Thoughts on appendix carry for the average CWP holder?

[Standby]

Love to hear all your thoughts on appendix carry for the average CWP holder. The subject comes up a lot in training with very passionate feelings on all sides.

[TAZ]

What do you mean average CWP?

It's a mode of carry that manages to parallel the 9 vs 45 caliber debate. Like EVERYTHING it has its pros and cons. Understand them and decide for yourself whether it's appropriate.

[Standby]

[QUOTE=TAZ;2457773]What do you mean average CWP? QUOTE]

Your "Like EVERYTHING it has its pros and cons. Understand them and decide for yourself whether it's appropriate" I agree with, except (but with due respect) this logic would would render anyone asking any question on a forum redundant...

CWP ....The average Concealed Weapon Permit carrier. You know the people that only take the absolute minimum required training (if any) to get the CWP in their respective State and then carry a pistol. I would like to hear opinions on these people carrying appendix...

I know that people are biased, including me but hoped to get some enlightened and not aggressive responses from the forum members that might sway a shooter one way or another.

[WillBrink]

[QUOTE=Standby;2457807]

What do you mean average CWP? QUOTE]

Your "Like EVERYTHING it has its pros and cons. Understand them and decide for yourself whether it's appropriate" I agree with, except (but with due respect) this logic would would render anyone asking any question on a forum redundant...

CWP ....The average Concealed Weapon Permit carrier. You know the people that only take the absolute minimum required training (if any) to get the CWP in their respective State and then carry a pistol. I would like to hear opinions on these people carrying appendix...

I know that people are biased, including me but hoped to get some enlightened and not aggressive responses from the forum members that might sway a shooter one way or another.

Then they are a poor choice to CCW a gun in any configuration in my view. There's a minimal amount of training people should have if they plan to carry a gun.

[MegademiC]

[QUOTE=WillBrink;2457849]

Then they are a poor choice to CCW a gun in any configuration in my view. There's a minimal amount of training people should have if they plan to carry a gun.

This. Goes along with "know and understand" merits of Aiwb and other.

I aiwb carry. I don't even suggest it to others unless I know them... really know them truly think they would not have an issue.

On the other hand, my bro is very safe with guns, but is airheady, and it jeebs him out to think about aiwb. So he doesnt.

[kerplode]

Given what I see at the range, I think the "average CWP holder" probably isn't safe with a run-of-the-mill OWB holster, never mind AIWB.

[TAZ]

[QUOTE=Standby;2457807]

What do you mean average CWP? QUOTE]

Your "Like EVERYTHING it has its pros and cons. Understand them and decide for yourself whether it's appropriate" I agree with, except (but with due respect) this logic would would render anyone asking any question on a forum redundant...

CWP ....The average Concealed Weapon Permit carrier. You know the people that only take the absolute minimum required training (if any) to get the CWP in their respective State and then carry a pistol. I would like to hear opinions on these people carrying appendix...

I know that people are biased, including me but hoped to get some enlightened and not aggressive responses from the forum members that might sway a shooter one way or another.

Apologies for coming across as aggressive. Was definitely not my intent. Average has different meaning for folks so I wanted some more background.

If by average you mean the kind of guy who buys a gun, takes the mandatory class then goes to the range only after some crazy news report of a tragedy; then AIWB is most likely going to be a problem. A serious life threatening problem. If you have an ND with a gun pointed towards your junk the BEST thing you can hope for is damage to your junk. An inch either way and your ass is toast. So I would not recommend AIWB for that kind of shooter.

If you're more experienced, not necessarily lots of classes kind of experience, but disciplined in safe gun handling. Train relatively regularly and are willing to put in the work to insure you have a safe draw stroke and holstering technique UNDER STRESS (timer..) then AIWB may be for you.

I like it cause for me, it conceals very well. I have a broader range of motion aka I can bend/stretch and not print. It offers much better access to the gun in more positions. Seated, laying down.. I can access without having to really expose my elbow. Retention is also easier as you're elbow isnt sticking out there like a pretty lever. Going fetal also protects the gun while giving you access to it.

Negatives are the whole punch a hole in your femoral or deflate a testicle. If you're in a job where you have to go hands on with folks routinely it places the gun between you and your wrestling opponent. Not aware of anyone making a true retention holster for this mode. It's also very body shape dependent. You can go from comfy like a pig in shit to printing or poking with some weight gain/loss or simply buying a differently cut pants.

[Standby]

[QUOTE=TAZ;2458895]

Apologies for coming across as aggressive. Was definitely not my intent. Average has different meaning for folks so I wanted some more background.

If by average you mean the kind of guy who buys a gun, takes the mandatory class then goes to the range only after some crazy news report of a tragedy; then AIWB is most likely going to be a problem. A serious life threatening problem. If you have an ND with a gun pointed towards your junk the BEST thing you can hope for is damage to your junk. An inch either way and your ass is toast. So I would not recommend AIWB for that kind of shooter.

If you're more experienced, not necessarily lots of classes kind of experience, but disciplined in safe gun handling. Train relatively regularly and are willing to put in the work to insure you have a safe draw stroke and holstering technique UNDER STRESS (timer..) then AIWB may be for you.

I like it cause for me, it conceals very well. I have a broader range of motion aka I can bend/stretch and not print. It offers much better access to the gun in more positions. Seated, laying down.. I can access without having to really expose my elbow. Retention is also easier as you're elbow isnt sticking out there like a pretty lever. Going fetal also protects the gun while giving you access to it.

Negatives are the whole punch a hole in your femoral or deflate a testicle. If you're in a job where you have to go hands on with folks routinely it places the gun between you and your wrestling opponent. Not aware of anyone making a true retention holster for this mode. It's also very body shape dependent. You can go from comfy like a pig in shit to printing or poking with some weight gain/loss or simply buying a differently cut pants.

Great response Sir! Thank you.

[Cazwell]

Interesting.

I grew up hunting. It was common to carry a pistol in addition to a rifle depending on game and area. Hiking and camping in HS and college I almost always had a GP 100 with me.

But shooting deer and basic pistol practice as a kid with my uncles was pretty much my gun experience. Muzzle and trigger awareness and basic gun safety is (or should be) drilled into the head of every 12 year old getting a hunting license. Putting down a white tail, Muley or Elk orients you to what a gun can do.

Went off to college and kept hunting, time permitting. Got married in 2003 and it was time to carry for self defense/ protect my new wife reasons.

So I wanted a semi auto and I sat down and had a look at carry options. AIWB made sense. I started martial arts at 8 years old. Karate, Kenpo, Boxing, Kick boxing, Judo, HS wrestling and so on. So, center-line carry made sense.

I'd clinched enough, thrown enough guys, dirty boxing etc that I knew most of my buddies who carried would never get to the weapon in time if I was in clinch range, especially OWB at 4-5 o'clock. I knew how hard it would be to draw from that position while sitting in a vehicle, pressed up against a wall, or on ones back, especially if mounted or with someone in your guard, when carrying 4-5.

If someone has made me, they can't go for my gun without me seeing it and with out entering my "hands on space" if carrying AIWB. Not so from behind with 4-5 carry.

All those things made sense to me as a reason for center-line (AIWB) carry.

Add to that that it's more concealable, and I can self assess if my shirt is caught on the gun, if I'm printing etc and it simply seemed like a no-brainer.

Despite, at that time, having no formal training, no classes etc, it did occur to me that the bbl was pointed at my junk or femoral artery. So, I made it my business to understand the safety mechanisms of the pistols I was considering buying.

Upon determining that they were safe, and redundant, and that the gun wasn't going to go off unless the trigger did it, I bought an appendix holster and a gun.

My finger didn't touch the trigger on draw until the gun was pointed in a safe (for me) direction, and I re-holstered slowly, deliberately and with an extra check to be sure I nothing was caught in the holster or trigger guard (clothes, zipper, draw strings etc) and felt totally safe.

I've only ever carried AIWB. I mean on rare occasion I carry my wife's PM9 in her crossbreed holster, but that's it. Roughly 14 years of AIWB carry, with a whole lot of that happening prior to any classes, prior to discovering sites like this and learning....

... just old fashioned gun safety rules and common sense. I guess anyone considering AIWB needs to ask themselves, do I understand basic gun safety rules, am I mindful and do I have some common sense?

[Mr. Goodtimes]

Love to hear all your thoughts on appendix carry for the average CWP holder. The subject comes up a lot in training with very passionate feelings on all sides.

I'll second what some others have stated... The average CWP holder probably shouldn't hold a DL, much less reproduce and own firearms; but that's the average person in general.

AIWB is not for the casual gun carrier. That being said, I've been carrying AIWB for about four years and feel it's the best way to carry concealed. It's allows the quickest and easiest access to my gun under all circumstances as well as the best concealment. No other concealment option allows me to carry in just a t shirt. It's also generally the most comfortable.


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