Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we took a look at whether it’s better to be self-taught or start off by taking training. Both had their perks and it was a great conversation in the comments so thank you to everyone who left their thoughts in the comment section. If you happened to miss last week’s article, be sure to click the link here. Recently I’ve heard a number of people say they don’t want to carry a concealed firearm because it’s too expensive to get set up. I think it’s a common misconception to think it costs a huge amount of money to get set up as a concealed carrier. Let’s take a closer look at some levels of carry guns.

Concealed Carry Corner @ TFB:

• Concealed Carry Corner: Self-Taught vs Professional Training
• Concealed Carry Corner: Risks of Carrying and Drinking
• Concealed Carry Corner: Top 3 Carrying Stereotypes in 2023
• Concealed Carry Corner: How To Fly With Your Carry Gun

Affordable Tier

The biggest thing group that I hear from when it comes to getting into the concealed carry scheme are typically the people who want to carry but are budget restricted. We all have been in a tough spot but those individuals have just as much of a right to self-defense as anyone else. When it comes to the sub $450-500 price point, there are a few options to consider for a complete out-the-door package. Both the Canik METE MC9 which I wrote a full review on a while ago and the Springfield Armory XDS have a kit package where the holster, magazines, and everything else you’ll need to carry comes as standard. The factory-supplied holster may not be exactly what you’re looking for but it’s a great place to start if you’re looking for a good starting point.

Sometimes buying something like the Canik METE MC9 is the best option when you have little to no budget. The MSRP on that particular pistol is right around $440 which allows you to be out the door with tax and a box of self-defense ammo under the $500 mark. There are a few companies that offer kits in this price range and for everyone that asks me what they should get, I typically will point them to one of these models. Now some of you are probably saying there are even cheaper options out there like the SD9VE with a cloth holster. That’s a good point, but I don’t feel comfortable recommending flimsy cloth holsters for someone just starting out carrying a concealed handgun. There are endless options, but these gun kits are a good place to start.

Effective/Reliable Tier

The vast majority of people who carry concealed firearms will live in this category. The reliable tier makes complete sense because it means you have a well made reliable carry gun riding inside a quality holster. Some of the most popular models for this category would be handguns like the Glock 19, Glock 43, and the SIG P365. Personally, my everyday carry is a Glock 48 with a Shield Arms 15-round magazine riding inside a Safariland Species holster.

Everything has worked with 100% reliability and I’ve never had issues with any of the gear individually or as a system. This tier is typically guns that you would absolutely trust your life with and you like to keep things as simple as you can. There are no crazy slide cuts, red dot optics, or weapon lights on these guns but they’re just a simple reliable carry system. Typically, a setup like this will cost most individuals anywhere from $550-850 depending on the firearm choice as well as the holster and self-defense ammo.

If you factor in a new belt and small quality pocket knife, it’s not out of the realm to be hovering around the $1,000 mark. Most days I will carry my Glock 48 inside my Safariland holster with no spare magazine or anything so it is a fairly simple choice but others do like to add more things which makes holster selection and availability way easier to find. It’s not necessary to purchase everything all at once but picking up items one by one slowly is easier financially for most.

Higher Tier

For most people who carry a concealed handgun, this category isn’t what they would be classified in. I’d consider anything that’s unnecessary but still means something to the handgun owner. Whether it’s models like the P365 Spectre Comp with gold accents and a built-in dual port compensator or someone’s custom-built Glock 19. The custom slide-cut Glock with a dedicated red dot, SurefFire X300, TiN threaded barrel, and mag well would be considered a higher-tier carry gun. It doesn’t make a huge difference in the overall shooting experience, but certain things like the mag well and red dot optic will make acquiring a sight on your target and reloading slightly faster. It’s not an absolute must in the grand scheme but it does help slightly for some.

Building or purchasing a pistol with a laundry list of accessories isn’t a necessity even slightly, but there are plenty of people who go this route because they enjoy customizing and making their carry gun exactly what they want.  In most cases, when you start adding accessories to your gun, you will need to order from a custom Kydex manufacturer which typically will cost a bit extra from the standard carry holsters common online or in the stores. If you carry a lot and start testing out different accessories on your gun, it won’t be long until you start paying extra for holsters and your overall setup.

Fancy Tier

The top tier of people who carry guns in public has to be the classic “Texas BBQ gun crowd”. These people will carry their fanciest and often times most expensive gun in a leather outside the waistband holster. Often times the handgun will be an all-metal construction either like a 1911 or newer 2011 style and even the holster material can be made of exotic animals like rattlesnakes or alligators.

If you have like-minded friends who enjoy firearms, having a BBQ gun can be a really fun experience all talking about your gun choice and just having a fun time together. It’s fairly rare but down south seems to be more common so if you can go it’s definitely a fun experience. I’ve also seen this for special occasions like weddings or a dressed-up dinner party. It’s fairly uncommon when it comes to daily carry but it’s still something that happens occasionally.

Overall Thoughts

People will get caught up in what they need to carry and what type of holster they should buy for their carry gun. For the vast majority of people, a quality handgun and holster combination will be exactly what they need to protect themselves day in and day out. There are also a ton of options available for people working on a tight budget. Even if you’re on a restricted budget, there are still a number of choices on the market to find everything as a packaged deal.

What do you guys think of this tier system? Do you agree with my observations or do you think certain guns should be placed in other areas? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. If you have questions about carrying guns or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you in the next episode of Concealed Carry Corner.

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