Pros and Cons of different carry methods

[Shane]

There's lots of discussion on related threads about different styles of holsters and different body placements for carry. I thought it would be useful to have a thread on the pros and cons of each carry method. I'm still waiting on my CHL to arrive, so I don't have a preference yet. What is yours and why?

[cbail13]

Following along.

[Daniel75]

IWB
Pros:
-least amount and most natural movement to grab the weapon
-most concealable (doesn't print as bad as some others)
-much better tactical location than an ankle holster or behind the back Lethal Weapon style

Cons:
-some say its the least comfortable. I disagree, once you get used to it, you'll forget it's there.
-you'll have to buy your pants/shorts a size bigger to accommodate the gun and holster.
-can be difficult to access once you're seated in the vehicle with a seatbelt on

I suggest a Don Hume IWB holster. Good luck and pick which one fits you best.

[Michael]

Following along.

Me too. Timely topic for all the new cc guys.

[Daniel75]

This is a Don Hume and I carried a Glock 27 so this is my exact setup. I highly recommend this.

[Bowhuntamistad]

Summer-at the 5 o'clock position with my Crossbreed IWB holster. Very comfortable and easy to conceal.

Winter-at the 5 o'clock with a pancake holster. I also open carry this way with this holster.

Each has its advantages, just depends on your comfort level.

[J-DAWG]

I'm 5'8 and 145 and have a 29-30in waist and had to buy a slim pistol to carry. I ended up with a KelTec PF9 and the only way I can carry it without showing imprint is that I had to get a metal clip that attached strait to the gun itself. I usualy carry in front but sometimes on my side depending on what I'm wearing.
It's hard for us skinny folks during the warm months if you don't wear baggy clothes.

[Shane]

Good start. Besides just saying inside the waist band, what position inside the waste band? Appendix....3 o'clock.....small of back.....etc... I'd call that photo 2 o'clock. Not quite appendix and not quite on the side.

On a side note, I may be in luck. I've been CrossFitting in preparation for a sheep hunt, and I'm on the last hole in all my belts and starting to need to buy smaller pants. Maybe now I can just keep all my loose pants.

[Shane]

Summer-at the 5 o'clock position with my Crossbreed IWB holster. Very comfortable and easy to conceal.

Winter-at the 5 o'clock with a pancake holster. I also open carry this way with this holster.

Each has its advantages, just depends on your comfort level.

What are they?

[gatorgar]

Usually, I carry a full size (G22) at about 3:00, forward cant, IWB. One motion draw and comfortable no matter what I am doing. During the summer, or when wearing light clothes, I prefer a pocket pistol (LCP) in my strong side hip pocket in a small pocket holster.

[tvc184]

Good start. Besides just saying inside the waist band, what position inside the waste band? Appendix....3 o'clock.....small of back.....etc... I'd call that photo 2 o'clock. Not quite appendix and not quite on the side.

On a side note, I may be in luck. I've been CrossFitting in preparation for a sheep hunt, and I'm on the last hole in all my belts and starting to need to buy smaller pants. Maybe now I can just keep all my loose pants.

The appendix carry is the easiest to access the handgun and get it into action and one of the easiest places to conceal it for many (or most) people. It also makes it easy to get to the weapon with both hands if your strong hand/arm is disabled. If possible it is also easy to get both hands involved by using the weak hand to quickly life the shirt and the strong hand for the draw. Of course you can draw without either hand but a two hand movement is usually quicker

At 3 or 4 o'clock it is very easy for a strong hand draw but extremely difficult to use the weak hand to draw and for many people, hard to conceal, especially if it is a full size. A baggie shirt will help conceal most places but at the point of the hips, it makes you look a lot wider and more easy to notice.

The 5, 6 or 7 o'clock positions near the small of the back are a very good place for many people to conceal a handgun. Like the appendix carry, the pistol can usually be drawn with either hand but maybe a lot slower than in front where there is almost no reach. It also depends if it is carried vertical like in the appendix carry or some of the SOB horizontal holsters that make it a bit harder to get to weak handed. You can draw from the SOB without crossing your vitals much easier with a vertical carry with the grip toward the strong side.

The ankle carry for usually smaller handguns is for some people a good place to hide a handgun. It is also a lousy place to draw one from. It is a good place if you are lucky enough to have a few seconds before you will need to bring it into action. Forget it if you are running to get away or trying to get to cover. If it is the only place then you have to carry where available but except as a last resort or for a small backup gun, I would shy away from the ankle.

[Tuffbroadhead]

I carry daily using a Don Hume JIT OWB, G19.

Easily concealed with a over shirt and I'm a small guy 5-8 155 lbs, I prefer to carry at my left 8 o clock position because its slightly offset and very easy to conceal in that position and it does not require any major noticeable motion to draw and engage, not to mention in the 8 o clock for lefties or 4 o clock for righties it is VERY easy in a threat situation to blade slightly(strong side away from threat) and draw without notice.

There are many ways to carry and like it has been covered above each has a pros and cons, but what you HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND is natural body mechanics and speed/ease of draw...at the end of the day if you cannot present your weapon in a timely manner you lose...LOSING IS NOT A OPTION!

BEHIND THE BACK, (5-6-7 o clock) takes MAJOR noticeable movement to draw and engage not to mention a ton of time which is what matters, and it is not a normal body mechanic movement. what if you fall into the supine position..you cant draw..

ANKLE carry like stated above is for smaller weapons and takes a TON of practice to get efficient and take MAJOR body movement and time...two things that will get you killed.

3-4 o CLOCK carry looks great on the range but in real life it its just plain hard to hide a weapon of medium size...G-19 , M&P compact.....

APPENDIX carry is easy for most and quick to draw, but limits your ability to move and work(squat down, bend over) and you cannot conceal your draw movement.

What I teach are simple short natural body mechanics that our bodies can do in a quick efficient manner without major notice of others with slight movement that are easy and fast...the two things that will keep you alive in a fight. I DID NOT cover support hand draw for a reason, it is GREAT to have basic knowledge of but takes ALOT of practice to get good at....Injury drills are a BLAST and challenging.

However you carry PRACTICE your draw cycle ALOT!!!! Dont get lazy...

[Traildust]

IWB
Pros:
-least amount and most natural movement to grab the weapon
-most concealable (doesn't print as bad as some others)
-much better tactical location than an ankle holster or behind the back Lethal Weapon style

Cons:
-some say its the least comfortable. I disagree, once you get used to it, you'll forget it's there.
-you'll have to buy your pants/shorts a size bigger to accommodate the gun and holster.
-can be difficult to access once you're seated in the vehicle with a seatbelt on

I suggest a Don Hume IWB holster. Good luck and pick which one fits you best.

This.....I carry at 2 or 3 o'clock.....just depending on what I am wearing. I prefer the nylon type holsters. They are more comfortable to me. They mold better to you than leather. I use H&H Holsters.....eBay

[texag93]

IWB small of back is a convenient way to carry but is not easily accessible and if you're on your back, its not gonna be easy to access. 3 o'clock position is a good spot but can be uncomfortable at times with a cheap holster and you'll need larger britches to accommodate the extra bulk. Carrying 1-2 o'clock position is handy until you sit.....it will point at and poke you in the ding ding. Not comforting or comfortable. In the end, 3 o'clock is best option in waist band. I'm not a fan of ankle carry.

[MountainMan]

I'll echo what the guys above have said. If I'm carrying my Glock 27, I use my Crossbreed and carry in the 3-4 o'clock position. Took about 2 weeks before the leather molded, but now it's very comfortable to carry. Since I'm not the biggest dude ever and I have to wear slacks every single day, I got me a small KelTec .380 and I carry it in my front pocket in a small holster. Really comfortable, not noticeable at all. No bigger than my wallet and I can get to it instantly.