If you’re looking for the best way to concealed carry your custom pistol, there’s no short and easy answer. The concealed carry position you choose needs to match your tactical needs, comfort preferences, body, and day-to-day activities. Too many gun owners have been left disappointed after dropping a sizable chunk of their hard-earned money on a rig that leaves them frustrated, uncomfortable, or tactically vulnerable because it was easier to leave the darn thing at home. With a little consideration, you can find a carry style that you barely feel while keeping yourself and your loved ones protected.
Primary Concealed Carry Considerations
Before you can determine the best way to carry a concealed weapon, you need to understand the lifestyle factors you currently face. Not every rig is right for all gun owners. That’s why there are so many options on the market and why you may be confused when the rig your buddy swears by doesn’t fit you like a glove. Here are the factors that contribute to finding your perfect concealed carry position.
- Tactical Needs – If there’s one consideration that trumps all others, this may be it, but the caveat is that many of the other factors feed into this single fact: the best concealed carry rig for you is the one that makes it most likely you’ll be able to deploy and use your weapon effectively in a self-defense situation. Think about what real-world threats you’re likely to face and ensure the rig you choose is ready for them.
- Daily Activities – What is your average day like? Sitting behind a computer is very different than working in a field, and there’s a lot of middle ground between the two. Your concealed carry rig has to let you go about your everyday life. Otherwise, it won’t stay concealed or you won’t be carrying for long.
- Concealability – The best way to carry a concealed weapon is to use your gun, rig, body, and clothing to minimize the risk of your firearm being spotted. This retains the tactical advantage of carrying concealed and helps avoid misunderstandings that draw attention. Even with the most discreet rigs, clothing should be cut a little larger to aid this factor.
- Natural Posture -The first body consideration when carrying is how you hold yourself. A natural slouch might leave some positions more prone to printing through clothing or inhibit a clean draw. If you think you can correct your posture habits to fit a certain rig, do the work first. Remember that under stress, we all tend to revert to instinctual habits until training has become that habit.
- Arm Length – The length of your shooting arm can affect where you can carry. If you can’t reach your gun and secure a proper one-handed grip immediately on draw, then you’re bringing an unsupported and unstable weapon into the mix.
- Weight – There’s no delicate way to put this. If you’re overweight, your concealed carry position options may be limited. The best concealed carry position for you may not be the one you envisioned, but rather the one that best allows you to functionally use your weapon. Depending on how your weight is carried, that may mean avoiding front carry that could be blocked by your stomach or a position that forces you to reach across your body further than comfort allows.
Concealed Carry Position Types
Before we look at position options for the best way to concealed carry, you need to understand the basic types of concealed carry. In general, they will fall into these four types:
- Outside the Waistband (OWB) – While better known for its open-carry use, OWB is viable for concealed carry in some positions with the right clothing. The holster is mounted on your clothing’s waistband or a belt for stable, secure carrying.
- Inside the Waistband (IWB) – While similarly supported by the waistband or belt, IWB rigs position the gun inside your garment for more discreet carry.
- Off the Waist – Off-the-waist concealed carrying positions are usually specialized for specific purposes. They may be the best way to concealed carry for your tactical considerations, gun size, or body, or just to allow a second weapon to be carried without interfering with the first.
- Off the Body – This concealed carry style moves the holster (yes, you still need a holster to secure and protect your firearm) off your body and into a controlled position within easy reach if the need arises.
The Most Popular Concealed Carry Positions
Now it’s time to find the best way to concealed carry for your needs. These are some of the most popular positions to carry a concealed weapon and a few reasons why, but this list should not be considered the be-all, end-all. The position you choose would suit your individual needs first and foremost.
- Hip – Popular for both IWB and OWB, the hip position puts the gun in easy reach for almost any body type, allows the fall of your arms to hide and protect it naturally, and offers easy concealment while keeping it rapidly deployable. This time-tested position sets the bar by which all others are judged. The major drawbacks are that this position is easily fouled by cars and office chairs, and as the standard, it is one of the positions a threat will expect to see printing.
- Appendix – This polarizing concealed carry position places the holster just off your front midline on the strong side of your body. That means it’s pointed at some pretty major organs, and some body types may find it hard to draw or uncomfortable to sit or move with. If it is comfortable, however, the gun is well-placed for its protection in the holster and for rapid presentation toward a threat.
- Small of the Back – The small of the back offers a natural curve for concealing a firearm under the fall of a T-shirt, vest, or jacket. Holsters are available in perpendicular styles that allow for a strong or offhand draw, as well as canted styles that make your strong-hand draw more comfortable for quicker presentation. This may not be the best way to concealed carry for individuals who have trouble reaching the small of their back, and since it’s behind you, the weapon is less protected than some other styles. This position can also lead to back issues if you’re going to be sitting on your gun all day.
- Kidney – If you have shorter arms or a larger body that makes back carry impractical, kidney carry may be an option. This concealed carry position moves the gun closer to your hip, roughly in line with your strong-side kidney. It offers good concealability under loose clothing and reduces the travel needed for presentation when compared to a middle-back holster. You still need to keep your head on a swivel since the weapon isn’t within your arm’s front arc, and it has the dual drawbacks of potentially still causing back discomfort while being impractical to use in a seated position.
- Cross Body – The last wasit-supported concealed carry position we’ll discuss, this might be the best way to concealed carry if you’re stuck in a chair or car seat all day. Approximately mirroring appendix carry, but with the holster canted to allow for strong-side draw from a weak-side positioned holster, deployment is quick and smooth even in the limited space afforded by a steering wheel in front of you. The canted holster makes it more comfortable to sit with and positions it for easy protection, but care should be taken to find clothing that conceals the weapon while allowing for draw freedom.
- Shoulder Carry – Long the chosen rig of Hollywood spies and G-men, shoulder carry really only works under jackets and coats cut large enough for a clean draw but tight enough not to flop open with every gust of wind. The gun stays protected, nestled under the pit of your arm, which can aid in concealment but also may put it out of reach for larger individuals.
- Ankle Holster – This popular backup-gun position puts a small-frame revolver, pistol, or derringer under your trouser leg. While well concealed, there’s no quick or unobtrusive way to draw this gun under most circumstances.
- Pocket – Another popular carry style for extra-compact pistols, pocket holsters keep your gun and its trigger protected in your pocket. Depending on the design and your positioning, this may not provide a rapid draw, but larger pockets offer excellent concealment potential.
- Purse Carry – Purse carry is a popular choice for female gun owners, but its bag/briefcase counterpart is also gaining traction. You can discreetly carry almost any pistol size without worrying about weight or discomfort from sitting on your gun. Keep your bag secured and practice your draw regularly for safety’s sake. From holsters designed for this concealed carry position to specially designed bags and purses with built-in options, executives and soccer moms alike are choosing this as the best way to concealed carry for their lifestyle.
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