You’ve decided to defend yourself and your loved ones by carrying a concealed handgun. Congratulations on taking responsibility for your safety!
Carrying a gun is a huge responsibility, and if you’re new to it, it can be a bit overwhelming. No worries, though! We’ve put together a list of a few tips and tricks that will hopefully benefit new carriers and experienced ones as well. I don’t claim to be a guru on the topic, but I’ve been carrying a handgun both on and off duty since 1990. Along the way, I’ve picked up a couple of tips that were often learned the hard way, while others were gained by opening my ears and my mind to the advice of others.
Without further delay, let’s get into the meat and potatoes of our discussion today.
Choose a Quality Handgun
This probably goes without saying, but you should plan to get the best handgun that you can afford, whether it’s a pistol or a revolver. Reading up on the subject is a good place to begin, as there are no small number of articles on the topic of quality handguns written by qualified folks who enjoy firearms.
Reliability, accuracy, and comfort are all factors that should be considered. Price often becomes a consideration as well. Fortunately, many of the best concealed carry handguns are priced competitively, and a decent handgun can be found for around $500. If you shop diligently, the price can be well below $500 or even $400.
A great place to start is with some of Glock’s offerings, such as the Model 19 or 43X. The Springfield Armory Hellcat is also a solid choice, as is the Sig Sauer P365 pistol. I currently carry the P365 as my daily concealed handgun and really like it a lot.
If possible, go to a range that rents firearms and try out a few pistols before making your choice so that you can experience what they feel like when shooting and you can see their various attributes in person.
Select Quality Defensive Ammunition
Select quality defensive ammunition for carry, and run a good amount of it through your pistol before trusting it to be reliable in your pistol. Brands such as Speer, Hornady, Federal, and Nosler all offer excellent choices for defensive ammunition. Don’t skimp in this department.
Invest in a Quality Holster
A holster is another piece of gear that you should not skimp on. I know many people who will plunk down over $500 on a pistol and then get a bargain basement, floppy, nylon holster that costs $9.95. Such holsters are garbage in that they’re ill-fitting and offer zero support to the handgun.
Spend a little money and thank me later on. The adage, “Buy once, cry once” really applies here. A quality holster will safely and securely hold your firearm in place, which is important. A firearm that falls out of the holster is a deadly disaster waiting to happen; at the very least, it’s embarrassing. At worst, it could cost your life or get you in legal trouble. It’s not worth the drama!
Lately, I have almost exclusively used holsters from DeSantis Gunhide. They’re well made, last a very long time, and don’t cost an arm and a leg.
Purchase a Quality Belt
A quality belt is as important as a holster. Relying on a thin dress belt will not give you the support that you need to comfortably and safely carry your handgun and holster. The belt needs to be stiff enough to support the weight and distribute it around the waist.
Wilderness Outfitters has some good belts. Lately, I’ve been wearing a leather one from 1791 Gunleather, and it’s working perfectly. It’s thick, stiff, and durable, which are the qualities that I look for. Again, you’ll have to spend a few dollars, but it’s well worth it in the end. I’m not talking hundreds of dollars; a decent belt can set you back less than $60.
Other Considerations
Get Some Training
Seek out qualified people in your area and take a few classes. Start with the basics and then go to more advanced skills. Safety should be taught first, and then more advanced gun handling. The training should include your state’s laws on the Use Of Force so you don’t run afoul of the law.
Know Your State and Local Laws
Make absolutely certain that you know the circumstances in which you can legally deploy deadly force in your state of carry. Failing to do so could land you a lengthy prison term. I’ve been to prison (I worked there), and it’s not a pleasant place to be.
Understand Carry Positions
There are two main choices for carrying a handgun: inside the Waistband (IWB) or outside the Waistband (OWB). Ankle Carry and Shoulder Holsters are other options, but they are less popular for a number of reasons.
I prefer the Appendix Inside the Waistband (AIWB) position, as it gives me fast access to my weapon, conceals very well, and aids in weapon retention. Plus, I can draw very quickly from this position and use minimal arm movements, so bad guys are less likely to notice me performing a draw.
I have also carried an OWB holster just behind my right hip. On duty, I carried on the right hip (I’m right-handed) in a retention holster. Because the handgun and holster are on the outside, they’re a little more difficult to conceal when carried this way.
Aside from those methods, I do have an ankle holster for my revolver, but I almost never carry it on the ankle because it’s cumbersome to draw from, although it conceals the weapon very well. I also have a shoulder holster that I use when wearing a suit because it makes my handgun easier to conceal.
I don’t recommend carrying in the Small of the Back (SOB) because I’ve seen handguns fall out when people rose from a sitting position. Also, when the person bends forward, the handgun can print plainly. And if the wearer is ever knocked down on his back, it’s difficult to draw the pistol.
Avoid Open Carry
The only time I carry openly is if there are no other people around, such as in the woods, at the range, or other secluded area. Aside from that, my handgun stays concealed and the only inkling that anyone will have that I’m armed will be if I am forced to draw the weapon.
Tactically, concealed carry is the way to go because if no one else knows you’re carrying, they will not be tempted to try to grab the weapon and disarm you. Out of sight, out of mind is the name of the game here.
During a robbery, if the felon(s) realizes you are armed, you’ll very likely be the first one to be shot. Concealed carry puts surprise on your side, right where you want it to be.
Take care that your cover garment does not stretch over the handgun, which outlines it on the garment. This is called “printing” and tells the whole world that you’re carrying a weapon. This especially becomes an issue if you have to bend over and the garment stretches tight to your body.
Don’t Touch!
Don’t touch or fidget with your holstered handgun while carrying it. Doing so will draw attention to the fact that you’re carrying a weapon, which is not what you want.
We can tell when criminals are armed because they have a propensity to constantly touch the weapon, making sure it’s still there. In fact, most people who carry a weapon will repeatedly touch it. For some reason, this seems to be human nature.
Use the KISS Principle
Adhere to the KISS principle of “Keep It Simple, Stupid!” Once they discover that you’re carrying, gun-savvy friends are likely to accost you in an effort to get you to overhaul your carry pistol. Some will insist that you “need” a new trigger, as the one from the factory won’t be good enough for you (no matter what they claim, the trigger is probably fine). You’ll be told that you need a light, laser, or red dot sight. Others will suggest a new barrel or fancy guide rods, among other things.
Pump the brakes, and don’t give in to the pressure. Chances are, your handgun is good to go as it is from the factory. First, go through some training and then put some time in on the range to get comfortable before you go bolting on every available accessory. That will give you time to get a feel for what works and what is unnecessary fluff.
Some of those additions are okay for certain firearms uses, but a defensive pistol should be relatively stock. Keep in mind that realistic defensive shootings occur mostly within three yards, are over within three seconds, and expend less than three rounds. It’s the 3-3-3 Rule. It’s pretty rare that anyone will need to engage attackers beyond about 15 yards, and even that is stretching it.
In Conclusion
As we can see, carrying a firearm is far more in-depth than just going to the gun store and buying a handgun. It’s multi-faceted, involving mental aspects such as training. Equipment aspects, such as the belt, holster, and, naturally, the firearm, are vital. The rest is up to us, as we need to get training and then carry on that training.
Carrying a concealed weapon is a huge responsibility, but it’s important not to become overwhelmed. Take it slowly at first, and bring yourself up to speed as your skills grow.
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