After several years of practicing, I’ve finally came to the realization that there is no way that I’ll be able to knock down a threat with my 380 before it closes the distance on me. Truth be known, a threat wouldn’t really have to break a sweat getting to me as it takes that damn long to pull the pistol from my pocket, focus on the sights, and gain a sight picture with a Ruger LCP. The sights are tiny and the length of the pistol is minuscule. I had accepted that everyday my carry was only good for distances within the reach of bad breath.
To improve my speed, I’ve gone to 6+1 (carry with one in the chamber). Pretty dangerous for a weapon with no external safety. Theoretically the ‘safety’ is provided by the cloth holster it comes with: you cannot pull the trigger through the cloth.
As bad as it is/was there is no way I would consider a concealed carry that is any heavier or larger. That old sag about a concealed carry being no good unless you carry it still holds true.
Now it came to pass, after these several years, the holster had all but given up the ghost. I went online to see what was available and how many kidneys I was going to need to give up and I was surprised to find that every mom and pop outfit on the mainland of China produces holsters for a LCP and about half of them produce holsters for LCPs outfitted with laser optics.
Laser optics for a LCP? I had no idea. Laser optics that are available for under a hundred dollars and weighing in at less than 8/10th of an once? I’m all in.
For the holster I chose one that’s ‘convertible’ and can be used either as pocket carry holster or a ‘Inside the Waist Band’ (IWB) holster. made by DOTM (stands for Don’t Tread On Me) Pocket/IWB Holster. 20 Bucks.
The holster comes with two retainer clips that change the height of the carry along the waist or it can be quickly removed for pocket carry. It weighs in at a little more than an once.
I see some more ‘range time’ in my future, lets see if I can get the time to engage a target down to something I can measure with a watch (vice a calendar).