Month: April 2021

Concealed carry gives you the ability to protect yourself in the worst-case scenario. In Arizona, you don’t need a license to do this, but getting your concealed carry weapon (CCW) permit is beneficial for reciprocity purposes and for the extra training it gives you. If you are planning to carry your weapon, it’s important to do some research into the different concealed carry methods and to practice for each type you will use.

Some of the most popular ways to conceal a firearm include:

Off-Body Carry

Most concealed carry methods involve having the firearm on your body and hidden under clothing. However, you also carry your weapon in a purse, fanny pack, briefcase, or another type of bag. You should always have a holster inside of the bag so the gun’s trigger is covered and to prevent the weapon from shifting. Off-body carry, also called OBC, does present some risks because a criminal could grab your bag with your gun inside it. It is also not a good fit for anyone who is forgetful and might leave their bag somewhere, and it can be difficult to draw your firearm quickly with this method. That being said, there are some situations when OBC could be helpful, such as if your outfit cannot effectively conceal a weapon.

On-Body Carry

Inside-the-Waistband

One of the most popular concealed carry methods is using an inside-the-waistband (IWB) holster. A clip attaches the holster to your belt. IWB works well even with lighter clothing, which makes it great for hot Tucson summers. It’s also easy to get access to your gun quickly. The main downside of IWB carry is that the gun is pressing against your body, which can be uncomfortable at first.

Outside-the-Waistband

Carrying with an outside-the-waistband (OWB) holster is typically going to be more comfortable than IWB, but it is also easier to spot. You will need to adjust your clothing accordingly. Depending on the size of the gun, your body type, and other factors, this may be as simple as choosing a long shirt or a jacket to hide the gun.

Pocket Carry

You may be able to fit a compact gun in a pocket holster. It’s especially important that this holster be high-quality and your firearm should never be loose in your pocket. This can be a difficult position to draw from safely, so you need to make sure you practice this technique. Trigger discipline is especially important with this style holster although it is an essential skill needed when drawing from any position.

Shoulder Holster

A shoulder holster is an option if having your gun on your waist isn’t comfortable or otherwise doesn’t work for you. For larger firearms, this might be a better choice than IWB or OWB. With this type of concealed carry you will need to wear a jacket, and you will need to be mindful of where the gun is pointing while it is holstered.

Belly Band

A belly band holster is an elastic band around your waist with pockets to fit your firearm. Women can also consider corset holsters, which are a variation of this concealed carry method. This style is a good choice for outfits where other holsters are too obvious and since the gun is pressed closely against your body, it is going to be well concealed. However, these can be more difficult to access quickly and the area under the holster can be sweaty and uncomfortable.

Ankle Holster

A gun in an ankle holster is difficult to get to quickly and this can also interfere with your ability to run away or otherwise maneuver around while reaching for your firearm. It takes a lot of practice to get used to drawing from an ankle holster. However, it can be a good option for a backup gun or if you spend most of your day sitting.

Bra Holster

Using a holster that attaches to your bra is an option for women and can be a helpful method for concealment if other options are obvious with the type of outfit you are wearing. The downside is that there can be safety issues with this carry method, so you need to make sure you are informed about these and practice drawing safety.

Hone Your Skills at The Hub

No matter what type of holster you use, training is essential to get the practice you need to quickly draw your weapon and fire accurately. We offer a variety of training options to help you hone your skills including one-on-one instruction and larger classes.

Visit one of our two Arizona gun stores today to learn more.

Trigger control is one of the fundamental skills required for accurate shooting. Even if you aim perfectly, you are going to compromise your accuracy if your trigger pull is inconsistent. The good news is that proper trigger control is relatively simple in theory, although it does take regular practice to perfect.

Here are some tips for improving your skills:

Know How to Squeeze the Trigger Properly

Before you can start improving your trigger pull technique, you need to know how what correct trigger control looks like. When you place your finger on the trigger, it should fall in the middle of the fleshy part of your index finger, between the last knuckle and the tip of your finger.

The act of “pulling” the trigger is less of a “pull” and more of a squeezing motion. You should apply pressure with your index finger and keep the rest of your fingers and your hand steady. Learning how to isolate your trigger finger can be tricky, but practice makes perfect. Continue to squeeze until the trigger breaks, which is the point where the weapon fires, and then keep squeezing until the trigger stops moving. It is important to keep in mind that the trigger break and trigger stop can vary depending on the model of the gun. One popular saying is that when you are squeezing the trigger properly, it should almost be a surprise when the gun actually fires. This is because the goal is to not flinch in anticipation or stop squeezing and remove your finger right at the point where the gun fires.

Practice Consistently

Like any skill, proper firearm handling requires effort to develop and maintain. Going to the range infrequently probably won’t be enough to keep your skills sharp. However, the cost of ammunition and the time commitment to get to the range make it difficult to shoot every day. Luckily, you don’t need to actually fire your weapon to practice your trigger pull. Dry fire is incredibly useful to accommodate daily practice into your schedule without using ammo. Make sure your gun is unloaded and complete a set number of trigger pull drills each day. 50 is often a good target, although you can lower or raise this depending on how much time you have. One great drill to try if you tend to jerk the gun while firing is to place a coin on the front sights. This should not fall off and if it does, you need to work on controlling your trigger squeeze and not flinching.

Work on Your Grip As Well

Your trigger pull technique is strongly related to your grip. If you are holding the firearm correctly, you are more likely to keep your aim consistent even if you slightly jerk the trigger. Likewise, if your grip is not strong, you aren’t going to be able to keep your sights on the target even with a perfect trigger squeeze. A proper grip also allows you to place your index finger on the trigger at the correct point.

Consider Training

Reading about how to use your gun and practicing at home with dry fire or at the range can be very helpful. However, it’s easy to develop bad habits if you don’t have an expert pointing out when you make mistakes. Whether you are a new shooter or are more experienced, anyone can benefit from the help of a professional.

Gun Training at The Hub

The Hub offers one-on-one firearms training as well as group classes to help you improve your skills. We also have shooting ranges at both of our stores and a MILO virtual range in Tucson.

Visit us online or at either of our two gun stores to learn more about our handgun training.