Conceal Carry News Archives — Page 2 of 3

Video: How The Glock 43X And Glock 48 Advance The Slimline Series | Gun Digest-MTR Custom Leather has holsters for both weapons

April 13, 2019 by MTR Custom Leather in Conceal Carry News, New MTR Updates, Weapon Reviews with No Comments

Glock’s extremely popular Slimline Series took a big step forward with the enhanced-capacity Glock 43X and Glock 48.

Undoubtedly, Glock has been among the top players in the concealed carry pistol market. Outside of their long-slides, there’s a case to be made that nearly every model in the legendary gunmaker’s catalog is a potential undercover option, at least for some armed citizen out there. In recent years, however, the company has turned its studied eye to producing pistols optimized to the hilt for everyday carry.

The Glock Slimline Series is the gunmaker’s response to consumer demand for single-stack options. This year the line got a couple upgrades that make it hard to deny Glock is hitting its groove with this configuration. The Glock 43X and Glock 48 not only offer enhanced capacity over the original Slimline G42 and G43, but greater shootablity. Actually the two walk hand-in-hand for the 9mms.

To squeeze in more rounds for 10+1 capacity, Glock had to extend the grip of the pistols. Given its mastery at packing rounds into limited real estate, the lengthening wasn’t by leaps and bounds. With a magazine, the Glock 43X and Glock 48 both have a height of 5.04 inches, which is around ¾ of an inch greater than the Glock 43. This shouldn’t make them a bear to conceal, at the same tick, most shooters will have enough grip to get their entire hand on the pistols. It makes a difference.

Need a good leather holster for the Glock 43x or Glock 48 or both. CHECK out www.mtrcustomleather.com. CHOOSE your holster and then you will find your weapon listed below in the drop down box.

Source: Video: How The Glock 43X And Glock 48 Advance The Slimline Series | Gun Digest

Just Joined the SigTalk Forum Today? Have You? P229, red dot, what OWB leather holster? – SIG Talk

April 4, 2019 by MTR Custom Leather in About Us, Conceal Carry News, Holster Reviews, Weapon News, Weapon Rights with No Comments

Did you know that MTR Custom Leather just joined up to be apart of the SigTalk Forum. Please share the word about this Forum and then join the forum to talk about anything gun related regarding sigs.

I broke down and bought a P229 slide with as new Trijicon RMR mounted (spur of the moment and good price on another forum). I’m happy with metal

Source: P229, red dot, what OWB leather holster? – SIG Talk

Your Vacation in the Woods Turns into an Unplanned Robbery … What Do You Do Next?!

March 14, 2019 by MTR Custom Leather in Conceal Carry News with No Comments

Proving Ground 13 – PLC 3 FINAL

Picture this:

You’re settling into your RV for the night when all of a sudden, the door flies open…

An uninvited intruder enters, and they’re ARMED with a knife!

You’re seconds away from being attacked with a knife…

What do you do next?

[VIDEO] Chaos at the Campground…

Unexpected attacks happen all too often — but you don’t have to be a victim.

Discover what you need to know to fight back in a confined space and get out alive.

Watch your third video, now, to see exactly what it takes to defeat a violent attacker when they have the element of surprise on their side…

Take care and stay safe,

Tim Schmidt
President | USCCA

P.S. – Remember, this video is your final step in preparing for the Live Training Broadcast Tuesday night.

After watching it, you’ll know the key strategies you need to know to defeat your attacker and protect your family…

But it’s only available for a short time!

If you haven’t seen the first two videos in your training series, click the links below:

Two Strangers Try to Take Control of Your Campsite — Would You Know What to Do? ⇐ Watch

Self-Defense Training From Expert Pete Bosquez ⇐ Watch

Krakatau explodes – Aug 27, 1883 –

August 27, 2018 by MTR Custom Leather in Conceal Carry News with No Comments

The most powerful volcanic eruption in recorded history occurs on Krakatau (also called Krakatoa), a small, uninhabited volcanic island located west of Sumatra in Indonesia, on this day in 1883. Heard 3,000 miles away, the explosions threw five cubic miles of earth 50 miles into the air, created 120-foot tsunamis and killed 36,000 people.Krakatau exhibited its first stirrings in more than 200 years on May 20, 1883. A German warship passing by reported a seven-mile high cloud of ash and dust over Krakatau. For the next two months, similar explosions would be witnessed by commercial liners and natives on nearby Java and Sumatra. With little to no idea of the impending catastrophe, the local inhabitants greeted the volcanic activity with festive excitement.On August 26 and August 27, excitement turned to horror as Krakatau literally blew itself apart, setting off a chain of natural disasters that would be felt around the world for years to come. An enormous blast on the afternoon of August 26 destroyed the northern two-thirds of the island; as it plunged into the Sunda Strait, between the Java Sea and Indian Ocean, the gushing mountain generated a series of pyroclastic flows (fast-moving fluid bodies of molten gas, ash and rock) and monstrous tsunamis that swept over nearby coastlines. Four more eruptions beginning at 5:30 a.m. the following day proved cataclysmic. The explosions could be heard as far as 3,000 miles away, and ash was propelled to a height of 50 miles. Fine dust from the explosion drifted around the earth, causing spectacular sunsets and forming an atmospheric veil that lowered temperatures worldwide by several degrees.Of the estimated 36,000 deaths resulting from the eruption, at least 31,000 were caused by the tsunamis created when much of the island fell into the water. The greatest of these waves measured 120 feet high, and washed over nearby islands, stripping away vegetation and carrying people out to sea. Another 4,500 people were scorched to death from the pyroclastic flows that rolled over the sea, stretching as far as 40 miles, according to some sources.In addition to Krakatau, which is still active, Indonesia has another 130 active volcanoes, the most of any country in the world.

Source: Krakatau explodes – Aug 27, 1883 – HISTORY.com

New York Sergeant Who Shot Unarmed Man Is Fired Amid Investigation – The New York Times

August 20, 2018 by MTR Custom Leather in Conceal Carry News with No Comments

After the off-duty shooting in Brooklyn, Sgt. Ritchard Blake was caught on video dropping a knife near the man and then picking it up again.

A police sergeant who was under investigation in connection with the off-duty shooting of an unarmed man in the face in Brooklyn was fired on Friday, a police official said.

Moments after the shooting on Aug. 2 in the East New York neighborhood, video surveillance footage captured the sergeant, Ritchard Blake, patting down the man, Thavone Santana, as if looking for a weapon.

The sergeant then pulled a sheath knife out of his back pocket and dropped it out of its covering beside Mr. Santana. After briefly pacing, Sergeant Blake picked it back up, the video shows.

Mr. Santana, 21, survived the shooting.

The surveillance video, which was described by two law enforcement officials and later posted by NBC New York, raised questions about what had happened, and the Brooklyn district attorney’s office said it would conduct “an independent and thorough” review.

Source: New York Sergeant Who Shot Unarmed Man Is Fired Amid Investigation – The New York Times

How to conceal a weapon while driving?-MTR Custom Leather tells all…Holster options for carrying a weapon in a vehicle or sitting.

August 17, 2018 by MTR Custom Leather in Conceal Carry News, Holster Reviews with No Comments

Concealment while walking is easier than driving in a vehicle. While it may be challenging to conceal your weapon when driving, there are a few things to consider doing to better assist you with concealing your weapon while driving.

Logically, first thing you think of is housing your weapon in a glove box or some sort of compartment in the vehicle. It’s a better fitment and comfortable for you. It’s the perfect shape and compartment to store a weapon and conceal it and it’s not too hard to access. While storing the weapon in the compartment, it should be retained in some sort of holster. The trigger of the weapon should always be covered while storing or wearing at all times. This is very important for safety reason. That’s a whole other topic. If you do decided to carry in a compartment or door compartment, please always use caution and practice drawing your weapon unloaded to work on your speed and accuracy in case of emergency. Attention and awareness should be taken to avoid excessive vibration, bouncing or movement while the vehicle is in motion or worst case scenario an accident.

On the other hand, there are many positions to carry a weapon on your body for concealment when standing, but while riding/driving may be a weird position or uncomfortable or even a struggle due to the seat belt. Wearing a holster in the appendix iwb may work for some depending on the size of the weapon and the person’s built, but for others it may not. So one may want to consider a crossdraw hip holster on the OWB like MTR’s A-8 Paddle holster. MTR’s paddle holster can be worn in several different positions due to the paddle on the back of the holster can be moved to adjust the ride height and the cant of the holster by easily using a screw driver. Being that it is a paddle holster, one can take on and off the holster fairly easily due to it clips inside of the pants while the holster sits on the OWB. A forward cant on a holster, can make it easier to sit and drive in a vehicle. Some may call this position an FBI cant or others call it a crossdraw. MTR dose offer an A-1C Crossdraw holster that slides onto a belt and is about a 10-15 degree cant forward. This type of cant clears the direction of the seat belt and puts no pressure on the hip or gut while driving/sitting.

A-3A Tuckable Adversay with Ulticlip3 Crossdraw IWB

A-8 Paddle

When driving a vehicle and trying to conceal the weapon, there are a few things to consider, one is the position of your body. Your posture can affect the comfort of a holster and concealment as well. Sitting straight up can cause pressure off the weapon and holster. Also, can cause less printing of the weapon through the shirt. A tip: some may recline the seat just a tab for better comfort and posture of the weapon on you. Secondly, keep in mind safety precautions. For instance, if you get stopped by police, one should communicate with the officer that the weapon is currently being stored in the compartment, whether it’s in a glove box, under the seat, door compartment or elsewhere BEFORE reaching for it. Upon communicating to the officer about your weapon, keep your hands in plain sight. Ask the officer how they wish to proceed about the weapon. Keep in mind that each state and country may have different laws and regulations concerning storage and concealment of weapons, whether it’s on you or being stored in a vehicle. So please do your thoroughly research before concealing your weapon.

Other Options:

Consider a bag or purse, using MTR A-3A Tuckable Adversary with Ulticlip3

Consider out Ukoalabags.. great for riding on bikes or motorcycles

pocket holsters MTR B-7 Front Pocket Holster or B-6 Back Pocket (cargo pocket, jacket pocket, etc)

Source: MTR Custom Leather,LLC

Ninth Circuit California Gun-Law Ruling: Good News for Second Amendment Rights | National Review

July 20, 2018 by MTR Custom Leather in Conceal Carry News with No Comments

The stage may be set for Brett Kavanaugh’s first Second Amendment test as a justice.

Every now and then the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals — arguably the nation’s most progressive federal circuit — can offer up a legal surprise. Yesterday, it gave us a legal shock, when a divided panel of its judges affirmed last year’s federal district-court injunctiontemporarily blocking enforcement of California’s confiscatory ban on so-called large-capacity magazines.

Under California law, any person who possesses a legally purchased magazine capable of holding more than ten rounds of ammunition must either remove the magazine from the state, sell it to a licensed firearm dealer, or hand it over to law enforcement. Those citizens who retained their magazines after the law went into effect risked a fine or up to one year’s imprisonment in county jail.

The district court’s 66-page opinion was a legal tour-de-force that not only dismantled California’s justifications for the ban, but also reiterated and reinforced the constitutional and historical basis for the right to keep and bear arms. As I wrote last year, this paragraph from the district-court opinion is nearly-perfect:

Violent gun use is a constitutionally-protected means for law-abiding citizens to protect themselves from criminals. The phrase “gun violence” may not be invoked as a talismanic incantation to justify any exercise of state power. Implicit in the concept of public safety is the right of law-abiding people to use firearms and the magazines that make them work to protect themselves, their families, their homes, and their state against all armed enemies, foreign and domestic. To borrow a phrase, it would indeed be ironic if, in the name of public safety and reducing gun violence, statutes were permitted to subvert the public’s Second Amendment rights — which may repel criminal gun violence and which ultimately ensure the safety of the Republic.

Lest anyone think that the Ninth Circuit has suddenly discovered the original meaning of the Second Amendment, its ruling upholding the district-court injunction was limited. It merely held that the trial court didn’t abuse its discretion when it temporarily blocked enforcement of the law. But despite the limited holding, there was encouraging rhetoric in the court’s ruling.

For example, the appeals court held that the lower court “did not exceed its permissible discretion by concluding, based on those cases, that (1) some part of the Second Amendment right likely includes the right to bear a weapon ‘that has some reasonable relationship to the preservation or efficiency of a well regulated militia’ . . . and (2) the ammunition for a weapon is similar to the magazine for a weapon.”

Much of the modern argument over gun control revolves around the effort to label certain kinds of semi-automatic rifles (and magazines over ten rounds) as “military style” weapons that are effectively unprotected by the Second Amendment. Yet the Ninth Circuit’s language — rooted in the history of the amendment — links constitutional protection to a weapon’s potential militia use. In other words, the “military style” moniker actually connects the guns in question to the historic purpose of the right to bear arms.

If the Court takes the case (and that’s far from certain; SCOTUS has been reluctant to review recent Second Amendment decisions), it will have an opportunity to reset the gun-control debate.

Combine this standard with Heller’s clear statement that the Second Amendment was intended to protect weapons in “common use” for “lawful purposes like self defense,” and one begins to see that merely comparing AR-15s or Glocks to military weapons doesn’t render them unprotected. Instead, their common ownership, combined with their “reasonable relationship” to militia use, should enhance, not diminish, their constitutional status.

While gun owners in California can breathe a temporary sigh of relief, the fight is far from over. As David Kopel notes in a good piece over at Reason, California may petition for en banc review (don’t expect the wider panel of Ninth Circuit judges to rule so favorably), or the trial court may issue a permanent ruling in the weeks or months ahead. Either way — sooner or later — this case will reach the Supreme Court, and it may very well be Brett Kavanaugh’s first chance to look at a serious gun-rights cert petition, assuming he is confirmed to the Court.

If the Court takes the case (and that’s far from certain; SCOTUS has been reluctant to review recent Second Amendment decisions), it will have an opportunity to reset the gun-control debate. If it rules that weapons in common use for lawful purposes enjoy categorical constitutional protection, then most assault-weapons bans and large-capacity-magazine bans would fall. Prohibitions against the sale of “dangerous and unusual” weapons (machine guns, for example) would remain.

But all that’s speculation. For now, hundreds of thousands of California gun owners remain law-abiding. They don’t have to face the choice between surrendering the magazines that help keep their families safe and complying with a confiscatory law. Already, there were indications of passive resistance. As the Sacramento Bee reported last year, “Talk to gun owners, retailers and pro-gun sheriffs across California and you’ll get something akin to an eye roll when they’re asked if gun owners are going to voluntarily part with their property because Democratic politicians and voters who favor gun control outnumber them and changed the law.”

Gun-owners choose large-capacity magazines for good reasons, the same reasons why police carry large-capacity magazines in their service weapons. When a deadly encounter occurs, the amount of ammunition can make the difference between life and death. The state cannot be permitted to take a common means of self-defense from its citizens. Thankfully, even in the Ninth Circuit, confiscation has been held at bay.

The stage may be set for Brett Kavanaugh’s first Second Amendment test as a justice.

Source: Ninth Circuit California Gun-Law Ruling: Good News for Second Amendment Rights | National Review

FDR nominated for unprecedented third term – Jul 18, 1940 –

July 18, 2018 by MTR Custom Leather in Conceal Carry News with No Comments

On this day in 1940, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who first took office in 1933 as America’s 32nd president, is nominated for an unprecedentedthird term. Roosevelt, a Democrat, would eventually be elected to a record four terms in office, the only U.S. president to serve more than two terms.Roosevelt was born January 30, 1882, in Hyde Park, New York, and went on to serve as a New York state senator from 1911 to 1913, assistant secretary of the Navy from 1913 to 1920 and governor of New York from 1929 to 1932. In 1932, he defeated incumbent Herbert Hoover to be elected president for the first time. During his first term, Roosevelt enacted his New Deal social programs, which were aimed at lifting America out of the Great Depression. In 1936, he won his second term in office by defeating Kansas governor Alf Landon in a landslide.On July 18, 1940, Roosevelt was nominated for a third presidential term at the Democratic Party convention in Chicago. The president received some criticism for running again because there was an unwritten rule in American politics that no U.S. president should serve more than two terms. Thecustom dated back to the country’s first president, George Washington, who in 1796 declined to run for a third term in office. Nevertheless, Roosevelt believed it was his duty to continue serving and lead his country through the mounting crisis in Europe, where Hitler’s Nazi Germany was on the rise. The president went on to defeat Republican Wendell Wilkie in the general election, and his third term in office was dominated by America’s involvement in World War II.In 1944, with the war still in progress, Roosevelt defeated New York governor Thomas Dewey for a fourth term in office. However, the president was unable to complete the full term. On April 12, 1945, Roosevelt, who had suffered from various health problems for years, died at age 63 in Warm Springs, Georgia. He was succeeded by Vice President Harry S. Truman. On March 21, 1947, Congress passed the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which stated that no person could be elected to the office of president more than twice. The amendment was ratified by the required number of states in 1951.

Source: FDR nominated for unprecedented third term – Jul 18, 1940 – HISTORY.com

Pocket Power Perfected

June 7, 2018 by MTR Custom Leather in Conceal Carry News with No Comments

The

The Springfield XD-S Mod.2 Subcompact is a polymer-framed .45 ACP carry gun thinner than a 9mm GLOCK 43, weighing two oz. less than a .380 ACP Walther PPK/S. The XD-S Mod.2 Subcompact packs 6+1 .45 ACP flying ashtrays into the grip yet carries almost as well as your smartphone. Amazingly, despite its diminutive geometry, the .45 ACP XD-S still isn’t butt whooping on the range. This surprised me.

What’s the most fun handgun you’ve ever run? I’m not talking about the Desert Eagle, making you think you look like Arnold Schwarzenegger circa 1984 and weighing as much as your microwave. It’s cool, not fun. You don’t want to hump it. You don’t really much want to shoot it. You just want to slip into a leather jacket and wield it before a full-length mirror in the privacy of your own bedroom. Don’t hate. We’ve all been there. However, for pure unfiltered shooting pleasure I’d have to say my favorite handgun is a Walther P22 with a sound suppressor.

The P22 weighs about nothing, flirts with being recoilless, and, with the can attached, will not offend your eardrums unduly. The P22 throws its tidy little 40-gr. lead bullets ably and well. However, I once met a poor unfortunate sot in an urban ER who had absorbed a full dozen of these zippy little rounds and yet remained a fairly engaging conversationalist. The gun I carry to defend myself and my family is not meant to be fun. It’s meant to be lethal. In the Springfield XD-S Mod.2 Subcompact, however, we actually get a little bit of both.

Source: Pocket Power Perfected | American Handgunner

Shooting Illustrated | Concealed-Carry Basics: Tips From a Professional

May 24, 2018 by MTR Custom Leather in Conceal Carry News with 1 Comment

New to concealed carry? Here are some tips from a professional to help get you started in the right direction.

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Those new to concealed carry can find themselves overwhelmed. The industry has exploded over the past few decades, and rightfully so, as folks take ownership of their own safety. It is a personal responsibility, but it is also a learned skill. The first challenge for those new to concealed carry is understanding a three-tiered approach toward carrying concealed. Breaking the three tiers down into the base, lower- and upper-body garments gives structure to a rather nebulous subject.

When I first started carrying concealed, I didn’t know what I was doing. I had received countless hours of firearm- and tactics-related training, but nothing in the sense of how to carry concealed. I was not only on my own, but I was thrown into the deep end of a shark-infested pool wearing a meat suit to perform my duties. I wasn’t afforded the opportunity to make mistakes—I had to get it right the first time and every time thereafter. It forced me to think carefully about not only what I was carrying, but also how I dressed.

I am excited to see so many people take a more-vested interest in their personal safety. I honestly don’t question their reasons. My job is to prepare them for what will be the worst day of their lives in the best way possible. I have taken an active interest in understanding their “why,” as it helps me do my job of better educating them. I also have to understand the various barriers to entry that may keep them from learning.

(l.) Ruger Security-9 (r.) Glock G19

The two most common are fear of the unknown and fear of not knowing. While these two items may seem similar, they are vastly different. Fear of the unknown is simple—it is not knowing what to expect. Not knowing what to expect puts people in a defensive posture at times, standoffish and not open to change. The best piece of advice I can share is you are not alone. Everyone has been there and what I love about this community is how eager folks are to help. The fear of not knowing is more challenging. This is being afraid to look the fool, to not know what you are doing. Again, you are human and this is normal. My best piece of advice is to keep your eye on the prize. If you are doing this for a reason, stay focused on that reason. Everyone has to start somewhere; remember that.

I spend a lot of time answering questions. A common question I get is what firearm is best for the person in question to carry. We are blessed with many options, but that, too, is a curse. What I do is give you criteria, not what I carry. I give you the “why” so you can best source the firearm that fits your needs. Assuming reliability standards are met, the three most-important aspects are capacity, compactness and logistics. It is ideal if you can avoid a reload in a gunfight, so having enough ammunition is what I’m talking about. I don’t much care what caliber you select—the caliber wars are over. What matters to me is how many rounds I can carry. For this reason, the 9 mm is king. You get optimal terminal performance combined with capacity, specifically a minimum of 10 rounds.

(l.) Springfield Armory XD Mod.2 Sub-Compact (r.) Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Compact

When you think concealment, you naturally think small or compact. There is a point of diminishing returns where too small is a poor choice. You have to find a good compromise to fit your needs. The micro-compact pistols are great, but they are not easy to shoot well. Two things to consider are reliability and accuracy. The smaller guns have smaller parts, that shouldn’t come as a surprise, but it can be challenging to foster robust operation as parts shrink. Accordingly, smaller parts can have shorter shelf lives and direct effects on the accuracy component. The micro-compact pistols can be difficult to shoot, not always fitting into our hands well or having more-pronounced recoil. In order to combat these issues, you will need to practice, which means more wear and tear on those smaller parts. While I love these micro-compacts and my belief is a small gun is better than no gun, I view these more as “gateway guns.”

As the newcomer practices, they become more aware, and their equipment choices evolve along the way. The last element to consider is logistics. There is an old saying, “amateurs argue tactics while professionals argue logistics.” The supporting-equipment industry for concealed carry is like any other industry and it is driven by profit. Manufacturers are not going to make custom items for less-popular firearms without significant investment, instead focusing their efforts on top sellers. They had to devote resources toward product development, materials, tooling, marketing and a host of other costs to ensure a return on their investment. The more-popular models will afford more available options and increase the chances of finding something fitting your needs.

SIG Sauer P365

Once you have settled on a primary-carry pistol, your next task is finding a safe holster. While some micro-compact pistols can fit in a pocket, I strongly suggest you always use a holster. The holster will accomplish several things. Starting with the administrative stuff, it will shield the firearm from unwanted foreign objects and debris—stuff like lint, loose items, body oils and perspiration to name a few. While it doesn’t seem like much, they can foul up the operation of your firearm, or worse, apply pressure to your unprotected trigger leading to a negligent discharge. (Check out www.mtrcustomleather.com)

A holster will be many things, but these are the features it must have in order to be considered a good one. It must first retain the firearm. When properly inserted, the firearm should be secure, to the point where if you were to carefully turn it upside down (over something soft like a pillow) the firearm stays secure in the holster. Next, it must protect the trigger from unauthorized access. This can come in the form of many things, some of which were mentioned earlier. Loose clothing, the holster itself and other items (even your own fingers) should not be allowed access to the trigger while the gun is holstered. It must fit securely to the body. You obviously don’t want to lose the firearm/holster, but you also don’t want to draw and find your holster came along for the ride. Believe me, it happens more than you think. Lastly, you want to obtain a firing grip while still holstered. If parts of the holster or positioning make it difficult to properly grasp with a firm, firing grip, find something else. Under high stress if you start off with a poor grip it is not going to improve itself on the way to the target. Once you’ve selected a good holster, next is a good belt. You may even find you need multiple holsters for the same gun to cover different situations. (Check out www.mtrcustomleather.com)

Remember to balance comfort with carry. For many new to concealed carry, it is awkward—and in some cases, uncomfortable. If you are not comfortable you will constantly be adjusting, tweaking or fidgeting. Either case, you are drawing attention to yourself, and the first rule of concealed carry is avoid doing just that. There are advantages and disadvantages to the various methods of carry; whether outside or inside the waistband. Inside will greatly reduce your profile, but some find it uncomfortable. Outside seems more comfortable to many, but not as concealed. Whatever your choice, you will need a rigid or sturdy belt to hold the weight of your gear. Like everything else we have discussed, there are features to look for and belts are no different. The most-important feature to consider is stiffness. Stiffer construction will mean avoiding belt sag. The outboard drooping will force the inside surface of the holster to contact your hip region. At first, it seems minor, but the longer you carry, the more pressure it applies to that point. It will get more uncomfortable and intensify pretty fast.

While no one holster can cover all situations, look for sturdy construction from a recognized manufacturer. Whether Kydex or leather, inside- the-waistband or appendix-carry style, having gear that fully covers your trigger and rides comfortably on your belt will go a long way toward ensuring your pistol is always with you. (Check out www.mtrcustomleather.com)

You have limited options for belt material, usually leather or nylon. While many love a good-looking leather belt, you have to be OK with it getting scuffed up—because it will. Nylon is versatile, but to get the stiffness there needs to be more than a single layer. Here’s where stitching comes into play, not only joining two (or more) pieces, but adding rigidity. Three- and five-row stitching are the most common, but other options include internal stiffeners. The buckle is the final piece to this puzzle. Your buckle should be low key, secure and adjustable if possible. If you change holster positions or live in a seasonal climate, having an adjustable belt will make life easier. Buckles come in all different sizes and shapes, keep it low key and follow your personal preference as long as it secures the belt.

Having a stout, reinforced belt can make a world of difference when carrying a concealed handgun. Whether double-stitched leather or internally reinforced nylon, the belt should be sturdy enough to fully distribute your holstered pistol’s weight evenly, without twisting or bending. (Check out www.mtrcustomleather.com)

While there are many subtleties in selecting your equipment, this is a great place to start. You will notice we introduced the top and bottom layers, but didn’t go into detail. It may seem overwhelming, but don’t be discouraged. Take each of the base layers one at time. Research and even try out your firearm. Select a good holster for comfort and conceal it well. Invest in a solid belt to keep it all secure. I will give you one final piece of advice. Don’t be married to your gear. Technology, designs and material are in a constant of flux. New products are being introduced frequently. Now, you have a method to measure how well they will work for you. Over the years, I have gone through countless holsters. My experience has led me to these simple considerations; which should help guide you on your new journey. Good luck.

About the author:
Jeff Gonzales serves as president of Trident Concepts and director of training for The Range at Austin. He served as a decorated and respected U.S. Navy SEAL, having participated in numerous combat operations throughout the world. His duties involved a wide variety of operational and instructional assignments on both coasts. Through Trident Concepts, Gonzales pioneered new advances in firearms and tactics instruction. His unique understanding of adult learning, detailed curriculum development and rigorous adherence to performance standards continue to set him apart from a crowded field.

Recently, Gonzales has increased his focus on concealed carry. Leveraging his experience operating in non-permissive environments all over the world, he has unique knowledge to share with members of law enforcement, the military and responsible armed citizens. (Check out www.mtrcustomleather.com) (Check out www.mtrcustomleather.com)