Purse carry not that bad... [Archive]

sarah000

01-29-2012, 04:51 AM

I guess it comes down to personal preference. For me personally, I'd rather have the gun on me, not in an accessory that I have to carry. The site mentions a problem with having a holster on you and having to dig under your coat or whatever to get to it- I live in south texas, so rarely do I have a coat on. And if I DID have to wear a coat, why not just have the gun in my coat pocket? Like I said personal preference. To each his own (or in this case her own)

tv_racin_fan

01-29-2012, 05:16 AM

LOL!

That of course is true.

I also would prefer for my wife to have her handgun on her body BUT I understand how a handgun in a purse CAN be an advantage. I have mentioned it on this forum before I am pretty sure.

I think you made a good decision with the Crossbreed. As I mentioned before I have a Kholster. I am not sold on the kydex but I understand it has some advantages to a similar leather holster. One of these days I intend to purchase a Garrett industries Fusion holster or something very similar.

http://garrettindustries.mybigcommerce.com/silent-thunder-fusion/

North Star also has some very nice holsters.

http://northstarholsters.com/default.html

I really really want a couple of Andrews Custom Leather offerings. The Fire Power rig for instance. Monarch and Carjacker are others I really like.

http://www.andrewsleather.com/traditional.htm

I tried to get my wife to drop her purses and carry the Maxpedition Jumbo, even got one but she just wont listen... Is that typical of women? We have only been married 30 years...I don't understand her yet.

I have a modest collection of holsters and still when I walk out the door most times my handgun is in my pocket sans holster.

hss.strat

01-29-2012, 05:25 AM

As long as the purse is designed for concealed carry and it's secured on your person I see no disadvantage over other forms of carry. However, when you say "purse" carry that encompasses a wide range of possibilities. It takes my wife a couple minutes to find her very large key ring in there. Just dropping a nylon pouch w/ weapon into a purse is not a good option as most people recommend carrying in a way that the firearm can be drawn in less than 2 seconds. Carrying it over a single shoulder where it can become victim to a running snatch-and-grab is also a poor decision.

But if you get one of these concealed carry purses I see advertised I'd venture to say it's even better than a ccw on a belt. You can carry a larger weapon, less stress on the lower back, greater concealment, less chance of accidental exposure and it's not very conspicuous to have a woman reach for her purse where as grabbing for your waist band is universally a sign for "they got a gun!"

But that's just my 2 cents.

tv_racin_fan

01-29-2012, 05:52 AM

OOO strat you almost hit the nail on the head there.

I agree that just tossing your handgun in aint a viable answer. BUT I do not believe that many of the purses designed for carry are either.

OldLincoln

01-29-2012, 10:38 AM

Dang... There are a lot of options out there but like Sarah keeps saying you can't pick out her holster any better than choosing a pair of shoes for her. Thing is she has to be comfortable wearing it or it stays home and that's not a good idea.

I say you go Sarah, choose what you think will work and make sure they have a return policy if you just don't like it, many do. When you find that "perfect" holster faithfully wear it. I suspect you will have more than one to go with different clothes, but hope they don't fill your closet. :)

Garland

01-29-2012, 10:50 AM

I picked up one of these Galco purses for my wife. I got a good deal on a very slightly used one for $125. It is very well made and designed.

http://www.usgalco.com/HolsterPT3.asp?ProductID=1778&CatalogID=394

TriggerMan

01-29-2012, 11:24 AM

Why is purse carry not as bad as some might think? It can give a woman an advantage if done correctly.

Think about it and explain why that is."Give him an easily-strained lower back that can't take the pressure of a fanny pack or a midriff holster" . That's the best the author has?

I have no dog in this hunt, but it strikes me, despite careful reading of the link, that a purse carry is second best most of the time. The women I know do not consistently stay in control of their purses. Not even close. They are also too fashion conscious to buy a specialty purse, i.e., Coach, Louis Vitton and Channel do not make concealed carry purses.

jocko

01-29-2012, 11:59 AM

., Coach, Louis Vitton and Channel do not make concealed carry purses

NOT YET

My wife a few years back when she carried alot but today does not, used tohave a very nice (expenwsive) made all leather "carry" purse that kept the gun away from everythguing in the purse but was very fast to get to and damn hard to even find the opening. The leather sholder strap was lined with a steel band that could not be cut with a knife. It was a super carry purse and damn attractive and expensive looking,,,,but like someone did say, women tend to switch purses about like men tend to drink beer. Normally women don't set their purses around unattended either.:D

OldLincoln

01-29-2012, 01:28 PM

>> Normally women don't set their purses around unattended either. <<

Tell that to all those women in Costco and every other store I visit. I'm always telling perfect strangers "If you want to keep that purse don't leave it sitting wide open in your cart while you are 5 feet away." I get a lot of dirty looks but I don't care. I usually see them heed my advice anyway.

I have been tempted to say the same for babies but that would bring bad attention on me. I've also thought about just moving their cart a few feet down the same isle and look for the expression when it wasn't where they left it. But again bad attention.

jdlott74

01-29-2012, 02:07 PM

"Give him an easily-strained lower back that can't take the pressure of a fanny pack or a midriff holster" . That's the best the author has?

I have no dog in this hunt, but it strikes me, despite careful reading of the link, that a purse carry is second best most of the time. The women I know do not consistently stay in control of their purses. Not even close. They are also too fashion conscious to buy a specialty purse, i.e., Coach, Louis Vitton and Channel do not make concealed carry purses.

That is where you are incorrect TriggerMan. NOT ALL WOMEN are fashion conscious. I personally won't buy a purse that is NOT a concealed carry purse. I already have one CC Purse that I currently use and need to get a bigger one because my Kindle Fire won't fit in the one I have. Course, jlottmc says I keep everything but the kitchen sink in the one i have now. I'm not paying more than $80.00 on some purse. I do prefer purses, but am getting better at carrying on body. Purses are better for being able to carry when there is somewhere I can not carry and conceal very well. I do carry a lot in my purse in Wal-Mart, Costco, etc. but DO NOT walk away from it. If I am going to be walking away from it, the purse goes on my shoulder. I also keep my hand on the strap of the purse in the cart, while holding onto the handles of the shopping cart.

mightymouse

01-29-2012, 02:10 PM

I can't ever find one to match my shoes, at least not every day.
seriously, sarah000 said it well.

I would think it depends how you carry it. A snatcher would really score finding a firearm as well, but with some of the conceal rigs I've seen, a conscientious carrier could have her hand on the weapon in threatening situations with none the wiser. Another reason I like pocket carry during the winter months.

My wife leaves her purse three isles back at the grocery store, in the cart. Gets distracted easily, so this would be a really poor option for her.

CJB

01-29-2012, 02:14 PM

Why is purse carry not as bad as some might think? It can give a woman an advantage if done correctly.

Think about it and explain why that is.

The only way to do it correctly is to have a false bottom in the purse, which breaks away, such that the pistol, attached to a steel lanyard wrapped securely around the woman's torso, is retained in order to shoot the son-of-a-***** who just stole the purse.

jocko

01-29-2012, 04:43 PM

if a woman is dumb enough to leave her purse unattended, then indeed not a ccw purse for this idiot. That being said, I just don't put this lable on 90% of women. They are not stupid and I would thik fro sure if she knew she had a gun i her purse that thought of leaving it anywhere unattended is not going tohappen. My wife had a dady ccw purse that opened at thetop like normal purse but the center has a velcro open on theside that totally concealed the gun but yet u could feel aroundin he rpurse dump it upside down and never eve know there wa sa special gun pouch in it. uNFORTUNALTEY IT IS IN THE CLOSET SOMEWHERE, FOR WOMEN TEND TO CHANGE PURSE PRETTY OFTEN. This christmas I was at a b ig outlet mall and COACH has a big store there and I never seen so many women in there grabbing those damn purse and being sucked in with their discount ads of 50% off regular price than take another 25% off of that price. Hell they are over 100% over priced in the firt place, but satching these women grab a $300 purse and pay a $112 for it when it is only worth 50 bucks tops, kinda makes me chuckle

LaP

01-29-2012, 06:59 PM

I'll only speak on behalf of my wife. She doen't leave her purse unattended.Period. I know this firsthand because whenever she needs to check out something while shopping, she say's "Hey, I leaving YOU in charge of my purse."
I'm on duty until properly releaved. Nobody is getting near that shopping cart.;)

ltxi

01-29-2012, 07:39 PM

I've long man purse carried a bug on summer road trips. T-shirt, shorts, deck shoes....stop for gas, quick bite to eat, motel check-in, whatever and all needed including gun is in the small leather bag in hand when I'm out of the vehicle.

tv_racin_fan

01-29-2012, 07:58 PM

The only way to do it correctly is to have a false bottom in the purse, which breaks away, such that the pistol, attached to a steel lanyard wrapped securely around the woman's torso, is retained in order to shoot the son-of-a-***** who just stole the purse.

OOOO oh so very very close.

I aint quite ready to explain the advantage yet tho...

CJB

01-29-2012, 08:02 PM

Well there _are_ purses that allow a woman to have her hand on the pistol or revolver while she's "carrying" the purse, if thats what you mean.

tv_racin_fan

01-29-2012, 08:15 PM

Well there _are_ purses that allow a woman to have her hand on the pistol or revolver while she's "carrying" the purse, if thats what you mean.

ALL purses allow that else you can not get in it at all. AND that is the advantage a woman with a purse has over a man with an IWB holster. Having her gun in her hand while she walks nearly everywhere.

No one thinks a woman with her hand in her purse is something strange but a man with his hand in his pocket nearly all the time looks kinda strange and if he has his hand in his pants, well.....

Purse snatcher comes along and snatches that purse.. all he has done is taken the holster off your handgun and left you unencumbered to shoot his stupid tail. Those purses with the steel strap are working against you not for you. Snatcher comes up to snatch that purse he can jerk you all over the place. Cut that strap such that it comes off easily and again all he has done is taken that purse/holster off your handgun.

The carry purses with the pocket accessable from the side are not the answer either. THAT would look a bit strange, a woman with her hand stuck in the SIDE of her purse.

The advantage I speek of necessitates some changes in how you go about your daily life. For instance a mother with a small child now needs help to go shopping. Some one to either take care of the baby or the defence duties. Perhaps two or more mothers can get together and shop together for safety sake. Or one can babysit while the other shops and they can swap duties back and forth.. I prefer the two or more mothers shopping together myself but...

CJB

01-29-2012, 08:18 PM

Maybe they've got a concealed-in-the-diaper holster.....

OldLincoln

01-29-2012, 10:05 PM

Of course if you shoot a purse snatcher you go to jail. It's difficult to establish that he meant you hark when he was in full flight 10 feet away from you.

Thing is can you or her draw and shoot your gun in the time to save your life. The well known psyc process of denial (can't believe this is happening" alone will take enough time off your clock to get you. The gun is good for when your spidey sense tingles and you can prepare, or are jumped and you are reacting if you get the chance.

They are illegal in CA but I do wish I could carry a forearm based weapon.

tv_racin_fan

01-30-2012, 06:04 PM

Of course if you shoot a purse snatcher you go to jail. It's difficult to establish that he meant you hark when he was in full flight 10 feet away from you.

I do believe this is different for each state. Some states seem to require that you leave you own home if at all possible even should bad guy be armed and mean you harm while others it seems allow you to defend property. Not so long ago a man in Texas went out and defended neighbors property even after 911 operator told him not to. Responding officer backed man up on his story and he got no charge after shooting bad guy in the back, defending someone elses property.

Thing is can you or her draw and shoot your gun in the time to save your life. The well known psyc process of denial (can't believe this is happening" alone will take enough time off your clock to get you. The gun is good for when your spidey sense tingles and you can prepare, or are jumped and you are reacting if you get the chance.

Which is exactly why a woman who purse carries and who has her hand already on her handgun has an advantage. It requires some changes in how one goes about their daily lives.

They are illegal in CA but I do wish I could carry a forearm based weapon.

When facing a bad guy with a knife who is within 21 feet one had best resign themself to getting cut at least once before stopping said bad guy.

ltxi

01-30-2012, 07:17 PM

Certain only if you just stand there with your mouth hanging open before reacting properly.

sarah000

01-30-2012, 07:32 PM

Certain only if you just stand there with your mouth hanging open before reacting properly.
Exactly, it's all about accessibility and reaction time

Bawanna

01-30-2012, 07:38 PM

That's where a nice leather purse would really shine. Take the knife thrust/cut in the purse and head shoot the dirt bag with the other hand.
I just love a happy ending.

tv_racin_fan

01-30-2012, 08:38 PM

that's where a nice leather purse would really shine. Take the knife thrust/cut in the purse and head shoot the dirt bag with the other hand.
I just love a happy ending.

indeed sir indeed!

sarah000

02-01-2012, 11:38 PM

I'd like to see a man carrying a purse with a built in holster.. Murse holster :)
I guess I'm biased when it comes to purses.. some people are obsessed with shoes, some with clothes, I'm obsessed with purses.. I'm always looking for the "perfect" one. I doubt I'd be able to settle for a matronly holster purse.. But that's just my opinion:)

tv_racin_fan

02-02-2012, 02:35 AM

Sigh.. you don't need a matronly holster purse.

IF your handgun will fit in the purse you intend to carry it should be a simple matter to fit a crossbreed Ohai type holster in it such that the handgun is secure and always exactly in the same place.

http://www.crossbreedholsters.com/OhaiModular/tabid/100/List/0/ProductID/10/CategoryID/4/Level/1/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName,ProductName

IF your handgun wont fit then either you need a smaller handgun or a larger purse or you need to figure a different method of carry.

AS I tried to point out purse carry isn't as bad as some want to make it out to be. BUT that all supposes you secure your handgun in your purse so that it aint floppin all over and getting covered up by the other gear in your purse.

I haven't carried my MURSE yet, but then I also haven't modified the Kholsters I bought for it either.

http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/JUMBO-VERSIPACK-4p6.htm

Method of carry is always a personal choice and envolves compromises.