EDC Pocket Dump- Part 2

A few weeks ago we took a look at one of our Co-Founder Alan’s EDC pocket dump. For those who may have missed that post, a pocket dump is a trend amongst firearms-related communities where folks share pictures of the items they carry on an everyday basis. To be honest, these can be quite funny at times, as people will portray themselves carrying a little more than an infantry unit on a deployment. Like Alan said a few weeks ago, we’re trying to focus on things that make us Better Protectors, so you won’t be seeing my key fob or phone here either.

Now it’s time to look at David’s choices. First, I will cover the bare essentials. These are the things I hardly leave the house without. I’ll sum it up with some other options and alternatives that may get added or traded out in my EDC as the situation dictates.

Firearm

Many times the centerpiece of these EDC pocket dumps is the firearm. I carry a Glock 43x, currently with a Crimson Trace RAD MICRO red dot sight which is currently riding on a Palmetto State Armory Dagger Micro slide. After a couple hundred rounds, I’ve seen no issue with this upgrade and it was an excellent way for me to start transitioning away from being Gun Amish.

I carry a 15-round Shield Arms magazine, because why wouldn’t you want to carry five extra rounds? We’ll cover my reload(s) in a bit.

Internally, my Glock is stock other than the Shield Arms magazine catch, which is required with their magazines, as the metal Shield mags can damage the original magazine catch and I had the trigger replaced with the Vickers Tactical TangoDown Carry Trigger. This was honestly a personal/comfort preference. The trigger doesn’t change anything other than the feel of the trigger, nothing changes as far as the trigger length of pull or weight. 

Ammo

Most of my carry ammo is Winchester Defenders. I couldn’t even tell you the grain, as I bought them in bulk years ago, and I’ve since lost all the original boxes. I would guess they are somewhere between 115-grain and 124-grain. I’ve had enough of these rounds that I’ve fired plenty through each of my carry pistols in the past and have had no issues running them. I also got a deal on some of Grind Hard’s Xtreme Defense rounds. I’ve tested some of these through a couple of my firearms, but I don’t carry them on a regular basis.

I’ve evolved in my carry gun and do carry some others occasionally. I started off with a Kel-Tec PF9, which I still say would be in my lineup today if someone didn’t offer me $500 on a range in California. Some honorable mentions would be the M&P Shield (both 1 and 2.0), M&P 9 2.0 Compact and Sig M11-A1. 

Reload

Regardless of what’s in my holster, I always carry at least one spare magazine. Carrying 30+ rounds may seem excessive, but one of the most common malfunctions with semi-automatic pistols has to do with the magazine. For my Glock 43x, I carry a Shield Arm magazine with a +5 extension. 

As far as the way I carry it, although I also like the Pitbull UTC, I ended up using another universal magazine carrier, and I won’t lie, I don’t remember where I got it from. If my memory serves me correctly, it was an add-on to an order to get a free shipping deal. It sat in my bin of miscellaneous firearm accessories until I changed my carry setup and needed a separate inside-the-waistband (IWB) mag carrier.

Holster

Alan said it best when he said “If you’re carrying a gun, it MUST be in a holster that covers the trigger guard. No exceptions.” If you need further evidence as to why it is a MUST and not a suggestion, stop by one of our Stop the Bleed classes, as we have a real-life example we like to show. 

I’ve had great success with holsters from TXC Holsters. Pictured is their X1 Holster, which is designed for inside the waistband carry in the appendix position. I’ve purchased and have carried these for multiple guns as well as their light-bearing option, the Beacon. For some time, I also carried my M&P 9 in their version of a sidecar holster, the Ally.

Much like firearms, I’ve had my fair share of holsters. I’ve found great success with most kydex holsters. Like Alan, I also have a Tier 1 Concealed holster. Some other holsters I’ve used and occasionally will blow the dust off of are We The People holsters as well as a few Alien Gear holsters. It takes some time to find a secure and comfortable holster, but it is worth the time and money to have the confidence that your firearm is secured, comfortable and concealed well.

Knives

I carry two knives as well. The folding knife is a Ka-Bar Mark 98 Folder. I found this knife, again, as an add-on to an order and fell in love with it. I bought this knife as a gift, I thought I lost it for about a week and immediately went out and bought another and was elated when my wife found my original. If I’m not carrying my Ka-Bar, you’ll find me with a Cold Steel American Lawman in my pocket. The reason I chose these knives is not only do they fulfill any day-to-day need for a blade, they would easily fill the role as a defensive weapon.

The second blade is from CRKT called the S.P.E.W. (Small Pocket Everyday Wharncliffe). I attached a clip in order to carry it IWB on the opposite side as my gun. This knife has one purpose, and it is to poke holes to make distance and get to my primary weapon. 

Pen

Whether I’m doing one of the lost arts, like writing a check or addressing an envelope, or I can’t get to or carry a knife, I pretty much will always have a tactical pen like the one from Warrior Poet Society on me.

Light

Alan covered the weapon-mounted light (WML) vs. handheld light debate pretty well. I’m on the same page as him. I have carried both, but usually with a specific purpose. If I know I will be carrying during hours of darkness in more of an official role, then I will consider sizing up my gun to include a WML. 

I’ve carried a lot of flashlights, either as a prepared civilian, or operating in a military capacity. From Streamlight to Surefire and Fenix to Nitecore, I’ve carried them all. What I’ve found is that the name isn’t always worth the price. For a long time, I carried the Olight MR2 Pro with excellent success. The problem I started running into is that in some of my shorts pockets, the light was just a bit too big. I recently started carrying a light from LA Police Gear. I was looking for a light that was greater than 900 lumens on the tactical setting that would fit better in my pocket. LAPG offered an affordable option for this. I like the Olight and this LAPG because they both offer a lower lumen option when you aren’t trying to light up the world looking for the car keys you dropped.

Medical

It may be a surprise to those who know me, but I don’t always have a full trauma kit on me every waking moment. Normally I always carry a SOFTT-Wide tourniquet, as it can be folded down relatively flat and carries well in my back pocket. I do have a few trauma kits that I’ll be sure to have in my vehicle or closer if I deem it necessary. I usually will throw a pair of nitrile gloves in a pocket and a package of compressed gauze depending on the availability of space in my pockets.

Alternatives/Options

Medical: When I wear pants, I typically have more medical equipment on me. This is because I can carry it in an ankle kit, like the one pictured from Dark Angel Medical. In this compact kit, there is another SOFTT-Wide tourniquet, small trauma shears, a pair of chest seals, a mini compression bandage, and nitrile gloves.

In the picture above you’ll see the Olight MR2 Pro. I keep this in rotation, as it does provide a little more output. I will be sure to carry this in places where a firearm or knife is unauthorized, as it has a relatively aggressive strike bevel and can supplement as a defensive impact weapon. 

Below that is an alternative to carrying a blade. This is a G10 “knife” from Black Triangle. G10 is a non-metallic and extremely strong composite. These knives are a great tool to carry when a traditional defense tool isn’t an option.

The last item in the photo is yet another spare mag. I like the ol’ adage, “Two is one and one is none,” and this goes for magazines. If I carry a tertiary mag, it is typically in a pocket by way of a NeoMag.

The Wrap Up

At the end of the day, what this post is about is what I chose to carry and why. This is what works for me in my current season. As I mentioned above, my EDC has evolved over the years and I’m sure it will evolve with the times. I encourage you not to look at Alan or my EDC and copy and paste it into your life. Look at what we carry, but most importantly the reasons behind it, and apply some of that logic to the items you choose to carry.

What do you carry with you when you leave the house and why? Let us know in the comments below.