While humorous, this statement couldn’t be further from the truth. Even with 7-inch heels, shoes are far less deadly than firearms any day of the week. Also, footwear is pretty much essential in society. Ever see a “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service” sign?

On the other hand, toting a pistol is a choice and a privilege. In many areas, it’s only granted to those who have permits. So, when entering the CCW world, consider the advice below.

1. Go compact—but not too small! The smaller you go, the smaller the caliber will be and the less effective the weapon will become. Find a balance that works best for you. Find the biggest gun and caliber that you can conceal well. Definitely do not buy a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber and expect to conceal it all around town. It quickly becomes too heavy and too difficult to hide.
2. Accessibility, accessibility, accessibility. What’s the point of carrying a weapon when it takes more than a few seconds to draw? In a dangerous situation, draw time can make all the difference. The best holster options for this are inside-the-waistband or outside-the-waistband holsters. Obviously a longer shirt or jacket is needed with OWB holsters.
3. Dress to conceal. If someone can see an outline of your gun, or a “print,” rethinking your CCW wardrobe is the next step. Nobody wants to hear a little kid shouting: “Mommy, that man has a gun!” No print should show while standing. However, sitting and squatting might prove challenging. Buy shirts one size larger and pants one to two sizes larger, especially for IWB holsters. Be cognizant of wind gusts, too.
4. Get comfortable. Make sure your setup is as relaxed as possible. If it’s not, you will never carry your weapon outside of the home. For this, you’ll definitely need a holster of some kind. Leather holsters are recommended over nylon for a tighter hold to the body.
5. Keep it real. Don’t go out and act like David Caruso or something.  Not only will you find yourself in a whole heap of trouble, you’ll annoy and embarrass the CCW community. As mentioned by TheCCWChannel, your gun is a last resort, not a first. Your brain should be the first thing you use.

What advice would you give someone who is carrying a concealed weapon for the first time?

(Image via GunsSaveLife.com)

Then there are those who understand handguns need care and maintenance to run like a well-oiled machine. While cleaning and oiling a gun go hand in hand, it’s particularly important to use that oil or grease to maintain superior functionality.

• Do wipe off any access lubrication before getting started. During this process, it’s a good idea to look for signs of wear and tear on the gun or any developing issues.
• Do clean your gun before oiling it. Actually, most folks clean their pistol after every trip to the range to prevent rust.
• Don’t over oil your gun. If you do, it will have an opposite effect and collect more debris than if you wouldn’t have oiled it at all. Think less is more. A light layer of oil will do.
• Do read your gun’s instruction manual, and figure out where the oil shouldn’t go. Every gun is different.
• Don’t clean a gun like Steve Martin (see below).

• Do use Q-Tips for accuracy in oil application. This will help prevent getting too much oil on the gun.
• Do oil the areas where there is metal-to-metal contact. Since you’ve read the instruction manual, you should already know where not to oil. Be sure to keep the feed ramp oil free, unless you’ve been instructed otherwise.
• Don’t ignore your magazines. Yep, those need to be cleaned, too.
• Don’t start cleaning your gun without making sure it’s unloaded. As always, safety first people!
• Do use a good gun oil or grease to get the job done right. Some recommended oils include Remington’s Rem Oil, Kleen Bore F3 and Wilson Ultima-Lube Grease.
• Don’t leave your ammunition near the cleaning site. This is for safety reasons, for both you and your gun. You don’t want to contaminate the ammo with petroleum-based products.
• Do use a dry brush to scrub all the parts thoroughly, even the magazine well. You won’t necessarily need the solvent for this part.

Did we leave out your favorite gun cleaning tip? Share it in the comments section!

But, what is it?

If you don’t know, you’re not alone. Yet when you see it for the first time, you immediately say, “Oooooh, that’s Velcro!”

Unfortunately Velcro is a trademark brand just like Kleenex. So, hook and loop is kind of like saying tissue paper. It’s the non-name brand version of Velcro.

OK, then what on Earth is a hook and loop holster?

Initially, you could envision someone putting Velcro on one side of their gun and gluing another section to the side of their pants. That sounds totally dangerous and totally inaccurate. Sootch00 explains the wonders of hook and loop holsters below.

Do you use hook and loop holsters? When does it work best? What results have you seen?

However, it’s not important enough to some folks out there—specifically the people in the videos below. Actually, we will go as far as to say these people should never be allowed to own a weapon of any kind.

Ever.

The epic disasters from properly handling a firearm certainly does give us some good guidelines on what *not* to do as a gun owner. Learn a thing or two from these FAIL experts.

1. Always maintain control of your firearm. Be in control of yourself when using it—a.k.a. don’t drink or do drugs and shoot. If you’re planning on having a few too many, have your guns safely stored somewhere else other than in your hand. Someone should have told that to Mr. Black Speedo.

2. Never point a gun at something you don’t want to kill. That includes your camera man. Or anyone else for that matter. We can forgive the 1980s sweater and hair, but swinging a pistol around like it shoots foam nurf balls? Not cool, lady. Not cool at all.

3. Read the instruction manual on how to fire your weapon. Obviously this guy didn’t. Or he read it upside down.

4. Don’t treat your gun like a toy. Or a baton. You’ll need a significant amount of training and guts first. And even still you can slip up.

5. Make sure your gun is properly holstered before engaging in a full out attack. Because you’ll look like a jerk when your weapon flies across the ground, and you could seriously hurt one of your team members.

6. Be prepared for anything. Even a FAIL that’s not your fault. More than 4 million people have viewed this next video. We’re not exactly sure what went wrong with the machine gun, but none of it is good.

7. Don’t stick your tongue out before you shoot. It’s bad karma.

8. Be aware of the power of your weapon. You shouldn’t try to fire anything you’re not physically capable of handling.

9. Don’t take gun safety tips from Lee Paige. The most epic FAIL of them all… We’re sure you’ve seen this one a million and a half times. And still laughed every time.

Did we forget your favorite gun FAIL? Share it in the comments section, and we’ll check it out.

Well, you need to continue to get a grip. But a good grip. On your gun, that is.

Of course, how you hold a gun has a lot to do with the type of firearm and the size of your hand. And the holster you carry.

Paddle Holsters

For instance, when you draw a gun from a paddle holster, you’ll want to squat down just a bit.

Watch the demonstration video below, and go practice the draw technique at the range. We’ll see you there.

That cold metallic taste comes in gag-inducing waves. And if you bite down hard enough, you might crack a few teeth along the way.

But why eat a real gun anyway (is that even humanly possible)? If it looks that appealing, you might as well whip up a cake that looks eerily similar to a firearm. We found 14 icing-coated masterpieces that demonstrate the ability to be both intimidating and intimidating.

1. Glock Cake – With an almost too-legit look, this Glock 17 has a trigger that makes you wonder if it’s loaded. Better double check.

2. Texas Wedding – Only in the Lone Star State would such a frosted firearm wedding cake exist.

3. Desert Eagle – Even down to the gold tiger stripes, this 24” special edition Desert Eagle is sure to put a smile on any gun lover’s face.

4. Bull’s Eye – Another cake right on target. It’s covered in rolled fondant with piped dot letters, gum paste bullets topped off with a black fondant gun.

5. Velvet Revolver – The idea behind this mouth-watering desert is simple: a revolver on top of red velvet cake. The frosting? Cream cheese.

6. 007 Cake – Can you picture James Bond eating birthday cake? Hmm… maybe blowing one up. Well this slick cake was created for a 9-year-old’s birthday.

7. AR-15 Assault Rifle – More fondant! This time it’s black, shiny and camouflaged.

8. Pistol Whipped Cupcake – Part of a murder mystery collection of cutesy cakes, the aqua-blue sprinkles really add a menacing element.

9. Gun and Case Delight – Nobody would guess that a two-layer lemon cake sits underneath the black fondant gun.

10. Shotgun Wedding – We can’t be sure this is a wedding cake, but it definitely should be. It only serves 20 though, so maybe it’s just for the wedding party.

11. Hunter’s Birthday – A fondant Smith & Wesson paired with a fondant cigar provide ample distractions as a hunter stalks his game.

12. Machine Gun – We hope the makers of this cake really didn’t create it for dinner with Tony Soprano.

13. Camo Cake – Can you see this frosted firearm dressed in camouflage? Hurry and put it in the middle of the woods. Can you see it now?

14. Duel Wedding – More like a scene from years after the wedding, a bride and groom battle it out just after (or right before) they say “I do.” Or is it “I don’t?”

A case could be made for either with negative and positive points along the way. We’re here to shed light on both sides.

Lined – A lined holster will have some sort of fabric, suede or cowhide on the inside of the holster to create extra padding and protection for your firearm.

Pros

• Minimize wear on gun to some degree depending on the quality of the holster.
• Traps less dirt.
• Can be cleaned with compressed air.

Cons

• Can make the holster more expensive.
• Might not hold up as long as unlined holsters.
• Lining becomes meaningless when you have a stainless steel gun.
• Gun can get caught in the lining while trying to draw.
• Suede lining that is chrome-tanned can accelerate the wear on a gun’s finish.

Unlined – This means using the holster as is, whether its leather or nylon.

Pros

• Sometimes manufacturers create holsters made so well they do not require a lining.
• Can provide a quicker draw.
• Great for a stainless steel gun.

Cons

• Unlined holsters of poor quality cause wear and tear on gun finish—sometimes even decreasing a guns value by hundreds of dollars.
• Can attract dirt.

Have more pros and cons? Disagree with one of ours? Speak your mind!

(Image via Flickr)

Since the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre, second amendment rights at universities have been placed under the microscope with heated debates supporting both sides. Debates have even turned into protests with students using empty holsters to symbolize support for concealed carry on campus.

Most recently activist group Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, or FIRE, filmed a video in support of gun rights on campus. While the organization doesn’t officially say whether it’s for or against guns on campus, it firmly believes students should be able to voice opinions on either side.

“On too many college campuses, students have been prevented from and punished for attempting to form groups to advocate for gun rights, protesting campus restrictions on concealed carry, or even simply telling gun-related jokes,” said FIRE President Greg Lukianoff in a prepared statement.

“But an informed populace is essential to our democracy, and colleges and universities should be welcoming a debate on the role of guns in our society, not stifling it,” Lukianoff added.

Filmed on location at universities across the U.S., the following video showcases students who were not allowed to show support for concealed carry on campus. FIRE said they did reach out to college administrators to get the other side, but not a single one agreed to be interviewed.

What do you think about carrying on college campuses? Should it be allowed or banned? Shouldn’t they at least be allowed to have the discussion?

All belts are not created equal. Watch gun and holster reviewer johniac7078 explain the difference between three types of gun belts. His points are summarized below.

1. Leather belts – This type of belt can be picked up on the cheap at places like Wal-Mart. Some see this as a less adequate way to hold your holster as it is more flimsy than other belts on the market. If you wear an inside-the-waistband holster, it will rotate often and will not be comfortable to carry. As for an outside-the-waistband holster, it’s even more unstable and uncomfortable. Proceed with caution.

2. Wilderness instructor belts – These belts are a little bit more expensive than regular leather belts. There is a device built into the buckle that is heavy steel and could aid in rescue operations if need be. It’s not the best choice for everyday carry, and definitely don’t try to wear it to a fancy dinner.

3. Custom gun belt – Like with many products, the more you spend, the higher quality you get. This is the stiffest of the bunch. Why does stiffness matter? It gives support to a heavier gun and holster. Additionally, it keeps your gun in the right position. These belts are handmade with quality hardware and craftsmanship. Do note that it does take quite a while for this special-order product to arrive.

“Concealed carry means concealed carry,” johniac7078 says. “Iif the police see your gun printing, at least in my state, they can stop you, and you’re going to have a really shitty day afterward.”

At first glance, nylon doesn’t appear to be the sturdiest material for a gun holster. We beckon you to take a step in closer. Get your hands on that ballistic nylon material, and discover how un-flimsy it really is. Originally dreamed up by DuPont for WWII airmen flak jackets, you can find the material on tool and duty belts, watchstraps and luggage among other things.

Blackhawk's Nylon Paddle Holster

The biggest plus to a nylon holster has to be cost. Typically half the price of composite holsters and leather holsters, nylon gun holsters come in many shapes and sizes including ankle holsters, hip holsters, inside-the-pocket holster, even fanny pack holsters.

The video review below looks at Blackhawk’s nylon Smith & Wesson 686 holster. Reviewer TheNRADude believes you can’t go wrong with a nylon holster. “By the time this one wears out, your leather one would probably wear out, too,” he says. His only complaint about the holster? When you attempt to holster your gun, you have to squeeze the sides out to get it to fit back in.

Others deemed nylon gun holsters irrelevant after the popularity surge of Kydex. “For a long time they were the best thing you could buy, but now that Kydex has come out, I just really don’t like nylon as much as I used to,” says the reviewer in the video below. “It does have its purpose and its advantages for military uses. But not for CCW or for civilian open carry. ”

Do you prefer nylon holsters? What experiences have you had while using those types of gun holsters?