Common Concealed Carry Mistakes

So you just purchased a brand new concealed carry firearm, but might be wondering: now what? First of all, congratulations! Your next step is most likely to get a good holster and start carrying your weapon with you. One of the best places for your concealed carry firearm is in a quality inside-the-waistband or outside-the-waistband holster. But, when getting used to something new, there are bound to be a few mistakes here and there. Concealed carry is no different!

Even those who conceal carry a firearm for years can make mistakes, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be prepared and avoid some of the most common concealed carry mistakes. Whether you are using an IWB holster or an OWB holster, here are some of the biggest mistakes that are made and how you can avoid them!

Only Carrying Sometimes

If you go through the work to obtain a concealed carry permit and buy a gun to carry around, it is best to carry it with you at all times. After all, what good is a gun if you don’t have it when you need it the most? It is often those that only carry on occasion that end up not carrying their gun with them at all after a period of time. The more comfortable you get leaving the gun at home, the more and more it will start to stay there. Make a commitment to carry your firearm each and every time you leave your house so that it becomes a habit.

Printing

Printing is when your firearm and holster are covered by your clothing, but the outline of them is still visible. While many people think that printing is much more serious and prevalent than it actually is, it is still something to be aware of and plan around. You can avoid printing by using a quality IWB holster and planning your clothing options around your weapon and the weather. For example, tighter clothing is more prone to printing but a simple jacket or change in carrying
position can potentially fix the printing. With a little bit of experimenting, printing will not be an issue!

Touching Your Gun Out In Public

Perhaps one of the most common mistakes that conceal carriers make is reaching down to touch or adjust their gun while they are out in public. Even if it is done casually, it is still drawing attention to the fact that you are carrying a weapon. Your goal when carrying a concealed gun is to keep it discreet, so every time that you touch or adjust it you are putting this discretion at risk. This is another area where a quality holster can immensely help. When you are using a high-quality and comfortable IWB or OWB holster, you will not need to regularly adjust it and it will stay secure all day long.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to concealed carry, there are bound to be a few mistakes made here and there. From printing to constantly touching your gun, there are many seemingly small mistakes that can be made. But, as long as you get yourself a quality holster and make a few preparations, you can avoid many of the common mistakes that come along with concealed carrying a firearm!