PMCI - February 2017

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SKILLS AND DRILLS: CONCEALED CARRY
SKILLS AND DRILLS: CONCEALED CARRY PT2
In the last issue of PMCI we looked at the method of carrying concealed and also the ISW (inside Waistband)
holster. In this issue I want to look at some of the do’s and don’ts when carrying a handgun concealed. For
this article we will stick with the strong side hip holster, I will include other holsters such as the shoulder
holster at a later date.
In the last issue of PMCI we looked at the method
of carrying concealed and also the ISW (inside
Waistband) holster. In this issue I want to look
at some of the do’s and don’ts when carrying a
handgun concealed. For this article we will stick
with the strong side hip holster, I will include other
holsters such as the shoulder holster at a later date.
As I have mentioned before, concealing a handgun
doesn’t mean covering it with a jacket or shirt and
that’s the end, there is more to it than that. We must take
into consideration the size and colour of the gun and also
the holster as well as our garments. For example, a silver
handgun in a brown leather holster will show up very easily
if you decide to wear them with a black under shirt or vest.
To conceal or, if you like, camouflage the concealed handgun,
a black handgun, in a black ISW holster worn against a black
under shirt would be a better option. However, concealing is
one thing, wearing your weapon during every day tasks is
another matter.
I have been fortunate enough to have been to many
places where people have been carrying concealed weapon
(myself included) and have also seen some of the most
common mistakes that have given the game away, i.e. that
they are in fact CCW (carrying a concealed weapon). Mistakes
that should never have happened and that could have caused
a lot of problems.
With this being the “private world” I doubt we would have
the same problems, as we should only be carrying a concealed
weapon in an organised and controlled environment.
However, there are a few tricks of the trade that I want
to share with you that might help you out if you are ever in a
covert role, or carrying a side arm as a back up gun (BUG).
MAGAZINES
Although magazines don’t cause much of a problem we still
need to conceal them. There are some ISW magazine pouches
on the market but these are few and far between and we
can always place spare magazines in pockets. However if
you do carry magazines in pockets, do not place other items
in the pocket with them. This will cause problems as you
fumble in the pocket trying to retrieve your spare magazine
in the middle of a reload. Some tactical clothing designs
have separate sections in pockets that are designed to fit and
hold the most common magazines (mainly rifle magazines)
but you should always practice and train to use these for
maximum performance and efficiency.
REACHING
Reaching out or up for something can and will reveal your
concealed weapon, in most cases without you being aware
that it has happened. It is important to keep the handgun
from prying eyes to reduce the cause for alarm, or unwanted
attention. After all, that’s why we are carrying concealed in the
first place. If you have a well fitting holster and a lightweight
handgun it is very easy to forget that you are in fact carrying a
concealed weapon and this is the first and one of the biggest
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