One of the first things I did when I turned 21 was get my concealed carry permit.
My paperwork was filled out, and the fingerprint card was done. I sent it off! I waited patiently, and the day I got my permit, I began to carry a gun.
Lo and behold, concealed carrying a gun wasn’t as easy as I thought, but I’ve learned much since then.
I’ve taught classes and helped friends and family work on their concealed carry practices. But over the years, I’ve observed some of the worst concealed carry habits.
So today, we are going dig into the seven worst concealed carry habits and how to fix them!
Table of Contents
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Not Carrying the Gun
The worst thing you can do as a concealed carrier is fail to actually carry the gun.
I see it over and over again with new shooters. They get their concealed carry pistol and permit (where necessary) and have that initial enthusiasm.
What happens next is that the work aspect of carrying a gun comes into play. Often times they find it uncomfortable or find it conflicts with their wardrobe.
This inconvenience often makes it quite tempting to leave the gun at home or maybe even in the car. It’s easy to see why, but it’s a terrible habit to create. Carry the dang thing anywhere you legally can.
You might need to experiment with different holsters and carry styles to find the most comfortable means to carry. There are tons of holster options, and while it sucks having to buy or try a bunch of holsters, figuring it out is essential.
Guns can also be expensive, but maybe you need something slightly smaller. A Glock 19 doesn’t look too tough to carry in the gun store case, but reality comes at you fast.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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A gun at home does you no good when you need it while you are out. Remember, safety is more important than convenience. It’s like a seatbelt; make sure you use it even if it’s a mild inconvenience!
Always Touching It
I was bad about this when I first started carrying a firearm. I was always touching my gun to make sure it was there and concealed. It’s addictive to constantly reach for and touch the gun.
The first few times you conceal carry might feel nerve-racking; it almost feels like you are breaking the law.
You also might be terrified of accidentally exposing your firearm — I get that. Concealed carry means concealed, right?
However, constantly touching it is a sure way to draw attention to your firearm and make people focus on it.
Just resist the urge and know that this will pass! Eventually, you’ll get used to packing, and you’ll lose that urge.
Another reason for constant touch or adjusting may be related to a bad holster or one that needs to be broken in.
If it sags, buy a better belt., or if it’s poking you, try adjusting the height or cant if possible. If none of that works, buy a different holster — welcome to the world of concealed carry science and experimentation.
A good way to break the habit and find flaws in your holster is to carry your gun and holster around the house.
This allows you to make the necessary adjustments in a non-critical environment.
Carrying on an Empty Chamber
It’s 2023, and people are still carrying on an empty chamber.
I understand that this line of reasoning is not exactly new. There was a time before drop safeties and transfer bars that this was most certainly the safe way to carry, but it’s not the late 1800s anymore.
Carrying with an unloaded chamber is the same thing as not wearing a seat belt and hoping you can put it on right before a car accident.
We live in a day and age where guns have multiple safety devices to ensure the gun only goes bang when you pull the trigger.
Glock pistols have no manual safety but three internal safeties that render the firearm safe as long as you aren’t irresponsible.
Manual safeties are still fairly common as well. Guns like the P365 come with or without manual safeties. At this point, not carrying with a round in the chamber is silly.
I’ve heard excuses like, “Well, I like to play with my kids.” Well, take the gun off! Where are you wrestling with your kids where you can’t do that?
I have three kids and a child army of nephews, nieces, and neighbors, and guess what? I’ve never had this problem.
There is a real risk both in terms of the time it takes to chamber a round in an emergency situation and the possibility of the gun not going into battery if the chambering process doesn’t go smoothly.
If you are still concerned, go out and get some training with a reputable instructor who can improve your firearms handling and confidence.
If you can’t safely carry with a round in the chamber, then you can’t safely carry a gun.
Never Cleaning or Checking Your Equipment
It’s easy to say that you don’t need to clean your gun if you haven’t shot it!
You should be shooting it, but honestly, the carbon left by shooting the gun isn’t as big of an issue as the dirt, debris, and sweat your gun has collected.
Carry guns get dragged through it!
If you are not inspecting your gun and cleaning it when necessary at least once a week, you’re in for a surprise.
Everything seems to stick to guns. Lint from your shirt and pants, dirt and dust from your day, not to mention sweat that can cause rust!
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Different carry styles pose different issues. Pocket carry, for example, is a great way to get your gun filthy, IWB typically leads to more sweat, and OWB exposes it more to the world.
Regardless of how you carry it, inspect your gun, clean your gun, and keep it running.
Outside of your gun, your holster, magazines, and ammo need inspections too.
For ammo, you need to inspect the cases and projectiles for deformation and bullet setback. Magazines should be clean, dirt free, and externally rust-free.
Holsters should also be cleaned as they can gather dirt, sweat, and more. Sticking a clean gun into a dirty holster is like rewearing underwear after a shower; just don’t do it.
If you need some tips on how to break down or disassemble your guns, we have tons of tutorials on our Guncademy page on YouTube!
Printing
I feel like an old man with how much I love OWB carry. It’s one of the few methods of carry I find universally comfortable.
However, OWB isn’t the easiest for concealment, and I have to take several steps to make it work.
Concealment can be tricky and downright difficult depending on how you carry and what you carry. Strapping up with a 4-inch barreled Smiht & Wesson 686 is never going to be easy.
A lot of people don’t realize their medium shorts show a great outline of their Glock 19 to the point where I can dang near guess the generation.
Concealed means concealed. If you want to open carry, then open carry (where legal).
If you are carrying in an obvious way, then concealment doesn’t matter. You may be forced to engage if your gun is as obvious as a hipster’s mustache.
The main problem with bad concealment comes from a mix of issues. Typically tight clothing plays a part, but so does gun size, holster design, and even your belt.
Carrying a Glock 17 with a Surefire X300U and a 20-round magazine isn’t going to work with an OWB holster and a normal T-shirt.
However, carrying and concealing a full-size gun can be pretty easy if you get an appendix carry holster and a quality, strong belt.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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To evaluate your concealment use a mirror! Or better yet, ask someone. Work from there to make your gun disappear as best as possible.
Failing to Find Balance
Do you know what I’m pretty good at? Shooting paper targets on a square range with a two-handed stance.
It strokes my ego to pop shots into an A-zone at 25 yards with my P365. It can get addictive to do what you perceive yourself to be good at, but that doesn’t make you a good shooter.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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I’ve learned about balance when it comes to my shooting capabilities. This includes developing skills like being able to adequately and accurately engage a target with one hand, including my non-dominant hand.
Can I draw with my non-dominant hand? What about shooting and using cover? Can I reload quickly and clear malfunctions efficiently? These are questions to ask yourself.
Am I training to be a better shooter in all aspects or just in the skills that make me feel good about myself?
Plenty of shooters can hit a target in ideal conditions, but being able to be efficient across the board is important.
Rejecting Training
Not all states require some form of practical training, but many do.
If you only ever do the least amount of training and practice, you are likely forming bad habits.
Training can prepare you for real-world situations with things like force-on-force training.
Other things like learning how to fight in your car from a seated position or in extremely close quarters can be extremely beneficial.
You can’t really learn most of these skills safely by yourself. Examine your skill level and deficits and seek training to fix them. Good training can elevate you from a shooter to a gunfighter.
Plus, it’s a ton of fun.
On the flip side, seeking some form of conflict de-escalation training and even courses on legal self-defense can also be invaluable. There is more to staying safe than learning to shoot.
Final Thoughts
Breaking bad habits requires conscious effort.
We should seek excellence in everything we do, and when it comes to carrying a gun, it’s critical to be excellent.
We owe it to ourselves, our families, and our communities to be responsible, well-trained concealed carriers.
Do you have any bad habits to add? Let us know in the comments below! Still searching for that perfect gun for carry? Check out our article on the 9 Best Concealed Carry Guns!
33 Leave a Reply
As usual from Pew Pew, excellent article. Well thought out and thought provoking. I know that I had many of these issues when I started to conceal carry. After about two decades I feel like I have it pretty figured out but am always open to new ideas. Thank you!
Problem...... under the Federal Law ie the HIGHER law do I or you need to ask" permission from any government to carry a firearm? open OR conceiled???? in fact, the Federal Law, they all apply even unto the States, clearly and definitely states... Shall not!! thus, to apply or to get from the Government such a "permit" to give to that state (government) also "denial" of what is clearly defined under the law God give right! Since the Bill of Rights and the very people who wrote it stated, cannot BE any way "infringed!"
Amendment II
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
A few words from my perspective. Yes, Ive seen the elephant numerous times and know that the best weapon is your BRAIN. Use it! I've been a Mechanical Design Engineer for more years than many folks have been alive. From sad experience, I know that ALL mechanical devices designed by man WILL FAIL. Including the safety system on even the newest "Wonder Weapon". So having lived with all those realities, how to proceed? On PROBABILITIES! What? All life is constructed that way so get used to it. This is why I don't carry a semi auto with "one up the spout!" Eventually it will unload un commanded and there you are. The probability that it will happen is low and goes down even further with better materials and better design BUT it is never "0". So if your carrying a semi with nothing in the tube, you must use 2 hands to rack a round and fire. LOL! Your in a stress situation and your going to remember that? LOL! Probably not! That's why your carrying with one up the spout in the first place. Now I could go into all the scenarios and you would dispute every one. I'm afraid I have things to do that require my attention so I must run along. BUT for those that are wondering (and I KNOW your out there!) I carry a revolver for CCW. On an empty chamber. The probability of an uncommanded discharge is "0". (did I say 0? why yes I did! LOL) It's a 7 round weapon allowing me 6 rounds for pest control. If I need more than that, WTF was I doing going down that ally in the first place. USE YOUR BRAIN. Don't go where shitheads live. Now many will argue that I'm wrong in my logic. LOL! Press on and welcome to America. Great place, isn't it?
I had a Smith 686 that failed me on the range. The hand that advances the cylinder missed the notch and the hammer fell on a fired cartridge. Then the hand would not move again. In 50 yrs of owning 1911 and Glocks I never had an unintentional discharge. Plus three tours in Vietnam I’ve always had one in the chamber. There is no perfect chance but one percent is ok with me. Never point roscoe at anything you don’t want to destroy.
I agree fully. Revolvers fail as well. At the damnedest times. The thought is there is no "foolproof" system. The joke at one outfit I worked for was that God was always designing a better fool! We were right!! I did one tour with HAL 3 carried two Smiths in a shoulder rig that I won from a SEAL in a poker game. LOL! (Thought I couldn't draw to an inside straight!) I believe firmly that the best fighting tool is your brain. It isn't a fast draw contest and whatever your carrying WILL fail. Be prepared. I carry a fighting knife as well as my revolver. Stay well brother. Always check 6! You never know who might be gaining.
Travis, One of my grandsons offered an interesting point of view on Israeli carry vs. one in the chamber -- for him, it depends on the gun. 1911, definitely one in the chamber, hammer down and not "cocked and locked". Glock, Israeli carry due to the reputed "Glock leg". Further, he also suggests a backpack as everyone under about 35 in this area has one all the time. Finally, a covergarment with a holster sown inside. He favors "Uncle Mikes" IWB, plastic clip removed and stitched to first layer of cloth by hand so the stitching doesn't print on the outside.
I’ll be showing this to my best friend tomorrow who refuses to keep his chambered. I’ve begged now I’ll try this article. Thank you sir
IDPA events are good training. Perhaps Steel Challenge would be a good first event to do. Practice shooting from the draw and repeating a few times while 'on the clock' is good stuff. IDPA events will mimic scenarios that you might run into on the street. Drawing from concealment, moving, reloading, and avoiding 'hostage' targets are the sort of thing you will do in an IDPA event- including starting in a car or while getting in a car Etc. Look for an event near you.
Great information, but I am a bit surprised you left out, "Don't talk about it". Don't talk about concealed carry when carrying. It could draw attention from ear hustlers.
As an overweight guy I have always just assumed carrying would be extremely uncomfortable. I do my best to hang around flat-bellied concealed carriers. But I wonder if you've ever addressed those of us with "love handles?"
Jim, a belly band style rig might be helpful for you. They're a little bit warm sometimes, but very concealable.
I found that a lot of my carry issues went away by getting a good belt. The Kore that they suggest here did a lot to support the weight of my firearm. I've also found that appendix carry is the most comfortable way of carrying for me. I still have a lot of range of motion without it digging too bad into me. My gut's squishy, so the gun moves it as needed to help with bending forward.
I tried a belly band, but i'd reserve that more for exercise gear. I couldn't get mine to feel comfortable while still having the firearm accessible and properly concealed.
Thanks folks! This is helpful info!
good luck man! Genuinely sucks that there's no one size fits all option with CCW stuff.
Dear Jim,
Lots of us are similarly challenged. My solution is an EAA Witness Compact 10mm in a DeSantis E1 inside the pocket holster. Works well for me and being north of 250 pounds, I probably fit the class you mention. A fanny pack is another solution.
Pretty good article BUT I agree with Eric. Israeli carry works for some of us and to tell people it is silly is really poor advice. Those of us that carry Israeli may just be a little more proficient than you think with the draw and chamber technique. I am an old Marine and my son is retired LEO and both carry Israei. It is our decision for our own reasons. You tell everyone it is always safe but you should point out that some firearms, very fine firearms like the series 70, 1911's do not have the safety features you assure your readers are there.
Hey Travis,
Great article!
I do have one nit about chambering a round. "Israeli carry," not chambering a round, is used every single day in a country where most of the population carries. If you look at the technique taught there, pulling the weapon and chambering a round is done in a single motion. This is in a place where terrorists literally pop up on the streets and begin shooting.
As with your example, my EDC is a Glock 19. Not only is there no safety, but once the gun has one in the chamber, any pressure on the trigger (including a fumbling pull from concealment) will fire the weapon. If you are fighting for your life, and your opponent gets your chambered gun, you're just as dead as if you've shot yourself.
If your EDC has a safety, the same split second you're using to unsafety the gun is the same amount of time as chambering a round in a non-safetied weapon when using that technique. Watch any of the kazillions of videos available on how chambering a round is fast, easy, and safe.
What happens if the threat grabs your arm?
Isn't that an issue whether you have one in the chamber or not? If the threat is close enough to grab your arm, it doesn't take much to redirect fire somewhere other than your attacker.
If I have a round chambered I can shoot them
Another point for Israeli carry is if your assaulted before you can draw and the attacker grabs your gun, you may be able to disarm the attacker as he/she is trying to pull the trigger. especially, if you have been trained to disarm an individual with a gun.
I think a better use of your time and training would be retention training instead of disarm training
Both types of training is better. Travis if you have ever been in a fight you probably know how fast things can deteriorate and you're on the ground. Weapon retention can be a problem in a fight. It's not like retention when someone is trying to take your firearm while standing and if your handgun comes out of the holster it can be a problem. I do not advocate Israeli carry for everyone, it's just what I do. I am a former NRA instructor, I never told people to carry Israeli style or loaded chamber but explained the options. I also explained that if they would decide to carry Israeli they needed to practice. practice, practice and have a pistol with a slide that they can operate easily. Please do not get defensive about my comments, I know carrying chambered if best for most people but just wanted to comment that there are other options. If the family has children or grandchildren around the chambered carry group has to be much more cognizant of unloading or safely putting there firearm away when they return home, as a child can pull a trigger easier than rack a slide, usually.
I carry a Glock 22 and a Glock 30 in the summer. The 30 is easier to conceal in warm weather clothing. I'm a retired COP and carried a Glock 21 for most of my carrier. Training and muscle memory taught me to not even touch the trigger UNTIL I'm ready to engage. And to say any pressure on the trigger will cause a discharge is just not accurate.
Travis - You make some excellent points and your method of carrying around the house was how I found the best position, cant and height for my Glock 19.
I also felt like I was breaking the law when I first started carrying. I was so nervous about it that I started carrying in my briefcase until I talked to a friend of mine who is also a firearms enthusiast. He told me he carries, even at work and he has an entire police department across the street.
Like you said, the more you carry the more comfortable you get. A couple of weeks ago my wife and I were getting ready to go out. As usual, I was ready before her and then her mom called so I laid down on the couch and fell asleep with my firearm.
I will also echo your sentiment about a quality belt. I was also a little overweight when I started carrying and decided to lose a few pounds; that has also made it far easier to conceal without being so self conscious.
Thank for for your articles. I always learn something and/or am reminded of things I tend to get too relaxed with. Very much appreciated.
Truth is concealed and s not concealed. I carry a smith 686 owb under a tshirt daily. It might print some but nobody is going to notice.
Travis, this article should be included in every police academy curriculum. It’s good common sense info that every LEO should know when they’re off duty or working assignments.
( you’re carrying concealed, applies to citizens and LE).
* we added this ( similar) to academies years back, part of addressing not shooting off duty cops…
Very informative.
Thanks
Very good article Travis. I confess to doing a few of the No No's too, early on when I began carrying. A list like this would have been helpful 30+ years ago for me.
Maintenance, is a big factor many neglect in my circle of Carrying Friends, and something O frequently admonish them over. Carrying metal next to your body most hours of the day, 365 days a year, is a recipe for developing problems that need addressed IMHO. I encourage developing a maintenance schedule for Carry Guns. For myself, it's every other week. Going longer than that, I notice a build up of lint, dust, she'd skin cells in areas on my carry guns, no matter what type of holster I use.
I shoot up my carry ammo once a month, and replace it monthly. Just because I make shooting my carry gun part of my range time, no matter what guns I'm working with. Is this overkill? For many it may be, but keeping it on a schedule satisfies my OCD. I was raised to be a stickler for Gun Maintenance as a kid, and it's still a priority as an adult.
Having a dirty gun in my safe makes my teeth itch (LOL).
Excellent material everyone even THINKING of carrying should have.
Great article!
Solid article from one of the best authors on PPT. You and Jacki lead the way.