Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we talked about a concealed carry gun size guide. If you missed out on last week’s article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I’ve seen a ton of newer people carrying improper holsters and interesting ammo choices. There’s a plethora of fantastic holsters and ammo on the market but there’s a fair amount of poor options as well. Let’s take a closer look at what and what not to carry.

Concealed Carry Corner @ TFB:

• Concealed Carry Corner: Carry Gun Size Guide
• Concealed Carry Corner: Levels Of Carry Guns
• Concealed Carry Corner: Self-Taught vs Professional Training
• Concealed Carry Corner: Risks of Carrying and Drinking

Holsters

Holsters are a consumable part that has to be replaced every few years. Depending on what kind of holster you choose and the amount you carry on a daily basis will determine how often you need to replace the holster over time. We all have our own preferences when it comes to carrying comfortably but there are some options that are not ideal.

What To Carry

When it comes to holsters, I typically like to go with either a high-quality Kydex IWB (inside the waistband) or a well-made leather OWB (outside the waistband) holster. Buying off-the-shelf options that are available for most carry guns or having a holster custom-made can make all the difference when it comes to being comfortable while carrying your handgun. When considering a holster, it’s important to look for quality well-known manufacturers if you are just starting out. I have found a few companies I can really trust and typically stay with them for the most part.

Lately, I have been using the Safariland Species line of holsters with good luck. For more of the custom side of things, I will typically go with ANR Design holsters which I’ve also had very good luck with. Retention and being streamlined are two of the biggest factors along with overall comfort. As long as you can comfortably carry your handgun and keep it concealed and secured well, that’s all that matters when it comes to holsters.

What Not To Carry

Carrying a cloth holster that claims to be a “universal fit” is one of the worst options you can pick even if it seems smart starting out. I’ve talked about the problems with universal holsters in the past with examples of people having their firearms unintentionally discharged which sent a few of them to the hospital with gunshot wounds. Universal fit holsters may seem like a great economical option to start out, but it’s not worth the risk of having an unintentional discharge because of a floppy holster.

Another popular choice by new carriers is picking up a holster that just covers the trigger guard instead of the entire firearm. Not only do they offer less support than traditional holsters, but in most cases, people end up sweating or moving in odd ways which can cause unwanted wear on your slide. Sweat can cause surface rust as well as pitting on various pistol models depending on what you go with. These options may seem like a cheap solution to carrying your gun, but it’s best to pay the extra money and use a holster specifically designed for the gun you intend on carrying.

Ammo

When it comes to self-defense ammo, there are a number of fantastic options on the market today. Even with an almost unlimited amount of great choices for ammo, people still manage to carry either the wrong ammo or don’t bother with self-defense ammo at all. It’s time to check out what to do and not to do with ammo.

What To Carry

When it comes to carrying a concealed firearm, the most important factor is actually having a firearm on your body with the second most important factor being your ammo choice. When it comes to 9mm pistols, it’s a drastic difference between self-defense ammo and standard run-of-the-mill range ammunition. Personally, I prefer to go with 124gr +P ammunition either from Federal or the SIG V-Crown ammo if you’re on a budget. Both rounds have performed extremely well in almost all of my guns and have been reliable with feeding and function.

Not all 9mm carry guns are rated for +P ammunition even though most modern carry guns are now rated for the hotter self-defense ammunition. The easiest way to check is either reading the owner’s manual or checking on the manufacturer’s website just to be safe. Sticking with known manufacturers or well-tested ammunition is always the best method. I personally like the Federal HST rounds and their Personal Defense hollow points with the PUNCH jacketed hollow points.

What Not To Carry

When it comes to bad carry ammo, there are typically two ammo types that come to mind. The first has to be standard full metal jacket range ammo. Full metal jacket ammo is specifically made to be as economical as possible while putting holes in paper targets. There’s no thought put into these rounds for energy transfer or deceleration. In most cases, full metal jacket rounds will zip right through a person and keep going creating a situation where you may have to worry about an innocent bystander if you have to defend yourself. Carrying regular range ammo puts you at a disadvantage and there’s really no upside other than to save $25 by not buying self-defense ammo.

Having dedicated self-defense ammunition is extremely important but there are a few options out there that might not be the right choice. Some rounds may seem like a great option because they petal off and create shrapnel channels due to fragmentation, but a lack of energy transfer as well as penetration means it may not be as effective as a traditional jacketed hollow point. These rounds will still do the trick but I would rather have the extra penetration and energy transfer of a jacketed hollow point than these rounds personally.

Overall Thoughts

Besides your firearm, holsters and ammo will be the next two most important aspects when looking at carrying a concealed firearm. These will determine how safe and comfortable you are on a daily basis so it’s important when it comes to carrying concealed. There are countless options to talk about when looking at accessories or add-ons to ‘improve” the overall carrying experience.

If you guys want a second part of this article about accessories, let me know in the comments below. If you have questions about carrying concealed or firearms in general, I’d be more than willing to try and help so be sure 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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