Choosing Gear for Concealed Carry

[Paul Gomez]

Here are my thoughts on Choosing Gear for Concealed Carry. Hope you guys find it worthwhile.

Personally, a holster must exhibit five attributes for me to consider it viable for carrying a gun in the real world.

1) It must be made for the gun. The generic One Size Fits All/multiple guns are crap. Get a holster for the gun you are planning to carry. If it's not made for the gun, consistency goes all to hell.

2) It must cover the trigger guard. Yes, you can get your finger on the trigger faster when the the trigger guard is exposed. This is not a good thing.

3) It must mount rigidly to the belt. Consistency, again. If the holster moves side to side or up & down on the belt, you fight your gear before you ever get the gun in motion.

[These may seem 'commonsensical' but you'd be surprised.]

4) It must allow for a Full Firing Grip on the holstered gun. Consistency, again. You will shoot with the grip that you have. A suboptimal grip translates into suboptimal shooting. Obtaining a FFG prior to gun movement is critical.

5) It should remain open when the gun is removed. This supports reholstering. In most situations, this is not a huge deal. When it comes to working with the gun one handed, it is.

Can't seem to embed the video. Sorry.

[longtooth]

Very good holster criteria.
You are a wise man.

Welcome aboard.

[SwimFan85]

I like the way you think. It eliminates gimmick holsters like "smart" carry and the "smirk" harness.

[Divided Attention]

While that is fabulous criteria, it is not always "viable" in every circumstance. i.e. a skirt without a belt, scrub pants with a drawstring or worse yet, elastic waist. I have a belly band I use for these circumstances. It does cover the trigger, I can get a grip, but it doesn't stay open, and both my 38 and .380 fit nicely... (the 9mm fits, but it kinda wanders south.)

I definitely choose to carry in my kydex/leather combo or all leather IWB if at all possible, but sometimes it is just not possible. I also have a holster purse for times like a full dress when I can't carry on body.

That being said... I feel strongly that it is important to practice drawing from the "less than optimal" options. JMPHO.

[Excaliber]

I'd suggest 6th and 7th criteria:

6 - It retains the gun during vigorous activity like running, jumping, and falling

7 - The retention system is easy to overcome during the draw with simple and instinctive motion that is practical under the stress of a life threatening situation

[speedsix]

...excellent advice...might reduce the size of the "holster box" we all seem to end up with...true, a particular situation or style of dress may call for something different, but excellent basic rules...seems we've got us another guru who'll share his experience with us...God is good...

[Afff_667]

Don't forget a belt as appropriate for the holster....a high-quality holster meeting all the relevant criteria is useless if it's mounted to/on a Walmart special (no offense intended). It's been my experience that some folks tend to fall short when it comes to choosing a belt because they simply don't understand it's the foundation for the holster, mag carrier/speed loard pouch, etc. Go out and purchase a properly fitted, sufficiently stiff, purpose built GUN belt.

[speedsix]

...great point...I'm on my third year of a Wilderness Products Instructor's belt...1 1/2"...about $36 and still holds its shape...good leather belts are around $50 up...but worth it for the reasons you gave...it's held everything I could hang off it...velcro and no bulky buckle...easy to snug up when I go into City Hall or PO and have to drop iron...

[Paul Gomez]

While that is fabulous criteria, it is not always "viable" in every circumstance.

Certainly there are situations where you may have to accept compromises but you should do so knowingly. A lot of people don't appreciate what a good holster provides and, therefore, underestimate the importance of them. I've a friend who's dress code is, at its most relaxed, business casual. He has carried mid to full sized guns in a Belly Band for more than twenty years and he has done more work than anyone I've ever encountered on accessing and using his guns from this mode of carry.

I'd suggest 6th and 7th criteria

I like those. With your permission, I think I'll add them to my list.

Don't forget a belt as appropriate for the holster.

[Excaliber]

While that is fabulous criteria, it is not always "viable" in every circumstance.

Certainly there are situations where you may have to accept compromises but you should do so knowingly. A lot of people don't appreciate what a good holster provides and, therefore, underestimate the importance of them. I've a friend who's dress code is, at its most relaxed, business casual. He has carried mid to full sized guns in a Belly Band for more than twenty years and he has done more work than anyone I've ever encountered on accessing and using his guns from this mode of carry.

I'd suggest 6th and 7th criteria

I like those. With your permission, I think I'll add them to my list.

Don't forget a belt as appropriate for the holster.

Feel free to use rules 6 and 7 in your list. I didn't invent them, but they are important considerations when buying a serviceable holster.

[duallydondon]

Very valid points,,my favorite is the Bianchi shadow for my SW model 66 snub,,,