Drawing From Concealment Part I – Clearing Clothing

This article provides a guide on drawing from concealment, including techniques and tips to help improve your skills. The focus of this particular article is on clearing clothing, but the series covers other aspects as well. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced concealed carrier, you can benefit from these resources to enhance your technique and build a strong foundation.
 

Drawing From Concealment

The Basics

Regardless of the type of holster or the body area, the fundamental steps for drawing a gun remain the same. But, when drawing from concealment, there is an additional step to consider. You need to clear any clothing obstructing your gun to ensure you can securely grip it and draw it. This may require lifting a shirt, sweeping away a jacket or cover shirt, or lifting the hem of a dress or skirt.

Technique For Clearing Clothing

When drawing a gun from concealment, it’s important to clear any clothing that may obstruct your grip. Typically, this is done with your non-dominant hand, which is responsible for keeping clothing out of the way while your dominant hand draws the gun. The non-dominant hand should remain in a safe position to join the shooting hand on the gun’s grip.
 
However, there may be situations where you need to use your dominant hand to clear the clothing, such as when wearing a vest or jacket. In these cases, it’s crucial to sweep the garment well out of the way to allow your dominant hand to access the gun without any obstruction.
 
Regardless of which hand you use to clear the clothing, it’s important to keep both hands and arms away from the front of the gun’s muzzle. The non-dominant hand should be placed out of the way on the chest or high on the belly and ready to join the dominant hand for a solid two-handed grip. These steps ensure a safe and effective draw from concealment.
 

An example of a dominant hand clear:

If you are wearing an OWB holster on your hip and you have a cardigan, vest or jacket on, it is not advisable to cross your body to clear the clothing as it can put your non-dominant hand in danger. Instead, use your dominant hand to sweep the clothing back, creating enough space for your dominant hand to accurately grip the gun. Meanwhile, your non-dominant hand should be placed on your chest to avoid obstructing the draw.

An example of non-dominant hand clearing:

To access a gun holstered in the waistband, belly band/wrap, or bra holster, the non-dominant hand lifts and securely holds the shirt or sweater up and out of the way. This allows you to draw your gun from the holster with your dominant hand and positions your non-dominant hand to join for a two-handed firing grip.

Your ability to draw your gun quickly and safely, without causing harm to yourself or others, will rely on the training and practice you have received. During high-pressure situations where adrenaline is running high, it is important to remain calm and focused on proper technique. It is critical that the muzzle of your gun does not point at your clearing hand or any part of your body as you draw. This is essential for safety and should be a fundamental component of your training.

 

Practice Tip- Clearing Clothing

Safety First

Before practicing with a holstered gun, ensure that the gun is unloaded by performing a thorough check, including checking the chamber by looking through the top of the slide. Verify that there is no ammunition in the barrel, magazine, or the room.


Make a habit of practicing sweeping your clothing as you get dressed each day. It’s essential to practice clearing motions for all of your clothing styles and holsters regularly.

Stand in front of a mirror to perform this practice.

Begin by determining which hand will be used to clear the clothing. Without drawing the gun, observe yourself clearing the clothing. Which hand feels most comfortable for the outfit and holster combination you will be using today?

Practice the sweeping and clearing motion of your clothing, ensuring that your clearing hand is moved to a safe location away from the drawing path of the gun. Verify that this is done correctly by watching yourself in a mirror.

If you are sweeping a long shirt or vest with your dominant hand for strong-side, on-the-waist, or in-the-waist carry, observe how the clothing moves. Does it quickly fall back or stay in place, allowing enough time to grip your holstered gun?

You may need to use your dominant arm elbow to prevent the clothing from falling back over the grip. Practice moving your dominant hand over the gun grip after moving the clothing. This is where you will need to practice the amount of force required to throw the garment far enough away to give you enough time to get back to your grip without any clothing in the way.

 

Practice Tip – Gripping Your Gun

If your holster is equipped with a retention system like a snap or strap, you must learn to release it as part of your draw. The act of releasing the retention must be a smooth and quick motion as your hand moves to grip the firearm. It is crucial to practice this motion to avoid fumbling with the retention system when you are in a high-stress situation where your life may be at risk.

Don’t Be Gentle

Apply force to the beavertail of the grip with your hand while ensuring that your trigger finger remains outside of the holster. This action should be done assertively and with strength. The aim of this step is to rapidly obtain a firm firing grip on the gun with your hand positioned as high as possible on the grip. It is crucial to draw with the grip that you will fire with, so ensure that it is solid.

Non-Dominant Hand

Every day, as you prepare yourself, practice the process of clearing and gripping your gun. Depending on the holster’s position, determine where to place your non-dominant hand- it could be either on your chest or stomach. The essential aspect is that it is out of the way of the muzzle at all times and is in a favorable position to join your dominant hand as you extend your firearm into firing position. Continue to perform this exercise repeatedly to develop muscle memory.