The Anatomy of Holstering

Let’s talk about why it’s important not to put bullets in ourselves, and why ANY carry position can be dangerous if you’re not being intentional with your muzzle.

Here I’ve mocked up some diagrams of myself showing where my femoral arteries are. These are not perfect diagrams, but they’re close, and they at least give you an idea as to what is going on inside. Putting a bullet through your leg and severing the femoral artery can cause unconsciousness in as little at 9 seconds and complete blood loss in as little as 3 minutes. THIS right here is why you should be carrying AT LEAST a tourniquet on you at all times. You are you’re own first responder.

The amount of times I’ve heard someone say, “That’s why I carry strongside, because if I shoot myself then it’ll just be another hole in my butt.” That’s stupid. You can shoot your femoral artery (and/or your iliac) from that position as well, and because it is generally more difficult to holster in that position you are more likely to flag yourself at a harsher angle, thus sending the bullet through important organs.

The lesson here is: Don’t point your gun at yourself, or anyone else. We have been over this, I know, I sound like a broken record, but I want you to HEAR this if nothing else. Don’t point a gun at yourself or your friends. Holstering is one of the most dangerous things we do on a daily basis. Pay attention to where your muzzle is pointed.

If you want to know more about what parts of the body are key to the defensive use of firearms, I learned a lot from @sagedynamics critical anatomy videos.