Concealed Carry Tips for Winter Months
When it comes to winters, you have to rethink how you draw your concealed carry. On cold winter days, your weapon could be underneath the bulky jacket, heavy shirt, and base layers. You don’t want to be digging for your gun under all those layers when you need it quickly. The concept of concealed carry is based on quickly and safely accessing your gun in certain situations. So how do you achieve that in the winter?
At Black Hills Leather, we have some valuable concealed carry tips for winters so that you are always ready when the situation demands it.
Keep Your Clothes in Mind
Clothes have the power to make or break the concealed carry experience. Avoid the longer coats, as they make it much more difficult to draw compared to shorter coats.
If you are wearing a trench coat or peacoat, we recommend leaving it unbuttoned. You will then have two options in a tricky situation:
- Still be able to grab your gun
- Ditch the trench coat altogether
It is best to test your winter wear even before you head out. Check how quick your draw is and identify any limitations.
Choose the Right Holster
It is best to pair your concealed carry jacket with a shoulder/waist holster.
- The waist holster can be matched to an easy-access pocket in the jacket. It may be required to have the pocket custom-built to your specifications.
- If you are using a shoulder holster, leave the jacket top unzipped. This may not be as quick a draw as you would without the jacket, it will still be fast enough while protecting you from the cold.
You may also choose a pocket holster. You will have better firearm orientation, making it easier and quicker for you to draw. You will not have to worry about it getting entangled under the layers. Besides, you will be able to keep your hands on your gun without anyone knowing about it. However, the jacket must be on when you need your gun.
Choose the Right Accessories
When the temperatures drop, you will be wearing gloves to keep your fingers warm. When you carry, make sure to test them with gloves. Check whether you can operate your sidearm with the gloves on.
You may even consider an outside the waistband holster. This holster is more readily accessible when you wear several layers of heavy clothing. Since you will not be able to keep your coat on all the time, cover clothing such as a longer sweatshirt or vest will be required to conceal the gun.
Wintertime concealed carry is much different than summertime carry. In the summertime, your muscle memory is focused on lifting the t-shirt before drawing the firearm from a holster. This routine develops due to consistent firing practice at the range. When you add even a shirt to it, your draw and the order changes dramatically. So, it is important to follow the right concealed carry tips during the winter months. If you seek custom holsters and concealed carry solutions for different seasons, Black Hills Leather can help you with the right products.
Call us at +1 (956) 744-3219 or send us your queries at rudy@blackhillsleather.com and we will help you make the right choices.
