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
Whether you are a beginner or a long-time gun owner, you will always encounter discussions about how to avoid printing your CCW. Printing, simply described, is when the outline of your firearm becomes visible through your clothes. As a concealed carrier, this is obviously a very big concern – if your gun is printing clearly through your clothes, it removes the “concealed” aspect of concealed carrying and draws unwanted attention to yourself.
In this article, we break down how to avoid printing your CCW throughout your everyday life. A lot goes into maintaining a high level of discretion during concealed carrying and doing everything you can to ensure that your CCW stays concealed is crucial.
Table of Contents
Why you should worry about printing
How to avoid printing your CCW
Conclusion
Why you should worry about printing
In a perfect world where guns are completely accepted in the United States and a normal part of life (which may be the case where you live!), printing would be completely acceptable and a normal sight to see.
However, this is not the case. Firearms don’t have the same connotation for every American citizen, and non-gun owners who see you printing might become alarmed and panic (this has happened to me in the past). People who don’t have the same exposure to firearms as you do don’t have the same understandings and reactions as you do when they see guns.
On that same token, any bad guy that sees you printing will view you as a target, which removes your ability to save others if you are attacked first.
Also, by principle, your CCW is meant to be concealed (go figure!). Thus, it only makes sense that you do everything you can to ensure you don’t print while concealed carrying. Your CCW is an integral part of your everyday attire and should be considered a crucial part of yourself that you need to keep hidden until truly needed. You should only ever let others know about your CCW when you need to (God forbid) use it.
This being said, on top of attracting adverse attention and reactions from others, printing also leads you to act in ways that even further jeopardize your safety. You’ve likely experienced this yourself – you catch yourself printing and end up obsessively trying to readjust your gun. These actions draw attention to your concealed carry and put you in danger. Learning how to avoid printing your CCW turns these issues into non-issues.
How to avoid printing your CCW
Carry a smaller CCW
The correlation is clear – bigger guns result in more printing. If you aren’t too particular about the size of your CCW, go for a smaller firearm. A smaller firearm will still pack a punch but won’t run the risk of more obvious printing.
Wear more patterned shirts
Break out the plaid shirts! This one’s an easy fix – it’s a well-known fact that patterns in your clothing help “break up” the outline of your gun. Wearing a plain white shirt over your CCW will more likely lead to printing than if you wear a flannel shirt.
Ensure your gun belt doesn’t sag
One of the biggest causes of printing is sagging gun belts. Your belt can’t stably hold up the weight of your gun and your holster, dragging it down and outwards. Your gun then presses against your shirt, causing the outline of your firearm to show. Remember – keeping your gun belt up is one of the best ways to avoid printing your CCW. Learn how here!
Don’t adjust your gun all the time
Carrying a firearm in public, even legally, can be nerve wracking until you get to the point where you’ve done it so often it feels completely natural. Some gun owners, especially beginners, tend to be more self-conscious about their concealed carry. This generally leads to OCD-like adjustment of one’s gun belt and gun, drawing unnecessary attention.
Wear looser clothes
I’m the last person to ask for fashion tips, so don’t turn to me for that. However, on a practical level, wearing looser clothes greatly aids in preventing your CCW from printing. The fabric of a looser shirt doesn’t get pulled tightly around your gun, which prevents the outline of your gun from being seen.
Choose your holsters wisely
Types of holsters generally come down to personal preference. However, in terms of keeping your CCW from printing, opt for more low-profile holsters that don’t jut out as much (example, IWB holsters). Also, consider switching to other modes of carry that may print less (ankle holsters, shoulder holsters, etc.).
Watch your movement
There are certain movements that leave you more prone to printing. When you squat down (picking something up, etc.), your belt sags downwards. Depending on your clothing, this may cause your gun to print. Similar things happen when you sit down as well, since the position of your gun changes as you sit. Learning how to avoid printing your CCW starts from choose a holster that accounts for all these movements. Be sure to test out various movements/positions while carrying to see if they lead to printing.
Play around with how your gun is angled in your holster
Depending on your body type, carrying your CCW at an angle may help avoid printing. Changing the angle of your CCW may allow your clothes to lay on less pointed portions of your firearm, which causes less printing.
Conclusion
Figuring out how to avoid printing your CCW is a crucial part of being a gun owner. When nobody knows you are concealed carrying, you are better positioned to protect yourself and those around you. Printing your gun removes that level of discretion and exposes you to danger and unwanted attention. Ensuring that your gun doesn’t print is key, and should be on the top of your list of priorities as a concealed carrier.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok
How to Avoid Printing Your CCW: Carrying Your Gun Discretely
The GMW Concealed Carry Gun Pack. Now available now on Amazon.com.
BUY NOW
BUY NOW
Whether you are a beginner or a long-time gun owner, you will always encounter discussions about how to avoid printing your CCW. Printing, simply described, is when the outline of your firearm becomes visible through your clothes. As a concealed carrier, this is obviously a very big concern – if your gun is printing clearly through your clothes, it removes the “concealed” aspect of concealed carrying and draws unwanted attention to yourself.
In this article, we break down how to avoid printing your CCW throughout your everyday life. A lot goes into maintaining a high level of discretion during concealed carrying and doing everything you can to ensure that your CCW stays concealed is crucial.
Table of Contents
Why you should worry about printing
How to avoid printing your CCW
Conclusion
Why you should worry about printing
In a perfect world where guns are completely accepted in the United States and a normal part of life (which may be the case where you live!), printing would be completely acceptable and a normal sight to see.
However, this is not the case. Firearms don’t have the same connotation for every American citizen, and non-gun owners who see you printing might become alarmed and panic (this has happened to me in the past). People who don’t have the same exposure to firearms as you do don’t have the same understandings and reactions as you do when they see guns.
On that same token, any bad guy that sees you printing will view you as a target, which removes your ability to save others if you are attacked first.
Also, by principle, your CCW is meant to be concealed (go figure!). Thus, it only makes sense that you do everything you can to ensure you don’t print while concealed carrying. Your CCW is an integral part of your everyday attire and should be considered a crucial part of yourself that you need to keep hidden until truly needed. You should only ever let others know about your CCW when you need to (God forbid) use it.
This being said, on top of attracting adverse attention and reactions from others, printing also leads you to act in ways that even further jeopardize your safety. You’ve likely experienced this yourself – you catch yourself printing and end up obsessively trying to readjust your gun. These actions draw attention to your concealed carry and put you in danger. Learning how to avoid printing your CCW turns these issues into non-issues.
How to avoid printing your CCW
Carry a smaller CCW
The correlation is clear – bigger guns result in more printing. If you aren’t too particular about the size of your CCW, go for a smaller firearm. A smaller firearm will still pack a punch but won’t run the risk of more obvious printing.
Wear more patterned shirts
Break out the plaid shirts! This one’s an easy fix – it’s a well-known fact that patterns in your clothing help “break up” the outline of your gun. Wearing a plain white shirt over your CCW will more likely lead to printing than if you wear a flannel shirt.
Ensure your gun belt doesn’t sag
One of the biggest causes of printing is sagging gun belts. Your belt can’t stably hold up the weight of your gun and your holster, dragging it down and outwards. Your gun then presses against your shirt, causing the outline of your firearm to show. Remember – keeping your gun belt up is one of the best ways to avoid printing your CCW. Learn how here!
Don’t adjust your gun all the time
Carrying a firearm in public, even legally, can be nerve wracking until you get to the point where you’ve done it so often it feels completely natural. Some gun owners, especially beginners, tend to be more self-conscious about their concealed carry. This generally leads to OCD-like adjustment of one’s gun belt and gun, drawing unnecessary attention.
Wear looser clothes
I’m the last person to ask for fashion tips, so don’t turn to me for that. However, on a practical level, wearing looser clothes greatly aids in preventing your CCW from printing. The fabric of a looser shirt doesn’t get pulled tightly around your gun, which prevents the outline of your gun from being seen.
Choose your holsters wisely
Types of holsters generally come down to personal preference. However, in terms of keeping your CCW from printing, opt for more low-profile holsters that don’t jut out as much (example, IWB holsters). Also, consider switching to other modes of carry that may print less (ankle holsters, shoulder holsters, etc.).
Watch your movement
There are certain movements that leave you more prone to printing. When you squat down (picking something up, etc.), your belt sags downwards. Depending on your clothing, this may cause your gun to print. Similar things happen when you sit down as well, since the position of your gun changes as you sit. Learning how to avoid printing your CCW starts from choose a holster that accounts for all these movements. Be sure to test out various movements/positions while carrying to see if they lead to printing.
Play around with how your gun is angled in your holster
Depending on your body type, carrying your CCW at an angle may help avoid printing. Changing the angle of your CCW may allow your clothes to lay on less pointed portions of your firearm, which causes less printing.
Conclusion
Figuring out how to avoid printing your CCW is a crucial part of being a gun owner. When nobody knows you are concealed carrying, you are better positioned to protect yourself and those around you. Printing your gun removes that level of discretion and exposes you to danger and unwanted attention. Ensuring that your gun doesn’t print is key, and should be on the top of your list of priorities as a concealed carrier.