08/15/2026
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This is a reprint from an old write up on the The “Why” of Pocket Carry. For our new followers, a big part of what we do is an actual explanation of why we promote certain concepts and put them into a context that is experienced based rather than theory based.
The “Why” of Pocket Carry
One of the carry methods that I have adopted extensively since retiring from law enforcement in 2007 and moving to life as basically a simple citizen trying to avoid being a crime victim—or working sensitive security jobs—is pocket carry of snub revolvers as my base of concealed carry. I start with those little lightweight snub revolvers and add larger guns to that based on conditions. So, I was asked by a peer from the LE training world to explain the “why” behind this philosophy. The why is pretty simple.
As anyone who has ever trained with me knows, I am a huge advocate of the use of a hard Low Ready position for dealing with threats. I have over four decades of professionally making difficult force decisions in a highly litigious environment on a very regular basis. This included making numerous force decisions daily with a gun in my hand while a full time LE officer.
I have found, in my time dealing with force problems in multiple capacities—as a full-time police officer, full-time professional executive protection officer, and working high-threat security—that a hard Low Ready gave me a very advantageous position. I could make force decisions with a firearm gripped in an efficient, proper grip and set for a rapid, simple, straight-line movement into the eye line if lethal force was needed, yet without violation of a single safety rule.
This is a process that is important to me, yet lost on much of the internet that is all about “shooting.” I have had thousands of people in front of the gun; only a couple required shooting. To me, domination of the force problem is far more important than shooting. If shooting is required, I also want to have gained as much information as possible to articulate that lethal force was legal, moral, and ethically right, without a firearm in my line of vision or violation of safety rules if I am wrong.
So that sets up my personal thoughts on extensive use of a solid Low Ready. If you do things differently, I honestly do not care, nor will you convince me to change the way I do things. Save it for a gun forum and FB group pi***ng contests and click bait.
When I retired from law enforcement with a ton of injuries, my life changed a lot. Being a widowed dad to a young daughter brought about a lot of mindset changes. I began to always have a small snub revolver in my pocket. I was not daily engaged professionally in the looking-for-trouble business. I was now in the getting-out-of-trouble business. That was both protecting my family personally and protecting clients professionally.
The pocket snub gives me the ability to confront threats exactly in the manner I have found success with as a police officer—you just cannot see it.
By gripping a small snub in my pocket at signs of trouble (the key is being able to see it well before it happens), I am essentially in a “Covered Low Ready.” I use this term when teaching this concept. I am absolutely ready to go to lethal force efficiently if needed, yet am not violating any safety rules nor brandishing a firearm.
I have had great success with this in multiple situations that diffused themselves without a shot fired. It is not theory. I personally know this works and how it works. It has drawbacks that need to be trained through and understood. The advantage for me is that I have a real sub-one-second draw to a shot without ever displaying a firearm, assuming a range posture, or doing something that requires both hands to do efficiently.
I cannot emphasize enough that I can set up for deployment without a threatening posture, panicking the public, or doing something where I am committing a crime I need to justify, like brandishing or assault with a firearm.
If you do not understand what constitutes brandishing or assault, I highly recommend reading statutes, jury instructions, and having a deep understanding of the subsections of the statutes that justify commission of these crimes. Obviously, avoiding these issues altogether as an armed citizen, security professional, or law enforcement officer is optimal—and optimal is the goal.
If a situation degrades or immediate response is needed, I can still go to either a “go-to-trouble gun” if my pocket gun is a secondary, or use a traditional Low Ready or direct force if that is required.
The Covered Low Ready is a solid option for typical situations faced by people in today’s world: countering a robbery, dealing with suspicious individuals, or dealing with strangers violating social norms or your personal space. Most of those individuals who partake in those activities will also realize exactly what is happening, and I have found they will seek easier prey, which is a win.
This is simply the “why” of the Covered Low Ready.
There is a lot of nuance and context involving firearm, holster, clothing, and environmental concerns, issues, and other factors that go along with it. Hopefully, this explanation of the “why” will help people understand why I teach this methodology and why I have spent so much time developing curriculum and training on this particular concept.
Stay Safe -DB
DB’s Shooting Adventures is a page dedicated to educational and historic documentation only. Fi****ms are NEVER For Sale. We do not sell ANYTHING. We simply provide information for our followers about various shooting and hunting related topics.
