And yet, another vest-related post

[kirch]

During my conversation with the folks at GT Distributors regarding my zylon vest replacement, I mentioned that I would like to go back to a vest with a chest trauma plate pocket that's big enough to be modified so I can once again carry my back-up gun in that location.

The GT rep advised me that this carry option was a fairly common and that they strongly advised against it. In his opinion, a gun carried in this position could be struck by a bullet which could cause vest failure. The way he explained it, a sharp shard of the firearm could slice the ballistic armor panel and cause significant damage to the wearer. This is the first I've heard of this.

I was really looking forward to going back to that carry option, as it put the gun in an easily accessible location, it was virtually undetectable and I could get at it with either hand.

Any thoughts?

[e-man]

Hey KIRCH, I for one never carried a BUG. But it is important. I did see guys in my old place wear one in a small holster and put the vest straps throguh the holster loops and jsut push the BUG all the way to the side of the vest. Kinda near the armpit. Dont know if that helps. Maybe the guys were using a small velcro holster or a ankle type but it was on the vest but NOT in the trauma plate area.

[kirch]

Hey KIRCH, I for one never carried a BUG. But it is important. I did see guys in my old place wear one in a small holster and put the vest straps throguh the holster loops and jsut push the BUG all the way to the side of the vest. Kinda near the armpit. Dont know if that helps. Maybe the guys were using a small velcro holster or a ankle type but it was on the vest but NOT in the trauma plate area.

That's exactly what I'm using now. Uncle Mike's makes an inexpensive vest holster designed for this. There are several reasons I prefer the chest carry option I devised with my previous vest:

1. It's tough to get at a backup gun in this position. You either have to unbutton or rip open your shirt (unless you have velcro or a zipper front) and stick your hand all the way in to your side. When the gun was secured on my chest all I had to do was undo/rip open 1 button and I had easy access to it.

2. It's not ambidextrous. I currently keep the vest holster secured to the straps on my left side. I can more easily reach it with my right hand. It's virtually impossible to get to it with my left hand unless I nearly take my shirt all the way off.

3. My gun is more susceptible to corrosion in this position. Situated basically in my armpit, the gun is kept in a jungle-like environment for the duration of my shift. On my chest the BUG was exposed to far less humidity/moisture.

4. I can have the gun secured in the holster or ready for a quick deployment, but not both. The Uncle Mike's holster comes with an adustable velcro retention strap. It's necessary to keep the strap secured so the BUG doesn't fall out of the holster (trust me, I speak from experience -- I learned this when I bent over to help a drunk stand up and my BUG fell out loose into my shirt. I had to hold the gun to my belly until I could get back to my squad car and 'readjust'). Yet with the strap in place, it slows down your ability to draw. My old method secured the top and side of the square-shaped trauma plate pocket with velcro. I could just grab the corner, pull down, and the BUG was exposed. Plus, I had the velcro arranged in such a fashion that, even if my flap was fully open, it only exposed the handle. That way, the gun stayed in place even if the flap was down.