Concealed Carry Positions, Where To Carry And Why | Geauga Firearms Academy 

He isn't saying open carry is bad, he's saying it's less advantageous in the case of an emergency. I don't care if you've open-carried successfully for 50+ years, concealing a weapon is always better than brandishing it about Very informative and I gotta say you earned my sub bud

For those who liked this video I will be doing a part two that will cover the same material but with live fire.

I love this video.......I am new to concealed carry. I am a range monster. My wife and I got our concealed carry here in Chicago(much needed) and I really appreciate this video. I am not too comfortable with my weapon sitting between my legs either!

there was a time when someone who carried a gun was just called person who is carrying a gun, now everyone is an "operator" carrying on their "person" wearing an official "tactical belt" for their "EDC essentials"

I've been carrying now for about 3 years. I've carries full size guns to subcompact, with different style holsters and different belts. from my experience I'd definitely say gun belts make a difference and belt loops are better than clips. I've actually had my holster come out along with my gun while dry practicing so I'm all for using loops over clips.

I really liked appendix carry... until I sat down. Immediately stood up, took my weapon out, and have been carrying at 4 o'clock ever since.

There is so much iffy carry tips videos out there, this video had new information that was actually beneficial. Great Job

Gabe Suarez addresses the "where on your body" issue too. He seems to recommend appendix carry for the reasons you, Neil, mention in the video. The shooting yourself in the groin risk eventually comes down to "can you keep your finger off the trigger" until you need to fire. People who can't do that probably shouldn't carry at all. That's why training by professionals is so important. And practice, practice, practice. Kudos to GFA.

Once I had my concealed carry permit I went through several hand guns and holsters. It took me about 10 months to finally find the right holster and gun and body position. Now, I never leave home now without my CZ 97B which is holstered at four o'clock in a pancake IWB holster. Very comfortable for me. There is one other thing I did to help ease the tension of wearing a gun all the time - I purchased good Insurance!

One , I am a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and that shirt immediately caught my attention. Oss! Two, the techniques and details explained in this video is amazing! I am truly applying these.

Very informative thank you very much! Just recently switched from appendix to 4:30 carry basically because of this vid, was never too worried about my glock randomly firing but it's always in the back of my head. The main thing is that it feels comfortable in a seated position

I appreciate your explanation of position 4 o'clock. I have not seen that explanation on any other gun site. Your caution on 3 o'clock certainly makes sense to this retired Dr. Thank you for an excellent presentation. Dr. Steve

Best firearms training video I have ever seen on RU-vid...hands-down!! I too carry everyday for my job and it feels strange to conceal carry at times. I appreciate your focus on safety not just convenience!

I have watched a lot of gun videos and you make so much sense. You are an awesome teacher. Thank you.

Excellent advice and concise. I also carry at 4 o'clock primarily due to an experience I had many years ago, plus it is the most comfortable and how I have trained. My cousin and I were robbed by a guy brandishing a knife in 1993. The bad guy told him to give him his wallet and asked me for my wallet as well (I was unarmed due to be underage). My cousin was carrying in the 4 o'clock position. While going for his wallet he went for his pistol and drew on the bad guy. Needless to say the bad guy took off (cops found him) and it saved us both. Carrying at the 4 o'clock provides great distraction if you are robbed or threatened because it gives the option to block the gun from the bad guy's sight line or use the "I'm getting my wallet, just relax man" excuse. It works.

Finally, a guy with some common sense info, thank you.

Sir, you are one of the best, showing this finest art of carrying arms and equipment properly. Thanks for excellent training Sir. From The Great city of Houston, Texas, Jorge Washington Lomba. GOD BLESS AMERICA.

good video, well done. i carry a full size, and i love the 3 o'clock postion. im only 5'8 so its taken sometime to find the perfect postion with my alien gear iwb, but i think im there. one thing i think you should irritate in every video, is to practice your draw, a lot!!!! range time is one thing, rounds on target another, but draw time is everything!!! if you can't draw/pull your weapon effectively, the first two won't matter!

Great video really appreciate it. You can watch hundreds of these and then sometimes it just all comes together. Thank you.

The second edition to this video is complete and scheduled to be released on Tuesday July, 26th! It will show this material along with a lot more additional bonus material and is all done in LIVE FIRE!

Good demo, thanks. Note that some hybrid/pancake holster have clips that DON'T slip off the belt. I use one very day. The clips close around the whole belt. I've drawn hundreds of times, never came off. BTW, a cop who carried at 6 fell back on his gun and was paralyzed for life from the waist down.

Excellent advice to practice carry in home for extended periods. This way the surprises will be at home.

Very good video. The only thing I would add is in reference to your comment on the major con of the "appendix" carry position (having a live firearm pointed into your leg - Plaxico Burress, anyone?) - As long as you have a pistol that you would trust to throw on the ground and not have go off, and a holster that completely 100% always covers your trigger, appendix carry can seem a lot less risky. I have a Glock 19c and a DeSantis 106 x6 holster that fits like a glove and I carry appendix every day. Very informative video, I would recommend this to any new gun owner unsure of how to carry their pistol.

GFA, very informative video - no nonsense straight to the point. The fact that you cover functionality, practical applications, and do's & don'ts set this instructional video apart from the rest. Not to mention I'm a Gracie for life guy myself. Also, the "Aliengear" holster that you are using is a VERY nice system. I will subscribe today - please keep'em coming...!

I like how you went a step further into covering how to access your pistol and implement shooting positions while on the ground. Also, nice shirt!

Good video, I agree with the 4 o'clock carry, it's the way I started carrying as soon as I was able and just feels safer and easier to manage.

Great video, lots of helpful info. We need more videos like this that actually show what, how and where. Good job.

Good overview. Thank you for taking the time to give people more information on the carrying options available. Training and knowledge are key to safe and responsible concealed carry!

I'm going to start carrying soon and have thought about all the different ways to carry and had decided on 4 o'clock position. This video has helped in reassuring that my decision (for me) was correct. Thanks for the info, liked and subscribed.

A great selling point for Alien Gear Shapeshifter is that you can follow the advice of trying different carry systems in your home for a week with under a $100 investment. Great video.

All your points are solid and very well explained. Your videos are simple and to the point. Learned some good stuff. Thanks for sharing you passion. You're an excellent teacher.

I'm glad to be huge, never had any issue concealing even a full sized Glock 10mm

Just be aware that at 4 O'clock posich you are hemoving one arm from any defensive or offensive engagement. If you are likely to be suddenly confronted, you need to figure out appendix carry. If it's uncomfortable when you sit down, either your pants are too low (which is normal), or you have a gut. It is not the carry, it is your body. Instead, then place a ka-bar TDI in that posich. That way you have an appendix tool for immediate front action and your arms stay in front. AFTER you fend off the immediate threat, THEN heach back. See the Dog Brothers Die Less Often video for tips on this. Nice vid, GFA.

Thanks Neal and thanks Kim for your instruction on how to be a better concealer and defender of life liberty and our own personal safety

I have watch a lot of this kind of video's in the past month. I would like to say great job on this video. It was helpful

I can't believe what I just saw. After 50 years of carrying, I just saw this man laying on the ground and defending himself. This is a perfect position! You are not a target in this position. However, carry the gun in an ankle holster is best hete. You drop, pull your gun, and roll, this will confuse your attacker. Please note, if the gun goes off while holstered, there will be little damage to you at the ankle.

Its all personal preference. I carry two Hellcats, both together weigh as much as my 1911. I wear six holsters, by far the most comfortable and convenient is OWB at 3 and 9 o'clock. The Tulster Contour keeps them tucked and concealed. Weight on both sides of your body with two guns is more comfortable than one gun on one side. In hot weather I carry on both ankles with an ankle holster that is neoprene against my leg with a kydex IWB between the neoprene and my boot. One gun in each boot, its like wearing heavy boots, you almost forget your guns are there. Then when things cool off I put them up in my belt IWB double kidney position using my 'boot' holsters . When I'm driving long distances I use OWB at 3 and 9. Sometimes I'll wear all six holsters and move them around for comfort. Muscle memory, once you are used to moving your guns around all the time you'll know where they are, trust me. And you'll get real good at holstering and unholstering.

Good video. It doesn't sound crazy to practice carry at home. My wife and I carry in our home, it's normal. If family are coming over or if there's a knock on the door, we'll conceal so others aren't uncomfortable.

Very thorough, especially highlighting the various positions one may have to endure when facing an encounter.

No nonsense, to the the point. Great instruction, great T-Shirt.

This is a good video with a lot of useful information. I had the same holster and carried the exact same way, but for me and my body, I found a better way. I carry a Glock 26 or a Glock 19 each day. I even wear them around the house. I carry OWB at the 3 o'clock position and it conceals better on me than 4-4:30. Standing up straight-with the right holster-3 o'clock conceals about the same as 4:30, but when I bend over, it conceals way better. I can't use a regular holster, however; I use a high riding pancake holster like a Mitch Rosen UPL or UPL-EXP or a RGrizzle HC (High Country) leather holster. Unless you have very narrow shoulders, when the gun rides high on the belt, the natural drape of your shirt from your shoulders and lats cover the gun very well; and since it rides higher, the muzzle does not protrude. My wife and I were at Home Depot yesterday and I kept having to reach up to grab tiles and my gun remained concealed. Best of all, it is infinitely more comfortable to drive with or sit down in general. No inside the waistband can match its comfort or accessibility, and it would keep LEOs consistent on duty or off. My Glock 26 conceals incredibly well at the 3 o'clock position with a zero degree cant. I sold my Glock 43 because I am that confident with the G26 carried in this way, and I have four more rounds and a better shooting/more versatile gun. I recommend a slight cant for a Glock 19 size pistol. The cant helps offset the extra length of the grip obviously. A cheap way of trying this out is to buy the Glock OEM polymer holster (it's made from the same polymer as the Glock frame). It's $15 and it is an ambidextrous high riding holster that will allow you to see if you like carrying in this position before you drop a hundred bucks. The Mitch Rosen and R Grizzle holsters carry slightly higher, but the Glock is completely adequate for getting an idea if this will work for you. If it works, the other holsters I mentioned will work slightly better in my opinion. For a Glock 26 I highly recommend the Mitch Rosen UPL-EXP for $75. It has a zero cant, but you don't need one for the 26 in my opinion (not that one wouldn't hurt). For $100 you can go to a R Grizzle which is ever so slightly higher and available with or without a cant. I personally get my leather holsters in black even though I like the look of the brown leather. I usually wear black more than anything else, so it provides less contrast if/when my shirt gets pulled up for some reason. In other words, it looks like part of a black t-shirt instead of the beautiful brown leather that is available. Unfortunately, I dropped a lot of money before I found a solution, but fortunately I no longer have to buy pants and belts larger than they need to be to accommodate IWB.

very very informative I'm looking forward to being a concealed carry owner and applying this very method. Thank you so much!

I must agree on the appendix carry. It scares me to death. It's very difficult to sit or bend over with more or less any gun that's not tiny. I don't carry tiny guns.

This man is trying to give. some solid advise that will surely be helpful no matter if you are 6'5" 280 lbs or 4'8" 120 lbs and is being hassled for It ?!? I learned alot from this video especially the part about using the correct belt ! Thank's

Info is great, I also appreciate your delivery style. Thanks.

My CCW instructor prefers cross draw on left appendix side because it's not impeded by seatbelt, when driving, and can draw easily if getting car jacked.

great video --- the upsides and downsides of carry options are a lot to consider for those of us who want to be ready to defend. I personally carry a cz75d compact in a custom IWB holster from Tommy Theis. 14+1 of 9mm --- don't want less. What I have found, since this is a double stack 9 at a 4:30 position, is that if my cover garment has a pattern on it --- say plaid or some kind of large print (think Hawaiian shirt) --- I am walking around in cargo shorts with nobody giving me a second look even if there is some printing. Just thought I would pass that on because I see printing easier with solid color cover shirts.

Great video man! Thanks for really breaking it down. I have been considering retraining to the 4:30 position.

I'm with you, appendix carry makes me too nervous.

I’ve watched a lot of videos with ex special forces eithet demonstrating or talking about their EDC. And 9/10 all do appendix. Of course personal preference is okay, and SAFETY and APPROPRIATE TRAINING are a must. But appendix is no more dangerous than any other position if done correctly.

Good video. I can't comment on any clip style holsters other than the Crossbreed. I own it and it's clips are designed where the bottom of the clip catches the belt. It also has very tight retention. It can actually be extremely annoying trying to remove it. It's really a fantastic holster though.

After binging on old westerns I've come to the conclusion that the absolute best way to wear/carry is like the old cowboys did it: high and tight on the strong side waist and completely out in the open.

Nice from the standpoint of considering various situations possibly encountered in a defense situation. Even for consideration in cross draw, from behind-the-belt.

great examples! I would like to make a suggestion though. when you go for your fire arm pull your shirt up with your left hand first then grab your fire arm. practicing this makes a smooth transition rather than lifting it up with you right hand then holding it with your left and then reaching with your right hand again. not trying to be rude. great job!

I'm 5'8, 190 lbs and I carry primarily at the 3 o' clock position with 4:30 as a secondary. It conceals very well for my body and doesn't even print. I find that if I conceal my gun anywhere else other than 3 o'clock, it becomes visible as my shirts always seem to get caught on my weapon making it clearly visible. No complaints though, it's comfortable, concealed, and I can access the firearm from any position.

I always carried in the exact same location as you while I was in Iraq for the sole purpose of avoiding having my sidearm snag on a doorway or something in our MRAP.

these are some great tips!(especially with that being a compact sized firearm.) these concealment tips will work even better with a sub compact.

I have been following some of your videos and have not subbed. Well the Hendrix intro and the Gracie tee shirt sealed the deal... Subscribed and looking forward to more educational videos!

Great vid. Thanks for the content. Like the t-shirt. Been training for 10 years and love it.

Kudos to you for not getting into pissing contest with mr Martin I switch between 4 and 2 position depending on which gun I'm carrying I tore both shoulder rotator cuffs during hurricane sandy so bad they are can not be operated on so depending on pain and Movement levels determines best carry for that day. Gallo for AIWB with g26 and alien gear for Walter PPQ I to found the clips would walk out during day so replaced them with straps I use a 511 tactical belt Great content thanks for posting and look forward for more

Great advice, carry around the house to test run your conceal position. I haven't heard anyone say that. Thanks.

Thank you, This has been very informative and helpful.

Good feedback! Totally concur on the 4 o'clock for function and fit. Keep up the great work.

I carry IWB 3 oclock with no problem concealing. I find the 3 oclock position to be more accessable and comfortable while seated. I use a stealth gear usa holster.

Thanks for the video and highlighting the importance of a good belt and loops.

Cool video. I wish we had concealed carry laws in Australia.

THANKS Neil, you rock. GREAT videos, information, tips, everything is awesome. Learning a lot from your video's. Look forward to more

I carry at the 3 o'clock because that's where I instinctively grab my firearm from. Also I only wear loose fitting shirts that have multiple colors and shaped to give me more concealment over a t-shirt or a polo.

best informed vid..... have seen in a long while....thanks...

great video very informative for me who is entering the ccw world.

Good video and better advice. Agreed to always carry in the same way and place.

Thanks for taking the time to make this video, I appreciate it brother!

Appendix Carry: Because no one needs two testicles.

This is nice calm easy to follow video. Very helpful.

Hi i just subscribed its very informative and i like to give 1 suggestion Please wear a light color t shirt so that what u r showing becomes more visible Dark t shirt and dark holsters makes difficult to distinguish i m mostly dependent on what u r saying Thanks its just a suggestion

oss. BJJ.

As some one about to buy fire arms, thank you

I am a slim guy and would almost certainly choose appendix condition 3 carry. I know people say to not use condition 3. With training and the likelihood of accidental discharge and someone attempting to grab at it in position 5 o clock verses not having the time or my off hand to chamber a round.I truly feel that if one does not have the time to chamber a round that person already failed to have good situational awareness. I have never had a violent situation on me without some sense of possible conflict before hand. I would not wish to carry at say a concert where I cannot keep some space period. I also am a bit more worried about someone taking me down from behind verses pushed down from in front of me in this case 5 o clock would be terrible if you end up prone face down with the assailant in a superior position.

Excellent intro to CCW.

Good video. Well presented, thoughtful , good hint to wear defense rig around house, to get used to carry positions. Well done.

Awesome Jiu Jitsu shirt brah!

It would be cool to see a video like this for female carry locations.

I enjoy your videos very much I'm a first time carry with my chl from Oregon...i purchased an alien gear owb and an iwb..i didn't have alot of money so my first handgun was a hi point 45 but realized that would be way to big to conceal..i just purchased a Taurus pt111 g2 9mm so I'm waiting to fire it.

Great demo. Thanks for the video.

I love alien gear, nicest one I have and the shell is interchangeable.

thanks for the video. The part about doing it consistently made me think about my own habits.

Excellent video and explained ! Great job - GOD Bless

when you love handles, or a "donut" lol - the 2 & 3 o'clock (OWB) is super comfortable and easily concealable.

Thanks for explaining everything!

goodadvice. i carry pendix but i am going to try other carry positions because depending on what one is doing diferent positions may be more usefull if ever needed to protect ones self never carry at 6

That's good, but don't use holsters, but still a good informative video. I'm 5'2", so I carry a Ruger .380 with a metal clip on the side that hooks onto my pocket. It looks like I'm carrying a knife. Also have a NAA .22mag sidewider which I carry in a pocket holster in my right pocket. I've tried all kinds of holsters, but I feel comfortable with my pockets.

You didn't mentioned shoulder holster. You may not have a high opinion of these kind of holsters (I know many trainers don't.). I know the arguments against them but they are my favorite way to carry when they work with my clothes and agenda. When I can't use a shoulder holster I use my Crossbreed SuperTuck at the 4:00 position.

Very informative. Thanks.I don't understand how people sit with appendix carry, especially inside a car.

My personal preference ... pocket holster in right front pocket with baggy pants. The most comfortable by far!

Good video, I enjoyed watching it. I would argue that the snap loops on a holster aren't necessarily "essential". There are good clip systems where yanking the entire holster out is an extremely low risk. But I understand some may prefer the extra hold the snap loops provide.

Good, vital info, and you have reasons for your opinions. Thanks.

I personally prefer the IWB design from Aliengear too. Although I use the shapeshift at more of a 5o clock position. It's just where it's more comfortable for me.

Thank you for your Awesome Video... Great Explaining on positions.

Lucky Gunner made some really good points on Appendix carry vs IWB at the 3-6 oclock position. If your weapon goes off, you risk being paralyzed. It's all about safety and training, ya?

good information on concealed carry and different shooting positions!