What NOT TO DO When Carrying a Handgun (7 Critical Mistakes)

Published on April 10, 2026
Duration: 11:59

This video emphasizes critical mistakes to avoid when carrying a handgun, focusing on safe practices during drawing and reholstering. It highlights that negligent discharges often occur during routine handling, not just in high-stress encounters. Key takeaways include maintaining proper trigger finger discipline during the draw, reholstering slowly and deliberately while visually confirming the holster is clear, using a rigid holster, ensuring proper retention to prevent printing, carrying with a chambered round for immediate readiness, function testing ammunition, and understanding legal no-carry zones and use-of-force laws.

Quick Summary

Most negligent handgun discharges occur during routine handling like drawing and reholstering, not in gunfights, due to complacency. Critical mistakes include keeping the finger in the trigger guard during the draw, reholstering too fast without visual confirmation, using non-rigid holsters, and neglecting to function test ammunition.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: The Danger of Routine
  2. 00:36Mistake 1: Finger in Trigger Guard During Draw
  3. 02:03Mistake 2: Reholstering Too Fast
  4. 03:31Mistake 3: Carrying Without a Rigid Holster
  5. 05:09Mistake 4: Neglecting Retention & Printing
  6. 06:45Mistake 5: Carrying Without Chambering a Round
  7. 08:29Mistake 6: Unreliable Ammo or No Testing
  8. 10:13Mistake 7: Ignoring Legal No-Carry Zones & Laws

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common cause of negligent discharges when carrying a handgun?

The most common cause of negligent discharges is not during a gunfight, but during routine handling like drawing and reholstering. This happens when individuals become complacent and stop respecting the inherent dangers of a loaded firearm, leading to critical mistakes.

Why is it dangerous to reholster a handgun too quickly?

Reholstering too quickly is dangerous because clothing, drawstrings, or other fabric can easily enter the trigger guard without you noticing. This can cause an accidental discharge as the pistol is inserted back into the holster, potentially resulting in injury.

What type of holster is recommended for safe concealed carry?

A rigid holster, such as Kydex or well-built leather, is recommended. Rigid holsters maintain their shape when the firearm is drawn, ensuring the trigger guard remains covered and the holster mouth stays open, which is crucial for safe reholstering.

Should you carry a handgun with an empty chamber?

For modern striker-fired and double-action handguns, carrying with a chambered round is often recommended. Their internal safeties are designed for this, and it ensures immediate readiness in a defensive encounter where time is critical and racking a slide under stress can be difficult.

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