When Your Gun Is Not Enough: Are You Actually Prepared?

By Andy Grossman

As a certified firearms instructor and gun enthusiast, I talk to a lot of folks daily about guns. Topics covered include general thoughts on carrying for self-defense, what gun to carry, accessories to consider, and even the raw emotions that go into daily carry.

Unfortunately, not everyone continues with training. Some people take the CCW class required by their state for lawful concealed carry, but never get their license. Others take the class, get the license and leave it at that. While it’s obviously proper to get the minimum amount of training required, I always advise students to continue to refine their skill sets.

In some cases, I think a lack of follow-up by students can be blamed on the instructors. Part of carrying a gun is having the proper mindset. If that is not instilled into the students during their classes, they may not be fully prepared.

My goal as a professional instructor is to make sure more people are as prepared as possible for what they might face. So, here are a few tips and tricks to help you with your everyday carry and survival that go beyond the gun and ammo.

Laying the Foundation

First, always remember that carrying a gun is a huge responsibility; it should never be taken lightly. Preparation is the key. Once you feel like you are prepared for anything and everything, prepare some more.

I carry a gun every day of my life wherever legally allowable. I have prepared and planned so much it has become a fear of mine to be caught in a bad situation without a way to protect myself. I couldn’t imagine that the one day I didn’t carry I found myself in a defensive encounter, reaching for my gun, only to realize it wasn’t there.

Consider Your Covering

The number one reason someone might leave their gun home is because it is uncomfortable. This is why proper choices in clothing and holsters are so important.

I recommend buying your pants a little bigger than your true size if you carry your defensive firearm inside your waistband. Trying to wear the same pants you have worn for years might not work well. I purchase all my jeans two waist sizes bigger than what I need because I know that I will nearly always have a pistol in my waistband.

Your shirt selection is also important when concealed carrying. When possible, look for shirts that have that little extra length so they can drape over your pistol and keep it covered.

Holster Choices

Another thing to consider is a proper holster. A holster can make or break your carry experience. Once you figure out the location you like to carry on your body, then find holsters that work for you.

Also, you should consider owning multiple holsters for each carry gun to ensure you can carry no matter what the day throws at you. I live in Michigan, and the weather changes here frequently.

[Don’t miss our article What Is a Retention Holster?]

It’s extremely easy to conceal a pistol in cold weather, but when it is 100 degrees outside and you are wearing less clothing, it can be a bit tough. You must be prepared to carry differently depending on the weather.

Weather isn’t the only factor though. You also need to think about your situation and what you will be doing all day. I recently took part in my friend’s wedding. It was a group of gun guys that carry daily. However, I was the only one carrying during the wedding because most people think you can’t conceal a pistol under a dress shirt that is tucked in. Well, I have news for you; you can, and I do it often. It is all about the proper holster, carry position and gun selection.

Why Does This All Matter?

 You might do just fine carrying every once in a while. Well, that is a risky mentality that one day could prove to be a bad decision.

I compare carrying to wearing a seat belt in a vehicle. No one goes out thinking they are going to crash their vehicle, but it can happen in the blink of an eye to anyone. So, we wear a seat belt to help protect ourselves in the rare chance we are involved in a car accident. Daily carry is no different. We don’t go out expecting to get in a defensive situation, but they happen every day.

Training is key. By training, I don’t mean just going to the range and shooting at a piece of paper. Those tight groups look awesome on social media, but can you do that under extreme stress?

The game changes when stuff starts happening in real life. Adrenaline can take away your fine motor skills. If you have never trained under stress, you may not even be able to draw your pistol out of your holster. Is your safety on? You better have that safety burned into your muscle memory so as you draw that safety is being clicked off.

Do you carry with a round in the chamber? I don’t care how fast you think you are at racking that round in the chamber, you are not as fast as the guy that already has that round chambered — especially when trying to work the slide while someone is shooting at you.

Conclusion

I will say this again. Carrying a gun is a big responsibility that should not be taken lightly. To be successful, you must train often and continuously, and make your training “uncomfortable” for you. Train with new people, take classes you never thought you would need, and prepare yourself for any situation. Why? In this world, you just never know what you may encounter or when you may need those skills.

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