If you’re a new gun user, you might be wondering how to carry your firearm around safely without letting the world know that you have a gun. Most gun owners choose an inside-the-waistband holster also called an IWB holster. This type of holster is a naturally concealed carry and it provides the finest concealment as well as easy access to your weapon in an emergency. This means that it is a comfortable holster if you use it the right way.
Once you’ve discovered the advantages of an inside-the-waistband holster, you’ll never want to carry your pistol any other way. It is a great idea to try out a few different holster carry positions, but as a shooter, you must eventually pick one that works best for him. Let’s look at how to wear IWB holster.
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Putting on the Holster
First and foremost, you must properly connect the holster on your waist for it to stay tight. Wearing an IWB holster with a strong gun belt is suggested to ensure that the holster is kept in place.
To wear a holster, you must first ensure you are wearing a pant that is not tight-fitted. Wearing pants are tight would make it difficult to use an IWB holster. Put the holster inside your pants and connect the belt clip on the holster to the outside of your belt before tightening it. This procedure helps in the retention of your holster. The holster can shift within the waistline if you do not use the belt clip properly.
You can be certain that your firearm will stay in place if you use Concealment Express holsters, and you would not need to worry about the gun shifting its position or making you uncomfortable.
Follow this short technique to guarantee the proper fit for your belt. Try to use different sizes to ensure that the gun belt and pants are a perfect fit. Although the holsters are modest, they may take more space than you anticipated. You’ll want enough room so that it’s secure and tight but you would not want the gun belt to make you uncomfortable. Once you’ve found the correct trousers and gun belt, you can now focus on the position you want to carry the pistol.
Carrying Position
Carrying an IWB holster seems like an easy thing to do and that’s what most people say until they actually try to wear an iwb holster. You might ask, but isn’t it as simple as putting the pistol inside the waistband holster? Maybe not, this is because where you put your firearm and the way you position it might affect its concealment.
Just imagine that your waist is a clock and the buckle of your belt is 12 o’clock, your hips at 3 and 9 o’clock, and your rear at the 6 o’clock position. You can wear an IWB holster in any position you like around your waist, but if you want to consider your comfort, then certain positions are comfortable and simpler to use than others.
There are different carrying positions you can place your gun. The hip carry, often known as the 3 o’clock position, is a very common concealed carry position amongst gun owners. It allows you to keep the pistol very close to your dominant hand, allowing you to draw the firearm with the least amount of movement. As a result, it is popular among individuals who like to use an IWB concealed carry position for securing their firearm. Although some gun owners find it difficult to carry a pistol on their hip, but for the majority of people, this is the best position to carry a firearm.
The behind-the-back carry is another popular IWB carry position. In this carry position, the firearm is hidden in the small of the back, allowing you to conceal your pistol from anyone looking straight at you. It is one of the simplest methods to conceal a bigger weapon.
One disadvantage of this IWB carry position is that you cannot easily access the pistol. While it is one of the best concealed carry holsters position, it might be difficult to access your firearm in an emergency. Furthermore, many people do not find comfort in this form of carrying when driving, and it is nearly impossible to draw your pistol if you are seated in a chair that has a back. If you are carrying a full-sized weapon, this could be a good method to conceal it.
Other Carry Methods
You can use any concealed carry position, but those two are the most common conceal carry methods. Some gun owners prefer another option, such as shoulder holsters that can be concealed under a jacket. Shoulder holsters are worn under the armpit. The ankle holster has an ankle carry and is found near your boots. A thigh holster can be an IWB holster or an OWB holster. A pocket holster is handy and can easily be kept in a pocket. An appendix carry holster is a type of holster that is found on the appendix position. If you are one of those that love to carry their weapon in front, then this type of holster is for you.
Adjustability
You can adjust your holster to meet your demands once you’ve discovered the optimum position for you. There are two main characteristics that may be modified to your liking: retention and adjustable cant. You can choose whatever retention you require. This keeps the pistol safe in your holster and allows you to draw it faster based on your preferences.
The adjustable cant is another nice feature. It allows you to customize how your pistol would sit in your holster. It may range from -15 to +15 degrees. This allows the concealed carrier to have complete control over how the firearm is configured. These two choices allow you to personalize your inside waistband holsters.
The Right Position
You need to unload the pistol and place it in your concealed carry holster to locate the best position. Wear the holstered weapon at several positions around your waist and try to walk around as though you were carrying out your daily activities. Take a stroll, get into your car and out, sit in different seats, and experiment with bending, flexing, and shifting. As you do all of this, take note of how the handgun feels on you, and have a buddy keep an eye on the pistol to ensure it is not exposed through your normal movements.
Though some carriers like to carry their pistol around 3 or 9 o’clock position because it seems more natural, others carry it at 4, 8, or even 2 o’clock position. Find a posture that is comfortable and concealing for your body shape.
Balancing Concealability And Comfort
When talking about holsters, I discovered that the most common reason people leave a concealed carry pistol at home is due to lack of comfort. If a concealed carry holster pistol digs into your side whenever you put it on, you’re most likely going to keep it in your house. The purpose of carrying a handgun is to keep you safe, and a gun left at home is useless.
The most difficult aspect of enhancing the comfort of concealed carry holsters is properly positioning the gun holster, but there are other methods to make it simpler.
The first step is to put on a thick leather belt. A thicker leather belt prevents the handgun from warping the belt and causing the pistol to move and dig into your side. The next thing is to think about wearing an undershirt. This prevents the holster and gun grip from hurting your side as you walk.
You’ll also need to discover the most concealed spot on your body. Many states want the holster and firearm to be entirely concealed; otherwise, the concealed carrier may be prosecuted for carrying a weapon even after trying to conceal it. Furthermore, totally hiding a holster puts everyone around you at rest because they are unaware of the presence of a firearm in the room.
While some believe that an outside-the-waistband holster acts as a threat deterrent, you must know that it positions you as a target too. While some attackers may think twice about assaulting you if they notice a pistol on you, other attackers may shoot you first to eliminate any threat before going for others. Using an IWB holster gives you a tactical edge since nobody would know you have a handgun on you until you decide to use it. As a result, assailants are unaware that you may disrupt their illegal plans until you encounter them.
IWB holsters are just more discreet than OWB holsters. An IWB holster lies close to your body and does not generate a significant profile on your side, even when wearing tight clothes or light fabrics. When worn properly, the only visible thing would be your concealed carry holster belt clip that secures it to your belt. An IWB holster does not prevent you from moving normally because it is hidden behind layers of clothes.
Enhanced Retention
One of the most critical aspects of concealment when utilizing an IWB holster is keeping the weapon close to your body and not allowing it to slide in the holster. You should use an IWB holster that firmly keeps your weapon in place. With that, you’ll be free to shake and move the holster without losing your pistol. You should also consider inside waistband holsters that have some retention and trigger guard on your weapon, so not only is your handgun safe but there is no possibility of it getting into the trigger and causing a careless discharge.
IWB Leather Holster vs. IWB Kydex Holster
The common assumption is that the Kydex holster is harder and less comfortable. The good side is that Kydex holsters do not collapse after a draw. Even the best designs of Kydex holsters are reasonably priced ( some are made of plastic). To prevent the holster mouth from collapsing after a draw, leather holsters must feature a sewn-in metal holster mouth or a securely molded welt.
A Leather holster is a good alternative for people suffering from back discomfort. Take the Bitterroot Gunleather IWB holster as an example, it has a soft but supportive foot on the bottom. This type of holster is a comfortable holster. A leather holster can lie flat on the body, but a Kydex holster cannot.
Whichever one you choose just ensure you are wearing a comfortable holster!
Brian Belko is a freelance writer and blogger. His primary areas of focus include the outdoors and shooting sports. In addition to his freelance work, Brian also writes for Wide Open Spaces and is on the Pro Staff at Military Hunting and Fishing. When he isn’t busy writing, Brian enjoys fishing farm ponds for bass and hitting the spring woods during turkey season.