"You gonna shoot your f-ing balls off!"

This is something I heard many times when entering a flat range with an appendix holster. And understandable at first - we have all learned, that we dont point the muzzle at something we are not willing to destroy. And when carrying appendix, it is pointed at something you DEFINITLY do not want to destroy (That is, of course, our inguinal artery). But let me put it very simple: If you don’t trust your holster and your ability to draw and holster, even or especially under stress, than carrying is just not for you. And we are talking about carrying altogether, not just concealed carry. If you are still reading, let me explain, why.

When I first started appedix carrying, I had the same unpleasent feeling anyone would have. But it instandly reminded me of something we all once knew and chose to forget: firearms are no toys. They are invented to harm and kill. And they can.
 

Picture above: The draw must be consistent and repeatable - all clothes must be out of the way - when drawing AND when holstering.

So just starting to carry appendix style forced me to re-train my draw stroke and utterly more important, mindfulness when re-holstering. When teaching classes, a lot of times I have been asked wether you should look at your holster when holstering your gun or not. I tended to say „dont look“ because often it would just indicate a sloppy process, where one’s gun does not find its way easily and needs a few corrections before entering the holster. Now I say: „YES, you absolutely should!“.

Holstering is the one thing you should not train to be as fast as you can go. Remember, the best draw is just holstering reversed. I am not sure, who I have to quote for this: „you will never win a gunfight by holstering fast“. And honestly, I’m having a really hard time making up any scenarios where you benefit from a fast holstering of your gun. 

And on the other hand, accidents (I leave it up to you if you call it a negligent or an accidental discharge) occur as often during the holstering process as they do during the draw. So, whatever your world and your mindset is: make sure you’re done shooting first. Your finger has to be long and off the trigger. Do your assess and scan or show empty and clear, hammer down or whatever  you need to do in your world. 

Then, before holstering: make sure the way to your holster is clear and no obstacles are in the way. This is indispensable when you are carrying concealed or in any IWB holster: clothing can easily get inside your holster, especially when you draw repeatedly and fast during training. And invest in a high quality holster, that won’t break or get loose.

Picture above: Get a good holster you can trust. I can recommend "Black Trident" and T.REX ARMS (picture source: Black Trident)

Now, after all this talk, it seems like I’m a little cautious about carrying concealed myself, doesn’t it? Wrong. It was John Lovell who made me realize: The muzzle in the holster is always pointed at someting. If you are carrying 3 o’clock, it is your ass. Don’t want to shoot that either. If you are carrying open, it is your leg. Even when you use a drop-leg holster, you will still get at least your lower limb. And you don’t wanna even know where your muzzle is going if you have a sloppy draw stroke.

Picture above: Need proof? Just because you carry your gun open (or OWB, “Outside the Waistband”) doesn't mean that the muzzle always just directly points to the ground.

So: Train your draw stroke until you trust it. Trust your Holster. Or don’t carry. But I would highly recommend you to get to a level of firearm training where you feel comfortable carrying. 

And this is not meant to be some kind of trash talk. It's perfectly fine for me to just feel comfortable with guns with openend and locked slides on the range. But I would highly recommend that everyone start and follow a training path that leads to being comfortable with carrying loaded guns. 

Picture above: What we alle don’t want to see: a bullet has went through the entire thigh and was stopped by the head of the fibular bone. The force was still strong enough to sever the head from the shaft.

Need more inspiration? Would you like to order your personal “Appendix Carry” holster now? Of course you want. Click here to visit our friends at Black Trident: Official Black Trident website
 

Cover photo: GBRS Group