Graff - Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry Holsters : a guide to choosing the best concealed carry holsters for your lifestyle.

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Chapter 1
Quick-Start Guide

You know that Quick-Start Guide that came with the last flat-screen TV you bought, the one that told you only what you needed to know to get it running quickly so your buddies didnt miss the big game? This is like that.

Chapter 2
Types of Holsters

An overview of holster designs like pancake holsters, bellyband holsters and Mr. Fancy Pants drop-dead gorgeous holsters. And so on.

Chapter 3
Modes of Carry

Outside-the-waistband, inside-the-waistband, shoulder carry, pocket carry, ankle carry, body carry, fanny pack and purse carry, even bra carry explained (with pictures!).

Chapter 4
Holster Materials

From good ol tanned cowhide (and its close cousin sharkskin), to advanced space-age polymers like Kydex, heres what you need to know when considering holster material.

Chapter 5
Retention Systems

Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 retention systems explainedthe doohickeys that keep you from unintentionally skinnin that smoke wagon, dude.

Chapter 6
Gun Placement

Strong side, weak side, cant and raketheres a million (OK, about a dozen) ways to position cold blue steel. Here are some considerations for comfortable handgun placement.

Chapter 7
Magazine Holsters

Youre not Clint Eastwood and this is not Hollywood. So youll need some way to comfortably carry extra ammo. From magazine pouches to speed clips, this chapter explains the best tools for real-world business.

Chapter 8
Holsters for Women

Specialty holsters for women and tips for ladies on choosing the best holster for concealed carry.

Chapter 9
Specialty Holsters

From minimalist designs to underwear holsters, theres no limit to how you can conceal your personal protection sidearm.

Chapter 10
Holster Safety and Maintenance

How to safely holster a handgun and special considerations for gun safety depending on holster design, plus how to take care of your rig.

Congratulations. Youve completed your concealed weapons class and have your permit. Now youre ready to go to the local gun shop and pick out that one perfect pistol for self-defense. So far, so good. However, if youre like most folks, you didnt think much about how youll actually carry the thing around. This can lead to an uncomfortable exchange with the bespectacled gun-counter guy. If your experience is anything like mine, hell look down his nose at you while a little drop of white spittle forms at the corner of his mouth. Youll ask which holster he recommends. And hell sneer.

In truth, the question is like asking your car mechanic what brand of underwear to buy. The mechanic and gun-counter guy know literally nothing about you, your physiology, lifestyle or your daily habits. Holsters are made for guns, but are fit to people. Damned if gun-counter guy will tell you this, with an ego the size of the Death Star he will not risk surrendering his throne of perceived superior knowledge. Instead hell point and make a strange grunting noise, which will seem to direct you to the holster section. Puzzled, youll wander over and stare at a wall of holsters. Theyll stare back. Now what?

Ive seen this scenario play itself out more times than an I Love Lucy rerun. Holster selection for concealed carry is quite possibly one of the most misunderstood and glossed over areas in the gun world. On par with handgun choice in terms of importance, it receives very little ink. Yet its one of the most vital subjects, for the handgun holster is the thing that will keep your firearm secured and at the ready. It will determine how safe, comfortable and readily accessible your gun is when carried. A poor-fitting holster is like a poor-fitting gun it probably wont get much use. This defeats the purpose of being armed at all times. Moreover, today there are literally dozens of different designs of holsters and thousands of different models all configured differently from basic factory numbers to high-end custom jobs. This further complicates things for you if youre just starting out. In a sea of choices, making a less-than-ideal selection is a very real risk. You could end up with something that might be fine quality, but simply not a good match for you for your lifestyle and body type. If its not comfortable and practical, you wont use it. That means you could dish out some serious cash and end up with the wrong match. A wrong-fitting combo is a pain in the side, while a well-matched holster and gun are a joy to carry.

Like clothing, holsters are very personalized so youll eventually wind up like everyone else who carries. First youll have a dresser drawer full of them, then one day youll wake up to the realization that a storage unit is needed to contain the rest. With the awesome responsibility of carrying a gun for self-defense comes the opportunity to prevail and survive an otherwise lethal confrontation. Yet that responsibility also becomes a life-changing event with the holster. In all its many interesting designs and variations its the one thing allowing you to keep your personal safety tool by your side and close at hand at all times, no matter how you dress. I hope this little book serves as a guide to help you do just that.

In this chapter I give my recommendation on a good starter holster if youre new to concealed carry. As youll see in subsequent chapters, there is a holster type, material and design for just about every situation, season and type of person and handgun. From big pot-bellied dudes to the most petite and shapely women and everything in between having a successful first experience with a concealed handgun hinges more on the holster than you may realize. Its the key to promoting regular, continued carry day in and day out.

Thats why I entitled this chapter the Quick Start Guide. It cuts through all the white noise so you can make a good holster selection and get started carrying your new handgun right now. Lets start with a quick primer.

Whether its made of leather or plastic, a holster does much more than simply hold the gun. In fact, it does three things: It secures the handgun; it provides immediate access to the handgun; and it conceals the handgun. The holster keeps the trigger guard area of the firearm completely covered for safety. In addition, the barrel is enshrouded to protect it from dings and other damage. Gun-to-holster fit is critical in keeping the handgun from falling out while moving about during your daily business. It must fit right, snug as a bug in a rug, right off the bat. And yet it cant be so tight that drawing the thing is difficult.

Holsters do other beneficial things. In the Gun Digest 2014 article What You Should Know About Holsters, author Robert Campbell explains that, Some effort is required to find the right holster, but no matter what the choice, there is always an acclimation period, he writes. Some handguns are more ergonomic than others, but few are completely devoid of sharp edges. A quality holster goes a long way towards making carrying a defensive handgun bearable.