Concealed Carry and Driving

From sales and the models of holsters advertised by the main makers it appears that most people who carry concealed do so in holsters worn on their strong side. Exceptions being pocket holsters, most of which are carried in the front pocket, not the back. Pocket carry puts one at a serious disadvantage while seated, and most especially when driving. You just can't access your weapon quickly enough in an emergency situation. Think about getting to your self defense weapon in your front pocket while you are sitting, belted into your car. If one is going to carry this way, it pays to have a second pistol that is readily available while in a car.

In my opinion, carrying a pistol at the small of the back is the worst thing one can do with the possible exception of carrying without a holster at all. Very difficult access - practically none if you are seated - and if you should fall or get knocked on your back, you'll have trouble getting to your gun even if you aren't paralyzed by landing on it in the first place.

For the purposes of this discussion, forget about pocket carry except as a backup. While driving, or seated either in a car or in a chair, the most accessible position for a holstered self defense handgun is in the cross draw position. Easy and unobtrusive access. No leaning forward or twisting around to get to that pistol at your 3 - 5 o'clock position (for right hand shooters). No worries about your elbow being blocked by your seat back or other obstruction like the wall behind you.

If you are committed to strong side carry, and still want quick and easy access to your handgun, my advice is to put it, or another handgun, in a Concealed Caddy by Bear Creek Holsters where it rides close to hand, concealed, protected and quickly accessed. Or, put your main, or second, handgun in a Remora clipless holster and carry it in the IWB cross draw position while driving.

The down side of this is that if you are using another handgun in addition to the one strapped to your strong side, you'll have to carry both or lock one away once you exit your car. Switching around guns when you get in and out of your vehicle is not a good idea for two reasons: one, you can be "made" more easily and end up explaining to a law enforcement officer that you are legal, and why you are doing that, and, two, you increase the chances of a negligent discharge and the possibility of shooting yourself, or far worse, and innocent person.

I think the safest course is to bite the bullet and carry strong side and hope that you won't have to get to your firearm in a hurry, or change your technique to cross draw carry (especially if you spend a great deal of time in a vehicle and or in a chair). I will often use the Concealed Caddy to keep my firearm off my person and accessible while driving, but I have to transfer it to another holster when I want to exit the car with my weapon on me. Not the best solution, but workable if you are careful.

Posted with Blogsy