PMCI - November 2016

pmcimagazine.com
SKILLS AND DRILLS: CONCEALED CARRY
SKILLS AND DRILLS: CONCEALED CARRY
In the July 2016 issue of PMCI firearms trainer Andy looked closely at considerations when choosing a holster,
including the Fobus Universal Inside the Waistband (ISW) holster. In this issue he takes a look at the use of
the ISW holster and how to overcome some simple mistakes when carrying a handgun concealed.
First off we need to think about when and where
we can carry concealed. Although there in
many parts of the world there is no law that
states we can’t carry our handguns concealed,
it is important for us all to be responsible for
our actions and not cause any alarm to the
public. It is my advice that you don’t carry any
gun concealed on your person in a public place
unless you can prove your intentions, such as
travelling to and from a range or personal protection in a
hostile environment. Also never carry a gun, any gun, loaded
unless you are sufficiently trained to do so and understand the
legal ramifications that any use will have.
With that out the way I will continue.
Almost any handgun can be carried concealed, but the best
ones are those with a small and slim frame. The smaller the
gun better. A Walther PPKs is far much easier to conceal and
carry than a Desert Eagle for instance and the handgun needs
to be as light as possible if you intend to carry it for long
periods of time. I’m quite a big chap and the biggest handgun
I would carry is a Glock; anything else larger than this would
start to cause problems such as “printing” (“Printing” is where
the gun shows its shape through the garment you are wearing
to conceal it). Even in a good holster, if the gun is too big for
your build, then the gun will show.
Once you have found a suitable size handgun, you need to
find a suitable concealment holster. The Inside Waist Band
(ISW) holster is the most popular as it is cheap and, if fitted
correctly, will last you for years to come. The other benefit
is that if you are already accustomed to carrying strong side
hip, the holster and gun are in the same position as would
be if you were carrying open and this is a far better choice as
muscle memory doesn’t have to be worked on. The holster
also needs to be of a good quality. It is up to you, the wearer,
what material the holster is to be made out of but I have
found that a leather holster if far more comfortable to wear
over long periods than a Kydex or ABS. The Fobus UISW holster
is however in my opinion an exception to this.
Now that you have decided on your handgun size and
have a suitable holster, the next thing to consider is your
choice of clothing. If you are caring strong side hip with an
ISW holster, then there are some things to be aware of. Firstly,
some people tend to wear the gun and holster next to the
skin. There is nothing wrong with this choice but, be aware
that the holster and gun may rub the skin and make you sore.
Also, the sweat produced by the holster and gun being next
to your skin can cause the gun to rust over time. My choice of
carry is next to a garment tucked in between my skin and the
holster, as this stops the gun rubbing the skin, and also sweat
building up on the gun itself. The garment between the skin
and gun should be of a colour to match the gun. This will, in
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