Concealed Carry Corner: Deciding The Best Carry Position
Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we talked about the best size for a concealed-carry gun. If you missed that article, please click the link here to check it out. This week, I wanted to look at some of the different carry positions and what may be the best position for you. There are several carry positions and each has its specific benefits depending on what you do most. Let’s take a closer look at deciding the best carry position.
Inside The Waistband – Strong Side
One of the most common ways to conceal a firearm is by carrying it inside the waistband. When it comes to overall concealment and comfort, IWB (inside the waistband) holsters have a great way of combining comfort with a high level of concealability. Regardless of your body type, carrying a concealed handgun on your strong side hip in an IWB holster is a safe bet to confidently conceal a firearm. IWB holsters can be used just with a single large clip in the middle, dual clips for added stability, or a combination of a single large clip with a claw attachment. The claw attachment can help assist concealability by pushing the pack section of your waistband out so your gun doesn’t print as much around the frame.
Some people love the claw feature while others like our very own James Reeves absolutely despise it. Some prefer a simple holster while others like attachments to help them with concealing. For bigger guys, this is much easier to conceal than other methods like appendix carrying because of their body style. Depending on your build, carrying with an IWB holster strong side will allow you to carry larger mid or full-size firearms with no extra effort. It may be something to get used to at first, but IWB holsters are some of the best ways to conceal a handgun while remaining comfortable.
Appendix Carry
One of the newest carry methods is carrying up front on your waistline which is also known as appendix carrying. Appendix carrying started becoming popular as more people realized how fast it was to draw a pistol from concealment from the front. As long as you have space to draw and present your firearm, it is significantly faster than strong-side carrying on the hip or other options like pocket carry. There’s a famous scene from Miami Vice where a hitman draws from an appendix holster and shoots two targets incredibly quickly. This technique was around even before the 1980’s but has gained popularity.
Over the last decade, there has been huge interest in appendix carry since most people can easily conceal a firearm and draw from concealment faster than other styles of carrying. Although appendix carrying can be incredibly fast when the carrier has enough space to draw, if an attacker is close to you and is attacking from the front, it can be tricky to draw when they are easily able to grab your firearm or arms. This is where strong side carry can be better as you can turn and draw without being in direct view. It’s certainly something to keep in mind when it comes to limitations of carry styles, but if you’re an athletic or skinny individual who wants to carry a handgun, appendix carry can be a fantastic option to carry your firearm.
Pocket Carry
By far one of the easiest ways to throw a gun in your pocket and go on with your day. There’s no need to worry about printing while you carry or being uncomfortable after carrying for a long period. It’s by far the least intrusive when it comes to planning an outfit or what you want to do while carrying. Pocket carrying is about as close to phoning it in and doing the bare minimum to be armed. It’s by far the easiest way to start carrying.
When deciding to carry a handgun in your pocket, it’s important to only use your pocket to carry your handgun Your gun pocket is for carrying your handgun and that’s it, nothing else should be included with your gun. The big downside when it comes to carrying in your pocket is the size restrictions. For most pockets, you can only fit a single stack like a Glock 43, Smith & Wesson Shield, or Kahr Arms PM9. Even guns like the Glock 43X or SIG P365 are slightly too large for some pockets so it’s important to be mindful of the size restrictions when deciding to pocket carry.
Shoulder Holsters
The last common style of carry would be the shoulder holster. This style of carry is nice if you wear loose outer layer shirts or you’re going on long road trips where you’re primarily sitting rather than walking around. The shoulder holster allows you to carry larger framed firearms easily if you have a longer-fitting cover garment like a lightweight cover shirt or even a light jacket. It does require a fairly loose cover garment but it works well for some people who want something to protect themselves but don’t like a holster in their waistband.
If you happen to dress in a suit or professionally, the shoulder holster can be a much more comfortable option than trying to conceal something in your waistline. The biggest downside with shoulder holsters is the fact they require so much to conceal them, but weight distribution and overall comfort are high with these setups because they allow people to carry heavier guns and distribute the weight much better than other options.
Overall Thoughts
Finding the right carry position can be a bit of trial and error when looking for the perfect setup. Personally, I prefer to carry with an inside-the-waistband holster for its simplicity and ease of use. My father prefers to carry a small pistol in his pocket because he doesn’t think he needs anything else to protect himself. It all boils down to your preferences and what you want out of your carry setup. I always tell people to start with an IWB holster and try other options if that doesn’t work since it’s the most popular amongst carriers today. Everyone prefers different carry methods but these carry methods listed above are by far the most popular so it’s a good place to start if you’re looking for a style that works with your own personal lifestyle.
If you happen to carry and have a favorite method, be sure to drop a comment down below letting me know about your favorite method. If you have questions about carrying concealed or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you next week for another edition of Concealed Carry Corner.