Do you appendix carry?

Appendix holster position carrying is a really sensitive subject for a lot of people. It’s tough to grasp the idea that carrying a firearm pointed at your weiner is safe. The only time that ever becomes unsafe is when the end-user is unsafe. Complacency kills, or in this case, kills your weiner. That is why practice repetition, repetition, repetition is what makes you a better concealed carry person. I have seen people carry at the 4 o’clock position and had a round enter their butt cheek or hip. The round then went through their thigh and missed their weiner getting lodged in their calf. I’ve seen people carry at the four o’clock position and have the bullet shatter their pelvis, and come out the front. So the argument that you’re going to shoot your dick off is pretty much null and void. You could shoot it off every other way as well. Now that we have gotten through all that banter, let’s get onto the most important part; how to carry at the appendix position most effectively depending on firearm and firearm type.

CZ P-10 S In a CZ P-10 S Holster (Exposed)

CZ P-10 S In a CZ P-10 S Holster (Concealed)

not all Carry positions are for everyone

Appendix Carry is a very successful and effective way to carry a firearm. The definition of “appendix” is carrying somewhere between 11 and 1 o’clock position. Appendix can also be at the 12 or on Center position.  It’s very comfortable to wear in the vehicle. It allows the user to move the gun and shift it around so it is not hotspotting or causing pressure points. At the end of the day, you are carrying a lump of metal in your pants, so it’s only going to be so comfortable. If you find carrying a gun uncomfortable, it’s not about comfort, it’s about protecting oneself. Defending yourself isn’t going to be comfortable nor is it going to be pretty. Glad we could move through that common argument, let’s get on to theory and physics of appendix carry.

CZ P-10 S In a CZ P-10 C Holster (Exposed)

CZ P-10 S In a CZ P-10 C Holster (Exposed)

holsters don’t just safely hold a gun, they can conceal a gun more effectively

Modern-day concealed carry holsters are now utilizing a concealment claw or wing. If you are not carrying a holster with a concealment claw or wing, you are doing yourself a disservice. A concealment claw enhances the ability for the end-user to conceal carry larger frame firearms with the concealability of a subcompact. Subcompact pistols can also print, printing being other people’s ability to see the print of carrying a firearm. Just because a gun is small doesn’t mean it is effective at concealment. There is something called pelvic contact. It is a reason why a lot of small framed people can carry really large firearms, and conceal them well. Pelvic contact is the holster or firearm that maintains a positive contact with your pelvis. Pelvic contact, paired with a concealment claw, will actually keep the gun tighter to the body. Problem with many subcompact or micro pistols is that the muzzle is so short it barely profiles behind the belt. This causes the gun to print pretty dramatically, even with the use of a concealment claw. This is because the gun is actually tipping away from the body. The concealment claw is only there to create torsion on the firearm, turning the grip into the body. Pelvic contact makes sure the entire firearm itself is tighter to the body.

Glock 43X In a Glock 43X Holster (Exposed)

Glock 43X In a Glock 43X Holster (Concealed)

Just because a gun is small, Doesn’t mean it conceals better

In the Summer, many people like to switch to a smaller carry gun because it conceals better in thinner, and shorter garments. Women can carry subcompact pistols more effectively than men. This is because the pelvic region of a woman is more flat and wide. This gives women the ability to have a shorter subcompact or micro gun stay tighter and flatter to the body. Contrary, men have a more rounded front with more dominant pelvic-region abdominal muscles. Obviously, my descriptions here don’t apply to everybody. People are people, and body types are all different. Keep that in mind for a baseline.

Glock 43X In a Glock 48 Holster (Exposed)

Glock 43X In a Glock 48 Holster (Concealed)

“SUBCOMPACT” Guns with Compact Grips, and GLOCKS

The same argument can be made for people that carry a Glock 43X, and a Glock 48. The Glock 43X will conceal better in a Glock 48 holster. CZ P-10 S conceals better in a CZ P-10 C holster. Are you seeing the trend here? Glock 26 concealed better in a Glock 19 holster. Just because a firearm is small doesn’t mean it’s better.

SIG P365 In a SIG P365 Holster (Exposed)

SIG P365 In a SIG P365 Holster (Concealed)

Next “Size UP” Holster WILL actually conceal a subcompact more effectively

All this information leads to the discussion of holster selection. Just because you have a subcompact or micro pistol doesn’t mean you should carry it in an exact model-specific holster. For example, the P365 and the newly-introduced P365 XL. In my experience, men have historically complained about the P365 printing in P365 specific holsters. A lot of these men have abandoned that gun as a carry gun because of that. Now we have the introduction of the XL series. This is an opportunity for a lot of men that have abandoned the P365 to now procure a P365 XL holster to hold their classic P365. The P365 XL has a longer slide and slightly higher capacity version of the P365. This will now maintain more pelvic contact for the end-user, enhancing the concealability. So my recommendation is: if you have a P365 and you have found that it prints too much for you, try it out in a P365 XL holster.

SIG P365 In a SIG P365 XL Holster (Exposed)

SIG P365 In a SIG P365 Holster (Exposed)

Pelvic contact theory

A lot of men have what we would consider a “dad bod”. Between the more roundness of our pelvic region and a little bit of a gut, this would create a shelf between the stomach region and the pelvis that dips towards the pelvis. Subcompact guns will tip towards the groin inward rather than staying parallel with the person’s overall body. This is why a lot of men have trouble concealing subcompact or micro pistols. Women can also cross draw and carry at the 11 o’clock position as a right-handed shooter. Maintaining pelvic contact and concealment claw will hold a larger frame gun flat to the woman’s stomach.  Men tend to have the grip protrude more away from the belly button region because of the curvature of the pelvic and abdominal region.

Micro/SubCompact in model-specific holster. The rear of the slide may tip away from the body.

Micro/Subcompact in a “compact” or next size up holster. The rear of the slide stays tighter to the body.

These tips may help be more concealable and increase effectivity as a CONCEALED carrier

So at the end of the day I want you to take an opportunity to inspect your kit and the guns that you choose to carry. If you prefer subcompact or micro guns because you like the way they feel on your body, definitely try sizing up to the next holster size if there is one that exists for your firearm. I believe that you will find at the level of concealment will be enhanced! If we, as a collective concealed carry group, can effectively conceal carry our firearms better; we are doing a service for our community and the people around us. We are not alerting them to the fact that we are concealed carrying. You are making yourself less of a target to a potential active shooter. We can joke about being a gray man/woman. Honestly, if you can blend into your urban or public environment better, you will be better served when you need to draw your firearm.

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