I'm not much of a gun person so I thought I'd check in with the folks at LRC. I have been thinking of packing a gun for some of my longer runs through town or in the mountains where there are animals. It would need to be a relatively light weapon that I could carry on my hip or shoulder holster. Are there any handguns suitable for running? Thanks in advance.
sawn off shotgun of cause
Ruger LCP or LCP II in 380 auto caliber, 10.6 ounces unloaded. Very small. Very flat. It can easily fit into a ziploc bag or stretchy waist belt for runners.
You will need a permit to carry. Check the laws in your state. Go to a gun store, describe why you want a gun, and ask for recommendations. Most of the 9mm start around 18 ounces unloaded, even the small ones... plus, 9mm ammo is heavier than 380 Auto. That's too much to carry comfortably except in a backpack.
Carrying on the hip or a with a shoulder holster is impractical. You could carry the Ruger LCP or a light 9mm in the front chest pocket of some running vests. Look at the Sig Sauer P365 if you want 9mm and don't mind carrying an 18-ounce gun. It will probably weigh around 23 ounces when loaded.
Open carry on the hip or shoulder would frighten civilians and eventually you'd have to explain yourself to a cop. That could be very dicey. You could get shot. Concealed carry is the way to go.
Having said all that, you say, "I'm not much of a gun person." If you're not willing to take the training, get a permit, and learn safety protocols, don't carry a gun. It's a huge responsibility. Your running shoes are your best defense even if you're carrying.
Right now my go-to guns and gear are a G19 in a fanny pack, a G42 in a Dark Star Gear clip AIWB holster, or a J frame/LCR in a cheap clip on Uncle Mike's IWB. All of them work with shorts.
When I'm on my bike, I carry an LCP in some sort of pocket holster (don't remember the brand) in my right rear jersey pocket.
Kel-Tec P32. .32ACP in a super light and compact form factor. Very reliable and inexpensive. Hard to find new at the moment due to Kel-Tec putting production resources into newer, more profitable firearms.
S&W model 29, 8.5", .44 mag
Ah ah, I know what you're thinking...was that 6 shots or only 5?
What animals you want to shoot, Squirrels?
A.dude wrote:
Right now my go-to guns and gear are a G19 in a fanny pack, a G42 in a Dark Star Gear clip AIWB holster, or a J frame/LCR in a cheap clip on Uncle Mike's IWB. All of them work with shorts.
When I'm on my bike, I carry an LCP in some sort of pocket holster (don't remember the brand) in my right rear jersey pocket.
A cyclist with a gun? What could possibly go wrong?
Just to amend my previous post, I'd recommend the Ruger LCP and not the LCP II. The LCP II has a lighter trigger pull. The longer, harder pull of the LCP would be safer to carry while running since the gun probably won't be inside a holster. It'll be inside a stretching waist running belt in the iPhone pocket.
I would not recommend a Glock to a novice. The trigger pull is too light and could catch on keys or a gel pack as you're drawing the weapon. Glocks should only be carried in holsters that cover the trigger.
The Kel-Tecs are finicky. I've had the P32 and one of my EDCs is the Kel-Tec P3AT (380 Auto). They are prone to jamming until you learn the proper grip.
Other guns to consider are the Kahr PM9, Sig Sauer P938, P365, and the Taurus G2c.
A.dude wrote:
Right now my go-to guns and gear are a G19 in a fanny pack, a G42 in a Dark Star Gear clip AIWB holster, or a J frame/LCR in a cheap clip on Uncle Mike's IWB. All of them work with shorts.
When I'm on my bike, I carry an LCP in some sort of pocket holster (don't remember the brand) in my right rear jersey pocket.
While riding, why don't you carry a S&W snub-nose bicycle revolver?
Here's a thread I started 2 years ago on this topic. It should have won thread of the year IMHO.
Wouldn't a 32-cal. starter pistol be most appropriate for a runner?
I am a gun guy. My suggestion: don’t bring a gun on your run. It’s pointless if you are a dude.
There is basically zero motivation for anyone to attack a dude on a run. You don’t have anything of value to anyone when you are alone in a run. And unless you are in prison, dudes don’t get raped. Are there exceptions, sure, but you don’t make decisions based on rare exceptions. If you did you would never leave your house. (Also, you don’t need to use deadly force against two dudes in a pickup who throw an empty water bottle at you and call you Gump, if that’s what you are thinking).
With respect to trail running, the odds of needing to defend yourself against an animal is also close to zero unless you are in the mountains of Montana or Alaska or something like that. And then, the gun you actually need to defend against a griz would be very cumbersome for a run. For the record, mountain trail running in my thing.
You don't need a firearm for that situation stop living in fear.
Anything powerful enough to need a gun you'd be better off with bear spray anyways.
Sorry to disappoint but you are going to go through your life without a substantial dangerous animal encounter in the mountains.
A loose dog perhaps, but way less likely in the mountains. And in that case I'd still rec pepper spray of some sort.
Renewed Marathoner wrote:
You don't need a firearm for that situation stop living in fear.
Anything powerful enough to need a gun you'd be better off with bear spray anyways.
Sorry to disappoint but you are going to go through your life without a substantial dangerous animal encounter in the mountains.
A loose dog perhaps, but way less likely in the mountains. And in that case I'd still rec pepper spray of some sort.
I bring a gun when I go camping. Easy to do. Not much of a burden at all. bears are attracted to food. That’s why you are required to either hang your food or put it in a bear canister . They require those thing for a reason.
That said, on a run, there is very little motivation or probability of a bear coming at you. And carrying a gun on a run kind of defeats some of the best aspects of running: simplicity and freedom. Leave your literal and figurative baggage behind. Flowing freely, etc.
Stop living in fear and get out and enjoy your life. No one is going to attack you.
Vineyard Vines wrote:
Stop living in fear and get out and enjoy your life. No one is going to attack you.
Not on a run.
With camping sure I personally don't bring a gun but I understand why people would.
And yeah other bear precautions are good idea too ofc.
Actually for bears, spray is a better deterrent. Just fyi. If you're willing to pack a gun to protect yourself against bears I would rec have the spray be your first option. Bears can survive a shot and still do enough damage to kill you. Spray is more likely to keep them off you. Wider dispersant too.
Renewed Marathoner wrote:
With camping sure I personally don't bring a gun but I understand why people would.
And yeah other bear precautions are good idea too ofc.
Actually for bears, spray is a better deterrent. Just fyi. If you're willing to pack a gun to protect yourself against bears I would rec have the spray be your first option. Bears can survive a shot and still do enough damage to kill you. Spray is more likely to keep them off you. Wider dispersant too.
I disagree with that concept that spray is better. I think that’s a myth that people just say.
The sound alone of a gun can deter bears. To say nothing of the high speed projectile slamming into his face. We’re talking deterrence. Not hunting and killing. Bears often if not usually run away when people yell and clap.
Either way, a bear attack is super unlikely. You are going to be fine with nothing, spray or a pistol.
I’m a D2 female runner. Our coach explicitly told us not to visit LetsRun forums.
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