Concealed Carry Corner: When To Carry Certain Firearms

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we talked about some of the most popular alternative carry methods. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I want to talk about when it's a good idea to carry certain handguns. Of course, you may have your own preferences and that's completely understandable, but there are certainly situations where having a specific type of handgun that you may not have thought about before can be beneficial.

Full-Size Handguns With Accessories

Some people may not think it's a good idea to ever carry a full-size firearm with accessories on it. Some may not have the body type to support a large handgun, while others don't see the need for it. I often carry something a bit smaller than a full-size firearm, but there's no question that a full-size handgun can be beneficial in certain situations. One of my favorite times to have a full-size handgun is when I’m traveling and hours away from home. I’ve always been a firm believer that you should have something that can get you home, no matter the distance and what happens. Certain people take a rifle or AR pistol, but that's certainly a personal choice. A good place to land on what to carry, though, is a full-size gun and if you add a weapon light as well as a red dot, you'll have all your bases covered.

Besides carrying a full-size gun while traveling, I always say the colder months are a perfect time to carry something larger. Depending on how cold it gets in your area, having a smaller compact handgun can be almost impossible to shoot with thick gloves during sub-zero temperatures. Having something larger with a trigger guard that allows for thicker gloves really does help. Most people don't think about the logistics of carrying a firearm during the cold months, but shooting smaller handguns with larger gloves can sometimes be almost impossible. Carrying a larger firearm is almost always easier since you're able to carry with an outside-the-waistband holster. OWB-style holsters take the pressure off your hip and cut down on the amount of rubbing between your body and a holster, which extends your ability to carry before you start to fatigue. Having the ability to conceal a larger handgun more easily while allowing you to comfortably carry one is a winning combination to easily carry something larger like a full-size handgun.

Small Revolver or Micro Handguns

Over the years, some of you talk about how you only carry a single handgun and no matter what, you'll carry a Glock 19 and that's it. While I respect this approach, it's not always realistic for everyone as a general rule, since there are certain situations where you can only carry a micro pistol or small revolver. Situations like formal events, extremely hot weather and size constraints don't always allow you to carry something larger like a Glock 19 or other popular carry guns. Sometimes all you can carry is a small J-frame revolver or something like an original Glock 43.

I’ve been to a number of events where I wanted to have something on me for self-defense, but had to rely on a really small handgun in my pocket. There have been a few times where I had a formal event but took off my jacket halfway through, so an IWB style holster doesn't always work for situations like that. Having a very small setup that you can easily conceal without much work at all, whether that's in your pocket or a belly band, is certainly a useful option that should be on everyone's list.

The Formal/BBQ Gun

One of my all-time favorite times is the classic formal BBQ gun events, where people who are interested in firearms come together and carry their most interesting pieces for conversation and just love firearms in general. Typically, the rules of concealed carry are the opposite of a BBQ event. You can see here things like larger revolvers, high-quality 1911s, or interesting, rare pieces that you just don't see on a regular basis. These events typically only happen once or twice a year for me, but they are a fantastic way to talk about the hobby we all love and appreciate.

Overall Thoughts

It's easy to talk about the latest and greatest when it comes to firearms. Most love to talk about what they carry on a daily basis and what the latest carry guns are on the market, but it's important to talk about the other times where new carriers may be challenged or perplexed about what to do. These situations were worked out by me in time, but I think it's an important aspect to talk about since I know I’m not the only one who goes through this.

Let me know some of your favorite off-the-wall guns to carry 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.

TFB’s Concealed Carry Corner is brought to you by GLOCK