Welcome to the Alien Gear Holsters Concealed Carry Blog! Although we specialize in concealed carry holsters, we cover many other CCW topics here. Our gun writers discuss every facet of concealed carry best practices other gun tips! Whether you’re new or experienced carrier, you’ll be sure to find our gun blog helpful and informative. Check out any of our articles and remember to like, share, and comment!
August 23, 2019 11:27:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor Why train to shoot center of mass? Is it really a viable tactic? If it has a failure rate, why do people continue to teach and learn to do so? Read on... |
August 21, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor Why does it seem so difficult to find pistol holsters for laser sights? We can't speak for everyone else, but here's why we offer the models we do offer. |
August 19, 2019 8:00:00 AM PDT
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By Michael Cambron | Contributing Editor Let’s start with some basic information about gun sights. More than likely, that new pistol you just purchased comes right off the showroom floor with a standard set of front and rear fixed sights. |
August 16, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor Most firearms are said to be drop-safe...but reports of drop fires keep emerging. Just how drop safe ARE they? Read on... |
August 14, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor If you have to shoot in defense of yourself, it is always a good idea to be shooting from cover if at all possible. Obviously, it won't necessarily be in the extremely rare event that you'll ever have to use your gun in defense of your own life or that of others. |
August 12, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Jake Smith | Contributing Editor The idea behind the first Colt handguns was inspired more by sea spray and carved pine than by metal and gunpowder. Sixteen-year-old Samuel Colt, aboard the swaying deck of Corvo en route to Calcutta, was inspired by the wooden mechanics of the ship and translated that idea, a revolving cylinder repeater for firearms, into whittled pine. |
August 9, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By James England | Contributing Editor Not everyone buys brand new ccw firearms off the rack. Used firearms – like the Glock 26 – can be picked up for hundreds of dollars less than they retailed. While gun manufacturers are always making the “latest and greatest” version of the same old gun they've made since the 80s, often times the older handgun models incorporated better metal alloys or polymer composites... |
August 7, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor Negligent firearm discharges happen more often than they should. And very few times do they end without damage to property or person. That's why it's important to understand what a negligent weapons discharge is, what it entails, and how you can always avoid one... |
August 5, 2019 2:52:56 PM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor Just how good are Beretta's striker guns? Find out in our Beretta APX Centurion review... |
August 2, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor A best practice for concealed carry practice is to incorporate some reloading drills into your practice routine. On the one hand, it is true that most defensive shootings are concluded very quickly with only a few shots fired, but it is also true that some are not. Therefore, it behooves you to train for both contingencies. |
July 29, 2019 1:15:34 PM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor Wondering what the Kriss Sphinx SDP Compact is like? Find out in our Sphinx SDP Compact review... |
July 26, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By James England | Contributing Editor Better than trying to write an all encompassing piece detailing out the different laws in fifty states alongside court specific statutes – we're running down a list of questions you should ask yourself prior to entering your workplace with a concealed firearm. This is not only for your own safety but also for legal purposes. As was the case recently in Tampa, FL, a bank manager for Wells Fargo was fired for legally carrying a concealed firearm into her workplace. The decision is expected to have its day in Florida courts but the issue still remains: can you conceal carry at work? ... |
July 24, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor Alien Gear Holsters has just released the Grip Tuck Universal Holster...but what does it do? |
July 22, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor What would a person get a chest holster for? Read on... |
July 19, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Jake Smith | Contributing Editor Firearms users who prefer a low recoil defensive carry gun may be subject to age restraints, arthritis, bodily injury or low experience. Some just don’t like recoil. No one should feel ashamed of their personal preferences on recoil and though they may feel inhibited by them, there are definitely options to consider and a community that has their back along the way... |
July 17, 2019 7:20:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor Pondering a 10mm pistol? Springfield makes a few, but their entry-level model, the Springfield XDM 4.5, has a lot going for it. Find out more in our Springfield XDM 10mm review... |
July 15, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor With the advent of some pretty wild ammunition designs, some people wonder how effective they might be. RIP Rounds are one particular example. Are they up to the hype? Read on... |
July 12, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor You've decided you want an upscale 1911 but not quite custom shop; thus, you're trying to decide between a Sig 1911 vs Kimber 1911. Both are known to be great pistols, but which exactly is going to be better? |
July 10, 2019 8:01:00 AM PDT
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By James England | Contributing Editor In this episode, we learn about the most common styles of ammunition used in concealed carry handguns as well as how they compare to each other. This is by no means an exhaustive comparison of ammunition types and we save discussing the role of specialty defensive ammunition for another episode. |
July 8, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor Handgun rounds in the .38 caliber family have always been the most popular, but since some (.38 Special, .380) are a bit weak the most popular are .357 Magnum vs 9mm. Each of these rounds has a long history and pedigree of efficacy in the realm of self-defense, so that both are good carry rounds is not in dispute. |
July 5, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By James England | Contributing Editor You can call it whatever you wish but some of us are carrying more than just a concealed pistol in our waistline. And for people with a bit extra around the waist, sometimes an inside the waistband concealed carry holster can be a bit uncomfortable.In this article, we'll discuss some concealed carry techniques and positioning that are helpful for us huskier gentlemen... |
July 3, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor Springfield makes many firearms that are great for concealed carry. Here, we focus on the two that most concealed carriers end up weighing together: the XD(M) and XD-S. Two of Springfield's most popular compact firearms... How do they stack up against each other? |
July 1, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By James England | Contributing Editor First thing's first – just because you're in a bar doesn't mean you can't legally protect yourself. However, depending on which state you're in, there are very specific prohibitions against you carrying your pistol on your person. Before you take a sip of that frosty brew or down a cowboy's shot of whiskey, here's a few things to keep in mind ... |
June 28, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By James England | Contributing Editor Not all of us like to have long, droopy clothing that hangs loose. Some people like to dress up, wear a nice button-up shirt, and maybe some good slacks. For those of you that do, you may have been traditionally stuck either carrying outside the waistband or wrapping your dress shirt over and around an inside the waistband concealed carry holster that clips directly onto your gun belt. |
June 26, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor The thing about whether you can fire a gun in the woods is that it depends on just who controls said parcel of forest and where it's located. |
June 24, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor Wanting to get on the .40 S&W bandwagon? Any one of these 7 .40 cal pistol models is a great starting point. |
June 21, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor If you've decided you want to get a CZ for a CCW but want it as tactical as it is practical, the two choices that will quickly emerge are the CZ P07 vs P01. You'll have a hard time choosing between the two, because a lot of the on-paper aspects are like incredibly close...though some aren't. |
June 19, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor A 1911 9mm? Actually, it's a fantastic idea. The 9mm round gets more out of the platform than .45 ACP does, and makes it much more in-line with modern sensibilities. |
June 17, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor Looking for a carry pistol with fewer onboard ounces? Start with these 7 lightweight concealed carry pistols... |
June 14, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor Is an H&K VP9 vs Glock 19 comparison a foregone conclusion? Is the VP9 really that much better? Read on to find out... |
June 12, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor If you've decided you want to get a CZ for a CCW but want it as tactical as it is practical, the two choices that will quickly emerge are the CZ P07 vs P01. You'll have a hard time choosing between the two, because a lot of the on-paper aspects are like incredibly close...though some aren't. |
June 10, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor If you're after a subcompact striker gun, two of the most popular candidates on your list will likely be the M&P Shield vs Ruger LC9s. In fact, those happen to be two of the most popular holster models we sell here at Alien Gear and with good reason. |
June 7, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor Looking for Father's Day gifts for the dad that conceals and carries? Here are 6 great gift ideas for your father or husband for this father's day... |
June 5, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor For the person looking for a quality concealed carry gun on a budget, two that get brought up a lot are the S&W Shield and the Taurus PT111 Millennium G2. |
June 3, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor There's no doubt that Sig Sauer makes some of the finest pistols available, but Sig Sauer concealed carry is not necessarily an easy proposition with some of their larger offerings. Let's face it - not everyone wants to conceal a service pistol everyday. |
May 31, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor Pondering getting a CZ P07 vs Glock 19? Torn between them? Let's take a look at these two compact carry pistols... |
May 29, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor Looking for 1911 pistols that are a bit off the beaten path? A little different? Check out these 6 brands that you may not have heard of... |
May 27, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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So, what is that CLP stuff that so many people talk about? It's an all-purpose maintenance product for firearms. Learn more... |
May 24, 2019 2:02:00 PM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor Both of these guns have track records that speak for themselves. Both are iconic. Who will come out on top in this matchup? |
May 22, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor For those who prefer to pack a sixgun (or five-gun...because they don't always hold six) the best concealed carry revolver is partially subjective. You'll find you like one more than the others. That said, what would the best concealed carry revolver look like? |
May 17, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor Smith and Wesson make some of the best CCW pistols around, and what a number of people come down to is choosing a Smith and Wesson Shield vs M&P Compact. Both guns have their merits, and it would be hard for a person to go wrong with either one. |
May 15, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor Why does it seem so difficult to find pistol holsters for laser sights? We can't speak for everyone else, but here's why we offer the models we do offer. |
May 13, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Trevor Dobrygoski | Contributing Author Imagine removing your handgun from the holster, pointing, aiming and pulling the trigger can seem like it happens in slow motion when you’re in a stressful situation. Your mind is trying to comprehend everything going on, your heart is pumping and you’re trying to do anything you can to stay alive ... |
May 10, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor If you were leaning toward a CZ to CCW, two of the strongest contenders are going to come down to the CZ 75 Compact vs PCR. CZ makes some of the best pistols to be had, though their product lineup is a bit heavier on the full-size guns than on concealed carry pistols. |
May 8, 2019 7:52:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor Want to get a Beretta 9mm and find out what they're all about? Here are 6 Berettas to get you started... |
May 6, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor When it comes to autoloading big-bore, 10mm and .45 ACP are the two mainstream choices. While there are others, you'll most likely end up choosing between 10mm vs the .45. |
May 3, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor Dry fire training systems are a great way to hone shooting skills at home for relatively cheap. What can one expect to find? Read our brief guide! |
April 29, 2019 7:00:39 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor Terminal ballistics are fun, but what does the average person really need to know? Find out in this brief guide! |
April 25, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor Dry fire training systems are a great way to hone shooting skills at home for relatively cheap. What can one expect to find? Read our brief guide! |
April 24, 2019 7:00:00 AM PDT
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By Sam Hoober | Contributing Editor Glock generations have you confused? Alien Gear Holsters is here to guide you all the way from the first to the latest... |
