Guns have been a big part of human history ever since they were invented back in the 10th century. The idea was to have the upper hand over the enemy in the war.
However, they are becoming more popular over time as a means of self-defense and games. But they are just as lethal as they ever were, if not more. In order to avoid unexpected accidents, you need to know how to carry a gun safely.
We, humans, have a long history of warfare. And thus, guns have been put in right use for centuries. That is to murder people. But the dark days are well behind us.
Nowadays, people use guns mostly for hunting, games, and for self-defense. At the same time, thanks to modern technologies, guns have become more deadly. Thus caution while carrying a gun is more of a requirement than anything.
In this article, we will go through the proper and safest way of carrying a gun both while out in the open hunting, as well as in public. We will also discuss In detail a couple of common gun types.
Different Types Of Commonly Used Guns
Depending on the purpose, you will need different types of guns with you. For example, carrying a pistol for hunting is mostly redundant, while having a rifle in the middle of a city for self-defense is pointless. Rather than protecting you, the gun will promote you as the first target to take out.
First things first, If you want to carry a gun, regardless of the intention, you have to have a license for carrying a firearm, and the firearm has to be legit and legal. Otherwise, it will get you in trouble rather than saving you.
Now, based on size, power, range, and accuracy, I will categorize guns into three main groups. They are –
Pistols And Handguns
Pistols, handguns, and other smaller pocket-sized firearms have more or less the same carrying method. They are small, lightweight, and can easily be hidden in the pocket or under the shirts. They also have a shorter range, making them the perfect weapon of choice for self-defense.
- Waistband Holsters
To carry a handgun, waistband holsters are pretty much your best option. You can try ankle carry or shoulder carries, but they are either too slow or too obvious. Thus, waistband holsters are the quickest and safest way to carry a pistol. You can make a leather holster on your own by following some easy steps.
If your location/authority allows, you can follow outside the waistband carry. In this case, the holster will be attached to the waistband, and it will be on the outside.
This way, the gun will be easily accessible from the outside, and you can hide the holster under the shirts pretty easily. This method is one of the fastest, but at the same time, if the gun is not well hidden, it loses its value.
Otherwise, if you do get the permission to carry a gun, but not the permission for outside carry, then you can always switch to carry with an inside the waistband concealed carry. The only difference is that you will have to get the appropriate holster for this and position the holster inside your belt.
Other options include –
- Ankle Carry
Here, you need to get an ankle carry holster and position the gun near the ankle. This way, the gun is positioned beside your ankle. It is an out-of-the-ordinary place to carry a gun, where no one will expect it, especially the shop robbers, who are always in a hurry.
It is slightly slower to pull out the gun but safer. The downside is you pretty much have to rely on a small gun. Bigger ones will be too obvious.
- Shoulder Carry
For shoulder carrying a handgun, get a shoulder holster. They are not very expensive to buy, and you can easily hide one, or even two, under your shirt, jacket, or any other outfit.
The drawback is that it is slow to pull the gun out from here, which is kind of a big deal, to be honest.
Rifles And Shotguns
Rifles and shotguns are not the recommended tools for self-defense or even carrying around inside the city. They act like a beacon, which never fails to attract a lot of attention. These guns are mostly used for hunting or other similar sports.
These firearms are big and bulky, and you cannot really hide them very well unless you are carrying a foldable rifle. But that’s a different thing. For the most part, if you are carrying your average rifles and shotguns, you should follow one of the following carrying methods to ensure safety for yourself as well as the people around you.
When You Are In A Team
When you are in a team, you will have a team member or more to be careful about. Trust me; it is more than possible to hold your gun loosely while loaded and cocked while hunting and then accidentally drop your guns or even slip yourself.
This can lead to a misfire that aimed at one of your crewmates. Hence, there are a few popular carrying methods used worldwide. Such as-
- The Sling Carry Method
Use a rifle sling to carry the rifle. Place the sling on your shoulder. The rifle goes on the back. This way, you won’t fatigue out your hands. Oh! Hold on to the sling to prevent slipping.
- The Trail Carry Method
In this method, Put the rifle between your arm and your body. Squish the handle with the arm and hold the upper part by hand. You are holding the rifle in one hand but still not carrying the full weight.
- The Shoulder Carry Method
Rest the rifle on the shoulder and balance the firearm by a hand on the grip. Remember to keep your finger off the trigger and on the outside of the trigger guard. It’s a good way to carry your rifle if others are not behind you.
- Two-Handed or Ready Carry
In this method, the gun is held by both hands in front of the body with the barrel facing up. The trigger finger is outside of the trigger guard. You do this when you are stalking the prey and might need to act rapidly.
All these methods have two things in common. First, the muzzle is never facing any part of your body or any of your crewmates’ body. Second, your trigger finger will always be outside the trigger guard.
When You Are Alone
When you are alone and have no one else around to worry about, you get a lot more flexibility and freedom in terms of carrying a rifle. Pretty much the same methods apply when you are hunting alone, with the added benefits of not having to worry about someone else.
Conclusion
Be smart, play safe. If you are underage, then don’t try to carry a gun. Follow the rule of carrying a firearm properly. A gun is not for fun; a single accident can cause a huge consequence.
Other than that, You don’t have to worry too much; just be sure to enroll in gun handling and safety training courses and understand the laws in your state. Remember to follow the laws.
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