The purpose of carrying your gun in a holster is threefold:
- Covers the trigger to avoid unintentional discharges.
- Prevents your gun from shifting positions, which makes it easier to draw.
- It’s harder for someone to disarm you when your weapon is secure in a holster.
But what if you’re in a situation where you can’t wear a holster? Or what if you just can’t find one that’s comfortable to wear? In this article, we’ll cover how to conceal a gun without a holster so you can do so safely.
CONCEALING WITHOUT A HOLSTER
If you aren’t going to wear a holster, but you still want to conceal a weapon, you have a few options:
- Purchase and wear specially designed concealed carry clothing like jackets, vests, shirts, and pants.
- Carry your weapon off-body in a specially designed purse or bag.
- Carry your gun in your pocket WITHOUT A BULLET IN THE CHAMBER.
Never, ever carry a gun inside your waistband without a holster if you have a bullet in the chamber. The chance of an unintentional discharge is too high. If you choose to carry without a holster or specially designed clothing, keep your chamber clear until you draw your gun and you’re ready to shoot.
CONCEALED CARRY CLOTHING
Numerous companies offer clothes specifically designed for carrying a weapon without a holster. The benefit of specialized clothing is that it’ll have a zipper or a retention strap to keep your weapon secure.
COATS AND JACKETS
One of the challenges of concealing a holster at your waist while wearing a coat is that you have to move quite a bit of material out of the way to get to your gun. With a concealed carry jacket, you don’t have to sweep the coat aside to access your weapon.
This men’s jacket and this women’s jacket both feature zip pockets right at the opening of the coat. To access your weapon, just unzip the interior pocket and draw.
VESTS
Concealed carry vests offer the same ease-of-access benefit as the jackets, plus you can wear them for more months of the year. You can use one as your primary outerwear, or you can layer it under any winter coat that you already own.
This men’s vest has a simple, clean design and is a stylish alternative for men who don’t want to look like they’re on a safari. This vest for women is both fashionable and functional, so it’s ideal for any gun-toting lady in your life.
SHIRTS
Shirts designed for concealed carry typically have pockets on either side of the chest, just below the pectoral muscles. This placement mimics the position of a gun in a shoulder holster. Concealed carry shirts are suitable for times when you’re especially active and don’t want the added weight of a holster but want to be armed.
Concealment shirts like this men’s option and this ladies’ option are a comfortable way to carry. If you’re hesitant to carry a weapon on your body because you’re afraid it’ll feel large and bulky, give one of these shirts a try.
LEGGINGS
For women who don’t want to live in baggy shirts, concealment leggings are a wonderful option. They eliminate the need for a thick holster, while still providing a retention strap to keep your weapon secure.
There are lots of options available, but this pair is great for athletic activities or daytime wear. It can accommodate appendix, hip, or kidney carry, so it’s perfect for anyone.
OFF-BODY CARRY
Many people prefer to carry their weapon on their bodies, but sometimes it just isn’t feasible because of their attire. Other people prefer to carry in a bag because they haven’t found a comfortable way to carry on their bodies.
Whichever camp you fall into, keep in mind the extra challenges of carrying off-body:
- You have to be extra vigilant. Pay attention to your surroundings so no one can sneak up on you and disarm you by stealing your purse.
- You need to keep control of your purse at all times. Don’t leave it unattended under any circumstances.
- It takes longer to draw from a bag than from a
waist holster, so practice, practice, practice! Seconds count in an emergency,
so work to make your draw as efficient as possible.
- Carry your purse the way you practice. For example, if your right-hand is dominant, always carry your purse on your left shoulder so you’re ready to draw.
- Choose a purse with a simply designed concealment pocket. Getting into a complicated pocket eats precious seconds and could give your attacker the upper hand.
- Don’t store anything in the concealment pocket except your weapon. Small items can thread through the trigger and either stop you from firing the gun or cause it to discharge unintentionally.
If you choose to carry off-body, purchase a purse or bag specially designed to hold a weapon. Satchels for him and cross-body purses for her are smart choices because the straps loop over your head, which makes it harder to disarm you than if you were carrying a shoulder bag.
POCKET CARRY
Carrying a pistol in your pocket without a holster is as simple as slipping the gun into your pocket, as long as you NEVER have a live round in the chamber. The benefit of using a holster is that its trigger guard prevents unintentional discharges. If you don’t have a pocket holster, don’t chamber a bullet.
Some shooters think it’s pointless to carry a gun without a live round in the chamber, but that’s a debate for another day. If you do want to keep a bullet in the chamber, spend a few dollars and purchase a pocket holster.
CONCLUSION
It’s possible to conceal a weapon safely and securely without a holster if you purchase specialized concealment clothing and bags or carry your gun in your pocket without a round in the chamber. With these simple tips in your back pocket, you now know how to conceal a gun without a holster.
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