An important yet often overlooked aspect of being a responsibly armed citizen is the proper technique for drawing from concealed carry.

Sure, the first step is to carry your gun, but what happens when you need to actually draw?

Drawing can feel a little different when you’re carrying in the winter than it does in the summer because of the number of layers you may be wearing, but the technique is basically the same. Regardless of how many layers you’re wearing or where your concealed carry gun is located on your body, you’re going to need to practice your draw until you no longer think about it.

It’s that muscle memory that develops from repetition that will come into play should you need to draw, and the faster and smoother you are, the more successful you will be during an encounter. Remember, slow is smooth, and smooth is fast, so slow down when practicing.

The number of layers you’re wearing will increase the steps involved, but the basics are all the same whether it’s one layer, or two, or even three (hey, it gets cold here in New York in the winter!)

If you are practicing your draw from the comfy confines of your home, then remember all the basic dry fire safety measures and never have any ammo in the room with you when practicing. To properly draw from concealed carry there are six steps you’ll need to complete:

STEP 1: CLEAR YOUR COVER GARMENT(S)

Step 1 is always clearing the cover garment. (Photo: Jacki Billings/Guns.com)

There is no need to be delicate in this step, you need to be fast and smooth. You can clear your cover garment either using your strong side hand, or your non-dominant hand. Using your non-dominant hand will free up your strong side hand to grip your gun and draw, but if you’re only covering your handgun with something easy to move, like a cardigan or vest, you can simply swipe it out of the way with your dominant hand before proceeding to step 2.

If you’re using your non-dominant hand, you’ll swoop in, grab your clothing, pull it straight up and out of the way. You need to be quick and aggressive. And ladies, don’t worry about modesty. If you need to draw your gun, accidentally flashing your potential attacker may just work to your advantage. Grab your cover garment and get it out of the way.

STEP 2: ESTABLISH GRIP

In Step 2 you establish a good, firm grip. (Photo: Jacki Billings/Guns.com)

Again, you’ll need to be quick and aggressive. Purposefully drive your hand onto your gun's grip, high and tight on the backstrap, keeping your trigger finger out of the trigger guard and straight against the gun until you’re ready to shoot.

Very bad things happen when you negligently hook the trigger with your trigger finger while drawing. Very bad. Keep that finger straight and off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot.

STEP 3: DRAW

The key to clearing the holster is to come straight up. (Photo: Jacki Billings/Guns.com)

Assuming your holster is located on your strong side, with your hand on the grip, high and tight, pull your handgun straight up, keeping it close to your body and completely clear of the holster. (If your holster isn’t located on your strong side, you’ll want to make sure as you draw, you clear your holster and aren’t covering any part of your body with your gun's muzzle.)

Take special care to keep your finger straight and outside of your trigger guard. Your non-dominant hand should be out of the way, against your chest, waiting to form a firing grip on your pistol in step 4.

STEP 4: RAISE GUN TO ACQUIRE TARGET

draw from concealment, raise gun to acquire target — The next step you need to raise your gun to acquire your target with your trigger finger still outside the trigger guard. (Photo: Jacki Billings/Guns.com)

Once completely clear of your holster, keep your elbow as close to your body as possible and your handgun pointed toward the ground, rotate your handgun forward and up toward your target. If your non-dominant hand was holding back your cover garment, let it go. Your non-dominant hand should join your dominant hand on the grip, forming your firing grip. Your trigger finger is still straight and planted safely outside the trigger guard. Your gun will still be close to your body and facing toward your target.

STEP 5: ACQUIRE TARGET

With both hands in position, extend the gun forward and align your eyes with your sights, picking up your target with your front sight. Scan your surroundings and make the decision whether or not to shoot. Your trigger finger is still secure on the side of the gun, outside the trigger guard.

STEP 6: SHOOT, ONLY IF NEEDED

If indeed you need to defend yourself, you’re properly set up to do so and have your target in your sights. Move your trigger finger from outside the trigger guard and onto the trigger, and fire.

CONCLUSION

You’ve heard the term “practice makes perfect” and it certainly applies when properly drawing from concealment. You’ll want to add this to your dry fire routine, after all, if you can’t properly draw, you can’t defend yourself. Whenever you practice something new, safety is paramount. Always work with an unloaded gun and have no live ammunition in your proximity. Creating the proper technique and muscle memory is key to a successful draw from concealment, and the more you practice, the faster and smoother you’ll get.

If video is better for you then here is a helpful video from the renowned Gunsite Academy, where they put all the above steps together in one: