The Basics Concepts for CC: Concealed Clothing ― Series 4

Concealed Clothing

Concealing a firearm while engaging in various activities takes a little thought but mostly it’s just using common sense and awareness of the time of year it might be. Winter and fall, as expected, are usually the easiest times of the year for Concealed Carry because we normally wear a jacket, heavy sweater, flannel shirt or some other type of heavy garment that would conceal the firearm for EDC. However, although the firearm is concealed with heavy clothing, it must be accessible at all times. This could present an issue if you don’t consider it up front. Try different jackets or clothing you might be wearing during colder conditions and practice, with a cleared firearm, the best means for establishing a proper grip and draw sequence with the firearm and that particular garment. I have identified various jackets, sweaters, fleece jackets and pullovers that are my go-to clothing for colder temperatures and I am comfortable and confident in my access to the firearm with these clothing items. A word of advice regarding all types of pullover clothing regardless of the time of the year or type of pullover. You must modify your draw stroke to accommodate the design of the pullover garment. Normally, when wearing an open button-down garment and carrying a strong side, the draw stroke is initiated by sweeping the garment back with your dominant hand then establishing a proper grip with your dominate hand then complete the draw sequence. With a pullover garment and carrying strong side or appendix carry, both hands should be utilized by pulling the garment out then up, with one hand on each side of the garment with the firearm in between, then with your strong hand initiate the proper grip on the firearm and complete the draw sequence. The reason we pull the garment out first then up, is to reduce the potential for the garment to become entangled with the firearm. If this should occur, the potential exists for the clothing to pull the firearm out of the holster and onto the ground. Something else you should be aware of with a pull over garment is, there is a slight difference when you try to access your spare magazine, and this sequence should be practiced as well. Now some might say these issues do not seem to be extremely critical or difficult. Try doing them in a critically dynamic situation when your life or the lives of others are on the line. Muscle memory and training must be engaged under these circumstance & the only way to achieve this is through proper, repetitive practice.

Spring and summer can be a little more challenging because of the lighter clothing we are wearing but again, it just takes a little common sense. In the spring, we might be wearing light jackets or sweaters which normally allow for effective concealment and the same rules apply as previously mentioned. However, summer does require a little more thinking in that we normally want to wear light clothing. For me, it’s usually shorts, a polo shirt or tee shirt, other times it’s a tee shirt with a short sleeved, un-tucked dress shirt opened in the front. Also, if you are just wearing a tee shirt or polo shirt, darker colors can eliminate printing of your firearm through the clothing. Otherwise, the same rules apply as mentioned earlier.

For women and Concealed Carry , they have the advantage regardless of the season of year it might be. There are a number of Concealed Carry purses that are fashionable and specifically designed for carrying concealed firearms that make access to the firearm easy and efficient. I would recommend purchasing one that has a built is a holster for your specific firearm or one that has a universal type of holster. Most of these type of purses utilize a compartment for your firearm on the surface next to your body. Access to the firearm is usually made by opening a Velcro flap to the compartment making access, grip and draw sequence simple, efficient, and remarkably effective regardless of the time of year or the clothing you are wearing. I purchased one for my wife the last time I was in a pro shop, but they can easily be found by doing an internet search as well. In Series 5, we will be discussing the various carry positions pros and cons of how we choose to carry concealed and why.