The GMW Concealed Carry Gun Pack. Now available now on Amazon.com. BUY NOW
The GMW IWB magazine holster with built-in neodymium magnets. Now available now on Amazon.com. BUY NOW
Gun ownership is a huge responsibility. The US has a long tradition of gun ownership and the recent Small Arms Survey 2017 conducted by the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland notes that almost 46% of all small arms in the world are held by US citizens. This is more than 393,000,000 firearms and that means that in the US there are about 120.5 firearms for every 100 residents.
Carriers in the US often cite self-defense as their main reason for carrying. To effectively defend yourself, you’re going to need to keep in practice. You’ll need to develop and keep up your speed of draw, accuracy, and targeting efficiency. Learning how to practice concealed carry is important because in the event of a sudden attack you might only have a split second to react and defend your life. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the basics of concealed carry practice and help you make sure that you will be sharp and ready when the time comes.
TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE CONCEALED CARRY
Before you head out and grab your favorite handgun, you should first keep in mind that there are some rules and regulations. Part of learning how to practice concealed carry is knowing the gun laws in your jurisdiction. Depending on state laws, you may not be allowed to concealed carry without a permit. When applying for a concealed carry permit, make sure to meet all requirements set by the state. You’ll likely need to provide proof of ownership of your firearm, proof of skill, and training documentation. Once you have the necessary paperwork, you can start thinking about how you’ll be carrying. Let’s look at some important considerations.
Choose a Comfortable Holster
Finding a comfortable holster is important for concealed carry practice. You’ll probably need to try out a lot of different holsters and a lot of different carry styles until you find the one that works best for you. You will need to consider ease of access to your firearm, your ability to draw, ease of concealment, and other factors when selecting your holster. It’s usually smart to have one holster for each of your firearms. This way you know that each holster will be the perfect fit for its firearm. A loose holster could spell disaster. General holsters that adapt to different firearms exist but they are not recommended.
Concealed Carry All the Time
When thinking about how to practice concealed carry, you’ll need to really take the time to consider your plan for carrying. Once you think you have found the right holster try wearing it around the house for a few days so that you get used to it before heading out into public. Treat a new holster just like a new pair of shoes. You’ll need a comfortable, secure holster so that you’ll feel comfortable carrying at all times as you never know when danger could strike. A good holster will also keep your weapon in one secure position at all times and that will make drawing a lot easier. Consistency is key.
Don’t Make It Public
Never touch or fidget with your gun in public. This is one of the reasons that you should only carry in private until you feel comfortable and accustomed to the holster on your body. If you ever do need to adjust your holster always do so in a private space such as a bathroom stall. If someone spots your concealed weapon they could become uncomfortable or panic. Unconcealed weapons may even be illegal in your state. Make sure you know your laws and make sure to keep your concealed weapon concealed at all times.
Limit Your Personal Enhancements
There are tons of ways to customize your firearm these days. Different slides, different sights, different triggers…there are a lot of options. We recommend, however, that you take a conservative approach to customization. Each one of these accessories comes with an increase in the chances of your firearm failing. Stock options are tried and true, so don’t go customization crazy unless you have very good reason to.
Don’t Be Nervous
Everyone is nervous when they first start concealed carrying. You might be paranoid that someone can see your gun or you might think someone who knows you’re carrying is judging you. These nerves will not be of benefit to you. Take a deep breath, focus, and carry on. As long as you properly did your research and planned your carry, everything should go just fine.
Practice Safe Shooting
Take as much time at the range as you need to get comfortable with your firearm. When the moment comes to use it, you’ll need to be as accurate as possible. That being said, remember that drawing your firearm is always your last option.
Practice Drawing at the Range
Practice drawing when you’re at the range. A perfect draw will set you up for a perfect shot and your speed in drawing your weapon could be the deciding factor between life and death in a violent situation. Keep in mind that you won’t be wearing the same clothes everyday so take a few outfits with you to the range and make sure you feel comfortable drawing no matter what you’re wearing.
Be Confident
The best way to carry is confidently and the best way to be confident is to practice, practice, practice. Be knowledgeable and do your research, then take your weapon and holster down to the range and start putting in some work. You’ll initially be nervous about carrying a firearm. Accidental discharges are a serious worry if you carry a loaded weapon, but with the proper training and precautions you should become confident in avoiding these accidents. Make sure your holster protects your trigger if you plan on carrying a loaded handgun.
IMPORTANCE OF PRACTICING YOUR DRAW
If you are new to concealed carrying, it may take some time to become a master of the quick draw. When talking about how to practice concealed carry we need to talk about how to practice your draw. In an actual encounter, drawing quickly can make a huge difference. Get to know your weapon and develop the best draw possible. Learning how to pull the trigger and handle recoil is not easy. It takes work. Practicing your draw is also important for the following reasons:
Different Types of Clothing Will Change Your Draw
You will not be wearing the same clothing every day and this will impact your draw. Practice for different outfits and for different seasons. Have you practiced drawing in a pair of heavy winter gloves? Are you an IWB holster carrier that’s prepared to draw while wearing a tucked shirt? Since there are so many different ways a dangerous moment could go down it’s for the best that you have as much experience and practice as possible.
Your Body Position Will Change Your Draw
Drawing a weapon from the driver’s seat is going to be different from drawing a weapon while you’re standing on a ladder. Concealed carry practice is necessary so that you become comfortable drawing from different positions. In an active shooting situation you might have to dive to the ground to take cover. Make sure you know how you’ll draw from this position. Consider all scenarios.
Trigger Safety Matters
Drawing your weapon with your finger on the trigger is an unsafe practice. Under stress your adrenaline could betray you. Use dummy training rounds and practice drawing, pointing, aiming, pulling the trigger, and re-holstering your weapon. You never want to fire an inaccurate shot. Safety first always.
Drawing Speed Matters
Drawing a concealed carry weapon leaves no room for error. Learning to quickly draw your weapon can save your life. Try different carry positions until you become comfortable and develop the ability to draw as fast as you possibly can. Many people favor carrying at the 4 o’clock position but this isn’t always a good option for a quick draw. Try a 3 o’clock carry and see how that affects your speed. Try as many carries and draws as you can.
Reloading Is a Skill
While practicing your draw, take the time to practice reloading. Think about the best locations for carrying spare magazines. Think about and practice reloading and chambering a round. Think about any malfunctions that could happen while reloading and how you will respond.
CONSIDER DISTANCE
For concealed carry practice, consider training on shooting at more than one distance. When you confront an attacker you won’t know beforehand if they’ll be right in front of you or 30 feet away. It’s best to train for all possibilities so that you are able to neutralize a threat as soon as it appears.
Close Encounters of the Criminal Kind
Attackers will likely try to surprise you and you can do the same to them. If necessary, draw and be ready to shoot as quickly as possible. Do not let a possible threat come close to you. Distance will make you safer and attackers probably won’t continue to threaten you from far away. Self-defense is often about being able to control the scene.
Concealed Carry Is Defensive
By definition, concealed carry is a defensive measure so never draw your firearm unless you are clear about the attacker’s intent. As we’re considering distance, let’s think about what a handgun might do in this situation. You’re probably not going to be comfortable shooting at a target 60 feet away but between 5 and 20 feet you should definitely have enough practice to confidently hit a target. In self-defense it’s important to neutralize a target as quickly as possible. Remember that you may be held liable for any damage from missed shots. Make sure that every shot is necessary and worth it.
BEST DRILLS FOR CONCEALED CARRY PRACTICE
What good is a gun in your pocket if you don’t have the skills to use it? These skills will take time to develop. 1 or 2 trips to the range will not cut it. Here are 5 drills for concealed carry practice that can help you develop the skills you’ll need:
Dry Fire
Dry fire drills allow you to work on all of your concealed carry essentials: draw, grip, presentation, and firing. In dry fire, you will be able to diagnose problems that might otherwise go unnoticed during live fire drills. Be absolutely sure your gun is unloaded before attempting a dry fire drill. Check the magazine and the chamber thoroughly and make sure that there is no live ammunition. Trust us.
Draw & Fire
If you can’t draw quickly and precisely your weapon might not be able to help you in the event of an attack. Don’t worry though, practice will fix that. In this drill, start with a firm grip on your weapon and practice a strong upward draw. This is all about repetition. Remember to practice drawing in different outfits so you’ll be ready no matter what you’re wearing.
Tactical Reloads
When thinking about how to practice concealed carry, consider practicing your tactical reloading. What happens if you empty your magazine and a threat has not been neutralized? Know where your spare magazines will be and practice your reloads. It’s as simple as that but you’d be surprised by how important this training can be in an actual confrontation.
For semi-automatic firearms, be mindful of how you hold and introduce the magazine. Handle the magazine in such a way that you’ll know whether or not the magazine is facing the proper direction before loading it. Practice grabbing new magazines, discarding empty magazines, and working the slide.
Revolvers will reload differently. Know your firearm and know what to do in case of any malfunction. This is not only gun safety…it’s gun smarts.
Far-Middle-Near with Lateral Movement
Set up a far target, a near target, and one in between, each a few yards laterally distant from the others. With this drill, you’re accomplishing several things. You are changing your focus and engaging targets at different ranges, you are working on your movements, and you are training your brain to rapidly lock into a defensive shooting stance. This drill will improve your overall mechanics. As you get better, try double taps at all distances, shooting right to left as well as left to right, and incorporating tactical reloads.
Double Tap with Retention Hold & Movement
The double tap is one of the oldest and most basic drills in defensive shooting, but it’s effective. Why? Because it teaches shooters to refocus and deliver a second shot quickly and accurately. Double tap drills are also a good diagnostic tool. If the first shot is centered but the second is low-left or low-right then you may be having issues with trigger control on your follow-up shots. Sometimes, especially with new shooters, the second shot is scattered, indicating the shooter is losing focus on the target for the second shot — a common problem for novices.
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Concealed Carry Practice to Keep You Sharp
The GMW Concealed Carry Gun Pack. Now available now on Amazon.com.
BUY NOW
BUY NOW
Gun ownership is a huge responsibility. The US has a long tradition of gun ownership and the recent Small Arms Survey 2017 conducted by the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland notes that almost 46% of all small arms in the world are held by US citizens. This is more than 393,000,000 firearms and that means that in the US there are about 120.5 firearms for every 100 residents.
Carriers in the US often cite self-defense as their main reason for carrying. To effectively defend yourself, you’re going to need to keep in practice. You’ll need to develop and keep up your speed of draw, accuracy, and targeting efficiency. Learning how to practice concealed carry is important because in the event of a sudden attack you might only have a split second to react and defend your life. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the basics of concealed carry practice and help you make sure that you will be sharp and ready when the time comes.
TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE CONCEALED CARRY
Before you head out and grab your favorite handgun, you should first keep in mind that there are some rules and regulations. Part of learning how to practice concealed carry is knowing the gun laws in your jurisdiction. Depending on state laws, you may not be allowed to concealed carry without a permit. When applying for a concealed carry permit, make sure to meet all requirements set by the state. You’ll likely need to provide proof of ownership of your firearm, proof of skill, and training documentation. Once you have the necessary paperwork, you can start thinking about how you’ll be carrying. Let’s look at some important considerations.
Choose a Comfortable Holster
Finding a comfortable holster is important for concealed carry practice. You’ll probably need to try out a lot of different holsters and a lot of different carry styles until you find the one that works best for you. You will need to consider ease of access to your firearm, your ability to draw, ease of concealment, and other factors when selecting your holster. It’s usually smart to have one holster for each of your firearms. This way you know that each holster will be the perfect fit for its firearm. A loose holster could spell disaster. General holsters that adapt to different firearms exist but they are not recommended.
Concealed Carry All the Time
When thinking about how to practice concealed carry, you’ll need to really take the time to consider your plan for carrying. Once you think you have found the right holster try wearing it around the house for a few days so that you get used to it before heading out into public. Treat a new holster just like a new pair of shoes. You’ll need a comfortable, secure holster so that you’ll feel comfortable carrying at all times as you never know when danger could strike. A good holster will also keep your weapon in one secure position at all times and that will make drawing a lot easier. Consistency is key.
Don’t Make It Public
Never touch or fidget with your gun in public. This is one of the reasons that you should only carry in private until you feel comfortable and accustomed to the holster on your body. If you ever do need to adjust your holster always do so in a private space such as a bathroom stall. If someone spots your concealed weapon they could become uncomfortable or panic. Unconcealed weapons may even be illegal in your state. Make sure you know your laws and make sure to keep your concealed weapon concealed at all times.
Limit Your Personal Enhancements
There are tons of ways to customize your firearm these days. Different slides, different sights, different triggers…there are a lot of options. We recommend, however, that you take a conservative approach to customization. Each one of these accessories comes with an increase in the chances of your firearm failing. Stock options are tried and true, so don’t go customization crazy unless you have very good reason to.
Don’t Be Nervous
Everyone is nervous when they first start concealed carrying. You might be paranoid that someone can see your gun or you might think someone who knows you’re carrying is judging you. These nerves will not be of benefit to you. Take a deep breath, focus, and carry on. As long as you properly did your research and planned your carry, everything should go just fine.
Practice Safe Shooting
Take as much time at the range as you need to get comfortable with your firearm. When the moment comes to use it, you’ll need to be as accurate as possible. That being said, remember that drawing your firearm is always your last option.
Practice Drawing at the Range
Practice drawing when you’re at the range. A perfect draw will set you up for a perfect shot and your speed in drawing your weapon could be the deciding factor between life and death in a violent situation. Keep in mind that you won’t be wearing the same clothes everyday so take a few outfits with you to the range and make sure you feel comfortable drawing no matter what you’re wearing.
Be Confident
The best way to carry is confidently and the best way to be confident is to practice, practice, practice. Be knowledgeable and do your research, then take your weapon and holster down to the range and start putting in some work. You’ll initially be nervous about carrying a firearm. Accidental discharges are a serious worry if you carry a loaded weapon, but with the proper training and precautions you should become confident in avoiding these accidents. Make sure your holster protects your trigger if you plan on carrying a loaded handgun.
IMPORTANCE OF PRACTICING YOUR DRAW
If you are new to concealed carrying, it may take some time to become a master of the quick draw. When talking about how to practice concealed carry we need to talk about how to practice your draw. In an actual encounter, drawing quickly can make a huge difference. Get to know your weapon and develop the best draw possible. Learning how to pull the trigger and handle recoil is not easy. It takes work. Practicing your draw is also important for the following reasons:
Different Types of Clothing Will Change Your Draw
You will not be wearing the same clothing every day and this will impact your draw. Practice for different outfits and for different seasons. Have you practiced drawing in a pair of heavy winter gloves? Are you an IWB holster carrier that’s prepared to draw while wearing a tucked shirt? Since there are so many different ways a dangerous moment could go down it’s for the best that you have as much experience and practice as possible.
Your Body Position Will Change Your Draw
Drawing a weapon from the driver’s seat is going to be different from drawing a weapon while you’re standing on a ladder. Concealed carry practice is necessary so that you become comfortable drawing from different positions. In an active shooting situation you might have to dive to the ground to take cover. Make sure you know how you’ll draw from this position. Consider all scenarios.
Trigger Safety Matters
Drawing your weapon with your finger on the trigger is an unsafe practice. Under stress your adrenaline could betray you. Use dummy training rounds and practice drawing, pointing, aiming, pulling the trigger, and re-holstering your weapon. You never want to fire an inaccurate shot. Safety first always.
Drawing Speed Matters
Drawing a concealed carry weapon leaves no room for error. Learning to quickly draw your weapon can save your life. Try different carry positions until you become comfortable and develop the ability to draw as fast as you possibly can. Many people favor carrying at the 4 o’clock position but this isn’t always a good option for a quick draw. Try a 3 o’clock carry and see how that affects your speed. Try as many carries and draws as you can.
Reloading Is a Skill
While practicing your draw, take the time to practice reloading. Think about the best locations for carrying spare magazines. Think about and practice reloading and chambering a round. Think about any malfunctions that could happen while reloading and how you will respond.
CONSIDER DISTANCE
For concealed carry practice, consider training on shooting at more than one distance. When you confront an attacker you won’t know beforehand if they’ll be right in front of you or 30 feet away. It’s best to train for all possibilities so that you are able to neutralize a threat as soon as it appears.
Close Encounters of the Criminal Kind
Attackers will likely try to surprise you and you can do the same to them. If necessary, draw and be ready to shoot as quickly as possible. Do not let a possible threat come close to you. Distance will make you safer and attackers probably won’t continue to threaten you from far away. Self-defense is often about being able to control the scene.
Concealed Carry Is Defensive
By definition, concealed carry is a defensive measure so never draw your firearm unless you are clear about the attacker’s intent. As we’re considering distance, let’s think about what a handgun might do in this situation. You’re probably not going to be comfortable shooting at a target 60 feet away but between 5 and 20 feet you should definitely have enough practice to confidently hit a target. In self-defense it’s important to neutralize a target as quickly as possible. Remember that you may be held liable for any damage from missed shots. Make sure that every shot is necessary and worth it.
BEST DRILLS FOR CONCEALED CARRY PRACTICE
What good is a gun in your pocket if you don’t have the skills to use it? These skills will take time to develop. 1 or 2 trips to the range will not cut it. Here are 5 drills for concealed carry practice that can help you develop the skills you’ll need:
Dry Fire
Dry fire drills allow you to work on all of your concealed carry essentials: draw, grip, presentation, and firing. In dry fire, you will be able to diagnose problems that might otherwise go unnoticed during live fire drills. Be absolutely sure your gun is unloaded before attempting a dry fire drill. Check the magazine and the chamber thoroughly and make sure that there is no live ammunition. Trust us.
Draw & Fire
If you can’t draw quickly and precisely your weapon might not be able to help you in the event of an attack. Don’t worry though, practice will fix that. In this drill, start with a firm grip on your weapon and practice a strong upward draw. This is all about repetition. Remember to practice drawing in different outfits so you’ll be ready no matter what you’re wearing.
Tactical Reloads
When thinking about how to practice concealed carry, consider practicing your tactical reloading. What happens if you empty your magazine and a threat has not been neutralized? Know where your spare magazines will be and practice your reloads. It’s as simple as that but you’d be surprised by how important this training can be in an actual confrontation.
For semi-automatic firearms, be mindful of how you hold and introduce the magazine. Handle the magazine in such a way that you’ll know whether or not the magazine is facing the proper direction before loading it. Practice grabbing new magazines, discarding empty magazines, and working the slide.
Revolvers will reload differently. Know your firearm and know what to do in case of any malfunction. This is not only gun safety…it’s gun smarts.
Far-Middle-Near with Lateral Movement
Set up a far target, a near target, and one in between, each a few yards laterally distant from the others. With this drill, you’re accomplishing several things. You are changing your focus and engaging targets at different ranges, you are working on your movements, and you are training your brain to rapidly lock into a defensive shooting stance. This drill will improve your overall mechanics. As you get better, try double taps at all distances, shooting right to left as well as left to right, and incorporating tactical reloads.
Double Tap with Retention Hold & Movement
The double tap is one of the oldest and most basic drills in defensive shooting, but it’s effective. Why? Because it teaches shooters to refocus and deliver a second shot quickly and accurately. Double tap drills are also a good diagnostic tool. If the first shot is centered but the second is low-left or low-right then you may be having issues with trigger control on your follow-up shots. Sometimes, especially with new shooters, the second shot is scattered, indicating the shooter is losing focus on the target for the second shot — a common problem for novices.