By Terry Houin
The Scene:
You’re at home doing the daily bullshit we all have to do, but you know you’re leaving the house to head to the gym or take care of some honey-do’s in town you’ve been putting off. Maybe you’ll head to the car wash to finally clean that neglected truck of yours then pick up the kids somewhere. Maybe you’ll end up heading to a hunting lease or to the hills, or you’ll get called by a buddy for lunch. What are you taking with you for that just-in-case scenario, and how are you choosing to carry it?
This is a timely question as we are in the middle of spring changing to summer here in the Midwest, which translates to the time I hang up my hoodie or flannel and roll a t-shirt for short-sleeve weather. So, I’ll touch on both scenarios for day-to-day running around strapped up. I will state up front my daily concerns around my small town are less assault/criminal and more about protection and being ready to eliminate unwanted varmints.
Practical Practice
First things first; it doesn’t matter what you carry if you don’t train with it. It doesn’t take a lot to be proficient and consistent with your EDC. Safely conduct some holstered draws to get used to manipulating both your clothing and the gun. I’d even suggest drawing from a seated position and from the ground. If you’re not comfortable with getting to your gun when needed, it might make the situation worse.
In the cooler months, concealment is easy. I’d say your average adult out running errands or what not will be wearing some type of jacket, sweatshirt, or flannel. During this time of year I almost exclusively carry on the hip with an outside-the-waistband holster, as it’s the most comfortable and familiar to me.
Most of my range belt setups for classes mimic the hip or 3 o’clock carry position, so my muscle memory is preloaded for a draw from the hip. I know my index points to engage the grip, draw cycle, etc. The only difference in my draw process is clearing the jacket or sweatshirt. I’ll run through a handful of reps in my basement while listening to some Reggae to relax.
EDC Pistols of Choice
My pistol of choice for this time of year, at least recently, is the Walther PDP F-series. I’d put this gun in the compact category. It’s a double-stack 9mm with a 3.5-inch barrel, so it fits nicely on my hip. But I can also slide it over to the appendix position if I need to. This setup will cover all my daily needs for running around town as well as monitoring the trash pandas at the farm while I’m out running the bush hog or getting tree stands setup.
My second choice for this time of year is a slightly lighter and thinner setup that I picked up a few years ago. My Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Compact made its way through the shop at Agency Arms and is a great option for daily carry. Its slightly slimmer profile can still be easily carried on the hip, and it’s not too noticeable under a t-shirt, not that I’m a “his gun is printing” guy that cares about someone noticing my gun around my town—hell most people around here probably think I’m always armed. It’s also a little more comfortable to carry in the appendix position with my dad bod.
Now for the warmer weather t-shirt and board shorts or my typical attire, my Kuiu Kutana pants and flip flops, is when I slide the gat around to the front belly, aka appendix carry. My pistol choice is primarily the OG Sig 365, but that might switch it up to the Springfield Hellcat Pro with a slightly larger grip, but should carry the same. I like small guns for front side carry, as they are more comfortable when sitting or driving, and that means I’ll carry them more often. I have a few different holsters for inside-the-waistband carry. Current favorites are the Safariland Incog-X, G-code, and Blackpoint Tactical.
Final EDC Tips
Select the pistol you’re confident in using. Then train with your selection in the different carry positions to find what’s most comfortable for your daily needs, and select a holster that works best for that position. If you have a good gun shop like mine, you can try a variety of holsters in the shop to see what fits best.
