By Robert Farago on June 19, 2014
There are as many ways to carry a firearm as Israeli models worthy of linkage. But just as Bar Refaeli and Esti Ginzburg stand apart from their comely colleagues, inside-the-waistband (IWB) and outside-the-waistband (OWB) holsters are the go-to options for concealed carriers. Adherents of either method can choose from a wide range of holster designs and materials made by manufacturers chasing an elusive mix of comfort, reliability, efficiency of presentation and affordability. I’ve made my choice: outside-the-waistband. YMMV but here’s why I reckon OWB beats IWB . . .
1. Grip
When you extract your firearm from concealment, your first grip is your best grip. It should be your only grip (the model above shows you how not to do it). Changing the way you hold the gun from extraction to presentation increases the odds that you’ll miss your target. Even if you’ve practiced drawing your gun and changing your grip – however slightly – there’s still plenty of margin for error. Fingers turn to flippers during an adrenalin dump, making the slightest readjustment a potential disaster. Lest we forget, your hands may sweat.
Most inside-the-waistband holsters press your gun flat against holster material that’s in contact with your body (keeping the gun from making contact with your skin). To get a grip on your gat and extract it, you have to insert your thumb between the gun and the holster material. “Combat-cut” IWB holsters (e.g., Kinetic Concealment’s Hybrid Neoprene Holster above) minimize the problem, but don’t eliminate it.
Some IWB holsters don’t put material between your gun’s handle and your body (e.g. Galco’s Stow-N-Go above). If you’re wearing a tucked-in shirt or undershirt underneath an outer garment (i.e., a jacket or a second shirt), I reckon this is the better option for assuring a good initial grip on the gun’s handle with an IWB holster. However . . .
If you live in a warm, one-shirt-to-rule-them-all locale (e.g., the great state of Texas) this type of IWB holster places the gun’s grip directly against your skin. Your thumb scrapes across your flesh during extraction. It’s not a huge deal – especially if you’re partial to manicures. And a scraped stomach is way better than whatever injury your attacker may inflict. But the ergonomic insult doesn’t encourage precision or practice.
Yes, you can quickly and efficiently draw a gun from an IWB holster. As with any firearm-handling skill, the more you practice the more instinctive extraction becomes. But most people don’t practice drawing their firearm on a regular, consistent basis. Wedging your thumb into position, sinking your hand all the way down on the gun’s grip and securing a full hold on your firearm (trigger finger ready to slide onto the barrel in the proper position) before extraction is not the easy option.
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