Where to Start - The Smart Girl’s Guide to Concealed Carry

If you’ve chosen to apply for a concealed carry permit, you’ve joined the ranks of about 19 million other American gun owners who carry firearms or are licensed to do so. As an armed woman and newly licensed concealed carrier, you may be wondering where to begin.

Women who carry firearms are doing so because  they want to exercise their right to protect themselves.

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Firearms Safety

If you’ve completed a concealed carry permit course, you’ve probably become acquainted with firearms safety. However, the precise rules and wording are not consistent, so it’s worth reciting the regulations in one of the more straightforward layouts.

1. All guns are always loaded. Even if they are not, treat them as if they are. The purpose of this rule is to ensure you never assume that a firearm is unloaded or take someone else’s word for it. If you’re handed a gun or lift one off a table, you should always check to ensure it’s unloaded. If you don’t know how to check, ask for help.
   
2. Never let the muzzle cover anything that you are not prepared to destroy. This rule is called muzzle awareness. You should always know where your gun’s muzzle is pointing at all times.
   
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target. This is called trigger discipline and is vital for avoiding negligent discharges.
   
4. Be aware of your target. When firing on a range or hunting, you must know where your bullets will land after leaving the barrel. Another way that this rule is phrased is “be aware of your backstop.”

Aside from these rules, which are useful for both range practice and combat, safety also means protecting your eyes and hearing when firing weapons for training. You should keep these in your range bag.

What Gun Should I Choose?

Unless you’ve purchased a firearm before completing your concealed carry class or you’re experienced with firearms, you may be wondering what your concealed weapon should be. Your choice of weapon is personal. If possible, it’s advisable to handle and practice with various firearms to determine what suits you best. You can do this by renting handguns at firing ranges that offer this service.

At a minimum, your concealed carry weapon should meet the following requirements:

• Reliability: The first requirement must be reliability. You rely on the weapon you carry to save your life. When you squeeze the trigger, you need to know that it will fire — every time. That includes your choice of defensive ammunition.
• Controllability: You should be able to handle the recoil comfortably. This doesn’t mean settling for a .22 rimfire or .380 pocket pistol, although the latter is a viable option. Find out what calibers and types of handguns you can tolerate.
• Accuracy: Although this is related to training and range time — proficiency with firearms is a perishable skill — you should be able to hit man-sized targets at typical shooting distances consistently. You’re seeking practical accuracy, not match-grade precision. Always keep some ammo on hand for range practice.
• Comfort: The gun you choose should be comfortable to hold and operate. You should be able to manipulate all controls, such as the slide stop and magazine catch, easily. You should also be able to retract the slide without straining.
• Concealability: This is a firearm for concealed carry, so your ability to hide it under clothing is essential. When a gun telegraphs its appearance through clothing, forming a noticeable outline, this is called printing. You want to avoid this. Many gun owners select compact or subcompact handguns, such as the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield, for concealed carry, but this is by no means a requirement.

Waistband Carry Methods

When choosing a concealed carry holster, you may decide that a waistband holster is a good option. This type of method requires both a high-quality  gun holster and a sturdy gun belt to ensure that your carry weapon remains safe, secure, and easy to draw.

If you’re interested in carrying your weapon concealed, an  IWB holster is a great option. Worn inside the waistband, this type of holster allows you to hide part of the holster and gun using your pants. This also lets you conceal your weapon without a cover garment, such as a jacket, allowing for more wardrobe versatility, especially during the warmer months. 

OWB, or outside the waistband, is suitable for open and concealed carry; however, if you intend to carry your weapon concealed, you’ll need a jacket or coat to hide it. This is popular among law enforcement.

Waistband Carry Positions

Aside from IWB and OWB, there’s also the question of carry positions. Your carry gun’s position on your belt is described using a clock face metaphor in the firearms community. If you want to carry on your right hip as a right-handed shooter, this is your strong side and corresponds to the 3 o’clock position. Appendix carry, situated at or beside your navel, is 1 or 12 o’clock.

Non-Waistband Carry Positions

If you’d prefer not to carry your gun in a waistband holster, there are alternatives — from bra holsters and corset holsters to shoulder holsters and belly bands. These can work for you depending on your body type, manner of dress, and lifestyle.

You should generally avoid off-body carry where possible, however. Concealed carry purses, for example, limit your access to your firearm and also pose a security risk because your purse is the first thing that a mugger is likely to grab.

Final Thoughts

At Incognito Concealment, we actively encourage men and women to exercise their Second Amendment rights and take the preparations necessary to defend themselves. If you’d like to discuss your concealed carry holster options with us, give us a call at  (586) 999-5820.