Defensive firearm course clothing

[Javi]

If you want realistic training wear what you would normally wear every day.

Don't play dress up. It's supposed to be realistic. If you dress up as "tactical Timmy" every day well then go buy more "tactical" clothing. Otherwise wear a old pair of jeans and a old shirt. Running shoes and a broad brimmed hat for sun protection.

That goes for your gear too. Carry your handgun as you normally would including extra mags.


Spend your money on ammo not clothing. Wearing "cool" looking garments will not save your life. Realistic training will.

Train like you fight. Fight like you train.

You need to dress like a full time "operator", or special secret service guy. Full cammo, facepaint, chest rig, drag bag, helmet with coms, and aerial flares.

You know, the same way you dress every day. This is especially important for a civilian arms training DEFENSIVE class.

C'mon, think about it. What do you really wear on a daily basis? Anything above, or jeans/suit pants, T-shirt/dress shirt, windbreaker/dress coat. This is a defense class, not how to take out all the bad guys like some Bruce Willis character.

Just to clairfy, I am in NO WAY trying to be tacticool. The reason I started thinking about buying pants for the class is because of their what to bring section:

What to Bring:

* Eye and ear protection.
* Plenty of fluid (i.e. water)
*
At first, I thought I should just wear jeans since that's what I wear often but also thought it was a long class and the breath-ability & dexterity would be good. I can go either way now that I figured if I bought 5.11's or something similar, I can use them for hiking frequently.

[Mute]

The BDU/"tactical" pants will come in handy in a class, because you're constantly shooting and managing your gear (especially magazines). Those extra pockets do help. However, you should do at least one of those days using your normal street clothes because if you carry a gun for SD in your everyday life, you're not going to be wearing the BDUs. You'll be wearing your normal street clothes and you should familiarize yourself with using your gear with your everyday clothes.

[PRCABR4Christ]

these are comfy, if I'm not in jeans I'm usually in these, I have a pair on right now actually...also I had a prob with 1 pair, took a picture, they sent me a new pair

http://www.lapolicegear.com/basic-operator-pant-elastic.html

I have a few pair of these as well, and they're some tough pants, just expensive

http://www.lapolicegear.com/blackhawk-tactical-pants.html

[-hanko]

The BDU/"tactical" pants will come in handy in a class, because you're constantly shooting and managing your gear (especially magazines). Those extra pockets do help. However, you should do at least one of those days using your normal street clothes because if you carry a gun for SD in your everyday life, you're not going to be wearing the BDUs. You'll be wearing your normal street clothes and you should familiarize yourself with using your gear with your everyday clothes.

/thread

Training should simulate your 'normal conditions' if at all possible..."train like you shoot; shoot like you train", etc.

An after-action report would be great.

Have fun.

-hanko

[BigDogatPlay]

If you want realistic training wear what you would normally wear every day.

Don't play dress up. It's supposed to be realistic. If you dress up as "tactical Timmy" every day well then go buy more "tactical" clothing. Otherwise wear a old pair of jeans and a old shirt. Running shoes and a broad brimmed hat for sun protection.

That goes for your gear too. Carry your handgun as you normally would including extra mags.


Spend your money on ammo not clothing. Wearing "cool" looking garments will not save your life. Realistic training will.

Train like you fight. Fight like you train.

+1000.... I always recommend to attire yourself as you would any other day of your life. A hat, knee and elbow pads are good adds for the range, but otherwise wear what you normally would.

[PRCABR4Christ]

also, make sure to pick up an actual gun belt, they're much stiffer than normal belts, and that comes in handy when looking at it in the long run...FWIW I wear one of the polymer lined instructor belts daily, and it's made to last years (I've worn it for about 2 years now and other than lint on the velcro I neglect to clean off, it looks new, and I wear a 40oz gun daily) http://www.thewilderness.com/storepi...309&parent=142

as for holsters, I feel the belt is more important than the holster, but for daily carry I wear a Mike's Special from Tim Thurner (ttgunleather.com), if I'm at a class I either go for a leather OWB (I wear a snap removable pancake from Tim, or another pancake made by a buddy of mine John Gleason, http://gleasoncustomleatherandknives.weebly.com/ , my exact holster is the one his main page on the top right), but if I was gonna go kydex, I would get a pancake from Blade Tech, they make great stuff

Also remember this...dress how you train, train how you dress...if you carry every day, train in that attire, if you don't carry daily but want to, pick a carry mode to suit your attire, I've always carried strong side anywhere from 2:30 to about 4:30 depending on my dress and gun, with the majority being at 3:30, so my mode of dress changed a tad when I started carrying (not much)

[Javi]

Also remember this...dress how you train, train how you dress...if you carry every day, train in that attire, if you don't carry daily but want to, pick a carry mode to suit your attire, I've always carried strong side anywhere from 2:30 to about 4:30 depending on my dress and gun, with the majority being at 3:30, so my mode of dress changed a tad when I started carrying (not much)

I have no clue where to stick the holster exactly aside from 3:00. I don't know the advantages having it farther back or forward, wonder if it'll be discussed during the class. I actually really like the 'Wilderness' web belts, I'd wear them casually. I would get the most use out of the belt than the other 3 (holster, mag holster, belt). I'd hope to use the holsters at Raahauges or BLM shooting. I heard good things of Blade-tech but reallllly digging Raven holsters.

[PRCABR4Christ]

Raven is another good choice, if I was to wear kydex I would go with the pancake style that rides flat

[pipboy]

Raven makes really great gear. If you decide to go with them, just make sure you get you order in early enough before your class. It will take 4-5 months from the time you place your order before you will see your holster. Like all good things, they are worth the wait.

[Javi]

Raven makes really great gear. If you decide to go with them, just make sure you get you order in early enough before your class. It will take 4-5 months from the time you place your order before you will see your holster. Like all good things, they are worth the wait.

Wow, that long? Might have to put my order in this Friday then. I was guesstimating 2-3 months at most.

[pipboy]

Wow, that long? Might have to put my order in this Friday then. I was guesstimating 2-3 months at most.

It took just over 4 months for me to receive the first one I bought last year. I ordered a 2nd one this past May and was quoted 16-18 weeks. Still patiently waiting for it...

Remember these are just estimates. Best thing to do is order and just forget about it, then a few months down the road...surprise!

Point being, give yourself enough time before you need it for your course.

[GlockBlocker]

I've taken a few of their classes, and am due for another soon. You're going to have a great time.

Don't over think it if you haven't already. Sturdy belt, decent holster, and BDUs are what I appreciated the most. Having a place to store rounds (bdu pockets) without having to go back to the benches was pretty useful.

Show up with a very clean gun. If a certain instructor is working, he'll call you out and make an example of people with even mildly dirty guns.

[DaveFJ80]

Like others said, a good belt will make a world of a difference. I've taken a pistol course at CATS before and there was some kneeling down, and the ammo in my cargo pockets actually got in the way of my knee. Instead I kept loose rounds in my hip pockets, but it was more of a pain. I'd recommend some type of pouch for your belt - I saw a couple of guys with this and it was really working well for them. The good thing about cargo pants is when you're doing a tactical reload during a moving drill, you can drop the mag into your cargo pocket pretty easily and much faster than putting it back into your mag pouch/holster.

Good shoes are also needed, and for me my running shoes were perfect and comfortable to stand on all day. The ground is flat there and you won't be doing any running, so you don't need some boots or crazy footwear setup.

If it's hot & sunny out, get something that covers the back of your neck. I saw a couple of guys with what looked like a fish-net towel, wet and rolled up covering the back of their necks. With the breeze blowing, it kept them cool kept the sun from burning them. There were people there in jeans, and they didn't have any problems. But for me, my jeans don't breath as well as my lighter fabric pants (cargo BDU's) so I was more comfortable in the hot weather in the looser & lighter pants.... just something to consider.




While Raven may make really great gear, I tried THIS GUY out and my kydex holster works out great and it literally took about a week to get from the time I paid for it. All hand made to my specifications (belt loops to fit my 1.75" belt, no cant, slightly bobbed sweatguard but cut away to clear my RMR, rounded edges, and enough clearance for my taller suppressor sights), and I paid approx $74 shipped for it.... without the light it would've been around $55 shipped. I've already used it in a FS 4-day course and it held up really well. I'd like to use it for a steel madness shoot at Raahauges.

Funny.... I thought I took pics of it but I don't have uploaded right now. I'll take some tomorrow to show you the work.

But this vendor is just a suggestion if you want something at a good price with a fast turn-around time.

[Javi]

Like others said, a good belt will make a world of a difference. I've taken a pistol course at CATS before and there was some kneeling down, and the ammo in my cargo pockets actually got in the way of my knee. Instead I kept loose rounds in my hip pockets, but it was more of a pain. I'd recommend some type of pouch for your belt - I saw a couple of guys with this and it was really working well for them. The good thing about cargo pants is when you're doing a tactical reload during a moving drill, you can drop the mag into your cargo pocket pretty easily and much faster than putting it back into your mag pouch/holster.

Good shoes are also needed, and for me my running shoes were perfect and comfortable to stand on all day. The ground is flat there and you won't be doing any running, so you don't need some boots or crazy footwear setup.

If it's hot & sunny out, get something that covers the back of your neck. I saw a couple of guys with what looked like a fish-net towel, wet and rolled up covering the back of their necks. With the breeze blowing, it kept them cool kept the sun from burning them. There were people there in jeans, and they didn't have any problems. But for me, my jeans don't breath as well as my lighter fabric pants (cargo BDU's) so I was more comfortable in the hot weather in the looser & lighter pants.... just something to consider.




While Raven may make really great gear, I tried THIS GUY out and my kydex holster works out great and it literally took about a week to get from the time I paid for it. All hand made to my specifications (belt loops to fit my 1.75" belt, no cant, slightly bobbed sweatguard but cut away to clear my RMR, rounded edges, and enough clearance for my taller suppressor sights), and I paid approx $74 shipped for it.... without the light it would've been around $55 shipped. I've already used it in a FS 4-day course and it held up really well. I'd like to use it for a steel madness shoot at Raahauges.

Funny.... I thought I took pics of it but I don't have uploaded right now. I'll take some tomorrow to show you the work.

But this vendor is just a suggestion if you want something at a good price with a fast turn-around time.

My priority will be good belt and holsters. Is the handgun course on the 25 meter lane or 50 meter side? I checked out that guy's thread, are those the only makes/models he would do them on? Mine isn't listed.

[Ricky-Ray]

My priority will be good belt and holsters. Is the handgun course on the 25 meter lane or 50 meter side? I checked out that guy's thread, are those the only makes/models he would do them on? Mine isn't listed.

You'll be doing drills and shoot and moves anywhere from as little as 3yds to 25yds or maybe just a bit further. I don't recall any shooting from 50yds in the Level I class.

Don't overthink on the gear you need. Keep it simple, as long as it's good and sturdy you should be fine. Go with what you have and afterward evaluate and see what you actually want/need.