Earlier this week, I introduced open carry and some of its associated benefits and drawbacks. However, the concealed carry alternative has its own list of pluses and minuses. This article will briefly introduce some of these for your self defense considerations.
Advantages
One of the main upsides of concealed carry is the fact that it is not plain to a would-be assailant whether or not someone has a firearm on their person. Generally, attackers look for targets they feel will be easier to overtake so that they can get what they want from the interaction without much difficulty. When someone with a concealed carry piece finds themselves in a self defense situation, oftentimes the sight of the attacker’s chosen prey brandishing a firearm is enough of a counter-threat to end the exchange before it escalates to violence. In a similar vein, there are some who have told me they prefer concealed carry because of the additional security it provides their firearm; it’s much harder for an attacker to disarm an victim they do not know is armed. Another advantage to carrying concealed is how those who don’t openly display their firearm draw less attention from those around them. If a carrier’s firearm is effectively concealed, they don’t arouse discomfort or suspicion from those who are opposed to firearms or uninformed about the laws regarding carrying firearms. For those who don’t wish to be disarmed, there are some places where concealed carry is the only option because open carry is forbidden. In circumstances such as these, the myriad of concealed carry options (in-the-waistband
, ankle carry
, purse carry
, etc.) allow permit holders several solutions for accommodating their self defense tools.
Disadvantages
Arguably, one of the main drawbacks of concealed carry is directly related to its concealing function; covering one’s self defense pistol necessarily adds an impediment to drawing said handgun from its holster. Concealed carry holster designs often compromise comfort and ease of concealment with ergonomics of use. As a female, I have found more difficulty in effectively concealed carrying when using holsters that are more efficient for draw due to the fact that the curve of my waist makes a pistol holstered on my hip protrude in a way that it doesn’t for straight-waisted males. My anatomy is more accommodating for a holster that allows the pistol to “tuck” into the curve of my hip, usually around the 5 o’clock position. This means that I must reach behind my back in order to draw my concealed pistol from its IWB holster, rather than the quicker, more comfortable 3 o’clock position that I use with my OWB open carry/competition holster. The element of inconvenient draw is more pronounced with less traditional concealed carry methods (such as neck carry, ankle carry, or thigh carry
, for example).
Final Thoughts
The need of covering a concealed carry piece detracts from the ergonomics of its operation, but with training and practice, a well-concealed carry firearm can be just as effective as one carried openly. In addition, concealed carry offers piece of mind to those who wish to carry a firearm without drawing attention to themselves. In some instances, the greatest benefit that concealed carry offers is the ability to carry a firearm at all because open carry is prohibited, as is the case in the state of Texas. Carrying one’s self defense implements inconspicuously can factor into making a carrier more difficult to disarm as well as affording them the element of surprise were they to find themselves in a self defense situation. In fact, surprising an assailant by countering their lethal threat with your own may even be enough for them to decide to abandon you for easier prey.
I carry a Sig P220 in a Galco “MOB” holster or my XDS in a Bianchi “IWB” at about 2 o’clock.
Both have pros and cons, but with lots of practice I can draw each equally well.
brentkauser I’ve heard good things about Galco holsters… haven’t worn one myself, though.
Great article, completely agree with it.
The great thing about CCW today is the choices of weapons. Back in the day when I worked plain clothes assignments, the choices were minimal, back then the king was the revolver. The smallest revolver to carry was the S&W Chief’s Special, excellent firearm, but you were limited to 5 shots a time. So I also carried either a Jennings .22 or a FIE .25 acp as a New York reload.
But today, so many great choices in compact size weapons with more rounds and larger calibers area fantastic. I personally carry a Taurus PT145 .45 acp compact pistol with 10 in the mag + 1 in the tube.
You still need to train on how to properly draw your weapon from concealment, find the proper clothes to wear, that doesn’t give you away. I worked with a gent who carried a 4″ S&W Model 15 as a plain clothes option. Wearing a jacket or wind breaker in 90+ degrees is a dead give away.
Keep up the great work Destinee! Be safe!
ristin59 I find in the Texas heat, a light button up shirt over a tucked T-shirt works well. I use a Galco Royal Guard to carry my Kimber 1911 (Commander size). It is quite effective, but I am a bulky man of 59 @ 240 lbs. I could carry a howitzer and get away with it.
ristin59 Thank you, my friend. I’m honored you’re still enjoying the articles :]
ristin59 Still to this day, my only ccdw option is my Pre-57 S&W Model 36 Chief’s Special. I usually have it as back-up if I am open carrying, or as my main firearm whilst ccdwing.
DO You find yourself in discomfort, or have print problems, also carrying at 2 o’ clock or appendix?
I often carry in a holster bag, like Maxpedition versipack, or in another larger bag, that unlike the versapack, does not suggest a carry neither to someone who nows about carrying and carry gear.
AlessioBaldi No printing at all with the XDS at 2 O’clock I’m an average build man about 160 lbs. with no beer belly (knock on wood, I am getting older and slower) and I really feel no discomfort except maybe on a long car drive.
Thank you for the reply. This question is for Destinee as weel. Have you ever tried appendix carry Des?
AlessioBaldi You mean you use a man bag…..I sure am glad that that never really caught on as it is just one more thing you really do not need. I have a set up I keep at the cabin for the 32 H&R that I keep up there but wearing a T shirt with a super thin button up short sleeve is so easy to do.
Both are bags/packs specifically designed to carry a gun. I prefare to carry on myself, but my previous job not allways allowed me to do. I used to work in construction environment, and i was often having to wear protection devices and working gear, or making movements that made a concealed carry very difficult and sometimes impossible. Add that summers here are very hot, and sometimes wearing a t-shirt is just too much.
Now i work in a plant, so that’s not an issue anymore.
AlessioBaldi For me, it depends on the holster, and the size of the pistol. There are times when appendix carry is the most ideal for me, generally as a “deep conceal” option, and only with sub compact pistols.
Nice article but sorry to see that you headed it with a pic of a Kimber. Having been burnt by Kimber’s poor quality I have to tell you what I told the rep “Your gun is like a 16 year old teen age girl. Pretty, but you are in deep trouble if you depend on her. (having raised four girls and one boy I feel I am qual’ed to make that statement.) Other than that I liked what you had to say!
I might add that using a IWB holster the user should go for horse hide over cow hide. Horse hide forms to the shape of your hip in a very sort time and becomes very comfortable where as cow hide never seems to change from its original shape and stays flat. Also if you change the weapon that you carry then you might give White Hat Holsters a try. They have the feature of being able to change out the Kydex to fit any gun you want to carry just by unfastening the six screws and swapping out the old Kydex ($23) for the new one. I have carried a full size 1911, Sig 226, HK 40 USP LEM and now the Glock 23 Gen 4 and I can’t tell I even have it on after a while. They have two different belt clips to choose from.The product support at White hat Holsters is awesome and they are very nice folks to deal with.