USA Carry
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Maps
  • State Guides
    • A-E
      • Alabama
      • Alaska
      • American Samoa
      • Arizona
      • Arkansas
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Delaware
    • F-J
      • Florida
      • Georgia
      • Guam
      • Hawaii
      • Idaho
      • Illinois
      • Indiana
      • Iowa
    • K-M
      • Kansas
      • Kentucky
      • Louisiana
      • Maine
      • Maryland
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Mississippi
      • Missouri
      • Montana
    • N-O
      • Nebraska
      • Nevada
      • New Hampshire
      • New Jersey
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • North Dakota
      • Northern Marianas
      • Ohio
      • Oklahoma
      • Oregon
    • P-U
      • Pennsylvania
      • Puerto Rico
      • Rhode Island
      • South Carolina
      • South Dakota
      • Tennessee
      • Texas
      • Utah
    • V-Z
      • Vermont
      • Virgin Islands
      • Virginia
      • Washington
      • Washington D.C.
      • West Virginia
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
  • Articles
    • Defensive Gun Uses
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Training
    • Firearm Laws & Litigation
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Store
  • Deals
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Maps
  • State Guides
    • A-E
      • Alabama
      • Alaska
      • American Samoa
      • Arizona
      • Arkansas
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Delaware
    • F-J
      • Florida
      • Georgia
      • Guam
      • Hawaii
      • Idaho
      • Illinois
      • Indiana
      • Iowa
    • K-M
      • Kansas
      • Kentucky
      • Louisiana
      • Maine
      • Maryland
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Mississippi
      • Missouri
      • Montana
    • N-O
      • Nebraska
      • Nevada
      • New Hampshire
      • New Jersey
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • North Dakota
      • Northern Marianas
      • Ohio
      • Oklahoma
      • Oregon
    • P-U
      • Pennsylvania
      • Puerto Rico
      • Rhode Island
      • South Carolina
      • South Dakota
      • Tennessee
      • Texas
      • Utah
    • V-Z
      • Vermont
      • Virgin Islands
      • Virginia
      • Washington
      • Washington D.C.
      • West Virginia
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
  • Articles
    • Defensive Gun Uses
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Training
    • Firearm Laws & Litigation
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Store
  • Deals
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
USA Carry
No Result
View All Result
  • DAILY GUNS & AMMO DEALS – CLICK HERE!
Home Articles

Carry Mode Consistency: Essential for Self-Defense

Salvatore by Salvatore
December 6, 2017 - Updated On May 8, 2018
in Articles, Concealed Carry, Self-Defense, Training
Reading Time: 4 mins read
Carry Mode Consistency: Essential for Self-Defense
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Most people that carry a gun regularly develop a favored carry mode. Carry mode refers to the position on the body and the general manner in which you carry a handgun. For example, Inside-the-waistband (IWB) carry typically refers to carrying a gun on the strong side hip in an inside-the-pants holster. Appendix-inside-the-waistband (AIWB) refers to carrying the gun in the appendix position, also in an inside-the-pants holster. There are a variety of other carry modes as well, such as pocket carry, ankle carry, cross-draw carry, etc.

All carry modes have certain advantages as well as certain limitations. Those that prefer any given carry mode typically find that the benefits they offer outweigh the negatives for their situation. Here I do not wish to debate the merits of one mode vs. another, but instead, I want to impress upon the concealed carrier the importance of carry mode consistency.

Switching Concealed Carry Modes

Since each mode offers certain advantages or works particularly well in certain forms of dress, it can be tempting to switch up our carry mode, but there is an intrinsic down-side to doing so. Even for those who do a significant amount of training drawing their weapon from concealment, it is quite hard for the human being to become highly proficient with more than one carry mode. In a time of crises, such as reacting to a violent attack, you will default to your training, and you will default to doing what you are most familiar with including drawing your gun.

Under Stress, You Will Default to Your Training

If you have drawn a gun from your strong-side hip thousands of times but happen to be wearing your gun on your ankle one fateful day, a location that you rarely carry or train from, what do you suppose you will do by instinct when reacting to a threatening situation? You will reach for the gun where it most commonly is. In a reactive situation, such a delay can be dire.

For those that claim to have no problem going from one carry mode to another, it may simply be that you have not trained to proficiency with any carry mode and therefore you can’t perceive the difference. It is similar to the folks who insist that they have no problem going from one gun to another and rotate between five different handguns with different manual of arms just based on mood. A performance difference is not apparent when all you do is casually draw the gun and shoot at paper with no time constraints. If you draw the gun under life-threatening stress, the wheels can fall off and familiarity is crucial.

Even in competition, I see participants at matches miss safeties or accidentally dump magazines because they are using a gun that they have never used under any stress before. The same principle applies to carry modes. In a panic, you will reach for the location on your body that you have trained the most from. This reason is why it is dangerous to switch up carry modes, and you should avoid it unless necessary.

We Sometimes Can’t Use the Same Concealed Carry Mode

The inevitable problem that creeps in for many of us is that our preferred carry mode may not work for us all of the time. While we would perhaps love to carry a full-size pistol in an easy-to-access holster the constraints of our lifestyle, profession or environment may restrict us from being about to do this. Therefore, as concealed carriers, we may have no choice but to embrace multiple guns, and indeed numerous carry modes, so that we can remain armed more of the time rather than less. However, some strategies can minimize the downsides.

Minimize the Downsides of Switching Your Carry Mode

First of all, you may find that using a smaller gun than your typical carry piece that you favor will allow you to stay with the same carry mode yet be more concealed. I am adamant in my belief that carry mode consistency is imperative so I will go as far as to say that a smaller gun in your usual carry mode is better than a more capable handgun in an unfamiliar location. The reality is that most people in public are oblivious to the tell-tale signs of a concealed handgun. But if in certain environments or around particular company that you can’t risk printing a small gun may facilitate absolute discretion even if worn in your usual carry location.

If we come to an inevitable need to utilize a different carry mode to accommodate concealment on certain occasions, then we have to do so. Obviously, it is better to be armed than not. Here, though, my suggestion is to try and limit yourself to only one additional location so that you can work to build at least some familiarity with it. A good example would be to select a body location of deep concealment that perhaps you could make versatile for an alternate means. If you carry a backup gun, at least on occasion, I would suggest making that carry mode your deep concealment option. Perhaps you ankle-carry a backup gun. Well, if ankle carry works for your deep concealment needs then you are not transitioning to an entirely unfamiliar carry mode.

You Must Practice Both Carry Modes

The obvious rub is that a second carry mode requires significant practice and you must spend time training to deploy your gun from the different body location. I find that a secondary mode, obviously, never becomes as ingrained as the primary, so we need to simply make the best of it if we must embrace an alternate carry mode.

In closing, give some thought to maintaining as much consistency as possible and avoid using alternative carry modes entirely if you can. If you must use an alternate carry mode then invest in the necessary training time to ensure you can deploy your handgun quickly under stress.

Salvatore

Salvatore

Salvatore is a firearms instructor, competitive shooter, and life-long practitioner of the concealed carry lifestyle. He strives to serve as a conduit of reliable information for the ever-growing community of armed citizens and concealed carriers. You can contact him at his website Reflex Handgun.

Next Post
Spouse Worries About Appendix Carry With Round In The Chamber

Spouse Worries About Appendix Carry With Round In The Chamber

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Connect with
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect with
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Please login to comment
2 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Previous Post

C.A.R: A Unique Shooting System for Improved Accuracy

Next Post

Spouse Worries About Appendix Carry With Round In The Chamber

Related Posts

Paste Faster, Not Harder: My Review of the Paster Pooper Paster Gun
Gear Reviews

Paste Faster, Not Harder: My Review of the Paster Pooper Paster Gun

June 26, 2025
Armed Citizen Fires at Robbers After Woman Pistol-Whipped & Robbed in Chicago, Suspects Flee Unharmed
Defensive Gun Uses

Armed Citizen Fires at Robbers After Woman Pistol-Whipped & Robbed in Chicago, Suspects Flee Unharmed

June 25, 2025
Summer Concealed Carry: How to Stay Armed in the Heat
Concealed Carry

Summer Concealed Carry: How to Stay Armed in the Heat

June 24, 2025
Wayne Church Attacker Run Over by Member, Shot by Security
Defensive Gun Uses

Wayne Church Attacker Run Over by Member, Shot by Security

June 23, 2025

© 2025 USA Carry LLC

Navigate Site

  • State Guides
  • Maps
  • Articles
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Store
  • Deals
  • Giveaway
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Permit Reciprocity Maps
  • Concealed Carry Permit Guides By State
    • Alabama
    • Alaska
    • American Samoa
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Guam
    • Hawaii
    • Idaho
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • Nevada
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • North Dakota
    • Northern Marianas
    • Ohio
    • Oklahoma
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Puerto Rico
    • Rhode Island
    • South Carolina
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Utah
    • Vermont
    • Virgin Islands
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • Washington D.C.
    • West Virginia
    • Wisconsin
    • Wyoming
  • Articles
    • Defensive Gun Uses
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Training
    • Firearm Laws & Litigation
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Giveaway
  • Store
  • Daily Deals
  • Contact

© 2025 USA Carry LLC

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Permit Reciprocity Maps
  • Concealed Carry Permit Guides By State
    • Alabama
    • Alaska
    • American Samoa
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Guam
    • Hawaii
    • Idaho
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • Nevada
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • North Dakota
    • Northern Marianas
    • Ohio
    • Oklahoma
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Puerto Rico
    • Rhode Island
    • South Carolina
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Utah
    • Vermont
    • Virgin Islands
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • Washington D.C.
    • West Virginia
    • Wisconsin
    • Wyoming
  • Articles
    • Defensive Gun Uses
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Training
    • Firearm Laws & Litigation
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Giveaway
  • Store
  • Daily Deals
  • Contact

© 2025 USA Carry LLC

wpDiscuz
2
0
Join the conversation, please comment.x
()
x
| Reply
You are going to send email to

Move Comment
Gun Deals
Gun.Deals