The TSC IWB holster is designed to be worn slightly behind the hip on the strong side of the body. This location was first recommended to me by a man named Jim Wall from Milt Sparks Holsters, and to this day, several years and lots of street and gun retention training later, it still holds true. Rear sight on the seam of your jeans, give or take an inch or so. The vast majority of full time gun carriers locate here for numerous reasons, and this is probably the best location if your lifestyle / dress demands will allow it. However it may not be applicable to every circumstance. What follows is a review of the most common ways to carry a gun on your person for extended periods and each has it's plus and minuses.

First however, there are several general "rules of thumb" regarding concealed carry;

1. The deeper and more concealed the firearm is, the slower and harder it will be to deploy. What this really means is that you'll have to commit to the gun sooner for it to be an effective aid to your survival. This not only limits your tactical / response options at close and immediate action ranges, but it actually takes some carry methods out of the real world equation. Various levels of concealment change the amount of asset the gun may be, to the point of not being an asset at all. Trust me, even if you do have the gun with you it is worthless if it can't be deployed in time. This is the great paradox of carrying concealed. Some of the nearly perfect concealment locations will negate the use of your gun for a real fight.

To help drive this home when you look at all the different ways people carry, keep in mind a few statistics from law enforcement. 80% of all Law Enforcement shootings happen inside 10 yards, 80 % of that number happen inside 6 feet ( National Tactical Invitational speakers '96). Or the FBI records from 1986 thru 1995 stating that of the 647 LE personel killed during that time frame, 54.4% were killed at distances under 5 feet, and 75.27% happened at ranges of 10 feet or closer. Check here for the numbers courtesy of Tempe PD. If you've ever done dynamic gun retention, weapons presentation, or force on force you can guess how well deep concealment will work if it's the only option.

That's LE shootings, if you not in law enforcement, give this a little thought. The police are justified in pulling their guns in a lot more situations than the average citizen would be. Actually if a citizen pulled their gun in most of the situations that cops do, we would probably get charged with Aggravated Assault. To my way of thinking this means if I need my gun I will have an even greater chance that it is at very close range before I can Justify getting the gun out much less shooting.

2. For concealing the gun you want to put it in a baggy spot on the body that people don't really look at very hard. Loose clothing really helps here, the more you look like a gangbanger the easier it is to hide a weapon. Untucked and unbottoned shirts, untucked t-shirts, open jackets or vests creat a baggy area large enough to hide almost any reasonable defensive firearm without too much effort. It all depends on how your lifestyle allows you to dress.

Due to certian baggy spots, women have it made in this category but nobody makes gear specifically for them. Pity, it would be so easy, but manufacturers don't really bother because the group that probably needs the benefits of a gun the most doesn't carry much. Or they stick the gun in their purse. Think of all the places that are baggy on a girl if she doesn't dress like Brittany Spears. Girls just have more curves to hide stuff in, but they can start getting into the area of can't get it out in time if they're not careful. The "ex" is the perfect example of well thought out carry. Evil as she was, with an elastic band she could hide a decent gun under a skintight dress. Easy access draw too since they tend to be very low cut in the front.

3. A .22 that you will carry is far better than a .45 left home in a drawer. Big guns are easier to shoot, will hit the opponent harder, but will be harder to hide. Little guns are easier to hide, harder to shoot, and usually much more anemic. To be honest, any handgun is pretty anemic when it comes to immediately stopping another human. Therefore, the bigger and more powerful the better, as long as you can hit important stuff, and have it with you for the fight.

4. If you don't carry it on your body, it probably won't be available for the fight. Many, many, gunfights have gone down so fast that the much more effective weapon nearby never came into play. The best weapon humans could design at this point in history is worthless if it isn't in your hand when the fight starts. Think you'll have enough warning? Enough time to access it? See #1. Hope for the best but plan for the worst.

a. No holster / Mexican Carry;

1. you know just tucking the gun inside your pants without a holster of any kind. First it's VERY unsafe, and personally I wouldn't dream of carrying any pistol with a round in the chamber this way. Double action, single action with safety on, or safe action forget it. Taking a big divot out of my butt is not an acceptable option. Holsters completely cover the trigger so NOTHING can pull the trigger for you, and this is the only way to go. Nothing covering the trigger is just to risky to count on day after day. Sooner or later! The second, and also very important, is that the gun isn't really secure and gravity and movement will drag it out of position. This will require that you reposition the gun frequently and thus telegraph that you're carrying. Every time you reposition the gun you also run the risk of something pulling the trigger for you. I've seen several people have to catch their gun as it fell for the ground when they stood up or got out of a car. I haven't personnaly seen anyone go BANG grabbing the gun but I have heard second hand stories. Not an option for me.

2. The holster is a safety device primarily because it totally covers the trigger.

3. Every year we get reports of self-inflicted gunshot wounds, particularly satisfying are those who stuff the gun into the appendix position and have this happen. Talk about nature cleansing the gene pool.

b. Strongside Carry

Almost every professional that carries a gun on a daily, long term, basis ends up carrying on their strongside in one form or another. Though, many that carry outside the pants (OTP) strongside look like they have a colostomy bag on their right hip, if they're attempting concealment. Some people really just don't seem to be to concerned with actual concealment, because everyone knows they are "plain clothes" and knowbody looks that close anyway. These guys often tend to have a radio, and lots of buddies nearby by too. These are quite often the "experts" who will recommend certain carry techniques to the diligent student. The same student who promptly buys one each of the guru's gear, and just as promptly discovers everyone paying attention knows he has a gun on. Pancake holsters (see TSC's pancake holster) are probably the most concealable of all OTP's available, I can pull of concealment under a windbreaker, or gun vest, but in an Arizona summer there is no way I can really conceal the gun I chose to carry with one.

Note, strongside carry is probably the strongest location on the body for gun retention, the least likely to bang into things as you go about your daily activities, stays out of the way generally, and gives reasonably fast access to the gun in an emergency.

c. Inside the Waistband Strongside (IWB) (see the UCR)

The most concealable branch of the "strong side carry" family, IWB holsters really hug the gun in close to the body. Real close, like pressed against your skin close. This closeness has its plusses and minuses.

On the plus side you can hide guns under clothing that would be virtually impossible to hide the thing with any other way. We talking big, fat guns under light summer type clothing. Guns like Glock .45's under an untucked casual shirt, or full size 1911's under an untucked t-shirt, on the average build male. No other way can this be done with good practical, ACTUAL, concealment. Other plusses include the fact that you always know the exact position of the gun, and IWB strongside is in my opinion also the most secure location for gun retention and keeping your gun in the holster no matter what. In gun retention classes I've had guys pick me up and throw me across the room by the holstered gun and it stayed put. Other locations or OTP rigs the gun is either pulled out (by the badguy), the hoster breaks, or belts/clothing gives way (and badguy generally gets the gun).

The minuses are closely related to the plusses when you think about it. The gun is pressed into your body. If the gun or holster have rough or abrasive areas you will notice very quickly. Even with the best holster, and a snag free gun, you know the gun is there. Additionally, the gun is right next to your sweaty little body. A blued gun on a nice hot summer day may have to be wiped off several times if you don't want it to rust. Even if the holster has material between any gun part and you, if it's leather it will soak up sweat. If it's impermeable to moisture you still have an extremely humid environment. This humid enviroment also requires more attention to ammunition degradation and subsequent rotation.

IWB's are right on the line of the "close to the body and more concealable, thus the harder it is to draw from" rule. Pretty easy to grab a bunch of clothing, or skin, during the draw (there are techniques to minimize this however). Even with the downsides this is THE way I personally carry if I can possibly do so.

d. Crossdraw Holsters

Great for driving a car but it has major problems for concealment and gun retention. It is the best place to carry when driving because it's the least likely to be fowled up by seatbelts (opposite if you're the passenger). It's also generally quite comfortable when seated. This location has been sucessfully used by women with high ride holsters that keep the butt (grip) of the gun in the baggy area under the breast.

e. Appendix Holsters see appendix page

This is a great way to carry whether you use an untucked t-shirt or a zipped up jacket. Some are also really comfortable for driving believe it or not. The draw from these holsters is very efficient and fast. Downside is the butt of the gun is what prints unless you have really baggy clothing (like a jacket) this can limit the size of your defensive tool.

e. Small of the Back Holsters

Conceals almost anything when you're standing up or facing someone. Downsides are the extreme print if you ever have to bend over, and it's the worst place on the human body for gun retention if someone does spot the gun and trys to take it away. Additionally, if you fall, or get knocked down, and land on a block of steel located in the lumbar spine / pelvis area....

f. Ankle Holsters

They work great with most long pants (exept jeans, unless you get the really baggy kind). Why? Because people don't generally study the ankle area and there's a baggy area created by the pants. Your pants have to be big enough to pull over the gun to draw it out, they also have to be baggy enough around the ankles to not bulge to extremely and print. Be warned, no matter what, ankle holsters "print", but few will even notice because no one really studies your feet. The "few" in the last sentence does bother me more than a little bit though. The real downside is that to draw the gun you have to dedicate both hands and either bend over or lift one leg off the ground. Rather impractical where most confrontations take place, at very close range. To be honest in the times when an ankle holster was the ONLY way I could carry a valid defensive gun I planned to run like hell, or go with contact weapons, until I was behind cover where I could actually get at the gun safely. They also get uncomfortable after about 4 hours unless they have a retaining strap that comes above the calf to keep them from settling on you ankle with gravity. One last thing, watch out for pant legs riding up when you sit down, particularly with suit pants.

g. Fanny Packs

When they first came out (late '80's) they were a great way to carry a full size gun concealed. Now, anyone sees a large fannypack, particularly on a male who isn't out hiking, and it likely screams to anyone who's paying attention, "I've got a gun". In my state they got so much attention that the prison convicts certainly knew about them. You might as well wear it openly (if legal), and just pin a big "SHOOT ME FIRST" sign on your back. All that said they are still popular since they are the coolest way to carry in the summer heat and you can have all your tactical junk in one easy to grab spot. In AZ it's an easy way to spot off duty cops.

h. Purses and Off the Body Carry

There are lots of geat ways to carry off body nowdays. Long gone are the days when the only gear you could get was really cheesy and poorly made. Purses can now be had from $50 - $250 and with good variety. Additionally you can get briefcases and backpacks that unless you know exactly where to tug for the gun is virtually immpossible to find.

The big glaring downside is the lack of complete control over the gun at all times. Generally when you carry this way you will put the package down to free up your hand when you get where you're going. Please keep in mind that the only two places that a gun is COMPLETELY secure is either locked in a safe or attached to your body.

i. Body Strap / Elastic Girdles

Wonderful because you can place the gun anywhere on the torso you want. Often horrid for quick access and worst of all they don't cover the trigger guard with a firm material to protect the gun from an inadvertent bump pulling the trigger for you. Often used in the appendix area, think about that for a minute guys. I've done it there, but never with a round in the chamber, necessitating both hands being available to chamber the first round and to fire the gun. Clearly not ideal for close quarters fights where one hand may be tied up dealing with the assailant. One other thing that is an issue, it's a challenge to practice with because it's hard to reholster. Without practice you will probably fumble went it's time to get serious.…

j. Pocket Carry;

Any gun that will fit in one of my pockets probably is not the best tool for the job considering how anemic ANY handgun round is against a determined adversary. Granted if you can't close the gap and use contact weapons, anything is better than nothing. I have a .32 and a pocket holster for that very reason, but when I carry that way it certainly isn't as a primary defensive tool. However, any gun no matter how weak is far better than one left at home when a gun is the only appropriate answer to the problem.