What Do We Concealed Carry & How?

Concealed carry experience, legality, and training

The discussion opens with the hosts setting aside exaggerated carry options and focusing on what they actually use for concealed carry. Kai, Jason, and Kenzie each have over a decade of carry experience, with timelines ranging from about 10 to 13 years. They emphasize that concealed carry is becoming more common and stress the importance of combining proper training with appropriate equipment. Viewers are reminded to follow their state laws and avoid any illegal activity, regardless of personal opinions about those laws. The hosts also point to other Classic Firearms content on concealed carry and home defense as resources, and encourage questions in the comments for further guidance.

Kenzie's IWI Masada Slim setup and 4 o’clock carry

Kenzie explains that she currently carries at the 4 o’clock position after previously using appendix and sidecar holsters. She carries an IWI Masada Slim chambered in 9mm with a Holosun EPS enclosed red dot optic. The pistol is mostly stock except for a colorful Cerakote job. Her inside-the-waistband holster uses two clips and is worn tucked in on her side. She notes that the gun is slim, comfortable, and allows her to reach the trigger and establish a solid grip, with a 13+1 capacity. The enclosed red dot was important to her because it keeps out sweat, rain, mud, dust, and other debris that can accumulate during hiking, backpacking, and long drives.

Spare magazines and modern micro-compact capacity

The conversation shifts to spare magazines and how carry gun capacity has evolved. Kenzie carries a spare magazine inside the waistband, tucked in, and stresses that having a spare is important. Kai mentions that he often drops a spare magazine in his pocket next to his wallet so it blends in. They contrast older single-stack options like the Glock 43 with six rounds to current micro-compacts that offer capacities around 12, 15, or even 17 rounds. Despite higher on-board capacity, they still advocate carrying extra ammunition, using the mindset that it is better to have it and not need it than the reverse. They also mention the common saying that two is one and one is none, encouraging gun owners to adopt that redundancy mindset.

Jason’s Glock 17 appendix rig with optic and light

Jason describes his primary setup as appendix carry when his clothing allows, especially in casual or everyday attire. He uses a T.Rex Arms sidecar-style holster and carries a full-size Glock 17. The pistol is equipped with an Aimpoint Acro enclosed red dot, a SureFire X300 weapon light, and a simple trigger job using a polished minus connector. He values the enclosed optic for durability, debris resistance, and the ability to rack the slide off hard surfaces. The gun has co-witness sights and a Magpul extended magwell, which he calls an inexpensive but useful upgrade. He typically runs a flush-fit magazine in the gun with a plus-two base pad, giving him 17+1 in the pistol and 19 rounds in the spare. To improve comfort and concealment, he uses wedges from Tier 1 Concealed and relies on the holster’s claw and adjustable cant to reduce printing and keep the large pistol from digging into his body.

Alternative 4 o’clock carry with Springfield XDS 9mm

Jason also keeps a secondary setup for situations that call for more form-fitting clothing, such as suits or dressier outfits. In those cases, he carries an older Springfield XDS in 9mm, specifically the version without the “Grip Zone” markings. He notes that despite mixed opinions on some Springfield models, this particular pistol has been a reliable and accurate shooter for him. The slim profile and a pinky extension on the magazine give him a comfortable grip and an 8+1 capacity. He carries this pistol at the 4 o’clock position on a regular belt, finding that it conceals well and looks appropriate with more formal clothing. Kai adds that he carried a Springfield XDS 9mm for nearly a decade without issues and found it to be a good, slim option for concealed carry.

Hellcat Pro Comp appendix carry and stippling

Kai explains that he carried at the 4–5 o’clock position for many years but has switched to appendix carry over the last two and a half to three years. He currently carries a Springfield Hellcat Pro Comp, having recently moved from the standard Hellcat Pro to the compensated model. His pistol is heavily hand-stippled, which he did himself to create a more aggressive texture. He emphasizes that stippling is not just cosmetic; it helps maintain control if hands are slick from blood, sweat, oil, or rain, and can make it easier to rack the slide. He dislikes smooth, painted grips that become slippery. His Hellcat Pro setup includes a Shield red dot optic and a Streamlight TLR-7 Sub weapon light, carried in an Alpha Omega inside-the-waistband holster for appendix use. He notes that he trains extensively from this position, including drawing with either hand.

Dry fire, draw positions, and off-hand training

The hosts stress that whatever carry position is chosen, consistent training is essential. They highlight dry fire practice as the foundation, estimating that most skill development comes from dry work rather than live fire. They caution that switching between appendix and 4 o’clock without training both can cause problems under stress, as muscle memory may drive the hand to the wrong location. Kai shares a story about a former coworker who did private security and was ambushed by a gang member. The man was left-handed and took a round in his arm, which immediately became unusable. Because he had not trained off-hand draws, he struggled to access his firearm while taking additional hits to his leg. He eventually managed to draw and return fire, but the attacker had already fled, underscoring the need to practice drawing and shooting with the non-dominant hand.

Weapon lights and low-light identification

Building on the ambush story, the hosts discuss the role of weapon-mounted lights in concealed carry. One of them notes that the incident is a strong argument for carrying a light, since a properly placed light can be activated from either side of the pistol, even if one hand is injured. They point out that many violent encounters occur at night or in low light, making target identification critical. The principle is that a person cannot safely shoot what they cannot clearly see. Lights such as the SureFire X300 on the Glock 17 and the Streamlight TLR-7 Sub on the Hellcat Pro Comp are cited as examples of compact options that integrate well with concealed carry pistols. The hosts emphasize using a light to positively identify a potential threat before ever considering the use of the firearm.