One of the first things I did when I turned 21 was get my concealed carry permit.
My paperwork was filled out, and the fingerprint card was done. I sent it off! I waited patiently, and the day I got my permit, I began to carry a gun.
Lo and behold, concealed carrying a gun wasn’t as easy as I thought, but I’ve learned much since then.
I’ve taught classes and helped friends and family work on their concealed carry practices. But over the years, I’ve observed some of the worst concealed carry habits.
So today, we are going dig into the seven worst concealed carry habits and how to fix them!
Table of Contents
Loading…
Not Carrying the Gun
The worst thing you can do as a concealed carrier is fail to actually carry the gun.
I see it over and over again with new shooters. They get their concealed carry pistol and permit (where necessary) and have that initial enthusiasm.
What happens next is that the work aspect of carrying a gun comes into play. Often times they find it uncomfortable or find it conflicts with their wardrobe.
This inconvenience often makes it quite tempting to leave the gun at home or maybe even in the car. It’s easy to see why, but it’s a terrible habit to create. Carry the dang thing anywhere you legally can.
You might need to experiment with different holsters and carry styles to find the most comfortable means to carry. There are tons of holster options, and while it sucks having to buy or try a bunch of holsters, figuring it out is essential.
Guns can also be expensive, but maybe you need something slightly smaller. A Glock 19 doesn’t look too tough to carry in the gun store case, but reality comes at you fast.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
A gun at home does you no good when you need it while you are out. Remember, safety is more important than convenience. It’s like a seatbelt; make sure you use it even if it’s a mild inconvenience!
Always Touching It
I was bad about this when I first started carrying a firearm. I was always touching my gun to make sure it was there and concealed. It’s addictive to constantly reach for and touch the gun.
The first few times you conceal carry might feel nerve-racking; it almost feels like you are breaking the law.
You also might be terrified of accidentally exposing your firearm — I get that. Concealed carry means concealed, right?
However, constantly touching it is a sure way to draw attention to your firearm and make people focus on it.
Just resist the urge and know that this will pass! Eventually, you’ll get used to packing, and you’ll lose that urge.
Another reason for constant touch or adjusting may be related to a bad holster or one that needs to be broken in.
If it sags, buy a better belt., or if it’s poking you, try adjusting the height or cant if possible. If none of that works, buy a different holster — welcome to the world of concealed carry science and experimentation.
A good way to break the habit and find flaws in your holster is to carry your gun and holster around the house.
This allows you to make the necessary adjustments in a non-critical environment.
Carrying on an Empty Chamber
It’s 2023, and people are still carrying on an empty chamber.
I understand that this line of reasoning is not exactly new. There was a time before drop safeties and transfer bars that this was most certainly the safe way to carry, but it’s not the late 1800s anymore.
Carrying with an unloaded chamber is the same thing as not wearing a seat belt and hoping you can put it on right before a car accident.
We live in a day and age where guns have multiple safety devices to ensure the gun only goes bang when you pull the trigger.
Glock pistols have no manual safety but three internal safeties that render the firearm safe as long as you aren’t irresponsible.
Manual safeties are still fairly common as well. Guns like the P365 come with or without manual safeties. At this point, not carrying with a round in the chamber is silly.
I’ve heard excuses like, “Well, I like to play with my kids.” Well, take the gun off! Where are you wrestling with your kids where you can’t do that?
I have three kids and a child army of nephews, nieces, and neighbors, and guess what? I’ve never had this problem.
There is a real risk both in terms of the time it takes to chamber a round in an emergency situation and the possibility of the gun not going into battery if the chambering process doesn’t go smoothly.
If you are still concerned, go out and get some training with a reputable instructor who can improve your firearms handling and confidence.
If you can’t safely carry with a round in the chamber, then you can’t safely carry a gun.
Never Cleaning or Checking Your Equipment
It’s easy to say that you don’t need to clean your gun if you haven’t shot it!
You should be shooting it, but honestly, the carbon left by shooting the gun isn’t as big of an issue as the dirt, debris, and sweat your gun has collected.
Carry guns get dragged through it!
If you are not inspecting your gun and cleaning it when necessary at least once a week, you’re in for a surprise.
Everything seems to stick to guns. Lint from your shirt and pants, dirt and dust from your day, not to mention sweat that can cause rust!
Different carry styles pose different issues. Pocket carry, for example, is a great way to get your gun filthy, IWB typically leads to more sweat, and OWB exposes it more to the world.
Regardless of how you carry it, inspect your gun, clean your gun, and keep it running.
Outside of your gun, your holster, magazines, and ammo need inspections too.
For ammo, you need to inspect the cases and projectiles for deformation and bullet setback. Magazines should be clean, dirt free, and externally rust-free.
Holsters should also be cleaned as they can gather dirt, sweat, and more. Sticking a clean gun into a dirty holster is like rewearing underwear after a shower; just don’t do it.
If you need some tips on how to break down or disassemble your guns, we have tons of tutorials on our Guncademy page on YouTube!
Printing
I feel like an old man with how much I love OWB carry. It’s one of the few methods of carry I find universally comfortable.
However, OWB isn’t the easiest for concealment, and I have to take several steps to make it work.
Concealment can be tricky and downright difficult depending on how you carry and what you carry. Strapping up with a 4-inch barreled Smiht & Wesson 686 is never going to be easy.
A lot of people don’t realize their medium shorts show a great outline of their Glock 19 to the point where I can dang near guess the generation.
Concealed means concealed. If you want to open carry, then open carry (where legal).
If you are carrying in an obvious way, then concealment doesn’t matter. You may be forced to engage if your gun is as obvious as a hipster’s mustache.
The main problem with bad concealment comes from a mix of issues. Typically tight clothing plays a part, but so does gun size, holster design, and even your belt.
Carrying a Glock 17 with a Surefire X300U and a 20-round magazine isn’t going to work with an OWB holster and a normal T-shirt.
However, carrying and concealing a full-size gun can be pretty easy if you get an appendix carry holster and a quality, strong belt.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
To evaluate your concealment use a mirror! Or better yet, ask someone. Work from there to make your gun disappear as best as possible.
Failing to Find Balance
Do you know what I’m pretty good at? Shooting paper targets on a square range with a two-handed stance.
It strokes my ego to pop shots into an A-zone at 25 yards with my P365. It can get addictive to do what you perceive yourself to be good at, but that doesn’t make you a good shooter.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
I’ve learned about balance when it comes to my shooting capabilities. This includes developing skills like being able to adequately and accurately engage a target with one hand, including my non-dominant hand.
Can I draw with my non-dominant hand? What about shooting and using cover? Can I reload quickly and clear malfunctions efficiently? These are questions to ask yourself.
Am I training to be a better shooter in all aspects or just in the skills that make me feel good about myself?
Plenty of shooters can hit a target in ideal conditions, but being able to be efficient across the board is important.
Rejecting Training
Not all states require some form of practical training, but many do.
If you only ever do the least amount of training and practice, you are likely forming bad habits.
Training can prepare you for real-world situations with things like force-on-force training.
Other things like learning how to fight in your car from a seated position or in extremely close quarters can be extremely beneficial.
You can’t really learn most of these skills safely by yourself. Examine your skill level and deficits and seek training to fix them. Good training can elevate you from a shooter to a gunfighter.
Plus, it’s a ton of fun.
On the flip side, seeking some form of conflict de-escalation training and even courses on legal self-defense can also be invaluable. There is more to staying safe than learning to shoot.
Final Thoughts
Breaking bad habits requires conscious effort.
We should seek excellence in everything we do, and when it comes to carrying a gun, it’s critical to be excellent.
We owe it to ourselves, our families, and our communities to be responsible, well-trained concealed carriers.
Do you have any bad habits to add? Let us know in the comments below! Still searching for that perfect gun for carry? Check out our article on the 9 Best Concealed Carry Guns!
The post Worst Concealed Carry Habits (And How to Fix Them) appeared first on Pew Pew Tactical.
One of the first things I did when I turned 21 was get my concealed carry permit.
My paperwork was filled out, and the fingerprint card was done. I sent it off! I waited patiently, and the day I got my permit, I began to carry a gun.
Lo and behold, concealed carrying a gun wasn’t as easy as I thought, but I’ve learned much since then.
I’ve taught classes and helped friends and family work on their concealed carry practices. But over the years, I’ve observed some of the worst concealed carry habits.
So today, we are going dig into the seven worst concealed carry habits and how to fix them!
Table of Contents
Loading…
Not Carrying the Gun
The worst thing you can do as a concealed carrier is fail to actually carry the gun.
I see it over and over again with new shooters. They get their concealed carry pistol and permit (where necessary) and have that initial enthusiasm.
What happens next is that the work aspect of carrying a gun comes into play. Often times they find it uncomfortable or find it conflicts with their wardrobe.
This inconvenience often makes it quite tempting to leave the gun at home or maybe even in the car. It’s easy to see why, but it’s a terrible habit to create. Carry the dang thing anywhere you legally can.
You might need to experiment with different holsters and carry styles to find the most comfortable means to carry. There are tons of holster options, and while it sucks having to buy or try a bunch of holsters, figuring it out is essential.
Guns can also be expensive, but maybe you need something slightly smaller. A Glock 19 doesn’t look too tough to carry in the gun store case, but reality comes at you fast.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
A gun at home does you no good when you need it while you are out. Remember, safety is more important than convenience. It’s like a seatbelt; make sure you use it even if it’s a mild inconvenience!
Always Touching It
I was bad about this when I first started carrying a firearm. I was always touching my gun to make sure it was there and concealed. It’s addictive to constantly reach for and touch the gun.
The first few times you conceal carry might feel nerve-racking; it almost feels like you are breaking the law.
You also might be terrified of accidentally exposing your firearm — I get that. Concealed carry means concealed, right?
However, constantly touching it is a sure way to draw attention to your firearm and make people focus on it.
Just resist the urge and know that this will pass! Eventually, you’ll get used to packing, and you’ll lose that urge.
Another reason for constant touch or adjusting may be related to a bad holster or one that needs to be broken in.
If it sags, buy a better belt., or if it’s poking you, try adjusting the height or cant if possible. If none of that works, buy a different holster — welcome to the world of concealed carry science and experimentation.
A good way to break the habit and find flaws in your holster is to carry your gun and holster around the house.
This allows you to make the necessary adjustments in a non-critical environment.
Carrying on an Empty Chamber
It’s 2023, and people are still carrying on an empty chamber.
I understand that this line of reasoning is not exactly new. There was a time before drop safeties and transfer bars that this was most certainly the safe way to carry, but it’s not the late 1800s anymore.
Carrying with an unloaded chamber is the same thing as not wearing a seat belt and hoping you can put it on right before a car accident.
We live in a day and age where guns have multiple safety devices to ensure the gun only goes bang when you pull the trigger.
Glock pistols have no manual safety but three internal safeties that render the firearm safe as long as you aren’t irresponsible.
Manual safeties are still fairly common as well. Guns like the P365 come with or without manual safeties. At this point, not carrying with a round in the chamber is silly.
I’ve heard excuses like, “Well, I like to play with my kids.” Well, take the gun off! Where are you wrestling with your kids where you can’t do that?
I have three kids and a child army of nephews, nieces, and neighbors, and guess what? I’ve never had this problem.
There is a real risk both in terms of the time it takes to chamber a round in an emergency situation and the possibility of the gun not going into battery if the chambering process doesn’t go smoothly.
If you are still concerned, go out and get some training with a reputable instructor who can improve your firearms handling and confidence.
If you can’t safely carry with a round in the chamber, then you can’t safely carry a gun.
Never Cleaning or Checking Your Equipment
It’s easy to say that you don’t need to clean your gun if you haven’t shot it!
You should be shooting it, but honestly, the carbon left by shooting the gun isn’t as big of an issue as the dirt, debris, and sweat your gun has collected.
Carry guns get dragged through it!
If you are not inspecting your gun and cleaning it when necessary at least once a week, you’re in for a surprise.
Everything seems to stick to guns. Lint from your shirt and pants, dirt and dust from your day, not to mention sweat that can cause rust!
Different carry styles pose different issues. Pocket carry, for example, is a great way to get your gun filthy, IWB typically leads to more sweat, and OWB exposes it more to the world.
Regardless of how you carry it, inspect your gun, clean your gun, and keep it running.
Outside of your gun, your holster, magazines, and ammo need inspections too.
For ammo, you need to inspect the cases and projectiles for deformation and bullet setback. Magazines should be clean, dirt free, and externally rust-free.
Holsters should also be cleaned as they can gather dirt, sweat, and more. Sticking a clean gun into a dirty holster is like rewearing underwear after a shower; just don’t do it.
If you need some tips on how to break down or disassemble your guns, we have tons of tutorials on our Guncademy page on YouTube!
Printing
I feel like an old man with how much I love OWB carry. It’s one of the few methods of carry I find universally comfortable.
However, OWB isn’t the easiest for concealment, and I have to take several steps to make it work.
Concealment can be tricky and downright difficult depending on how you carry and what you carry. Strapping up with a 4-inch barreled Smiht & Wesson 686 is never going to be easy.
A lot of people don’t realize their medium shorts show a great outline of their Glock 19 to the point where I can dang near guess the generation.
Concealed means concealed. If you want to open carry, then open carry (where legal).
If you are carrying in an obvious way, then concealment doesn’t matter. You may be forced to engage if your gun is as obvious as a hipster’s mustache.
The main problem with bad concealment comes from a mix of issues. Typically tight clothing plays a part, but so does gun size, holster design, and even your belt.
Carrying a Glock 17 with a Surefire X300U and a 20-round magazine isn’t going to work with an OWB holster and a normal T-shirt.
However, carrying and concealing a full-size gun can be pretty easy if you get an appendix carry holster and a quality, strong belt.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
To evaluate your concealment use a mirror! Or better yet, ask someone. Work from there to make your gun disappear as best as possible.
Failing to Find Balance
Do you know what I’m pretty good at? Shooting paper targets on a square range with a two-handed stance.
It strokes my ego to pop shots into an A-zone at 25 yards with my P365. It can get addictive to do what you perceive yourself to be good at, but that doesn’t make you a good shooter.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
I’ve learned about balance when it comes to my shooting capabilities. This includes developing skills like being able to adequately and accurately engage a target with one hand, including my non-dominant hand.
Can I draw with my non-dominant hand? What about shooting and using cover? Can I reload quickly and clear malfunctions efficiently? These are questions to ask yourself.
Am I training to be a better shooter in all aspects or just in the skills that make me feel good about myself?
Plenty of shooters can hit a target in ideal conditions, but being able to be efficient across the board is important.
Rejecting Training
Not all states require some form of practical training, but many do.
If you only ever do the least amount of training and practice, you are likely forming bad habits.
Training can prepare you for real-world situations with things like force-on-force training.
Other things like learning how to fight in your car from a seated position or in extremely close quarters can be extremely beneficial.
You can’t really learn most of these skills safely by yourself. Examine your skill level and deficits and seek training to fix them. Good training can elevate you from a shooter to a gunfighter.
Plus, it’s a ton of fun.
On the flip side, seeking some form of conflict de-escalation training and even courses on legal self-defense can also be invaluable. There is more to staying safe than learning to shoot.
Final Thoughts
Breaking bad habits requires conscious effort.
We should seek excellence in everything we do, and when it comes to carrying a gun, it’s critical to be excellent.
We owe it to ourselves, our families, and our communities to be responsible, well-trained concealed carriers.
Do you have any bad habits to add? Let us know in the comments below! Still searching for that perfect gun for carry? Check out our article on the 9 Best Concealed Carry Guns!
The post Worst Concealed Carry Habits (And How to Fix Them) appeared first on Pew Pew Tactical.
