weapon (for hip carry as far as is comfortable) and crush grip the bottom of your clothing. The crush grip ensures even if you miss the edge of the clothing, you can still pull it out of the way. Using both hands, pull the clothing up high and use your support hand to roll or flip the clothing over. The roll or flip gets the clothing further out of the way and prevents it from slipping back down over your weapon. Your strong hand moves to grip the weapon. As soon your pistol clears the holster, your support hand can release and join in the presentation of the weapon.

Practice this draw from various "unprepared" states, e.g. standing, walking, carrying an item, and seated. Set up four cones in a rectangle in front of one or two shoot/don't shoot targets. Optionally, walk in a figure-8 around two cones or barrels. Set a timer, carry a box or bag and walk around the cones in until you hear the alarm. Drop the item, turn, move as needed to get a clear shot and engage the threat. Gradually introduce more difficulty by incorporating clutter, use of cover, additional don't shoot targets and increasing your tempo.

So practice your draw - a realistic draw based on your everyday carry and wardrobe. Remember: your ability to survive a suddenly erupting, violent encounter is -at least in part- dependent on the extent to which you commit yourself to realistic training ahead of time.