Do you ever have a gun in your control area that is off body?
Safety is a must, balanced with making sure the firearm is accessible when you need it.
Your environment, situation and preferences may not be the same, so your storage conditions may be different.
If you are going to carry off-body, it requires different rules than one carried on your person.
Never allow a gun to fall into unsupervised/unqualified hands that is absolutely the most important rule.
If you are not going to be within reach of the firearm, it should be secured.
I have also developed the mindset and muscle memory to accompany my rules.
Ivan says that if you carry your gun off-body, you should do so with an empty chamber and be ready to rack the slide during the draw.
Is there a loss of time in firing the first round with the off-body mode?
Do this during your own practice sessions and/or make it a habit to attend a local club match.
I am the co-match director for a local IDPA match.
Proper training is a must, no matter how you carry your gun. And if you do carry in the off-body mode, train that way.
It may just prove to be priceless.
When It Counts
How and what you carry is a very personal choice.
My suggestion is to have an overall plan for many scenarios.
Think through and train with your plan(s).
Routinely envision What would I do if… situations.
And then you will be able to decide if off-body carry is right for you.
