Steps to Take if Discomfort Prevents You From Carrying

It's a big change to go from not carrying a gun for most of your life up until this point, to actually sticking a piece of metal in your pants and walking around with it everywhere you go. Not only is it a big change, but it can be uncomfortable to say the least.

I know for a fact that there are at least some people who refuse to carry because of how uncomfortable it is for them to do. This article is meant to help you overcome this discomfort to help you arm yourself again in case you ever need to defend yourself with your gun.

If your goal is to conceal a gun for self-defense but you don't do it because it doesn't feel good, keep reading because we're going to work through this.

Option 1 — Change your position of carry

This is the first option because it is the easiest thing to do depending on the type of holster you're using. Simply moving the holster to a more comfortable part of your body say, a spot without bones, is a good idea. I personally carry in the 4 o'clock position because it sits behind my hip bone actually up on the side of my right butt cheek.

This is extremely comfortable for me and even when I'm in the car I don't notice the gun. Not all holsters will allow you to change their position on your body just because of their design. But, if your holster allows you to do so, go for it. If not, keep reading.

Option 2 — Change your holster

This is another option that works if you want to keep your gun because you shoot it well and just changing where you carry your gun didn't have any change in comfort, or you couldn't because your holster is set up to be carried in a particular spot.

It could be that your holster is causing your discomfort. This is a relatively easy fix if you've got a little extra money to spend.

Try to find a holster that is contoured to fit your body a bit instead of just a piece of plastic that doesn't give. One that comes to mind almost immediately is the LAG Tactical Defender. I once sat in a car from Pennsylvania to NC wearing one of those with a full size 1911 strapped to my hip that only came off as I drove through MD.

I barely noticed it was even there.

This holster is nice because it can sit inside your waistband as well as outside by making a few small changes to the holster giving you great options if you live in a state where it's no big deal if someone sees your gun. I carry OWB from time to time, still concealed, and it's fine in NC where I live.

Option 3 — Change your gun

More extreme is to change your carry gun to something that has a smaller footprint. Disclaimer here, this won't always help and there is a reason why many people, even those who are petite, carry full sized pistols. They do it because they've been able to make the other options work.

However, if you've exhausted the other options, getting a smaller gun with a smaller footprint may help. The key is to get a gun that you can shoot well. Many shooters, myself included, have had a great time with guns like the SIG P365 as they're both small and very shootable.

Option 4 — Carry in an odd spot

What I mean here is that it is better to have your gun on you in an odd spot than it is to leave it at home in your sock drawer. What odd spot? Front pocket carry works excellent for me and I tend to do this on a semi-regular basis. I usually use a Sticky Holster with a snub nosed revolver or my SIG P938

Other people use shirt holsters, underwear holsters, carrying in a fanny pack, and the list goes on. At the end of the day, be creative as you try to remember that it's better to have your gun than not.

Other thoughts —

What I almost always recommend for those who are new to concealed carry is to practice at home before you ever even leave the house. What I mean here is that you should carry at home and in the car in order to get used to carrying your gun. When you're more used to carrying you build confidence.

And, when you build confidence it helps you not reach for and touch your gun or holster, and, therefore bring attention to the fact that you're carrying.

What have you done that has helped you out in your quest for comfort while carrying? Let us know in the comments below.