Appendix Carry And What You Need To Know

Is Appendix Carry New?

Carrying appendix is not something new. Many people have been doing it for hundreds of years. If you go back to the wild west you will see that many marksman shooters would carry appendix. A lot of people have even seen pictures or movies of pirates running flintlock pistols across the front of their bodies. My point is that it has been going on for hundreds of years, basically since the invention of the pistol. It's nothing new. 

Should I Carry In Appendix Position?

One of the main reasons people carry appendix is concealment. This is one of the best ways to achieve full concealment of a handgun, even a full-size gun. There are many reasons why carrying a handgun in front of your body is easier to conceal. One of them is that the waistline is at its flattest point. The other reason is being able to get to the firearm in a quick manner. 

Yet another reason is the ability of a shirt or blouse to hang loosely over this area. This creates a hollow area between the garment and body for a nice place to hide your gun. 

Now, I get it, some people don't fall into any of the above-mentioned points. We are all different in size and body structure. A person with weight issues may not be able to take advantage of appendix carry. Although this holds true there are people who lean more on the heavy side that carry a gun appendix comfortable all day. This can be due to the wardrobe, which we will get too in a minute. 

Another reason AIWB carry is sought after is the ability to making your gun easily accessed from almost any standing or sitting position. Many people choose to carry this way because it's a whole lot easier and quicker to get your hands down towards the front midsection rather than your strong side and draw from appendix if you ever get into a scuffle that demands the use of force.  

You May Have To Get Used To It

For many people carrying IWB is not easy. it takes some getting used to. Carrying a handgun in front of your body doesn't help in the comfort arena. This is going to take some time getting acquired to, for most people. Some people can quit smoking from one day to the next. For others, it may take more effort. Same here, you may need to ease your self into it. The hardest part of this is sitting down. Many people just can't seem to sit down with a gun in the appendix position. 

Sitting Down While Carrying Appendix Inside The Waistband (AIWB)

This is the Houdini of all magic tricks in the concealed carry world. Many people have sought after it with no avail. People have resorted to unnecessary and dangerous methods of carrying to try and achieve the full capability of appendix carry with no comfort issues whatsoever. Well, let me be brutally honest here, there is no magical holster that will allow you to achieve full bliss and nirvana while sitting down and carrying AIWB. NONE! 

People will try to sway you into thinking otherwise or give you some manifesto as to why their holster is like wearing nothing at all when sitting down and carrying appendix. It doesn't exist. The bottom line is that you just have to get used to it. Now, are their options when it comes to guns and holsters that can help with comfort and ease of use while carrying?...YES, and we will get to that in a minute as well. 

How Dangerous Is Appendix Carry?

A gun is an inanimate object, can we all agree? I think so. A gun will not go off unless someone pulls the trigger. Now, with that being said, we have had some issues with a gun going off when dropped or it being struck in a certain area. These are very uncommon but I felt I had to mention it because there have been cases in the past. This is usually due to bad designs that are brought up to the public immediately whether it's through the manufacturer or the media. 

This is why I urge people to buy a good gun with a good track record when looking to carry. Again, guns don't go "BANG" unless done so deliberately.

So is carrying appendix safe? I think we should answer that by asking "is carrying a gun safe" The question is not where you wear your gun but more along the lines of "are you an individual that practices safety when carrying?" Many negligent discharges are just that, negligent. Keeping your trigger finger off the trigger until you come up to your target and are ready to shoot is of the utmost importance when it comes to holstering and drawing your weapon. 

It's obvious though, if you do happen to have an accidental discharge while carrying appendix, the results may be more severe. This is due to the targeted area while carrying in appendix carry positions. 

Other than a gun going off while pointing generally towards the groin area, there is also the femoral arteries that are present within the general area as well. The femoral artery is a large artery found in the thigh. It is the main supply of blood to the thigh and leg. 

What's The Best Way To Carry Appendix Inside The Waistband?

Again, trigger finger discipline while drawing and reholstering is what will allow you to carry appendix happily for a long time. Along with other careful methods like making sure you don't have any foreign objects in your appendix carry holster when you reholster or draw your gun. These are safety measures that should be taken no matter where you carry your gun.

First of all, you need a good holster. Something that is comfy enough for you to carry appendix for long periods of time if needed. Bravo offers a 30-day money back guarantee. This allows you to try it out for a month to see if it works for you. 

This is essential when buying a holster because you really need to try it out before you commit to it. Everyone is different. Not all holsters work for everyone. 

You also need an AIWB holster that was designed around appendix carry. The Torsion IWB Gun Holster allows the gun to sit closer to the body due to its patented Torsion Technology. The patented technology also allows the holster to be more comfortable because of its natural design which allows the backside of the holster to be smoother and less bulky. 

It also covers the trigger guard area of your firearm very well. This keeps foreign objects from entering the trigger area making your carry experience safe.

Though it was designed for appendix carry, it can be used anywhere around your belt line. I run mine around the 4 - 5 o' clock position as well with no issues at all. It's made to be run anywhere around your waistline. 

Dressing Around Appendix Carry

This is one of the biggest difference makers in carrying AIWB. You have to dress around it. "What does that mean?" you may ask. It's fairly easy, you have to be real with yourself. 

The last thing you need is to lie about your pant or shirt size. If you are really a 36-inch pant size but run 34's, you are gonna have a hard time trying to stuff a gun and holster in your pants. Same thing with shirt size. If you are really an XL but refuse to wear it because you were a Large 15 years ago in high school, you may have printing issues. Cover garments like t-shirts and polos are game changers. As long as you choose the right size. 

These 2 reasons and choosing the wrong gun for appendix carry are why many people choose to only take their CCW license out with them when they go to Walmart and leave the gun and holster at home. 

There are many pros and cons with appendix carry. It's not for everyone. It could be for you though. The only way to find out is to try it firsthand. Remember that gun safety is of utmost importance here especially when it comes to appendix inside the waistband carry. 

Remember, know your state and local laws, do your due diligence and find out what it is you can and can't do when it comes to carrying your firearm. 

We hope this article was helpful 

Thanks for your time

Rene Aguirre is the founder and owner of Bravo Concealment. Rene has been carrying concealed on a daily basis for over 8 years and has been a CHL (concealed handgun license) holder for more than 20 years. Finding a high interest in firearms for many years, Rene started Bravo because of the “lack of” a good concealed carry holster on the market.