Monday, March 5, 2012

The Basics of Concealed Carry

I am not a lawyer.  I don't claim to be an expert in legal matters, and I never will.  Fact is, the laws change so often, and most of the time are so vague, that even if you do know the laws down to the letter, a judge could interpret them differently then you do, and everything you thought you knew could be turned on its head.

That said, this article isn't about the LEGALITY of concealed carry - it's up to YOU to comply with the law.  This article is about the mechanics of it, describing the different methods of concealing a pistol on your person, and showing you some of the different options you have.  Our focus is going to be mostly on holster types.

There are many different kinds of holsters out there.  So many, in fact, that we will only scratch the surface of what's available on the market today.  Just to provide an idea of what's available, here are a few types that I've seen:

  • Outside the Waistband (OWB)
  • Inside the Waistband (IWB)
  • Shoulder Holsters
  • Ankle Holsters
  • Pocket Holsters
  • Small of Back (SOB) Holsters
  • Thigh Holsters
These are just a few, and they are the types I will be focusing on.  The list is not in any particular order, and I will try to explain the pros/cons of each type, as well as my personal preferences among those I've used.

Outside the Waistband (OWB)
I have at least one OWB holster for every pistol I carry.  This is by far the most common holster type you'll see, as there are several different types for different kinds of carry.  There are Duty Holsters, the type that you see police officers using, which usually offer different retention options, which we will talk about below.  I carry my 1911 in a "Speed Scabbard" type holster, which holds the pistol very close to the body, and offers a thumb break for retention.  I also have a few Duty Holsters, as I work part-time in armed security, but that is another topic for another day.  
  • Pros:
    • Easy access to pistol
    • Available with a number of retention options
    • Commonly available
    • Comfortable
    • Usually inexpensive when compared to other types
    • Doesn't require larger pants
  • Cons:
    • Tends to "print" more than others
    • Belt-slide types require partial removal of belt to take off
Inside the Waistband (IWB)
I have used a few different IWB holsters, mostly with my Springfield Armory XD45, which is my everyday carry pistol.  The one that I have used the longest is a DeSantis Intruder, which uses both Leather and Kydex in it's construction.  It is a bulkier holster than the OWB holsters I use, but it makes my .45 virtually disappear, as long as I'm wearing a shirt that is loose-fitting.  The XD45 is a thick pistol, which makes it hard to conceal normally, but the IWB holster is a great fit for it.  There are many different options available, from a number of different manufacturers.  This is a great way to carry, regardless of the type of pistol you carry.
  • Pros:
    • Conceals quite effectively
    • Comfortable
    • Commonly available in gun shops, but better deals and more options available online
    • Easy to take off, usually slides into waistband and "hooks" to belt.
  • Cons
    • Tend to be more pricey (My DeSantis Intruder was upwards of $60)
    • Not all are comfortable, the "universal" types tend to require frequent "adjusting"
    • Require pants to be a size or two larger than normal to accommodate
Shoulder Holsters
There are a couple different types, the first we will speak of is the "horizontal" type.  This is what I carry my Beretta 92FS in, a Triple K leather shoulder rig.  This type doesn't use the standard "belt loop" attachment like many others do, which I find more comfortable, as it doesn't pull your belt up when you sit down.  I do enjoy carrying the Beretta in this manner, but this requires a little more planning to make it work.  First, it is going to require either a heavier shirt over top of the holster, or a jacket of some kind.  If I'm going to be outside most of the day, and it's cool enough to wear a medium to heavy jacket, I'll wear the shoulder rig.  This allows easier access than pulling a jacket overtop of the pistol's grip in an IWB or OWB holster, as you simply reach into the jacket, hit the thumb break, and pull the pistol out.  The drawback is if it's really cold, as access is only easier if you are able to leave the jacket unzipped/unbuttoned.  It's a pretty comfortable carry method, but you aren't going to forget it's there, especially if you are going to be moving around a lot, since the pistol is going to be bouncing against your ribs the whole time. 

The "vertical" type is the same, the difference being that the pistol is positioned with the barrel pointing downward, rather than to the rear.  I find the draw to be a little more uncomfortable in a vertical holster, as you have to pull the pistol straight up.  Most vertical holsters require the use of belt attachments as well, so you can actually remove the pistol without using both hands.
  • Pros:
    • Usually comfortable, but buying a quality holster is imperative.  Cheap holsters tend to be ill-fitting, and can cause neck and shoulder pain.
    • Great for concealing when wearing a jacket.
    • Many options available
  • Cons:
    • Quality holsters can be VERY expensive, with many fetching upwards of $150.
    • Require a heavy shirt or jacket over top, which can be uncomfortable on warmer days.
    • Horizontal holsters point pistol barrel to the rear, which makes some uncomfortable.
    • Vertical holsters make drawing pistol somewhat awkward
    • Lots of "trial and error" required to find a good fit
    • Belt loop attachment points cause belt/pants to "ride up" when you sit down
    • Harder to conceal than IWB and some OWB holsters, sometimes "prints", although most people won't notice.
Ankle Holsters
There are a number of ankle holsters on the market these days.  Ankle holsters are a great way to carry a Backup Gun (BUG), as they are virtually unnoticeable, usually comfortable, and even if/when they do "print", most people aren't looking at your ankles to see if you have a weapon anyway.  They do have their drawbacks, however.  First, if you wear tight-fitting pants, you won't be able to conceal an ankle rig.  You need to wear either loose-fitting or "boot-cut" pants to effectively conceal.  Second, while they do conceal quite well, depending on the weapon, they do require a significant amount of effort to draw, and it is nearly impossible to draw from an ankle holster while walking/running.  The difficulty to draw is my reason for saying this is great for a BUG, but I wouldn't want to carry my primary weapon in this manner.
  • Pros:
    • Can be comfortable if you find one that works well for you
    • Conceals quite well, and even if it does print, most people won't notice
  • Cons:
    • Requires a small gun-You won't hide a full-size 1911 in an ankle rig
    • Significantly more difficult to draw from than the others mentioned above
    • Can be pricey, although most are less expensive than IWB holsters.
    • Require loose-fitting or "boot-cut" pants to conceal.
Pocket Holsters
These are great for "pocket guns", for obvious reasons.  They place the weapon in easy reach, and you can have your hand on your weapon in a potential self-defense situation without anyone else noticing.  Drawing from a pocket holster is as easy as retrieving your car keys or a cell phone.  Pocket Pistols are usually smaller calibers, from .22LR to .380 (and even 9mm), although there are some .40S&W and .45ACP pistols that * technically* qualify as pocket guns.  These smaller caliber, small-frame pistols are often striker-fired or concealed-hammer semi-automatics, and are great for use as BUG's or when deeper concealment is required.  The main purpose of a pocket holster is to break up the shape of a pistol inside the pocket and cover the trigger to prevent loose objects from causing a negligent discharge.  Carrying a pocket gun by itself in a pocket is dangerous, as something as simple as a loose thread can catch the trigger, and cause the weapon to discharge.  Also, it's hard to conceal something that has the obvious shape of a gun in a pocket.  Most pocket holsters work twofold, by preventing objects from accessing the trigger area, and by making the pistol look less like a pistol, and more like a wallet or other flat, rectangular object.
  • Pros:
    • Conceals very well, making the gun look like a wallet in the pocket
    • Allows easy access
    • Helps prevent negligent discharge by covering the trigger (in most designs, although there are some "open trigger" pocket holsters out there)
    • Usually rather inexpensive (around $15-$30, depending on construction and manufacturer)
  • Cons:
    • Small pistols are usually small calibers with limited round capacity
    • Limits use of a pocket, so if you're like me and carry keys & knife in one pocket and cell phone in the other, you'll have to find another place for something.
Small-of-Back (SOB) Holsters
I don't personally own any of these, although I have carried in this type of holster in the past.  They can be comfortable, but they print pretty badly, and it is easier than you'd think for the weapon to become completely exposed without you noticing.  Something as simple as bending at the waist to pick something up from the floor, or crouching to get something off a bottom shelf in the supermarket, can cause your shirt to rise above the weapon, get caught behind the grip, and your weapon is completely exposed.  I didn't really care too much for this type of holster, simply because it required a lot more attention to the gun than I'd prefer.  

As far as ease of draw, it's pretty simple, although you do have to reach a little further to access your weapon than a traditional IWB, OWB, or pocket holster, and because you are reaching behind you, it seems a little more awkward than a shoulder rig.  There are a number of different SOB rigs available, including the standard horizontal (actually slightly angled), which holds the pistol with the butt pointing up.  They are also available in a vertical style, but unless you are wearing a long jacket (peacoat or trenchcoat), that style isn't going to conceal well at all.
  • Pros:
    • I guess it's "different" and can be considered "cool" by some.
  • Cons:
    • Places pistol directly over the spinal cord, which can cause serious injury (even paralysis) in the event of a hard fall.  Police officers don't even carry their handcuffs in that position anymore.
    • Can become exposed without wearer's knowledge
    • Rather expensive for quality holsters
    • Weapon muzzle pointed to the side, which could cause issues when holstering weapon if a negligent discharge occurs.
    • Again, muzzle awareness comes into play.  In the event of a self-defense situation, the wearer will most likely pass across some part of their body, be it their kidney or leg, in an effort to get the sights on target as fast as possible.  This could get ugly if there's a finger on the trigger. . . 
    • Nearly impossible to draw when seated in a vehicle
Thigh Holster/Drop Leg Holster
This is not particularly effective for concealing a weapon.  At all.  This type of holster often protrudes farther from the body than a OWB holster, and due to the location on your leg, you would have to be wearing a long coat to conceal at all, and even then, it will print like crazy.  That said, if you prefer to openly carry your pistol (check local and state laws before attempting, and make sure you are well-versed in them), this is a great option for winter carry, as it is nearly impossible to conceal, and it eliminates any interference that may be caused by a jacket/coat.  Thigh holsters generally place the weapon right at the wearer's fingertips, so drawing is easy, and this type of holster can be quite comfortable to wear, again depending on the quality of the holster.  I used this type of holster extensively during my time in the Army, as it was the type of holster we were issued for our Beretta M9 pistols, which was used both when working as an MP on desk duty and in the field when on training exercises.  The holster I used then was a Blackhawk with Level II retention, it was comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, although I will admit that I'm no longer a fan of Blackhawk holsters, for reasons I will share in a future article.
  • Pros:
    • Great for open carry-No chance of hiding!
    • Comfortable (if you find one that works well for you)
    • Available with different retention options
    • Easy to draw and re-holster without inadvertently pointing the weapon at anyone/anything else
    • Many styles and options available
  • Cons:
    • Virtually impossible to conceal
    • Expensive (quality drop leg holsters can cost upwards of $120)
    • Snags on doorframes, fences, just about everything it possibly can
    • Can limit range of motion in leg
    • A nightmare when it comes to weapon retention
    • Moves around a lot when running, which makes drawing on the move significantly more difficult. 

Well, there you have it!  I will be adding some pictures to this article at some point in the next several days.  We would love to hear your opinions on this topic!  You can leave comments below in the Comments Box, over on our Facebook Page, or by email at thelowready@gmail.com

As usual, thanks for reading!  Check back often for some exciting new articles that are in the works!

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