A Cautionary Tale; please consider-

[Burnston]

Note up front; my son was not harmed, and I was not seriously harmed in this unexpected encounter. Please consider the following a cautionary word based on an unexpected and unfortunate experience; not a measuring stick for machismo. 

My father recently gifted me an heirloom quality Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44 mag once owned by several long gone family members, wrapped in a delightfully tooled Safariland #43. Many of you will know that this holster features a snap, (important note.) This is a break from my typical rig, that being a Tom Threepersons with a hammer thong. While I typically shy away from change for change's sake, I strapped this rig to my belt for a walk through the woods with my three year old son, after putting about 200 rounds through it to get the feel for things. 

Being the proud owner of a "big-boy" battery powered tractor equipped with trailer, my good son rode through the woods about twenty yards ahead of my while I followed, enjoying watching him have a good time. Spending my life on various ranches and outdoor settings, I naturally make careful effort to be hyper vigilant while outside the house, especially with my son. This habit allowed me to see a black and white critter from a good distance away as it rapidly approached my boy. The sound of the tractor kept me from hearing what turned out to be an aggressive pitt bull crashing through the leaves and branches at a good clip. Naturally I took to a good run while attempting to draw my pistol, my son being completely oblivious while he enjoyed his ride. 

I felt my heart in my throat for the split second it took me to realize I was using my thumb to look for a hammer thong that was not there, instead of un-snapping my revolver. That split second was vital, as the dog closed the distance with shocking efficiency. We made it to the boy at about the same time and I was able to offer him my left arm in lieu of his primary target, my revolver still securely holstered. I was able to bear hug him, dislodge the Black Hawk and secure the dog at a safe angle while I irreversibly dispatched him. My denim/horse blanket jacket saved my arm to a large degree, the only result of this madness being intense bruising. No lacerations or blood loss. My son had forgotten about the whole ordeal by the time we made it home, though his recounting of the event will no doubt surface at the next church potluck on the third Sunday of the month. 

The dog was a very well built, healthy weight animal, leading me to believe he has a home. Bearing no collar, it has bee a chore tracking down the owner thus far. However, this is but a slight bump in the road towards the inevitable. 

Please take the following with the spirit it is indented, as my negligence almost cost me a great deal. 

1. The "concealed carry culture" aficionados who have their Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc. guns/rigs are, in my opinion, short-sighted at best, bordering on foolish. If one is prone towards change for change's sake, might I suggest at the very least utilizing the same carry system for your various guns. While I am under no illusions in comparing this experience to an active shooter scenario, I cannot help but feel that the fundamentals to getting one's firearm into action are universal when doing so under intense pressure and adrenaline. 

2. Consistency is key to efficiency. Though it is impossible to say with certainty, I feel that I could have taken this dog on the run when I first saw him had I been carrying my usual m21 in its usual trimmings. The tiny detail of hammer thong v. snap is a world of difference when you have one and are expecting/experienced in the other. 

3. Watchful does not mean irrationally paranoid. It only takes a moment to ruin your life. Best to maintain awareness and "risk" being called overly cautious. 

Please pardon the soap box. I do not intend to take away from the lessons of those whose experience far exceeds my own. That said, please take this for what it is worth; that is my own limited but extreme (in this case) encounter.

[Encore64]

I've shot two dogs in my life. One, of which, was a Pit Bull.

It chased me into my house twice. The first time the dog had the good sense to leave. The second time, it didn't. Needless to say, round three never materialized.

Kudos on eliminating one more...

[bushog]

Glad you and your son are ok…..glad you had a revolver with you.

I’ve had too many bad experiences with pit bulls. Folks who have them say “they’re the sweetest dogs” ….until they’re not.

[rexster]

Important lesson. Very instructive. There is nothing wrong with having a collection of handguns, but, that does not mean that we should “rotate” through that collection, for daily carry. Holsters are similar, in that we can collect them, no problem, but, retention systems that require differing methods to release them can interrupt what we may desperately have to do.

I have yet to adopt your familiar hammer thong loop, but one advantage it has, is that it can be set to yield to a really determined upward pull, yet be plenty firm enough to keep the weapon from bouncing or falling from the holster. The strap-with-a-snap, as you experienced in your incident, can totally interdict a draw attempt, until one remembers to give it some slack, and then pop the snap. As much as I like the look this Geo. Lawrence-style strap with a snap, with the extra length added, as recommended by Elmer Keith, I will not use such a holster, for a primary carry gun, because I have no experience using it, whereas I did have to hard-wire my brain and nervous system to use three different types of holster retention, during almost 34 years of having to use specified duty holsters.

I praise the Lord for the positive outcome.

[Big Bore]

Mercy. Glad you and your boy are ok and you were able to dispatch the dog. That could have been so much worse. Your precautionary points are noted.

[bigbrowndog]

Dogs on their own or in packs are not the same animal that we know as pets. The breed is irrelevant, I’ve had pit cross, labs, shepherds, big 80# mutt dogs, and small 35# dogs of all sorts of breeds become emboldened when they thought they had an advantage. Being armed and able caused no physical harm to me. Spending time out on various ranches I see a lot of dogs roaming, typically if they are chasing game or livestock they get eliminated. I had a small pack follow me down into a small creek bottom one evening, I’d seen them the day before and asked the ranch owner if they were his. He replied No, but asked me not to shoot them, so I didn’t, until they followed me down into the creek bottom and became aggressive. All four remained in the creek bottom, as I walked out at dark. An excellent lesson in the effectiveness of Federal FliteControl buckshot at close range to 50 yards from a Benelli M1.

Well done Burnston, and glad you and your son are well, vigilance, ability and willingness to act saved the day.

Trapr

[bradshaw]

Benjamin.... yes, a cautionary tale. Probably belongs in the Lounge section.

Those who live with one sidearm don’t have to learn the drill, unless they use more than one carry. I lived that luxurious life some years ago, or nearly so, when I lived with a 6-1/2” M-29, and later a 4-inch 29 which doubled for urban carry.

I’ve put relatively little mileage on thumb-strapped leather. Most of my hides work on friction or a thumb-break. I would take a thumb strap over the old time hammer loop, just because the thumb strap is faster. Little as I like doctrine, it has its place, and mine is to identify a gun, by touch intuiting its carry options. To live with individual guns and their carry modes inculcates familiarization.

Bill Jordan had a hammer strap on his S.D. Myers holster, two snaps on a long strap. Jordan normally kept the strap snapped around the front of his holster, not over the hammer. When he had to get athletic, he strapped down the hammer. One night, as I drove through a west Texas town, headed east from a silhouette match, I watched two cops stride from their patrol car to road house. They wore Jordan-style holsters, the hammer strap hanging loose. This shows they don’t want anyone within arm’s length. Out there in the sticks, you are your own backup. This carry wouldn't work in New York, where issue carry was a cheap leather with flat spring around cylinder that swallowed a S&W Model 10 or Ruger Speed-Six.

One freezing cold day I offered my left forearm to a lunging German Shephard. Night before, 20 below ZERO, two Shepherds had got into a pen and stripped sheets of hide off two large pigs. My late shooting partner, Ed Verge, had been called to put the two hogs out of their misery, which he did with his M-57 8-3/8” .41 Mag, loaded with the old Hornady 210 JHP. Now the morning after, we had to deal with the dogs. Upon our encounter, one Shepherd took a flying leap at me. Like you, I raised my left forearm to shield face & neck. Fang chomping above my wrist. Layers of warm clothing----longhandles, flannel shirt, sweater, insulated canvas coat----cushioned my arm against Fang’s canine vise.

Drawing World War I Colt 1911 from a 1916 Boyd flap holster... resting pistol muzzle on bridge of dog’s nose, between the eyes, barrel angled above my arm... Lower angle slightly... our eyes are locked... BOOM!... 230 grain GI Hardball intersects dog brain. Reflexibve crimp of dog’s jaw drops me to my knees.

Saving your son from hideous harm while taking a graduate degree in fulmination.
David Bradshaw

[bigbore5]

Most people don't know one bully breed from another. They may resemble each other, but bullys are very different breed to breed, just as are all dog breeds.

My American Bully XL for instance is a sub-breed called a blue pit, even though it's not actually a pit. She truly is the most lovable and devoted family dog. Note I said family. She doesn't welcome strangers until she is told to.This breed is an intelligent strain and was started as companion dogs.

True pit bull terrier strains were originated as sport fighters. It's literally in their blood. I just don't trust pit bull terrier strains. No matter how it was raised, a Lab will go fetch and a pointer will point.

I'm glad your encounter ended well for you and your son. Just remember that not all Bullys are Pits, despite the looks

[nicholst55]

I recently began volunteering at the local county animal shelter. I would guesstimate that probably 60-75% of the dogs residing there at any given time are pit bull mixes of some variety. Some of those dogs seem like the sweetest, most friendly dogs that you can imagine. I don't trust any of them, though, and wouldn't consider bringing one home.

[hunter966]

Dang, sure glad that your boy and you came out on the good end. I hate it when dogs are on the prowl especially those bigger breeds.

Glad it ended well for both of ya’ll.

[hunter01]

Very impressive display of foresight and fortitude on all counts. Id say a job well done.

[seminolewind]

Thankful for the outcome. Appreciative of the reminder how fragile normal can be. As a grandfather who takes his little ones for woods walks, I'll remember this post for a long time.

[Fowler]

A couple years back I was at a baseball game of my oldest son and was chasing a foul ball back in the parking lot. The ball bounced in the bed of a truck and I looked all over for the damn ball, the bed was full of crap as the trucks owner was clearly a cement contractor of some sort. I looked in the bed of the truck pretty close figuring the ball was trapped in there somewhere.

Anyways come around the front of the truck only to be knocked on my butt by a 90lb pitbull. He snapped at my arm that was thrown up to protect my face. He rolled off of me and I was fortunate on he second pass I was able to kick him directly in the snout with my heal and the dogs owner grabbed him right at that moment. He yelled at me about trying to steal from his truck, I explained the situation and as I did I spotted the ball. Being a school zone I had left my carry gun in the car and explained to the guy the only reason his dog was alive was this fact.

It certainly opened my eyes to how fast things can go south. My little P365 that I was appendix carrying would have been perfect (honestly not that I would have time to have drawn it until I kicked him in his snout).

That said all of my holsters are snap style holster or just strapless retention like the Hank Sloan style holsters. I often carry different guns depending on my mood but they are always on the right hip or appendix carried so getting whatever gun I am carrying is used the same way.

YMMV

Brunston I am pleased you and your boy are alright, lessons in life get taught in many ways, some unfortunately are harder than others.

[needsmostuff]

Dog but not a gun.
Once upon a time in my working life I was carrying an old school 28" fiberglass extension ladder (Heavy sucker probably 70 LBS and 15 foot collapsed.) in a utility easement thru tall grass and bushes. Because of the obstructions I was carrying it horizontally shoulder high and steering it thru the bushes. Coming head on toward me 50 feet away is a guy walking his large German Shepard who apparently unleashed it in the easement. Dog locks eyes with me and busts into full run attack mode. I've got this ladder on my shoulder so I can't run, I can't turn I can't evade. But, as the dog begins to leap at me I simply dropped the ladder on him. Bam ! This dude looked like the coyote under the big rock after the roadrunner dropped it, just 4 legs sticking out in all directions and not moving.
I gave him a few minutes while I got my big claw hammer out of my work belt then lifted the ladder off. He simply staggered around in some circles looking kind of silly then staggered back where he came from. Now the owner NEVER said a word but put the leash back on and left.
I figured there would be reports and questions waiting when I got back to the office but never heard a word.
Moral of story , Stuff happens so quick all plans go right out the window. You just do what you can do.

[rangersedge]

Great job protecting your son. Glad you're both ok.

Oversaw animal control for many years. Took possession of a pit bull shortly after it killed an elderly woman. Dog had been family pet and had never been aggressive. Broke his chain and killed her that day though. I don't trust pits at all.

Also, a point well made. I transitioned from a Glock to a 1911 for a while. Always a little nervous whether I had done enough repetitions to make swiping off that safety automatic. When those crucial instants happen, your reaction needs to be automatic.