Concealed Carry: 5 Tips for Firearms Everyday Carry (EDC)

5 Concealed Carry and Everyday Carry (EDC) Tips

You may have decided to obtain your Concealed Carry License for many reasons. The most popular is self-defense in an increasingly dangerous world. You are now a trained and responsible citizen. However, many that receive a Concealed Carry License do not carry their self-defense firearm with them every day. Ask yourself, if you do not have your everyday carry firearm on you when you need it the most, then what purpose did it serve to earn your Concealed Carry License to begin with? In this article we will discuss five tips for Everyday Carry (EDC) that will help you be better prepared to defend yourself should the need ever arise. Remember, you can decide whether to become a victim or you can decide to be prepared every day to defend yourself accordingly and within the law. Here are our five tips for EDC of a firearm.

1. CHOOSE THE RIGHT EVERYDAY CARRY FIREARM

   In my experience training responsible concealed carry licensee's, I have seen many report to their training with a firearm they intend to qualify with, but they do not intend to carry as a self-defense everyday carry firearm. An example would include a long barreled .22 caliber handgun, great for plinking cans and often used in training for their ease in shooting and qualifying with, but too large for concealability. In the law enforcement profession, we train and qualify routinely with the firearms we use every day on the job. We have to be extremely proficient using these tools. You must be as well. Consider the following:

   • It is incredibly important to choose and train with a firearm you will everyday carry so as to build familiarity with your chosen defensive firearm. Knowing how to clear malfunctions and knowing which types of ammunition works the best with your chosen every day carry firearm are critical skills for a responsible concealed carry licensee to master.

   • Choose a firearm that can be concealed under the clothing that you will normally wear. Qualifying with a large-framed revolver with a six inch barrel may make it easier to qualify at the range, but it will probably be much too large to carry effectively and comfortably concealed. Similarly, a large-framed firearm may have a grip too large for your hands hampering your abilities to use it effectively.

   • Talk to a certified concealed carry instructor to help you make a better concealed carry choice that is right for you. An everyday concealed carry firearm that is smaller and more easily concealable, with a barrel length of three to four inches, will be more likely carried every day.

     
     

2. CHOOSE THE RIGHT CALIBER EVERYDAY CARRY FIREARM

   While barrel length and overall size of your everyday carry concealed firearm

is important so is the actual caliber of the firearm you choose to carry. Larger

caliber firearms tend to have larger frames making them bulkier and more

difficult to carry concealed. A bulkier firearm, after carrying it for any length of

time, will become uncomfortable which will make you not want to carry that

firearm every day. While it may be true that having a larger caliber will allow us

to have more effective stopping power if we have to use our firearm in a life or

death critical incident. It is equally true and more important to realize if we do

not have our everyday carry firearm on us when that incident presents itself, the

        larger caliber is a moot point. On the opposite side of the argument is carrying

        a concealed carry weapon with a much too small caliber ammunition. These

        firearms tend to be smaller and easier to carry, but the stopping power with

       some of these calibers are not the best choice for everyday carry or for self-

       defense. Utilize the following tip:

• Choose an everyday carry firearm with a caliber that best suits the objective of self-defense while allowing you to everyday concealed carry with comfort and confidence. We recommend a caliber between 9mm Luger to .40 S&W.

  
  

3. CHOOSE THE RIGHT HOLSTER FOR YOUR CHOICE OF EVERYDAY CARRY FIREARM

Holsters come in many distinctive styles and types. Holsters range from outside

the waistband, inside the waistband, and pocket holsters with materials made

of leather or Kydex, all with varying types of weapon retention levels. Those that

chose to carry concealed and have accepted the responsibility it holds, should

invest in a solid and reliable holster with some sort of retention to prevent the

chosen every day carry firearm from mistakenly falling out of the holster when

moving in public or having your firearm taken from you in a skirmish. We

recommend:

• Inside the waistband holsters, whether placed on the hip or used appendix style, offer the best concealed carry firearm option allowing a t-shirt or untucked polo style shirt to cover the grip of the weapon while minimizing "printing" or showing the outline of the concealed carry firearm through your clothing.

• If you wear a jacket in colder climates or to dress more businesslike, an outside the waistband holster is an excellent choice as long as you plan to keep your jacket on as your go about your day.

  
  

4. ADJUST YOUR EVERYDAY CARRY FIREARM AND GEAR AT HOME AND PRIVATELY

   I am an advocate of concealed carry as opposed to open carry of an everyday carry firearm if your state allows open carry. In advocating for such, when you are securing your everyday carry firearm to your person to go about your daily activities, it is best practice to make any adjustments before you leave the privacy of your home. The goal after all is concealment and not advertising to the public that you are armed with a concealed carry firearm. New concealed carry licensee's may want to check their weapons placement to ensure it is still present and hasn't slipped out somewhere. Avoid doing this if possible. If you must, do so in a secluded area. Think about:

   • Purchasing a solid leather belt that when properly adjusted will keep your preferred holster in place without allowing it to slip or move as you move.

   • Using a holster that has belt clips or loops allowing your preferred holster to have anchor points that attach to a belt to provide additional security. This is not only important to ensure your everyday carry firearm remains in place, but it also ensures your firearm will be exactly where you have trained for it to be to allow for a faster draw when it is needed.

     
     

5. CARRY EVERYDAY AND TRAIN ROUTINELY

   A concealed carry licensee and the responsibility of carrying a self-defense firearm is useless if we do not choose to carry it every day. We cannot know when or where we will meet those evil souls who may wish to do us harm. Because of this we have to be prepared to meet the challenge every single day by making sure we have the tools at hand and the up to date training to do so. Many concealed carry licensees earn their license, but fail to train routinely after their initial qualification. This is a mistake, and a responsible concealed carry licensee would not allow themselves to fall into this trap. Defensive firearms use and hitting the target you are aiming to hit are perishable physical skills. They have to be constantly honed for you to stay proficient or to improve your skill set. Not being able to draw you weapon cleanly or place your shots where you want them to strike is dangerous for you and those around you when a deadly force incident occurs. Examine:

   • Your everyday carrying habits. Do you carry your self- defense firearm daily? If so, do you train on a routine basis?

   • Your training program. and develop a plan consisting of dry firing drills, live fire exercises, attending firearm training seminars, or seeking out one on one coaching with a certified firearms training instructor.

     
     

   CONCLUSION

   If you carry a concealed firearm for self-defense, maintaining your skills, retaining your weapon, and actually carrying your self-defense firearm every day is paramount in your original goal to be a responsible concealed carry licensee and to be prepared to react to the potential events presented in a dangerous world. Carry every day, train routinely, and utilize the right equipment that is best suited for you. If you are in our area, contact us at selfrelianceselfdefense.com to learn more about concealed carry license training, personal range coaching, or how to be better prepared and self- reliant in your personal protection journey.