Concealed Carry Corner: Do You Need Multiple Carry Setups?

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we took a look at some of the perks of Strong Side Carry. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to get caught up now. This week, I wanted to take an honest look at exactly how many carry setups someone needs to carry consistently. One of my favorite sayings is having the right tool for the right job, but how many different carry setups do you really need for everyday life? Some of us love firearms and want to mix things up to keep it interesting, but that's not always a great idea when it comes to consistency. Let's take a closer look to answer the question: Do you need multiple carry setups?

Your Baseline Everyday Carry 

The first one should be the most obvious choice. Having a carry gun that you can easily carry every day is by far the most useful option across the board. My personal go-to gun is the Glock 48 MOS with a Trijicon RMRcc riding inside an IWB claw holster. For most people, something like a Glock 43X, 48 or SIG P365 is a great option because it's small enough to conceal no matter what you wear but large enough to comfortably fire if you ever find yourself in a self-defense situation. These are the happy medium firearms where they are the perfect size to conceal but large enough to accurately fire. For most people, this is realistically all you need when it comes to a concealed carry setup.

A Winter Time Carry

For those of us in the bitter north during wintertime, having a larger firearm is easier to manipulate with gloves and the addition of heavier layers makes it easier to conceal full-size firearms without being uncomfortable. A fair number of people who carry concealed not only move up to larger handguns but will sometimes switch from inside the waistband holsters to outside the waistband holsters, which allows the gun to ride on your belt rather than inside your waistline, making the overall experience more comfortable.

When it comes to winter carry guns, these are usually full-size handguns that can sometimes be rocking accessories like a weapon light or red dot optic as well. My personal favorite winter carry gun is my SIG Sauer P226 with a SureFire X300U light on it. Anything full size, like a Glock 17, Colt 1911 or similar size, is a fantastic option with an OWB holster to keep the weight on your belt line rather than inside your pants. Having the ability to carry a larger firearm, similar to your range gun that you're more comfortable with, is a huge plus and gives you options depending on the situation. It's not a necessity but it is certainly nice to have the extra options of a larger firearm if the weather starts to become colder.

Formal Carry Gun/ Barbeque Carry Gun

A personal favorite of mine that I think everyone should have is some sort of special occasion or barbeque handgun. Some people will refer to these types of handguns as “safe queens” or the prized item of your collection. Now I know some of you think it's crazy to carry the best guns in your collection, but that's what the gun community is all about, in my opinion. Having an interesting conversation piece that allows you to connect and talk firearms with other people in the community.

This is where engraving, special grips and rarer firearms become extremely useful for having a special firearm to carry in a leather holster that you only use for special occasions or a get together with friends and family. While you don't need to always have a formal carry gun, it's genuinely one of the most fun ways to carry a gun since it's not as much about self-defense but more about what represents you as a carry gun. Of course, these are firearms that are still capable of saving your life in a self-defense situation, but they aren't the type you would carry on a daily basis. Having something to carry for special occasions is part of the thrill when it comes to sharing a genuine interest in the firearms world.

The Bare Minimum

The last carry setup I think everyone should have is a handgun you can throw into a pocket when heading to the gas station or grocery store real quick. Having the ability to throw a small pistol in your pocket or jacket pocket and go out still armed, even though it may not be the normal carry gun. This could be in the form of a micro carry 380 Auto or snub nose revolver that will do the bare minimum for self-defense, but it's one of the easiest ways to carry a concealed handgun as well.

For some, this is what they carry on a daily basis, and while I understand that idea, I don't agree with that since these guns are typically really tough to shoot accurately. These handguns certainly have their place, but I think it's important to also carry something that can be shot easily, especially under stress. Although it may not be ideal, having a small, extremely concealable firearm can be incredibly useful in various situations where you have to head out into society for a quick errand but don't have your normal carry gun or everyday clothing with you.

Overall Thoughts 

There are always going to be various carry setups that are possible to carry. At the end of the day, you should have your baseline carry set up no matter what the situation is. Anything past that, it's not a bad idea to have different options but your baseline carry setup should be your default option. The more you carry, the more options you'll end up having because most of us love firearms and really get enjoyment from different options, even though in most cases it's not necessary. What are some carry setups that you love personally? Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below. If you have questions about carrying concealed or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you next week for another edition of Concealed Carry Corner.

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