Open Carry vs. Concealed Carry in SHTF

[mhneil]

I'd like to toss this out to all of you to consider and share with members here. As a concealed carry permit holder I do carry every day for several reasons and acknowledge the tactical advantage that exists in being armed when others intent of doing harm are unaware that I am carrying. I put this question forward because I feel that in a SHTF or even just camping or hiking alone, wearing an open carry handgun is advantageous. Because I'm licensed I still have a backup concealed but my logic flow is thus:
Concealed carry- I know I'm armed and in condition yellow whereas others have no idea. As such I am more likely to be approached by a determined person or group of people looking to take advantage or create a dangerous situation (robbery, harassment, act of violence etc.). Having my concealed pistol (glock 23 or 27 depending on clothing worn) presents a tactical advantage if I can recognize a justified threat and react within the appropriate time & distance. Of course that is only if the situation justifies lethal action, but a situation could develop where I don't have the room or time to pull a concealed pistol if an encounter progressed to violence from harassment.
Open carry (where legal)- Giving up the tactical advantage by broadcasting the fact that I am armed is more than offset in my opinion, by the reduced likelihood of the same individuals instigating the same event as they see that I am armed. That would increase the likelihood that they would choose another mark and the situation never presents itself in the 1st place. I acknowledge that a minority of violent criminals may see taking me down as a challenge and that precipitates an attack but statistically I think that number would be minor compared to the deterred individuals.
Your thoughts and thank you.

[9MMare]

Completely depends on the individual situation, even within the SHTF event.

[Athanasius]

Myself..especially in bad times...

`Prefer....Concealed carry (with concealed back-up)....Like to blend in...and be left alone...If not left alone..I have the concealed back-up card....Dont trust open carry...dont want to be in "long-distance" cross-hairs or ambushed.....Im the "poor looking guy" minding his own business....yet aware.

[fisterkev]

If you can carry concealed then do it. If you are carrying open in SHTF, then you might as well break out the AR15 (or other appropriate and available "big gun" that will exponentially increase your firepower capabilities and scare/reassure the locals, depending upon the situation...)

Always choose a rifle over a pistol if you can. If you can being the key here...

[Pangea]

In anything that I would consider "SHTF", I'll be in full on web gear and open carry battle rifle and pistol. And I wont be alone, ever.

[goose3]

Originally Posted by fisterkev

If you can carry concealed then do it. If you are carrying open in SHTF, then you might as well break out the AR15 (or other appropriate and available "big gun" that will exponentially increase your firepower capabilities and scare/reassure the locals, depending upon the situation...)

Always choose a rifle over a pistol if you can. If you can being the key here...

I've never quite been comfortable with this. In close quarters, I don't think a rifle is all that desirable. It's hard to maneuver, easy to grab by others, requires two hands to effectively use.

A pistol? Can be used with one hand while the other is used to keep assailants at bay. Easy to maneuver. Harder to grab. Easier to pull away from such attempts.

No sir--unless I'm engaging someone at distance, a rifle is not, IMO, automatically the most desirable weapon, and there are many circumstances where it is not the most desirable weapon.

And if I have to engage someone at distance, I should probably be getting the heck out of dodge instead of willingly exchanging lead.

[indiandave]

As others have said it really depends on the situation. In his book "Surviving the Economic Collapse" Fernando Aquirre said carrying a weapon in the open is not a good idea. This was a book about the hyperinflation in Argentina. In this type of SHTF they still had the police but they only protected the rich. The poor and middle class had to fend for themselves. he said open carrying a gun could make you a target of criminals.

In a true EOTWAWKI situation this advice would not apply. I would not care if someone saw my gun.

[goose3]

In response to the OP, I'm going to say...it depends.

If I'm the ONLY one who is open carrying, I wonder if that makes me more potentially a target; anyone looking to clear a scene of weaopns before robbing it or worse will take me out, as an obvious threat. In that scenario, CC is a better option.

But if OC is common, then I think it may make more sense to open carry. If I'm frequenting an open air market, say, and many there open carry, then I think I'd rather open carry. If nobody else is open carrying, then CC would make more sense to me.

One other consideration: open carry potentially brings with it the possibility that others could relieve you of your weapon. How easy or hard it is for someone to simply grab your weapon would also figure into this. My favorite OC holster is the Blackhawk Serpa. It has the release tab which must be pressed to pull the weapon from the holster, a nice retention feature.

However, if I were standing next to someone with a gun in a Serpa holster, it wouldn't be that hard for me to press that tab and draw that weapon, probably faster than they could react, especially if they were distracted by something.

Food for thought.

[Old Soldier]

One of the primary rules of gunfighting; Use a handgun to get to a rifle. In a SHTF senario I want to blend in, disappear if possible, avoid confrontation and danger, but be prepared to defend myself and my family IF I have to.

To recall another of the primary rules of gunfighting; Avoid confrontation........

[tobkis]

Your environment will dictate your posture.

[mhneil]

I appreciate the feedback. I agree that a SHTF scenario was probably the wrong verbiage for my question as a carbine and extra mags WITH the pistol as a backup would be my standard as well, unless military/law enforcement would take me out as a threat. Then grey man concealed is of obvious merit. The point of never being alone is also excellent. Unfortunately what is best for urban travel versus rural & woods in less than SHTF situations is not the same. I still think be visibly armed has a deterrence factor against people even making the attempt of starting their series of events for a robbery or assault as they know it could go terminal for them. The crazies that are willing to take that risk to get a weapon were already that dangerous and wouldn't be deterred in any event. The point on weapon retention was good too. I guess your answers that "it depends" is accurate but broad.

[rokitman]

Originally Posted by goose3

I've never quite been comfortable with this. In close quarters, I don't think a rifle is all that desirable. It's hard to maneuver, easy to grab by others, requires two hands to effectively use.

A pistol? Can be used with one hand while the other is used to keep assailants at bay. Easy to maneuver. Harder to grab. Easier to pull away from such attempts.

No sir--unless I'm engaging someone at distance, a rifle is not, IMO, automatically the most desirable weapon, and there are many circumstances where it is not the most desirable weapon.

And if I have to engage someone at distance, I should probably be getting the heck out of dodge instead of willingly exchanging lead.

Yea but when you consider our military and swat teams all go in with rifles, they must feel they have more advantage than using only handguns.

[rokitman]

When the laws of survival are predominate over laws on the books then I will open carry 99% of the time. No particular reason other than I would feel more comfortable!

[Pump Handle]

Different methods for different situations, there is no absolutes

[birddog1]

Around the house and farm pre and post SHTF: Open carry is more comfortable and not a disadvantage

In public pre-SHTF: Concealed Carry

Gradual decline of law and order: Concealed Carry

TEOTWAWKI: Full web gear, rifle and pistol are the new going to town outfit

[merlinfire]

Concealed carry is almost always preferable, pre or post SHTF.

Open carry advocates state often that the sight of the openly carried firearm is a deterrent. That may be. But it is also a sign that you are carrying $400+ on your belt. As attackers will virtually always get the initial drop on you if they are attacking (pre-shtf especially. if they don't initiate the encounter you've committed a crime), you'll be forced to openly draw while already having been drawn on, and that doesn't seem tactically sound to me.

Concealed carry means he probably doesn't suspect you have a weapon. The element of surprise might still exist for you to deploy the weapon.

It's different for cops. They pretty much can draw on someone just because they think they might have a gun, or because they looked at them funny. You can't do that. As such open carry doesn't hold a lot of benefit tactically.

In a full on TEOTWAWKI scenario, everyone is a threat, and whatever lets you deploy the weapon quickest will be best. Open carry.

[TxFig]

Originally Posted by goose3

I've never quite been comfortable with this. In close quarters, I don't think a rifle is all that desirable. It's hard to maneuver, easy to grab by others, requires two hands to effectively use.

I hate to speak for FisterKev - but I'm pretty sure that the implication is that if you are open carrying a rifle, you have a pistol side arm as well.


Given that is the case, I pretty much agree with FisterKev on his reply to the OP.

[goose3]

Originally Posted by rokitman

Yea but when you consider our military and swat teams all go in with rifles, they must feel they have more advantage than using only handguns.

This is true, but the difference as I see it is I'm not clearing a room with an M4 held at shoulder height.

And unless you walk around w/ your rifle at the ready position at all times instead of slung over your back, you may well find you can never engage with it at all.

[Zulu Cowboy]

I'm a fairly big, middle-aged guy...I've got long hair and a beard. Folks say I look like one of those mutant zombie bikers. Now picture me in YOUR neighborhood, after the SHTF. I'm walking down the street in full battle rattle, carrying my AK-47 and a sidearm? Would that scenario instill in you a desire to leave me alone? Or to preemptively try and take me out?

I know that if I saw someone like I just described, coming down MY street? He would definitely draw my attention, and he'd quickly find himself in my crosshairs. I might not shoot, (depending upon his actions...), but red flags would definitely be waving!

Now picture the same scenario...although now I've just got a sidearm on my hip?

Now the same scenario...concealed carry?

See the difference?

Carrying a gun for it's intimidation factor has both advantages and disadvantages...the most glaring of which, is...it turns you into a threat that needs to be respected...and/or dealt with.


Zulu Cowboy

[George Newbill]

SHTF: concealed carry.

TEOTWAWKI: Full battle rattle.