Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we discussed the struggles of carrying larger handguns and the fight against carrying fatigue. If you happened to miss that article be sure to check it out here. Earlier this week, I started talking to a group of friends which were made up of experienced as well as new shooters. The new shooters were talking about the struggle of finding the right holster for them. It’s a journey we all end up going through when we first start out but it’s never a bad thing to look at some of the options available on the market today. Holster selection can be tricky so let’s look at some things to consider as well as avoid when looking at the importance of quality holsters.
Styles Of Holsters
Finding the right style of holster for you will be 90% of your success or misery when it comes to carrying a concealed firearm. Depending on your preferences, there are countless different options including single-clip holsters, double-clip holsters, hybrid holsters, or single clips with a claw attachment. When you’re trying to decipher everything it’s always helpful to look at your options to see what style is best for your everyday carry. Once you get the overall style down, the next big decision will be holster material.
Whether it’s all Kydex, leather holsters, or hybrid systems, there are countless options. I’ve written a number of various articles about Kydex vs leather in terms of comfort and reliability. Depending on the amount of accessories you decide to put on your handgun, you may have to go with a Kydex holster since leather holsters don’t do well with weapon mounted lights. While I enjoy both, the overall longevity and durability has sold me for Kydex holsters when it comes to everyday carry.
My Personal Choice
Throughout all my gun choices and countless holster purchases, I finally found the best holster fit for my daily carry life but it was no easy task. I started out with a ton of belt mounted outside the waistband holsters before finally trying to switch over to inside the waistband style holsters. Once I decided to stick with IWB holsters, I started playing around with various attachments to give me the best concealablity without adding a ton of bulk. After 6-8 months, I added a secondary claw to help conceal larger handguns and never looked back. Finding the correct style of holster isn’t an overnight process but takes time as well as experience to decide on the right model for you. I’ve even branched out and tried more leather options but my absolute go-to holsters are still Kydex holsters.
Things To Avoid
While I was sitting around the table talking to my friends who are new to carrying concealed, one said he was just tucking his handgun in his waistband with no holster or support at all. In the beginning, this may not seem like all that bad of an idea. You can carry whatever gun you want without even having to worry about a specific holster for your gun. What most people don’t see is the fact the trigger is completely exposed to be snagged accidentally. There’s no protection from accidents or getting snagged on something and having the firearm discharge accidentally. The risk of accidentally dropping your firearm drastically goes up without a holster whether its bending over and picking up the dropped change or pen.
Cloth holsters that are a quick fix at most of the big box stores is definitely something you should avoid at all costs. The cloth universal holsters not only offer zero support but they are bulky and just don’t carry like a quality holster. If you decide to use a cloth universal holster, the cloth can break down over time making the structure compromised. There are a few cases online of people carrying in a worn-out cloth holster and as a result, the holster ended up engaging the trigger shooting the carrier either in the hip or right through the meat portion of a man’s rump. It may not happen often but these things do occur so it’s important to take everything into consideration.
Alterate Holster Options
The vast majority of people who carry concealed firearms will either choose outside or inside the waistband holsters, but not everyone sticks to that method. Whether it’s shoulder holsters, ankle holsters or off-body carrying, there are plenty of other options and each has its own benefits. I absolutely love carrying with a shoulder holster during those long cross country road trips.
If you want to carry a backup gun along with the main firearm like most police officers do, having an ankle holster is another great option as well. Neither of these is a great option for daily carry every day but do not sleep on these carry methods for specific circumstances for carrying a concealed firearm. I’ve written complete articles on every single topic I’ve just spoke about but looking at the big picture it’s important to have an understanding of your needs and what tools are neccassiry to fulfill those needs.
Overall Thoughts
Holsters can be a tricky learning curve when it comes to learning how to carry a concealed firearm. It’s always a good idea to not cheap out but rather buy quality items. Sifting through the variety of holsters can be challenging but working the endless options to find that perfect holster is truly rewarding. There are plenty of options that are easy to purchase such as cloth holsters or not using a holster at all. It may seem like an easy fix but in the long run, it will make you waste money where you could have put it towards something quality. It’s always worth taking the long road to do it right rather than the easy road to fill a void quickly.
What do you guys think are some of the best holster methods for you? Was it a long process or did you just pick a style and work through it until you became comfortable? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. If you have questions about carrying concealed or firearms in general, shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you guys next week.
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