How to CCW in a holster
CCW. The three letters of high importance for everyone who carries a gun every day. No matter which shooting community you belong to, probably you know what the abbreviation means. Concealed carry weapon stands for the practice of concealing your gun while in public. Laws concerning CCW differs from country to country. In certain of them, even a pocketknife or a pepper spray may be considered as a weapon.
“Before traveling abroad, get to know the country’s lawsuit on CCW. You will thus avoid unnecessary trouble.”
Concealed Carry
Even though it is not rocket science, the CCW system should be approached in complexity. It is a thing that may save your life once. A gun is a self-defense tool, but the tool itself is never enough. Self-defense is to great extent about the material, physical, and psychical readiness. The equation might sound like:
Self-defense, martial arts or sports + physical training + shooting range training + health education + psychological training + legal awareness = the core elements of successful self-defense (it is important to realize that the offender is the one choosing a place, time, and means of the attack, diminishing your chances under 50%).
“Ignorance of the law is no excuse “
Basics first. To really become able to handle a damaging situation, you need to keep your gun in a good quality holster you can rely on. Yes, the quality holster ensures that your gun will not fall out and you always find it where it is supposed to be. The gun draw will be more effective, and you will gain precious time to react. What are the possibilities CCW brings to us?
The concealed carry offers several options. IWB holsters, OWB holsters, Belly Bands, Shoulder Rigs, Ankle holsters, Pocket holsters, various bags, pouches, and bum bags. There are some specific options for women, such as Thigh holsters or Bra holsters. We will get to all of those later. Now let us focus on IWB.
What are the Pros and Cons of IWB Carry? Why do they belong among the most popular holster types? What are the possibilities offered by this system? These and even more questions will be answered shortly.
“Owning a gun is not enough for effective self-defense. Either having a good quality holster. You need to train.”
IWB is the abbreviation for Inside the Waist Band. It stands for inside gun carry system- the gun is positioned between underwear and pants. Usually attached to the belt by steel clip, belt loop, or a buckle. The wearing comfort of IWB holsters does not only depend on the quality and material of the holster but also its position and the habit. A considerate role plays a gun itself- the size and weight. Anyway, IWB holsters are an ideal solution for people looking for a safe and effective system of concealed carry and belong among the most popular types.
The Greatest Advantages
- Low profile. IWB holsters offer a way to carry your gun least noticeably. This of course depends on the gun size and the holster position.
- Safety. The level of safety depends on the gun user. The drill perfects the drawing and re-holstering of a gun. Still, you always have your gun in the reach (unlike when using a bag/pouch).
- Gun Draw. There is no significant difference in speed while drawing from IWB or OWB (under the same condition of having the shirt over a holster).
- Variety of options. Unlike Shoulder Rigs, IWB offers a wide range of possible materials and designs.
The Greatest Disadvantages
- Holster position. In certain positions, the gun aims directly at parts of your body. For example, 12 o’clock carry while driving. At the same time, this is the most effective position in a given situation.
- Mindset. Concealed carry brings up the question “Should I carry a gun cocked and locked?” This is each shooter’s individual decision.
How to choose the ideal IWB holster?
Honestly, there is no ideal holster at all. The choice depends on the individual needs and requirements of every shooter, and the occasion in which the holster would be carried. The best is to have a combination of a few different holsters for each gun. At least keep one IWB for each gun of yours. Answering the following questions will help you to choose the most suitable one.
- Which material?
As we mentioned, IWB holsters belong among the most popular types and so there exist lots of designs and different material variations. Commonly used materials are leather, Kydex, and nylon. Naturally, this is the first question you must answer.
Leather is a traditional, durable material that can match the lifespan of the gun itself if you maintain it well enough. At the same time, its surface is lacquered and so the breath-ability is much smaller than with nylon. Absorbing part of sweat may change the appearance of the material and add a nice patina to it.
Considering the wearing comfort, nylon is an ideal material for IWB holsters. It is soft, light, and scratch-resistant, better absorbs sweat and is comfortable to wear. Some producers use 3D material that allows better air circulation and minimizes the sweating. You can even find innovative holsters on the market, that combine nylon with other materials. The first to introduce this method was Falco Holsters. Essentially, they combined the advantages of nylon, leather, and plastic. A combination of these materials allows such holster to retain its shape, providing faster and easier re-holstering. They also offer integrated plastic rail protecting the sights.
Kydex is the least comfortable material choice for IWB holsters. On the other hand, Kydex holsters are the safest. They are self-retaining and thus hold the gun in place. The gun draw and re-holstering are fast and safe, Kydex holds its shape and even the empty holster stays fully open. The wearing of an IWB Kydex holster might be less comfortable in the beginnings but can get used to.
Lately, there are more and more hybrid holsters popping up. Usually, this includes interconnecting leather, nylon, or Kydex. In this case, the leather, as a softer material, forms a platform for the body and Kydex a shaft for the weapon. This method is bringing remarkably interesting and functional holster types They tend to be larger because they are composed of different parts made from various materials that need to be connected.
- Lock
Generally, cannot be found with IWBs. The main reason for that is the time effectiveness, making the gun draw faster. However, you can find a retention screw that can be used to regulate the force of resistance when gun drawing.
Belt Attachment
Commonly used belt attachment styles are belt loop. Steel clip, and occasionally tuck-able system, allowing you to tuck your shirt in front of a holster and a gun. The wider the holster is, the better it sits on the belt and shapes around the body. Especially important think Is choosing the right belt. The belt widths of 1.5” and 2” are the most often used standards. The belts are commonly made from Leather, Neoprene, Nylon, or different variations, for example, Nylon reinforced with plastic.
- Holster Design
Everyone has a different taste. That is why choosing a holster type is very individual. In every case, the especially important is to have the holster custom made for your specific gun. For the effective gun draw, it is essential to take a correct grip of the weapon, so the holster must be made in a way that holds the gun in the right position. If the holster is not designed well, the wrong gun grip might cost you time and make your self-defense ineffective.
- Carry Style
IWB holsters are carried in different ways, depending on the chosen position. It is believed, that the ideal carry style for IWB holsters is between 11 o’clock and 3 o’clock position.
- Sweat Guard
Sweat Guard is almost a standard for all IWB holsters, it is an elongated rear part of the holster, reaching up to the hammer of a gun. Its main purpose is to create a barrier between the gun and your skin. Also, it keeps the moisture and oils away from your skin or shirt. However, with certain gun designs, the sweat guard might not be comfortable during the longer carrying periods.
Conclusion
The final advice. If you just plan to buy your EDC, consider its size and weight. It is recommended to keep at least one IWB holster for each gun of yours. The price-quality ratio is present, although it is a quality you can rely on every time. You need to be sure that the gun is always in the place where it is supposed to be.
Mgr. Michal Bernadič
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Katarína Zacharová
3.7.2020
