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Guest post by Mandy Bachman
“I can’t buy a whole new wardrobe just to conceal carry...” “They don’t have options out there suitable for women…” These are just a couple of the reasons I have heard women give for why they don’t carry daily. I’ve used these excuses myself. So what options are there for women who want to carry every day without completely redoing their closets or wearing tactical gun belts everywhere? How do you pick the best concealed carry options for you?
First, you need to select a gun that is suitable for you. The gun is what every other concealed carry decision/option will be based around.
You want the gun to be a size you can successfully shoot as well as comfortably conceal. That being said, a smaller gun is not always better. Even though smaller is easier to conceal, some small guns can be hard to shoot.
I often see women who chose the smallest gun they could find only to find out that they cannot shoot it well enough to use in a defensive situation. There are two reasons for this.
First, smaller guns designed specifically for concealed carry often have a very heavy trigger pull. This is to prevent accidental discharge. That’s the good side. The bad side is it takes a great deal of strength to pull the trigger. In a defensive situation, where you are under a lot of stress, this might prevent you from shooting when you need to. Second, smaller guns have less mass, which means they absorb less recoil and kick more, making them harder to control when shooting one-handed and harder to put back on target for follow-up shots. My recommendation is to find a gun that you can shoot first, then find a way to conceal it.
Choose a gun that will not snag on your clothing or other items. In a real-world shootout, you need a gun you can access and get on target quickly without worry of getting it caught on something on the way out. Striker-fired guns are a good and very popular option because they are smooth and relatively snag-free, but don’t discount a good hammer-fired gun. It all depends on how you plan to carry it.
You will need a good holster that is made for your gun. I have found that one good holster isn’t enough for me. I have a couple of different set-ups that I use depending on what I’m wearing. Keep in mind that many holsters are made more for a man’s body, so you may have to play with several different holsters before you find one that fits your body the way you would like.
Your holster should completely cover the trigger/trigger guard, and the material should be thick enough that the trigger cannot be pulled if something were to catch on your holster.
Also, be sure the gun is secured inside the holster and won’t fall out during normal activity.
The on-body vs. off-body debate has raged for years, and it won’t be settled here. Is it better to carry on-body or off-body? There are plusses and minuses to both. Many women conceal carry in a purse. This prevents them from needing to plan their entire wardrobe around concealed carrying. The same rule applies as before: the gun must be in a holster or separate compartment that prevents the trigger from being pulled. Do not just toss a gun into your purse!
One major point to consider when carrying in a purse is that you cannot let that purse be out of your control – ever! The purse will need to stay on you at all times.
That means don’t place your purse in the shopping cart while getting groceries, don’t hang it on the back of your chair while dining out, and so on. Also, purses are targets for thieves. If your purse gets snatched, you just gave the bad guy your gun and now you’re unarmed. This isn’t me telling you to not carry in your purse, but to just be extra vigilant when carrying with this method.
With on-body carry, the gun is always with you no matter what. But how do you match up good concealed carry with still being fashionable?
One great option for on-body carry that is very popular with a lot of the ladies I know is a belly band. It allows you to carry the gun higher up on your waist, which makes it easier for most women to conceal.
Belly bands are also convenient when you are wearing clothing that doesn’t allow for a belted holster, such as workout clothes. Again, keep in mind the fabric your band is made from. Be sure it is thick enough to protect the trigger. Also, keep in mind that sometimes belly bands can get tricky to un-holster and re-holster without sweeping yourself with the muzzle on the gun. The last thing you want to do to accidentally shoot yourself trying to take your gun out or put it away, so this is something you will want to practice with an empty gun to get proficient and confident.
Another option for women is concealed carry clothing such as UnderTech and Alexo Athletica. As more and more women get interested in carrying, companies are coming out with these type of women’s clothing options. I recently purchased the Signature Pant from Alexo Athletica and have been very pleased with the functionality of the pant. I’m not only able to conceal a gun, but I also have pockets for other items such as my keys and phone. But just like belly bands, be aware of how you un-holstering and re-holstering, as these actions can cause you to sweep part of your body if you are not conscious of your actions.
Some women hide their gun in a thigh holster when wearing a skirt or dress. This option frees you up to wear whatever top you want and not have to worry about messing up your waistline with a holster. The drawback to a thigh holster is that it could rub against your other thigh. My suggestion is to try one on a day when you could switch to something else if it becomes a problem.
When it comes down to it, both men and women have different preferences when choosing how to conceal carry. Find what works for you and what you are comfortable with.
Most importantly, once you find your preferred way to carry, make sure you go out to the range on a regular basis and practice with your set up.
This should be more than a one-time visit. Go often. Get trained. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will become. If the time should ever come, you want to be fully confident you can protect yourself.
Mandy Bachman is a decorated member of the Wilson Combat Shooting Team, pistol instructor, and Propper Brand Ambassador. For more on Mandy, visit our Partners page.