If you are serious about carrying concealed and you are still using clips to secure the holster to your body consider this. Everything works until it doesn’t!
For a while now I have been posting observations about clip style holsters, which predominately seem to be inside the waistband or IWB. Many of the users clip it to their waistband and load up without a second thought. How many have done their own serious gear validation or proofing to really determine if they are truly good to go. Because if more did, they might discover as soon as things get physical with an opponent or they have to perform light physical activity things change. Your body is responding to the physical demands and it’s composition changes to a certain degree. Is it reasonable to expect a slight bit of exertion in a fight? Do you see yourself moving aggressively, possible even tussling with your opponent to stay on your feet or worse have to fight from the ground?
These are the test grounds that need serious attention to discover clips suck! I use to think the exception was metal style clips. They typically were made of spring steel and gripped a little better than their plastic cousins. After witnessing a few guns fall to the ground in recent classes because the holster separated from the shooter I am thinking even they are not good enough for everyday carry. I see that term thrown out a lot, everyday carry or EDC. I’m not really sure I have the same definition as the average person who chooses to carry concealed. Mine comes with an acknowledgment a fight could be around the corner, one where I will have to give 200 seconds of surgical violence and pure aggression.
Part of the reason we carry concealed is personal protection, there are others, but that seems to be the most common response when asked. When I ask how someone might expect to protect themselves, under what conditions, a common response is the subject of a criminal act such as a robbery/mugging. If you continue down this train of logic you figure out you are being ambushed, surprised being a big component and as such are reacting to the threat. Do you think you will have the advantage of going to guns right away or will you need to create time and space. If you need to create time and space I’m betting it is going to involve some physicality and there is where we see the problem with clips on holsters. The ability of that clip to securely hold the pistol on your body is suspect big time.
Don’t be that guy who wasted all those training hours because their holster wouldn’t stay on their body when it counted.
– Jeff Gonzales
Trident Concepts, LLC
Jeff Gonzales of Trident Concepts, LLC is a decorated and respected U.S. Navy SEAL who has worked in a variety of environments and capacities throughout the globe. He specializes in personal protection tactics and training for armed and unarmed conflicts. His motto is “Concepts that meet reality”. Jeff’s goal is not simply to train you, but to better prepare you for the worst-case scenario.
Gunfighter Moment is a weekly feature brought to you by Alias Training & Security Services. Each week Alias brings us a different Trainer and in turn, they offer some words of wisdom.
