Concealed Carry Corner: Gift Ideas For Concealed Carriers
Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we talked about ankle holsters and their benefits as well as their drawbacks. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I wanted to look at a few options for people looking to purchase gifts for the concealed carrier that may be tricky to buy gifts for during the holidays.
Ammo
When it comes to a great universal gift, you can’t go wrong with ammo as a general gift. The biggest factor is knowing what caliber they carry and the rest is fairly simple. When it comes to Christmas gifts, ammo is one of those items that not only helps out the person who carries but takes the stress off trying to find something personal. Every year I get ammo from someone, it allows me to shoot more without having the stress of picking more ammo up and having that come out of my monthly budget.
Range Ammo
If I had to pick between any kind of ammo, range ammo would certainly be my first choice. Range ammo is one of those expenses that is necessary but can get expensive depending on how much you shoot. It’s always cheaper to buy in bulk which is what I prefer to do, but even if someone gets me a box of 50 or 100 rounds, I can still have a full range session doing low round count but high rep drills with it. Even if it’s just a box or two, having extra ammo to get practice in does really help especially if you’re trying to improve on a budget.
The vast majority of shooters don’t practice enough live fire at the range. Whether it’s static shooting, working on the fundamentals, or dynamic shooting, ammo is the key to live fire training. Some can’t afford a constant supply of ammo and it’s not easy with everyday bills to always have enough ammo for a good training session. Any spare bit of ammo helps and that’s exactly why range ammo is a fantastic choice.
Self Defense Ammo
If you don’t want to give range ammo or don’t know what kind to get, self-defense ammunition can be one of those items that are neglected since people don’t often think about changing out their self-defense ammunition. I typically change my ammo out once a year on my birthday. It’s not uncommon to run into people who carry a concealed firearm to go years without changing out their carry ammo. Over time, your carry ammo can degrade and get moisture inside the round not allowing the powder to burn correctly.
If you’re unsure about what carry ammo to purchase, buy the Federal Premium HST rounds or the Hydra-Shok rounds. They may not be the cheapest options but in terms of performance, they are some of the best rounds on the market. I just picked up a box of 45 Auto Hydra-Shoks from Cabela’s to have fresh ammo for my .45 Auto carry gun and the last time I picked up any jacketed hollow points .45 Auto rounds was 4 years ago. Those rounds are desperately overdue to be switched out. Those are perfect gifts for people who need ammo but don’t seem to think about replacing those rounds. Picking up some self-defense rounds can really help ensure all your gear is in the best possible condition.
Mantis Dry Fire Systems
This is a valuable training tool for someone who can’t seem to find the time to take a day to hit the range for live fire practice but wants to work on the fundamentals. Having a dry fire system like the Mantis allows users to have an interactive experience where they can dry fire and get feedback on where they are hitting. They have a variety of products for anyone’s budget from the basic kits to multiple targets and a variety of configurations. Prices for the Mantis start at $99 and go up to $250 depending on what you want and what options you’d like.
Cleaning Supplies
The last thing that really helps people who conceal carry is having fresh cleaning supplies. Whether it’s gun oil, bore snakes, or a general cleaning kit, these are all always helpful. Some prefer the full cleaning kits with rods and brushes. For me, I prefer just a can of CLP to clean the gun up along with a caliber-specific bore snake to clean the barrel out. The only other thing I do often is use cloth patches with gun oil on them to clean the carbon and debris off the external parts of the firearm. Simple cleaning supplies are easy items to pick up with most costing no more than $30 typically. Bore snakes can get dirty over time and the brushes can become disfigured with enough use so it’s a useful item that really makes a thoughtful gift.
Overall Thoughts
Initially, it may seem tough to pick up items for someone who carries a concealed firearm. As difficult as it may seem on the surface, as long as you know the caliber of the firearm they use, it can be easy to pick up ammo, cleaning supplies as well as options like the Mantis dry fire systems. These are simple items that don’t require knowing the exact make and model of a firearm which is one of the complaints about past articles when it comes to looking for gifts. Not everyone is savvy with firearm models and this list allows people to pick up an easy gift idea with minimal knowledge.
What do you guys think are some other great ideas for gifts when it comes to shopping for concealed carriers? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 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 in another edition of Concealed Carry Corner.