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.

It Never Fails

I've mentioned that I bought Baby Girl as a "bra gun" for running.  My initial intent was to carry her in a Flashbang holster, but after talking to Lisa Looper from Flashbang, I decided that carrying her in a Marilyn would be a better option.  Only, they don't make a Marilyn that fits the Tomcat, so it was back to the drawing board.

As I was walking through the kitchen the other day, I saw a sticker left over from SHOT Show for Pistol Wear holsters.  They are essentially belly bands designed for working out; they're supposed to be comfortable and breathe while you're hot and sweaty and moving around.  So I thought I'd give one a try.  I ordered the PT-2 holster.  I ordered the PT-2 because it's for smaller-framed guns and the Tomcat's not exactly a big gun. It arrived two nights ago and I immediately put it on under my scrubs.  It doesn't print at all, which is a huge plus and I can tie my drawstring pants around it while still having access to the top opening if I reach under my shirt.  That was the good.  The bad is that Baby Girl is so little (she's fun-sized, like me) that she kind of slides around in the pocket and if I'd have to draw her, I might have to fish around.  I might be able to fix that issue by making a spot for her muzzle to slip in with some velcro.

Shortly after I ordered the PT-2, I read in one of my Facebook groups that one of the ladies had taken a Remora thigh holster, removed the holster from the thigh band and slipped it into her bra in the same position as the Marilyn with good success.  Remora just happens to make a holster that fits Baby Girl, so cha-ching went my debit card.  I haven't received the Remora yet, but it has shipped and I've been eagerly anticipating its arrival.  I was looking forward to having carry options for under my scrubs at work and at the gym.  I'm pretty sure that I would get some strange looks in the locker room when I changed if I have the PT-2 on, but if I can slip the Remora into my sports bra, I can "hide" it when I'm changing by simply facing the locker.

Anyway, I told you all of that so I could tell you this...

While at the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo today, I was wondering around with Jay and my parents and we stopped at my Mom's favorite saddle shop.  Hanging in a display right by the cash register was the answer to my concealed carry prayers.  A mini day pack.

Baby Girl is tucked snuggly inside

For scale - the bag isn't much bigger than my hand.

It was like the bag was made for her.

It's simply a mini day pack like you'd find at REI or any other over-priced outdoor store, but it's very roomy.  When I finally got home and spent some time looking at it, I was happy to find the soft pocket that I could slip her muzzle into and keep her from flopping around.  That main pocket is deceptively large.

There is another pocket (you can see the zipper under my thumb) which is perfect for a spare holster or to slip my CCW permit in.

If you look at the top picture, you'll see a rubber handle/loop.  That loop will fit over a saddle horn.  You know, if I ever go back to riding with a saddle.  By the handle, there are two rings to attach a strap for cross-body carry.  On the back of the pack, there is a space to feed a belt through, which is how I will typically carry it.

Dang it.  Dropped almost $100 on "real" holsters for Baby Girl, walk into a saddle shop and find the perfect solution for $20.

It never fails.

Please tell me I'm not the only one this happens to.

Introducing Baby Girl

Last year, when I was in my "I'm gonna get in shape and run" phase I began running on trails in the foothills.  The problem with that was that there are rattlesnakes in the foothills and I don't really like rattlesnakes.  So I decided a needed a bra gun and I had just the one in mind: a Beretta Bobcat in .25 cal.

I'd had a Bobcat, named "The Noisy Cricket", way back when.  However, like most of my guns from that time period, I had to sell it.  I did really love that little gun.  It went everywhere with me.  So when I needed a new bra gun, of course The Noisy Cricket was the first gun that came to mind.

However, when I went to the gun shop and had some to think about it, I decided that I would "upgrade" to the .32 cal Tomcat.  Unfortunately, I had to wait until I had an extra $465.00 to buy my new gun. Drat that whole "budget and need money to buy stuff" business.  Finally, a couple of weeks ago, I finally brought my new baby home.

I'd like to introduce you to Baby Girl...

Isn't she pretty?

She's got a couple of features that I love, love, love.

First - and simply for uniqueness' sake - I love the pop-up barrel.  This feature, as I understand it, was to make it easier for people who didn't have the hand strength to cycle a slide to chamber a round in a traditional semi-auto.

Ok, so it's not a great picture, but you get the idea.

Second, I love how easy she is to clean.  Even easier than cleaning a Glock.  Pop the barrel up, run the slide backward and pop it off.  That's it...field stripped.  Takes about three seconds.

Perhaps my favorite thing about Baby Girl is how she fits my hand.  You know how important I think gun fit is. Before deciding to go with a Tomcat, I dragged Jay all over looking for a bra gun. A lot of pocket pistols that I've handled just weren't comfortable.  There are several new-ish ones out there that are getting a lot of attention, but I don't like them.  At all. 

She feels like a "real" gun,
not like most of the pocket pistols out there.

She's not super accurate yet - we've still got to get to know each other.  She's combat accurate in that all eight shots are within an 8" x 8" area at 15 yards, but she's no tack-driver.  Since I bought her primarily as a snake gun (the slithery kind) to wear while running (stop laughing, it might happen again), she'll be perfect.

A .32 isn't exactly a self-defense round, but it is sufficient for a "get out of my face" encounter (you know, for the two-legged variety of snake).  The only problem is that ammo is so damn expensive.  $26/box of 50.  That's more than I used to pay for a box of .45!

Now that I've got my new Baby Girl, I've got to start with the holster shopping.  I've had my eye on a Marilyn from the Flashbang line, but am open to other options. Anyone have any suggestions?