OVERVIEW
MAIN RESOLVE
To get started, make sure you have gear that is comfortable for you to wear. If your gear is uncomfortable, you won’t want to use it or when you do it will be apparent that you are concealed carrying. Remember, what works best for you is the gear you should use. When trying out new equipment, make sure to give it a fair assessment. Just like shoes, you may need to wear your gear in. However, if you are having your movement restricted or skin pinched it is a strong indicator that it is the wrong gear for you.
When trying a new holster, make sure to take into account the 3 Cs, comfort, concealment, and control. Below is a breakdown on how we feel each method of carry.
Hip Inside Waistband
Inside Waistband Holster
Comfort – Medium, a compact gun will be quite comfortable but a full frame will be less comfortable
Concealment – Good, a loose garment will have no problem providing concealment
Control – Good, you are in a position to retain the gun and the holster will help as well depending on the retention.
Appendix
Appendix Carry
Comfort – Medium, quite comfortable for standing but pinches when sitting
Concealment – Excellent with a long shirt
Control – Medium, depending on the holster it is an easy place for an attacker to grab
Outside Waistband
Outside Waistband Holster
Comfort – Good, low pressure on hip and fit’s most normal pants.
Concealment – Medium, A large garment like a loose shirt or vest is needed to fully conceal. Tighter clothing will make the gun print and it will be apparent you are carrying.
Control – Excellent, you have good leverage to retain the gun.
MIC
MIC Holster
Comfort – Good, this is slimmer than most holsters and gives you freedom to move it around a bit
Concealment – Good with any sort of loose clothing
Control – Poor, this will not retain the gun if anyone pulls on it.
You also want to be aware of the different levels of retention a holster offers. Don is using a Level 2 holster for his outside waistband carry which provides a good amount of retention. The higher the level, the better the retention. With all holsters, you need to make sure the trigger guard is covered and that there is no way the trigger can be pulled when holstered.
In the following videos, we will go over four different ways you can concealed carry. Each one has different advantages and disadvantages depending on your situation.
Top Tip: If you are using a holster that mounts on your belt, try to make sure one of your belt loops is helping to hold the holster in place. This will help it slide around less.