HANDGUN CARRY OPTIONS
Holsters – a case of horses for courses
THINKI NG BA CK ON having carried a defens ive h andgun almost every day for the past 30 years reveals that my needs, habits and abilities have changed as I h ave aged. The fact that these days, I’m mostly sitting behind a desk and not getting enough exercise, is heavily influencing my preferential metho df or carrying a handgun.
As a youngster I could carry it fairly comfortably whether inside or outside the waistband, appendix style, on my weak side for a cross-draw, in the small of my back or even under my left arm in a shoulder rig. I changed my carry method depending on what I was doing, which could be anything from a formal dinner with a client, dangerous game hunting, spending hours on a tractor on the farm or watching television. These days my routine is more fixed as I spend most of my day in an office chair staring at a computer.
Being well above average size, I’ve never been able to fit comfortably on normal-sized chairs, even without a holster riding on my hip, so outside waistband (OWB) carry has never been a practical option for me in an office environment. In this situation, inside waistband (IWB) holsters work better, but some of the harder holsters can cause discomfort ranging from very mild to severe and, depending on the activity, even excruciating pain when constantly pressing down on a nerve or a muscle. Of course, if your situation (and body size) differs from mine, OWB carry may be a good option for you.
AN ANKLE-HOLSTER might seem a good choice for my lifestyle, but is simply out of the question as I struggle to tolerate even a lightweight wrist watch on my arm, even more so a much heftier pistol or revolver on my ankle. I tried this method for a while about 20 years ago, but it was a burden, and every time I sat down the firearm was revealed, much to my discomfort. Also, at times, I felt uncertain that the piece (a .38 Special snubby) was still in place, and to check on this is not easy when walking down a busy street.
Gregor Woods, longstanding Magnum team member, told me he finds cross-draw holsters best when driving a car, but ankle-holsters are also good for this. These should be worn on the inside of your left ankle if you are a right-handed shooter. When driving, if you see a potentially suspicious situation developing, immediately pull up your trouser-leg to expose the handgun for quick, snag-free access. For general wear, Greg agrees that ankle-holsters expose the gun too readily when seated in social or office situations. They are fine for those who carry a small, lightweight handgun and do a lot of standing but not much walking, such as shop counter salesmen. Interestingly, he tells me that the late Doug Kirton, past owner of Kings in Durban, had to have knee surgery to correct a problem his orthopaedic surgeon told him was directly caused by continual ankle holster wear – apparently it causes you to walk differently on that leg.
Greg says he found IWB holsters most uncomfortable. “Doctors and
physiotherapists will tell you that inside belt holsters (and even just stiff, tight belts) often cause a neurological problem known as meralgia paresthetica which causes tingling numbness and burning pain in the outer part of your thigh, due to compression of the nerve that supplies sensation to the surface of your thigh.”
AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION when wearing a holster around your middle is a good belt. The new generation shooting belts, which do not have a buckle, but fasten by Velcro, are adjustable for the specific task at hand and can easily be loosened or tightened during the day. This allows for a perfect fit around your waist for each situation, and there is no buckle to hurt you when you spend a lot of time seated. If you have not tried one, give it a go – so far, I’ve heard very few complaints about these belts. However, as with everything in life there are trade-offs, and my gripe is about the part where the two ends of the loop overlap. This creates a rather thick belt which I do not like. Many of these belts are also extremely stiff, perfect for supporting holsters, mag pouches, torches and knives, but not ideal for daily comfort. Another negative is that it’s easy to recognise one of these around someone’s middle, giving away the fact that they are ‘packing’. Regardless of the belt type or brand, you have to get a belt that suits you, so try as many as possible before buying.
The weight you add to the belt is also important. This can include a handgun, spare ammo and a knife. My advice is to keep things as light as possible. My first handgun was a cheap, small, lightweight CZ V50 singlestack pistol in 7.65 calibre, similar in size and appearance to the Walther PPK. It was extremely easy to carry IWB in a soft clip-on leather holster. This I could manage even without using a belt, for example with PT shorts.
However, I dreamed of one day owning a ‘proper’ self-defence calibre in 9mmp or larger, so my next purchase was a much heavier 4-inch .357 Magnum revolver (then seen as the ultimate calibre for stopping a human threat) and I opted for an El Paso OWB leather holster and a shoulder rig. I alternated between the two carry methods depending on what I was doing. The shoulder rig I mostly carried under a shirt as I rarely wore a jacket, even in winter, when I opted for a T-shirt under my shirt. This provided for a well concealed weapon, although not the fastest access under a buttoned shirt. The key here was being able to swop between the two carry methods which allowed for comfortable carry in most situations. Keep in mind that if possible it’s best to carry your handgun in the same position all the time. Switching, like I used to, from your hip to a shoulder rig depending on the situation may have you grabbing for a gun on your hip that’s now under your left arm.
AFTER I BOUGHT my first 9mmp semi-auto, which I still carry today, I changed to an OWB El Paso thumbbreak bikini holster. This is a comfortable and practical mode of carry, but as the years progressed I realised that, as with the revolver, I had to try alternative methods for better comfort and concealment. I tried as many holsters as possible. Some modern holsters are extremely comfortable; Safariland’s paddle holster is one example for OWB and Army Ant’s General for IWB carry. The General has a thick padded area that fits between your body and the entire handgun, protecting sensitive body parts from rough hammers, levers and slide cut-outs. The Safariland range offers innovative handgun retention methods, which are worth considering.
In the end, I settled on a Sticky holster for ultimate comfort. This holster is somewhat controversial as it does not attach to your belt or have any means of retaining the weapon other than friction. It simply fits between your skin and pants, held in position by your belt. It sticks in place, even if I wear the holster at a slight forward
or rearward angle. A drawback is that once the firearm is drawn you cannot simply shove it back into the holster; you have to remove the holster, insert the gun and then tuck the holstered gun back inside your belt or waistband. Also, the Sticky holster wears out with use. However, in my opinion, the comfort of this system (I use a full-size holster for my compact pistol) far outweighs these drawbacks, and mine being a defensive handgun, I am concerned only with getting it into action, not so much with re-holstering.
Finding the most comfortable and effective carry method for your circumstances is not enough – you must put it to the practical test on the shooting range
OF COURSE THERE are myriad options available, and one thing I’ve learned is that what works for me now might not do so in future, nor will my choices necessarily work for you. You’ll have to try out various options to determine what’s best for you. The most important aspect of owning a defence handgun is to have it with you at all times. Therefore, a comfortable concealed carry method that ensures this will always beat a ‘tactically orientated’ but uncomfortable or painful carry system that will eventually have you leaving your handgun in a safe. Moreover, wearing something that is uncomfortable will distract you from constant situational awareness. For example, a poor-fitting holster or poor-quality belt necessitating constant adjustment of the firearm, advertises the fact that you are armed – in certain circumstances this might make you a target. Remember, concealed carry might allow you to defuse an emotionally charged situation simply by picking your words and actions carefully, such as displaying your hands palm-outwards and in general adopting non-aggressive body language. Adopting a non-aggressive stance does not mean you are not primed and ready to act swiftly and decisively if the situation should escalate into violence.
Of course, finding the most comfortable and effective carry method for your circumstances is not enough – you must put it to the practical test on the shooting range to ensure you can get your firearm into action within reasonable time. I mostly use my OWB holster for range work, but also practise my draw from the Sticky holster. Here I concentrate on drawing from various positions (seated, kneeling, standing and while sitting in the driver’s seat of a vehicle) and getting the first shot on target. Once you add a time limit to your drills you’ll soon learn whether your carry rig is up to the task. If you rotate holsters (for example between OWB and IWB) it’s best to stick to carrying them in the same place on the hip, etc.
BASED ON MY own experience and current situation, today my first choice for a carry gun would be a small singlestack 9mmp carried IWB. The CZ P-10 Micro or Glock 43 come to mind, provided I can get a mag extension to render the grips of these micro handguns a better fit in my oversized hands. My old CZ V50 was the ideal size and weight for concealed carry and I never really noticed that I had it on me. The modern handguns mentioned above are about the same size as the old V50 but their 9mmp cartridges have more striking energy and more effective bullet designs. These micro pieces might just be the final solution in my never-ending search for the ultimate in comfort and practical defence ability.