Concealed Carriers’ Guidelines for Successful Carrying

The guidelines in this article may be redundant and boring for experienced shooters, but it serves to remind all carriers of the basic checklist for successful carrying. There are some things that are becoming a routine for shooters, so they do not focus on them and neglect them most of the time. The information that follows is very important, but can be overlooked, so now is the time for you to review all of them so that you can always carry your firearm safely.

Complete an updated firearm training.

The training should include the important topics and basics about firearms. The information should all be updated and related to real-life scenarios that every shooter may possibly encounter. There should be  continuous education on the fundamentals of firearms because incomplete and outdated training will make you perform poor techniques that will be retained in your subconscious memory. When a defensive encounter occurs, you will use the wrong techniques.

Quickie courses and one-round firing is not recommended for concealed carriers. This will only provide you with minimal training and would not cover the necessary skills and information that you need to protect your life and your family. Most of the hands-on firing ranges do not have personal guidance or instructors that will help you in improving your self-defense skills.

Just because you attended a training five years ago does not mean you know all the basics. Refresher courses are important for you to learn something new and become updated with the laws, techniques and methods.

You should also know that there is a big difference between handguns and long guns. If you already attended a training and gained proficiency in using handguns, it doesn’t mean that you also have the same proficiency with long guns. Have an annual schedule for refresher courses and get yourself educated with broad to simple topics like solutions for gun malfunctions, proper ways to draw your  gun, trigger control, state laws, shooting when moving and standing still, shooting multiple targets and reloading when in the middle of an encounter.

Set your mind and motivate yourself.

Concealed carrying comes with a lot of responsibilities and accountability, so you must have a proper mindset to adapt the proper method and techniques for concealed carrying. As much as possible, avoid conflicts and confrontations when you are carrying. Discipline yourself and do not be aggressive. You don’t need to show everyone how good your gun skills are. The world doesn’t need to know that. Motivate yourself to protect you and your family’s lives at all times. A firearm doesn’t make you look cool, and you do not need to protect the whole community.

If possible, leave an area if you sense that there is a conflict. This will show that you know how to consider all the factors that may be affected once you use your firearm. Concealed carriers differ from police officers, so avoid getting yourself into trouble. Bringing a firearm into a gunfight will not give you good results, so this should always be the last option.

Get yourself educated with the firearm laws of your state.

You must know when you are legally allowed to shoot and where you are allowed to carry your firearm. Some states require showing of carry permits when stopped by a law enforcement officer, while some do not allow brandishing and printing. You should also know about the Stand Your Ground and Castle Doctrine laws, as well as the states that provides reciprocity with the state where you belong. There are so many information that you need to know as part of being a responsible concealed carrier.

Avoid frequent checking and adjusting of your handgun.

Do not be too conscious on how your gun is riding, or if your clothes are properly concealing it, or if your pants are revealing the outline of the gun. Most starters would feel this and would keep on adjusting and checking their handguns. Eventually, it will become a hobby for them and they will not notice that they will keep on doing this when carrying.

When this happens, you will realize that such action will just draw more attention from the passersby and you will look suspicious. You need to calm down and avoid touching the gun all the time. To avoid the need for frequent checking and adjusting, wear a good holster, clothes, belt and cover garments so that the gun will stay on its position. Avoid wearing tight clothes and light-colored shirts. You may also have to wear pants that are one size larger than the normal size you use to give space for inside-the-waistband holster. You do not need to be of extreme fashion when carrying a handgun. Eventually, you will get used to it and will not have to suffer from the consciousness on how the gun sits on your waist.

Be a regular carrier, not an occasional one.

After all the time, effort and expense it took for you to obtain your permit, why would you choose to carry your firearm only when you feel like carrying? If you have a valid carry permit, then carry all the time.

Some people have too much reasons for not carrying a handgun everyday, including the chance of getting legal problems when transporting the handgun from one state to another. Other people are allowed to carry on the place where they live, but the place of their employment does not allow them to do so. But there are more people who carry their handguns only when they feel endangered or when going to a place which has a high-threat level.

As a concealed carrier, you must realize that every place and situation is dangerous including schools, churches, parties, villages and malls. Nowadays, there is no single safe place anymore.

Some do not feel comfortable having a handgun on their possession. They reason out that the gun is rubbing on their side, or that it doesn’t fit right on them. If this is the cause, then change whatever you think is the problem. If the gun is too long, then use a short one. If your belt doesn’t support the gun well, choose a different belt. If the carry method you are using doesn’t make you feel comfortable, try other methods. Carrying a firearm with you when you go out is way much better than leaving it at home or in the car. You can never expect when a defensive encounter will occur, and you might not want to regret not bringing your handgun in case it happens.

Practice using your handgun and ammo.

The most important thing you should do to increase the possibility of success when responding to a threat is to train and practice using the gun and ammo you are carrying. What you always do during the practice becomes a routine that your body may unconsciously do it when a defensive encounter occurs.

It is difficult to operate a handgun, ammunition, holster or other supplies that you are not familiar of, so regular practice is important for you to create a habit. Once a month practice or more should be enough for you to become better acquainted with the performance of your handgun and ammo.

Choose the right holster.

Purchase a high-quality holster from a reputable manufacturer and make sure that it is specifically designed for the model of your handgun. If the holster fits perfectly to your gun, you can draw and insert it easily and smoothly. It will also cover the hand trigger from the objects outside. Do not expect to purchase a quality-made holster with only $10. You may have to spend at least 10 percent of the handgun’s price for the holster. It is better to invest on a reliable and effective holster than risk your safety when the gun accidentally falls off or discharge while you draw or insert it.

Although inside-the-waistband holsters provide more concealment, they can be less comfortable and will need a large-sized pants because of the added bulk. An outside-the-waistband holster is usually comfortable to use, but hard to conceal. There may be some ways to make it more concealed, but they will make the draw and access slower. The best carrying method depends on you.

Choose the right gun belt.

Obviously, the gun belt is important in keeping the handgun supported. It is one of the gun accessories that a concealed carrier must have. You need to have your gun supported at all times so that it stays on its position and movement will be minimized. Choose a leather-made gun belt with an inner layer of kydex for long lasting durability. The kydex will prevent the belt from deforming and the leather will help in distributing the weight to your body, thus making carrying comfortable for you. Price usually indicates the quality of a gun belt, so do not expect that you will spend only $15 for it.

Situational awareness is always important.

Situational awareness is a critical factor for every concealed carrier. When you are going out, be observant, cautious and alert of your environment and know the variables for each situation. You may practice Cooper’s 4 Color Codes of Awareness, Boyd’s OODA Loop, or the NRA’s Unaware-Aware-Alert-Alarm cycle; they are all helpful.

Be aware of everything that’s going on in your environment. Easier said than done, this will take too much skills in a real-life situation. When the threat is already there, and your adrenaline is already rising, it may be very challenging for you to scan and assess your environment.

According to studies, when we are in the middle of a stressful environment, our attention and focus becomes narrow, so we can only concentrate on a few things. Because this, we might neglect a few things and miss the threats in the environment. Although situational awareness is commonly taught to police officers and military personnel, every person should develop this as well. A successful defense relies on the ability to focus and concentrate on important things. And with such ability, you will be able to protect yourself and your family from danger.

Wear proper clothes and garments.

Your choice of clothing and garments depends upon certain factors like your job, the weather, lifestyle, your location and your daily activities. In some locations, it is okay to wear the same type of clothing for the whole year, but for some areas, you may need to adjust for the different seasons of the year. Many carriers find this challenging and frustrating, but you need to adapt to it.

For example, a plain white dress shirt will require you to wear an inside-the-waistband holster for more concealment. There are times that you will look baggy because of your clothes, but you will get used to it eventually. You may also want to consider using a smaller firearm for an easier concealment.

If you are living in a state that allows open carrying, you should make sure that the gun you carry will not be easily grabbed from you. Open carry is not a good choice, though, because some people may have negative reactions about it, but the important thing is that you get yourself familiar with the method of carrying you use. Practice regularly so that you know how to easily draw and reholster your gun when in a stressful environment.

Know everything about your handgun.

You must know how to operate, handle and maintain the handgun you are using. Some people believe that you need approximately 3,000 to 5,000 repetitions of an action to develop a muscle-memory. This muscle-memory will save your life during an encounter. When you practice, make sure that you do the proper technique and you have the proper fundamentals. If you performed it the wrong way and continues to do it every time you train and practice, you will also develop a wrong muscle memory. When you are learning a new skill or technique, be attentive to all the details and actions you do.

You should also know how to handle malfunctions and stoppages on your handgun. Many police officers were killed in the middle of an encounter because they are not familiar on how to solve their gun malfunctions.

You should also practice with the same caliber and recoil ammo as your gun’s. In California, there are four police officers who got killed because they are not used to the firearms they are carrying. They practiced with lesser caliber and lesser recoil ammo.

Cleaning should be done as regular as possible. Have an inspection, function check and cleaning at least once a month for your handgun.

Practice, practice and practice.

Analyze your present skills and determine what areas need improvement. Practice using your handgun with drills so that you can improve your weak skills. Annual training and once a month practice will help you stay update and acquainted with your firearm. If you fail to practice regularly, your shooting fundamentals and skills will deteriorate. But then, when practicing, you should not just shoot in papers, you should establish a plan for your drills and hands-on firing.

Dry firing can be of great help. This means practicing at home using snap caps to protect your gun components. If you do not have time to practice at a shooting range, you may practice your skills at home, just make sure that your firearm is unloaded. Skills like aiming, sight alignment, grip, trigger control, stance, loading and unloading may be practiced during dry firing. But even if you do dry firing, you should also recognize that live firing is different. So, as much as possible, allot some time for live-fire practice every 7 to 8 weeks.

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.