Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we talked about the Top 3 Things to Do To Easily Carry. If you happened to miss last week’s article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. For this week’s article, I wanted to focus on a few small items to consider when carrying concealed regularly. There have been a few questions lately about what’s the best system to carry with and what things should be checked regularly if you carry a concealed handgun every day. Let’s take a closer look at what are some important items to consider when carrying.

Concealed Carry Corner @ TFB:

• Concealed Carry Corner: Top 3 Tips To Easily Carry
• Concealed Carry Corner: Perception vs Reality
• Concealed Carry Corner: What’s Really Important About Size?
• Concealed Carry Corner: Must-Have Items For Summer Carry

Metal Vs Plastic Holster Clips

It may seem like an unimportant decision when looking at something simple like what types of clips you use for your holster, but this has taught me a lesson or two over the years. Some consider metal the better option since it is more durable over time, but plastic holster clips also have a huge advantage. The time of the year could be a deciding factor in whether to use a plastic or metal clip on your holster.

Metal Clips on Holsters

Having a metal clip system on your holster will allow you to have a sturdy tight lockup on your belt with little to no movement. Metal clips are often times stronger and more rigid than plastic clips. When it comes to daily abuse, metal clips are typically better than plastic clips which can become brittle over time. Typically, I will switch out my plastic holster clips in the wintertime to metal just for the extra durability. In the cold winter months here, I’ve had a large holster clip actually snap on me because it became overly brittle from the cold. Metal clips do a fantastic job of holding consistent pressure on your belt and keeping your gun secure all day long. They are by no means perfect though.

Benefits of Plastic Holster Clips

Depending on the season, I will usually switch between metal or plastic holster clips. As soon as the weather starts to become warmer out, I will start using a large single plastic holster clip instead of my metal options. The biggest issue with metal holster clips is the fact they can do significant damage to your vehicle door frame. Over the years, I have left several scratches and dings on my truck from brushing up against the door while getting in causing a nice scratch to develop on the side of my truck door.

Plastic clips won’t scratch or ding up your vehicle near as much so it’s something to take into consideration. It also is much quieter when you accidentally brush up against something. With the plastic clips, it allows you to not make such an audible click if you accidentally bump into something. It may seem like a small positive but there really is a major difference that won’t be noticeable until it happens to you.

Having The Right Belt

Just this week, I had a close friend in law enforcement talk about how he recently picked up a new inside-the-waistband holster with a claw attachment but kept complaining about how much it makes his pants sag. I thought this was rather odd since he’s carrying a Glock 43 with a Streamlight TLR6. When asked about why his pants were sagging, he said he uses an older flimsy leather belt rather than a larger dedicated gun belt. Having a thick sturdy gun belt can change your experience carrying a concealed handgun completely. Once I started using my Hybrid EDC belt from Blue Alpha Belts, it made carrying large heavy handguns much easier. If you’re struggling to comfortably carry a handgun, I would strongly recommend looking at a new gun-focused belt to help out with the weight distribution.

A great example of what NOT to use

Changing Your Carry Ammo Out

The number one thing that is neglected by most people is their self-defense ammo in their carry gun. For most people, carrying ammo is a one-time purchase rather than a consumable item. Ammo should be replaced every 6-12 months instead of being carried year after year. I can’t tell you how many people I know who have the same carry ammo in their guns from 4-5 years ago. What most don’t think about is the amount of moisture these rounds are exposed to either from sweat or humidity in the air. Mix in bullet set back and there are a number of things that can slowly degrade your carry ammo over time.

Overall Thoughts

The vast majority of people worry about what carry gun they should pick up or what holster they want to use. The smaller details about plastic versus metal clips or finding a good belt may not be one of the first things that comes to mind in the grand scheme of things but they are equally important. What else would you guys consider small but important aspects of carrying a concealed firearm? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments below. If you have questions about carrying concealed or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you next week for another edition of Concealed Carry Corner.

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