There are lots of little things you can do to make carrying
concealed easier on a day to day basis. When I first started out
carrying, there were quite a few things that I wish I had known at the
time.
1. Try new guns and holsters out around the house before you wear them out in public
Whether you’re getting ready for your first CCW or switching gear,
it’s a good idea to take it for a test run around the house on a
weekend. This way you know how the gun/holster combo works when you have
to perform regular actions like bending/sitting/going to the bathroom.
2. No one can see you gun, but they can see you fiddling with your shirt.
People obsess about concealment. We worry about printing a lot,
when the real truth of the matter is that most people won’t notice your
gun. What people will notice is you fiddling with your shirt and
constantly picking at the tail of it to make sure your gun stays
concealed. Relax and stop picking at your shirt.
3. Actually practice with your carry gear before you wear it “for real”
Remember, we’re betting on this gear to save our life in an
emergency. Never carry an untested gun/holster combo, because in the
terrible moment where you need it, untested gear is more likely to fail
than tried and true kit. I’d never carry a gun/holster combo that I
hadn’t practiced with.
4. Don’t dry fire then immediately load up again
After you finish a dry fire practice session, take a 10 minute
break before you reload and put your gun back on. The idea behind this
is to create a mental separation between unloaded practice and actually
carrying a loaded gun.
