Appendix Carry 101: Everything You Need to Know

Table of Contents

• What is Appendix Carry?
• Appendix Carry History
• Appendix Carry vs. Strong Side Carry
• Pros & Cons of Appendix Carry
• Is Appendix Carry Safe?
• How to Draw from Appendix Carry
• Appendix Carry Holsters

What is Appendix Carry?

Anyone who has studied basic human anatomy should know that we have a small structure known as the appendix attached to our large intestine, located in the lower right side of our abdomen. Appendix carry, also known as appendix inside-the-waistband (AIWB) carry, involves wearing a firearm over this same region of the body (for right-handed shooters, at least). This might be referred to as "front of the waist carry," but that just doesn't have the same ring to it.

At LAS Concealment, we specialize in AIWB holsters and have spent the last 10 years designing, testing, and fine-tuning appendix holsters for a variety of pistols. Read on as we take a closer look at some of the history, frequently asked questions, and misconceptions about AIWB carry.

Appendix Carry History

It's common to assume that appendix carry is a 21st century invention, but that couldn't be further from the truth. While it has experienced a resurgence in popularity in the last 25 years, the idea of carrying pistols at the front of the waistline has been common for almost as long as pistols have existed.

In the early 1700s, pirates would frequently carry flintlock pistols in this manner, as depicted in the illustrations above. Since these were single-shot weapons, it wasn't uncommon to carry more than one at a time — a primitive version of our modern-day emergency reload.

Fast forward to the Mexican Revolution of the early 1900s, and countless photographs show pistols carried in what we'd now consider to be the appendix position, often in outside-the-waistband (OWB) leather holsters. Around this same time period, the term "Mexican carry" came to signify carrying a pistol inside the front of the waistband without a holster, as explained by Massad Ayoob in a 2005 article for Guns Magazine:

"Back in the 19th Century, the Mexican vaquero, much like the American cowboy, was an independent and self-reliant sort who often made it a point to carry a handgun. Alas, the history of 19th century Mexico entailed one despot rising after another. The day came when the average citizen was stripped of his former right to go armed when he wished.

This did not sit well with the fiercely freedom-loving caballeros. They grudgingly took off their gun belts and holsters, because possession of those accoutrements would be seen as evidence that they had violated the draconian new laws that disarmed them. However, they defiantly kept their handguns, simply stuffing them into the waistband behind their ordinary belt. If the Federales hove into view, the citizen would simply slip his revolver into some discreet place where he could retrieve it later."

Of course, today we understand that carrying a loaded pistol shoved into the waistband without a holster isn't the safest or most secure choice, but the fact remains that appendix carry has a history that stretches back far beyond the advent of molded Kydex.

For a deeper dive into the history of appendix carry, check out this excellent article by Greg Ellifritz of Active Response Training, a retired law enforcement officer and shooting instructor who has been carrying AIWB since 1988.

Appendix Carry vs. Strong Side Carry

Above: Shooting instructor Dave Spaulding demonstrates clearing a cover garment for a strong-side draw.

Strong side carry is when a shooter wears his or her pistol on the dominant side near the hip. This is sometimes referred to as 3:00 carry — if the shooter's waistline is viewed as a clock face, with bellybutton at 12:00 and spine at 6:00, the pistol is about halfway in between. In reality, the pistol may actually be anywhere from 2:30 to 5:00, depending on the shooter's preference and body shape.

Pros & Cons of Appendix Carry

In comparison to strong side carry, appendix carry has some pros and cons:

AIWB Pros

• Faster draw — AIWB carry can help you shave precious time off your draw from concealment. In an article published in the NRA's Shooting Illustrated magazine, author Caleb Giddings wrote, "When drawing with a T-shirt/closed concealment garment, AIWB was consistently .20 seconds faster to the first shot than regular IWB."
• Easier concealment — Concealed firearms tend to be most visible from oblique angles, since the cover garment may not lay perfectly flat across the weapon (this is called "printing"). With 3:00 carry, this means the silhouette of the gun is most visible when the wearer is facing directly towards or away from an observer. With AIWB carry, the holster is placed in line with the front of the body, making it difficult to notice subtle printing unless the wearer turns sideways. A slightly loose T-shirt is often all you'll need to eliminate printing.
• Improved security — Maintaining control over your firearm is crucial, and appendix carry positions it in an area that's easy (and even instinctive) to defend. While an attacker might be able to grab a weapon from a victim's strong side hip by attacking from behind or controlling one arm, grabbing a weapon from the front of the waistband is significantly tougher. By simply bending forward and tucking your arms into your midsection — part of a natural startle response — you'll have a much easier time retaining your weapon during a hands-on self-defense encounter.

• Less interference from clothing — With strong-side carry, loose garments such as unzipped jackets or open button-down shirts must be pulled aside or swept out of the way to access a gun (as shown above). Appendix carry allows the wearer to simply pull cover garments straight up. Unbuttoned or unzipped layers are naturally open at the front, so they shouldn't give you any trouble.
• Ambidextrous access — In a defensive situation, it's possible that your dominant hand may be injured or incapacitated. If this happens, it becomes extremely difficult to access a pistol at the 3:00 position with your opposite hand. With an AIWB holster, twisting your non-dominant hand around to draw the gun will be awkward, but it's certainly doable. (This point also shows the value of carrying non-firearm tools, such as edged weapons or pepper spray, in the appendix position.)

AIWB Cons

• Comfort? — This one is difficult to address, since it's entirely subjective. Everyone has a different body shape, clothing preference, and carry gun size. Some of those combinations may feel a little uncomfortable with an AIWB setup, while others work perfectly with it. The only way to know if appendix carry works for you is to try it out and give it a fair chance. With the right holster and belt, you may find it's a lot more comfortable than you think!
• "You'll Shoot Yourself in the Junk" Claims — When you mention appendix carry to other gun owners, you may hear them respond that it's more dangerous to carry a gun near your private parts. We believe these concerns are unfounded, which brings us to our next point...

Is Appendix Carry Safe?

The short answer: yes, as long as it's done properly. That means:

• Follow all the rules of safe gun handling
• Use a secure holster that protects the weapon's trigger
• Wear a sturdy belt to support your holster
• Ensure there are no obstructions in or around your holster before inserting your pistol
• Seek training from a qualified instructor to improve your skills safely

Those points are exactly the same regardless of your preferred carry position.

Sadly, there are still misinformed individuals (often Fudds) who claim appendix carry is less safe than other carry positions. These statements are usually followed with something like, "You don't want to shoot yourself in the family jewels, do you??" Our response to this is simple — it's absolute nonsense. AIWB carry brings no more risk of negligent discharge than strong-side or 3:00 carry, as long as you follow the rules above in both cases. If inadvertently shooting yourself is your biggest concern, that's a "software" problem, not a "hardware" problem. Refer to our point about seeking training.

Appendix Carry Draw

Here's a quick guide to the steps of an appendix carry drawstroke:

1. Relax your hands in a natural position near the centerline of your body.

2. With your support hand, firmly grab your cover garment (in this case, a T-shirt) and pivot your forearm upwards to pull it away from the holster.

3. Establish a secure grip on the pistol with your dominant hand.

4. Draw the pistol out of the holster and turn the muzzle towards the target, joining with your support hand as it releases the cover garment.

5. Extend the pistol to full presentation, acquire the sights, and fire.

Appendix Carry Holsters

If you're looking for an appendix holster, we've got you covered. LAS Concealment offers high-quality, American-made holsters designed for your AIWB carry needs. Our holsters are available for a variety of pistol applications including Glock, SIG, Staccato, Beretta, FN, Smith & Wesson, Walther, and many more. And if you carry with a weapon-mounted light, we've got appendix holsters that fit those too.

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