CategoriesSkills and Gunhandling Post By admin

Concealed Carry 101 with Mike Pannone

Concealed carry can be a hot-button topic. Whether it comes down to types of holsters, if you need a gun belt or not, or the perfect carry caliber, there’s a lot to argue about. In this video, Mike Pannone goes over his personal experience with concealed carry and gives you, the viewer, some tips for success.

Interested in concealed carry? Mike Pannone is here to tell you all about it. (Photo credit: Mike Pannone)

Noner’s Concealed Carry Background

Mike “Noner” Pannone started his concealed carry journey in the military, which is something of a surprise considering the vast majority of military members open carry. Here’s his background in his own words:

“I was carrying a…full-sized 1911, or I was carrying…basically an off-duty gun…a Glock 26. In hindsight, I should have just carried a Glock 19…because I think I can conceal it on my frame just about as well, but I can shoot it a lot better [than the Glock 26]. …it was relatively basic training-wise, it was just drawing from concealment, reloading from concealment, normal stuff that a basic course would do.

“Then we would integrate that concealment…into what we called our ‘black book standard’; we had…different courses of fire that we shot that were standardized and scored and graded against the historical data [we had collected]. …it was a secondary task unless you were within specialized elements within that unit that were in non-standard uniforms.

“But, it was a good block [of training]…but it wasn’t a primary task for your normal assaulter, so we didn’t go…in-depth on [concealed carry]. …in JOSC [Joint Operations Special Command]…there were a couple places we went where you couldn’t be seen carrying a gun, you couldn’t be caught carrying a gun, where we’re not supposed to be armed, but we were. …I learned to be tuned in to the different tells people were carrying.”

See what else Noner had to say about his early concealed carry experiences in the video below.

 

Tips for Concealed Carry Success

Concealed carry AIWB with Glock 43X
AIWB with a Glock 43X is a good way to conceal your handgun. (Photo credit: Kat Ainsworth Stevens)

There are a few things you should keep in mind when concealed carry is your end goal:

  • Have I trained enough to carry safely?
  • Have I considered the mental aspects of what it would take to defend myself against a lethal threat?
  • Is this a reliable gun?
  • Is this an accurate gun?
  • Does my holster protect the trigger guard and provide sufficient retention?
  • Do I have a good gun belt to use with my high-quality holster?
  • Do I have or want carry coverage from a company like US LawShield or USCCA?
  • Am I dressing and carrying myself as a gray man? In other words, don’t wear gun logo shirts or other clothing that makes it obvious you’re likely to be a gun owner. Blend in.

Also, remember not to inadvertently signal to others that you’re carrying a gun. That means you shouldn’t be constantly touching your gun to make sure it’s where you left it — a good holster and belt will keep it in place — and severe printing shouldn’t be occurring. It can take time to find the right holster and belt combination for your gun and body shape, so be patient. Concealed carry is a fantastic way to be prepared to defend yourself against a potentially deadly attack. Doing it right is what could save you in the end.

What’s your favorite concealed carry setup? Tell us about it in the comments below.