Defensive Pistol with the Glock 42

Last week was the monthly Defensive Pistol match at our local range.  I thought it would be a good way to break in the Glock.  I know it's a little crazy to take a BUG to a full-on match.  Usually, we have a BUG side-match that is specially designed for mouse guns, but what fun is that?  Anyone can shoot one stage with a baby gun.

I've stated it before: I use the Defensive Pistol matches as practice time.  You just can't get the same type of practice standing at a line taking all of the time you want to take your shots.  Most ranges won't let you shoot and move, or shoot from unconventional positions.  I know some ranges that won't even let you draw from a holster.

It's a good thing that I use the matches as practice and don't worry too much about my time, because otherwise I'd be really sad that I came in dead last. :)

Mez was kind enough to bring his mouse gun to shoot the match with, too.  He's obviously got a lot more time on his gun than I do and does amazing things with his little Sig P238.

The first stage we shot was 48 rounds if you shot it clean.  I did not shoot it clean and had to have Mez follow me to reload my mags.  As a general rule, having five magazine is plenty, but in my case, five magazines only gave me 30 rounds (31 if I "cheated" and loaded one in the pipe, which I totally did).

Let's just say I got lots of mag change practice on that stage.

Overall, I'm very happy with the Glock.  It ran very well, with just a couple of exceptions.  I had some double feed issues.  Being a Glock, it was easy to take to the safe table, strip it down, clean it, and put it back together.  I'm not entirely sure that it was a dirty gun issue.  It could have been a cheap Russian ammo issue as well.  I started the day shooting Federal and didn't have a problem, but quickly ran out (remember the first stage?) and had to borrow some ammo.  I didn't have any problems with the Federal, but the gun was clean then, too.  So it could have been a one, both, or either problem.

200+ rounds downrange with just a couple of hiccups.  I'm happy.  I need to run a few hundred more rounds through it, of course, but it feels great in my hand and, hey, I cleared the Texas Star with it!

To be fair, I should mention that Mez also cleared the Texas Star with his even smaller mouse gun.  The Sig isn't much smaller than the Glock, but it is smaller.

BUG Day at the Range

Finally, Tara and I were able to get together and go to the range.  It had been weeks and I get cranky without my Tara time.

I had Baby Girl and all of her new holsters, so I wanted to try them out.  Though we didn't plan on our range time becoming BUG day, it did.  She carries a .38 revolver and Baby Girl is a .32.  Look at the size difference!

Apparently, the Beretta is more of a "micro" gun.

I started with my hidden-in-plain-sight mini day pack.  Baby Girl sits in it beautifully, and around here, no one will think twice about me carrying this on my waist.

(For the record, I *hate* having my picture taken)

The hardest part of carrying in the day pack is getting it unzipped to access the gun, but after a couple of times, it became much easier.  Jay and I talked about the zipper when I first got her and in case things get "hinky", I can just rest my hand on the bag and grasp the zipper pull.  From that point, it's no different in theory from releasing a retention strap.  Since I oriented the pack in the same place I carry my holster, the draw was easy. (Because I hate having my picture taken, I "forgot" to have Tara take pictures of the draw.)

After a few round from the day pack, I slipped the Remora into my bra, under my armpit, where the gun would rest if I had a shoulder holster.  Other than one pokey area that I'll snip and cover with moleskin, it was unbelievably comfortable.  Tara went to the car for something and I slipped Baby Girl into the holster without telling her.  I then shot her revolver, with my gun holstered, without a problem.  I wasn't sure how I would do with a gun tucked under my armpit, but it was still super comfortable.

Baby Girl tucked under my left arm.  No printing and very comfortable.

After I was done shooting Tara's gun, I told her that I had my gun holstered in my bra.  I hadn't told her to begin with, because I wanted to see if it was truly invisible and it was.

Gun?  Where?

In this shirt, though, it was nearly impossible to draw the gun quickly or comfortably.  However, my work shirts are v-necked and will be much easier to access my gun if necessary.  I also think that if I tuck the Remora into a good sports bra, I can even wear her at the gym without a problem.

The only holster we did not try out was the Pistol Wear, as it's still far too big for the gun.  I need to buy some velcro or figure out how to make a pouch to keep her from "sloshing" around in the pocket of the holster.  Once I get it modified, I think it will be a good way to carry under my work clothes, if for some reason I don't want to tuck the Remora.

Overall, I'm excited about my new carry options.  No, the Beretta's not a "big" gun, and not a typical defensive caliber, but it's an excellent "get outta my face" gun and I can carry her in "deep" concealment comfortably.

And just because I love these pictures I took of Tara, here are some gratuitous "Tara Janzen embracing her inner Skeeter Bang" pictures.