Concealed Carry Mistakes

Those who carry concealed handguns should be competent in their use.  Competence encompasses the whole spectrum of operation (safety, accuracy, drawing, holstering, reloading, and clearing malfunctions) which determines the effectiveness with which handguns are employed during deadly force encounters.  Experienced shooters and novices are often guilty of at least one of five fairly common mistakes that compromise this scope of competence, thus limiting the effectiveness of their concealed handguns.  Fortunately, these mistakes are rather simple to address.

1.  Carrying the "Wrong" Handgun

Many exhibit superb competence with "range guns" that they are comfortable shooting, yet they choose to carry handguns that they neither shoot nor operate well.  Such decisions are often made due to convenience but they can be influenced by peer pressure and successful marketing.  This may result in the selection of handguns that are difficult manage because they have more recoil than the shooter can control, short sight radii, and controls that are awkward or difficult to operate.  The "best" handguns for concealed carry, chambered for the "best" cartridges, and loaded with the "best" defensive ammunition are poor defensive weapons for those who do not use them well.  The choice of a concealed handgun can be a compromise between size, weight, and power; however, safety, accuracy, and efficient operation should never be compromised for the sake of convenience or popularity.

2.  Carrying the "Wrong" Holster

While much deliberation can accompany the selection of handguns for concealed carry, holsters often seem to be low budget afterthoughts.  While it is ironic that intelligent people persist in using $10 holsters to protect and carry $500 handguns, the practice is quite common, even amongst experienced shooters.   Good holsters can render large handguns relatively discreet and comfortable to carry while bad ones can make even petite handguns noticeable and uncomfortable.  Good holsters aid safety and rapid deployment with shape-retaining construction and effective retention devices.  Bad ones can compromise both, not effectively retaining handguns when they are carried and collapsing upon themselves after the draw to interfere with re-holstering.  A quality holster is as much of a necessity for effective concealed carry as is a reliable handgun and "one size fits all" holsters are best used for less serious enterprises.

3.  Carrying in the "Wrong" Manner

While good holsters are quite beneficial, a good holster that provides a mode of carry that is not suitable for the individual can likewise compromise safety and drawing.  For example, cross draw holsters are often beneficial to those who are frequently sitting or driving, as are ankle holsters, while shoulder holsters are particularly effective for those who usually wear jackets.  Conversely, cross draw and shoulder holsters require sweeping draws that are potentially hazardous to bystanders and slower to execute than strong side, directional draws while ankle holsters require "falling down" for the most effective deployment from a standing position.  Holsters need to be carefully selected to fulfill specific requirements and although there are viable, purpose based alternatives, one providing a strong side directional draw is practical and effective for most individuals.

4.  Failure to Practice

Many establish the minimum level of competency required to attain their concealed handgun permits and then fail to practice regularly and the skills they attained dissipate rapidly.  While the ideal frequency and duration of practice can be argued incessantly, weekly practice consisting of at least one fifty round box of cartridges is neither too much nor too often for the principles of marksmanship to remain sharp and the operation of a handgun to stay familiar.  When frequent live fire practice is not possible, perhaps due to the availability of a convenient range, a budget that does not permit extensive purchases of ammunition, and so forth, dry fire practice with an unloaded handgun pointed in a safe direction is an acceptable means of maintaining familiarity with a handgun and the basic fundamentals of marksmanship: grip, stance, sight alignment, sight picture, and trigger control.

5.  Unfamiliarity with "Combat Drills"

Many who carry concealed handguns shoot regularly but their practice does not include drawing from concealment, double taps and rapid fire, clearing malfunctions, combat reloading, and shooting with the "weak" hand.  This can be due to unfamiliarity with such procedures, a range that prohibits them due to safety and liability concerns, or because it does not seem "fun".  Deadly force encounters can occur without warning and provide the potential to tax each of these skills.  If a cooperative range is unavailable, drawing from concealment, malfunction drills, and combat reloading can be practiced with an empty handgun and dummy cartridges in a safe environment while shooting with the weak hand can be incorporated into dry fire practice.

Conclusion (Another Note on Practice)

Most concealed carry mistakes (even handguns and holsters that are less than ideal for the individual) can be overcome through practice, even without live ammunition.   Practice builds experience through the consistent repetition of good techniques and reveals deficiencies in skills and equipment before they must be relied upon when life is at stake.  However, "bad" practice, the repetition of improper techniques, is wasted time and money for it only produces higher levels of incompetence.  When in doubt, seek qualified advice.