Click here to download the catalog as a PDF file. To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. RANGING SHOTS • HEIDI & CLINT SMITH • GIRL STUFF You guys might learn something, too. his month’s column is a joint effort like the rest of our lives T together. Heidi carries a gun every day and although I am sure lots of women also carry daily, I also believe many women who could often do not, when they probably should. I carry a gun every day and have done so for about 40 years and I see no reason to change now. — Clint About gun selection, we are not going can often truly be a pain in the butt, hip to argue this point much as our minds and leg. We agree, “If it is comfortable, are made up for the most part. We will you’ll carry it more.” say if you use the gun to defend yourself Under the “carry it more and creative or your family, the ranges will probably platform,” John Ralston is one of our be short or modest at best, unfortunately. favorite holster makers because his We think if the gun is deployed it had skill and flexibility help us solve new or better do as good a job as it possibly difficult problems. Under the banner of can and better be as effective as it can, 5 Shot Leather, he does his work across caliber and function wise. the spectrum of revolvers and pistols for Clint is pointedly called out by others open or concealed carry, with his strong for his dislike of the small autos and suit being concealed gear, in our limited small calibers, but in his defense, when opinions. — Clint & Heidi we see these small guns really shot much The 5 Shot leather inserts are made volume-wise at the for a cross section of school, they usually gear from butt packs crap out or flat fall to shoulder-acrossapart. In the caliber the-body packs to the category, placement is original purse-type rig probably as significant for ladies. The inserts as diameter, so the are custom made to shots need to be well address your bag placed. size, use, access and Mostly, the people angle of carry. The who carry these guns solid backing holds do not practice as much the selected holster as they should, making securely anchored these selections often Theseinsertsworkineverythingfrom and the design assures more poor than usual. pursestopacks.They’reversatile,and the insert stays seated Also we do note and arecustombuilttofitthedimensionsof while the draw stroke understand the gun yourpreferredcarrybag. is implemented. I don’t with you is better than often carry a purse the one at home in the and Clint doesn’t use safe … most of the time. man bags, but for my bag, the inserts One last point, just because a lot of work well; although I’m not much the goofy peewee gun things are sold into carrying the gun other than on my doesn’t mean we would bet your lives on person. — Heidi them … or ours. The gun company’s and Girls have the hip thing going, and the gun store’s job is to sell you a gun. rolls around the middle for guys create We doubt they will come to your funeral some odd angle holster issues. Ralston’s if the gun fails. — Clint & Heidi angle changes on the inside-theOften, whether or not people carry a waistband holsters made a difference in gun is often resolved or settled by the Heidi’s ability to carry a full-size pistol issue of comfort. The gun is supposed concealed. Angles set up for a muzzleto be comforting not comfortable, but forward-rake carry forward of the hip, the point here is carrying a gun daily but the more conventional muzzle-back14 InsideWaistBandandafullsize5"lesBaerand agirl.Onenicethingaboutstrapsratherthan snaps,theholsterstaysput. behind-the-hip carry is her preference and it prints less for her under a shirt or jacket. The holsters use permanent belt slides instead of snaps, which some prefer. One thing about it, if the holster in anchored on the belt in this slide fashion, something like a car wreck is going to be required for her to lose the gun from the holster or the holster from the belt. — Clint Ankle The ankle holsters are a favorite of mine and Clint likes them because I put it on everyday and carry it everywhere. Still only a .38 Special, I upgrade the gun by the use of CorBon Pow’er Ball or DPX in +P loadings. Loaded in Smith & Wesson 342s set up with Crimson Trace Laser stocks, the guns are always there for me in the car or in the office. The ammo gives the caliber an upgrade and the stocks with a rubber overmold help tame the recoil of the hotter ammo. The extra ammunition supply is resolved by using a TUFF QuickStrip and we kind of sprinkle them all around the car, house and coat pockets. Ankle guns do require more WWW.GUNSMAGAZINE.COM • DECEMBER 2009