Concealed Carry Corner: Struggles Of Carrying In Cold Winter

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we took a look at some of the top items to avoid when carrying concealed. If you happened to miss that article last week, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, with freezing cold blizzards hitting most of the northern sections of the country, it reminds me just how tough it can be to conceal your regular carry loadout under a number of heavy layers. It's important to really think about what works and what doesn't. Let's take a closer look at the struggles of carrying in cold weather.

The Problem With Small Guns

When it comes to carrying in the wintertime, people always like to joke about concealing MP5s under their jackets, but the honest truth is, there is some wisdom bumping up from a small micro gun into something larger. While having a micro or smaller carry gun for the majority of the year, carrying and firing a smaller gun in frigid winter temperatures makes it incredibly difficult to draw and present a gun of that size. The problem when it starts to be extremely cold is how difficult it is to move quickly. It's not uncommon to have 3-5 layers over your carry gun in the really cold months. Combine the layering issue with the fact that you may have gloves on and you create a situation where it's really likely you won't be able to effectively draw or even fire the smaller handgun with that many layers and gloves on.

Gloves are the toughest part because they often add so much bulk to your hand that you won't be able to fit your finger in the trigger guard of most micro or smaller framed pistols. Most don't think about this and at the end of the day, having something on your body is better than being completely unarmed, but it's always better to have an optimally sized handgun for your situation. While micro and smaller-sized carry guns are still viable to carry, it's really important to check how compatible your gloves and outdoor clothing are with your carry gun. If you're adamant on carrying the same gun, it's important to practice drawing your gun from concealment and make sure you can consistently draw and get the gun on target every time.

Bigger IS Better

When it comes to carrying in the cold winter months, having a bigger gun is truly the better option. When the weather gets so cold that you need layers just to stay warm outside, it becomes much easier to conceal these larger handguns under a heavy winter jacket. This week I switched from an inside-the-waistband holster to an OWB or belt-mounted holster. This allows you to have easier access if you need to draw your firearm from concealment, since you will have to clear your jacket only, instead of your jacket and the additional layers you have on under the jacket. One of the best arguments for a shoulder holster rig is during these cold months, when it's a struggle to fight to your belt line, having a shoulder holster typically means you unzip your jacket partially and you're good to go in order to draw your handgun. It saves time and isn't near the fight as either pulling your jacket up or clearing it like you would have to with a belt-mounted holster.

Why It's Important to Plan For Weather

Weather changes happen and while having any gun on you is better than nothing, it's important to look at various aspects of your wardrobe, like how easy it is to draw from concealment and if your gloves are too big or small for your carry gun. I know it sounds silly, but these are the small issues that can turn into the difference between surviving a life-threatening situation or becoming a victim. The best advice is to plan ahead, take 3-4 minutes and really go through your wardrobe to make sure you can easily draw your gun from concealment. If you struggle, then it's time to either switch things out or practice more until you have a rough plan on how you're going to draw if it's ever needed. These may seem like simple tricks, but they really do make a difference when the situation counts.

Overall Thoughts

In the grand scheme of things, planning for cold weather really is for a short time of the year, where you don't necessarily have to switch every single thing out, but it's important to at least practice with a few dry fire draws just to have a rough plan if you ever need to get to your gun. It's not a complete change in your day-to-day plan, but carrying with a heavy jacket and layers is certainly something to at least take into consideration. Let me know how you guys carry when the temperature plummets 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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