Strong Side Carry: Just for Fudds?

I admit, I have not carried a gun on strong side while out in public in, literally, years.  I find AIWB carry superior for a variety of reasons.  And, I would say that a majority of squared-away guys now carry AIWB, the concealment and speed benefits begin obvious.  So, carrying on the side of your hip is just for old guys who did not get the memo that the 1970s are over, right? 

Not quite.  There was a long history of gunfighting and pistolcraft before Glocks and PDPs were stuffed into Dark Star Gear kydex, and most was done from strong side.  It still works the same.

AIWB does have a number of benefits, and it works well with the way contemporary people typically dress.  With modern innovations like the Phlster Enigma, carrying guns hidden under tucked-in shirts is also incredibly efficient at concealing from common observation.  Strong side is harder to conceal for most, so why use it?

The first reason that comes to mind when seeing the advantages of strong side is if concealing under a suit jacket.  This is the standard for many types of federal agents, Secret Service agents, or detectives and investigators.  The downside in a civilian capacity is, of course, that the gun is exposed if you take the jacket off.  For this reason, most people in a civilian context who have to attend formal functions while dressed in a suit are probably better off concealing under the tucked shirt using the Enigma or a belly band. 

However, with the rise in formalized security teams at church, I think wearing the handgun strong side, under the open jacket, makes good sense.  This is an obvious use case for strong side carry.  If you need to conduct any kind of active security while wearing formal clothing, and the possibility of printing is not of major concern, strong side carry becomes the obvious choice. 

A second reason for utilizing strong side is for rigorous outdoor activity.  I will admit that I have walked miles through rough terrain with my AIWB holster on without much issue.  However, there are certain activities where opting for strong side, even specifically outside-the-waistband strong side, makes sense.  Hiking or hunting are certainly use cases for this. 

Finally, during cold weather when wearing an un-zipped jacket lends well to strong side carry.  If the gun is under just the jacket, it may be faster in deployment than an AIWB carried gun under multiple layers of clothing would be.  Again, though, if the jacket comes off the gun is exposed, thus an ever-present limitation of strong side, but no concealment solution is perfect. 

Therefore, strong side carry is alive and well, and a better option for some situations.

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2 thoughts on “Strong Side Carry: Just for Fudds?

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  1. I have experimented with every conceivable method of concealed carry. I find the most comfortable to be a revolver in the pocket. However, recently I’ve been trying to carry a micro compact 9. In a holster on my belt. The only comfortable position I can find is strong side 4 o’clock. I’ve tried AIWB a number of times, but every time I sit down in my car it becomes extremely uncomfortable. I would love to learn more about how others overcome this. Are people just removing their firearm from their belt while they drive? If you are alone in a car this might make sense, but what if you go to the movies, or sit down at a friend’s couch? I would love to be able to carry at 12, or 1 o’clock, but I have yet to figure out how to make it comfortable.

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