In this guide, we'll talk about what gun printing is and best ways to eliminate printing when you conceal carry.

In this article, we're going talk about one of the most common issues we run into while conceal carrying our guns, Gun Printing.  

We'll talk about what gun printing is and best ways to eliminate printing.  

What is Printing?

Printing is when the outline of your gun is visible through your cover garment.

Printing typically occurs with larger size guns such as the Ruger 57 and when you conceal carry inside of the waistband IWB.

It is usually not a problem with smaller sub-micro compact handguns such as the Springfield 911 or Sig Sauer P238.  

Larger size guns have a longer grip end, which will stick out further away from the body when you carry your holster and gun inside the waistband IWB.  

This causes printing on your clothing, which can reveal to everyone that you are armed.

Is Printing Bad?

In my opinion, printing is not bad, but rather a inconvenience when we conceal carry our guns.  

Although, printing can potentially reveal that you are armed with a gun, an average person will most likely not be able to recognize a gun from printing.

As a Police Officer, I was always trained to look for threats.  This always included scanning a person's waistband for guns.  

For me, it would be easy to recognize a gun from printing, but an average person is not trained to automatically think that wrinkle in a person's shirt is a gun.  

Are People Looking at my Printing?

Most of today's society does not pay attention to what's in your waistband.  Today, people are more likely to stare at their smart phone than your waistband.

Also, consider common courtesy.  Most of us find it impolite to stare at people's crotch area, so our eyes will automatically avoid this region.

Also, when we interact with one another, we typically maintain eye contact. 

How to Eliminate Printing?

If you are like many of us who are self-conscious about guns printing on our clothing when they conceal carry and prefer to have their gun completely concealed, here is a few tips on how you can reduce or even eliminate printing.  

1.  Carry a smaller size handgun (preferably sub-micro compact).  Smaller guns will by design have less printing.  I carry a Glock 19 and I thought that this was large, even though it is technically a compact handgun, it still has a fair amount of printing. 
2.   Attach a Claw to your holster to reduce printing.  To learn more about a Claw click here.
3.   Attach a Wedge to your holster to reduce printing.  To learn more about a wedge click here. 
4.   Stop touching your gun!  This is harder than it sounds, but touching or moving your gun will often leave a print on your shirt.
5.   Wear looser cover garments.  
6.   Wear darker cover garments.  Printing tends to be less visible on darker clothing.  

Final Thoughts

I find printing to be an more of a inconvenience rather than a problem, but I am still self-conscious about my gun printing on my clothing.

Unfortunately, there is still people in our society who find guns threatening, even when they are legally possessed, so I try to be responsible and do the best I can to completely conceal my gun.