Concealed Carry Corner: Should You Carry The Same Position Every Time?

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we took a look at some of the easiest cover garments to use when the weather gets warm. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I want to take a look at a common argument I see in person as well as online from various people about carry positions. There are a number of people who think you should carry the same handgun in the same position no matter what. Others think it's important to be flexible and carry various guns in various positions. Both arguments have their valid points, but what's best?

Carrying The Same Position No Matter What

The idea of carrying in the same position isn't a new concept. There's a fairly large group of carriers who believe you need to carry the same gun in the same position every single day, no matter what, whether you're wearing a T-shirt and shorts or layered up in a snowstorm with multiple heavy layers. There are certainly benefits to keeping things consistent because you can develop quick muscle memory for the same draw every single time. You certainly remove the vast majority of variables when you carry the same gun in the same holster in the same position.

When you move to various guns, you will run into different safety positions, manual safeties versus no external safeties. If you carry something like a Glock 48 or Glock 19, you will have the same setup with no manual safety. It's a consistent draw and things start to be not only predictable but second nature. If you're someone who isn't necessarily into gun collecting or wanting to carry multiple guns out of your collection, the consistency of carrying the same gun and holster every single time is probably the best route to go. There are plenty of people who aren't deep into gun collecting and just want something to protect themselves. If you only have one carry gun, having the consistency of the same position every single day is certainly the best fit for you.

Being Flexible

When things become tricky is when you have a variety of options to carry and you have to adjust to not only different carry positions but also handgun types. If you're into gun collecting, it’s tough to stick with the same handgun every single day. I know I struggle with carrying the same gun and holster every single day, no matter the weather or situation. My carry rotation is roughly 8-10 different handguns depending on the situation, time of year, and weather conditions. When it's colder out, I will switch to something a bit larger, but I try to keep the carry position as consistent as possible.

For me, carrying strong side on my right hip is the best way to conceal, but if I’m on my bike, I prefer a shoulder holster, so it's another system I need to practice with in order to have consistent draws. The beauty of flexibility is being able to have a number of different options depending on what your situation is and what the best way to conceal with the clothes you're wearing is, rather than being a one-trick pony where you have to force that style of concealed carry to work in every situation. Having the ability to be flexible means you have way more options than just sticking to one setup or way to carry.

Why People Argue

I cannot tell you how many times I have seen people get into somewhat heated debates about what they should carry and how each side is doing it wrong. The people who only carry one gun and set up think the people who switch things up can't be as effective with a handgun because they aren't consistently carrying the same gun, so it makes it way more challenging to be proficient with whatever firearm you're carrying, which can be true to a point. If you carry multiple handguns throughout the year, it does become harder to really train a lot with these guns. You’ll need to hit the range more frequently with each system in order to be as proficient with them as possible.

Overall Thoughts

When it comes to carrying a concealed handgun, the absolute most important thing is actually having a firearm on you and being able to confidently draw from concealment. Whether that's one handgun you carry in the same position or a variety of options you have, it should boil down to you consistently being able to draw from concealment and make accurate shots if the need arises. For those of you who only own a handgun or two for self-defense, it makes complete sense to carry the same exact setup every single time.

For those of you who are more experienced and into gun collecting, as long as you can make shots accurately and draw from concealment with your handgun, I don't see an issue carrying various guns in different positions. I know some of you won't agree with me and I'd love to hear your thoughts 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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