National Carry AcademyPart 2: Carrying a Little Extra
August 10, 2016
In part one, we covered the idea of carrying a rifle, or pistol turned rifle, as a concealed carry firearm. We covered the firearm options, and what can work in this concept, but how do you carry one of these firearms? How do you effectively conceal an SBR, a pistol caliber carbine, or a rifle turned pistol?
Carrying Style
My carry style would change depending on what weapon and what carrying system I was using. The Mech tech carbines do not have a safety, so I would probably carry one of those with an empty chamber. If the weapon is in a bag, the trigger may get caught and cause the weapon to fire. I don’t have issues carrying a handgun with a round in the chamber because the trigger is protected by the holster. If the weapon has a reliable safety, I wouldn’t have an issue carrying with a round in the chamber.
SIG MPX Deployment Bag
I first realized this concept was becoming a mainstream idea when a major firearms manufacturer released a bag specifically designed to carry a long gun concealed. The SIG MPX deployment bag is of course designed for the SIG MPX, but it could fit a few different weapons. For example the CZ Scorpion as an SBR, or with a brace and folding stock adapter, any of the SBR Glock kits, and even weapons like the UZI pro, or a MAC variant that is SBRed. The main pouch holds the weapon, and the front pouch has plenty of room to fit at least three pistol caliber magazines.
The SIG deployment bag does scream tactical or I’m carrying a gun, it looks more sporting than tactical. There is no external MOLLE straps or SIG logos plastered all over it. The SIG bag is also capable of holding a large SAPI plate for extra protection.
Sneaky Guns CRB
The CRB, or concealed rifle bag, is one of the longer bags but is skinny. This bag can fit an SBR with a suppressor, a full sized rifle broken down, a Mech Tech Kit, or anything else under 31 inches. This includes a pistol grip equipped shotgun or even a full sized AK 47 with an under folding stock. This is a big bag, but it is an option. The bag is tough as nails and available is some plain, nontactical colors. The bag itself is quite non-tactical, except for the small Sneaky Guns logo. The logo itself is small, and is a gear, with a hammer and wrench crossed. Nothing actually says Sneaky Guns on it. There are also a number of pouches you can add to the inside, including magazine pouches and a pistol holster.
5.11 COVRT M4 Bag, and Select Carry Sling pack
I didn’t spell Covert wrong, I promise, this is the name given to one of 5.11’s many covert concealed options. I picked two for this article, but 5.11 has a lot of different options for covertly carrying a rifle style weapon.
The COVRT is designed to be a large sling bag to carry a full sized M4. This is a really big bag, and, in my opinion, sticks out somewhat as being too large for everyday carry. However, for some people this might be the only option for discreet rifle carry. The bag doesn’t look tactical at all, and most people will probably never notice it, but it might stick to the well informed, or to law enforcement.
The Select Carry Sling bag is much smaller and designed specifically to fit SBRs and very small rifles. You could fit an MPX or Scorpion in here without the stock, or with a folding stock installed. The Mech tech is a bit too big, but the Glock SBR kits would fit easily. Again it’s not a tactical looking bag, it’s pretty plain, and only has a tiny 5.11 logo tag, that is easily removable.
Improvised Bags
You don’t have to use a purpose built gun bag, you can use any sling bag that will fit your weapon. Choose a good sling bag, something by a high-quality company like REI. Sling bags, messenger bags, and the like may work a lot better for your unique situation than anything else.
Tactics
Any time you carry off the body, you have to exercise a lot of discipline. You need to treat your bag like a gun, not a bag. This means you need to know where the barrel is pointing as you walk around, and avoid flagging people with your gun.
This isn’t just something you can take off, and set down in the office and walk away from. If you can’t carry it, you need to have a way to secure it. By secure it, I mean lock it up. If you can have an office safe then great! If not, then maybe you cannot carry a larger weapon. When carried, the bag needs to be secured to your body in such a way that it cannot be snatched away.
If you are going to carry the firearm, you need to train with it. Train in taking the weapon out of the bag, and doing whatever is necessary to get it into action. Train in reacting initially with a handgun, and then deploying your rifle. This takes a lot of practice to learn, and if you’re carrying it, you need to learn how to use it.
Nancy Thorne is founder and principal of Thorne Business Research. With more than 30 years experience as an information research and writing professional in small business, trade associations and large corporate environments. She has expertise in writing blog posts, articles, newsletters and reports for a diverse group of clients in a wide variety of industries. Prior to becoming an independent writer and information professional, Ms. Thorne held research and analytical positions with Bank of America and Citicorp and was a licensed teacher of English.
Part 2: Carrying a Little Extra
August 10, 2016
In part one, we covered the idea of carrying a rifle, or pistol turned rifle, as a concealed carry firearm. We covered the firearm options, and what can work in this concept, but how do you carry one of these firearms? How do you effectively conceal an SBR, a pistol caliber carbine, or a rifle turned pistol?
Carrying Style
My carry style would change depending on what weapon and what carrying system I was using. The Mech tech carbines do not have a safety, so I would probably carry one of those with an empty chamber. If the weapon is in a bag, the trigger may get caught and cause the weapon to fire. I don’t have issues carrying a handgun with a round in the chamber because the trigger is protected by the holster. If the weapon has a reliable safety, I wouldn’t have an issue carrying with a round in the chamber.
SIG MPX Deployment Bag
I first realized this concept was becoming a mainstream idea when a major firearms manufacturer released a bag specifically designed to carry a long gun concealed. The SIG MPX deployment bag is of course designed for the SIG MPX, but it could fit a few different weapons. For example the CZ Scorpion as an SBR, or with a brace and folding stock adapter, any of the SBR Glock kits, and even weapons like the UZI pro, or a MAC variant that is SBRed. The main pouch holds the weapon, and the front pouch has plenty of room to fit at least three pistol caliber magazines.
The SIG deployment bag does scream tactical or I’m carrying a gun, it looks more sporting than tactical. There is no external MOLLE straps or SIG logos plastered all over it. The SIG bag is also capable of holding a large SAPI plate for extra protection.
Sneaky Guns CRB
The CRB, or concealed rifle bag, is one of the longer bags but is skinny. This bag can fit an SBR with a suppressor, a full sized rifle broken down, a Mech Tech Kit, or anything else under 31 inches. This includes a pistol grip equipped shotgun or even a full sized AK 47 with an under folding stock. This is a big bag, but it is an option. The bag is tough as nails and available is some plain, nontactical colors. The bag itself is quite non-tactical, except for the small Sneaky Guns logo. The logo itself is small, and is a gear, with a hammer and wrench crossed. Nothing actually says Sneaky Guns on it. There are also a number of pouches you can add to the inside, including magazine pouches and a pistol holster.
5.11 COVRT M4 Bag, and Select Carry Sling pack
I didn’t spell Covert wrong, I promise, this is the name given to one of 5.11’s many covert concealed options. I picked two for this article, but 5.11 has a lot of different options for covertly carrying a rifle style weapon.
The COVRT is designed to be a large sling bag to carry a full sized M4. This is a really big bag, and, in my opinion, sticks out somewhat as being too large for everyday carry. However, for some people this might be the only option for discreet rifle carry. The bag doesn’t look tactical at all, and most people will probably never notice it, but it might stick to the well informed, or to law enforcement.
The Select Carry Sling bag is much smaller and designed specifically to fit SBRs and very small rifles. You could fit an MPX or Scorpion in here without the stock, or with a folding stock installed. The Mech tech is a bit too big, but the Glock SBR kits would fit easily. Again it’s not a tactical looking bag, it’s pretty plain, and only has a tiny 5.11 logo tag, that is easily removable.
Improvised Bags
You don’t have to use a purpose built gun bag, you can use any sling bag that will fit your weapon. Choose a good sling bag, something by a high-quality company like REI. Sling bags, messenger bags, and the like may work a lot better for your unique situation than anything else.
Tactics
Any time you carry off the body, you have to exercise a lot of discipline. You need to treat your bag like a gun, not a bag. This means you need to know where the barrel is pointing as you walk around, and avoid flagging people with your gun.
This isn’t just something you can take off, and set down in the office and walk away from. If you can’t carry it, you need to have a way to secure it. By secure it, I mean lock it up. If you can have an office safe then great! If not, then maybe you cannot carry a larger weapon. When carried, the bag needs to be secured to your body in such a way that it cannot be snatched away.
If you are going to carry the firearm, you need to train with it. Train in taking the weapon out of the bag, and doing whatever is necessary to get it into action. Train in reacting initially with a handgun, and then deploying your rifle. This takes a lot of practice to learn, and if you’re carrying it, you need to learn how to use it.
Nancy Thorne is founder and principal of Thorne Business Research. With more than 30 years experience as an information research and writing professional in small business, trade associations and large corporate environments. She has expertise in writing blog posts, articles, newsletters and reports for a diverse group of clients in a wide variety of industries. Prior to becoming an independent writer and information professional, Ms. Thorne held research and analytical positions with Bank of America and Citicorp and was a licensed teacher of English.